Michael Vaughn, CFP

National Parents’ Day is this Sunday, which is news to most parents.

So no, the day will probably not put parents in the spotlight. But parenting is a 365-day job, and one piece of it gets quietly transferred whether parents are intentional or not: financial habits.

Some kids and grandkids absorb attitudes about earning, saving, and risk long before they understand the math.

A few questions worth asking before the next family gathering:

🔹 What do the kids and grandkids actually know about how the family operates financially?

🔹 What do we want them to understand about earning, saving, giving, and risk?

🔹 When was the last family discussion about money that was not about a specific bill or expense?

🔹 Is there a generational wealth strategy, and does the next generation know enough about it to carry it?

The families we see do this best hold a standing meeting once or twice a year, and summer is a perfect time!

Nothing formal. Just enough rhythm that the next generation knows what is being built and why.

Travel fraud gets worse every summer, and we hear more stories from clients every year.

A quick login from the lobby.

A brokerage app checked from the airport lounge.

A bank balance pulled up at a cafe.

Public networks are where accounts can get exposed.

A few habits worth building before the next trip:

🛑 Skip public WiFi for anything financial. Use cellular data or a personal hotspot.

🛑 Turn on real-time transaction alerts for every card.

🛑 Consider using credit, not debit.

🛑 Watch for skimmers (devices attached to gas pumps and ATMs that copy card data).

A few minutes of preparation before the trip can help prevent months of cleanup after.

Markets posted solid second-quarter gains as investors responded to upbeat economic reports, continued diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, and strong first-quarter corporate numbers. The S&P 500 rose 14.87%, the Nasdaq gained 21.41%, and the Dow picked up 12.90%, while Canada’s S&P/TSX Composite added 6.37%. Looking ahead, markets may continue to react to Middle East updates, oil prices, inflation trends, and the pace of global commerce through the Strait of Hormuz. From U.S. home price growth to Canadian housing forecasts, this quarter’s by-the-numbers highlights the data behind one of North America’s most closely watched markets.

Quarterly Market Insights | July 2026 Quarterly Market Insights | July 2026 U.S. and Canadian Markets Stocks saw solid gains in the second quarter, riding a wave of enthusiasm over upbeat economic reports, ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, and strong first-quarter corporate numbers. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 14...