What’s New at GPW

Not only does March bring warmer, windier weather, but it also brings exciting updates from your team at Gentry! Take a look below as we introduce our newest team member, announce office move updates, and discuss our latest market and economic outlook and how this impacts our portfolio’s positioning.

Jeff Wetta, RPS and Dustin Jackson, CFP® RICP®
Managing Partners

Your Market Update

While we continue to have a positive outlook for 2024, the odds of a soft landing, hard landing, or no landing are revised each week. We continue to monitor all the data as it comes in, maintain a balanced focus, and position our portfolio to help drive solid returns and manage risk.

The S&P 500 was up 1.6% in January and rallied even more in February, with the index up approximately 7.2% year-to-date at the time of writing. Much of this recent market strength comes from continued vigor in the economy, combined with solid earnings and guidance from companies as they report Q4 2023 earnings. February’s CPI numbers came in higher than expected at 3.1%, and core inflation (ex-food and energy) at 3.9%, somewhat dampening hopes for Fed rate cuts this year. Additionally, reasonably tough talk from Jerome Powell, the Chairman of the Fed, regarding the slower pace of interest rate cuts initially caused some market volatility. However, equity markets have shrugged off the prospect of a “higher-for-longer” rate environment and investors continue to fuel markets.

Going forward, we remain invested in a broad mix of securities anchored by the S&P 500 in our equity holdings, augmented by growth notes and attractively yielding dividend stocks. We also maintain our position that there is solid opportunity in private assets. To take advantage of the “higher-for-longer” interest rate environment, we are adding private credit. Within fixed income, we continue to hold mid-duration positions while trying to take advantage of high short-term rates while we can. Partnered with yield notes that can capitalize on moments of volatility, we hope to continue to drive a higher yield. Overall, our portfolio continues to remains balanced and diversified as we seek to drive risk-adjusted returns.

Sevasti Balafas, CFA, CPWA®
CEO & Founder
GoalVest Advisory

Sources: Invesco, Apollo, JP Morgan Asset Management, Goldman Sachs, Ycharts, Bloomberg

Happy Work Anniversary!

Marissa joined our team three years ago and we couldn’t be more thankful and appreciative of her support!

If you call into the office next month, feel free to wish Marissa happy three years!

Welcome Back Amy Tennison!

Amy began her career in financial services in 2019. She seeks to improve overall processes and create solutions to better our firm and client experience. Amy is attentive to our clients’ needs and knowledgeable of our advisors’ skillsets. Her attention to detail, hospitality, and welcoming personality allows her to enhance the foundation for Gentry Private Wealth’s communication and service. As the Director of Client Relations, she strives to highlight the core strengths of Gentry Private Wealth to our clients through excellent customer service and first-rate marketing incentives.

We’re Moving

If you’ve been to our office recently, you may have noticed that we added workspaces to accommodate our expanding team. With the happy dilemma of where to fit all these team members, we have been searching for a new home base. This May, we are moving to 8415 E 21st St. N Suite 150 Wichita, KS 67206.

Check back in with future newsletters to see progress updates!