Wisdom for Your
Financial Journey

The Federal Reserve cut rates by 0.5% in September, spurring equity market rallies and all-time highs for the S&P 500, while inflation cooled to 2.5% and labor market softening raised recession concerns. With the 2024 presidential race between Harris and Trump expected to be historically close, tariff and fiscal policy debates will likely shape economic outcomes, though the resilient U.S.

Our podcast series, “Seasons of Marriage and Money,” explores how couples can transform their marriages by relying on God's direction and tips on how to build stronger relationships. Blue Trust recently interviewed two couples to gain insights on the special concerns and challenges faced by families who are raising children and young adults. Amy and Ed Uszynski of Dayton, Ohio, have been married 24 years and have four children.

On September 18, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) lowered the federal funds rate by 0.50% (50 bps). Whether the Fed would cut rates by 0.25% or 0.50% was hotly debated, and opinions oscillated based on inflation and unemployment data. There were valid arguments for both.

Written by Everyday Steward Senior Financial Advisor Dan Wolthuis With the rising costs of insurance coverage, it is often worth the time and effort to “shop around” every few years for your homeowners, automobile, and personal umbrella liability policies. Shopping around can help you find suitable coverage at favorable pricing that yields the best value for your money.

“The two shall become one (Mark 10:8).” This short and sweet verse highlights the Bible's teaching that when two people unite in marriage, they are called to embrace their new role as a unified team. Our new podcast series, “Seasons of Marriage & Money,” explores how couples can transform their marriages by relying on God's direction and tips on how to build stronger relationships.

Financial fraud is on the rise—and it's impacting Americans of all ages. This fact hit home for millions of people after hackers breached the Social Security database and accessed 2.9 billion records, including Social Security numbers. Unfortunately, talented individuals with bad intentions are continuously looking for new opportunities to make off with your personal data.

This newsletter addresses the challenges facing the "sandwich generation" caring for aging parents while raising children, offering practical guidance on long-term care planning, estate documentation, and family communication.

We are living in an era of tremendous technological, cultural, and social change. Yet, as Christians, we are called to cling to timeless biblical truths and look to how Jesus treated others. Living life with ‘winsome conviction' is how Barry Corey, President of Biola University, describes Biola's approach to reconciliation between Christians and non-Christians and even within the Christian community itself.

On July 31, Jay Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve (Fed), characterized the labor market as gradually normalizing. Over the following two days, labor market data came in weaker than expected, causing fear that perhaps the labor market is deteriorating and the Fed is waiting too long to cut rates.

Written by Private Wealth Advisor David Lawless and Sr. Financial Planner Blake Mankin In 2019, Blue Trust published “Should I Give My Children An Allowance?” by Private Wealth Advisor Shawn Jacques, who described teaching his children about stewardship through an allowance system. As Shawn's article explains, conversations with our children about finances, work, generosity, saving, and investing can take many forms.

Blue Trust Sports & Entertainment Division managing director Reed Crosson and chairman of the board Nick Stonestreet recently had a conversation with Suzy and Gio Llerena about how to build marriages that are strong enough to withstand cultural pressures and the demands of life itself.

The U.S. economy and stock market have proven more resilient than expected despite persistent inflation, geopolitical tensions, and reduced rate-cut expectations. However, market gains remain heavily concentrated in a narrow group of AI-focused companies, and emerging signs of economic normalization—including slower job growth, rising delinquencies, and increased consumer debt.