We’re excited to announce that Heather Smith has recently joined Salem Five Insurance as its President. Her expertise and leadership both in personal and commercial lines will help guide a new era for Salem Five Insurance. Heather brings her 25 years of leadership experience in both personal and commercial lines for the benefit of our Insurance customers regionally. 

As COO of a managing general agent (MGA) insurance company specializing in program business and then Zone Vice President for New England for a national insurance carrier she has delivered strong financial results and built teams focused on exceptional customer service.

With seven area offices and more than 80 employees, Salem Five Insurance is poised for continued success. Especially with Heather at the helm. The company’s goal is to be a leader in innovation and customer service – continually adapting to meet the needs of clients while maintaining a strong commitment to community and excellence. 

Some newer product offerings and updates on the horizon include specialized products for protecting businesses. Salem Five Insurance now has a comprehensive Cyber Insurance offering to protect against the growing threat of cyber attacks, data breaches, hacks and other cyber incidents. In addition, Salem Five Insurance will be offering customized coverage for companies in the technology and life sciences industries. 

And for customers seeking high value personal insurance for their luxury vehicles, homes, art and antiques, Salem Five Insurance has recently partnered with carrier Berkley One to protect these higher value assets. Berkley One specializes in personalized solutions for this demographic. We’re excited to add another carrier to our roster. 

Salem Five Insurance aims to be customers’ first choice for reliable, responsive and customized solutions – whether their needs are simple or complex. Salem Five Insurance is committed to delivering comprehensive coverage with personalized service – all in an effort to build lasting relationships that provide our customers with security and ultimately, peace of mind. 

About Salem Five Insurance

Insurance products offered through Salem Five Insurance Services, LLC. Insurance products are not FDIC insured, not bank guaranteed, not a deposit and not insured by any federal government agency.

As a Salem Five customer, you may already count on the Power of Five. We are introducing our new advertising campaign which showcases how we empower customers and give them the confidence to make things happen – whether it’s buying a house, building a business or financing your life. We know you need a financial partner you can feel empowered by, with easy-to-use tools, personalized service and financial guidance you can trust. Count on us for the power of possibility. The power of grit. The power to make your move. We highlight five (of course!) pillars defining our approach and customer promise:

 INNOVATION

 DEDICATION

 COMMUNITY

 STRENGTH

 EXPERTISE

Salem Five Wealth Management & Trust provides some insight in terms of what's happening and what's expected for the economy this year. After a period of steady growth for the economy, some cooling is starting to take effect. Although the transition to slower growth is bringing some volatility, it may actually be good for stocks as it eases some of the inflation pressure and can pave the way for more Federal Reserve rate cuts. That would also be helpful for fixed income investors, who are already off to a good year in 2025 with bonds yields still at attractive levels. Another good sign for stocks is that earnings remain strong, with Q4 delivering solid year over year growth for corporations. Although ’25 earnings might not reach the double digit gains of last year, the earnings outlook remains good enough to support stock gains. Although there is uncertainty with tariffs and policy changes, we are cautiously optimistic for the 2025 outlook:

Click below to learn more and read this month's letter.

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Below are some tried and true reminders for investors overall:

• The herd is often wrong: don’t assume Wall Street always has it right
• The trend is your friend: technical analysis can assist in guiding smart decisions
• We’re still bullish: bull markets tend to run for awhile, lasting ~5 years on average
• It’s all about the earnings: Earnings drive stock prices and the S&P 500 companies earnings are expected to grow in 2025
• Time in the Market beats Timing in the Market: Focus on the long term. Don’t be skittish because of short-term news headlines