Mixed Signals

January 20, 2026

  A positive fundamental outlook for stocks risks being blunted by geopolitical concerns. Last week, the S&P 500 Index was -0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.3%, and the NASDAQ -0.9%. The Real Estate, Consumer Staples, and Industrial sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Financials, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services sectors …

Jump Start

January 12, 2026

  Stocks had a solid first full week of trading in the new year. For the week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials +2.3%, and the NASDAQ +2.2%. The Consumer Discretionary, Materials, and Industrial sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Utility, Technology, and Real Estate sectors …

Meghan Hoover Earns FRC Designation

January 7, 2026

  NovaPoint is proud to announce that Meghan Hoover has earned the Federal Retirement ConsultantSM designation issued by the Federation of Federal Employee Benefit Advocates (FFEBA). The FRCSM certification is also a professionally listed designation with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The FRCSM designation signifies expertise in federal retirement systems to enable advisers to …

Opening Moves

January 5, 2026

  Stocks posted a positive return on 2026’s first trading day, but a negative return for the week. Last week, the S&P 500 Index was -1.0%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.7%, and the NASDAQ -1.7%. The Energy, Utilities, and Industrial sectors all had positive returns and led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while …

Last Call

December 29, 2025

  Stocks head into the final week of trading with double-digit gains for the year. Last week, the S&P 500 Index was +1.4 %, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.2%, and the NASDAQ +1.2%. The Materials, Technology, and Financial sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Consumer Staples, Consumer Discretionary, and Health …

Christmas Market

December 22, 2025

  Stocks finished mixed again last week. The S&P 500 Index was +0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrials -0.6%, and the NASDAQ +0.6%. The Consumer Discretionary, Materials, and Health Care sectors led the S&P 500 Index for the week, while the Energy, Real Estate, and Consumer Staples sectors lagged. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield was …

Mixed

December 15, 2025

  The Federal Reserve followed-through and provided an interest rate cut but concerns over the AI trade left markets mixed last week. The S&P 500 Index finished last week -0.6%, the Dow Jones Industrials +1.1%, and the NASDAQ -1.9%. The Materials, Financials and Industrials sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Communication Services, Technology, …

Hope for Holiday Easing

December 8, 2025

  Confidence in an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve at its meeting this week continued to carry stocks. The S&P 500 Index finished last week +0.4%, the Dow Jones Industrials +0.6%, and the NASDAQ +1.0%. The Energy, Technology, and Consumer Discretionary sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Utility, Health Care, and …

College Savings and Tax Benefits

December 3, 2025

  Introduction – Total college costs have continued to increase year-over-year, with tuition costs tripling over the last 60 years, even when inflation is considered. According to an annual survey of colleges conducted by CollegeBoard, the 2024-2025 average annual cost for tuition and fees was $11,610 for public in-state students and $29,910 when considering all …

What’s in Store

December 1, 2025

  A continued shift in expectations toward a Federal Reserve rate cut at its December meeting supported upside in equities last week. The S&P 500 Index finished the week +3.7%, the Dow Jones Industrials +3.2%, and the NASDAQ 4.9%. The Communication Services, Consumer Discretionary, and Technology sectors led the S&P 500 Index, while the Energy, …