James R. Wigen | Independent Financial Management, LLC l Top Independent Financial Advisory Firm

Active Stocks
DIA - Dow 30
SPY - S&P 500
QQQ - NASDAQ 100
GBTC - Bitcoin
GLD - Gold
AMZN
GOOG
HUBS
META
MSFT
NOW
NVDA
PLTR
QBTS
SNOW
SOUN
TSLA
TSM
Expectations in 2025?
My expectations for this year will be markets full of volatility, however, by the end of 2025, the markets will be higher from where they ended in 2024. Both 2023 & 2024 were very good to the S&P 500 Index, a third year of 20+ percent gains is unlikely.

This growth will continue with Large Cap Tech Stocks leading the way, and all signs are showing they will continue to do so.

I also think money will periodically leave the Tech sector and move to Large Cap Value, stocks that have strong consumer brands and have stumbled throughout 2024.

I do not see Health Care stocks doing well in 2025, with RFK Jr. and President Trump talking about getting rid of the Middle Man in Health Care, and to eliminate Pharmaceutical companies from running ads on TV, this sector will be one of the prime targets for DOGE to eliminate US Govt. costs.

Health Care is an area where reducing costs could help what DOGE is trying to accomplish, reducing Medicare Costs, and getting the US Govt. spending under control.

Reducing Drug Costs for Medicare would be an excellent way to reduce costs while not cutting tens of thousands of jobs in a very short period of time.

If that did end up happening, it certainly would impact the consumer spending numbers and impact the economy, not something the Trump administration is looking to hurt.

In 2025, the volatility will come from Mediocre Economic Data causing markets to rise with anticipation Federal Reserve will keep cutting rates as they did throughout 2024, followed by Mediocre Earnings Announcements with Lowered Forward Guidance by companies, causing the market declines.

When companies announce they are Lowering Future Expectations, that generally means their stock price drops.

Stocks are forward pricing, and Lowering Future Expectations tells investors to reduce expectations for accelerated growth rates enjoyed in the past, which most likely pushed the stock price higher.

My Greatest Concern for 2025

I am watching the 10 year Treasury yield to see if it reaches or exceeds 5%. If that even does happen, the Stock Market could see a healthy decline, as we have seen a couple times in the past two years.

In 2025, there are Trillions of dollars in US Debt needing refinancing, and the new rate will be much higher than in recent years.

These US Debt concerns could weigh heavily on the Stock Market in 2025, however, I am still predicting the Stock market will be higher at the end of 2025 than it was at the end of 2024.

So, WHAT DO I DO YOU ASK, keep investing in Pre-Tax accounts, especially if you are in a 30%-40% Tax Bracket, like 401Ks, Solo 401Ks, SEP & Simple IRAs, sit in Cash / Money Market Funds & collect your 4.25%+ yield, and Very Slowly Buy Stocks Fitting Within Your Risk Profile on market declines.

Negative Markets create Opportunity, although at the time, it seems very uncomfortable to Buy!

If you are looking to Earn Additional Income from your portfolio this year, look into a strategy called "Selling Covered Call Options".

This strategy can be a great source used to create Income from Stocks you already own.

For Stock ideas, Contact Me and I Will Evaluate Your Risk Profile.
401K & Solo 401K / IRA / Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2025
If you are under the age of 50, max contribution is $7,000 & if over 50 it's $8,000 for your IRA & Roth IRA.

Your 401K limit is $23,700 if under 50, $31,000 if over 50 years old.

For individual business owners, Solo 401K contributions in 2024 increased to $70,000 or $77,500 if age 50 or over.

Solo 401K contributions are based net- income from Self-Employment (i.e. you can't contribute more than you make).
How Much Should I Pay my Financial Advisor or Portfolio Manager?
The fees you will pay a Financial Advisor generally depend on how much money you are asking the Advisor to manage & whether part of those investment dollars include your 401K.

Try to avoid dealing with Financial Sales People who only want to charge you Commissions or try and Sell you A-share Mutual Funds.

Active Stocks

Apartment Savings

How Many Financial Advisors Talk to People About Apartment Leases? That’s Right, Not Very Many, IF ANY! IFM Does!

In Most Cases, it’s Better to Move and “Not Renew” your Current Apartment Lease, allowing you to Move and take advantage of other Apartment Move-In Specials, SAVING YOU THOUSANDS of DOLLARS!

Since the desire to Move for most people is so Low, people go ahead and Renew their Apartment Lease, accept a Higher Rental price at their Annual Renewal, and often times this prevents them from Saving Money & Adds to their Financial Struggles!

We all know Moving is not something most people like to do, but what if James told you it could Save You “Thousands” of Dollars, and potentially “Change Your Life”?

Most Apartments increase your Rent on the Annual Renewal, however, if you Move, your NEW Apartment Complex could offer you 4, 6, 8, 10 or even 12 weeks FREE Rent Credit.

If you name a DontRenew.rent Referral Realtor they provide you, on your Apartment Application, that Referral Realtor can receive Referral Money from the Apartment Complex, and they can share much of that Money With You, up to $1,500 depending on your monthly rent.

Visit DontRenew.rent for best Move-In Specials in TX!

You could earn Referral Money yourself through FREE Rent Credit, for Recruiting your Friends to Move Into your NEW Apartment Complex.

Example of Savings:

$2,000 per month in New Rental Apartment,

Rent Savings = $4,000 with 8 weeks FREE Rent Credit,

Special Rebate to Tenant, using DontRenew.rent Referral Realtor on Apartment Application as the Referral, up to $2,000 depending on your monthly rent price,

Rent Credit for Referrals to Apartment Complex After You Move-In = $2,000,

Not Renewing Your Current Apartment Lease, Saving 5% of $2,000 current rent = $1,200 year, (5% is national average for increase at renewal).

Total Savings for this example = $9,200

All of those Move-In Specials could total around $9,200, that is “Life Changing” Savings for Many Americans in a Very Short Period of Time!!

If this is something you want to take advantage of every year, to Maximize Savings, make sure you are not decorating your apartment and adding clutter that only makes moving the next year more difficult.

Get a 5×5 climate controlled storage unit, generally under $30 per month, to keep items you will not frequently need throughout the year.

There are plenty of Labor Only Movers that can help you Move for under $200, for 2 hours of work, as long as you have the Rental Truck; Uhaul, Penske, Home Depot, all good options.

Look for Labor Only Movers on the Uhaul website, you can review mover ratings, Uhaul holds your money until Move is Complete, and You Sign Off. Their website is very good, and will minimize the Horrific experience people have when moving!

DontRenew.rent also has many experienced Labor Only Movers & Cleaning Companies they can refer you too.

If you Live in TX, check out DontRenew.rent for the best Apartment Move-In Specials!!

IFM’s Market Updates

I Need Help With:

Page Link

Box Link