Happy Friday and Happy New Year! It’s Jan. 19, 2024. We have three great stories to wrap up the past few weeks in markets, business, and the economy for you and your family.

Here are the highlights:


Apple Lost Its Crown: Why Analysts are Turning on the iPhone Creator

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For more than a decade, Apple has been the world’s most valuable company. But even after a 48% increase in its stock last year, it started the year by ceding that crown to Microsoft — and analysts think it might not be in any shape to regain its glory anytime soon.

Why does it matter for EarlyBird families?

Apple might be a convenient punching bag considering it underperformed the tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 last year, but its weak 2023 demonstrates the value of passive investing: some companies will have good years and others will have bad years. That’s why buying a diversified portfolio is the easiest and most-effective way to generate wealth — and worry less about individual stocks.

Bonds are the Asset to Watch in 2024: Here’s Why

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Over the last 22 months, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates in an effort to diffuse sky-high inflation — and now, they’re preparing to declare victory. This year, Federal Reserve members expect that America’s central bank will start cutting rates from their highest point in 22-years. Their decisions could affect every aspect of the U.S. economy, but one asset in particular will be worth watching: bonds.