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📊 This Week in Finance
Week Ending April 24th, 2026
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both closed Friday at record highs, boosted by optimism around a potential restart to U.S.-Iran peace talks. The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to 7,165, while the Nasdaq climbed 1.6% to 24,837. The Dow slipped slightly, closing at 49,231. For the week, the S&P gained 0.6%, the Nasdaq added 1.5%, while the Dow fell 0.4%. Fortunly
Earnings: This week is the biggest of earnings season. Apple, Meta, Amazon, and Alphabet all report, making it a critical test for the Mag 7 and the broader AI trade. Apple's results come just after news that Tim Cook will be replaced by John Ternus as CEO, while Meta reports following its announcement of laying off roughly 8,000 employees. Edward Jones
The Fed: The Fed meets Wednesday, April 29, likely Jerome Powell's last meeting as chair before Kevin Warsh takes over in May. The current rate sits at 3.50 to 3.75%, unchanged since March, and markets are pricing in no change this week. CNBC J.P. Morgan sees the Fed holding steady for the rest of 2026, with the next move potentially being a hike in 2027 if inflation stays elevated. CommunityAmerica Credit Union
Why it matters to you: Record highs are good news for your portfolio, but this is a week where headlines will move markets fast. Mag 7 earnings and a Fed decision in the same week mean volatility is possible in either direction. Stay the course.
📌 Did You Know?
An estimated 65% of private sector workers have no long-term disability insurance, according to Kiplinger, and most assume their employer coverage or Social Security will be enough. It usually isn't. The average Social Security disability benefit pays just $1,582 per month, and the average denial rate for disability claims is 68%. Kiplinger
Meanwhile, roughly 25% of today's 20-year-olds will become disabled before they reach retirement age. Kiplinger
Bottom line: Your ability to earn income is your most valuable financial asset. Most people insure their car and their home, but leave their paycheck completely unprotected.
🌱 MONEY & LIFE: What Happens If I Can't Work?"
Most people don't think about disability insurance until they need it. By then, it's too late to get it.
Here's a scenario that happens more than you'd think: a 38-year-old with two kids, a mortgage, and a good job gets diagnosed with something serious. They can't work for six months. Their employer covers 60% of their salary for 90 days; after that, nothing.
Before that happens to you, ask yourself three questions:
Does my employer offer long-term disability coverage, and have I actually enrolled?
If I couldn't work for 6 months, how long would my savings last?
Do I have a supplemental policy that covers my actual income, not just a capped benefit?
Disability isn't a worst-case scenario. For 1 in 4 workers, it's a reality. Plan for it before you need it.
💡Financial Move of the Week
Review Your Disability Coverage This Week
Most people set up their benefits once during onboarding and never look again. This week, spend 15 minutes reviewing your coverage.
Here's what to do:
Log into your HR benefits portal. Check whether you have short-term and long-term disability coverage enrolled. Many employees skip it, assuming it's automatic. It usually isn't.
Check the benefit amount and duration. Most group plans cap at 60% of your salary with a dollar maximum. If you earn $80,000 or more, that cap likely leaves a real gap. Calculate what you'd actually receive.
Ask your HR or a licensed advisor about supplemental coverage. A private disability policy can fill the gap between what your employer covers and what you actually need to maintain your lifestyle.
Your income is the engine behind every financial goal you have. Protect it.
These 5 Defense Stocks Could Define the Next Decade
Every major shift in defense procurement creates a new set of market winners. The current shift toward AI-enabled systems, satellite infrastructure, and advanced aerospace is moving faster than most investors realize, and the companies leading it are still early enough to offer real upside. We put together a research report that names five of them, breaks down their technology and contract position, and explains the investment timing. Whether you're actively building a defense allocation or just want to understand where the sector is heading, it's worth 10 minutes.
🛡️ PROTECTION CORNER
The Coverage You Have Isn't Always the Coverage You Think You Have
Energy prices jumped 10.9% in March, with gasoline up 21.2% in a single month. That kind of sudden financial pressure is exactly the scenario disability and protection coverage is built for, but most people only discover their coverage gaps after a crisis hits.
Here are three protection blind spots worth checking right now:
Disability waiting periods. Most long-term disability policies have a 90-day elimination period before benefits begin. That means you need at least 3 months of expenses saved as a bridge. Does your emergency fund cover that?
Beneficiary designations. When did you last update yours? Life changes, marriage, divorce, a new child, but designations on 401(k)s and life insurance policies don't update automatically. A five-minute check could save your family months of legal headaches.
Income replacement math. Take your monthly take-home pay and multiply it by 0.60. That's what most group disability plans pay. If that number doesn't cover your mortgage, car, and groceries, you have a gap that needs to be addressed.
Protection planning isn't about fear. It's about making sure one bad event doesn't erase everything you've built.
📰 Worth Reading
✍️ Final Word
This week, markets hit record highs, and the biggest names in tech are set to report earnings. There's a lot to feel good about if you're invested and staying the course.
But the conversations I keep having aren't about the S&P. They're about the family that had to drain their savings because one person couldn't work for four months. The client who realized their disability benefit wouldn't cover their mortgage. The household was one health event away from a financial crisis, and didn't know it until it happened.
Record markets are great. Protecting what you have is better.
Until next week — Plan with Purpose. Prosper with Confidence.
Emmanuel S. Desmolieres, Founder, Plan & Prosper LLC, operating as Planning and Prospering. 📧 [email protected] | planningandprospering.com | https://stan.store/planningandprospering |