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Brian Lester

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Market Outlook Fall 2026

Brian Lester October 30, 2026

During the third quarter of 2026, subdued volatility in the S&P 500 masked sharp swings in individual stocks and industry groups (Advisor Perspectives). For example, software and services stocks, which declined 20% in the first half of the year amid concerns about AI-driven disruption, rebounded 28% in Q3, accounting for 98% of the S&P 500 Index’s approximately 2.3% total return for the quarter. Meanwhile, U.S. economic growth remained resilient, Treasury yields rose to levels not seen in decades, and inflation remained above 3%, well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target (Morningstar). In our Fall 2026 Investment Outlook, we examine these

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How We Build Investment Portfolios: Howe and Rusling’s Team-Based Investment Philosophy 

Brian Lester February 27, 2026

At Howe & Rusling, portfolio construction isn’t driven by a single opinion or market headline—it’s shaped by a disciplined, team-based process grounded in research, debate, and long-term perspective.

In this article, Brian Lester, CFA, Chief Investment Officer, explains how our six-person investment team integrates bottom-up security analysis with thoughtful macroeconomic insight to manage individual stock, bond, and ETF portfolios. You’ll gain a clearer understanding of how we evaluate companies, assess economic conditions, and make portfolio decisions to help support clients as they work toward their long-term financial goals —not short-term market noise.

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How Interest Rate Changes Impact Bonds, Stocks, and Borrowers: What Investors Need to Know 

Brian Lester November 14, 2025

Hi, I’m Brian, Chief Investment Officer at Howe and Rusling Wealth Management. Today I am going to talk about interest rates. Interest rates play a pivotal role in both the economy and in people’s lives, influencing a wide array of financial decisions. Interest rates can fluctuate for various reasons, including changes in inflation expectations, economic growth projections, and central bank monetary policies, which in the United States, is the Federal Reserve.

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Stock Market Volatility April 2025: Tariffs and Fed News Explained 

Brian Lester April 25, 2025

In recent weeks, U.S. stock market volatility has spiked to levels only reached during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (Spring 2020) and the global financial crisis (2008-2009).  This heightened volatility reflects investor reactions to rapidly changing political and economic developments concerning trade policy and Federal Reserve independence. 

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