Boston Retirement Group, LLC Doug Padden & Patrick Nee, Wealth Advisors

The Fed’s next move will get plenty of attention.

But if rates start moving higher again, the bigger story may be what happens after that first increase.

In four of the last five hiking cycles, the S&P 500 was higher a year after the first hike. The exception was the aggressive 2022–23 cycle, when rates climbed from 0.25% to 5.5%.

See why the pace of future rate hikes may matter just as much as the first move:
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Market Commentary: A Hot Economy Meets a Reluctant Fed Stocks were flat last week, but the S&P 500 continues to hold above its June peak. This level is a logical area of support. The 50-day moving average,

More than $51 trillion is expected to transfer to women as surviving spouses over the next two decades.

That shift will place more women in charge of decisions involving taxes, retirement accounts, and the future of family wealth.

This webinar explores strategies that may help women prepare for those responsibilities with greater knowledge and intention.

Watch to understand the tax decisions that may shape how this next generation of wealth is managed and transferred:

Webinar: Tax-Smart Strategies — How Women Can Design Their Wealth Plan with Purpose and Intention Over the next two decades, more than $51 trillion is expected to transfer to women as surviving spouses, making this one of the most significant wealth

Choosing life insurance can get complicated quickly.

The coverage you choose should reflect your family’s financial needs, your circumstances, and what may change over time.

This resource walks through questions to consider when evaluating a policy and when it may be time to review your coverage:

Choosing an Insurance Policy | Boston Retirement Group Your plan shouldn't look the same when you’re 55 as it did when you were 35, and part of that is because you have ever-changing goals. So how do you know when it’s time to adjust your financial plan?

The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged and struck a more dovish tone.

The bond market told a different story.

Short-term yields fell, while longer-term yields surged and the 30-year Treasury reached its highest level since 2007. That split may reflect concerns about inflation now and the possibility of a tougher Fed response later.

See why the bond market may be challenging the Fed’s message:

Market Commentary: Earnings + Fed = Up-and-Down Week for Markets (Mostly Up) If nothing else, markets kept us entertained last week. The S&P 500 was higher four out of five days, but the down day was big as markets tested

Trying to understand the difference between a Trump Account and a 529 plan? They might sound alike, but they’re meant for different goals.

A 529 is focused on education. A Trump Account lets families begin investing for a child early, and once the child reaches adulthood, it becomes a retirement account.

See what sets the two apart and how each may fit into a longer-term savings plan:

Trump Accounts: What You Need to Know About Eligibility, Contributions, and Long-Term Planning You’ve probably heard of Trump Accounts—the new tax-advantaged savings and investment tool for minors. Established under Section 530A of the tax code,

Life insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Each type works a little differently.

Some provide straightforward coverage. Others may include cash value, added flexibility, or benefits tied to needs such as long-term care.

Once you understand what each type does, it’s easier to figure out which may be right for you. Your goals, budget, and when you need it also matter when discussing coverage with a financial professional.

See how the main types differ and what each is designed to do:

Which Type of Life Insurance Is Right for Me | Boston Retirement Group There are so many different types of life insurance: term life, universal life, whole life, even hybrid life insurance policies. We can help you decide which life insurance policy is right for you.

Higher interest rates can’t produce more oil, computer chips, or shipping capacity. So why would the Federal Reserve consider raising them?

The concern is what happens after a supply shock. Higher costs can spread into transportation, food, services, and wages, especially when demand remains strong.

See why the Fed may act even when it can’t fix the original shortage, and what that could mean for markets:

Market Commentary: Good News Under the Surface, but Fed Uncertainty Ahead The S&P 500 fell last week, with technology leading the way lower, as the Middle East conflict flared back up, oil jumped, and Treasury yields pushed

When people start thinking about retirement, one question usually comes first: Have I saved enough?

But it’s rarely the only question that matters.

Taxes, long-term care, estate planning, and replacing a paycheck for decades can all shape what retirement actually looks like.

Take a closer look at the planning areas that are easy to miss:

Next-Level Retirement Planning: Advanced Retirement Strategies Becoming hyper-focused on only one aspect of a project is rarely a good approach. A racecar driver who only focuses on speed and ignores strategy likely

Markets faced plenty of turbulence in the first half of 2026, from an oil spike and geopolitical conflict to persistent inflation and sharp swings in stocks.

Still, earnings expectations climbed, AI investment accelerated, and the S&P 500 finished the first six months up 10.2%.

The 2026 Midyear Outlook looks at what may keep supporting markets and what could interrupt the ride.

Get the full second-half market read:

Market Commentary: Carson 2026 Midyear Outlook—Still Riding the Wave Yes, the S&P 500 was down last week, falling 1.5%, but as we’ve been talking about throughout the year, this has been the year of diversification.

Required minimum distributions can look simple on paper.

Then the questions start. Which accounts require one? Can withdrawals be combined? What happens if you’re still working or inherited the account?

Get the basics before those decisions land on your calendar:

Basics of RMDs with Your Retirement Account | Boston Retirement Group Understand required minimum distributions (RMDs). What is the RMD for IRAs? What is the RMD for Roth IRAs? And What is the RMD for 401(k)s?