March 2025 Financial Bullet Points

Written by Bob Barber, Matthew Barrovecchio, and Don VandeVanter; Prepared on February 21st, 2025

The Bullet Points for March are:

1. 1. Corporate Engagement for God: As many companies remove their DEI initiatives, corporations are becoming more Biblically responsible. Tractor Supply and Lowe’s are two recent examples. Inspire, a Biblically responsible investment firm played a part in this by prioritizing engagement efforts to encourage organizations to remove practices that go against God’s Word. Investing in a Biblically responsible portfolio is one potential way for investors to support these efforts. President Trump’s agenda against corporate DEI policies is another reason companies are returning to merit-based practices.
   2. Tariffs: President Trump has begun his second term with a series of changes, including imposing tariffs on imports from a few countries. While these tariffs may positively impact US revenue and assist in balancing the trade deficit, some companies paying these tariffs may offset them by elevating their prices and increasing consumer costs.
   3. Inflation and Interest Rates: In February, the Consumer Price Index for January, a measure of costs in goods and services across the U.S. economy, accelerated at a seasonally adjusted rate of 0.5%, while the Producer Price Index, which measures what producers get for their goods and services for, increased by a seasonally adjusted rate of 0.4% on the month. This was more inflation than expected for both indicators, providing further incentive for the Federal Reserve to hold the line for any more interest rate decreases for a while.
   4. The Trump Honeymoon: The honeymoon the markets had with Trump the first few months after the elections is now starting to wane over all the expectations of what he could do to drive the markets higher, especially concerning the 2nd point above about tariffs, which hurts free trade in the markets. Since the initial push higher in the stock market for about a month after the election, equity prices have gyrated up and down to almost breakeven since then.
   5. Major Purchases and Significant Financial Decisions: Before you make that next big financial decision, like buying a new car or doing an extensive remodel, we are here to help you make the best financial decision and protect you from making poor ones or being taken advantage of.
   6. Continuing Education and Scriptures. This month’s programs for Christian Financial Perspectives are listed below along with our Scriptures for the month:
      • Ep 221 – 3/11/25 – The Power of Compounding
      • Ep 222 – 3/25/25 – Tax Efficient Asset Location
      • Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

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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
Senior Wealth Advisor & President

Matthew Barrovecchio, CFP®
Senior Wealth Advisor

Don VandeVanter, CPA
Wealth Advisor

Christian Financial Advisors^®