Market Commentary: Stocks Soar in the Second Quarter to Close Out a Solid First Half
Well, that’s a wrap on the first half of 2026. After all the handwringing this spring over the Middle East, oil prices, and the Fed, the S&P 500 closed the first six months up 9.6% (excluding dividends), and it did it in style. The index’s second-quarter gain of 14.9% was the best Q2 in …
The Glass Half Full: Four Reasons to be Thankful this July 4th (Ep. 18)
In this July 4th edition of The Glass Half Full, Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist at Carson Group, and Sonu Varghese, Chief Macro Strategist at Carson Group, take a quick break from the fireworks to share four reasons to be thankful for where markets stand at the midpoint of the year. …
Market Commentary: Why Summer May Be a Time for June Swoons, July Fireworks, and Blowing Bubbles
The S&P 500 fell all five days last week, losing nearly 2%, and is currently down seven of the past eight days. After a historic 15% gain in April and May, June has been weak, which isn’t a total surprise. In fact, the current 3% loss for the month isn’t all that bad, especially when yo …
The Glass Half Full: Talking the Knicks and AI (Ep. 17)
In this episode of The Glass Half Full, Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist at Carson Group, and Sonu Varghese, Chief Macro Strategist at Carson Group, go live on location from Sixth Avenue in New York City right in front of Radio City Music Hall to celebrate the Knicks championship and b …
8 Blunders to Avoid in Retirement
You’re about to approach one of the biggest milestones in your lifetime: retirement. For many retirees, this is a momentous event that gives you much needed time for family, relaxation, and hobbies. For others, this may create apprehension and fear. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With …
Market Commentary: Markets Test but Don’t Fear the New Fed Chair
The story of the week was Kevin Warsh’s first meeting as chair of the Federal Reserve. The Fed decided to hold rates steady, but stocks sold off aggressively (and short-term yields soared) Wednesday following the meeting’s conclusion (more on that below). But calmer heads prevailed on Thurs …
The Glass Half Full: Will the Fed Hike? (Ep. 16)
In this episode of The Glass Half Full, Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist at Carson Group, and Sonu Varghese, Chief Macro Strategist at Carson Group, unpack the Fed’s latest meeting, the reaction to new Chair Kevin Warsh’s debut, and whether markets are getting too hawkish too fast. The …
Market Commentary: Modest S&P 500 Gains Mask Improving Market Breadth
SpaceX’s initial public offering (IPO) on Friday dominated market news last week, but behind the scenes, the S&P 500 edged higher after the big drop on Friday, June 5. Could some more June choppiness be in store? Sure, but we do believe this bull market is still alive and well and the p …
The Glass Half Full: What Goes Up (Ep. 15)
In this episode of The Glass Half Full, Ryan Detrick, Chief Market Strategist at Carson Group, and Sonu Varghese, Chief Macro Strategist at Carson Group, break down what’s driving the recent market pullback and why it may not be the threat it feels like. The rally that preceded it was …
Don’t Blow Your Budget! Tips to Create Your Retirement Spending Plan
Many retirees find that even carefully planned budgets don’t hold up once the structure of a regular work schedule disappears. Spending can creep up in unexpected ways, and despite detailed worksheets and diligent tracking, it’s easy to exceed monthly limits. What looks solid on paper can o …
