Robertson Stephens Weekly Commentary – February 18, 2025

It is more than a bit unusual, in an economy growing almost 3% and an unemployment rate at 4%, to suddenly see so many Google (and ChatGPT) searches on the subject of US Unemployment Benefits. Normally, questions about unemployment benefits materialize when an economy is weakening, the unemployment rate is rising and in the context of speculation about the strength of the social safety net for individuals impacted by job loss and consumer spending collectively. The S&P 500 hovered near its all-time highs, while the bond market ended the week with gains (price up / Yield down) as weaker-than-expected retail sales rekindled hopes for Federal Reserve rate cuts. A rally in Treasuries drove the 10-Year Yield below 4.5%, marking its fifth consecutive week of gains—the longest streak since 2021. On the wealth planning front, we talk about how inflation can affect your wealth plan and how you can navigate it.