Monthly Market Update | September 1, 2026 Monthly Market Summary The S&P 500 Index returned +2.7% in August and set a new high. Five of the eleven S&P 500 sectors traded higher, with four outperforming the broad index. Energy (+7.0%) led all sectors, followed by Technology (+6.2%) as the sector rebounded from a July selloff and Materials (+6.0%) as gold gained nearly +10%. Utilities (-4.8%) led to the downside, followed by Industrials (-2.6%) and Real Estate (-1.9%). Bonds

Choosing financial guidance can feel overwhelming. One important question to ask is whether the professional you are considering is a fiduciary. What fiduciary means A fiduciary is legally obligated to act in a client’s best interest. For financial planning and investment management, that means recommendations should be grounded in your goals, circumstances, and risk tolerance—not in commissions or product sales. Questions to ask a financial planner Do you serve as a fiduciar

5 WAYS TO MEASURE YOUR GENERAL FINANCIAL HEALTH Personal finance measures can help give you a better general understanding of your current financial wellness and track your progress over time. Emergency Fund We generally recommend that you have 3 to 6 months’ worth of nondiscretionary monthly expenses (e.g. mortgage/rent, insurance, utilities, groceries, etc.) held as liquid assets, such as in cash, savings, or a money market account. The location should allow the funds to be

Stocks Hold Steady Despite a Busy Month of Geopolitical and AI Headlines Monthly Market Summary · The S&P 500 Index returned -0.1%. Energy led all S&P 500 sectors with a +12.6% return as geopolitical tensions caused oil to trade higher. Financials (+6.2%) was the second-best performing sector, followed by the defensive trio of Real Estate (+2.5%), Health Care (+2.4%), and Consumer Staples (+2.1%). Technology (-3.4%) underperformed as AI stocks gave back some of their g