October 7, 2026 — Markets have always had ups and downs, but there are times when the headlines point more to downs while stocks deliver more ups. This seems to be one of those times as stocks maintain strong 2026 returns – the Nasdaq just set a fresh all-time high this week — even as the list of investor concerns is long. The so-called “wall of worry” that stocks have been climbing includes geopolitical conflict, rising interest rates, and concerns about artificial intelligence (AI).

August 5, 2026 — The second half of 2026 began with investors facing no shortage of uncertainty, from the Iran conflict and higher oil prices to ongoing questions surrounding potential payoffs from massive artificial intelligence (AI) investment. Despite these challenges, the S&P 500 entered August near all-time highs, and prospects for further gains remain favorable based on a resilient economy and solid corporate fundamentals.

By R. Todd Holden | Wealth Advisor

For many clients, their philosophy on providing gifts to family members evolves over the course of their retirement. Early retirees tend to have the philosophy of “This money is for us, and the kids get what they get when we’re gone.”  This seems to change between years 5 and 10 of retirement. I often hear, “There is no way we are going to spend all of this money, so we might as well see the family enjoy some of it when we’re still here.”