July 2025 Market Summary Stocks Rise to Start 2H 2025, Median Sale Price of Existing Homes Hits New High, Treasury Yields Rise Equity Markets Equities kicked off the second half of 2025 on a mostly positive note with most indices posting gains in July. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2%, the S&P 500 added 2.2%, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 3.7%. Only Developed […]

June 2025 Market Summary Equities End 1H 2025 with Positive June, Oil Prices Surge, Treasury Yields Fall Stocks closed out the first half of 2025 with gains across the boardas indices continued a rapid clawback out of correction territory from earlier in the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 4.5%, the S&P 500 added 5.1%, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced […]

529 Plans: The Ins and Outs of Contributions and Withdrawals 529 plans can be powerful college savings tools, but you need to understand how your plan works before you can take full advantage of it. Among other things, this means becoming familiar with the finer points of contributions and withdrawals. How much can you contribute? […]

Buffett Takes a Bow: 7 Lessons from an Iconic Investor At the age of 94, Warren Buffett recently announced his retirement as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, the massive holding company he has controlled since 1965.1 Buffett is a venerated investor due to his financial success and long track record of stock market outperformance. The value […]

Equity Markets Equities Rally Across the Board, Nasdaq Composite Up Almost 10% in May. Stocks posted strong performances across the board including the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, which both had their best months since November 2023. The Nasdaq Composite surged 9.7%, the S&P 500 increased 6.3%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 4.2%. Several […]

Alternative Asset Classes: An Introduction What are alternative asset classes? Beyond the three primary asset classes–stocks, bonds, and cash– many other types of investments can be used to diversify investment portfolios. The term “alternative assets” is highly flexible. It may include specific physical assets, such as natural resources or real estate, or methods of investing, […]

The Individual 401(k) If you’re self-employed or own a small business, you’ve probably considered establishing a retirement plan. If you’ve done your homework, you likely know about simplified employee pensions (SEPs) and savings incentive match plans for employees (SIMPLE) IRA plans. These plans typically appeal to small business owners because they’re relatively straightforward and inexpensive […]

April 2025 Market Summary Domestic Stock Indices Mixed, Inflation Sets Record Low, Mid-Term Treasury Yields Fall Equities U.S. indices posted mixed results in April largely due to gains in the technology sector with tough quarters for some large-cap blue-chip companies. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.88%, the S&P 500 slipped 0.68%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 3.08% due to significant losses […]

Private Equity What is private equity? Like stock shares, private equity represents an ownership interest in a company. However, unlike stocks, private equity investments are not listed or traded on a public market or exchange (though some firms that specialize in making private equity investments are publicly traded). Private equity firms are not necessarily required […]

Test Your Knowledge of Financial Basics How well do you understand personal finance? The following brief quiz can help you gauge your knowledge of a few basics. In the answer section, you’ll find details to help you learn more. Questions 1. How much should you set aside in liquid, low-risk savings in case of emergencies? […]