Navigating Medicare: What Retirees Need to Know for Their Financial Plans
Most retirees know that healthcare is often the largest and most unpredictable expense in retirement, which can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars on average. Healthcare can come from many sources, with Medicare being a major consideration in the financial planning process. Yet, despite its importance, Medicare rules can create confusion for many […]
Investing Is Not Gambling
Why this distinction matters more today than ever By Bijan Golkar There is a comparison I have heard countless times throughout my career. “Investing is just another form of gambling.” Most of the time, it is said casually. Sometimes it is said half-jokingly after a rough market stretch. And to be fair, I understand where […]
Quarterly Market Update for Q2 2026: Geopolitics, Oil, and Market Pullbacks
The first quarter of 2026 illustrates the importance of preparation when it comes to financial planning and investing. After strong gains in 2025, markets have faced a combination of geopolitical shocks, higher oil prices, and renewed economic uncertainty. The conflict in Iran, which began at the end of February, became the dominant market story, pushing […]
Monthly Market Update for January: Geopolitics, the Fed, and Precious Metals
The start of 2026 delivered a constructive backdrop for investors, with both stocks and bonds extending the momentum that carried markets through the end of last year. This resilience may have seemed counterintuitive given recurring bouts of volatility driven by geopolitical tensions and shifting expectations about Federal Reserve policy. Headlines drove sharp but short-lived market […]
Quarterly Market Update for Q1 2026:
2025 Year in Review – A Historic Market Year for 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 […]
Quarterly Market Update for Q4 2025: Navigating Conflicting Signals
As we move into the final quarter of 2025, investors are once again being pulled in two directions. On one side, markets continue to hit record highs, supported by resilient corporate earnings, enthusiasm around artificial intelligence, and signs that inflation is largely under control. On the other side, the labor market has softened, prompting the […]
Markets Advance on Fed Expectations and Earnings Growth
The stock market climbed to new all-time highs in August, while bonds also contributed positively to portfolios. This occurred despite continued uncertainty around tariffs, Fed independence, and technology stocks. The month began with U.S. tariffs going into effect against most major trading partners after the initial 90-day pause. A federal appeals court later ruled that […]
The Fed and Politics: What Investors Should Know
Recent tensions between the White House and Federal Reserve have brought the topic of Fed independence into focus. This is because there can be a natural friction between elected officials and the Fed, since they each have unique goals and incentives. For instance, the President and Congress often prefer lower interest rates to spur economic […]
Economic & Market Commentary Q2 2025
Markets Reach New Highs Amid Global Tensions and Historic Tax Reform The second quarter of 2025 was a case study in market resilience. Despite early volatility from new tariff announcements and armed conflict between Israel and Iran, investors largely looked through the noise as a ceasefire and improving trade talks quickly boosted sentiment. The result […]
Economic & Market Commentary Q1 2025
Staying the Course in a Volatile Environment “Far more money has been lost by investors trying to anticipate corrections than lost in the corrections themselves.” – Peter Lynch. If the start of 2025 has left you feeling like the ground is shifting beneath your feet, you’re not alone. The first quarter of the year — […]