Week In Perspective | AI Delivers Rocky Week for Stocks [24-November-25]

About the author: Lamar Watson, CFP®, is a Fee-Only Financial Advisor in the Washington, D.C., area who works with clients virtually across the country. Dream Financial Planning is a Fiduciary Financial Planning firm specifically designed to help individuals at any stage of life take control of their finances and fulfill their dreams. Feel free to schedule a Free Consultation to learn how we use the DREAM Financial Planning Process ™ to help our clients achieve their goals. 

Updated: 24-November-25

The Week on Wall Street

Heightened volatility was on Wall Street’s mind last week, as investors continued to focus on valuations of artificial intelligence (AI) stocks.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 1.95 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 2.74 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.91 percent. The MSCI EAFE Index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, slumped 3.25 percent.^1,2

AI Valuation Worries 

Stocks slid over the first half of the week as anticipation continued to build for Q3 results from one of the largest AI megacap tech stocks, due out midweek.

While the decline was led by megacap tech stocks, which typically drag down both the Nasdaq and S&P 500, the Dow Industrials also fell. With the government still playing catch-up on a backlog of economic reports following the shutdown, investors kept a close eye on big consumer-related stocks for insights into the economy.³

Then midweek, all three major averages rebounded, with the S&P snapping a four-day losing streak. Sentiment improved as investors turned more positive about another AI firm’s quarterly report due out after Wednesday’s closing bell.⁴

That firm’s results helped boost stocks after the opening bell on Thursday, but prices retreated quickly as investor anxiety built over whether the Fed would adjust rates next month. The Fed’s October meeting minutes revealed divisions among the Committee's voting members. Additionally, the Labor Department's September jobs report painted a mixed employment picture, which might complicate the Fed's decision.⁵

Stocks rebounded on Friday after New York Fed President John Williams seemed to reassure investors that a rate adjustment at the Fed's December meeting was still a possibility. The bounce was jagged, as the rebound had to battle through disappointing economic data on consumer sentiment and manufacturing activity.⁶

More Jobs, but Higher Jobless Rate

The delayed September jobs report came out last week, and showed employers added 119,000 jobs—the strongest monthly gain since April and a rebound from August’s loss of 4,000 jobs (which was later revised to a 22,000 gain). The jobs report was among the first post-shutdown reports to be published by the Labor Department.

The unemployment rate in September rose to 4.4 percent, higher than the 4.3 percent economists expected. It was the highest number in four years.

This was the Labor Department’s last monthly employment report before the Federal Reserve’s next meeting on December 9-10.⁷

This Week: Key Economic Data

Tuesday: Retail Sales (Sept). Case-Shiller Home Price Index (Sept). Business Inventories (Sept). Consumer Confidence. Pending Home Sales.
Wednesday: Weekly Jobless Claims. Durable Goods Orders (Sept).
Thursday: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY—MARKETS CLOSED
Friday: Chicago Business Barometer.
_{Source: Investors Business Daily - Econoday economic calendar; November 21, 2025
The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts are also subject to revision.}

This Week: Companies Reporting Earnings

Monday: Agilent Technologies (A)
Tuesday: Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL), Autodesk, Inc. (ADSK), Workday, Inc. (WDAY)
Wednesday: Deere & Company (DE)
_{Source: Zacks, November 21, 2025
Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule their earnings reports without notice.}

Different Ways You Can Work With Us

Wealth Management - Combines ongoing financial planning and investment management. The financial planning fee is waived if we manage at least $1,000,000 in investments for you. You can review our investment management fee structure here. Tax Preparation and the ability to create a Will or Revocable Trust-based Estate Plan will be included.

Ongoing Financial Planning - Starting at $400/month, our most popular program now includes tax prep. This is a good fit if you have several goals and want the option to manage your investments. We'll cover everything from spending, insurance, taxes, investments, retirement planning, and estate planning. Our goal is to give you and your family an easy-to-understand comprehensive plan to provide you with confidence you're making the right financial decisions.

One-Time Financial Plan With Ongoing Support - Starting at $4,800, this is an accelerated version of the service above with additional support for one year after your start date. This service requires prepayment for the year and is offered at a significant discount from the annual pricing for ongoing planning. Tax Preparation and the ability to create a Will or Revocable Trust-based Estate Plan will be included.

Tax preparation is now part of the ongoing financial planning program. This will be in addition to the Tax Report we already generate for clients and our work with the IRS Withholding Calculator to help prevent our clients from getting a surprise tax bill.

Three-Hour Ask Me Anything - This is a good fit if you have 2-3 goals you want help with. These three one-hour meetings need to be completed within three months. The fee for this service is $2,000. You also get a free 30-minute meeting to help us get started.

Financial Coaching - Our financial coaching program starts at $99/month. This is ideal for someone who is looking to simplify and automate their finances. We'll also serve as an accountability partner and help you overcome obstacles that may be stopping you from accomplishing your goals. You can learn more about our coaching program here. If you think this program might be a good fit for you, schedule a 15-Minute Demo.

Hourly Financial Planning -Billed at $400 per hour. For each hour of meeting time, we'll bill at least one additional hour for meeting preparation and follow-up.

Our Full-Service Process For New Clients

Net Worth and Budget

The first thing I do for new clients is assess their current financial situation. We do this with the aid of financial planning software. We review assets, liabilities, income, and expenses. If you'd like to test drive my comprehensive financial planning software, visit Right Capital and create a profile. View this Right Capital video to learn more.

Insurance

As a Fee-Only Firm, we don’t sell insurance or charge commissions. However, we like to review home, auto, and umbrella insurance to ensure you have the proper coverage. We’re happy to work with your existing agent or refer you to an independent broker to ensure you get the best deal. We also look at your employee benefits, long-term and short-term disability insurance, along with life insurance to make sure your family is protected.

Tax Preparation and Tax Planning

Tax preparation is now part of the ongoing financial planning program. This will be in addition to the Tax Report and Tax Planning we already generate for clients. We also use the IRS Withholding Calculator to help prevent our clients from getting a surprise tax bill.

Investments

Whether you want us to manage your investments or you want to manage them yourself and you're just looking for a second opinion, we can help. We'll help you optimize your investments to make sure you’re not leaving any money on the table. Here’s an example of the quantitative analysis I can do for your investment accounts where we also evaluate your current fees.

If you’d like to review your risk tolerance, complete our risk tolerance questionnaire. This will give you your personalized risk number as seen on page 1 of the sample portfolio above. Feel free to check out the article 10 Best Tips for Beginning Investors from U.S. News where I shared a few investment tips.

Retirement Planning

This is where we bring everything together. Take a look at the links below for examples of some of the deliverables we prepare for clients.

• Get Your Free Retirement Check Up
• Elements® Financial Monitoring App
• One Page Financial Plan
• Financial Independence Presentation

Estate and Legacy Planning

If you're looking for a cost-effective solution to get your estate planning documents in place, we can help. We have partnered with a leading Estate Planning platform to deliver high-quality Estate Planning documents for a fraction of the cost of working with an attorney. I included a blog post below that highlights the key documents that should be in your Estate Plan and my normal pricing.

What's In Your Estate Plan?

Revocable Living Trust-Based Estate Plan

• Individual - $1,600
• Couple - $2,100

Will-Based Estate Plan

• Individual - $900
• Couple - $1,400

I hope we get the opportunity to work together. If you'd like to see if any of these services are a good fit for you, feel free to schedule a free consultation or send me an e-mail.

Get More Personal Finance Tips

Weekly insights are delivered directly to your inbox.

What's In Your Estate Plan?

Financial Coaching From a CFP® Professional

Saving for College and 529 Plans

How Much Do You Need To Make Work Optional?

Keep These Tips In Mind When Reviewing Your Tax Return.