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

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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.

Custom Portfolios

The first investment dollar most people spend is in their 401k plan. Those plans have only Mutual Fund investment choices, including, Equity Funds, Bond Funds & Money Market Funds. Some people have 20-25 investment choices in their 401k, others have between 5-10.

We understand that it’s hard to achieve the annual percentage rate people need when they only have a few investment choices in their 401k, and all of their investment choices consist of Mutual Funds. Once you retire or leave your employer, you should rollover the funds in your 401k plan to a self-directed IRA!

Self-directed IRAs have several thousand investment choices, ranging from individual Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Annuities & even Real Estate can be purchased in a IRA. The more money you have to invest, the more you may want to hire a Private Portfolio Manager to Customize your investment accounts.

Several years ago, around 1998, you needed to have a minimum of $100,000 worth of investment dollars to hire your own Private Portfolio Manager. IFM has no account minimum requirements.

Advantages of hiring your own Private Portfolio Manager versus Mutual Funds

A Private Portfolio Manager will generally meet with you, understand what annual percentage or annual income you need from your investment dollars to get you into and through retirement. If you invest through Mutual Funds, your money is combined with other investors and the actual Manager or Managers have no idea who you are or what annual return or annual income you need to meet your goals.

IFM can be hired as your Private Portfolio Manager! IFM has over 27 years of experience as a Portfolio Manager & Financial Advisor.

IFM charges an annual fee based on the investment dollars you give him to manage.

IFM is not paid commissions on each investment transaction, only an annual fee, which you both agree on. The fee is billed quarterly, but is based on a annual percentage of the investment dollars IFM is responsible for managing.

This Fee-Based arrangement allows you and IFM’s interests to be aligned, both parties want to see your account grow and not decline.

Contact IFM to schedule a time to discuss your interest in Hiring him as your Private Portfolio Manager or Financial Advisor!

James Chartered Asset Manager CAM®, Chartered Financial Manager ChFM®, Chartered Portfolio Manager CPM®, Chartered Wealth Manager CWM® designations were earned through Global Academy of Finance and Management or GAFM®.

Investing involves serious risks and past performance is no guarantee of future performance or success. This is not an offer to buy or sell securities and nothing contained herein should be interpreted as a recommendation regarding any investment or investment strategy. Before making any decision to invest, first read the relevant disclosures and important information provided to you.

Please take the proper risk for your current situation and get the advice from a financial professional who clearly understands your current & future goals and objectives.

Investments are NOT FDIC INSURED * MAY LOSE VALUE * NO BANK GUARANTEE

All opinions expressed by James R. Wigen on this website are solely his opinions and do not reflect the opinions of IFP Advisors, LLC, dba Independent Financial Partners, (IFP). Investment Advice offered through IFP Advisors, LLC, dba Independent Financial Partners (IFP), a Registered Investment Adviser. IFP and Independent Financial Management, LLC (IFM), are not affiliated.

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