Each month, our Chief Investment Strategist, Eric Stein, and the East Bay Investment Solutions team share a market snapshot highlighting major index performance. It’s a quick, insightful view of global markets—a helpful pulse check we thought you’d also find valuable. Here are a few highlights from the latest report.

If you’re a business owner, CFO, or HR leader in the Charlotte Metro area, or anywhere across the Carolinas, chances are your company sponsors a 401(k) or 403(b) plan. These plans help you attract and retain great employees, but there’s a problem that often goes unnoticed: many businesses pay too much for their retirement plans.

Stocks have been on a tear. The S&P 500 is up nearly 30% from the April lows and back at record levels. This sharp rebound has raised the question: is the rally being fueled by genuine economic strength, or by speculation?

Every month, our Chief Investment Strategist, Eric Stein, and the East Bay Investment Solutions team release a market snapshot covering the performance of major indexes. It’s a quick, insightful look at what’s happening across global markets. We find it a valuable pulse check, and thought you might as well. Here are a few highlights from the most recent report.

On August 7, 2025, the White House issued an executive order directing agencies to expand access to alternative assets in defined contribution (“DC”) plans. It instructs the Department of Labor (“DOL”) to reexamine and clarify ERISA fiduciary guidance on offering alternative assets (such as private placements and crypto currency) inside multi-asset funds, to consider proposing rules and guidance that may include carefully calibrated safe harbors, and to coordinate with the SEC. The order also asks the SEC to consider adjustments to accredited investor and qualified purchaser standards that could affect plan access.

Matt Costa writes with Matt Eddleman of Frost Law on the new Trump Accounts.

The U.S. Federal Reserve System, also known as the “Fed,” has become an ever-present subject of news and financial media headlines for much of the 2020s and various times throughout history. And with 2025 seeing more acute coverage of the Fed, we thought it apt to provide some relevant facts and historical context for how the Fed came to be and its purpose.

Each month, our Chief Investment Strategist, Eric Stein, and his team at East Bay Investment Solutions compile a report highlighting the performance of key market indexes. It’s a concise, insightful overview of global market activity. Our team always find it informative, and I think many of you will too. Here are a few key takeaways from the latest report.

Receiving an inheritance often brings a mix of emotions. Alongside the gratitude and reflection, many people are unsure what comes next when it comes to taxes. Whether you're inheriting a retirement account, investment portfolio, or real estate, the type of asset makes all the difference.

In 2025, the average student loan debt for graduates with a Bachelor’s degree is approximately $29,000. Paying for college is one of the most daunting financial decisions many families in the U.S. face. Fortunately, federal student loans exist as a valuable tool to help families bridge the gap between savings, scholarships, and the cost of education.