Northern Peak Financial

09/01/2026

Fall is the perfect time for a financial checkup. Review your portfolio, retirement savings, taxes, benefits and budget now to make sure your financial plan stays on track through year-end and beyond.

Start fall with a financial checkup. Review your investments, retirement savings, taxes, benefits and budget to help keep your financial plan on track.

08/29/2026

📈 Northern Peak Financial Weekly Market Update | August 29, 2026

Markets finished another generally positive week, but investors were reminded that inflation and interest rates remain two of the biggest forces driving markets.

The S&P 500 gained about 0.5% for the week, the Dow rose 0.5%, and the Nasdaq added 0.8%. The S&P 500 is now up roughly 12.7% year-to-date, supported in part by strong corporate earnings and continued enthusiasm around technology and AI investment.

🏦 The Fed is back in focus.
July PCE inflation came in at 3.7% year-over-year, while core PCE was 3.3%—still well above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's comments Friday reinforced the Fed's commitment to bringing inflation down and increased market expectations that another rate hike could be possible.

💼 Corporate earnings remain a bright spot.
Strong earnings, particularly from the technology sector, continue to provide support for stocks. Second-quarter S&P 500 earnings are on pace for significant year-over-year growth, helping offset some of the pressure created by higher interest rates.

👀 What we're watching next:
The August employment report will be a major focus next week. Investors will be looking for signs that the labor market remains healthy without being so strong that it adds additional inflation pressure and pushes the Fed toward higher rates.

Our Take: Markets have continued to reward investors this year, but the environment reinforces why we believe in staying diversified and focused on a long-term financial plan. Strong earnings are encouraging, while elevated inflation and interest rates remind us that periods of volatility are normal.

At Northern Peak Financial, our focus remains on building diversified portfolios designed around each client's goals, income needs, risk tolerance, and long-term financial plan.

08/28/2026

As summer ends and school begins, it’s a great time for a financial reset. Review your budget, savings, retirement and college goals, and make sure your financial plan is ready for a strong finish to the year.

Back-to-school season is a great time for a financial reset. Review your budget, savings, retirement and college goals and finish the year strong.

08/21/2026

📈 Weekly Market Commentary | August 21, 2026

Wall Street is wrapping up a more challenging week as investors balance strong economic activity against renewed concerns about inflation, interest rates, and rising bond yields.

Major U.S. indexes are on pace for weekly declines of roughly 2%, with technology stocks experiencing some of the greatest pressure. A sharp rise in longer-term Treasury yields has been a key driver, as higher rates can put pressure on stock valuations—particularly growth and technology companies.

🛢️ Energy & Inflation: Higher energy prices and continued geopolitical uncertainty have brought inflation back into focus. That matters because persistent inflation could keep interest rates higher for longer.

🏦 The Bond Market: The 30-year Treasury yield climbed to its highest level since 2007 this week. Rising government debt, inflation concerns, and increased borrowing have all contributed to volatility in the bond market.

💼 Corporate Earnings: Retail earnings provided a mixed picture of the U.S. consumer, while investors continue to closely watch the technology and AI sectors.

🔭 What We're Watching Next: Next week could be an important one. Investors will be focused on the Federal Reserve's Jackson Hole symposium, NVIDIA earnings, and new inflation data for clues about the direction of interest rates and the strength of the economy.

Our Take: Weeks like this are a good reminder that markets rarely move in a straight line. Volatility is part of long-term investing, and we continue to believe in maintaining diversified portfolios, managing risk, and keeping investment decisions aligned with each client's long-term financial plan.

Have questions about what the markets mean for your portfolio? We're always happy to talk.

Northern Peak Financial

08/18/2026

Retirement comes with important financial milestones. Learn the key ages for Social Security, Medicare, retirement accounts, RMDs and more and how planning ahead can help you make smarter retirement decisions.

Learn the key retirement ages for Social Security, Medicare, 401(k) and IRA withdrawals, RMDs and more. Plan ahead with Northern Peak Financial.

08/14/2026

📈 Weekly Market Recap | August 10–14

Markets spent the week balancing three major themes: cooler inflation, strong corporate earnings, and continued geopolitical uncertainty.

The biggest news came from inflation. July CPI rose 3.4% year-over-year, down from 3.5% in June, while core inflation eased to 2.5%. Producer prices were also encouraging, with July PPI unchanged for the month versus expectations for an increase.

That combination reduced expectations for another Federal Reserve rate hike in September. Treasury yields moved lower following the inflation reports, helping support stocks.

📊 Stocks remained resilient. The S&P 500 reached another record high Thursday, supported by technology and AI-related companies as the second-quarter earnings season continued to show strong corporate profitability.

🛢️ Energy remains the wildcard. Oil prices were volatile throughout the week as markets reacted to continued uncertainty surrounding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude moved back toward the upper-$80 range, keeping energy prices and their potential impact on future inflation in focus.

What are we watching next?

The market is increasingly focused on whether inflation can continue trending lower without a significant slowdown in economic growth. Retail spending, the Fed's next signals on rates, upcoming PCE inflation data, and continued earnings from major technology companies will all be important.

For investors, the message remains the same: there will always be headlines and volatility, but long-term financial plans should be built around goals not weekly market swings.

08/11/2026

As we approach the midterm elections, one of the questions we hear most often at Northern Peak Financial is: "How will the election and the policies being discussed affect my investments?" It's a great question, and one that's worth...

As we approach the midterm elections, one of the questions we hear most often at Northern Peak Financial is:

08/11/2026

📈 Markets are near record highs so what should investors be watching?

There’s been plenty of positive momentum in the markets, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t risks ahead.

Right now, we’re keeping an eye on a few key areas: inflation, a softer labor market, the direction of interest rates, corporate earnings, and continued geopolitical uncertainty.

For long-term investors, the important thing is not trying to predict what happens next.

Markets will move. Headlines will change. The goal is to have a diversified portfolio that matches your risk tolerance, income needs, and long-term financial plan.

At Northern Peak Financial, we continue to monitor the markets and economic data and evaluate what they could mean for our clients.

If you have questions about your portfolio or financial plan, we’re always happy to talk.

08/07/2026

This week was another reminder that markets are driven by fundamentals, not headlines.

While investors continued to watch inflation, interest rates, and global events, several positive themes stood out:
📈 Corporate earnings have remained generally resilient.
💼 The U.S. labor market continues to show strength, with layoffs staying historically low despite a modest increase in weekly jobless claims.
🤖 Productivity continues to improve as businesses invest in AI and technology, helping offset some inflationary pressures.
🏦 The Federal Reserve remains focused on balancing economic growth with inflation, meaning markets will continue reacting to each new economic report.

There are still reasons for caution. Higher oil prices, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and uncertainty surrounding trade policy could create short-term volatility in the weeks ahead. Investors should also keep an eye on upcoming inflation data and employment reports, as they will likely influence expectations for future Federal Reserve decisions.

At Northern Peak Financial, we believe the best investment strategy isn't trying to predict every headline—it's staying disciplined, maintaining a diversified portfolio, and focusing on your long-term financial goals.

Market volatility is normal. A well-built financial plan is designed to help you navigate both the good weeks and the challenging ones.

If you have questions about your portfolio or how today's market environment may impact your financial plan, we're always happy to help.

07/30/2026

What is it about August?