Recent News and Insights
Market Commentary: October 23, 2025
U.S. electricity prices have surged over the past year, outpacing inflation and highlighting structural challenges in the power sector. National costs are up 5% year-over-year on average, although this figure masks that some regions are feeling the pain more than others. Prices in New Jersey, for example, have risen 22% in the past year. The surge has led utility bills to become a primary topic in the state's ongoing Governor's race. According to the New York Times, "electricity is the new eggs".
2025 Fall Outlook
During the third quarter of 2025, the S&P 500 rose nearly 8%, recorded 24 all-time high closes, and was never down more than 2%. Heading into the final quarter of the year we anticipate three major trends from the third quarter will continue to power the market’s steady ascension.
Financial Literacy: Navigating Our Relationship with Money
Hank Smith is joined by Carly Meyer Bentley, CEO & Founder, The Freckled Strawberry, Inc., on this episode of Speaking of Quality to discuss entrepreneurship, the importance of financial literacy and how to navigate your relationship with money.
As of Tuesday morning, July 15th, second quarter 2025 earnings reporting season is off to a solid start with several high-profile financial stocks announcing results that exceeded expectations. S&P 500 second quarter earnings are expected to grow 4.5% year-over-year, with earnings growth accelerating into the second half of 2025. Overall, investors expect corporate earnings to grow 9% in 2025, and 14% in 2026, on top of last year’s 11% earnings growth. This positive earnings forecast is one of many supporting factors propelling markets to all-time highs.
The markets closed out the second quarter on a high note, despite unprecedented levels of uncertainty and geopolitical risk. The market’s resilience can be attributed to five key areas where investors hold an optimistic outlook: strong economic data, pro-growth policies, moderate tariffs, continued earnings growth, and advancements in artificial intelligence.
Wall Street Journal – Hank Smith, Director, Head of Investment Strategy, was recently interviewed by The [...]
The S&P 500 hit a post “liberation day” high on June 12th, before news of Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and senior military personnel caused the market to trade lower. In addition to the human impact of these conflicts, markets remain sensitive to the influence on energy prices. As of this writing it doesn’t appear that Iran’s oil infrastructure has been specifically targeted, but the price of Brent Crude Oil contracts spiked 8% to close Friday at $75 per barrel, higher but below the highs of earlier this year.
Thomas Bayer, CFP®, MT, Wealth Planner tbayer@haverfordquality.com When the Markets Give You Lemons, Make [...]
PGA Press Release - GA of America Golf Professional Trevor Bensel of LuLu Country [...]
Thomas Bayer, Jr., CFP®, MT Senior Wealth Planner One of the greatest gifts or [...]
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Since the administration capitulated to market forces on April 9th, significant progress has been made in three distinct areas of Trump’s big gamble of imposing wide-ranging tariffs. As of Friday, May 23rd, the S&P 500 has increased by roughly 17% during this period.
