AI Disruption, Fed Pause, and Rotating Equity Leadership: What’s Driving Markets Now
Executive Summary Over the next few months, the market is navigating a delicate balance of a strong economy, soft labor market conditions, AI disruption vs. destruction, and a Fed pause. The narrative centers on a near-perfect outcome: a soft landing, strong earnings growth, AI capex that both boosts productivity and generates revenue, and a tailwind […]
Class of 2026 Job Market: Helping Your College Graduate Navigate Entry-Level Hiring Challenges
Recent headlines surrounding the “Class of 2026” have raised understandable concerns among parents and students alike that entry-level jobs are disappearing. Hiring outlooks for new graduates are being described as the weakest since the pandemic, prompting questions about whether the return on a costly degree may be delayed or diminished. These concerns are not isolated. […]
Key Data Delays and Investor Priorities: What to Watch This Week
Data releases from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) — and from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), which uses BLS economists and staffers to prepare some of its data — continue to be erratic and uncertain. The very short partial government shutdown last week, as a result of the fight over budget appropriations for ICE, interrupted and delayed […]
Charitable Remainder Trusts: How CRTs Can Manage Capital Gains and Provide Income
You may have encountered Charitable Remainder Trusts in conversations with others after a liquidity event or through tax professionals discussing strategies for managing large unrealized gains. In the appropriate situation, a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) can help address tax efficiency, income planning, and charitable objectives simultaneously. How a CRT Works A Charitable Remainder Trust is a split-interest trust funded with appreciated assets […]
Markets Reprice Risk as Fed Signals Caution and Breadth Broadens
Executive Summary The S&P 500 returned +0.3% for the week, recovering from a mid-week wobble. The Fed held interest rates steady and signaled no rush to lower rates amid a strong economy, while tech stocks fell with a weak outlook from Microsoft with investors questioning the timeframe for returns on its AI-related spending. However, markets looked favorably […]
With Warsh at the Fed, Markets Shift Focus to Fiscal Leadership
Donald Trump has nominated his new Federal Reserve Chairman, Kevin Warsh. The choice is largely considered a sensible one, validated by most of Wall Street, global financial markets and other central bankers. Coming on the heels of a Federal Open Market Committee meeting that was notable for its lack of surprises, and for encouraging statements about the US economy, one can sense a collective sigh […]
Tariff Turbulence Fades, Underlying Trends Hold Firm
Executive Summary Markets were choppy last week as policy headlines drove shifts in risk sentiment. Tariff-related developments sparked early-week volatility, though conditions stabilized as concerns eased. The S&P 500 finished the week in negative territory for the second consecutive week, where leadership continued to rotate beneath the surface. Small-cap, value, and equal-weight indexes outperformed, while technology […]
Top Financial Planning Priorities for 2026: New Tax Rules, OBBBA Changes, and Key Risks
Last year, the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) preserved many key provisions of the federal tax code for individuals, including lower marginal income tax rates and a higher estate tax exemption. However, several planning rules have changed quietly. Provisions from recent legislation – most notably the SECURE 2.0 Act – are now taking […]
Shutdown Risks and a Fed Decision: Markets on Alert
Congress moves unexpectedly back into the economic picture, as talk of a partial government shutdown on Friday has re-emerged with power and possibility. If investors thought that the only news hitting them this week would be just another boring Federal Reserve meeting, the fight over Department of Homeland Security funding should spice things up nicely. […]
Markets Hold Steady as Value and Small Caps Lead
Executive Summary Equity indexes were mixed last week, with small-cap and value stocks adding to their year-to-date leads over large-cap and growth-oriented shares. The Russell 2000 and S&P MidCap 400 Indexes advanced, reaching all-time highs during the week, while large-cap indexes pulled back from the prior week’s record levels. Value stocks outpaced their growth counterparts for the third straight […]
Why a Comprehensive Wealth Plan Is Your Most Important Financial Investment
In personal finance, conversations often center on strategies like Roth conversions or generation-skipping trusts. These tools can be useful in the right situations but using them without a broader framework is risky. The real risk isn’t missing a sophisticated strategy – it’s making decisions without a clear plan. That’s why we recommend starting with a wealth plan. A wealth plan provides structure and […]
Rethinking ‘Data‑Driven’: Why Friedman’s Long‑View Philosophy Matters Again
Slightly more than a week before a critical Federal Reserve interest rate meeting, the outlook on prices has been muddied once again by uncertainty over tariffs. Potential fiscal policy actions involving credit card rate caps, oil price manipulation, or home buyer subsidies have also been disruptive. The best way for monetary policy authorities to think […]