Investors' Insights and Market Updates

Labor Market Resilience Recent updates on inflation highlight important trends for consumers. While headline inflation remained relatively tame in July, the Producer Price Index (PPI) told a different story. The PPI for final demand, which measures average price changes received by domestic producers, showed that companies are increasingly passing cost increases along to consumers. Despite these p...

Blended families can present unique estate planning challenges, especially when it comes to housing. Watch this week’s Educational Insights episode as Mark Hume explains how a life estate strategy, triggered by a will, could help ensure a surviving spouse has housing security while preserving the inheritance for biological children. Watch to learn more.   Mark Hume, CFP® Senior Vice President...

Outperforming Expectations in a Volatile Market Market volatility remained a dominant theme last week as investors continued to process the ongoing news around tariffs. Despite these headwinds, one critical driver of equity markets, corporate earnings, has delivered far stronger results than anticipated. As the second-quarter reporting season nears its close, with roughly 70% of S&P 500 compan...

Insights on Tariffs and Market Movement Last week was a heavy one for markets. As we noted earlier, there was significant potential for volatility driven by macroeconomic data, and that’s exactly what unfolded. Between a lower-than-expected GDP print, a soft jobs report, and heightened geopolitical tension around trade, the result was increased market uncertainty. The most notable downside risk st...

A provision in current tax law allows individuals to make qualified charitable distributions directly from their IRAs before reaching their required minimum distribution age. Watch this week’s Educational Insights episode as Mark Hume breaks down how this strategy remained unchanged through recent legislation and how it may offer tax advantages. Watch to learn more.   Mark Hume, CFP® Senior V...

Consumer Confidence and Household Resilience This week brings several important economic indicators, and consumer confidence is the top among them. Despite headlines about tariffs and slowing savings yields, the consumer remains surprisingly strong. We hear from clients that bank savings account yields are declining, and that’s supported by the data: peak yields from money market funds have droppe...

As generational wealth shifts hands, new priorities and perspectives are rising to the forefront. Watch this week’s educational episode where Ashley Page breaks down how this transformation is influencing everything from charitable giving to long-term planning. Watch to learn more.   Ashley Page , JD, MBA Senior Vice President Wealth Consultant Email Ashley Page here   Fi Plan Partners i...

The Small Business Boost Recent legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, has introduced significant tax incentives for small and medium-sized businesses, and these changes are already generating widespread interest. This is no surprise, as businesses with fewer than 500 employees make up more than 80% of total employment in the U.S. Specifically, companies with 1–49 employees represent 44% of...

Retirement plans aren’t one-size-fits-all and choosing the right one can make a big difference for your future. Watch this week’s educational episode where Ty Miller breaks down the key options, including some that many investors overlook. Watch to learn more.   Ty Miller Associate Vice President Wealth Consultant Email Ty Miller here   Fi Plan Partners is an independent investment firm...

Corporate Earnings: What to Watch and Why It Matters Earnings are always a major driver of the stock market, but this season carries even greater weight than usual. As economist Larry Kudlow famously said, “Earnings are the mother’s milk of stock market growth.” This earnings season is particularly important because of how much has changed since the last earning seasons. Rarely does a corporate ta...

Watch this week’s educational episode where Trey Booth unpacks a surprising perspective on America’s $50 trillion debt. You might be shocked at how small that number looks when you see what it’s up against. Watch to learn more.   Trey Booth , CFA®, AIF® Chief Investment Officer Wealth Consultant Email Trey Booth here Fi Plan Partners is an independent investment firm in Birmingham, AL, with a...

This week on Investors’ Insights , we break down the newly passed legislation that’s making headlines, and the under-the-radar debt ceiling implications that could shake up liquidity and the markets. From hidden risks to potential market winners, now’s the time to understand what’s inside this thousand-page bill and what it could mean moving forward. Watch the full episode to learn more.   Gr...

From the Senate’s sweeping new tax bill to July’s historical market strength, this week’s vlog breaks down the key headlines worth watching. With rate cuts, housing shifts, and technical trends in play, now’s the time to stay informed. Watch the full episode to see what it all could mean for markets and the economy moving forward.   Greg Powell, CIMA® President and CEO Wealth Consultant Email...

In this episode of Investors’ Insights, we break down the key forces shaping the markets: tax reform, oil prices, and technical signals. With the Senate’s new tax bill diverging sharply from the House version, we explore its potential impact on both markets and personal finances. We also examine how rising oil prices may benefit producers and why technical indicators continue to signal market stre...

In this episode, Adam Vansant and Sonja McGittigan break down smart, proactive strategies to get ahead of key year-end planning items like RMDs, IRA contributions, and more. They also highlight the importance of keeping your beneficiaries and accounts up to date. Learn how taking small steps now can simplify things later and discover the tools we offer to make updates seamless and stress-free. &nb...

This week on Investors’ Insights, we cut through the noise with facts, not emotions, on market reactions to geopolitical tensions, historical data, and the Fed’s latest moves. Tune in for timely insights on how these developments could shape markets and the economy in the second half of 2025.   Greg Powell, CIMA® President and CEO Wealth Consultant Email Greg Powell here Bobby Norman, CFP®, A...

In this episode, the Portfolio Team pulls back the curtain on market momentum, revealing why the data paints a more optimistic picture than the headlines suggest. Greg Powell and Bobby Norman break down key profit trends, surprising economic signals, and what they could mean for the months ahead. Watch now to learn more about today’s market.   Greg Powell, CIMA® President and CEO Wealth Consu...

In this episode of Educational Insights, Bobby Norman, CFP®, AIF®, CEPA®, and Robert Moody, CFP®, CEPA®, explore external exit strategies for business owners, including private equity, strategic buyers, open market sales, and more. Learn how to navigate these complex options to maximize your business’s value when selling outside the family or team.   Bobby Norman CFP®, AIF®, CEPA® Manag...

In this week’s episode, The Portfolio Team reveals a surprising $225 billion stimulus flowing to small businesses and breaks down how strong earnings, and growing tariff uncertainty, are shaping the market outlook. Don’t miss this timely and insightful conversation. Watch to learn more.   Greg Powell, CIMA® President and CEO Wealth Consultant Email Greg Powell here Bobby Norman, CFP®, AIF®, C...

In this episode of Educational Insights , Bobby Norman, CFP®, AIF®, CEPA®, and Robert Moody , CFP®, CEPA®, dive into key internal exit options for business owners, from intergenerational transfers to selling to employees. Tune in to learn the pros, cons, and strategies to ensure your business’s successful transition when the time comes.   Bobby Norman , CFP®, AIF®, CEPA® Managing Direct...

In this episode, the Portfolio Team unpacks the $300 billion shift in U.S.-China trade talks, its impact on market momentum, and key updates on the new tax bill. Tune in for insights on whether this rally has staying power, and what investors should be watching next.   Greg Powell, CIMA® President and CEO Wealth Consultant Email Greg Powell here Bobby Norman, CFP®, AIF®, CEPA® Managing Direct...

In this episode of Investors’ Insights , the Portfolio Team breaks down the latest developments from the U.S. and China trade talks and what the 90-day tariff reprieve could mean for the markets. They also cover key updates from the newly proposed tax bill, highlighting potential changes that could impact individuals, small businesses, and investors alike. Plus, they share the indicators they’re w...

The market can’t ignore the signals the Fed is sending, and we’re unpacking what the data really means. In this episode of Investors’ Insights , our Portfolio Team breaks down key technical indicators, interest rate expectations, and why GDP headlines may not tell the whole story. Watch or listen to understand the signals behind the market noise.   Greg Powell, CIMA® President and CEO Wealth...

In this educational episode, Ty Miller takes a deep dive into inflation, stagflation, hyperinflation, and deflation. He explains what each of them means and how they impact the economy differently.

From global tariffs to U.S. corporate earnings, our Portfolio Team breaks down the key market forces they’re tracking and explains how history may be repeating itself. Watch this episode to see how they’re connecting the dots and preparing for what’s ahead. Greg Powell, CIMA® President and CEO Wealth Consultant Email Greg Powell here Bobby Norman, CFP®, AIF®, CEPA® Managing Director Wealth Consult...