Explore why peace of mind is the ultimate financial return, and how thoughtful financial planning can help reduce stress and improve long-term outcomes.

This week’s insight tosses around a political football.Yes, the midterm elections are about 13 months away, and both sides are gearing up for a fierce battle. The usual issues will be at hand, including the economy, national security, immigration, and social issues. Of course, all of it will play out in today’s 24/7 cable-news world and social media–ridden culture.

The S&P 500 logged another monthly gain despite mixed performances among the Mag 7 stocksSmall caps led, as hope turned into expectation for a Fed rate cutIn the face of unsettling political shake-ups, stocks and bonds remain up on the year ahead of the sometimes-sketchy month of SeptemberStocks rose for a fourth straight month in August. The S&P 500 climbed 1.9% in what’s sometimes a weak period. The gain came amid much drama at the macroeconomic and policy levels.

This week’s insight assesses the crypto playing field.Clear Harbor has long been a believer in bitcoin, ether, and the like. Cryptocurrency may seem novel, even weird, to most investors, but it’s increasingly viewed as foundational to the digital economy of the future. Both token holders and those without an allocation likely wonder what the right allocation should be. Let’s flesh that out.

This week’s insight is a bundle of joy—it’s all about baby bonds.Amid ongoing tweaks to President Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBB), which we’ve dissected on our blog, new legislation may be on the way that benefits Americans not yet born. So-called “Trump Accounts” would plop $1,000 per child born from 2025 to 2028 into a dedicated, tax-deferred account meant to give all children a leg up on their saving journeys.

The S&P 500 is up almost 20% from its April 7 low, led by tech stocksAfter another good jobs report, interest rates have stabilizedCorporate earnings are notching new records as companies navigate a changing global economyWe are not in the prediction business, but stocks indeed launched higher once peak pessimism cascaded across markets. Through last Friday, the S&P 500 was higher in nine sessions running—the longest winning streak since 2004.

This week’s insight is about an old man yelling at a cloud, in a manner of speaking.A recent Wall Street Journal article profiled “finfluencers,” also known as social media stars who talk finance and investments. It turns out that, according to a Schwab survey, 72% of Gen Z whip out their phones for stock picks. I say “stock picks,” not wealth management or even financial advice, because the quality of wisdom they get from TikTok and Instagram is sometimes poor, never personalized, and potentially harmful to their personal financial situations.

Last Thursday and Friday were tough on the bulls, with the S&P 500 tallying a 10% two-day drop, the worst since March 2020With fear comes opportunity, though, and we are taking advantage of what the bears have brought aboutA recession is getting priced in, but history shows that when dramatic declines occur, powerful rallies can develop fast“People are really strange during market downturns. Most folks are savers — and that means they’ll be net buyers.