This monthly communication, “Financial Bullet Points,” will quickly and easily cover the main financial issues we see affecting the markets without being bogged down with a lot of details.
Written by Bob Barber, Matthew Barrovecchio, and Don VandeVanter
Prepared on March 18th, 2026
The Bullet Points for April are:
1. IRA Deadline on April 15: Remember that April 15 is the 2025 deadline for both Traditional and Roth IRA contributions, regardless of whether or not you file an extension. You generally must have earned income to contribute to an IRA. The deadline to contact us to contribute is Friday, April 10; otherwise, we cannot guarantee we can complete it in time.
2. Stay the Course: Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to trust in the Lord with all of our heart and lean not on our own understanding. Our clients have been a walking testimony of that, trusting in the Lord amidst recent market volatility and the war in Iran. During times of uncertainty, our clients do not react emotionally but remain disciplined and committed to their long-term plan. Great job to all of our clients for staying the course!
3. CPI Back on Trend: The CPI released in March came in at 2.4% year-over-year. While this is still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, it marks a reversal of the inflation increase that began last summer and is among the lowest readings over the past several years. With the recent spike in oil prices due to the Iran war, we will see whether that trend continues, as oil prices can affect prices for nearly everything.
4. Change at the Fed: The Federal Reserve interest rate decision on April 29 will be the last with Jerome Powell as chairman, with Kevin Warsh assumed to be confirmed by the Senate and to become the Fed leader on May 15. President Trump has touted this change for months, and many anticipated it would bring a more aggressive approach to lowering interest rates. However, with oil prices surging and driving inflation across the economy, rate cuts now appear unlikely—at least in the near term.
5. Financial Advice: Please remember that we are always just a phone call, text, or email away for any financial advice you may need to talk about. Never make any major financial decisions, like buying a car, boat, RV, or home, without putting them into a financial plan to see how they affect your long-term goals. Remember that withdrawing $50,000 from an investment account to buy a depreciating item like a car, boat, RV, etc., could affect your portfolio value over the long term by hundreds of thousands of dollars right when you may need it the most, and the value of that depreciating item may only be worth pennies on the dollar at that time.
5. Continuing Education & Scriptures: This month’s schedule for Christian Financial Perspectives is listed below, along with our Scripture for the month:
- Ep 244 – The Biblical Worldview of Debt– 04-28-2026
- Romans 13:7 – “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.“
As you walk through this season of market uncertainty and economic change, remember that faithful stewardship is not about predicting the future — it’s about trusting the One who holds it, and making wise decisions today with the resources He has entrusted to you.
Bob Barber, CWS®, CKA®
Senior Wealth Advisor & President
Matthew Barrovecchio, CFP®, CKA®
Senior Wealth Advisor
Don VandeVanter, CPA
Wealth Advisor
Christian Financial Advisors®