BDA Financial Services

09/04/2026

Markets pushed higher in August as AI-driven optimism helped investors look past softer economic data. The S&P 500 gained 2.62% and the S&P/TSX Composite rose 2.96%, even as softening retail sales kept consumer spending in focus. Back-to-school season adds another data point to that story, with spending expected to reach \$146.8 billion in the U.S. and \$4.5 billion in Canada this year.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 2.62 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 3.93 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged, adding 1.34 percent. The S&P/TSX rose 2.96 percent.1,2

09/04/2026

You received a windfall. Now what? An inheritance, bonus, or other large cash event brings an important question: Invest it all at once or gradually?

If the amount is relatively small compared to your portfolio, investing it sooner may make sense and gives your money more time in the market.

If it represents a significant portion of your wealth, gradually investing over several months may help manage timing risk and make market swings easier to handle.

There’s no universal answer. The right approach should consider the size of the windfall, your goals, timeline, portfolio, and comfort with risk.

The goal isn’t to perfectly time the market. It’s to build a strategy you can stick with

09/03/2026

Back-to-school season is bringing higher costs for many families.

A new analysis found that a typical basket of school items, including notebooks, lunch boxes, and index cards, is up nearly 8% compared with last year.

School lunches are also more expensive, with the cost of a typical packed lunch up 11%.

The analysis estimates families may spend roughly $4,000 per student on school supplies and lunches this year, including about $175 on school items and $3,800 on packed lunches.

Some items have seen especially sharp increases. Lunch boxes are up 27%, one-subject notebooks are up 23%, and index cards are up 22%.

Higher tariffs, imported school supplies, food prices, and energy costs are all contributing to the increase.

For families, back-to-school shopping is a reminder that seasonal expenses can add up quickly, especially when everyday costs are already stretching household budgets.


Source:

U.S. households will spend roughly $4,000 per student on school supplies and lunches this year, a new analysis found.

09/02/2026

You've allocated your assets; you just may not realize it yet.

Consider how your assets are allocated and if that allocation is consistent with your time frame and risk tolerance.

09/02/2026

Stocks rebounded last week as falling bond yields and upbeat AI-related corporate reports rekindled positive market sentiment despite the Fed Chair’s slightly hawkish speech. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index gained 0.49 percent, while...

09/02/2026

Whether you are raising young children or looking ahead as a grandparent, the soaring cost of higher education may already be on the radar. Even if it isn’t a daily concern, there’s no escaping the reality that earning a four-year...

Explore strategies for managing rising college costs, using 529 plans and other education savings options, plus insights on market volatility and long-term investing.

09/01/2026

A Fall Financial Reset: Is Your Lifestyle Growing Faster Than Your Wealth?

A raise, bonus, or increase in income should make it easier to build wealth. But sometimes, the opposite happens.

As income grows, spending has a way of growing right along with it.

A nicer car. A bigger vacation. More subscriptions. More dinners out. A few upgrades around the house. Individually, they may fit comfortably into the budget—but together, they can quietly absorb nearly every dollar of additional income.

That's lifestyle creep, and over time it can make a higher income feel surprisingly similar to the one you had before.

This fall, consider giving your finances a reset:

➡️ Increase your savings when your income increases
➡️ Automate retirement and investment contributions
➡️ Be intentional about which lifestyle upgrades actually matter to you
➡️ Avoid letting every raise automatically become more spending
➡️ Regularly check whether your money is moving you closer to your long-term goals

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the money you’ve worked hard to earn. The goal is to make sure today's lifestyle isn't coming at the expense of tomorrow's financial freedom.

Wealth isn't simply about how much you make. It's about how much of that income you're able to turn into something lasting.

📅 Ready to take a fresh look at your financial plan? Schedule a time to meet with us

08/31/2026

Lifestyle inflation can be the enemy of wealth building.

Lifestyle inflation can be the enemy of wealth building. What could happen if you invested instead of buying more stuff?

08/30/2026

This month's chart unpacks where we most commonly go for information. Take a look, and you'll see one source stands out from the rest.

08/29/2026

Retirement planning is about more than building a portfolio. It’s about building a life you’ll actually enjoy living.

A fulfilling retirement often comes down to four things:

🗝️Purpose— Have something that gives you a reason to get up each morning
🗝️Engagement — Use your time in meaningful ways, whether that’s working, volunteering, learning, traveling, or staying active.
🗝️Connection — Make time for family, friendships, and your community.
🗝️Health — Build habits today that support the life you want to live tomorrow.

We spend a lot of time planning how much money someone will need in retirement. But an equally important question is:

What do you want your retirement to look like once you get there?

A strong retirement plan should help fund your future—not define it.