The Housman Group - Baird Private Wealth Management

09/03/2026

In investing, a sense of purpose can protect you from a siren song of unhelpful distractions.

09/02/2026

🏈 College Football and Investing Have More In Common Than You Think 🏈

Every Saturday, college football teams take the field with a game plan. The teams that consistently compete for championships don't rely on trick plays every week. They focus on discipline, preparation, recruiting talent, and executing the fundamentals over time.

Investing works much the same way.

Successful investors don't build wealth by chasing the latest hot stock or reacting to every headline. They create a plan, stay disciplined through market ups and downs, and focus on long term goals.

Championship teams aren't crowned in September, and financial success isn't built in a single quarter.

09/01/2026

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.


Source:

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.

08/31/2026

Weekly Market Minute | The Housman Group

Last week, markets continue their upward trend despite some late week volatility.

✅ The S&P 500 gained approximately 0.5%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.5% and the Nasdaq advanced 0.8% for the week.

✅ Investors closely watched the Federal Reserve's annual Jackson Hole Symposium, where Fed Chair Kevin Warsh reiterated concerns about inflation and signaled the Fed may still be willing to raise interest rates if needed. Markets are now reassessing expectations for future rate policy.

✅ NVIDIA's strong earnings and optimistic AI related revenue outlook helped fuel enthusiasm in the technology sector, reinforcing investor confidence that artificial intelligence remains a major growth driver for corporate earnings.

✅ Looking ahead, investors will focus on key economic reports this week, including ISM Manufacturing, JOLTS Job Openings, and Friday's Employment Report, all of which could influence the Fed's next move.

📆 Historical Market Fact

In August 1979, BusinessWeek famously published a cover story titled "The Death of Equities," suggesting stocks had lost their appeal as an investment. Over the decades that followed, the U.S. stock market went on to produce substantial long term gains, serving as a reminder that investor sentiment and future market performance often diverge.

08/18/2026

Giving back to the communities we serve is something we deeply value.

The Housman Group of Baird was honored to once again sponsor the Annual Golf Scramble benefiting Paducah Day Nursery & Learning Center. Their commitment to supporting children and families has a lasting impact on our region, and we're thankful for all they do.

A special thank you to everyone who played, volunteered, sponsored, and contributed to making the event a success. Together, we can continue supporting organizations that make our community stronger.

08/17/2026

Weekly Market Minute | The Housman Group

Markets finished last week on a relatively positive note as investors digested a fresh round of economic data. The S&P 500 gained approximately 0.3% for the week, while small cap stocks continued to lead higher, reaching new highs as concerns about near term Federal Reserve rate hikes eased.

✅ Inflation Continued to Cool

Both Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) reports came in softer than expected, helping ease concerns that inflation is reaccelerating. The data reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve may remain patient with interest rates.

✅ Consumer Spending Showed Signs of Slowing

July retail sales declined more than expected, indicating consumers may be becoming more cautious. Markets viewed this as another signal that economic growth is moderating rather than overheating.

✅ Energy Prices Remain a Watch Item

Oil prices moved higher amid ongoing geopolitical concerns and supply uncertainties. While inflation data was encouraging, rising energy costs could become an important factor for investors to monitor in the months ahead.

✅ Earnings Season Nearing the Finish Line

With most S&P 500 companies having reported earnings, investors will be watching major retailers for additional clues about consumer health and spending trends.

📈 Historical Market Fact 🐂

This week marks the anniversary of one of the most significant moments in market history: on August 18, 1982, the Dow Jones Industrial Average began a historical bull market that would last nearly 18 years and see the index rise more than tenfold. It remains one of the most powerful reminders that long term investors are often rewarded for staying invested through uncertainty.

08/11/2026

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.

08/10/2026

Weekly Market Minute | The Housman Grouo

Last week was a strong one for investors as markets rallied to fresh highs despite mixed economic data.

✅ Markets Moved Higher

The S&P 500 gained approximately 3.6%, posting its strongest weekly performance since April and finishing at a record high. The Nasdaq surged more than 5% as technology and semiconductor stocks led the way.

✅ Jobs Report Surprised the Market

The July employment report showed the US economy unexpectedly lost 23k jobs, versus expectations for job growth. Investors viewed the softer labor market as reducing the likelihood of additional Federal Reserve rate hikes, helping fuel the stock market rally.

✅ Interest Rate Expectations Shifted

Following weaker job reports, market sharply reduced expectations for future Fed tightening, and Treasury yields moved lower.

✅ Technology Continues to Lead

Strong earnings from several technology and software companies helped power gains, while AI related and semiconductor stocks saw renewed investor interest.

📺 Historical Market Fact

On August 11, 1952, the first color television broadcast of a major political convention took place in the United States. While it may seem unrelated to investing, technological innovations like television, personal computers, the internet, and not artificial intelligence have historically created new industries, transformed consumer behavior, and generated long term investment opportunities.

08/07/2026

Ross looks at the AI industry’s memory bottleneck as well as corporate profits, banks, and a 5-ton calculator.

08/03/2026

Weekly Market Minute: What Happened Last Week?

Investors wrapped up July on a positive note, with the S&P 500 gaining about 1% for the week, while the Nasdaq rose roughly 1.6%, fueled by strong earnings from several major technology companies. Amazon and Microsoft helped ease concerns around AI spending, while investors continued to watch inflation and interest rate expectations closely.

Key Themes From the Week:

🟢 Strong corporate earnings continued to support stocks.

🟢 AI remains a major driver of market sentiment and investment activity.

🟢Treasury yields moved higher as markets reassessed the path of future Federal Reserve rate decisions.

🟢 Financial stocks participated in the rally, helping broaden market gains.

History This Week 🚢

On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail from Spain on a voyage that would ultimately lead to the European discovery of the Americas. While investors weren't tracking stock prices back then, the lesson remains relevant today: some of history's greatest opportunities required a long term perspective and the courage to navigate uncertainty.