OUR BLOG
October 2025
How Government Shutdowns Affect Markets and the Economy
Washington is back in the headlines as the federal government faces a shutdown if policymakers can't reach a new funding agreement. This adds to a year in which government policies around trade, taxes, immigration, and more have created uncertainty for the economy and [...]
September 2025
How to Navigate Fears of a Market Bubble
The market indexes discussed are unmanaged and generally considered representative of their respective markets. Individuals cannot directly invest in unmanaged indexes. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, [...]
Why the Federal Reserve Works, And What It Means for Your Retirement
The Federal Reserve may seem distant or complicated, but its decisions ripple through everything from interest rates to inflation, and that may affect your retirement directly. Let’s explore why the Fed works, why its independence matters, and what that means for your financial [...]
The Role of Dividends as the Fed Cuts Rates
The late Jack Bogle observed that "successful investing is about owning businesses and reaping the huge rewards provided by the dividends and earnings growth of our nation's—and, for that matter, the world's—corporations." This wisdom is relevant today because the benefit of owning stocks [...]
Key Perspectives on Jobs and Mixed Economic Signals
Investors often find themselves looking in the rearview mirror even when they know that what lies ahead is most important. Recent reports, which are naturally backward-looking, have some investors and policymakers concerned about the economy, leading some to wonder if there will be [...]
Follow the Bond Market to Better Understand Your Finances
On May 16, 2025, Moody's downgraded the U.S. sovereign credit rating from Aaa to Aa1, citing concerns over the nation's rising debt and interest payment burdens. This move follows similar downgrades by S&P in 2011 and Fitch in 2023, marking the first time [...]
Monthly Market Update for August: Markets Climb on Fed Expectations and Earnings Growth
The stock market climbed to new all-time highs in August, while bonds also contributed positively to portfolios. This occurred despite continued uncertainty around tariffs, Fed independence, and technology stocks. The month began with U.S. tariffs going into effect against most major trading partners [...]
August 2025
“What Can I Do with $100K in Retirement?”
Understanding the Shift from Accumulation to Income As a financial advisor, one of the most common questions I hear, especially from clients entering retirement, is: “What should I actually do with these savings I’ve amassed for retirement?” It’s a great question. And it [...]
Disclosure: This commentary reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints and analyses of the O’Donnell Financial Services, LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by O’Donnell Financial Services, LLC or performance returns of any O’Donnell Financial Services, LLC client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice. Nothing in this commentary constitutes investment advice, performance data or any recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. Any mention of a particular security and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security. O’Donnell Financial Services, LLC manages its clients’ accounts using a variety of investment techniques and strategies, which are not necessarily discussed in the commentary. Investments in securities involve the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.