Financial News You Should Know Before the Holiday Parties

Stuff You Should Know

Or at least a few things worth knowing before the holiday parties start…

I’m not much of a podcast listener. But when I do tune in, I tend to gravitate toward things like Stuff You Should Know or Morning Brew—an interesting assortment of news, history, pop culture, and random facts that I didn’t necessarily know I needed to know.

I think that appeals to my basic curiosity around quirky facts, important things I should know, or general goings-on in the world.  When I first started working as a financial advisor, I subscribed to Entertainment Weekly and BusinessWeek, and read them faithfully every week, as those two magazines had a pretty good pulse on what was happening in the world. Between pop culture, business, and current events, I’d usually know enough about a lot of different things to talk with just about anyone.

Born from that spirit, Nathan’s Meridian Market Minute is meant to share something you may want to know…interesting tidbits that make for great cocktail-party conversation.

So, along those lines, this week’s blog is a bit of a mashup…there are several things happening in the financial world that have caught our attention lately. Some are important for financial planning, some offer interesting perspectives on the markets, and others are simply worth knowing.

Consider this our own little edition of Stuff You Should Know—a few things to tuck away for your next dinner party, holiday gathering, or conversation around the water cooler.

The Stock Market’s October Plot Twist

Talk about extremes! Despite the headline decline of the S&P 500 Index in October 2026  (which has continued into November!), nine of the S&P 500’s eleven sectors actually gained ground in October. Energy climbed roughly 14%, while Consumer Staples and Utilities each gained more than 10%. Meanwhile, Technology and Communication Services were the only two sectors to decline, both falling more than 8%.

In other words, the market was doing considerably better beneath the surface than the headlines suggested.

And the difference between investment styles was just as striking. Growth stocks fell roughly 5.5%, while Value stocks gained approximately 5%.

It’s a terrific reminder that diversification matters. Sometimes the biggest names in the market aren’t the ones doing the heavy lifting!

AI Financial Advice: Smart, Helpful…and Sometimes Wrong!

We won’t be mad…have you ever asked ChatGPT a financial question? You’re certainly not alone. According to a 2025 Credit Karma survey, 66% of Americans surveyed who had used generative AI had also turned to it for financial advice. And here’s the surprising part: among those who acted on AI’s recommendations, 52% reported making a financial mistake because of it!

A fascinating study published in the June 2026 Journal of Financial Planning tested seven popular AI tools using identical financial scenarios. The results were all over the map. Recommendations for emergency savings ranged from roughly $20,000 to $38,000, while suggested stock allocations ranged from 15% to 45%.

Even more concerning, some recommendations changed when researchers altered only the person’s race or gender!

Why? AI can rely on incomplete or outdated information, reflect biases in its training data, and sometimes deliver incorrect answers with remarkable confidence. And just because an answer sounds authoritative doesn’t mean it’s accurate—or appropriate for your situation.

We think AI can be a wonderful tool for learning, researching, and exploring ideas. But there’s a difference between information and advice. A thoughtful financial recommendation should consider your complete financial picture, your goals, your taxes, and your personal circumstances.

Our takeaway? Use AI to get smarter about money. Just don’t assume everything it tells you is smart! 😊

Surprise! Your Child May Already Have an Investment Account!

Here’s something that might surprise parents and grandparents. On October 1, the U.S. Treasury announced that it had automatically established more than 60 million new Trump Accounts for American children under age 18. That’s a lot of new investment accounts!

These accounts are a new type of tax-advantaged IRA designed to help children begin saving early. Families can contribute to the accounts, with investments directed toward low-cost U.S. stock index funds. Children born between 2025 and 2028 who meet the eligibility requirements can also receive a one-time $1,000 contribution from the federal government.

But here’s the interesting—and potentially concerning—part. The accounts were created automatically using government records, including children’s Social Security numbers, and many may remain unclaimed for years.

An October article in Bloomberg Tax raised an important question: What happens when these children turn 18 and need to prove that the accounts belong to them?

Over the next decade or two, addresses will change, passwords will be forgotten, and personal information could be compromised in unrelated data breaches. That creates potential opportunities for identity thieves to impersonate account owners and attempt to access their money.

To be clear, this isn’t a report of a security breach. It’s a warning about potential vulnerabilities that deserve attention before they become problems.

Our takeaway for parents and grandparents? Find out whether your child has an account, use the official government website to claim it, and keep the account information secure. And remember, the $1,000 government contribution isn’t automatic—you’ll need to request it if your child qualifies.

You can learn more at TrumpAccounts.gov.

Sources: Bloomberg Tax, October 2026 and IRS Trump Accounts Guidance.

So there you have it! A little smattering of recent financial news, market insights, and random things worth knowing. Hopefully you found a few interesting nuggets to tuck away—and maybe even something to bring to the conversation around your Thanksgiving table or at an upcoming holiday party. Consider our contribution to the potluck complete!