Stephen Kates
Stephen Kates is a CFP(r) professional and personal finance expert specializing in financial planning and education. He serves as Principal Financial Analyst for RetireGuide.com , providing strategic insights on wealth management, retirement planning, and investing. Stephen is the Founder of Clocktower Financial Consulting, LLC, and was previously the Head of Financial Planning for Advisor.com. With over 15 years of experience in the financial industry, Stephen focuses on creating targeted consumer finance solutions for individuals, families, and business owners. He leverages his passion for financial literacy to simplify complex topics and make financial planning accessible to everyone. Please connect with Stephen here .
Articles by Stephen Kates
- Active Insights
The Fed’s September Rate Decision Just Got a Lot More Complicated
If the Federal Reserve does hike—and it might be a when, not an if at this point—it would mark the first policy rate increase since July 2023
- Active Insights
NVIDIA, Inflation and the Fed: What Investors Need to Know Heading Into September
The AI debate is far from over, but the burden of proof falls back on the AI skeptics that the investment cycle is losing steam.
- Market Intelligence
Bonds Take the Spotlight as Yields Surge
Strong economic activity and broad-based earnings growth offer better incentives to focus on the long-term trends and look beyond immediate volatility.
- PowerAdvice
Wall Street Just Raised Its Standards for AI
The broader S&P 500 proved more resilient thanks to strength in sectors like financials and healthcare.
- PowerAdvice
Markets Keep Ignoring Bad News. Here’s What Investors Should Watch Instead
Markets shrugged off Middle East tensions, and AI optimism powered tech stocks higher. Investors' focus shifts to earnings and the economic outlook
- Money & Life
Your Emergency Fund May Be Smaller Than You Think
This foundation allows you to build all other wealth, which is why it is so important to get it right.
- Market Intelligence
Bull Market Rotation Has Begun. Is It Built To Last?
Stocks rose as market leadership broadened beyond tech, while the record-breaking SpaceX IPO tested investor appetite for risk.
- Research
America Is Starting To Expect Higher Inflation Forever
The Federal Reserve's credibility is being inflated away. Summary The Fed’s decision to slash rates by 1.75 percentage points since late 2024, in the face of stalled inflation progress, signaled to markets
- Research
Good News Is Bad News Again: Why a Strong Jobs Report Shook the Market
The U.S. economy delivered exactly the kind of labor market report investors spent much of last year hoping for.
- Research
Dollar Bears Keep Waiting for a Collapse That Isn’t Arriving
You won't find much evidence for de-dollarization, but you will find colorful visuals. Chart 1: DXY Dollar Index Trends The structural bear case for the US dollar still lacks meaningful supporting evidence.
- Active Investing
Stocks Keep Climbing as Bond Yields Flash Fresh Inflation Risks
Yields climbed toward levels that have historically made investors nervous, yet stocks pressed on and continued to grind higher.
- Money & Life
Emergency Funds Explained: How Much Is Enough in an Uncertain Economy?
An emergency fund is a dedicated, easily accessible cash reserve, ideally holding enough liquid cash to cover essential living expenses for several months.
- Market Intelligence
Earnings Boom Is Powering Markets Higher Even as Risks Pile Up
Despite rising oil prices, sticky inflation, ugly consumer sentiment, and a cautious tone from the Fed, there was just no holding the market back
- Research
Investors Stay the Course as Stocks Climb Wall of Uncertainty
The Dow lagged and finished lower, a reminder that leadership remains uneven and the markets can’t go straight up forever.
- Market Intelligence
Bulls Take Control as Earnings and Energy Align
Markets surged to record highs this week, capping three straight weeks of gains as fears of a prolonged energy shock faded
- Research
Markets Rally on Fragile Peace as Inflation Roars Back
While pressure on global supply has not meaningfully changed, the recent price decline may offer some temporary relief as negotiations (hopefully) begin.
- Research
Markets Rally on Hope as Oil Risk Keeps Pressure High
President Trump’s Wednesday prime-time press conference turned into a meeting that should have been an email, since little new information was shared
- Active Investing
Inflation Reversal Risk Grows as Oil Surge Reshapes Market Leadership
For as long as the conflict stretches on, there will be little else that will dominate the market psyche, so get used to it.
- Research
AI Euphoria Fades as Markets Rotate Beneath a Calm S&P 500
U.S. equities slipped this week as investors faced the familiar problem of strong fundamentals and thick levels of uncertainty.
- Research
Stronger Jobs Cooling Inflation and an AI Jolt Rattle Stocks
It turned into a volatile week that pushed equities lower at the same time that underlying economic fundamentals began to show gradual improvement.
- Research
The Fed Hits Pause as Earnings Carry the Load
Patience will pay off for investors if they can manage risk well enough to avoid what appears to be an overreaction-prone market.
- Research
Policy Whiplash Meets Market Resilience: Stocks, Gold, and the Rotation Underway
The quickly shifting tides of White House policy can be paddled safely if you keep one eye on the horizon and don’t fight the current too hard.
- Research
Political Drama Is Loud—Market Fundamentals Are Louder
Equities remain steady. Market leadership is rotating and broadening as past champions fade and new ones advance.
- Research
The Market’s Message Is Clear: Trends Matter More Than Drama
Living in times of tumult, change, and growth is transformative... but it can also be difficult or dangerous. We live in interesting times.
- Research
Markets Hit a Fog Bank: Why the Fed’s Blind Spot Is Driving This Volatile Reset
Although the recent correction may feel jarring, the speed and magnitude of this year’s rally made a mood reset useful and potentially healthy.
- Research
Markets Brace for a Data Blackout Hangover: What Investors Need To Know Now
While the spending and growth will be made up for, it doesn’t change the damage done at a particularly precarious time for the economy.
- Research
Markets Blink, Not Break: Why November’s Pullback Looks More Like a Pause Than a Panic
Concerning statements from OpenAI mid-week led to a lot of speculation that the company may be in trouble.
- Active Investing
A Midlife Bull: The S&P 500’s Rally Is Older, Wiser, and Still Running Strong
Past bull markets have lasted five years on average, so unless the Fed or a recession crashes the party, this rally could easily have a few birthdays left.
- Research
Fear Is Back, the VIX Is Rising, and Gold Is Shining—Here’s What To Watch Now
After a six-month climb that lifted the S&P 500 by roughly 35% without a meaningful pullback, the rally finally hit some turbulence.
- Research
Markets Shrug Washington's Shut Down: What Investors Are Really Watching
The U.S. government shutdown has now stretched into its second week, making it the fourth-longest in history.
- Research
Markets Rally in the Dark: Why Investors Shrugged off the Government Shutdown
Despite the noise this is more noise than signal, the economy is entering this shutdown with momentum.
- Research
Momentum or Mirage? The Market’s Bullish Run Faces Its Toughest Test Yet
The standout was a sharp upward revision to second-quarter GDP, now at 3.8%, powered by resilient consumer spending and stronger business investment.
- Research
Stocks Rally, Bonds Flinch: Is the Fed’s Rate Cut the Start of Something Bigger?
Regardless, the market is ready to believe the best-case scenario and sent stocks uniformly higher.
- Research
Jobs Are Slipping, Inflation’s Sticking — And the Fed Is Cornered
Competing economic signals are arriving just in time for the Federal Reserve’s September 17 meeting, where rate cuts are widely expected.
- Research
Stagflation Watch: How a Slowing Labor Market Could Trigger the Fed’s Next Move
The unemployment rate crept up to 4.3%, the highest in three years but still low by historical standards.
- Research
Markets Rally on Fed Pivot Hopes — But Inflation Isn’t Done Yet
After losing ground for most of the week, the S&P 500 rallied over 1.5% on Friday, lifting the index just shy of an all-time high close.
