Blake Gallion, CFP

05/20/2026

My family and I are Padres fans, and we enjoy watching games and following the team throughout the season. Of course, being a San Diego sports fan can sometimes be a frustrating experience, considering our city has yet to win a major professional sports championship. There have been plenty of hopefu

04/17/2026

https://www.blakegallion.com/blog/q1-2026-market-review

The first quarter of 2026 got off to a volatile start. Stocks in the US were down 3.96%, while international markets were down 0.94%. US Bonds dipped slightly, down 0.05%, while bonds outside the US dipped 0.19%. Currently we’re a couple of weeks into Q2, and the losses from Q1 have been erased. O

03/23/2026

Volatility has increased recently, and it’s one of those things that never really gets easier, even though we’ve all been through it before. Every time the market drops, it feels different. The reasons and headlines are different each time, and some feel more significant than others. And it’s ...

02/13/2026

With the Winter Olympics underway, we’re all rooting for gold! But gold has also recently captured a lot of attention from investors. After a strong run over the past year and periods of reaching new highs, the precious metal has reminded investors why it tends to resurface during times of uncerta...

01/19/2026

Global stock markets continued to move higher in the fourth quarter, closing out another strong year for investors. A key theme in Q4 and for 2025 was the outperformance of international and emerging markets, which stood out after years of U.S. market leadership. During the quarter, U.S. stocks retu

12/19/2025

As the year winds down, it’s a great time to pause, reflect, and review your finances. 2025 brought a handful of changes, and there are a few more coming in 2026 that are worth having on your radar. Think of this as the financial version of checking your list twice. 🎅 A few quick year-end remin...

11/19/2025

www.blakegallion.com/blog/gratefulness-and-giving

In my day-to-day life, most of the people I interact with live fairly comfortable lives. I’m in northern San Diego County, where many middle- to upper-income families live. Working in wealth management also means I’m regularly surrounded by people with meaningful financial resources. But last we...

10/17/2025

Markets across the board were strong in Q3. Emerging markets lead the way with returns of 10.64%, followed by the US stock market up 8.18% and international stocks up 5.33%. Bonds in the US were up 2.03% and 0.49% globally outside the US. Also of note is the strong rally in gold, as some view it as

08/25/2025

Everyone says life flies by, and kids grow up in the blink of an eye. I used to nod along without really feeling it—until our daughter turned 9 (she's now 15). I remember thinking, “Wait...she’s halfway to 18, when she’s likely to move out of the house.” It hit me. She was still my little ...

06/24/2025

www.blakegallion.com/blog/your-plan-should-be-personal

When it comes to financial planning, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. While general principles like living within your means, budgeting, saving, and investing are universal, how you apply them should reflect your personality, values, and goals. A financial plan works best when it’s personal...