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Retirement Income Is Moving to the Center of Defined Contribution Plan Design
photo credit: Unsplash What emerging industry trends signal—and how plan committees should respond The Next Evolution of the 401(k) For decades, defined contribution plans have been designed with a primary objective: helping participants accumulate assets for retirement. Increasingly, that is no longer enough. Across the retirement industry, there is a growing shift toward integrating retirement…
Read MoreWhat Sulfuric Acid May Be Signaling About Inflation and Portfolio Structure
A market perspective on input costs, pricing pressure, and investment positioning In investment markets, the most consequential risks are often those that attract little attention. While headlines typically center on central bank policy, equity valuations, and widely followed benchmarks such as oil prices or the S&P 500, important signals frequently emerge earlier in the production…
Read MoreFrom Fear to Freedom: Learning to Spend with Peace and Purpose
photo credit: NEOM | Unsplash We all know someone with a spending problem, but do you know anyone with a saving problem? Well after becoming one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, Warren Buffett famously continued ordering inexpensive breakfasts and using coupons at McDonald’s. In his case, this may be chalked up to charming…
Read MoreMay 2026
Summary Global stocks and bonds rallied in May, pushing U.S. equity indexes to new highs. While resolution in Iran has been slower than investors would hope, regular reports of progress on an accord led to easing oil prices and equity gains during the month. Earnings were generally strong and the AI trade continued to boost…
Read MoreApril 2026
Summary Global equity markets rebounded strongly in April on optimism related to various agreements, and potential agreements in the ongoing war in Iran. Bond markets were more wary, with interest rates higher on the margin as oil continued to climb, driving inflation concerns. Commodity prices drove macroeconomic momentum, for better or worse, and a strong…
Read MoreMarch 2026
Summary Global markets tumbled and energy prices surged in March, as the U.S. moved beyond rhetoric and plunged into war with Iran, entering the month with the hope for a swift regime change, but finishing March with the situation unresolved. Disruptions to the supply and accessibility of oil from key Middle East producers reverberated across…
Read MoreImpact Investing and Community Foundations Part 2
From Governance to Action: Practical Strategies for Implementing Impact Investing in Community Foundations Introduction In Part 1 of this series, we explored why impact investing is fundamentally a governance opportunity for community foundations. Strong governance provides the clarity and structure needed to align mission and fiduciary duty. But governance alone does not move capital. Foundations…
Read MoreReturn Forecasting Isn’t Prediction — It’s Disciplined Preparation
Photo credit: Unsplash Long‑term investors don’t need a crystal ball — they need a framework. Forecasting returns is not an exercise in predicting the next market swing, but in understanding the structural forces that reliably drive outcomes over full cycles. By focusing on observable inputs like income, real earnings growth, inflation, and credit losses —…
Read MorePreparing for The Future, Without Predicting It
photo credit: Unsplash “It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.” — Yogi Berra It’s a classic line. Witty. Memorable. And surprisingly wise. As my grandpappy might say, Yogi Berra “knew how to turn a phrase.” We smile at the humor— but we often ignore the lesson. Much of financial decision-making today revolves…
Read MoreFebruary 2026
Summary U.S. stocks lagged and interest rates fell during an uneven month marketed by shifting market sentiment, rising geopolitical risk, and continued murkiness on domestic trade policy. Interest rates fell, giving bonds a boost, and international equities continued to shine. The cost and consequence of the AI buildout swayed U.S. markets throughout the month with…
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