- Mercer Advisors

Why Tariffs (and Even the Threat of Them) Swing the Market

You’ve probably heard the word “tariff” tossed around in financial headlines lately—but what does it really mean for your investments? At first glance, tariffs might seem like just another policy tool or political talking point. But in reality, they can have significant and immediate consequences for the stock market, corporate profits, global supply chains—and yes, even your grocery bill. Whether they're newly introduced, lifted, or merely hinted at, tariffs can cause sharp swings in the market [...]

Rebecca Mack2025-05-14T04:57:24+00:00May 14, 2025|Economy, Government, Stock Market|

Weathering the Storm: How Market Volatility Impacts Retirement & What You Can Do About It

Picture this: Jim and Linda, both 67, just retired after decades of hard work. They planned carefully, saved consistently, and looked forward to enjoying their golden years. But then came a market downturn. Suddenly, their portfolio dropped 20% in a matter of weeks. The income they planned to draw from their investments now seems shaky.* Sound familiar? Market volatility may hit hard when you're approaching or living in retirement. Why? Because you're not just investing for [...]

Rebecca Mack2025-05-08T00:21:51+00:00May 8, 2025|Economy, Investing, Stock Market|

What Retirees Should Know About Tariffs

As a new administration weighs its stance on tariffs, it’s worth considering how these policies may affect retirees and their financial plans. Tariffs, often described as taxes on imported goods, are actually taxes imposed on U.S. companies importing foreign products. These taxes can ripple through the economy, impacting consumer prices, including essentials that retirees rely on, such as groceries, healthcare, and transportation. Here’s what retirees should know about tariffs, how they may affect everyday costs, and [...]

Rebecca Mack2025-04-28T15:39:26+00:00April 28, 2025|Economy, Government|

Slower Rate Cuts, The Market, and Your Finances

Whether you’re checking your account balances, planning your next adventure, or enjoying a well-earned retirement, markets move... and with it, your account values may as well. Recent market volatility, driven by the Federal Reserve’s announcement to slow rate cuts, has left many retirees wondering what this means for their financial future. Let’s explore the situation and how you can confidently navigate these uncertain times. What’s Happening with Interest Rates? Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell recently announced [...]

Rebecca Mack2025-02-12T18:17:10+00:00February 12, 2025|Economy, Investing, Stock Market|

Navigating Market Volatility: What Retirees Should Know About August’s “Japanese Carry Trade”

In August of 2024, the financial world was abuzz with discussions about the Japanese carry trade and its impact on global markets. For retirees and those nearing retirement, understanding these developments may help you understand why markets are moving, but it's equally important to maintain a focus on long-term financial security rather than reacting to short-term market fluctuations. Regardless, the more you know about why markets are moving, the better you can tell when to change [...]

Rebecca Mack2024-10-24T14:57:31+00:00October 24, 2024|Economy, Stock Market|

The Fed Speaks, Earnings Release, and the Market Drops… But Your Retirement Finances Shouldn’t Care

In recent months, the financial landscape has been marked by unpredictability. The Federal Reserve's recent announcement to maintain interest rates at their current levels has left many investors on edge. While the Fed has signaled a cautious approach, it has not ruled out the possibility of economic struggles ahead, indicating a readiness to lower interest rates if necessary. This uncertainty has coincided with a notable drop in the stock market, particularly following disappointing earnings reports from [...]

Rebecca Mack2024-09-10T15:59:02+00:00September 10, 2024|Economy, Federal Reserve, Retirement Income|

Today’s Interest Rates and Your Retirement

The Federal Reserve makes a monthly statement about its interest rate policy, which is based on the data it tracks and analyzes to understand the state of the economy. This includes data regarding inflation, employment, and more. These statements are important for the rest of the nation to understand how the economy is doing as well as what the Fed’s strategy for dealing with inflation is—namely their interest rate decisions, which can affect people’s finances in [...]

Rebecca Mack2024-07-26T15:11:45+00:00July 26, 2024|Economy, Federal Reserve|

What 2025 COLA Predictions Mean to You

In 2022, the United States experienced the most significant inflation in four decades, primarily due to macroeconomic disruptions and supply chain issues following the COVID-19 pandemic. This led to an 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security beneficiaries in January 2023, the largest increase since the early 1980s. However, despite this, many retirees continue to struggle financially, as revealed by the 2024 Retirement Confidence Survey conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Lack of Confidence and [...]

Rebecca Mack2024-07-12T15:53:32+00:00July 12, 2024|Economy, Financial Planning, Social Security|

What to Know When Retiring into Uncertain Times

There has been a lot of chaos in the market over the last few years, and you may find yourself worried that you’re retiring at the wrong time. You may be worried that you could retire right before the markets and economy potentially turn sour. These are both legitimate concerns, but there are strategies that you can employ to help protect yourself against retiring during a bad market. Why can it be bad to retire while [...]

Rebecca Mack2024-01-25T16:47:10+00:00January 25, 2024|Economy, Financial Planning, Retirement Planning|

Inflation Can Affect Your Finances, Even In Small Amounts

There’s been a lot of news about inflation lately. As of July, the inflation rate was around 3.2%.[1] This means that the cost of goods and services, including but not limited to items such as groceries, housing, and gas, has gone up by 3.2% since this time last year.[2] You might think 3.2% is a pretty small number, and maybe you haven’t noticed a huge jump in the costs of the things you purchase every day. [...]

2023-09-29T04:15:13+00:00September 29, 2023|Economy, Retirement Planning|