Earnings Season
January has kicked off 2026 with a full sampling of the same themes from 2025: geopolitical concerns, tariff threats, AI developments, and international equity strength, to name a few. While markets have weathered these various concerns so far, a key indication for how 2026 could shape up is already arriving: earnings season. January and February […]
Video Discussion: The Year Behind & The Road Ahead
2025 was an action-packed year for market watchers and investors. There were several factors and events that contributed to uncertainty, not least of which the impact of the trade tariffs that went into effect on“Liberation Day,” April 2, 2025, and recovering from the longest federal government shutdown in history. Will 2026 be as eventful? […]
Three years running: How long can it last?
We entered 2025 on a high note, with the S&P 500 at all-time highs following a post-election surge. The weak start to the year, accelerated by tariff policy uncertainty, was steadily erased, with stocks rallying from April lows to again reach new highs. Despite the strong past performance backdrop, a challenging start to the […]
Data Vacuum
Following the longest recorded government shutdown in U.S. history, markets have ebbed and flowed near all-time highs for the S&P 500. While a historically strong earnings season provided some comfort, recent weeks of increased volatility have created some concerns around AI valuations and the overall economic environment. These concerns are driven by what investors haven’t […]
The benefits of JNBA’s Investment Committee
When it comes to managing finances, one thing that frequently gets overlooked is how many different and competing emotions can factor into the process. Money often represents a lot more to people than just currency and means of exchange. It can feel like freedom, security, a means of generosity, and a way to help provide […]
Market Indicators in Q4 2025 and Beyond
During the 2025 federal government shutdown, economic data reports were not available. These reports, including U.S. Employment Report, Jobless Claims and U.S. Home Sales, are a major resource for the Federal Reserve in determining the need to adjust interest rates. Now that the government is up and running again, and the last Fed meeting for […]
What Rate Cuts Mean
At the end of October, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell announced a 25-basis point (bp) cut to interest rates, following a 25bp cut in September. This was the second cut of 2025, with another meeting scheduled in December. According to Powell, further cuts in December are “far from” a foregone conclusion. The Federal Open Market […]
Balancing Act
Nine months into the year and the story remains similar to the end of the second quarter (Q2). After a disruptive start to the year, the broader stock and bond environment has climbed steadily but surely, shaking off typical September weakness. The S&P 500 is up ~14% YTD and at all-time highs, creeping towards an […]
Analyzing the Fed’s Recent Interest Rate Cut
On September 17, the Federal Reserve announced a 25-basis point (bp) interest rate cut, in-line with market expectations while describing the decision as a “risk management cut.” This move comes amidst calming inflation trends and slowly but steadily rising unemployment rates. With the Fed aiming to provide a less constrictive environment as part of its […]
When to Invest
When working with our clients, one of the most common questions we face in portfolio management is: when is the right time to invest? Whether onboarding a new client or incorporating new deposits or cash, our investment team takes several factors into account when deploying funds into an investment strategy. Beyond the unique client circumstances […]