By Jerrod Weiss On March 5, 2026, more than 100 professionals from across the retirement industry gathered in New York City for a forum on one of the most talked-about topics today: artificial intelligence. The audience was largely made up of engineers, product...
American Trust Retirement
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 finished the holiday-shortened week higher. Geopolitical tensions remain elevated and have contributed to volatility, as the U.S. military remains...
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 as geopolitical tensions and deteriorating consumer sentiment drove investors away from growth-oriented names. The S&P 500 fell more than 2%, the...
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 absorbed a hawkish tilt from the Federal Reserve and continued uncertainty around the conflict in the Middle East. Growth trailed value at both the...
Q1 2026 Plan Sponsor Insights
Preparing for the Season Ahead We’re pleased to share our latest newsletter, featuring important updates that may impact your retirement plan. This issue highlights upcoming regulatory requirements, key compliance considerations, operational enhancements and new tools...
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 fluctuating oil prices drove equity markets lower for the third consecutive week, with crude ultimately finishing near $99 a barrel despite swinging sharply...
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 responsibility: preparing for 401(k) audit season. In general, plans with 100 or more eligible participants at the beginning of the plan year are required to...
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 East conflict escalated, triggering a sharp rise in oil prices following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This critical waterway handles nearly 20%...
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 investors were focused on corporate earnings and a 6-3 Supreme Court decision that has declared the Trump administration’s recent trade tariffs...
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 about the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence spread beyond the technology sector and into a broad range of industries. Investors grappled with...