Blogs & Market Updates

Market Commentary

Markets Pull Back Despite Economic Resilience

Equities pulled back from recent highs last week, as a sharp drop in technology names weighed on the broader market....

Why 401(k) Plan Advisory Should Be a Core Part of Your Business Model

By Kevin McDevitt For many financial advisors, individual wealth management is the heart of their business. But there...

Markets Shrug off Inflation, Push to New Highs

Equity indices continued to notch new highs last week, buoyed by optimism over a prospective Iran-U.S. peace...

S&P 500 Extends Winning Streak to Seven Weeks Despite Inflation Reigniting

U.S. equities slowed their pace last week, as earnings strength and ongoing AI enthusiasm did its best to offset...

A Resilient Labor Market and Earnings Growth Lead Markets Higher

U.S. equity markets rose for the sixth consecutive week as stronger-than-expected corporate earnings and hopes of a...

Markets Reach Fresh Highs as Investors Shrug Off Higher Inflation

Market Data as of Week Ending: 5/1/2026 unless noted otherwise U.S. equity markets rose modestly for the second week...

Earnings Strength Propels Markets to All-Time Highs

Market Data as of Week Ending: 4/24/2026 unless noted otherwise U.S. equity markets posted a modest week of gains,...

Stocks Sprint Ahead as Results Fuel Market Rally

Market Data as of Week Ending: 4/17/2026 unless noted otherwise U.S. equity markets posted a robust week, with major...

Ceasefire Sparks Risk Rally

Market Data as of Week Ending: 4/10/2026 unless noted otherwise U.S. equity markets posted another strong week, as...

Markets Rebound Despite Geopolitical and Inflation Risks

Market Data as of Week Ending: 4/3/2026 unless noted otherwise Stock prices generally recovered, as major U.S. indexes...

Stocks Extend Losing Streak to Five Weeks as Confidence Fades

Market Data as of Week Ending: 3/27/2026 unless noted otherwise Large-cap equities bore the brunt of a risk-off week...

Markets Continue to Slide as Uncertainty Looms

Market Data as of Week Ending: 3/20/2026 unless noted otherwise Broad-based selling defined the week as equity markets...

Oil Shock Rattles Markets for Third Straight Week

Market Data as of Week Ending: 3/13/2026 unless noted otherwise Concerns over persistent inflation and wildly...

Turning 401(k) Audit Season into a Strategic Advantage

By Nick Capo As the first quarter wraps up, many plan sponsors are turning their attention to an important...

Surging Oil Prices and Unexpected Job Losses Weigh on Markets

Market Data as of Week Ending: 3/6/2026 unless noted otherwise Last week’s market downturn intensified as the Middle...

AI Fears and Sticky PPI Fuel Market Slump

Market Data as of Week Ending: 2/27/2026 unless noted otherwise Major U.S. stock indexes declined last week as...

Stocks Finish Higher Amid Supreme Court Tariff Ruling

Market Data as of Week Ending: 2/20/2026 unless noted otherwise U.S. equities rose over the holiday-shortened week as...

Market Jitters Over AI Disruption Concerns

Market Data as of Week Ending: 2/13/2026 unless noted otherwise U.S. equities finished the week lower as concerns...

2016 vs Now: A Decade of Change to 401(k) Contribution Limits and Rules

By Kevin McDevittRetirement planning has evolved significantly over the past decade. While 2026 may not feel like it...

AI Disruption and Tech Spending Rattles Investors

Market Summary as of the week ending 2/6/2026 unless noted otherwise. U.S. equities ended a volatile week mixed as...

Markets Rattled as Metals Plunge and Stocks Diverge

U.S. equities were mixed for the week, even as the S&P 500 briefly surpassed 7,000 intraday. Precious metals sold...

Policy Jitters Weigh on Stocks Despite Resilient Data

Market Data as of Week Ending: 1/23/2026 unless noted otherwise U.S. equities declined overall during the...

Secure 2.0 and the 2026 Roth Catch-Up Rule: What Financial Advisors Need to Know

Key Change Under SECURE 2.0 Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the SECURE 2.0 Act requires catch-up contributions for...

Markets Mixed as Earnings Season Kicks Off

Market Data as of Week Ending: 1/16/2026 unless noted otherwise U.S. equities were mixed last week as earnings season...

Stocks Climb to Records Despite Mixed Labor Market Data

Market Data as of Week Ending: 1/9/2026 unless noted otherwise U.S. equities rose last week, overcoming heightened...

Q4 2025 Plan Sponsor Insights

Sending You Warm Holiday Wishes With the holiday season approaching, we want to take a moment to share our heartfelt...

Private Equity in 401(k)s: What’s Changing and When You Might See It

By Kevin McDevitt For years, 401(k) plans have been built around familiar investments, such as mutual funds, stocks...

How Advisors Can Help Build Retirement Confidence Through Effective Engagement

We’ve all heard it, many Americans are behind when it comes to saving for retirement, and some fear they may never be...

Need Protection from Creditors? Don’t Forget Retirement Plans

By Jerrod Weiss Employer-sponsored retirement plans offer many tax-based benefits and simplicity, enabling Americans...

Q3 2025 Plan Sponsor Insights

In today’s dynamic retirement landscape, our commitment to you and your plan participants remains steadfast. We...

Make the Most of National 401(k) Day: Smart Steps for Your Retirement Plan

National 401(k) Day is more than just a calendar event. It is a powerful reminder to take control of your financial...

2025 Contribution Limits

Each year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) raises the contribution limits for 401(k) retirement plans, allowing...

American Trust Retirement Review Insights, Trends and Strategies for Success

At American Trust Retirement, it’s our goal to keep you informed. We are dedicated to adding value to your retirement...

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