Index Q3 2026 YTD 2026 S&P 500 2.30% 12.75% Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index −3.51% −2.91% Source: Bloomberg, J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Returns through September 30, 2026. Stocks and bonds moved in opposite directions in the third quarter. The S&P 500 returned 2.30% while the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index fell 3.51%. Two developments stand…
At age 59½, you can generally withdraw money from your IRA, 401(k), or 403(b) without the 10% early withdrawal penalty. Income taxes can still apply, and an employer’s retirement plan may restrict withdrawals while you are working. That change gets most of the attention. But if you are approaching retirement, it is also a good…
A Social Security retirement benefit of about $3,300 a month puts you in the top 10% of retired workers, based on the Social Security Administration’s December 2025 data. That works out to $39,600 a year for one person, before taxes and any Medicare premiums deducted from the payment. Source: SSA benefit distribution, Table 5.B6 A benefit that…
Investors entered the second quarter worried about the war with Iran and the effective closure of
the Strait of Hormuz. Given the Strait’s importance to the global oil market, that concern was
understandable. Yet equities shrugged off the disruption, setting new highs during the quarter.
Investors entered 2026 with several reasons for optimism: resilient economic growth, strong
corporate earnings momentum, enthusiasm surrounding AI-driven capital investment, and fiscal
stimulus from the One Big Beautiful Bill. While equity valuations were elevated, there were few
obvious catalysts for a near-term downturn.
In the last five years, Washington State lawmakers have sent a crystal-clear message to the wealthy: we are coming for you. The so-called “Millionaires Tax” that lawmakers passed in March 2026 is just the latest example of Olympia looking to high earners to fund a decade-long government spending boom.