Despite Friday’s sell-off, the S&P 500 is still up about 2.5% year-to-date - a solid return given all the noise in the headlines. Yet, I get the sense that many people don’t feel like they’re getting ahead in 2025. Inflation fears have resurfaced (I heard about it on the news and from my wife regarding egg prices—I still ate my eggs, though! 🥚).

The economy added jobs in January, and unemployment dipped to 4%. Normally, a strong job market would push interest rates higher, so the small rate increase to end the week wasn’t too surprising (albeit off a decline in rates earlier in the week). Wage growth ticked up, which always sparks concerns about inflation. But here’s where things get interesting—how can we simultaneously fear job losses due to AI and a wage spiral pushing inflation higher? Seems like a contradiction, but that’s the market for you—always noisy.

At Members' Wealth, we keep our focus on what matters. While headlines grab attention, the real work happens behind the scenes—the daily pursuit of continuous improvement that drives long-term success. This week, we used the market’s volatility to refine inefficiencies in our trading systems. Even when there’s little visible trading in portfolios, our team is constantly working. For example:

✅ Tim Thomas, our operator and compliance officer, monitors portfolios to maintain target weightings, manage concentration risks, and ensure we practice what we preach.
✅ Tim Macarak, CFP brings real-time client insights—what they’re thinking, how they’re feeling, and what they need—so we stay aligned with their goals.
✅ Our investment team rigorously reviews current positions, searches for new opportunities, and adapts to an evolving market.

Much of this work happens beneath the surface, like an iceberg—what’s visible is only a fraction of what’s really going on. But rest assured, we’re working every day to get better, not just when the headlines scream for attention.

Investment advisory services offered through Member's Wealth, LLC, a registered investment advisor. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is a stock market index of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. The S&P 500 index is designed to be a broad based unmanaged leading indicator of U.S. equities and is meant to reflect the risk/return characteristics of the large cap universe or representative of the equity market in general. The National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) is an American stock market that handles electronic securities trading around the world. The Russell 2000 index is an index measuring the performance of approximately 2,000 small-cap companies in the Russell 3000 Index, which is made up of 3,000 of the biggest U.S. stocks. The Russell 2000 serves as a benchmark for small-cap stocks in the United States. Visit www.russell.com/indexes/ for more information regarding Russell indices. The MSCI EAFE Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed markets, excluding the US & Canada. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets. The Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index, is a broad base, market capitalization-weighted bond market index representing intermediate term investment grade bonds traded in the United States.

About the Author – Dane Czaplicki, CFA®

Dane Czaplicki is CEO of Members’ Wealth, a boutique wealth management firm that offers a comprehensive approach to serving individuals, families, business owners, and institutions. The firm’s goal is to preserve and grow its clients’ wealth to endure over time, while thoughtfully evolving its strategy to suit an ever-changing world. With over 20 years of wealth management experience, Dane and the Members' Wealth team thrive on bringing clarity and confidence to clients' unique situations. He believes everyone needs sound financial advice from someone whose interests are aligned with theirs, and is determined to put service before all else.

Dane received his MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and his bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University. Outside work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, hiking and camping, reading, running, and playing with his dog. To learn more about Dane, connect with him on LinkedIn.

To get in touch with the Members’ Wealth team today, I invite you to email info@memberswealthllc.com or call (267) 367-5453. 

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