|
IN THIS ISSUE: Investing ideas, IPOs, and vacations under $500 |
GOOD START
Does your net worth measure up to other people your age? Find out. |
|
|
|
THE HEADLINES
Halftime reportWhat’s happening: We’re nearly halfway through 2026 and despite geopolitical conflicts and economic uncertainty, the stock market is doing well. Fidelity pros have identified a few pockets of opportunity.
Tell me more: Consider these 3 big ideas for the next half of the year. |
|
|
|
-
Tech stocks:
Technology posted the fastest earnings growth of any S&P 500®1 Index sector in 2026’s first quarter, alongside the strongest revenue growth. This earnings strength could continue to make tech a market leader despite bouts of volatility.
-
Precious metals:
If you’re looking for an inflation hedge, a modest allocation to precious metals may be worth revisiting. Strong industrial demand and global central bank demand, among other forces, have been supporting significant gains in silver and gold prices, respectively, in recent years.
-
International stocks:
Both developed- and emerging-market stocks outperformed US stocks by a wide margin in 2025 and remain in positive territory. Beyond return potential, exposure to different economic cycles, currencies, and sector leadership patterns can help smooth investors’ ride and provide diversification.
What it means for you: Check out all
5 big investing ideas for the rest of 2026. Beyond investing, midyear brings a fresh chance to take stock of your finances—so you can spot new opportunities and address sources of money stress head on. See more
potential money moves to make, midyear tax tips, and ways to beat inflation. |
|
Hard launchWhat’s happening: A few major IPOs, aka initial public offerings, are in the news. That’s when a private company “goes public” and starts selling shares to investors in a public market for the first time.
Here’s why: Rising stock prices and favorable economic conditions could make it more rewarding for a company to go public these days. Rule changes could also be at play. The Securities and Exchange Commission recently proposed rules that would make going public and raising cash easier and less expensive. Plus, the S&P 500 is considering allowing recently public megacap companies (read: very large) to join their indexes in 6 months instead of a year. Under the Nasdaq-100’s new fast-entry rule, megacap stocks could join after just 15 trading days.
What it means: If the proposed rules go through, more private companies could go public. IPOs can generate buzz among investors, particularly for so-called “hot issues” that garner a lot of interest. If you’re interested in IPOs, there are unique considerations to keep in mind. For example, an IPO’s stock can be particularly unpredictable on its first day through the first few months of trading.
Curious about IPO investing? This June 3 webinar breaks down how companies go public and risks and expectations to account for before investing. Considering taking part? Get step-by-step instructions on how to participate.
|
|
Save upWhat happened: Both 401(k) and 403(b) total savings rates (including employer and employee contributions) reached record levels in 2026’s first quarter, according to Fidelity’s latest Building Financial Futures report.
Here’s why: Plan participants are opting into auto-increase, which sets contributions to rise automatically at the beginning of each year. Another reason for the savings spike: Profit sharing contributions, when an employer puts a portion of profits in an employee’s account, typically go through each January.
What it means for you: If you have a workplace retirement account, consider making sure it’s set to auto-increase each year. (Have a Fidelity retirement account? Log in to NetBenefits; under “Take action,” select “Manage contributions.” Check if there's a percentage and date under “Annual increase.” If not, select “Change annual increase.”)
If your employer offers matching contributions instead of or in addition to profit sharing, try to contribute at least enough to capture the entire amount. That could help you get closer to Fidelity’s guideline of saving 15% of your pretax income for retirement including an employer match (why this number?). Already hitting that percentage? Consider these
6 steps to take next. |
|
HOW TO
Help reduce investment taxesWhere you put your investments can make a major difference in how much you can earn, after tax, over time. |
| |
|
|
WORTH A TRY?
3 ideas to help inflation-proof your financesInflation is at its highest in 3 years, according to the latest Consumer Price Index. These tips could help you feel more in control of your finances, no matter which direction prices go next.
-
Take a magnifying glass to your spending. Some expenses are essential (think: groceries, housing, health care, and transportation). For other spending categories, such as entertainment, dining out, travel, and gifts, you may be able to cut back relatively easily. Consider these 20 tips that helped one person save thousands, and
get wise to ways you may be overspending.
-
Gut-check your emergency savings. Fidelity suggests a $1,000 cash buffer, then working toward saving 3 to 6 months’ worth of essential expenses for emergencies. If your anxiety will rise along with prices, shooting for the higher end of that range may offer you more peace of mind.
-
Don’t get too comfortable in cash. When markets are volatile, it can be tempting to hold too much cash in a savings account rather than investing it. In an inflationary environment, not giving your cash a chance to grow can be counterproductive because it lowers your purchasing power over time. Taking money out of the market can affect long-term performance too. A hypothetical investor who missed out on just the 5 best days between January 1, 1988, and December 31, 2025, would have reduced their portfolio’s value by 38%.2 Here are
3 reasons to stay invested.
|
