Keeping You Informed 

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

Humans have a long history of training animal behaviors. How successful are we in training our own behavior, especially when it comes to money? The field that studies human reactions when it comes to investing is known as behavioral finance. Over 50 years of research tells us that people can be prone to both cognitive and emotional biases that often lead to suboptimal outcomes. Most investors understand that we cannot directly control how markets will behave, how the economy will perform, or what policymakers will do in Washington. However, we can learn to control our own behavior in response to events and headlines.

What are new tax laws you can take advantage of in 2026? As former Senator Max Baucus once observed, "tax complexity itself is a kind of tax." While this is the case every year, this is especially true in 2026 as many significant tax policy changes create new tax and financial planning opportunities. From new restrictions on retirement catch-up contributions to expanded deduction limits, understanding these tax law changes is essential for making informed decisions in the coming year. These changes require careful planning at the start of the year, particularly those over the age of 50 with higher incomes. Rather than viewing tax policy shifts as individual changes, informed taxpayers can view them as opportunities to refine their strategies and strengthen their long-term plans.

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

2025 was a historically strong year for markets despite the many events that took place along the way. The past year delivered no shortage of headlines including April's tariff announcements, ongoing developments in artificial intelligence stocks, the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and more. Yet through it all, investors are likely happy as U.S. stocks rose to new record highs, international markets outperformed, and bonds continued their rebound. The S&P 500 has now generated double-digit returns in six of the past seven years and has nearly doubled in value since the market bottom in 2022.

The arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces represents an unexpected and significant geopolitical event. As has been widely reported, the U.S. military successfully conducted an operation that detained Maduro on charges related to drug trafficking and corruption. President Trump stated in a press conference that the United States will "run" Venezuela and work to expand its oil production. While the humanitarian and geopolitical implications for the Venezuelan people and the region are most important, investors may naturally wonder: What do the actions in Venezuela mean for their portfolios? The move raises many questions around the role of the U.S. in the region, whether this will pave the way for democratic elections in Venezuela? the effect on the narcotics trade? if oil production will increase meaningfully, and how it will impact the sphere of influence of countries like Iran and China?

Conventional wisdom says that what goes up must come down. But even if you view market volatility as a normal occurrence, it can be tough to handle when your money is at stake. There's no foolproof way to handle the ups and downs of the stock market. What strategies will help you cope with volatility?

The Federal Reserve plays a key role in supporting the economy and financial system. While headlines often focus on the Fed's next rate decision, much of the debate on both Wall Street and in Washington is around what the Fed’s role should be. The Fed’s mandate has evolved over time in response to financial crises and business cycle trends. For many investors, this can be a controversial topic, with natural disagreements over the scope of the Fed’s authority and what policy actions it should take today on interest rates and the money supply. Looking ahead into next year, these topics matter because they shape not just near-term policy decisions, but the future of the Fed itself. What context do investors need as Fed headlines dominate the news in the coming months?

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

As we look ahead to 2026, the investment landscape presents both opportunities and challenges. Topics likely to be in the headlines include the upcoming midterm election, a changing of the guard at the Federal Reserve, the future of AI, growing concerns around loans, the path of the U.S. dollar, and more. What matters most isn't whether investors can forecast each twist and turn, but whether their portfolio is positioned to weather uncertainty while capturing long-term growth. Here are seven key themes that can help guide how investors think about the year ahead.

The end of the year is the perfect time to review tax strategies and financial plans, since many tax deadlines fall on December 31. What tax matters should you consider in the final weeks of the year?

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law in July 2025, includes many provisions that affect higher education. Here are some key changes and the implications for students, parents, and colleges.

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

"It is more agreeable to have the power to give than to receive." The holiday season is a natural time to reflect on charitable giving and the role it can play as part of a comprehensive financial plan. Thoughtful charitable planning can not only support philanthropic goals, but increase tax efficiency as well. The question isn't just whether to give, but how to give in ways that maximize both the impact on causes you care about and the benefits to your overall financial plan.

Financial markets have delivered strong returns over history, and this year has been no exception. The S&P 500 has gained over 15% with dividends year-to-date, while bonds have returned approximately 7% as measured by the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. International stocks have outperformed U.S. stocks for the first time in many years. Many diversified portfolios have benefited from this broad-based performance across asset classes. What can investors keep in mind as they prepare for the coming year?

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.

There's an old saying that criminals rob banks because that's where the money is. However, in today's financial system, money isn't just in banks anymore, but across different types of financial institutions. While the hope among policymakers was to reduce the risk to banks after the global financial crisis, this has created new challenges. With recent bankruptcies leading to investor concerns of cracks in the credit market, it’s important for long-term investors to maintain perspective on what this truly means. Why is the credit crisis coming up in the news today?

The Week In Perspective combines market activity, financial events, commentary and analysis for individual investors.