Twenty-eight percent of financial professionals report that clients have a thorough understanding of annuities, but only 14% of clients agree, according to a LIMRA survey. The finding is particularly important given that other research has established a link between annuity knowledge and annuity ownership. LIMRA's Bryan Hodgens said that "the industry needs to redouble their efforts to help consumers better understand the critical role annuities can play in filling that protected lifetime income gap left by disappearing pensions."

Even genuine innovation can fuel unsustainable booms. Jensen's latest article unpacks the forces behind the AI-driven rally, the historical parallels at play, and how today's market dynamics may reflect a more interconnected, and possibly more fragile, investment landscape.

Global investors have increased equity and commodity allocations this month, reducing cash holdings to 3.7%, according to Bank of America's latest fund manager survey. Macro sentiment has improved, although many respondents believe equity markets are overvalued.

US tariffs have had a more modest impact on the global economy than many observers expected, although recent figures show economic contraction in Japan and Switzerland, with the levies potentially playing a role. On the other hand, growth has accelerated in the eurozone and South Korea. Meanwhile, JPMorgan estimates that the US economy achieved a 3% annualized growth rate during the quarter.

Major stock indexes were down on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing almost 500 points, continuing the sell-off. The Nasdaq composite and S&P 500 also declined as investors awaited Nvidia's earnings report and the upcoming release of September's jobs data.

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The Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a list of priorities for 2026, highlighting issues such as cybersecurity, anti-money laundering programs and Regulation BI. "Today's release of examination priorities should enable firms to prepare to have a constructive dialogue with SEC examiners and provide transparency into the priorities of the agency's most public-facing division," said SEC Chairman Paul Atkins.

With a policy meeting approaching in December, the Federal Reserve will receive some of the data delayed by the shutdown, potentially affecting policymakers' outlook on the economy. Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Tom Barkin noted that, in his view, the labor market may be softer than the numbers have shown. "If you ask businesses how they see the labor market today, they say, 'balanced.' But as they describe that 'balance' in more detail, it doesn't seem so," Barkin said.

In addition to contributing directly to Roth accounts, savers should be aware of the potential to convert at a later time, perhaps during low-income years before Social Security benefits start, financial professionals say. However, it's also worth considering that Roth assets are more accessible than assets in 401(k)s or traditional IRAs.

Federal student loan borrowers who graduated in May will have to start repaying what they owe. The first payment can be especially easy to miss because debt has been "out of sight, out of mind," notes higher education specialist Mark Kantrowitz. The country's total education debt is in excess of $1.6 trillion, and more than 40 million people hold this debt.