Corporate America delivered another outstanding earnings season. S&P 500 Index earnings are tracking to an 8.2% year-over-year increase for the third quarter with just a handful of companies left to report. Excluding the impact of hurricanes within the insurance group, corporate America produced its third straight quarter of double-digit earnings growth. The amount of upside to earnings estimates was slightly below average in the quarter, but we consider the season a success given the strong upside to revenue forecasts, along with generally upbeat outlooks from corporate management teams.

The consistency with which companies

Fixed income investors experienced three different market environments in the third quarter: a period of relative calm in July, several flight-to-safety events in August, and a resumption of risk taking in September as August risks faded. The net result during the quarter was little movement in longer-term interest rates and a flattening of the yield curve, leading to positive returns for all major segments of fixed income. Short-term rates were pressed higher by the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) commitment to a continuation of gradual rate hikes and monetary policy normalization [Figure 1].

Much like the first half of the year,

For most people, thinking about the economy starts with their personal financial situation. While job prospects, or the health of a business, or prices at the pump all have an impact on how we feel about the economy, the bottom line is really, “How is my family doing?” In order to capture this perspective, LPL Research designed an alternative way for investors to think about markets and the economy, which we refer to as the Life Portfolio. The Life Portfolio provides a snapshot of the U.S. economy from the perspective of a typical American household. And while we use it to look at the bigger picture, it may also provide important

… and for how long?

You might be surprised how many people have poorly organized financial documents. If your financial “filing system,” is scattered or inconsistent you may have a tough time keeping tabs on your financial life. Take an hour or two to put things in good order, or ask us how to access and scan documents to our encrypted vault on the firm’s aggregation platform. If nothing else, do it for your heirs. When you pass, they will be contending with emotions and won’t want to search through your house for this-or-that piece of paper.

Organization will help you, your advisors...