Hi All, Welcome to the Q3 2026 Newsletter & Market Review. Last month I had the opportunity to contribute to a Bloomberg News article surrounding recent trends in 529 funding. It mostly focused on my personal strategy as a parent and some of the changes that I’ve noticed in my practice. I’ll leave the article link below in case you’re interested. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-26/soaring-college-costs-debt-levels-spur-more-parents-to-pay-full-tuition?sr

Hi All, Welcome to the Q2 2026 Newsletter & Market Review. On a personal note, I have a couple of family additions to share. Most importantly, Olivia Emerson Hall arrived on 6/22 at 5:32pm (8lb 9oz). She has been super easy and a great sleeper so far. Mom is doing great and the older kids have been a tremendous help. Because 4 kids weren't enough work, and one of my clients thought it would be a great idea, we adopted a six-year-old golden retriever. Toby has been an am

Hi All, Welcome to the Q1 newsletter & market review. Q1 Market Performance The first quarter of 2026 felt a lot like that of 2025. Last year, the announcement of the administration’s tariff policy sent stocks into bear market territory (-20%). This year, the War in Iran has spiked oil prices and sent the S&P 500 and tech stocks into correction territory (-10%). Even with the early volatility in 2025 the market bounced back and had a positive year. Hopefully, we are e

Hi All, Happy New Year! Welcome to the Q4 newsletter & market review. Q4 Market Performance The market finished strong in the 4th quarter resulting in another terrific year for investing. The S&P 500 returned 16.64% in 2025. International funds performed exceptionally well returning 28.32%. Small and mid cap funds had positive years posting gains of 4.53% & 6.19% respectively. Year-to-date Returns (2025) S&P 500 +16.64% Total Market +15.91% Tech +20.41% Mid Cap

Hi All, Welcome to the Q3 newsletter & market review. Fall is officially here! I hope everyone enjoyed their summer and had a chance to take a break from work to recharge. My wife and I took our kids to Disneyland to kickoff the summer break (picture below). We also spent a few weeks in Washington visiting family. Last month, Stride Financial Planning turned three years old! I'm very grateful to my clients for their business and continued support. Q3 Market Performa

Hi All, I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. It’s hard to believe that we are halfway through 2025. It has been a very strong second quarter for the stock market. April brought a sharp sell-off following tariff announcements. However, it rebounded quickly during May and June. The S&P 500 recorded a new all-time high on June 30th, closing at 6,203. It has posted another new high in the first week of July. That means your investment accounts should be in great shape.

Hi All, I wanted to take some time to share some thoughts on the first quarter of 2025. If you’ve peeked at your portfolio recently or...

It's estimated that the average person will have 12 different jobs in their lifespan. That means we are likely to contribute to several...

Where are your cash reserves located? This is one of the first questions I ask prospective clients. Often, they keep their cash reserves...

High interest rates have become a nightmare for those looking to purchase a home, particularly for first-time home buyers. High home...