Vicus Capital

Vicus Capital Vicus Capital is a boutique investment management and advisory firm.

We design and implement comprehensive wealth strategies for financial advisors, helping investors accumulate, protect, and transfer wealth. Advisory Services and Financial Planning offered through Vicus Capital, Inc., a Federally Registered Investment Advisor.

Diversification can be an important strategy for managing risk during periods of market uncertainty.Market volatility dr...
09/02/2026

Diversification can be an important strategy for managing risk during periods of market uncertainty.

Market volatility driven by inflation, interest rates, geopolitical events, or economic concerns can create challenges across different areas of the market. Concentrating investments in a single asset class, sector, or market segment can increase a portfolio’s exposure to those challenges, while spreading investments across different areas may help reduce the impact of declines in any one investment or segment.

Our newest Portfolio Strategy Insights article explores the role of diversification in uncertain markets, how different types of investments can respond to changing economic conditions, and how maintaining a balanced approach may help investors navigate periods of market volatility.

đź”— Read more: https://www.vicuscapital.com/2026/07/29/the-role-of-diversification-in-uncertain-markets/

09/01/2026

There has been a notable rotation in sector performance year to date. While Technology and Communication Services have led the market over the past three years, that leadership has not carried into 2026. So where has performance shifted? Energy stands out as the clear leader, driven by the recent spike in oil prices following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. More telling, however, is the strength in Consumer Staples and Utilities. As traditionally defensive sectors, their outperformance may signal a broader shift in investor positioning toward areas perceived as more resilient amid heightened market volatility.

What’s going on in the market?

Equities: Equities: Domestic equities experienced a mixed week with the S&P 500 (-2.1%) and NASDAQ (-3.2%) incurring losses and the Russell 2000 (0.5%) earning gains. Similarly, international markets were mixed, as the MSCI EAFE grew 0.1% and MSCI Emerging Markets fell 1.7%.

Fixed Income: As the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate TR dipped 0.1%, the Bloomberg U.S. Corp HY TR and S&P National Muni Bond decreased 0.5%.

Commodities: Crude Oil and Gold USD Spot increased 14.6% and 3.2% respectively.

Sources: Bilello Blog (Chart), Bloomberg (Index, Commodities, and Rates Data)

Economic data next week includes the release of the U.S. balance of trade report and August unemployment data. The trade...
08/28/2026

Economic data next week includes the release of the U.S. balance of trade report and August unemployment data. The trade report will provide an updated look at the gap between U.S. imports and exports, while the unemployment report could offer important insight into the strength of the labor market and expectations surrounding future Federal Reserve interest-rate policy.

Investors will also be watching earnings from Dell Technologies, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, and Lululemon for updates on artificial intelligence infrastructure demand, consumer spending, retail growth, and profitability. Explore the latest economic and corporate developments that could influence markets in the week ahead.

Read more:
https://www.vicuscapital.com/2026/08/28/the-week-ahead-august-31-2026/

Confirmation bias can influence how investors interpret information and make decisions.When investors seek out informati...
08/26/2026

Confirmation bias can influence how investors interpret information and make decisions.

When investors seek out information that supports their existing beliefs while ignoring or dismissing evidence that contradicts them, they may become overly confident in their views and less aware of potential risks. This can lead investors to focus on positive news or favorable research while downplaying warning signs, making it harder to recognize changing conditions or reassess an investment strategy.

In the fifth and final article of our five-part financial psychology series, learn more about confirmation bias, how it can influence investment decisions, and why actively seeking opposing viewpoints and challenging assumptions can help investors make more objective, well-informed decisions.

đź”— Read more: https://www.vicuscapital.com/2026/07/23/psychology-of-investing-part-5-confirmation-bias/

08/25/2026

It is no secret that hyperscalers are spending enormous sums of money to fuel the buildout of artificial intelligence, but the spending visible on their balance sheets may not tell the entire story. Off-balance sheet commitments are financial obligations that may require future payments or capital but are not currently recorded as liabilities on the balance sheet. As a result, the true financial commitment to AI infrastructure could be significantly larger than headline capital expenditures suggest. This raises the stakes even further, as these companies will need substantial revenue growth to generate an adequate return on both their on- and off-balance sheet investments.

What’s going on in the market?

Equities: Domestic equities experienced a negative week. The S&P 500 fell 1.4% and the Dow decreased by 0.8%. International markets were mixed, with MSCI EAFE down 0.6%, but MSCI Emerging Markets gaining 1.2%.

Fixed Income: Fixed income was negative as the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate and the Bloomberg U.S. Corp both decreased by 0.1%, and the S&P National Muni Bond fell 0.5%.

Commodities: Natural Gas and Gold USD Spot rose 4.8% and 5.2% respectively.

Sources: The Wall Street Journal (Chart), Bloomberg (Index, Commodities, and Rates Data)

Today the corporate team came together to create more than 100 Jared Boxes for the Jared Box Project. Each box was packe...
08/21/2026

Today the corporate team came together to create more than 100 Jared Boxes for the Jared Box Project. Each box was packed with puzzles, toys, arts and crafts, games, and handwritten notes crafted to bring comfort, joy, and encouragement to children during their hospital stays.

The Jared Box Project was founded in 2001 by Our Lady of Victory School in State College, Pennsylvania, to honor their classmate, Jared, who bravely battled cancer. Since then, more than one million Jared Boxes have been delivered to over 500 hospitals nationwide, each filled with the “gift of play” to entertain and uplift children facing medical challenges. Vicus Capital is proud to support this mission of wishes, hope, and love.

Overconfidence can be one of the most powerful psychological forces influencing investment decisions.Many investors beli...
08/19/2026

Overconfidence can be one of the most powerful psychological forces influencing investment decisions.

Many investors believe they can identify winning opportunities, outsmart the market, or accurately time short-term market movements. This confidence can lead to excessive trading, as investors act on short-term fluctuations rather than focusing on long-term fundamentals. Frequent trading can also introduce additional costs and potentially reduce long-term returns.

In the fourth article of our five-part financial psychology series, learn more about overconfidence and excessive trading, how they can impact investment decisions, and why maintaining a disciplined, long-term approach may help investors stay focused on their financial goals.

đź”— Read more: https://www.vicuscapital.com/2026/07/14/psychology-of-investing-part-4-overconfidence-excessive-trading/

08/18/2026

Ever since the 2008 financial crisis, the Federal Reserve has significantly changed the way it manages its balance sheet. As the chart above shows, you can see that reserve balances at the central bank moved in a very narrow range but stayed close to 10% of the money supply (M2). To boost liquidity, the Federal Reserve changed this policy of “scarce reserves” in favor of an “abundant reserves” policy which they have maintained to this day. Now we can see that the quantity of reserves is very variable, though consistently much higher than in all of those prior decades. The new Federal Reserve Chairman, Kevin Warsh, has been a critic of the post-2008 policy, and it will be interesting to see if he will attempt to move policy in a new direction. If he does, it could result in some short-term volatility in treasury markets as the Fed reworks their balance sheet.

What’s going on in the market?
Equities: Domestic equities experienced a mixed week. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, while the Dow fell 0.5%. International markets were positive, with the MSCI EAFE up 0.6% and MSCI Emerging Markets gaining 2.7%.

Fixed Income: Fixed income was mixed as the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate and the S&P National Muni Bond both decreased by 0.1%, and the Bloomberg U.S. Corp grew by 0.1%.

Commodities: Crude Oil and Gold USD Spot rose 0.5% and 1.0% respectively.

Sources: First Trust / Federal Reserve (Chart), Bloomberg (Index, Commodities, and Rates Data)

As students prepare to head back to college - or begin their first semester - education expenses may be a growing consid...
08/12/2026

As students prepare to head back to college - or begin their first semester - education expenses may be a growing consideration for families.

A 529 plan can be a flexible, tax-advantaged way to help prepare for education costs, with funds potentially covering expenses beyond traditional college tuition. Recent legislative changes have also expanded how 529 savings can be used, including for certain K–12 tuition, registered apprenticeship programs, student loan repayment, and Roth IRA rollovers.

As the new semester approaches, understanding how to put a 529 plan into action can help families make the most of their education savings and keep their broader financial goals in focus.

đź”— Read more: https://www.vicuscapital.com/2026/08/11/how-can-i-put-a-529-plan-into-action/

08/11/2026

It is common knowledge that renewable energy utilization in the United States increased massively over the past few decades. In the 1950’s “modern renewables,” which at the time would have been almost exclusively hydroelectric power, accounted for just 1% of U.S. production. This category is now almost 7% of energy production. What is most interesting is that wood remains a large player. Initially, we assumed that this meant “fireplaces.” After all, where else do you see wood being used for energy generation. The truth is that many firms, particularly in the paper and logging industries, continue to utilize trees for much of their energy consumption. The strongest evidence of this is that despite wood declining as a percentage of energy production, in absolute terms, we’re using 30% more of it today than we did in 1950!
What’s going on in the market?

Equities: Domestic equities experienced a positive week. The S&P 500 rose 3.6%, the Dow grew by 3.0%, and the NASDAQ gained 5.2%. International markets were mixed, with the MSCI EAFE up 2.3% and MSCI Emerging Markets down 0.4%.

Fixed Income: Fixed income was positive as the Bloomberg U.S. Corp and the S&P National Muni Bond both grew by 0.7%.

Commodities: Crude Oil and Natural Gas Spot fell 1.1% and 0.5% respectively.

Sources: Visual Capitalist / U.S. EIA (Chart), Bloomberg (Index, Commodities, and Rates Data)

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