January 2024 Financial Bullet Points

Written by Bob Barber, Prepared on Dec 27th, 2023

The Bullet Points for January are:

1. Year-End Rally as Expected: As anticipated, a year-end rally materialized in Q4. This time it extended beyond the top 7 “woke” Big Tech stocks to the broader market, including the other 493 companies of the S&P 500, benefiting our Biblically Responsible active portfolios to end the year nicely.
2. Taking Profits, Rebalancing, and Lowering Equity: In December, we took profits on many individual stock holdings, rebalanced across portfolios, and lowered overall equity allocations by a third in anticipating potential profit-taking early this year. Most of our deep value biblically responsible stock picks were up in December, with 10 stocks up 30% or more. With little value left in some, we liquidated 9 positions and rebalanced the rest to capture gains before they could dissipate*. We are actively seeking new buying opportunities to replace the sold positions.
   *As of 12/18/2023, 40 stocks were up, and 9 stocks were down since the 10/19/2023 purchase. Excess cash was placed in a Schwab Value Advantage Money Fund until we reinvest it into 9-10 replacement stocks.
3. Declining Inflation. Inflation numbers continued improving in December, pleasing the Fed and markets. The Fed signaled possible rate cuts this year amid ongoing disinflation, driving 10-year Treasury yields back below 4% and benefiting mortgage rates.
4. CD Rates Trending Down.. With the Fed’s potential pivot, the 5.5-5.7% 1-2 year CD rates of the past year are vanishing. Expect rates in the low 4% range by mid-summer.
5. GDP Growth Encouraging US GDP grew 5.2% versus 2.7% a year prior, another positive economic indicator. This was also higher than the original reporting of 5.0%.
6. 2024 Election Year Outlook. 2024 is a presidential election year. The incumbent party typically stimulates the economy pre-election, which often helps markets.
7. Broader Returns Expected. Unlike last year’s concentration in a few stocks, returns should spread out more broadly in 2024, benefiting our active, Biblically Responsible portfolios.
8. Continuing Education. This month’s programs for Christian Financial Perspectives are:
   • • Setting Goals for 2024 (Jan 2nd)
     • Selling Financial Fear (Jan 9th)
     • Our Biblically Responsible Stocks Portfolio (Jan 16th)
     • Is a Rental Home a Good Investment (Jan 23rd)
     • 14 Characteristics of Financially Successful Christians (Jan 30th)

   Can’t watch it on YouTube? You can listen on any smartphone while driving, cooking, gardening, or taking daily walks through almost any podcast platform, any time of the day, by searching for Christian Financial Perspectives.
   Visit our channel: www.cfa.lc/yt

Until next time, we hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and look forward to 2024. That’s all for now.

If you would like further explanation of any of the bullet points mentioned, please call or text (830) 609-6986 during business hours or email us by clicking here.

Bob Barber, Founder & Owner
Christian Financial Advisors^®