Welcome to The Rolling Report, your monthly guide to the dynamic world of investing and the latest updates from our firm. Each edition brings you a concise overview of the stock market, highlighting key trends, opportunities, and challenges shaping the financial landscape. In addition, we’ll keep you informed about important developments within our firm, including strategic initiatives, new offerings, and insights from our team. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting your financial journey, The Rolling Report is here to keep you informed and empowered. Let’s roll forward together toward informed decision-making and financial success!

by: Kaleb Fontenot

February, the shortest month of the year, felt anything but brief for investors navigating the relentless volatility of the U.S. stock market. With each twist and turn, uncertainty loomed large, keeping markets on edge.

Despite a strong finish on the last day, U.S. stocks wiped out nearly all the gains accumulated in January. According to MarketWatch, “The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite tumbled nearly 4% in February, marking its biggest monthly decline since April 2024.”

A major catalyst behind the selloff? The announcement of new tariffs set to take effect in March, which triggered a sharp decline in stocks. This led to a recalibration of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq as investors adjusted their positions. However, history suggests that February’s turbulence is nothing new. It has consistently ranked among the weakest months for stock market performance, with this trend becoming even more pronounced in the year following a U.S. presidential election. As market strategist Ryan Detrick notes, “February, on average, has delivered a 1.3% monthly decline for the large-cap S&P 500 index in post-election years.”

Yet not all markets faced the same fate. European equities outshined their U.S. counterparts, making the MSCI Europe ex-UK Index the top-performing major equity index with a 3.4% gain. Meanwhile, in fixed income, all major sectors posted positive returns, driven by falling U.S. yields. U.S. Treasuries led the pack with a 2.2% return, while a weaker dollar helped support emerging market debt, which rose by 1.6%.

February served as a powerful reminder of the importance of diversification. Periods of heightened market volatility reinforce the value of spreading investments across asset classes and geographies. As this past month has shown, international exposure and fixed income allocations can play a critical role in stabilizing portfolios when U.S. equity markets falter.

For more information on some of the best and worst performing stocks for the month of February click here.

By: Christian Hutchins

In today's digital world, we rely on the internet’s convenience to solve problems we didn’t even know we had. On a cold and wet night in February, Amazon and Google seem to instinctively know that you need a new parka to get through six more weeks of winter (thanks, Punxsutawney Phil). What feels like coincidence or good fortune is actually the result of an intricate system of personal data brokering—one that leads marketers straight to your digital doorstep and, if you're not careful, your actual one (they know where that is, too).

In 2024, U.S. regulators pushed to intervene in the sale of personal data, but like most attempts to regulate highly profitable industries, these efforts have faced strong opposition.

Fortunately for privacy-conscious individuals, new tools have emerged to help protect personal information from not only marketers but also criminals. The benefits of such solutions include protection against identity theft and fraud, a reduction in email and phone spam, phishing prevention, stalker deterrence, and a safeguard against marketer price manipulation and targeted sales tactics.

Some of the top privacy protection providers include:

• Atlas Privacy – A premium service that removes customers’ personal information from 150+ websites and continuously monitors both existing and emerging websites to ensure ongoing privacy protection.
  Pricing: Free limited package; $150/year for the premium package.

• PermissionSlip by Consumer Reports – A user-friendly solution from a trusted non-profit. It provides insights into the data specific brands collect, files requests to remove your private information from company archives, and deletes unwanted accounts.
  Pricing: Free limited package; $59.99/year or $4.99/month for the Plus package.

• DuckDuckGo – A privacy-focused search engine that does not track users, blocks ads and trackers, and utilizes Bing’s web index to deliver relevant search results.
  Pricing: Free.

• Brave Browser – A privacy-focused browser that prioritizes user protection while delivering search results based on open-source data. This leads to faster searches, though results favor popularity over sheer volume.
  Pricing: Free.

As we move into 2025, we must acknowledge that technology is the backbone of modern life. From knee replacement surgeries to grocery deliveries, computers and software drive efficiency and innovation—but at what cost? The era of playing defense against those who exploit our private information is over. It’s time for an offensive approach to protect yourself and your loved ones.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss steps to safeguard your privacy, please do not hesitate to contact your advisor. We’ll walk you through the available tools and help you take control of your digital security.

As we move further into the year, we want to remind you that Tax Day is quickly approaching on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Now is the time to ensure that your tax filings are in order and that you’ve taken advantage of all available deductions and credits. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to gather your documents, review your financials, and consult with your tax professional to avoid last-minute stress. Should you need any assistance with tax-efficient investment strategies or financial planning, our team is here to help. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. 

For key details on contribution limits and tax brackets, please download the Key Financial Data Sheet found in the Firm Updates section below.

We’re excited to share that our Associate Advisor, Kaleb, has earned his Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS®) designation!

This achievement reflects his dedication to providing knowledgeable and comprehensive financial guidance. As he continues on his journey toward becoming a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), we are proud to have him as part of our team, delivering even greater value to our clients.

Stay informed and in control of your finances—click the button below to download the latest Financial Data Sheet and keep up-to-date on all your contribution limits and tax brackets!

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Sources:     

1. https://am.jpmorgan.com/gb/en/asset-management/per/insights/market-insights/market-updates/monthly-market-review/

2. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/stocks-are-rallying-hard-as-the-economy-refuses-to-buckle-will-it-last-in-2025

3. https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20241107a.htm

4. https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/trading-investing/election-market-impact

5. https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/trading-investing/stock-market-outlook

6. https://media.bespokepremium.com/uploads/2024/12/TBR-Annual-Outlook-2025-Pros-and-Cons.pdf

The S&P 500 is a stock index considered to be representative of the U.S. stock market in general. The NASDAQ Composite Index is an unmanaged composite index of over 2,500 common equities listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a price-weighted index that tracks 30 large, publicly traded American companies.

All index returns exclude reinvested dividends and interest. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly.