Hello,

February is shaping up to be a timely and meaningful month, and this edition brings together market perspective, investor education, and a bit of celebration from our team. In our quarterly market update, Tyler Craig, CFA shares how we are thinking about recent market developments and what they may mean for investors as we move further into the year.

We are also highlighting a new blog on a fast growing scam that is catching even financially savvy people off guard.

And finally, in Beyond the Desk, we have some happy personal news to share. Samantha got married, and we could not be more excited for her as she begins this new chapter.

If you have inquiries about the investment markets or your tailored wealth management strategy, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

Best Regards,

The Barry Team

ON OUR MINDS THIS MONTH

BIA's Portfolio Manager, Tyler Craig, CFA breaks down three themes from 2025 that could define 2026 in his insightful Quarterly Update.

A growing scam is emptying bank accounts in minutes by exploiting something most people trust without thinking twice. Bank alerts, fraud calls, and verification texts.

Why do some high earners go broke while others quietly build lasting wealth? Five powerful lessons from one of our favorite books on investing, The Psychology of Money, that explain how behavior, not income, drives financial success.

THIS MONTH'S MARKET LENS

A phrase that surfaced repeatedly in 2025 was the “K-shaped” economy, where higher-income households and asset owners continue to do well while lower- and middle-income households face pressure from higher prices, borrowing costs, and debt. This divide is evident in the chart to the right, with the S&P 500 near all-time highs while consumer sentiment sits near cycle lows. While inflation has cooled and overall growth has been resilient, the year made clear that the economy is not simply returning to a pre-COVID normal, and risks remain for the bottom half of households.

FINANCIAL PLANNING SPOTLIGHT

Click Image to Download 

Above is the 2026 Important Numbers reference guide, which outlines the updated retirement and health savings contribution limits for the current year.  We will work with you and your accountant to review your strategy and determine how these updates may impact your unique situation. 

Regarding the 2025 tax year, the official deadline for IRA contributions is April 15, 2026.  If you intend to make a prior-year contribution, please let us know by March 27, 2026, to allow sufficient time for processing.  

WISDOM WORTH REPEATING

“You can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails.”

-Cedric Craig

BEYOND THE DESK

Samantha got married! Congratulations Mrs. King!

The BIA team with a front-row seat on zoom to celebrate Sam's nuptials!

Beth's son helps clear the walkway after some snow!

January also saw Andrew Straus turn 37, Happy Birthday!

COMMENTS, COMPLIMENTS, & CRITIQUES

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