It is June 11, 2026, and investors have no shortage of headlines competing for their attention. Geopolitical tension in the Middle East, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, volatile oil prices, renewed inflation concerns, the start of the World Cup in North America, and the conclusion of primary elections are all part of the current backdrop.

With so much happening at once, it is fair to ask: what is really driving the major market indexes right now? One of the clearest answers is artificial intelligence. AI is no longer just a futuristic concept or a technology headline. It is influencing how companies invest, how consumers interact with services, how businesses manage costs, and how investors think about future growth.

Clients often ask, “Can you find me the next Amazon?” My answer is usually only partially tongue in cheek: finding a company that will not make investors much money for a long stretch is not the hard part. The harder question is identifying when a company has the right combination of innovation, market demand, execution, and patience from investors to begin a sustained growth cycle.

Amazon is a useful example. The company went public in 1997 as an online bookseller, and for many years investors had to tolerate volatility, skepticism, and long periods when the stock did not feel rewarding to own. Today, after years of reinvention, Amazon is not only a dominant e-commerce company but also a major cloud-computing provider through Amazon Web Services. The long-term result looks obvious in hindsight, but it was anything but obvious along the way.

We may be seeing a similar lesson unfold in parts of the artificial intelligence market. NVIDIA went public in 1999 as a company best known for graphics processors used in personal computers and video games. For years, its stock required patience. The company’s role has since expanded dramatically, and its technology now supports data centers, advanced computing, autonomous systems, and AI infrastructure.

The common thread between Amazon and NVIDIA is not that every innovative company becomes a great investment. Most do not. The lesson is that truly meaningful business changes often take longer than expected, and the market rarely rewards them in a straight line. Companies evolve, industries change, and investor expectations move faster than business fundamentals.

Prior to 2022, NVIDIA was a relatively unknown stock, and most people probably couldn’t have pronounced the name if you asked them. During parts of 2022, the position was uncomfortable to hold as the stock declined sharply. By mid-2024, some of those same investors were considering buying more. That is the nature of long-term investing: confidence is often tested before results are recognized.

None of this is a recommendation to buy or sell Amazon, NVIDIA, or any other individual stock. Every investment decision should be based on each client’s goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, and overall allocation. The broader point is that short-term noise does not always reflect long-term opportunity. Amazon changed how people shop. AI is changing how people search, work, communicate, and solve problems. Those changes may create opportunities, but they will also bring disruption and volatility.

I do not know exactly what the future holds for NVIDIA, AI companies, or the broader technology sector. I do know that there is a reasonable case for owning carefully selected companies that are helping shape the future, provided those investments fit within a disciplined portfolio strategy. When volatility appears in technology stocks, it is worth remembering that time can be an investor’s friend when paired with patience, diversification, and a clear plan.

As always, we are available to discuss your portfolio, your allocation, and how current market themes may or may not fit your long-term financial plan. In the meantime, enjoy a little soccer, baseball, or—much better—the NHL playoffs.

​Thank you for being our client.
 
*Disclosures: Any opinions are those of Sean Budlong and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected, including diversification and asset allocation. Every investor's situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before making any investment. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. This information is not intended as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any security referred to herein.

As Christians, we often strive to honor God in every area of our lives—our families, our work, our time, and our finances. Yet when it comes to investing, many believers unknowingly separate their faith from their financial decisions. Over the years, we have had many conversations with clients about this very topic, and it has become clear that people want their investments to reflect the same values that guide the rest of their lives.

Faith-based investing—often referred to as Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI)—is an approach that seeks to align investment decisions with Christian principles. Rather than focusing solely on financial returns, this approach also considers how companies operate, what they promote, and how they impact society. For many believers, investing this way simply means asking an important question: Does my money support the same values I believe in?

Scripture reminds us that everything ultimately belongs to God. Psalm 24:1 tells us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” And in Luke 16:10 we are reminded that “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” These verses speak to the idea of stewardship. As Christians, we are not the owners of what we have—we are stewards entrusted with managing God’s resources wisely.

One reason faith-based investing matters is because traditional investment portfolios often include companies involved in activities that may conflict with Christian convictions. Many broad market funds include businesses connected to areas such as abortion services, pornography, exploitative labor practices, or other industries that many believers would prefer not to support. For some investors, simply becoming aware of this reality is what first prompts them to explore a faith-based investment approach.

However, faith-based investing is not only about avoiding certain industries. It can also involve intentionally supporting companies that demonstrate ethical leadership, treat employees fairly, encourage strong communities, and operate with integrity. In that sense, investing becomes about more than financial return—it also becomes a way to promote positive values in the marketplace.
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There are several ways investors can approach faith-based investing. One common method is called negative screening, which removes companies involved in activities that conflict with biblical principles. Many Christian mutual funds and ETFs apply filters designed to exclude industries such as abortion, pornography, gambling, or other areas considered inconsistent with Christian values.

Another approach is positive screening, which looks for companies that actively demonstrate strong ethical practices. These companies may prioritize responsible corporate governance, fair treatment of employees, transparency with shareholders, and respect for human dignity. Rather than simply avoiding certain businesses, this strategy seeks out organizations that are making a constructive impact.

Some investors also participate in shareholder engagement. Through proxy voting and shareholder advocacy, investors can encourage companies to adopt policies that support ethical practices, religious liberty protections, and responsible governance. While individual investors may not always see this process directly, many faith-based investment firms participate in these conversations on behalf of their clients.

A growing area within this space is what is often called impact or Kingdom investing. This type of investing focuses on opportunities that aim to produce measurable social or community benefits alongside financial returns. Examples might include investments in affordable housing projects, faith-based educational initiatives, or funds designed to support community development.

For those interested in exploring this type of strategy, the first step is simply identifying the convictions that matter most to you. For some believers, the sanctity of life is the primary concern. Others may prioritize religious freedom, ethical business conduct, or responsible stewardship of the environment. Clarifying these priorities helps guide how a portfolio may be structured.

The next step is often reviewing an existing portfolio. Many investors are surprised to learn what companies they already own through mutual funds or index funds. A values-based portfolio review can help determine whether current investments align with personal convictions or whether adjustments might be appropriate.

Working with a financial advisor who understands both portfolio construction and faith-based investing can also be helpful. Aligning investments with values does not mean abandoning sound financial principles. Diversification, risk management, tax efficiency, and long-term discipline still play a critical role in building and maintaining a strong portfolio.

A common question people ask is whether faith-based investing sacrifices returns. While results can vary depending on market conditions and the strategies used, many faith-based portfolios have demonstrated competitive long-term performance. Like any investment approach, success depends on thoughtful portfolio construction and disciplined management.

Ultimately, Christian financial stewardship extends beyond investing alone. It includes generosity, responsible spending, avoiding unnecessary debt, and thoughtful planning for the future. When our financial strategy reflects our faith, money becomes a tool rather than a master.

Faith-based investing allows believers to bring their convictions into an area of life that often feels disconnected from personal values. When guided by Scripture, prayer, and wise counsel, investing can become more than a financial strategy—it can become another way to practice stewardship and live out one’s faith.
 
Written by Brandon Wilkins, CKA®, Chief Operating Officer, Majestic Financial, Financial Consultant, RJFS

*Disclosures: Any opinions are those of Brandon Wilkins and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected, including diversification and asset allocation. Every investor's situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before making any investment. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. This information is not intended as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any security referred to herein

Gracias.  Merci.  Arigatou.  Preesh (ask Max).  Thank you.

On April 12, 2021, Majestic Financial became a legal business, with five employees (Sean, Brandon, Laurie, Josh and Kendra) with another (Alyx) starting shortly after.  We all worked 12 hour days, 7 days a week – all out of our homes.  Within 10 days, we had over 50 clients and within a month we had close to 100 clients.  Within 60 days, we had added Becky, Isiah, Leon and Jaime.  By the end of 2021, Majestic Financial had over 300 clients and two physical offices – Plainwell and Hastings.

Today there are six financial advisors at Majestic Financial – Sean, Brandon, Leon, Kendra, Mark and Max – and eight other staff members all supporting almost 700 client households.  Leon added an office in downtown Kalamazoo.

It’s been a wild ride for both the Majestic staff and clients.  We were not entirely out of the pandemic when we opened our doors, and over the first 36 months in business the S&P 500 was negative for 25 months.  In 2026 the major indices broke new records.  Sean and Kendra worked hard to gain experience and expertise in various investment strategies while Brandon developed his skills as a discretionary portfolio manager.  Today, every Monday there are four of us evaluating client positions and Brandon is rebalancing accounts every month.  The staff went from working out of Sean and Laurie’s dining room opening accounts every minute of the day to…opening accounts every minute of the day in Plainwell and Hastings.

In 2021, we had our first two golf outings and two open houses – one in each office.  Since that time, we have held an annual golf outing for charity, a pickleball outing, cooking classes for Valentine’s, Growlers’ baseball games, a movie event for the kids (Zootopia 2), a wine and canvas evening, an aromatherapy class, and even an afternoon on a tiki boat in South Haven to celebrate women’s month.

What a whirlwind over the past 5 years!  A lot has changed, but there are a few things that have stayed the same.  First, when Brandon, Sean, Kendra, Laurie and Josh discussed what we wanted our new firm to look like, we knew we wanted it to be client centered, using all the technology and financial products available to help achieve goals.  We wanted to make sure both staff and clients wanted to be a part of what we are building.  Today, Mark and Max are constantly pushing the office to adopt new technology that helps both the staff and clients.  Most of the financial products we use daily are still not even available at our old firm.  And we are thankful that our wonderful staff helps us add clients from referrals every week of the year.

Even the way we communicate with our clients has changed over the past five years.  In 2021, I was on the phone with a client almost every minute I was awake.  Now, we still are on the phone quite a bit, but when we are not physically meeting with clients, we are writing blogs, newsletters, recording podcasts and hosting zoom calls.  All of this is with the intention of making sure clients know what we are doing and why – without having to wait for a phone call at an inconvenient time.
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So, I will end this where it started.  Thank you to all the clients who trusted us in 2021 and all of those who have joined us since then.  We know that Majestic Financial will look even more different in 5 and 10 years.  We are looking forward to working with you today and in the future.
 
Written by Sean Budlong, CFP®, AAMS, Chief Executive Officer, Majestic Financial, Financial Consultant, RJFS

*Disclosures: Any opinions are those of Sean Budlong and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected, including diversification and asset allocation. Every investor's situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before making any investment. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. This information is not intended as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any security referred to herein

Tuesday morning before work, I was out shoveling the driveway to remove some of the crusted snow that has been packed down by the cars, and I was struck by a thought I wanted to share with you.

What I realized is that this winter in Kalamazoo is equivalent to the Majestic Financial investment team.  Let me explain.  About 5 years ago, I had a decent snowblower and a pretty good shovel.  I was working for another firm and had a lot of flexibility in my schedule – I had a lot of time to make phone calls just to let clients know that I was working, because there weren’t too many changes in portfolios.  Don’t get me wrong, I made more changes than most advisors, but I was limited in what I could do.  Why did I pair snow removal with calling clients?  Please let me dive a little deeper.

5 years ago, if there was less than 4-5 inches of snow, I took the time to use the shovel and get really good exercise.  If we had more snowfall than that, I would use the snow blower.  Those were the only tools I used and quite frankly some days it took quite a while to get the job done.  But while I have always worked hard for my clients, I knew I had the time to shovel, so I would wait until my neighbors were awake and take care of the snow, then start to call clients.  Everyone seemed pretty happy with me as an advisor.  But I did notice that while I spent a lot of time on the phone and in the office with clients I had very few invites for dinner or to the lake house…

Fast forward to this winter.  I have the plow service that takes care of the neighborhood roads plow my driveway when they do the roads.  I have a much larger snow blower, 2 different shovels, and I have been using my leaf blower for at least 3 years to remove lighter amounts of snow.  I take care of the driveway around 7 am, and with this winter, often again at 6 pm.  Why the change?

Well, at Majestic Financial, we are running a tactical investment platform – meaning we don’t just buy an investment and hold it for 10 years while making phone calls to make you think we are working.  We actively manage your investments daily, weekly, and monthly.  Let’s be honest, this doesn’t mean we are trading every investment every day or even looking at every single portfolio every day.  Instead, we are following the market, the individual investments, and taking advantage of opportunities whenever we see them.  I use the word “we” because there’s simply no way for one person to do this effectively for a client base.  We have me, Brandon, Kendra, Mark and Max all working together on portfolios to make sure we are doing the best job we can for you.  Just like all the tools I’m using this winter, all of the advisors are critical to our success.

What sacrifices are being made?  Well, I don’t have the spare time or flexibility anymore.  So, I’m not worrying about waking up the neighbors, nor am I getting into the office late just to get a little more exercise with the shovel.  I also don’t have the time to make phone calls just to let clients know that I am working for them.  You see in the activity in your accounts how much time and effort we put into helping you achieve financial goals.  That doesn’t mean I don’t have time for clients – every day I am talking to clients, just by appointment to make sure that I have the time to take care of their needs.  And I still take time to get exercise with the shovel; it’s just happening after work hours and on weekends.

My message to you is please understand how important the team approach is to Majestic Financial.  It is not about Sean or Brandon not taking the time we used to with clients.  It’s that we would rather do the work and have you hit your goals than try to convince you we are busy.  It’s also why we do podcasts, blogs, newsletters and zooms.  We want you informed of how we are thinking and investing.
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So please feel free to contact us – I promise you we want to talk to you.  Just understand that it may be Kendra, Mark, Max, Brandon or Sean that calls you or sits down with you.  And we won’t be upset that you’re calling from the lake house without us.
 
Written by Sean Budlong, CFP®, AAMS, Chief Executive Officer, Majestic Financial, Financial Consultant, RJFS

*Disclosures: Any opinions are those of Sean Budlong and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected, including diversification and asset allocation. Every investor's situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before making any investment. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. This information is not intended as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any security referred to herein.

I am writing this on December 2, 2025.  For all I know, you may be reading this in 2026.  But my goal is the same – to thank you for placing your trust in Majestic Financial.  We have grown so much as a firm and as individuals over the past 5 years, and I wanted to share my view of this growth with you.

When we formed this firm and opened our doors in April of 2021, we were coming out of a pandemic and the world was still a little off kilter.  Brandon convinced me to take a leap of faith with him.  With 4 of us (out of the original 6 employees) coming from another firm, we wanted to create a company that did things a little differently than we were able to before.  The name, Majestic Financial, came from a vacation to Alaska with the colors and designs from the brain of Josh Budlong.  The staff were all personally recruited by Brandon and me. 

Originally, we were all going to be based in one location – the current Plainwell office.  However, an opportunity to open a second office in the same Hastings location that Brandon had worked out of for 8 years was too good to pass up, and suddenly we had two offices.  Isiah, Alyx and Becky joined us shortly after we opened our doors, with Leon and Jaime following a month later.  Just after Thanksgiving of 2021, we had our first open house – even though we had over 200 clients by then.

As I look back to the beginning of Majestic Financials’ life (yes, to me it is a living, breathing life form), I am amazed at how much has changed and how much has stayed the same.  We chose to affiliate with Raymond James Financial Services because we believe in their platform, and they allow us freedom and flexibility to do what is right for our clients.  Almost 5 years later, I don’t regret this decision and have great respect for the people I work with at RJFS.  I now do our compliance in accordance with RJFS and we take our fiduciary responsibilities seriously.

When we added our first clients, our portfolios were very similar to the firm we had left.  We used a lot of mutual funds, ETF’s and some individual stocks.  But we created Majestic Financial to expand our offerings, and so we applied and were granted discretionary authority for those clients that want us to manage their portfolios without having to call for every trade.  Kendra and I began to open options accounts for clients where appropriate, while Brandon and I spent hours learning about structured investments (not available where we came from) and how different annuities could help clients.

Gradually our portfolios changed – while the changes are dramatic, they didn’t completely change overnight.  Faith Based portfolios run by Brandon show just how differently our clients’ money can be invested.  Same for our personnel.  We have had 3 different summer interns, and one of them became a full-time employee.  Kendra became an advisor, Mark went from a client to an advisor, and Max is studying for his Series 66.  Leon opened our third location in downtown Kalamazoo, and we added Trey, Cobey, Evan and Andrew to the team.

All these changes are encouraging to me.  They mean more people are asking to become clients, and that means we are doing things right.  But the most meaningful change was the original one – the reason we formed Majestic Financial is now clearer to our clients than ever before.  When Brandon dreamed of Majestic Financial, he dreamed of being a part of a team that made a difference in clients’ lives – not just the pocketbooks of home office partners.  While it took time for the entire firm to get to know all of our clients, we believe we are living that dream today.

When we meet with clients, there is always more than one advisor that is a part of the plan.  You the client may not interact with multiple advisors every time, but trust me when I say that your goals, risk profile and portfolio are being evaluated by a team of professionals, not just one person in between Christmas shopping on Amazon.  When we sit down with clients or prospective clients, it is often 3 or 4 of us meeting the person/couple together.  We do this to make sure that more than just one person at Majestic is aware of your goals, needs, and the strategies we are using to achieve success for you.  We want our clients to be comfortable talking to any one of the advisors when something is needed.  That doesn’t mean that Brandon isn’t “your guy,” but what if “your guy” has the day off to chase chickens in Plainwell (a true and long story)?  Sean, Mark or Kendra can make sure your financial needs are taken care of. 

So, to go back to the beginning, thank you for placing your trust in me, Brandon and Leon.  But also, thank you for allowing that trust to grow into a relationship with the entire firm.  Being a part of a team is a great feeling when our clients are at the center of the team.
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I hope you have/had a wonderful Holiday Season.
 
Written by Sean Budlong, CFP®, AAMS, Chief Executive Officer, Majestic Financial, Financial Consultant, RJFS

*Disclosures: Any opinions are those of Sean Budlong and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected, including diversification and asset allocation. Every investor's situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before making any investment. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. This information is not intended as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any security referred to herein.