
Commentary and Research Papers
August 19, 2025
2025
The markets have been exceptionally volatile this week, largely driven by the Trump administration’s aggressive tariff policies. With new tariffs imposed on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, and immediate retaliatory measures from these nations, investors are grappling with uncertainty. But beyond the immediate market reaction, some analysts and commentators have speculated that these moves are part of a broader economic strategy—a potential "hard reset" aimed at restructuring key financial dynamics.
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Commentary and Research Papers
August 19, 2025
2025
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) offer a unique triple tax exemption along with the possibility for long-term compounding, making them an exciting financial planning tool. Since HSA funds can be distributed at any time for qualified medical expenses, you have the option to pay out-of-pocket for current medical expenses (if your health and financial situation allows), invest the funds held within the HSA, and let the account grow tax-deferred over time.
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August 19, 2025
2025
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged savings account designed to help individuals pay for qualified medical expenses. HSA contributions do not have to be spent in the year funded and usually can be invested. This allows the HSA account to grow over time. Since Health Savings Accounts are funded with pre-tax dollars, grow tax-free, and allow tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses, these are the most tax efficient savings vehicles available under the U.S. tax code.
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August 19, 2025
2025
The Small Capitalization Value Portfolio (SCV) was doing well through the first 24 days of the month until the DeepSeek news rattled the markets on 1/25/2025. We have exposure to the AI/energy space through our longstanding holdings in BWX Technologies, Argan, Vicor, and, more recently, through our November purchase of Solaris Energy Infrastructure. These stocks performed well over the past few months and had grown into larger positions in the portfolio.
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August 19, 2025
2025
Stocks were volatile in January, responding to numerous market-moving developments but ultimately closing in positive territory. After a weak December, stocks initially rose in the first week of January on optimism about President-elect Trump’s pro-business policies. They then fell mid-month after stronger than expected economic data, as well as the potentially inflationary impact of President Trump’s policies, led some to wonder whether the Fed’s anticipated two rate cuts would come to fruition in 2025. The bond market also sold off, with the 10-year US Treasury yield reaching 4.79%, its highest yield since October 2023. But a subsequently favorable Consumer Price Index inflation reading, which showed a decelerating trend, surprised the market, leading to a rebound in bond prices and a strong rally in US equites. By January 24th, the S&P 500 index had risen to 2025’s first all-time high.
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Commentary and Research Papers
August 19, 2025
2025
Last week, President Trump announced the implementation of significant tariffs on goods exported from Mexico, Canada, and China. These tariffs threaten to raise prices and slow economic activity across all four countries. While Congress would usually be involved in setting tariffs, the actions came in the form of three executive orders, with the President claiming the right to impose the duties using emergency authority to combat the flow of illicit drugs, notably fentanyl. The orders will impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada (with the exception of Canadian energy products, where the rate is 10%), and 10% on goods imported from China.
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