At SJS, we often talk about what it means to build a better life. While investing and financial planning play an important role, we know the foundation of a better life is much broader than simply making sound financial decisions. Living a more meaningful life often starts with small, consistent habits.  

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

Every January, Wall Street releases its newest flurry of S&P 500 year‑end predictions. And inevitably, we’re asked where we think the market is headed. At SJS, we certainly have opinions, but we don’t publish short-term market forecasts or build client portfolios around them. Because, quite simply, no one knows where markets will land. Not us, not the loudest voices on TV, and not even the banks that publish those targets with great confidence.

Are valuations excessively high? Do record earnings justify selling? Headlines that stir fear are not new. Investors often get caught up in market noise, but recognizing that news headlines are often written to prioritize clicks over nuanced truth can reduce stress.

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.

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.