A slew of negative news has anxious clients calling their advisors. Here is how they are responding
A slew of negative news has anxious clients calling their advisors. Here is how they are responding ARTICLE SUMMARY Market volatility has increased sharply due to falling stocks, rising oil prices (over $100 per barrel), and a weak jobs report, pushing the CBOE Volatility Index up more than 50% and the S&P 500 down over […]
Average Social Security Benefits at Age 65 Explained—How Does Your Amount Stack Up?
Average Social Security Benefits at Age 65 Explained—How Does Your Amount Stack Up? ARTICLE SUMMARY At age 65, the average monthly Social Security benefit is about $1,607, with men generally receiving more than women, and this amount is reduced because full retirement age is 67 for most people born in 1960 or later. Benefits claimed […]
Ballast Rock Private Wealth Market Pulse
BALLAST ROCK PRIVATE WEALTH MARKET PULSE Q4 2025 Market Summary The final quarter of 2025 was primarily shaped by three contrasting events: the 43-day U.S. government shutdown, heightened trade tensions, and continued Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Despite the increased volatility, all major indices continued to rise, hitting new highs, but failing to hold them into year-end. The Federal Reserve extended its easing cycle by cutting interest […]
Christian Salomone on ‘Just What the Market Needed’
Christian Salomone on ‘Just What the Market Needed’ https://vimeo.com/1159982467?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci Description After the FOMC voted to keep interest rates unchanged in January, Christian Salomone says the potential for another rate cut hinges on the labor market taking a stark downturn. That said, recent economic data and comments made by Fed Chair Jerome Powell offer reprieve. Beyond […]
Fed must remain independent to be effective, warns CIO
Fed must remain independent to be effective, warns CIO ARTICLE SUMMARY Fed Chair Jerome Powell disclosed that the Department of Justice has issued grand jury subpoenas related to his Senate testimony about a $2.5 billion Federal Reserve building renovation, while Powell argues the investigation is politically motivated and tied to interest-rate decisions rather than the […]
Bank Stocks and the S&P500 in 2025 and Beyond
US Bank Stocks Relative Performance to the S&P 500 in 2025 and Beyond
Advisors say financial stocks ready for another run in 2026
Advisors say financial stocks ready for another run in 2026 ARTICLE SUMMARY Strong momentum heading into 2026: Bank stocks posted strong gains in 2025, driven by increased M&A activity and a more accommodative Federal Reserve, setting a positive backdrop for 2026. Tailwinds remain in place: Advisors point to continued dealmaking, potential Fed rate cuts, and a […]