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 July 22nd, 2026
The Bullet Points for August are:
1. RMDs: If you have an IRA and are at least 73 years old, you likely have a Required Minimum Distribution you must satisfy before the end of the year. Starting in September, we will begin reaching out to clients who have yet to satisfy their requirement, so please begin to prayerfully consider your plans in anticipation of reaching out to you.
2. Present Bull Market: Warren Buffett just said last month, “It’s tough to find values when everyone is preferring gambling.” The bull(appreciating) stock market we are presently in is nearly 4 years old, and historically, bull markets last about 4 years. Some indicators suggest an 85% chance of a bear (depreciating) stock market over the next 12 months, defined as a drop of 20% or more from previous highs. Recovering to the peak typically takes around 2.5 years, but in the early 2000’s it took 13 years for the overall markets to permanently exceed the 2000 peak. Bear markets are a normal part of investing and help cool down overheated stock markets.
3. Iran War & Gold: After the ceasefire between the US and Iran lasted less than a month, concerns of a Federal Funds rate increase amidst inflationary signs have resurfaced, particularly with oil prices that have spiked again since early July. Amongst other asset classes, the potential for higher interest rates has put pressure on gold prices, which are well off their all-time high from earlier this year and are coming out of the worst-performing quarter in over a decade.
4. Buying Depreciating Assets With Investment Dollars: Withdrawing $40,000-$50,000 for the cost of a new vehicle from a moderate or growth portfolio could cost you $160,000-$200,000 or more in portfolio value loss over time. This happens because the withdrawn funds can no longer compound future returns. Think long and hard before withdrawing this much from your investment portfolio for that next vehicle. Instead, use savings or draw little by little from your investment portfolio until you have that much in savings to buy one.
5. Dangers of mixing Emotions with Investment Decisions: Emotions are the greatest enemy of successful investing. When fear, greed, or FOMO (Fear of missing out) drive financial choices, there is a risk of panic selling at market bottoms, buying into speculative bubbles, and abandoning long-term plans. Biological stress shifts control from the brain’s logical prefrontal cortex to the emotional amygdala, costing investors massive long-term wealth. Never make any financial decisions based on emotions and feelings, but instead math and logic.
6. Christian Financial Perspectives: The 6-month series “A Biblical Worldview of Money and Wealth” ended last month for our podcast and YouTube channel and will now turn into a book over the next year. If you didn’t view or hear any of this 12-part series, you’re missing out on a lot of good information. We will be trying a new format in the coming months, with Bob hosting the program alone, so please let us know if you like it.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens
Bob Barber, CWS®, CKA®
Senior Wealth Advisor & President
Matthew Barrovecchio, CFP®, CKA®
Senior Wealth Advisor
Don VandeVanter, CPA
Wealth Advisor
Christian Financial Advisors®