Over the last several weeks, pressure on software stocks has intensified as investors grapple with what some have dramatically labeled a coming “SaaSPocalypse.”
SaaSination or Selective Opportunity?
Deed Theft: Why It's Rising and How to Protect Yourself
In recent years there has been an increase in reports of deed theft, in which the title or deed to a property is fraudulently transferred from the rightful owner of a property to a third-party, whether through forged signatures, impersonations or other means.
A Good Reminder to Diversify
It was an exceptionally busy week for economic data, and by and large, the news this week was very favorable. After a period of weakness in the second half of 2025, the labor market appears to be finding its footing.
Jobs on Hold, Software Sold
It is a common refrain that markets hate uncertainty, and this week has delivered plenty. On both the labor front and in technology, the movers in the capital markets were driven by a combination of delayed data, softening employment signals and a sharp repricing in the stock prices of software and services companies.
Rates on Hold, Leadership in Focus
This week, financial markets were shaped by a convergence of monetary policy continuity and rising attention to Federal Reserve leadership. At its January meeting, the Federal Reserve voted to hold interest rates steady, marking the first pause since it began easing policy in mid-2025.
The Robots Have Landed
Not too long ago, robots were mostly considered science fiction and far-fetched possibilities. Now the future that once felt distant showed up at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) this year in Las Vegas, where companies gather to showcase their latest inventions.
Three in a Row — Is 2026 the Market’s Fourth Encore?
2025 is officially in the books, marking the third consecutive year of double-digit gains for the market. It wasn’t just a good year for returns — it was an eventful one, too. At the start of 2025, our optimism wasn’t based solely on sentiment; the data supported it.
Informed Decision Making for Senior Living
As we grow older, many of us will need to decide where to live next when our current home becomes too difficult to manage, and assistance is required. Deciding when and where to move can feel daunting, as can the various financial arrangements available to pay for the move.
Why Unhappy Consumers Keep Spending
As New Year’s celebrations wrap up and 2026 begins, the U.S. economy is sending signals that are difficult to reconcile: consumer sentiment is deeply negative, yet spending remains resilient.
The Federal Reserve at a Crossroads
After serving two full terms as chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell enters 2026 with just three Fed meetings remaining under his leadership. Beginning in June, a new Fed Chair will preside over setting monetary policy for our country. While the list of potential nominees has been fluid, a critical step in this process is that the nominee, and likely new chair, gains the confidence of a wide variety of stakeholders.
Mission: Impossible
Investors had to contend with plenty of noise in 2025. Tariff uncertainty disrupted markets, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history delayed economic data and the Fed resumed its easing cycle.
Fringe Finance: Stablecoins
At Ferguson Wellman, the alternative assets desk (my primary role) tends to be where the uncommon client questions land. Alternative assets, in our world, are basically anything that is not a publicly traded stock or bond, and our clients come to us with terrific questions that often sit in this "other" bucket.
What the Fed Controls—and What the Market Decides
As we look ahead to the Federal Reserve’s December 10 policy meeting, markets are pricing in a greater than 90% chance of a .25% cut in the Fed Funds rate. As my colleague Blaine Dickason wrote last week, the Fed is laser-focused on the jobs market. While this week’s labor market data points to a cooling trend, it doesn’t suggest a contraction.
The Fed at a Crossroads
Yesterday marked Jerome Powell’s last Thanksgiving as Federal Reserve Chair. While he might have much to be thankful for, this year, as he enters the final months of his chairmanship, a unified Federal Reserve is not one of them. With the next Fed meeting and a possible interest rate cut in less than two weeks, we wanted to highlight the dynamics and implications of several transitions occurring at our country’s central bank.
Reversal
Coming into this week, investors were focused on two items: the release of delayed employment data and Nvidia’s earnings announcement.
Unfolding Medicare’s Income-Related Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) Surcharges
As the pace of life can slow down in the fall and winter seasons, so can we find ourselves noticing the finer details that surround us. These seasons invite reflection and intentionality, making them an ideal time to turn our attention to year-end financial planning.
Data Drama
I spent much of last Sunday with my father in his garage, servicing my car’s rear brakes. The job was supposed to be quick as we’d done it before without much trouble. Worn-out parts come off, new ones go on.
Cash Incinerators vs. Cloud Comebacks
This past week offered a trifecta of market-moving headlines: the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates, the latest chapter in the U.S. - China trade saga and a flurry of earnings reports from the leaders in tech and AI.
Disrupt or Be Disrupted
The idea of an AI bubble has been the topic du jour among mainstream investment news channel commentators. It’s no surprise: AI has been the primary driver of the stock market’s rise for the third consecutive year.
Examining the Risks in Private Credit
When a company needs a big loan to buy a competitor or fund a major project, they traditionally go to big banks or sell bonds on the public market. Private credit funds changed this process, allowing for more streamlined borrowing. Private credit funds act as the bank, lending money directly to companies in bespoke deals.