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The AI Trade Loses Air Again
Anthropic’s IPO filing and a $63 billion Broadcom financing lifted the AI trade until Alphabet and Amazon posted negative free cash flow and Blackstone warned of a possible junk rating.
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Meta Spooks the AI Trade, and Oil Tops $100 Again
The Nasdaq and S&P 500 fell this week as Meta’s cash flow disclosure rattled the AI trade and WTI climbed back above $100. See the earnings reactions and what the Fed, PCE and hyperscaler reports could bring next week.
Read MoreWould You Know If a Scammer Was Using Your Daughter's Voice?
A mother in California picked up her phone last spring and heard her daughter's voice, panicked, saying she had been kidnapped and needed money sent right away.1 The voice had the right pitch and the right tone, even the small...
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Fed Hike Fears Ease on PCE, Jobs Reports
Fed Governor Williams's comments, cooler PCE inflation and a weak jobs report cut October Fed hike odds to 18.3%, while the Dow fell 1.26% and the 10-year Treasury yield rose to 5.28%.
Read MoreOne Shot to Get It Right
Most financial decisions can be revisited. A portfolio can be rebalanced next quarter, or a budget adjusted next month. But a handful of decisions do not work that way. You may only retire once. Or help parents as they age, or...
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Tech Rescues Stocks as Yields Surge
Tech helped stocks snap a losing streak as five forecasts put 2027 AI capex at $1.2 trillion to $1.4 trillion. WTI fell, but the 10-year hit 5.18% and October Fed hike odds reached 68%. Plus the busy week ahead.
Read MoreAI Gives Answers. Guidance Requires Judgment.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has given financial professionals new tools that can make it faster and sharper to do some behind-the-scenes work, from research to scenario modeling of certain portfolios. AI can struggle with the...
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Market Recap 18 September: AI Fears, Oil and a Fed Hike
Markets sold off on AI fears and $100 oil, then rallied after the Fed's first rate hike since 2023. One bank stock drove nearly 60% of the Dow's weekly loss. Plus the week ahead, including Xi Jinping's visit to Washington.
Read MoreSept 11 Recap: Iran, Inflation, and AI Fears Rattle Markets
Markets fell to open September as Iran-Saudi attacks spiked oil, inflation data ran hotter than expected ahead of the Fed's rate decision, and OpenAI's math claim reignited AI existential-risk debate.
Read MoreIPO Reality vs. The Headline Narrative
When IPOs Dominate the Conversation When a company that most people recognize goes public, suddenly it's everywhere. Media coverage spikes. Everyone is talking about the opportunity, and that conversation itself becomes part of the...
Read MoreWhen Your Parents Need You to Be the Adult
There is usually no single moment when the roles begin to shift. It may be a confusing medical bill. A missed payment. A scam text they almost clicked. A question about an account they have had for years. A conversation where they...
Read MoreBefore They Board the Plane: A Financial Guide for Study Abroad Families
Studying abroad is one of the most formative investments a family can make. The financial side, however, often gets less attention than it deserves. In the most recent academic year, 298,180 U.S. students studied abroad for academic...
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Market Recap 31 July: Iran, the Fed, and Hyperscaler Capex
Iran tensions ease, the Fed holds despite dissent, and hyperscalers raise 2026 capex to $735 billion, up 79% YoY. A look at markets before the summer break.
Read MoreDoes the New Tax Law Impact Your Estate Strategy?
The federal estate tax exemption remains at an all-time high. For some families, that is genuinely good news. But it may also be creating a false sense of security, especially if you live in one of the states that sets its own rules...
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Iran Strikes Rattle Oil, Fed Stays Split, Oracle Downgraded
Stocks were mixed as oil jumped on renewed U.S.-Iran strikes and Strait of Hormuz threats. The Fed remains split on rate direction, and S&P downgraded Oracle's debt. This week brings CPI, PPI, and the official start of Q2 earnings season.
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Fed Chair Warsh Dashes Rate-Cut Hopes
ADP and Non-Farm Payrolls both missed in June, giving markets hope the Fed might hold off on rate hikes. New Fed Chair Kevin Warsh dashed that hope Wednesday, saying inflation is still too high.
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Ceasefire?, Inflation, The Fed, and AI
The Dow and Nasdaq diverged sharply as tech sold off, Iran violated the ceasefire over the weekend, the rate outlook flipped from cuts to hikes, and SpaceX bonds fell precipitously days after an $85 billion IPO.
Read MoreThe Retirement Conversation Couples Keep Avoiding
As financial professionals, we spend much of our time helping our clients prepare for retirement. By the time most of our clients are within a few years of retirement, their savings are there, their investment accounts are in order,...
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Iran MOU, Hawkish Fed, and SpaceX IPO Update
Markets finished higher as a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding lifted sentiment, but a surprisingly hawkish Fed chair and SpaceX volatility kept investors on edge.
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War Ending? SpaceX Pops, Inflation Won't Quit
Iran-US peace talks send oil sliding and Dow futures higher. SpaceX's IPO popped 19%, but two non-underwriters slapped it with Sell ratings. CPI and PPI both ran hot, putting new Fed Chair Warsh's first press conference in the spotlight.
Read MoreWhat Would You Do With a Windfall?
After years of walking clients through inheritances, business sales, bonuses, and liquidity events, we have seen how these moments unfold in remarkably consistent ways. There is almost always a boat, or something like one. A vacation...
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Markets Sell Off as Jobs Data Jolts Rate Odds, SpaceX IPO Ahead
Markets sold off as a blowout jobs report pushed rate-hike odds to 72.7% and Broadcom spooked chip stocks. Plus, a deep dive into SpaceX's S-1 ahead of its June 12 IPO.
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Iran Ceasefire MOU, Record Highs, and a Big Week for Labor Data
All three major U.S. indices hit record closes as markets cheered an Iran ceasefire extension. But Sunday brought fresh uncertainty. Plus, earnings season wraps strong and a heavy labor data week lies ahead.
Read MoreHalf of Parents Are Still Funding Their Adult Kids: Here's What It's Costing Them
Why Does Graduation Matter to Parents' Finances? Graduation season is one of the most emotionally charged times of the year for families. But beneath the caps, gowns, and celebrations, something happens financially that often goes...
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Peace, Profits, and SpaceX Hype
Dow hits a new record as markets rally on Iran peace deal hopes. Nvidia posts exceptional results while SpaceX's S-1 raises more questions than answers. Plus: what Friday's PCE report means for inflation.
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Reality Hits?
A disappointing U.S./China summit, blistering inflation data, and a bond market that disagrees with Washington's rosy outlook. This week's market recap from Contango Wealth.
Read MoreContinuing Care Retirement Communities: What They Cost, How They Work, and When to Start Preparing
Why Is This Conversation So Important Right Now? The U.S. is in the middle of a sustained demographic shift. More than 61 million adults are aged 65 and older as of 2025, and that number is projected to reach approximately 82 million...
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Groundhog Day All Over Again
Markets climbed to record highs as vague peace assurances drove tech and semiconductors higher. Hormuz remains closed, crude near 2026 highs, and inflation data this week will test the Fed's resolve.
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Strait Remains Closed, Markets Pivot to Earnings
Nasdaq and S&P hit record closes as Intel surges 109% YTD. Oil climbs 12% as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Five Magnificent Seven companies report this week, headlined by Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft.
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Complacency Meets Reality
Markets surged on hopes the Strait of Hormuz had reopened, but the détente lasted barely 48 hours. With inflation arriving in earnest and the AI trade delivering spectacular results, it was a week of stark contrasts.
Read MoreWhen Should I Start Taking Social Security: 5 Factors to Consider
Social Security decisions are often framed as a single question: “When should I start drawing benefits?” That question matters, but it can also be limiting. The better question is: how does Social Security fit into my overall...
Read MoreA Schwab Client’s Guide to Donor-Advised Funds: Tax-Smart Giving with Everything in One Place
DAFs at Schwab can streamline tax-smart giving—especially in high-income years, with appreciated stock, IPO events, sales, or windfalls.
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Markets Rally, But Headwinds Persist
Markets rallied last week despite slowing growth, surging inflation, and no resolution in Iran. Q1 earnings season kicks off this week with the major banks, Taiwan Semi, and Netflix in focus.
Read MoreA Roth for Kids - By Another Name
Don’t Let the Name Distract From the OpportunityAt Contango Wealth Management, we focus on substance over labels. And while this new children’s savings vehicle—often called a “Trump Account” (or 530A account)—may not resonate with...
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Markets Rally Amid Policy Whipsaw
Markets rallied as shifting U.S. messaging on Iran drove volatility. Oil surged amid uncertainty, while economic data showed mixed strength with solid hiring but softer services activity.
Read MoreTeaching Teens and Young Adults Financial Literacy Through Real-Life Decision Making
If you are a parent of a teen or young adult, how do you teach them to make confident money decisions before the stakes are high? Teaching teens and young adults about money is less about formal instruction and more about repeated...
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Markets Slide as Conflict Escalates
Markets declined as Middle East tensions escalated, pushing oil prices higher and adding pressure to equities. Major indexes moved closer to correction territory while economic data remained mixed and largely in line with expectations.
Read MoreHelping Adult Children Buy a Home: How to Gift a Down Payment The Smart Way
Key TakeawaysHere are some questions this blog aims to answer:How can parents or grandparents help with a down payment for adult children?What are ways to gift a down payment, and how do the annual gift tax exclusion and lifetime...
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Geopolitics and Inflation Weigh on Markets
Markets fell as Middle East tensions and Strait of Hormuz risks weighed on sentiment. Hotter inflation reduced Fed cut expectations, pushing yields higher. Oil stayed elevated, while earnings remained generally constructive.
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War Continues, Oil Climbs
Markets fell as oil surged amid Middle East tensions and a disrupted Strait of Hormuz. Economic data showed slowing growth & persistent inflation. We will tactically rebalance tax-deferred accounts in response to current market conditions.
Read MoreThree Numbers Every Woman Should Know
Key TakeawaysHow much wealth are women on track to control in the next decade, and why does that matter?What does the life expectancy gap between women and men mean for how long money needs to last?How common is it for women to be...
Read MoreTax Prep vs. Tax Strategy: The Difference Matters More Than You Think
Key TakeawaysTreat tax strategy as a continuous process, not a once-a-year filing exercise.Coordinate with financial and tax professionals throughout the year to identify opportunities for efficiency.Review contribution limits,...
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20FEB2026 Market Recap
Markets gained after the Supreme Court struck down tariffs, though new temporary tariffs followed. Fed minutes signaled no imminent rate cuts as inflation edged higher. Rising geopolitical tensions and oil prices add potential volatility.
Read MoreUnderstanding the Emotions Behind Financial Decisions
Key TakeawaysEmotions and biases might influence financial choices more often than most people realize.Behavioral patterns, such as loss aversion, familiarity bias, and herd mentality, can impact long-term results.Recognizing emotional...
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