Pericles Financial Services

07/18/2026

Did Samuel Adams actually brew beer? Most people associate him with the beer brand, but evidence is unclear if he ever actually brewed any! However, he did run the family business, which sold malted barley to breweries.

The name of Samuel Adams is synonymous with the beer brand and industry, but the man himself was more successful as a politician and revolutionary.

07/14/2026

John Hancock was one of the wealthiest Founding Fathers! One estimate places his wealth at $350,000 upon his death, or about $9.5 million today. That was enough to represent 1/714th of the fledging America’s gross national product at the time!

John Hancock (January 23, 1737 [O.S. January 12, 1736] – October 8, 1793) was an American Founding Father, merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution.[1] He was the longest-serving president of the Continental Congress, having served as the second president of the Second...

07/10/2026

You know his name, but do you know everything he invented? Ben Franklin was a prodigious inventor with notable inventions including the lightning rod, bifocals, swim fins and the catheter. Here's other notable inventions from the founding father!

Benjamin Franklin was many things in his lifetime: a printer, a postmaster, an ambassador, an author, a scientist, a Founding Father. Above all, he was an inventor, creating solutions to common problems, innovating new technology, and even making life a little more musical.

07/08/2026

Markets posted solid second-quarter gains as investors responded to upbeat economic reports, continued diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, and strong first-quarter corporate numbers. The S&P 500 rose 14.87%, the Nasdaq gained 21.41%, and the Dow picked up 12.90%, while Canada’s S&P/TSX Composite added 6.37%. Looking ahead, markets may continue to react to Middle East updates, oil prices, inflation trends, and the pace of global commerce through the Strait of Hormuz. From U.S. home price growth to Canadian housing forecasts, this quarter’s by-the-numbers highlights the data behind one of North America’s most closely watched markets.

Quarterly Market Insights | July 2026 U.S. and Canadian Markets Stocks saw solid gains in the second quarter, riding a wave of enthusiasm over upbeat economic reports, ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, and strong first-quarter corporate numbers. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 14...

07/06/2026

While serving as third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson kept a pair of grizzly bears in a cage on the White House lawn! The bears were a gift from Captain Zebulon Pike, an early explorer of the Louisiana Territory. Learn more!

In 1807, two grizzly bear cubs briefly lived on the White House grounds. They are just some of the animals, wild and domestic, who made their home on the Mall. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, the land of the Mall was a grazing space for farm animals. The Mall has also been a home to wild animals....

07/04/2026

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

07/02/2026

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the same day! Both men passed on July 4, 1826 – right on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The deaths of former U.S. Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on July 4, 1826, the day of the Jubilee, the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, was an extraordinary and eerie coincidence.

06/21/2026

06/19/2026

At a time when racial inequality is so visible, Juneteenth is a day to celebrate and honor Black history and culture as we commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. Take some time for reflection and education about the work that still lies ahead of us.

06/17/2026

🚢From ships to shares, here’s a brief history of stocks 📊

The first “stocks” were tied to dangerous sea voyages. Today? They’re traded with a tap.

Swipe to explore:
⚫ The first company to issue stock
⚫ The world’s first exchange
⚫ Why stocks became so popular
⚫ How this centuries-old idea still drives markets today