Wisdom for Your
Financial Journey

The third quarter 2021 economic outlook examines rising inflation concerns as the U.S. economy recovers from the pandemic, exploring inflation's sources, government policy impacts, and portfolio strategies to protect purchasing power and achieve financial goals despite this hidden tax on consumers.

Less than two months after signing the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, President Biden announced two additional plans of comparable size. The American Jobs Plan focuses on physical infrastructure, and the American Families Plan concentrates on what some are calling human or social infrastructure. These plans also include tax increases on corporations and wealthy individuals.

The first quarter of 2021 saw U.S. equities surge nearly 80% from pandemic lows, prompting debate about whether markets have entered bubble territory. This economic review examines market performance across asset classes, stimulus effects, vaccine rollout progress, and rising inflation concerns while exploring portfolio positioning strategies for the current investment environment.

Homebuyers from coast-to-coast are feeling the heat from the housing market. Every major region in the U.S. is experiencing strong appreciation in home prices. Nationally, per the S&P Case-Shiller Index, prices are up 12% over the last year, which is the biggest gain since February 2006.1 This trend has some people wondering if the housing market is at risk of overheating as it did back then.

The first quarter 2021 economic review examines how markets recovered from 2020's COVID-19 pandemic with strong stock returns driven by vaccine developments, election clarity, and government stimulus. The outlook highlights both uncertainties and opportunities ahead as the economy works toward normalcy, with detailed analysis of asset class performance across equities, bonds, and commodities.

Drawing on decades of executive experience, Russ Crosson argues that great leadership is measured less by personal achievement than by the success of those who follow. What Makes a Leader Great offers a biblical, others-focused model for executives, managers, and anyone responsible for developing people.

In Your Life…Well Spent, Russ Crosson challenges readers to weigh financial and life choices by their eternal impact rather than short-term gain. The book helps families decide how to invest their time and money in ways that strengthen relationships and leave a lasting, faith-rooted legacy.

Russ Crosson confronts the common myths people believe about money—from "more is always better" to "it's all mine"—and replaces them with biblical truth. The Truth About Money Lies helps families align financial decisions with God's wisdom and pass sound principles on to the next generation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging markets face real challenges, but many are better positioned today than historically to weather economic crises. While risks vary by region—with Asia showing stronger pandemic response and Asia-focused equities comprising most EM indexes—emerging markets overall have larger foreign exchange reserves, sounder fiscal positions, and favorable long-term growth.

In April 2020, oil prices briefly fell below zero as coronavirus lockdowns crushed demand and storage capacity became constrained. This summary examines what unprecedented negative oil pricing means for investors, how Blue Trust's diversified commodity allocation helped weather the collapse, and why the firm maintains measured exposure to commodities alongside stocks and bonds.

Markets trade on future expectations rather than current conditions, which explains why the stock market rallied over 30% since March lows despite worsening economic data. Potential drivers of the rebound include government stimulus, optimism about medical treatments, decreased uncertainty, and the possibility that initial losses were oversold.

During market volatility, a comprehensive financial plan serves as a steadying guide for investment decisions. This piece explains how historical market recoveries, disciplined portfolio positioning, and adherence to long-term financial plans help investors avoid emotionally driven mistakes during downturns and capitalize on eventual market rebounds.