Do you remember when AOL was the internet? When hearing “You’ve got mail” felt like a small event, and logging on meant you were connected to the future?

The beginning of 2026 is a natural checkpoint to make sure your saving, gifting, and protection strategies still match the life you are living today. Your financial planning can benefit from a fresh look at the start of each year and we have a some actionable ideas to start the new year on the right foot, financially.

2025 closed out with global stock markets delivering another remarkable year, capping one of the strongest three-year stretches in stock market history. The April correction now feels like a distant memory as tariff shocks came and went.

SJS Investment Services creates a weekly market update to summarize performance characteristics for major stock and bond indices.

As we excitedly look forward to the year ahead, we remain deeply committed to empowering you to build a better life and providing the peace of mind you deserve.

Each quarter, we create an outlook that covers topics including general investment market conditions, financial planning considerations, and SJS news.

This fall, we had the pleasure of working with Isaac Saffold, an intern from Georgetown University. Isaac joined us through a meaningful connection — he was referred by the Georgetown football coach, as SJS Senior Advisor Andrew Schaetzke also played on the team. It’s a great example of how strong relationships open doors and create opportunities.

As you look ahead to 2026, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the new financial and tax updates. To make things simpler, we want to highlight the key numbers to keep on your radar this year.

Gold has delivered eye-catching gains in recent years, surging past $4,000 per ounce this year and headlining financial media with talk of safe havens, inflation fears, and geopolitical uncertainty. This performance has increased investor enthusiasm, but history and research suggest caution.