Sapphire Wealth Advisory Group

05/08/2026

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 surged in April, notching their best month in five years as investors cheered upbeat economic news, efforts to lower tensions in the Middle East, and first-quarter results.

04/22/2026

💼 If the office had a control tower, it would not be in a corner office.

Administrative Professionals Day is for the people who keep the runway clear, the calendar sane, and the details tight.

In most firms, that role is bigger than a title.

It’s the person who anticipates what is needed before anyone asks.

It’s the person who protects focus, keeps everything on track, and makes sure our clients feel taken care of.

It’s the person who wears five hats and still brings calm to the day.

Grateful for the administrative professionals and the behind-the-scenes leaders who make the work better. 💼

04/09/2026

Any guess how much you’ll spend on healthcare costs in retirement?

A 2025 study by Fidelity puts the after-tax cost at about $330k for an average retired couple and $165k for a single person, excluding long-term care.

Did you know…

⚠️ The $330k and $165k estimates are after-tax and do not include long-term care.

⚠️ Healthcare costs have typically risen faster than the average rate of inflation, the Fidelity report showed.

⚠️ Costs can vary by medical conditions and where someone lives, so rules of thumb can miss.

A lot of people underestimate this line item, enough that if you haven’t included assumptions for it in your retirement strategy, you should.

It deserves an in-depth financial conversation.

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.

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

04/06/2026

💡 Get this—investors working with a financial professional are about half as likely to report high financial stress (Source: Vanguard 2025). That gap makes sense.

April is National Stress Awareness Month, and the American Psychological Association has repeatedly found that money is a source of stress for many Americans. 😟

Do any of these questions worry you?

❓ Do I have enough for the retirement I’ve imagined?
❓ Do we have enough to support parents or other family members in need?
❓ What if the markets get choppy?

Clarity does not eliminate uncertainty, but it can help manage the mental load.

CFP® Board research from 2025 also points in the same direction; 49 percent of CFP® clients reported less financial anxiety through an advised relationship.

A good strategy does not promise outcomes. It replaces worry with decisions and decisions with a process that holds up when life changes.