Checking In with Ara – July 2025

Staying the Course: Lessons from the First Half of 2025

Summer is in full swing, and I hope you’re finding time to relax and enjoy the season. Here in San Diego, we recently had a great family BBQ for Father’s Day. My dad had a full house—his kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews were all together to celebrate him. We were also hosting family from Arizona who came out to escape the heat, which made the gathering even more special.

As we look back on the first half of 2025, the markets have offered yet another important reminder: staying invested matters. U.S. stocks experienced significant volatility, with large caps declining nearly 19% and small caps falling over 24% earlier in the year. But by mid-year, large caps had recovered and small caps were only slightly down. Those who stayed diversified and remained committed to their long-term plans fared the best. It’s a powerful illustration of why we follow your personalized Bucket Strategy®—not reacting emotionally to market swings, but instead allowing time in the market to do the heavy lifting.

If we haven’t had our annual review yet this year, we’ll be reaching out to get something scheduled. It’s important to revisit your financial plan regularly to reflect any life changes and keep everything aligned. As always, I look forward to connecting soon and continuing to support you and your family’s financial goals.

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