Mid-Year Update: Markets, Fraud & Our Team
As we reach the midpoint of 2026, we wanted to share a few market observations, an important reminder about fraud prevention, and a quick update on our team.
Markets at a Glance
Headlines continue to focus on artificial intelligence, technology stocks, and companies like SpaceX, but beneath the surface we see several encouraging trends:
- Through June 30, the S&P 500 gained more than 8%, while the Nasdaq advanced approximately 11% year to date.
- Corporate earnings remain strong, with first-quarter S&P 500 earnings up roughly 23% from a year ago. Early indications suggest second-quarter results may also be solid.
- The significant investment needed to build AI infrastructure is creating opportunities well beyond technology companies, supporting growth in data centers, power infrastructure, and domestic manufacturing.
- Private-sector hiring has remained resilient, with more private payroll jobs added during the first half of 2026 than in all of 2025.
As always, there are reasons for both optimism and caution, but strong earnings, business investment, and continued innovation remain supportive long-term themes for investors.
Fraud Remains Our Biggest Concern
If there is one issue we continue to worry about for clients, it is fraud. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often impersonating government agencies, law enforcement, financial institutions, or brokerage firms. Their goal is typically the same: create urgency, confusion, and fear to pressure people into acting quickly. We often think back to advice shared by an FBI agent at one of our client events:
Never send money to someone you do not know and have never met.
If something feels suspicious, pause. Hang up, verify the information using a trusted phone number, contact a family member, or call our office. Taking a few extra minutes to confirm details can prevent a costly mistake. We would always rather help investigate a suspicious request than see a client become a victim of fraud.
Survey Results & Referrals
Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent client experience survey. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and reinforced the strengths of our practice. Clients consistently highlighted the relationships they have with our team, the confidence they feel in our guidance, and our commitment to service.
The survey also identified opportunities to improve. Many clients expressed interest in more proactive communication and educational content, and we plan to continue investing in both areas.
One interesting takeaway was that some clients would feel comfortable introducing us to friends or family but were not always sure how. The reality is simple: you do not need to determine whether someone is a perfect fit. If someone you care about would benefit from a second opinion, an introduction is all that is needed.
We look forward to sharing a more detailed review of the survey results in a future newsletter.
Welcoming Desmond
We are excited to welcome Desmond Stock to The Perry Group. As our team continues to grow, adding talented professionals allows us to better serve clients while maintaining the high-touch experience that has always been central to our practice. We are thrilled to have Desmond on board and look forward to introducing him to you in the months ahead.
Shawn M. Perry