Highlander Financial Group

09/02/2026

Dolly Parton’s legacy reaches far beyond music.

Over the years, she gave millions to causes ranging from disaster relief and medical research to education and children’s literacy. Her Imagination Library alone has distributed more than 330 million books to children across five countries.

After devastating Tennessee wildfires in 2016, her My People Fund provided displaced families with $1,000 a month for six months, no strings attached. She also donated $1 million toward COVID-19 vaccine research and supported schools, scholarships, pediatric care, and communities close to home.

What tied so much of that work together was remarkably simple: trust people, see a need, and respond.

Her example is a meaningful reminder that generosity doesn’t have to follow one formula. It starts with deciding what matters to you and finding a way to make an impact.


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Dolly Parton's death is shining a new light on the country music icon's philanthropy. The Library of Congress has called Parton a “titan of children’s literacy” for the millions of free books provided monthly through her Imagination Library.

08/28/2026

Our latest conversation with Madeline Ruid, Thematic Research Analyst at Global X, takes a closer look at the infrastructure behind the continued growth of AI.

From data center development and rising energy demand to the broader buildout needed to support it, Madeline shares her perspective on where investment and opportunity may be emerging as AI continues to scale.

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08/26/2026

A highlight from our recent conversation with Madeline Ruid, Thematic Research Analyst at Global X, exploring the growing intersection between AI and energy.

Madeline discusses the infrastructure needed to support continued data center development, growing electricity demand, and what greater involvement from AI companies in the energy space could look like.

08/12/2026

A fossil collected in Antarctica more than 40 years ago has turned out to be a rare dinosaur discovery.

The bone was found in 1985 during an expedition to Antarctica’s James Ross Island and was originally recorded as belonging to a large reptile.

Decades later, a paleontologist reviewing the British Antarctic Survey’s collections recognized that the fossil might be something more specific: a dinosaur bone.

Researchers confirmed that the bone came from the tail of a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur called a titanosaur. Scientists have not yet identified the exact species.

The discovery is especially notable because dinosaur fossils are rare in Antarctica, where ice makes fieldwork difficult. Millions of years ago, though, the region was much warmer and covered in lush forests.

It is a reminder that discovery does not always happen in the field. Sometimes, progress comes from revisiting what has already been collected with fresh questions, better tools, and new expertise.


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Dinosaur fossils are rare to find in Antarctica because of the unforgiving ice caps. But millions of years ago, the region was populated by lush forests.

08/07/2026

A new supercomputer in China has taken the top spot as the world’s fastest publicly ranked system.

The LineShine computer, located in Shenzhen, debuted at No. 1 on the latest TOP500 ranking. It achieved 2.198 exaflops, meaning it can perform more than 2 quintillion calculations per second.

This marks the first time since 2017 that a Chinese supercomputer has topped the list.

Supercomputers matter because they can support advanced research, climate modeling, national security work, energy analysis, medicine, engineering, and artificial intelligence development.

LineShine is also notable for running entirely on conventional computer chips rather than the graphics processors often used for AI workloads.

The ranking offers a snapshot of how countries continue to compete in computing power, technological infrastructure, energy use, and innovation.


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A supercomputer in China now outranks its U.S. counterparts as the world’s most powerful, marking the first time since 2017 that a Chinese computer has topped a list sometimes viewed as a measure of a nation’s technological prowess

08/05/2026

Every market cycle comes with its share of attention-grabbing headlines. While the news is always changing, a thoughtful, long-term perspective can help separate what's important from what's simply competing for our attention.

Brian Levitt, Chief Global Market Strategist at Invesco US, shares insights on staying grounded, being intentional about the information we consume, and keeping the bigger picture in focus.

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08/03/2026

Back to School time! It’s been a long summer, and it’s time to get back to class and crack those books. We send our best wishes out to all of our scholars this year, including those starting out at a new school or maybe gearing up for graduation.

07/31/2026

There's no shortage of headlines competing for our attention—but not all of them deserve to shape our investment decisions.

Here's a highlight from our conversation with Brian Levitt, Chief Global Market Strategist at Invesco US.

07/29/2026

Market headlines can be loud. Long-term trends often tell a different story.

Here's a highlight from our recent conversation with Brian Levitt, Chief Global Market Strategist at Invesco US.

Stay tuned for the full conversation, coming this Friday.

07/22/2026

We're excited to introduce Uncommon Lives, a new series from Independent Thinking with Highlander Financial Group that highlights the remarkable stories of the people we're fortunate to know and work with.

In this first clip, HFG client Bill Hopper introduces us to Operation Frodo—a volunteer mission dedicated to helping rescued beagles reach their forever homes.

Watch the highlight below, and stay tuned for Bill's full conversation, where he reflects on a life of service, mentorship, and giving back.