Merry Christmas from BridgeQuest!

Wishing you and your families a joyful Christmas and happy New Year from the team at BridgeQuest

Market Commentary and 2026 Forecast

Markets are on track for another year of strong performance, with both equities and fixed income contributing meaningfully. Although these gains help advance financial objectives, record index levels and higher valuations have made many investors more wary, even as earnings remain broadly solid. Importantly, market leadership is beginning to broaden beyond the “Magnificent 7” and large U.S. growth stocks that have dominated returns in recent years. Reflecting this shift, we modestly increased exposure to small and mid-cap U.S. companies earlier this year and continue to view this positioning favorably.

Many long-standing concerns eased in 2025 as inflation stabilized a bit, growth stayed resilient, and widely feared market disruptions failed to occur, reinforcing the value of staying disciplined. As we look toward 2026, uncertainty is likely to remain, heightening the importance of thoughtful portfolio construction, strong balance sheets, and a focus on reasonable valuations.

Holiday Office Hours

• Wednesday, 12/24 — Christmas Eve: Closing at Noon

• Thursday, 12/25 — Christmas Day: Office Closed

• Friday, 12/26: Office Closed

• Wednesday, 12/31 — New Year’s Eve: Closing at Noon

• Thursday, 1/1 — New Year’s Day: Office Closed

The IRS has announced the updated retirement account contribution limits for the 2026 tax year - and many of the key numbers have increased, providing a great opportunity to strengthen your retirement savings. 

What’s Changing:

401(k), 403(b) & Most 457 Plans

• Base employee contribution limit — $24,500 (up from $23,500)

• Catch-up contribution (age 50+) — $8,000 (up from $7,500)

• “Super catch-up” (ages 60-63) — $11,250 (unchanged) 

Traditional & Roth IRAs

• Annual contribution limit — $7,500 (up from $7,000)

• Catch-up contribution (age 50+) — $1,100 (up from $1,000) 

Simple IRAs

• Contribution limit — $17,000 (up from $16,500)

• Catch-up (age 50+) — $4,000 (up from $3,500) 

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

• Self-only coverage — $4,400 (up from $4,300)

• Family coverage — $8,750 (up from $8,550)

• Catch-up contribution (age 55+) — $1,000 (unchanged)

These higher limits mean more room to save in tax-advantaged accounts — and we strongly encourage you to review and update your contribution elections for 2026. Maxing out your available plans can significantly accelerate long-term growth and enhance your financial security. If you’d like help with your contribution strategy we’re here to help.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Matt Gazaway, CFP®  |   Greg Dillard, CFP®

(913) 276-7110

matt@bridgequest.com | greg@bridgequest.com

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