Recorded live on July 29, 12:00PM ET.

The second quarter brought a powerful rebound for equity markets, with U.S. stocks delivering their best quarterly gains since 2020. Large-cap technology companies remained important drivers of performance, but market leadership broadened across small caps, software, industrials and other cyclical areas.

Corporate earnings have been strong, artificial intelligence continues to fuel a major capital investment cycle, and the economy has remained resilient. Yet inflation remains above target, consumers and businesses are experiencing the expansion unevenly, and investors continue to reassess the outlook for Federal Reserve policy.

Stream our Summer 2026 Market Update Webinar as we discuss the key themes from the second quarter, what is driving markets today, and how investors can think about opportunity, risk and portfolio positioning in the months ahead.

Timestamps:

Introduction & Firm Overview (00:00:00)
Major IPOs in the Last 20 Years (00:02:18)
Strait of Hormuz and Iran Conflict (00:21:25)
The Iran War Repriced the Rate Outlook (00:34:50)
Artificial Intelligence - Investment Boom, Implementation and Capabilities (00:48:40)

Nothing contained in this presentation should be construed as personalized advice, or solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. There can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment or non-investment related content in this Podcast will be profitable or suitable for your individual situation. Due to changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and may not reflect those of the firm. To the extent you have any questions regarding the applicability of anything discussed to your individual situation, you are encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of your choosing. The firm is neither a law firm, nor a certified public accounting firm, and no portion of this content should be construed as legal or accounting advice.

In the latest episode of Amplified Wealth: According to Plan, Kate Fishbein and Tom Farrell explore qualified charitable distributions, or QCDs, and how they may help charitably inclined IRA owners support the organizations they care about while managing taxable income.

Episode Highlights:

What Is a QCD?
Learn how a qualified charitable distribution allows eligible individuals to transfer funds directly from an IRA to a qualified charity.

Who Is Eligible?
Kate and Tom review the age requirements, eligible retirement accounts and important rules surrounding inherited, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs.

QCDs and Required Minimum Distributions
Discover how a properly executed QCD may count toward an annual required minimum distribution while keeping the donated amount out of taxable income.

Why Timing Matters
The hosts explain why QCDs should be coordinated before taking other IRA distributions - and why waiting until the end of the year can create unnecessary complications.

And much more!

Nothing contained in this presentation should be construed as personalized advice, or solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. There can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment or non-investment related content in this Podcast will be profitable or suitable for your individual situation. Due to changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and may not reflect those of the firm. To the extent you have any questions regarding the applicability of anything discussed to your individual situation, you are encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of your choosing. The firm is neither a law firm, nor a certified public accounting firm, and no portion of this content should be construed as legal or accounting advice.

In the latest episode of Amplified Wealth, Austin Hagaman and Henry Mercer welcome Allen Steere, Portfolio Manager at Stone Ridge Asset Management, for a timely conversation about one of the most commonly used - and frequently misunderstood - words in investing: diversification.

Owning more funds, securities or asset classes may make a portfolio appear diversified. But when those investments depend on the same economic conditions or market risks, they may behave more similarly than investors expect - especially during periods of market stress.

Episode Highlights:

🧺 Diversification Is More Than Owning More

Why the number of investments in a portfolio may matter less than the underlying risks and sources of return driving them.

📉 The Limits of the Traditional 60/40 Portfolio

Stocks and bonds can both play important roles, but bonds may not always provide the downside protection investors expect - particularly when inflation and interest rates pressure both markets simultaneously.

🔍 What Makes an Investment Truly Diversifying?

Allen shares Stone Ridge’s three-part framework for identifying potential diversifiers: a positive expected return, an intuitive reason for profitability and a historically low correlation to traditional markets.

🌪️ Finding Returns Outside Traditional Markets

How strategies involving catastrophe reinsurance, alternative lending, single-family rentals and post-war and contemporary art may provide return streams driven by risks that are distinct from the stock and bond markets.

And Much More!

True diversification is not simply about owning investments with different names or labels. It is about understanding what drives their returns, how they may behave in difficult markets and whether they introduce a genuinely different source of risk into the portfolio.

Nothing contained in this presentation should be construed as personalized advice, or solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. There can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment or non-investment related content in this Podcast will be profitable or suitable for your individual situation. Due to changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and may not reflect those of the firm. To the extent you have any questions regarding the applicability of anything discussed to your individual situation, you are encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of your choosing. The firm is neither a law firm, nor a certified public accounting firm, and no portion of this content should be construed as legal or accounting advice.

In this episode of Amplified Wealth, Austin Hagaman and Mark Lucci welcome Ryan Issakainen, CFA, Senior Vice President and ETF Strategist at First Trust, for a timely conversation on cybersecurity as an investment theme - from AI-driven cybercrime and critical infrastructure risks to why cybersecurity spending has become a non-discretionary cost of doing business in today’s digital world.

Episode Highlights:
🔐 Cybersecurity: More Than Antivirus Software
Why the cybersecurity ecosystem spans everything from identity verification and endpoint protection to defending power grids and infrastructure.

📊 Why Cybersecurity Spending Is So Durable
Unlike other areas of tech, cybersecurity has become a non-discretionary cost of doing business, with industry revenues projected to grow ~13–14% annually.

🤖 AI: Threat or Tailwind?
How artificial intelligence is being used by both hackers and cybersecurity firms—and why AI may actually strengthen the competitive moat for established cybersecurity companies.

💰 Why Some Cybersecurity Stocks May Be Mispriced
Ryan explains why the recent sell-off in software stocks may be unfairly impacting cybersecurity companies despite strong fundamentals.

⚡ Cybersecurity as Modern Infrastructure
Real-world examples—from pipeline shutdowns to dam breaches—show how cyber attacks can have very real physical consequences.

📈 How Investors Can Access the Theme
Why traditional indexes like the S&P 500 offer surprisingly little exposure to cybersecurity—and why a basket approach may make sense.

And Much More!

If cybersecurity is becoming one of the defining technological and geopolitical themes of the next decade, investors may want to understand how this rapidly evolving industry fits into the broader market.

Timestamps:
00:00: Introduction
05:27: What is an ETF?
08:55: Cybersecurity deep dive
16:49: Cybersecurity revenues and spending
19:40 Software companies sell-off and disruption from AI
27:40 Cybersecurity costs and infrastructure
33:30 Real life cyberattacks, deepfakes and quantum computing
40:50 How do investors get exposure to cybersecurity companies?
49:25 The technology sector in 10-15 years
53:25 Basket approach to cybersecurity investing and closing

Nothing contained in this presentation should be construed as personalized advice, or solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. There can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment or non-investment related content in this Podcast will be profitable or suitable for your individual situation. Due to changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and may not reflect those of the firm. To the extent you have any questions regarding the applicability of anything discussed to your individual situation, you are encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of your choosing. The firm is neither a law firm, nor a certified public accounting firm, and no portion of this content should be construed as legal or accounting advice.

In the latest episode of Amplified Wealth’s According to Plan, hosts Kate Fishbein and Tom Farrell tackle an important retirement planning question: what should you do with your 401(k) when you leave an employer?

From old workplace plans and rollover IRAs to tax traps and planning opportunities, they walk through the key decisions individuals should consider before making a move.

Episode Highlights:

🔎 Don’t Forget Old 401(k)s:
Learn why so many retirement accounts get left behind — and how the Department of Labor’s Lost and Found tool may help you track them down.

🏢 Why Leave Funds in a 401(k)?
Kate and Tom explain several potential advantages, including creditor protection, possible loan provisions, Rule of 55 access, and delayed RMD opportunities for some workers.

🔄 When an IRA Rollover May Make Sense:
Explore why some investors prefer rolling old 401(k) assets into an IRA for greater investment flexibility, easier consolidation, and simplified account management.

⚠️ Avoid Costly Rollover Mistakes:
Not all retirement dollars are the same. The episode breaks down the importance of properly handling pre-tax, Roth 401(k), and after-tax funds to help avoid unnecessary taxes and penalties.

📉 Fees, Investment Options and Hidden Costs:
Find out what to review inside your 401(k), from administrative fees to fund expense ratios, and why comparing those costs to an IRA matters.

🚨 Special Situations to Watch Closely:
From backdoor Roth strategy considerations to employer stock and NUA rules, Tom and Kate highlight a few areas where one wrong move could have lasting tax consequences.

And much more!

Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction
3:15 - Advantages of Leaving Funds in 401(k)
22:40 - Advantages of Rolling Over into an IRA
37:35 - Things to Watch Out For if Rolling Over
50:15 - Wrap Up & Conclusion

Nothing contained in this presentation should be construed as personalized advice, or solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. There can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment or non-investment related content in this Podcast will be profitable or suitable for your individual situation. Due to changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and may not reflect those of the firm. To the extent you have any questions regarding the applicability of anything discussed to your individual situation, you are encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of your choosing. The firm is neither a law firm, nor a certified public accounting firm, and no portion of this content should be construed as legal or accounting advice.

In this episode of Amplified Wealth, we’re joined by Mark Peterson, Director of Market & Portfolio Insights at BlackRock, for a practical breakdown of what’s driving markets—and how investors can keep perspective as we look ahead.

Episode Highlights:
📈 Three Strong Years in a Row:
How rare are three consecutive years of 15%+ stock market gains—and what does history suggest could come next?

🎯 Why “Average Returns” Rarely Happen:
Stocks may average ~10% over time, but they rarely land near the average in any given year—understanding the range can help set better expectations.

🌪️ Volatility in Plain English (2% Days):
A simple way to understand market turbulence, what typically causes it, and why volatility is often the “price of admission” for long-term growth.

💻 Tech, Valuations & Earnings:
How today’s tech leadership compares to the dot-com era—and why strong earnings growth can change the valuation conversation.

🧩 Market Broadening Beyond Mega-Caps:
Why market leadership may be expanding beyond the biggest names—and what that could mean for diversified investors.

🛡️ Diversification vs. Single-Stock Risk:
Even in strong markets, many individual stocks lose money—this segment puts concentration risk into perspective.

💵 Bonds After the Rate Reset:
Why 2022 was so painful for fixed income—and why higher yields may improve the outlook going forward.

From setting realistic expectations to reinforcing the value of diversification, this episode is packed with timely market insights.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Intro:
(5:18) U.S. Stocks Posting 15%+ Gains for Three Straight Years
(10:09) U.S. Stocks Annual Averages
(12:45) Stock Market Volatility
(19:20) Technology Stocks - Performance and Valuations
(28:11 Benefits of Diversification
(35:46) Current and Past Economic Expansions
(41:51) U.S. Bonds Outperformed in 2025
(43:17) Interest Rates & Long-Term Bond Returns
(51:59) Closing Thoughts

Nothing contained in this presentation should be construed as personalized advice, or solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. There can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment or non-investment related content in this Podcast will be profitable or suitable for your individual situation. Due to changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and may not reflect those of the firm. To the extent you have any questions regarding the applicability of anything discussed to your individual situation, you are encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of your choosing. The firm is neither a law firm, nor a certified public accounting firm, and no portion of this content should be construed as legal or accounting advice.

Markets entered 2026 with momentum, as resilient consumer spending, easing monetary policy, and continued investment in AI and infrastructure have helped extend the current bull market. Yet beneath the surface, tensions are building - from rising affordability pressures to lingering questions around tariffs, employment trends, and the long-term impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce.

With mid-term election dynamics on the horizon, how durable is today’s optimism - and what risks could disrupt the outlook for stocks, bonds, and the broader economy?

Catch up on the market on demand with this webinar replay - originally aired live on January 28th, 2026 - as we examine the forces shaping the year ahead, assess potential volatility and seasonal opportunities, and discuss portfolio strategies designed to navigate an evolving economic and market landscape.

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Timestamps:
Introduction & Firm Overview (00:00:00)
Wall Street Forecasts - In Perspective (00:02:03)
Geopolitical Tensions & Market Impact (00:11:11)
Silver & Gold (00:21:57)
US vs. International - A Long Cycle of Outperformance (00:40:58)
Small Cap vs. Large Cap (00:51:38)
Q&A and Closing Remarks (00:57:35)

Nothing contained in this presentation should be construed as personalized advice, or solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. There can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment or non-investment related content in this Podcast will be profitable or suitable for your individual situation. Due to changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and may not reflect those of the firm. To the extent you have any questions regarding the applicability of anything discussed to your individual situation, you are encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of your choosing. The firm is neither a law firm, nor a certified public accounting firm, and no portion of this content should be construed as legal or accounting advice.

In this special collaboration episode of Amplified Wealth, Austin Hagaman joins According to Plan co-hosts, Tom Farrell and Kate Fishbein to explore major changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) - and what they mean for your financial plan.

Episode Highlights:

👶 Trump Accounts – A New Tool for Kids:
Learn about this new tax-advantaged account designed for children under 18, including how to qualify, the $5,000 contribution cap, and when to expect availability.

🎁 Charitable Giving Under OB3:
Discover new guardrails around deductions starting in 2026, including floors, caps, and key timing considerations.

🧓 Bonus Senior Deduction Explained:
Starting in 2025, seniors may receive a valuable new deduction - up to $12,000 for qualifying couples. But income thresholds apply, and this benefit sunsets after 2028.

🏡 State and Local Tax (SALT) Relief:
OB3 temporarily raises the SALT deduction cap from $10K to $40K through 2029 - but with phaseouts for higher earners. Learn how to maximize your deduction before it’s gone.

From planning for the next generation to maximizing deductions today, this episode is packed with timely tax strategies.

Timestamps:
00:00
Cold Open and Introduction
02:25
Understanding Trump Accounts
08:00
Trump Accounts - Investment Strategies and Compounding Benefits
19:25
Understanding the New Senior Deduction
24:50
Navigating Charitable Deduction Changes
36:30
Temporary Increase in SALT Deductions
51:20
SALT Deduction - Income Phaseouts
59:50

Nothing contained in this presentation should be construed as personalized advice, or solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. There can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment or non-investment related content in this Podcast will be profitable or suitable for your individual situation. Due to changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and may not reflect those of the firm. To the extent you have any questions regarding the applicability of anything discussed to your individual situation, you are encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of your choosing. The firm is neither a law firm, nor a certified public accounting firm, and no portion of this content should be construed as legal or accounting advice.