Brian J. Friedman, Pillar Group / Equitable Advisors, LLC

09/16/2026

Markets pushed higher in August as AI-driven optimism helped investors look past softer economic data. The S&P 500 gained 2.62% and the S&P/TSX Composite rose 2.96%, even as softening retail sales kept consumer spending in focus. Back-to-school season adds another data point to that story, with spending expected to reach \$146.8 billion in the U.S. and \$4.5 billion in Canada this year.

Monthly Market Insights | September 2026 U.S. and Canadian Markets Renewed enthusiasm for AI pushed stocks higher in August as investors looked past mixed economic signals. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index advanced 2.62 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 3.93 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial...

09/15/2026

Check out LPL Financial Research's Weekly Commentary on the market: "What History Says About Fed Hikes and Stocks". https://static.fmgsuite.com/media/documents/9a071a37-9e1e-4c8d-91c7-0ffb26a3195e.pdf

09/08/2026

Check out LPL Financial Research's Weekly Commentary on the market: "Signs Point to a Normalization, Not a Crisis". https://static.fmgsuite.com/media/documents/0a8e095d-26db-4c5c-8028-5f14e2b97921.pdf

09/01/2026

Check out LPL's monthly client letter.https://static.fmgsuite.com/media/documents/75289a3f-a886-4a42-b15f-b694ecc66ad7.pdf

09/01/2026

Check out LPL Financial Research's Weekly Commentary on the market: "The Cash Flow Case for Value". https://static.fmgsuite.com/media/documents/9546ba0f-a55e-4612-ab15-fde0117a63dc.pdf

08/24/2026

Check out LPL Financial Research's Weekly Commentary on the market: "Stock Market Tug of War: Earnings vs. Rates".https://static.fmgsuite.com/media/documents/a0060be1-be17-40a1-9322-c5c9a4871952.pdf

08/17/2026

Check out LPL Financial Research's Weekly Commentary on the market: "Shifting Leadership in Global Growth".https://static.fmgsuite.com/media/documents/0eb52475-457a-47fd-bf0d-64077cdb9fde.pdf

08/12/2026

Check out LPL Financial Research's Weekly Commentary on the market: "Municipal Bond Outlook: Why Carry Is the Strategy". https://static.fmgsuite.com/media/documents/07ba72b6-30a3-47ed-807c-ab3702eca839.pdf

08/07/2026

Markets navigated mixed signals in July. Inflation eased, tech faced pressure, and energy surged. Meanwhile, Americans are planning record travel spending in 2026: \$1.37 trillion. What's shaping your household budget this summer?

Monthly Market Insights | August 2026 U.S. and Canadian Markets Stocks were mixed in July as investors navigated a cross-current of news on the outlook for AI spending and Q2 corporate reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average led, adding 0.32 percent. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index edged down 0....

08/05/2026

Check out LPL's monthly client letter for August 2026. https://static.fmgsuite.com/media/documents/c82f7341-bd73-401c-bd8b-c0ce58b30b9b.pdf