Village Private Wealth

05/27/2026

The S&P 500 just notched its eighth straight weekly gain and crossed 7,400 for the first time (7500 at the time of me writing this). Yet if you ask investors how they feel, most will tell you they're nervous. Headlines are...

05/25/2026

As we enjoy our freedoms and blessings, let us take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by so many men and women who have served our nation. Thank you for your service and dedication.

05/13/2026

Almost every year there comes a stock that makes you go "What if?" What if I had bought Nvidia in 2020? What if I'd put my bonus into Apple back in 2009? What if I'd bought bitcoin earlier? The problem is...

05/12/2026

Stocks surged in April, delivering their strongest monthly gains in five years as solid economic data, easing geopolitical tensions, and upbeat first-quarter earnings lifted investor sentiment. The Nasdaq climbed 15.29%, the S&P 500 rose 10.42%, and the Dow gained 7.14%, while Canada’s S&P/TSX Composite added 3.65%. With no Fed meeting in May, attention turns to remarks from Fed officials and how evolving economic data may shape expectations moving forward. From \$34.1 billion in U.S. spending to the popularity of Mother’s Day dining and gifts, this month’s By the Numbers highlights how families celebrate the occasion.

Stocks fell in the first quarter amid concerns that artificial intelligence (AI) could disrupt certain industries and geopolitical issues that unsettled investors.

05/07/2026

Markets have recently moved back near all time highs, which can sometimes make investors wonder if a pullback is coming next.

Historically, though, markets reaching new highs has been a normal part of long term investing. In many cases, returns after new highs have actually been similar to or better than other periods.

Trying to wait for the “perfect” time to invest has historically been much harder than simply staying invested over time.

04/24/2026

Over 25 years, S&P 500 returns and forward earnings growth move together. Not perfectly in any given month, but unmistakably over time.

Past 12 months: 33.9% return, 22.6% earnings growth.

When clients ask what really drives markets, we point here. It's not the Fed. Not the election cycle. Not the latest headline.

It's earnings. Boring. Reliable. Foundational.

04/15/2026

If you just had a baby, one of the first questions is:

What’s the best way to start saving for them?

529s, UTMAs, and newer options all work differently. It really depends on what you want the money to do.

We break it down simply here:

When you have a newborn, one of the first financial questions that comes up is simple: What’s the best way to start saving for them? Between 529 plans, UTMAs, and now the new Trump Account, there isn’t a one size fits all answer...

04/14/2026

Oil spikes tend to grab headlines and create uncertainty, but the data tells a more complete story.

Looking back at every instance since 1986 where oil surged more than 20 percent in just two days, the S&P 500 was higher one year later in 6 out of 7 cases. The average return across those periods was about 24 percent.

That does not mean markets move in a straight line, and short term volatility is always part of the equation. But historically, sharp shocks like this have often been followed by resilience over time.

It is a good reminder that reacting to headlines can feel right in the moment, but staying focused on long term strategy is what tends to drive better outcomes.

04/08/2026

Spending is not constant over your lifetime.

Data shows it typically rises through your working years, peaks around your late 40s to early 50s at roughly $100,000 per year, and then gradually declines in retirement.

This matters more than most people think. Many retirement plans assume a flat spending number, but real life does not work that way.

Planning for how spending actually changes can lead to a much more realistic and flexible strategy.

04/07/2026

U.S. stocks slipped in Q1 as AI disruption fears and Middle East tensions rattled investors. The S&P 500 fell 4.63%, the Nasdaq dropped 7.11%, and the Dow lost 3.58% — though six of eleven S&P 500 sectors still finished in the green, led by Energy's standout 37.91% gain. As the weather warms up and spring gets us outside, it turns out Americans are right there with you — over 181 million U.S. residents participated in outdoor recreation in 2024. Check out this month's by-the-numbers for more on the outdoor recreation economy.

U.S. stocks struggled in February amid fears that artificial intelligence would disrupt a wide swath of industries, unsettling investors. Late in the month, geopolitical concerns weighed on the market amid tensions in the Middle East.