Our Blog

Authored by Brad McMillan, Commonwealth CIO:

Recently, I have been getting a number of questions from people who are scared about what might happen to the financial markets at election time. The fear is that if we get a disputed election, it could lead to disruption and possibly even violence.

After a great month like August, expectations and momentum are high, and you could reasonably expect to see another great month ahead. That scenario happens, and it is certainly what we are seeing in the first days of September. But taking a detailed look at last month’s results suggests some reasons for caution.

We hope you are enjoying your summer.  This has not been an easy year for a multitude of reasons but the weather has been great and it has been nice to get outdoors to get some fresh air and sunshine. The news cycle will be very active in the next few months with the election just around the corner.

The bad news this past week is that there are signs of localized outbreaks in several states, specifically Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas. All have shown significant spikes in cases in recent days. But the good news is that outside these and a handful of other states, the virus remains under control, and there is still no national second wave of infections.

Last week our CIO, Brad McMillan, shared his blog looking back at May and ahead to June. Below, you can find his monthly video update and write-up.

On Friday, Brad McMillan provided an update on the coronavirus crisis, including the economic and market implications. Last week was another good week in terms of controlling the virus, with the daily spread rate dropping to less than 2 percent for five days in a row.

This week our CIO, Brad McMillan, shared his blog looking back at April and ahead to May. He also released a video sharing his market thoughts for this month which we included at the bottom of this blog. We hope you find this helpful in staying informed about everything going on in the economy. The best of times. April was the month that stock markets rallied after an unprecedented drawdown.

For many Americans, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in an immediate need for funds that can provide financial stability. In response, lawmakers have lessened financial burdens through stimulus legislation that includes several temporary rule changes to retirement account withdrawals.

Today, we want to share with you another update from Commonwealth's CIO, Brad McMillan. We’ve seen significant progress in terms of the virus, with the daily case growth rate dropping below 4 percent for several days in a row.

Today, we want to share with you another update from Commonwealth's CIO, Brad McMillan. In today's video, Brad provides an update on the coronavirus crisis, including its effects on the economy and markets.