REACH YOUR GOALS
De-Risking Your Investment Portfolio
Depending on your financial goals and personal preferences, you may have a medium- to high-risk investment portfolio. However, if you’ve recently become concerned about one of the following situations, you may want to consider lowering your risk.
You’ve reconsidered your tolerance. Recently, investors who thought they could manage occasional market dips have changed their minds. One possible solution: investing in companies that sell essential daily household products, including consumer staples and utility stocks. Historically, they’ve been nearly 20% less volatile than the broad market.
You’re closing in on retirement. The five years before and after you retire can cause jitters, as a market downturn during these years could affect your portfolio at the same time you planned to start making withdrawals. You might consider lowering the risk in the medium-term portion of your portfolio, which may include adding some short- or intermediate-term bond funds.
Your job may be insecure. You may be concerned about the possibility of a layoff, especially if a friend or family member has had this happen. The best de-risking strategy for this situation is simple. Keep your portfolio allocation as is but focus on putting cash in an emergency fund to cover three to six months of living costs if you find yourself unemployed.
These tips are for educational purposes only. Consult a CFP, RIA or broker before making financial decisions, or contact your local APM Loan Advisor if you would like a referral.
Source: kiplinger.com
MORTGAGE IQ
Savvy shoppers have been stacking coupons for years, combining two or more discounts to maximize their savings. More recently, home buyers have discovered that stacking two or three housing-related incentives can work equally well. Here are some that you may be able to “stack” to create an affordable home purchase.
Ask about a buydown. A buydown is an incentive where the home seller pays to temporarily lower a buyer’s interest rate. This can translate into noticeably smaller mortgage payments for your first one to three years.
Look into 2026 state-level closing cost credits. Your state’s housing finance agency, department of community affairs, or housing authority is a great place to start. While you’re there, check for details of any new down payment assistance programs.
Don’t leave money on the table at tax time. After you move in, a visit to IRS.gov can turn up tax credits for new and established homebuyers. If you make any energy-efficient improvements to your new home, be sure to look at Form 5695.
If you’re planning to buy your first home this spring, connect with a local APM Loan Advisor. They may be able to help you find even more savings.
Source: fanniemae.com
FINANCIAL NEWS
March Jobs Report: More Hiring, Fewer Worries
The U.S. labor market bounced back in March, with job creation much stronger than expected. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payrolls rose by a seasonally adjusted 178,000. This was a reversal from the 133,000-job decrease recorded for February. In addition, February’s number was revised down by 41,000 while January was revised up by 34,000 to 160,000, putting the three-month average at around 68,000.
Positions in health care were responsible for much of the growth, with the sector adding 76,000 jobs. Construction saw an increase of 26,000, while transportation and warehousing posted a gain of 21,000.
On the downside, the federal government saw a loss of 18,000, while financial activities lost 15,000.
Be sure to check out the next article if you’d like to learn more about future job opportunities that will be created by data centers.
Source: cnbc.com
DID YOU KNOW?
Forget The Corner Office. Data Centers Want Trade Skills.
While anxiety around AI replacing white-collar jobs continues to make headlines, a less-discussed topic — the data center boom — is creating lucrative opportunities for skilled trade workers. This is because plenty of AI data centers are in the works, and they can’t build themselves.
Big Tech companies like Microsoft, Meta and Amazon are funneling billions into these facilities. Recently, Amazon announced a $12 billion commitment to build a new AI data center in Louisiana. The state will also house Meta’s new Hyperion data center, which is expected to consume more electricity than the city of New Orleans.
With thousands more planned for construction, this translates into additional jobs for tradespeople who install and repair mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. They’re no longer being described as blue-collar workers. Instead, recruiters have christened them “new-collar” staff whose skills will be considered equally valuable as those held by executives.
Wages for new-collar workers have already increased. For example, wages for HVAC engineers have increased by roughly 10% to 15% in the past four years, which is considerably higher than the 3% increase seen by middle-wage workers holding office, production and transportation jobs during 2019 to 2023. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has even predicted that six-figure salaries are on the horizon for data center staff.
One factor that will continue to drive new-collar salaries is the shortage of these workers. The National Association of Manufacturers has predicted a potential shortfall of 1.9 million by 2033, while the Associated Builders and Contractors group estimates that nearly half a million new workers will be needed as soon as next year.
Source: hiringlab.org
PERSONAL FINANCES
Credit Report Errors Are Rising. Here’s How to Fix Yours.
A recent report by nonprofit ProPublica found that massive funding cuts in 2025 have seriously reduced the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) ability to oversee the “big 3” credit bureaus Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
To complicate matters, consumer complaints about credit reporting errors have soared. In 2023, the CFPB forwarded approximately 1.3 million credit-related complaints to the appropriate credit bureau. During 2025, consumers filed nearly five million complaints with the CFPB regarding credit reporting, according to the National Consumer Law Center.
With the volume of complaints on the rise, it’s more important than ever to be vigilant. Credit-related mistakes can jeopardize your ability to get a credit card, auto loan, or job. They can also be extremely expensive if you’re planning to apply for a mortgage soon, as any credit error that reduces your FICO score may result in a higher mortgage interest rate.
According to the CFPB, the most common credit report mistakes are caused when a bureau records a consumer’s name, address, birthdate or Social Security number incorrectly. Combining your information with someone else whose name is identical to yours is another front-runner.
Other common errors:
-
Accounts or loans mistakenly listed as unpaid, or in collections
-
Individual loans listed multiple times
-
Fraudulent accounts listed as a result of identity theft
-
Incorrect current balance or credit limit
-
Closed accounts reported as open
-
Accounts that list you as the owner when you’re only an authorized user
You can get free weekly credit reports from each of the main credit bureaus by visiting annualcreditreport.com.
Source: cnbc.com
FOOD
Pot Roast Gyros
Want to serve something that everyone will enjoy personalizing? These Pot Roast Gyros are served with fresh pita bread and plenty of extras, so everyone can create their own meal. They’re especially delicious with creamy tzatziki sauce.
AROUND THE HOUSE
Relax In a Bedroom Hideaway
It doesn’t matter if you own your home or rent it — we tend to spend more time sprucing up the shared spaces that visitors see first, such as the living room. However, the bedroom is all yours, so you’re free to personalize it as you like.
This year, more interior decorators are being asked to assist with creating bedrooms that feel warmer, authentic, and reflect their inhabitants’ chosen lifestyles.
For those who want a bedroom that shields them from the outside world, consider adding some elements of what’s been dubbed the “cocoon bedroom”. Features include padded and upholstered headboards, and even upholstered wall panels to create a sense of calm. Fabrics like silk, mohair and washed linen soften acoustics and provide a tailored finish.
Another way to convert a bedroom into a quiet zone is to backtrack to the days before Wi-Fi and cell phones. Designers are getting requests to create analog bedrooms where cell phones and other Wi-Fi powered devices are prohibited — even in areas such as California’s Silicon Valley. Televisions are being removed or hidden behind panels so their occupants can disconnect, recharge and enjoy a better night’s sleep. If you’re looking for ways to improve your sleep quality, studies show that an analog bedroom can be the answer.
Source: elledecor.com
