With five months left, 2026 has shaped up as another banner year for the stock market. The iconic Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI), broad-based S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), and innovation-driven Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) have rallied 10%, 9%, and 7%, respectively, since the beginning of the year.
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Financially Free Investor is a financial writer with 25 years investment experience. He focuses on investing in dividend-growing stocks with a long-term horizon.
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Reaching 50 without the retirement balance you expected can feel like arriving late to a race everyone else started years ago. That feeling may tempt you to take bigger risks, chase a hot investment, or give up because the goal suddenly seems too far away.
Warren Buffett has not published a step-by-step retirement plan for people in their 50s.
» Read more about: Warren Buffett’s Best Advice for People Who Feel Behind at 50 »
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best ones.
Warren Buffett has invested for decades using that philosophy. Buying high-quality businesses at good prices and holding them forever, letting their stories play out, has helped him become one of the most successful investors of all time. He also favors simplicity. He doesn’t own hundreds of stocks or dozens of ETFs.
Cboe Global Markets reported a surge in second-quarter profit on Friday, benefiting from strong options trading volumes at a time of elevated market volatility.
» Read more about: Cboe profit jumps as elevated volatility spurs options trading boom »
These tariffs may hinder trade with key U.S. trading partners. American-based businesses rely on China and India for technology parts, industrial goods, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods. The increased import prices may lead to decline in the profit margins of businesses or increased consumer prices. This would put pressure on multinational companies in both the S&P 500 and Dow Jones.
Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the best stocks to buy for the AI boom in the second half of 2026. Since the year began, Apple shares have returned more than 48%, and analysts expect them to keep rising. Elite investors continue to show confidence in Apple as the company leverages AI to make its products better.
» Read more about: Apple (AAPL) Rides Growing Demand for AI-Enabled Smartwatches »
Nvidia (NVDA +2.93%) was a relatively obscure chipmaker specializing in gaming technology before artificial intelligence (AI) exploded a few years ago, sending the stock to the No. 1 spot as the world’s most valuable company. It held on to that title for most of 2025 as Nvidia enjoyed outstanding growth,
Most people who receive Social Security retirement benefits will see their monthly payments in August 2026 as usual — with checks and direct deposits distributed according to the Social Security Administration’s standard schedule.
Here’s more on payments, including the August payment for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients, which will not see a payment issued within the month of August since the monthly payment was instead issued on July 31.
Tesla (TSLA +0.76%) is not having a good year. The company’s shares took a major dip after it reported its second-quarter earnings on July 22, and they are down 28% to date. Tesla’s results weren’t terrible, but the company’s capex is growing rapidly and squeezing profits and margins.