Cotton Wealth Management Associates

09/25/2026

With great wealth comes even greater questions. Learn more in our article.

Preserve your high net worth with these foundational tips.

09/23/2026

Buying a home may be your largest financial commitment. Which loan is best for your situation?

When selecting a mortgage, one of the most critical choices is between a fixed or variable interest-rate mortgage.

09/21/2026

Stocks ended last week mixed as investors navigated the Fed’s rate decision, Treasury yields, oil prices, and the volatile AI trade. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 0.09 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.72...

09/21/2026

🏠 Homebuyers are stepping back as mortgage rates climb higher, fast.

Total mortgage application volume fell 4.1% last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Applications for a home purchase were down 1% for the week and 19% lower than the same week a year ago.

Refinance applications felt it even more, dropping 9% for the week and sitting 65% below year-ago levels.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage climbed to 6.97% last week, and by Tuesday it had moved even higher, to 7.22%, according to Mortgage News Daily. That's nearly a full percentage point above where rates sat a year ago.

🔑 Rates aren't the only pressure buyers are weighing. Home prices remain elevated in many areas, and while more homes have come on the market, much of that added supply sits at the higher end.

For many households, higher borrowing costs paired with higher prices are making the buy-or-wait decision a harder one to call.

This is exactly the kind of shift worth walking through together, especially if a purchase or refinance has been somewhere on your radar.

Mortgage rates have surged to the highest level since the start of 2025, causing a major pullback in mortgage demand.

09/21/2026

Three steps may make a difference if you find yourself suddenly single.

09/18/2026

Leasing a car? Consider gap insurance to protect against losses that may not be covered by your current policy.

09/16/2026

🗞️ Treasury made an unusually large move to calm a shaky corner of the bond market.

On September 10, the Treasury bought back up to $6 billion in 10- and 20-year notes, up from its typical $2 billion operation. Despite the move, yields kept climbing: the 10-year note reached 4.841%, the 20-year hit 5.314%, and the 30-year climbed to 5.307%, levels not seen since before the 2008 financial crisis.

🛢️ The pressure isn't coming from one place. Government debt has grown, tariffs and geopolitical tension have kept inflation concerns alive, and oil prices have climbed back above $100 a barrel.

Higher Treasury yields don't stay contained to the bond market. They tend to show up in mortgage rates 🏠, auto loans, and credit cards, which is why moves like this are worth watching even if bonds aren't something you follow day to day.

The much-anticipated announcement triples the normal buyback operation and follows an announcement from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

09/16/2026

Personality vs. Pocketbook: Should you lease, finance, or pay cash for your next car?

Whatever your relationship with your car, it may eventually come time for a new one. Familiarize yourself with your options.

09/15/2026

Stocks fell over a shortened trading week as higher oil prices rattled investors. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index declined 0.80 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index edged down 0.66 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1...

09/14/2026

📦 Wholesale prices moved higher in August, with the Producer Price Index rising 0.4% for the month, right in line with expectations.

On an annual basis, headline PPI was up 5.4%, while core PPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.2% for the month.

Energy was one of the biggest drivers. ⚡ Final demand energy prices increased 4.2%, while goods prices overall rose 1.1%. Services prices increased just 0.1%.

The latest report adds another piece to the inflation picture as the Federal Reserve weighs its next interest-rate decision.

For consumers and businesses alike, wholesale price trends are worth watching because they may eventually show up in the cost of everyday goods and services.

The producer price index was expected to rise 0.4% in August, according to the Dow Jones consensus forecast.