After some strong activity after the elections, the last few weeks the market has more or less tread water. The Dow ran into 20,000 and could go no further. I wouldn't be shocked to see some minor pullbacks over the next few weeks, but I am not anticipating anything too significant. This is a key moment for the economy.
For some a car is simply a means of getting from point A to point B. For others it’s a status symbol. Cars are a hobby, a passion, for some and necessity for others, but whatever the level affinity toward automobiles there comes a time where just about everyone needs to start shopping for a new (or used) one. But, don’t run down to the local dealership just yet.
Unquestionably, disability insurance is more complicated than other forms of insurance. There are a lot of moving parts to understand in order to create the right kind of coverage, which may be one reason why many people are reluctant to look into it.
The funeral is over. Your family and friends have left, returning to their day-to-day routines. The world has slowly started turning again. Amid the pain of losing your spouse, you must find a way to carry on even though your world has been turned upside down. Many of the decisions that you made together now rest on your shoulders alone.
It is no secret that the typical American is working long hours with little respite compared to other countries with large economies. Full-time employees report an average work week of 47 hours and four out of 10 American workers say they work over 50 hours a week.
Think back to those early days in life when it seemed like everything in the candy aisle was free if you begged your parents hard enough. Not a fleeting thought was given to the expenses of a vacation or the copay costs at the doctor. There’s something beautifully unburdened in the way which children experience the world: recklessly present and innocently ambivalent.
Few words better characterize today's financial markets than uncertainty. We believe investors need to adjust their expectations in order to adapt to the road ahead. It seems to be the nature of today’s markets to subject investors to price fluctuations and confusing global events that test emotional fortitude at every turn.
I sometimes comment to clients that because we strongly believe in diversification of client portfolios, it means I am always apologizing for something that is underperforming. While that is said somewhat tongue-in-cheek, there is some truth to it and yet my clients have come to understand why we do what we do. That said, it doesn't make it always easy or fun.
Last week, the government reported that the U.S. economy created 156,000 net new jobs in December. That was below the expectations of 175,000 jobs, but it’s still largely within the previous trend. Unemployment ticked up to 4.7%. There’s still the issue of millions of Americans out of the labor force. Fortunately, though, the labor-force participation rate rose by a tad.
I try and avoid playing the guessing games that are common this time of year and instead, I focus on various elements that might affect the economy, the markets and our portfolios. Certain important factors can be identified as being at work here and now, and then we use historical data to provide context for it all. I’ve listed a few below and some thoughts about them.
© 2026 Integrated Financial Group. All rights reserved.
