This report explores a few key statistics that paint a picture of the Birmingham area economy. Our Birmingham Area Economic Report places the Birmingham area economy in a state, regional and national context. Click here to download the full report… Read More >
Municipal Market Update – January 2020
This month, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) held the target rate steady while long term US treasury rates declined, resulting in an inverted curve. Additionally, there are increasing probabilities in the futures market for multiple decreases in the target… Read More >
Municipal Market Update – December 2019
This month, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted unanimously to hold rates steady and the US treasury curve steepened moderately. The current target fed funds rate is 1.5-1.75% and the probability of a rate cut in 2020 has decreased… Read More >
Municipal Market Update – November 2019
The Fed did not meeting during the month, and fed chairman Jerome Powell has signaled that they plan to maintain the target rate of 1.5-1.75% when they meet in December. Overall, there has been a small upward parallel shift in… Read More >
The Importance of an Investment Policy Statement
I. Overview A written investment policy statement (IPS) provides guidelines and directions for the conscientious fiduciary. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) does not include a specific requirement that plans have a written IPS. The concept of a documented… Read More >
Making the Most of Year-End Giving
As the year comes to a close, you may be thinking of making financial gifts in addition to trying to buy a relevant gift for the picky tween in your life. Here are a few guidelines for both charitable gifts… Read More >
Georgia Banking Almanac – 3Q19
We are pleased to present the latest installment of Banking Almanac, a comprehensive report on all Georgia banks and thrifts with data as of and for the twelve months ended September 30, 2019. Click here for Banking Almanac in PDF. This… Read More >
Alabama Banking Almanac – 3Q19
We are pleased to present the latest installment of Banking Almanac, a comprehensive report on all Alabama banks and thrifts with data as of and for the twelve months ended September 30, 2019. Click here for Banking Almanac in PDF. This… Read More >
Municipal Market Update – October 2019
During October, the Fed set the target Fed Funds rate to 1.5% to 1.75%, marking the third quarter-point rate cut this year. Despite pressure, the Fed has signaled that they would not be decreasing the target rate further during 2019,… Read More >
Birmingham Area Economic Report, Q2 2019
This report explores a few key statistics that paint a picture of the Birmingham area economy. Our Birmingham Area Economic Report places the Birmingham area economy in a state, regional and national context. Click here to download the full report… Read More >
What’s It Worth, Summer 2019
U.S. private equity deal activity remains robust and continued fundraising and private equity dry powder (funds raised but not yet invested) will drive competition and push deal prices upwards. Private equity firms continue to search aggressively for smaller deals in… Read More >
Municipal Market Update – September 2019
The yield curve remains inverted to 10 years, as longer-term rates out to 30 years are hovering around all-time lows. The FOMC approved another quarter point rate cut this month over a split vote and will meet again in October…. Read More >
Municipal Market Update – August 2019
During August, the long end of the yield curve continued to decline and become more inverted, with the two-year US Treasury yielding more than the ten year. This is a negative signal on economic growth, likely due to the ongoing… Read More >
The Proposed SECURE Act and Your Retirement
Earlier this summer, the House of Representatives passed the SECURE Act (“Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement”) with bipartisan support and a nearly unanimous vote. As of the writing of this commentary, it stalled in the Senate, but reports… Read More >
Municipal Market Update – July 2019
During July, the FOMC voted to cut the current target fed funds rate by .25% to 2.0-2.25% for the first time since the Great Recession. Fed chairman Jerome Powell firmly expressed a level of optimism surrounding the current economic outlook… Read More >
Alabama Banking Almanac – 2Q19
We are pleased to present the latest installment of Banking Almanac, a comprehensive report on all Alabama banks and thrifts with data as of and for the twelve months ended June 30, 2019. Click here for Banking Almanac in PDF. This… Read More >
Municipal Market Update – June 2019
During June, the FOMC voted to maintain the current target fed funds rate of 2.25-2.5% despite vocal opposition from the outside. Threats of an inverted yield curve still loom although economic conditions are still holding up better than expected. Inflationary… Read More >
What’s It Worth, Spring 2019
U.S. private equity deal activity and total transaction value dipped slightly in Q1 2019, but prices on completed deals remain elevated. Continued record-breaking fundraising efforts and private equity dry powder (funds raised but not yet invested) will likely continue to… Read More >