May 2026

Midyear Retirement Savings Checkup: Are You Contributing Enough?

A midyear retirement savings checkup is a great opportunity to review your workplace retirement plan contributions and determine whether you can save more before the end of 2026. Even small increases to your 401(k), 403(b), or 457(b) contributions may help strengthen your long-term retirement goals while allowing you to take full advantage of employer matching […]

Inflation and Oil Drive Market Volatility in May 2026

Two hotter-than-expected inflation reports and a lack of progress in negotiations to end the war in Iran created havoc in some corners of the financial markets last week. Oil prices surged again while the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed, disrupting the world’s supply of essential crude. The S&P 500 reached record highs on Thursday […]

DOL Proposes New Rule for Alternative Assets in 401(k) Plans

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed a new rule to clarify the steps employers should take when deciding whether to include investments that hold alternative assets in their 401(k) plans. Alternative assets include private equity, private credit, digital assets, and other investments typically reserved for high-net-worth and institutional investors, such as college endowments […]

Stock Market Gains Push S&P 500 to Record Highs

The U.S. stock market ended last week with strong gains, which led to record highs for the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ. The surge in stock values was largely driven by a better-than-expected jobs report (see below), falling crude oil prices, and robust tech company earnings. Investors continued to favor risk, despite the ongoing tensions […]

Tariff Update 2026: Supreme Court Blocks Key Tariffs

Starting in early 2025, President Trump issued executive orders to impose tariffs on goods from nearly all trading partners under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), as well as targeting industries seen as critical to national security with Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. Tariffs are taxes on imported goods, which the administration […]

Market Rally 2026: Stocks Hit Record Highs

Wall Street continued to rally with equities ending last week on a strong note. The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ closed at record highs, driven by robust corporate earnings, a potential end to the U.S. military involvement in Iran, and easing crude oil prices. Each of the benchmark indexes listed here posted notable gains as […]