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The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 0.6 points in May to 95.3, missing expectations of 96.0 and remaining below its 52-year historical average of 98.0 for the third consecutive month. That marks a meaningful deterioration from the start of the year, when the index was holding above average in
At different points in life, major financial events can create uncertainty. Guided by our purpose of helping make people’s lives better, we continue our Life Events series focusing on one of the most significant and saddest transitions many clients will ever face: the loss of a parent. Losing a parent
The U.S. economy added 172,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3 percent. That headline number lands essentially in line with April’s revised print of 179,000, itself a significant upgrade from the originally reported 115,000 thanks to
The May ISM reports show that the U.S. economy is still growing, and growth is becoming more widespread across both manufacturing and services. However, cost pressures remain elevated and are now spreading into services, and the labor market continues to show signs of weakness even as overall activity improves. Manufacturing:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its revised first quarter 2026 productivity figures on June 4th, and the headline is weaker than the underlying economy deserves. Nonfarm business sector labor productivity rose just 0.3 percent in Q1, as output climbed 1.0 percent against a 0.7 percent increase in hours worked.
At different points in life, major financial events can create both opportunity and uncertainty. Guided by our purpose of helping make people’s lives better, we continue our Life Events series focusing on one of the most significant transitions many clients will ever face: selling a business. For many business owners,
AI, Automation, and Productivity: Long-Term Themes That May Drive Returns for Investors Artificial intelligence is no longer just a technology story. It is becoming a capital spending story, an earnings story, and potentially a long-term productivity story that could reshape how companies compete and how investors identify durable return opportunities.
The MNI Chicago Business Barometer printed 62.7 in May 2026, its highest reading in four years and a 13.5-point surge from April’s 49.2, which had marked a return to contraction. The consensus forecast heading into the release was 50.3 to 50.6, making the miss one of the largest in recent
This market update highlights key developments across equities, fixed income, and the broader economic landscape as 2026 continues to unfold. EquitiesMarkets Reached Record Highs, Led by a Powerful Surge in Chip StocksMay was a strong month for stocks, with all three major U.S. indexes closing at record highs. The S&P
The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge delivered an expectedly high reading last week. The Personal Consumption Expenditures price index advanced 3.8% in April on an annualized basis, reaching its highest level since August 2023. The causes are not mysterious. The outbreak of the Iran war in late February 2026 disrupted
The BEA released its second estimate of Q1 2026 GDP yesterday, and the headline number came in at 1.6% annualized growth, a downward revision from the 2.0% advance estimate published in April. While that is a meaningful rebound from the sluggish 0.5% pace recorded in Q4 2025, the revision lower
The Federal Reserve finds itself in a difficult policy environment. At its April 2026 meeting, the FOMC voted to hold the benchmark federal funds rate in a range of 3.5% to 3.75%, as policymakers grappled with persistent inflation and an unusually divided committee. The inflation problem has been significantly compounded
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