As the first quarter of 2026 comes to a close, market volatility is back in focus. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, rising oil prices, and higher interest rates are creating short‑term uncertainty for investors. In this March 2026 market update, Single Point CIO Rene Jarquin explains what’s driving recent stock and bond market moves. [...]
One of the hallmarks of being a “finance geek” is that you see comparisons to finance everywhere in your everyday life. This is a blessing for those of us who enjoy similes, a curse for those who spend their lives around us listening to these similes. The winter thus far has been brutal for much [...]
A Physics Lens on Market Fear In physics, the world is governed by forces—predictable relationships that describe how objects respond to change. One of the most fundamental is Newton’s Second Law: Force = mass × acceleration. It tells us that the impact an object feels is not only a function of the change around it, [...]
What can financial planning learn from military strategy? More than you might think. In this reflection, Stephen Yoskowitz shares how his time working alongside U.S. forces shaped the way he approaches uncertainty, discipline, and long-term readiness. Strategic Readiness: Why Comprehensive Financial Planning Resembles Military Strategy In the late 2000s through the mid-2010s, I [...]
Last month, Professor Rene provided an update of the current market given the recent downturn (see below). Given the continued volatility here is an update to that update. With yesterday’s announcement of reciprocal tariffs the market is now down -13% from its Feb 19 high. Since my last post of Friday March 14 the market [...]
For now, the S&P 500 is down 8% from its recent (all-time) high on Feb 19. It’s an uncomfortable feeling not knowing whether an 8% drop will turn into a 25% bear market, but some things in life are unknowable – even to the most astute investors. It is key to remember that through all [...]
Rene Jarquin July 2024 Market & Portfolio Commentary The S&P 500 Index has become very lopsided due to the run up of the 7 largest stocks in the index. While we have benefitted from this run up as index investors, this level of concentration can cause some anxiety and questions of what we should [...]
With the U.S. presidential election approaching, many investors are asking themselves: “Should I adjust my portfolio ahead of this election?” While you may be seeing worrisome headlines from both sides of the aisle, it is important to understand the historical correlation between the U.S. stock market and our presidential elections. Our consensus is that although [...]
As you may have seen, in the last 48 hours Silicon Valley Bank was taken over by their regulator, after suffering a run on its deposits (think: It's a Wonderful Life). It had 220 Billion in assets and a market capitalization of 16 Billion less than 2 days ago. This is still unfolding and it [...]
Seth is back with another installment of “What’s New(s)?” highlighting the topics that he’s following closely which might have an impact on you, as well as some others that he thinks you might find interesting or fun. A recent Morningstar study found that investors earned ~9.3%/year in mutual funds and ETFs over a decade [...]
