Retirement & Longevity Companies seeking loans and investors seeking income have complementary goals. Direct lending and alternative investment are where those interests meet. Companies get lower-fuss access to cash; investors earn interest often higher than what other income investments provide. Put another way, companies pay more for speed or accommodative lending standards while investors earn more for carrying a higher level of risk. “Selling assets to fund daily lifestyl

Business Ownership A short checklist for using generative AI at work Used well, generative AI can save time, sharpen drafts, and handle the kind of routine work that used to eat up afternoons. A few rules help you get those benefits while staying ahead of the risks: Don't share confidential information. Anything you provide to an AI model may be retained or used to train future models. Keep client data, trade secrets, and privileged communications out. Treat outputs as drafts

Markets & Investing July 20, 2026 Equity markets have shown resilience amid persistent headwinds, supported by index evolution and earnings strength Despite multiple risks that emerged over the past year – tariffs, higher energy prices, upward pressure on interest rates and evolving growth and earnings outlooks – equities have shown remarkable fortitude. The S&P 500 has gained 10% year-to-date (YTD) with eight of 11 sectors in positive territory for the year. Notably, the mov

Markets & Investing July 08, 2026 Raymond James Washington Policy Analyst Ed Mills examines how midterm elections and geopolitical risk are shaping the market landscape As we move through 2026, the political and geopolitical landscapes remain key drivers of policy uncertainty. For the midterm elections, our base case is a Democratic House and Republican Senate, a historically favorable outcome for equities. Meanwhile, the US-China relationship has stabilized modestly, and mul

Markets & Investing July 01, 2026 Members of the Raymond James Investment Strategy Committee share their views on the markets, the economy and key themes that are impacting investors. Read the full Strategy Quarterly All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of Raymond James and are subject to change. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance may not be indicative of future results.

Retirement & Longevity Understanding how Social Security benefits apply to a surviving spouse is essential to creating an effective retirement income plan. Here’s what you should know: 1. Surviving spouses can claim benefits as early as age 60, unlike spousal benefits, which can’t be claimed until age 62. However, survivor benefits are subject to an earnings test if you are below full retirement age. 2. Generally, you must be married for at least nine months to receive surviv

Technology & Innovation How to include online services, important documents, and digital family mementos in your estate plan Your digital life may seem difficult to organize. Locked behind disparate accounts, spread across devices and out of mind because they are out of sight, it may seem challenging to wrangle all your digital belongings. And unlike tangible items like heirloom jewelry or vacation homes, or intangible but well-established considerations like financial securi

Markets & Investing Technology and trends have made individual investors an important part of the private market. As a symbol of economic vibrancy and opportunity, it’s hard to beat the public market. Its storied venues, where everything from butter to trillion-dollar tech companies are bought and sold, are a foundation of the modern world. But consider this: In 2023, there were 2,802 publicly traded companies earning annual revenues over $100 million in the US. These public

Markets & Investing April 30, 2026 April showed us just how sensitive markets can be to a small number of powerful forces: energy prices, inflation, and geopolitical risk. The conflict in the Middle East dominated headlines, with a ceasefire helping to steady markets even as energy prices remained elevated. The stage could be set for further gains if disruptions to key shipping routes are ultimately resolved. Consumers have remained resilient, and labor markets have remained

Markets & Investing April 07, 2026 Geopolitical tensions and disruptions to global energy supply often lead to higher gas prices at the pump. Amid the current conflict in Iran, oil prices have surged to above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022. Although the US is a net exporter of oil, Americans are not immune to rising global oil prices that push gasoline costs higher. Oil is a global market, so when prices rise, they increase across the board, including in count

Markets & Investing March 25, 2026 Raymond James Chief Investment Officer Larry Adam shares key drivers shaping markets and the economic outlook Rapid advances in artificial intelligence, persistent geopolitical tensions – particularly the conflict in Iran – and ongoing trade uncertainty have kept headlines loud and emotions elevated, ultimately demanding investors remain adaptive and disciplined. In this kind of environment, the biggest mistakes come from reacting to noise r

Markets & Investing January 06, 2026 Raymond James Chief Investment Officer Larry Adam identifies 10 themes for the markets and economy. In 2025, the S&P 500 delivered double-digit returns for a third straight year. Heading into the fourth year of the bull market, Raymond James Chief Investment Officer Larry Adam identifies 10 themes to watch in 2026. His message: The outlook remains positive, but a year that could present an array of uncertainties for the markets and economy

Tax Planning Proactive investors can benefit from making strategic adjustments that can reduce next year’s tax bill. As the year comes to a close, it may be a good time to check on your investments with an eye toward tax implications. Keeping long-term investment goals in mind, a trusted advisor can help you consider adjustments that could impact your typical year-end planning. Manage your income and deductions If you’re at or near the next tax rate threshold, pay close atten

Markets & Investing Strategically sell company stock and achieve your personal wealth goals. As a corporate executive or insider, owning stock or other equity holdings in your company shows your commitment to the business, but it’s important to realize the risks of an overly concentrated position. If you’re looking to diversify your portfolio or liquidate assets, a Rule 10b5-1 plan can help you sell company shares systematically and strategically. Here’s how it works. What is

Economy & Policy October 31, 2025 Chief Economist Eugenio J. Alemán discusses current economic conditions. Markets were taken by surprise by Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Powell’s strong suggestion that a rate cut in December is not a certainty, as they were sure they were going to get one at December’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. During the press conference, Powell reiterated several times that an interest rate cut in December was not a “foregone conclusion,”

New tax law makes 2025 a strategic year for giving Estate & Giving Highlighting key provisions for itemizers, non-itemizers and corporations. At nearly 900 pages, US legislation known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced numerous tax law provisions. With so much to decipher, it would be understandable if you skipped over the changes related to charitable giving since they don’t go into effect until 2026. The coming changes, however, have strategic implications for 202

Retirement & Longevity Consider the benefits and limits associated with making post-tax contributions to an IRA. Thinking about opening...

Economy & Policy October 01, 2025 Shutdowns typically do not make sizeable impacts on the markets or the economy, though the potential...

Estate & Giving Highlighting key provisions for itemizers, non-itemizers and corporations. At nearly 900 pages, US legislation known as...

Retirement & Longevity The benefits of a purpose-driven life don’t dissipate when you retire. Rather, without the imposed daily and...