Wealth Design Group, LLC

When markets rise, it’s easy to believe gains will continue indefinitely. Overconfidence can lead to taking unnecessary risks or abandoning long-term strategies.

I've found that staying disciplined during highs is just as important as remaining calm during downturns.

A steady approach helps protect against emotional missteps.

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗿𝗶𝘀
Wealth Design Group
📩 [email protected]
💻 https://www.wealthdesigngroup.net
📲 281.220.2781
📍 Houston, TX

U.S. stocks finished August higher despite a volatile month shaped by shifting interest-rate expectations, geopolitical tensions, and elevated energy prices. Technology and AI-related stocks remained an important source of market strength, while solid corporate earnings helped support investor sentiment.

The major indexes were able to advance even as investors weighed persistent inflation concerns and uncertainty surrounding the Federal Reserve’s next policy move.

For the month of August, the market’s three major indices performed as follows:

S&P 500 2.6%
The Dow 1.3%
Nasdaq 3.9%

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Sources:
𝘩𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘳𝘦𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴/𝘶𝘴-𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬-𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘹-𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴-𝘥𝘪𝘱-𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦-𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵-𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴-𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘯-𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯-𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴-2026-08-31
h𝘵𝘵𝘱𝘴://𝘸𝘸𝘸.𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩.𝘤𝘰𝘮/𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦/𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬-𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵-𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺-𝘥𝘰𝘸-𝘴-𝘱-500-𝘢𝘯𝘥-𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘥𝘢𝘲-𝘴𝘦𝘵-𝘵𝘰-𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭-𝘢𝘴-𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵-𝘰𝘪𝘭-𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘴-90-𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳-𝘶-𝘴-𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘬𝘦-𝘰𝘯-𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘯/𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘥/𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘴-𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘴-𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬-𝘵𝘰-𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬-𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴-𝘣𝘶𝘵-𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭-𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬-𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘶𝘴𝘵-𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴-𝘖𝘶𝘬𝘮𝘚𝘵𝘙𝘪𝘌𝘡𝘓𝘡𝘐9𝘟𝘺𝘔𝘶𝘗𝘶

🗓️ September 1st means we’re officially two-thirds of the way through the year.

Summer vacations are winding down, kids are heading back to school, and routines are returning. It’s a natural time to refocus.

Take another look at the goals you set for yourself this year. What’s on track? What needs more attention? And what can you accomplish over the next four months?

There’s still plenty of year left to stay intentional and finish incredibly strong.💪

Many retirees are surprised to learn that Social Security can be subject to taxes.

Certain factors such as income from investments, pensions, or part-time work may affect how much is taxable.

Factoring this into your retirement income plan helps avoid surprises. With proper planning, you can manage withdrawals to minimize the tax impact.

(Always consult with a qualified tax professional for guidance.)

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗿𝗶𝘀
Wealth Design Group
📩 [email protected]
💻 https://www.wealthdesigngroup.net
📲 281.220.2781
📍 Houston, TX

The latest inflation report offered some encouraging signs that price pressures are continuing to moderate.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.1% in July, following a 0.4% decline in June, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the past 12 months, consumer prices increased 3.4%, down slightly from the 3.5% annual rate reported in June.

Core CPI, which excludes the more volatile food and energy categories, increased 0.2% for the month and 2.5% over the past year, also easing from June's 2.6% annual rate. The results were in line with Wall Street expectations.

Shelter costs increased just 0.1% in July, although they still accounted for roughly two-thirds of the overall monthly CPI increase. Food prices also rose 0.1%, while energy prices declined 1.5% for the month. Despite the monthly decline, energy costs remain 14.7% higher than a year ago, while food prices are up 3.0%.
Elsewhere, medical care costs increased 0.4%, airline fares rose 2.2%, new vehicle prices increased 0.1%, and used cars and trucks rose 0.4%.

While annual inflation remains above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, the July report suggests that some of the inflationary pressure seen earlier in the year may be easing. Markets responded positively to the report, while expectations for a Federal Reserve rate increase in September declined.

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Sources:
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/12/cpi-inflation-report-july-2026.html

When markets drop, selling investments at a loss can create tax benefits by offsetting gains elsewhere.

This strategy doesn’t change the market’s ups and downs, but it can help reduce your tax bill.

Reinvesting proceeds keeps your plan aligned while capturing potential tax advantages. (Consult with a qualified tax professional before making decisions.)

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗿𝗶𝘀
Wealth Design Group
📩 [email protected]
💻 https://www.wealthdesigngroup.net
📲 281.220.2781
📍 Houston, TX

U.S. job growth stalled in July, with nonfarm payrolls declining by 23,000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The decline was driven in part by losses in local government education and retail trade, while health care continued to add jobs. Construction added 22,000 jobs and manufacturing gained 5,000.

The unemployment rate was 4.1%, while the number of unemployed Americans remained about 6.9 million. Labor force participation stood at 61.4%, down 0.7 percentage point since January, while the employment-population ratio was 58.9%. Long-term unemployment was approximately 1.8 million, representing 25.5% of all unemployed people.

Previous months were also revised substantially lower. May's job gain was reduced from 129,000 to 63,000, while June was revised from 57,000 to just 20,000 — a combined downward revision of 103,000 jobs.
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Sources:
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf
https://apnews.com/article/economy-jobs-trump-unemployment-rate-jobseekers-9c2d147c14bc428458be5a1e83e54957

When only one spouse or partner manages finances, it can create imbalance and risk.

But by including both voices in planning, you help share understanding and joint decision-making, helping to build trust and strengthen the plan.

Collaboration supports alignment, accountability, and confidence for both partners.

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗿𝗶𝘀
Wealth Design Group
📩 [email protected]
💻 https://www.wealthdesigngroup.net
📲 281.220.2781
📍 Houston, TX

Long-term investing isn't about chasing the highest returns or predicting every market move.

Instead, it's about building a disciplined strategy that manages risk, stays aligned with your goals, and remains resilient through changing market conditions.

As Benjamin Graham reminds us, successful investing often comes down to what you avoid just as much as what you pursue.
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The financial landscape is always changing.

From tax laws to market conditions, staying informed empowers you to ask better questions and make stronger decisions. Lifelong learning about money builds both confidence and clarity.

-𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗿𝗶𝘀
Wealth Design Group
📩 [email protected]
💻 https://www.wealthdesigngroup.net
📲 281.220.2781
📍 Houston, TX