Resources

08/21/2026

Concerned You May Have Claimed Social Security Too Soon?

Choosing when to begin Social Security can be one of the more important decisions in retirement planning. Benefits can generally begin as early as age 62, but claiming early results in a lower monthly benefit, while delaying can provide a larger benefit later. But retirement doesn't always unfold exactly as planned. Perhaps your investments perform better than anticipated, you receive an unexpected inheritance or other windfall, you ...

08/14/2026

Capital Gains - Noteworthy Insights for Investors

When an investment increases in value, the growth is certainly something to celebrate. But eventually selling an appreciated investment can also create an important tax consideration—capital gains. Our focus this week explores key considerations related to capital gains. What Do We Mean By The Term "Capital Gain"? A capital gain generally occurs when you sell a capital asset for more than your adjusted cost basis. Capital assets can ...

08/07/2026

July's Summary Data and Notable Observations

Our focus this week summarizes July's market performance while providing key observations for investors. July was a month in which the headline indexes went almost nowhere while a great deal happened underneath. The S&P 500 finished essentially flat, slipping 0.06%, and the Dow eked out a 0.38% gain, but the Nasdaq Composite shed 3.19% as investors soured on AI capital spending mid-month before a late rally on strong mega-cap earnings ...

07/31/2026

Common Financial Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them

Building long-term financial security involves discipline and informed decision-making. While executing sound strategies is important, it's also crucial to avoid common mistakes that can quietly derail your progress. In many cases, the biggest setbacks are not caused by a single poor decision, but rather by delaying action or not fully understanding common money traps. The good news is that these pitfalls are often preventable. By ...

07/17/2026

Mid-Year Financial Tune-Up

As we move past the halfway point of the year, our focus this week encourages investors to pause, reflect, and make any adjustments before year-end. A mid-year review gives you the chance to celebrate what's going well, identify areas that may need attention, and make small changes that can have a meaningful impact over time. Let's get started! Review Where Your Money is Going Reviewing spending is both important and necessary ...

07/10/2026

5 Market Observations Entering Q3 2026

Our focus this week identifies key market observations and themes—as we reflect on June's data and transition into the third fiscal quarter. 1. June Was Mixed, Not Weak Everywhere June looked worse at the headline level than underneath the surface. The S&P 500 fell 0.95%, and the NASDAQ dropped 2.75%, largely because AI-heavy stocks pulled back. But the Dow gained 2.71%, the Russell 1000 Value rose 2.27%, and the Russell 2000 was up 3 ...

07/03/2026

2026 Second Quarter Market Summary

Earlier this week, the second quarter (Q2) officially drew to a close on Tuesday, June 30th. You may remember Q1 closed earlier this year with the S&P 500 down -4.6% on March 31st. Stocks staged a dramatic comeback in the second quarter of 2026, making for their best quarter since the spring of 2020. Investors looked past the volatility from the Iran war and growing expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. The rally was led ...

06/26/2026

Key Aspects of Financial Planning for New Parents

For most new parents, focusing on the big picture is not easy. You're sleep-deprived, juggling naps and feeding schedules, and excited about the youngest blessing in your life. However, talk to any parent and nearly all will comment on how quickly time passes. The time between kindergarten graduation and high school graduation is difficult to slow down. This week, our focus examines key areas of financial planning for new parents. Don't ...

06/19/2026

Warsh's First Meeting as Fed Chairman

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve concluded its June meeting by leaving interest rates unchanged, but investors paid close attention to a historic first appearance from new Federal Reserve Chair* Kevin Warsh. While no immediate policy changes were announced, the meeting provided insight into how Warsh may approach monetary policy, inflation, and communication with financial markets. Our focus this week examines key takeaways from Warsh ...

06/11/2026

SpaceX's Historic Public Opening

SpaceX's debut marks one of the most anticipated stock offerings in market history. Our focus this week highlights key components of the historic IPO. What is an IPO? An Initial Public Offering (IPO) occurs when a privately owned company sells shares to the public for the first time. Before an IPO, ownership is generally limited to founders, employees, venture capital firms, and other private investors. After the IPO, anyone with a ...