Keeping You Informed 

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.

This handy interactive explains which essential government services are affected by a shutdown.

This article examines one's options when receiving a work bonus or other financial windfalls.

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

What are the Key Market and Economic Drivers for November? The stock market continued its strong performance in October despite uncertainty from a government shutdown and renewed trade tensions with China early in the month. Many major indices reached new all-time highs after recovering from a brief period of volatility. Bonds also contributed positively to portfolios as interest rates declined, fueled partly by the Federal Reserve's second consecutive rate cut.

For long-term investors, understanding how inflation affects retirement income, and how to position portfolios to maintain purchasing power, remains as important as ever. What should retirees and those planning for retirement know about navigating today's environment?

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

Are Investors Holding Too Much Cash? For long-term investors, a growing challenge today is how to manage cash as short-term interest rates fall. What appears safe actually comes with real costs beneath the surface, since holding too much cash can quietly undermine long-term financial goals. This comes at an important time, when some investors find themselves with “cash on the sidelines,” including a record $7.3 trillion held in money market funds.

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

The market recently experienced its largest one-day decline since April, driven by escalating tensions between the U.S. and China over rare earth metals and tariff threats. While the brief selloff rattled some investors, markets quickly improved following softer language from the White House around trade. For long-term investors, these swings may feel like déjà vu after a period of relative market calm.

Explore how the One Big Beautiful Bill may affect taxes, deductions, and credits now and in the years ahead.