Keeping You Informed 

Today's headline numbers are largely healthy: GDP growth is stronger than expected, inflation is slowing, and unemployment remains low by historical standards. However, the labor market tells a more complicated story. While the latest monthly figures were encouraging, hiring over the past year was far weaker than previously believed. For long-term investors, the key is understanding how the data fits together to form a broader perspective, rather than reacting to any single report.

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

We've witnessed firsthand the effects of identity theft on individuals and families. These incidents underscore the need to consider a few proactive measures to help protect against this pervasive threat.

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.

The Federal Reserve plays a crucial role in the economy by setting monetary policy and interest rates, so changes in leadership naturally create uncertainty. Here are some relevant facts informed by history

How do lower interest rates affect portfolios?

Strong earnings growth has been the main driver of stock market returns, resulting in long-term wealth creation for investors. However, the details of any single company's results matter far less than how earnings trends impact overall portfolios. What truly matters is understanding what corporate profitability says about economic growth, consumer spending, business investment, and the sustainability of the current market environment. What should investors focus on as new earnings are announced?

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

While many investors often turn to precious metals as "safe haven" investments, these and other commodities are prone to boom and bust cycles. In today's environment, the rallies in gold and silver are occurring alongside many other asset classes due to heightened uncertainty around monetary policy, fiscal policy, and geopolitical risk. It's important to view these assets not as speculative trading instruments, but as components of a broader investment strategy aligned with financial goals.

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.