We hope that everyone had a great Christmas and holiday season. I don't know about you, but I am ready to see what 2026 has in store. Markets didn't wait for permission last week. Strong economic data and a dose of good old holiday momentum pushed stocks into Santa Claus rally mode, ignoring the consumer's lingering bah-humbug. The S&P was up 1.4%, the Nasdaq gained 1.22%, and the DOW closed the week up 1.2%. International was right there as well finishing 1.16% |
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Source: YCharts.com, December 27, 2025. Weekly performance is measured from Friday, December 19, to Friday, December 26. TR = total return for the index, which includes any dividends as well as any other cash distributions during the period. Treasury note yield is expressed in basis points. |
GDP JumpsThe delayed Q3 gross domestic product report was released on Tuesday, showing that the economy grew at an annualized 4.3 percent rate. That number beat expectations by more than a full percentage point and marked the strongest economic growth in two years.7 While it didn’t garner many headlines, another metric released on the same day told a similar story. Industrial production grew 2.5 percent year over year in November—the highest annualized increase since September 2022 and nearly triple what it was at the start of 2025.8 This Week: Companies Reporting EarningsMonday: Pending Home Sales. Tuesday: Case-Shiller Home Price Index. Minutes of the Fed’s December FOMC meeting. Wednesday: Weekly Jobless Claims. Thursday: NEW YEAR’S DAY—MARKETS CLOSED. * indicates publication of a report delayed by the government shutdown in October and November Source: Investors Business Daily - Econoday economic calendar; December 26, 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. |
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Should You Work with a Tax Preparer?Before handing over your tax return (and all of your personally identifiable information), do some homework. According to the IRS, a solid tax preparer should check these boxes:
Bottom line: a reputable tax preparer doesn't just file forms, they help protect you, your return, and your sleep quality at night! *this information is not a substitute for individualized tax advice. PLEASE discuss your individual tax matters with a qualified tax professional. |
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Sea Cucumbers on Sea floor Funafuti Atoll, Tuvalu, Pacific Islands
We get asked this question a few times a year: "Should I tell my kids about our wealth?" Short answer is: YES, but not all at once and definitely without a plan in place. Money doesn't create entitlement: secrets and surprises do. When kids find out about family wealth accidentally, usually during a crisis or death, it often causes confusion, anxiety, and perhaps resentment. Thoughtful transparency, introduced gradually and tied to values, tends to work far better than a dramatic reveal. The goal isn't to disclose numbers, it is to explain intent: what the money is for, what it isn't for, and what you hope it supports (education, responsibility, and family harmony). This conversation should evolve over time and consider the age, maturity, and personality of all involved. The risk isn't telling them. It is telling them too late and without context.
"Investment performance doesn't determine real-life returns, investor behavior does." - Nick Murray, "Simple Wealth, Inevitable Wealth" I could write a book or two about everything I have learned about investor behavior. But I will save the time and you the effort in reading it. This quote encapsulates investor psychology as well as anything I have read. It's the part nobody wants to hear. Markets do not sabotage investors, investors sabotage themselves, chasing what's hot, bailing out at the worst possible time, then wondering why their portfolio returns never seem to match the indices. Great funds fail all the time, not because they underperform, but because people buy them late and sell them early, repeating the cycle with confidence. The greatest risk to your financial plan is not the markets, the volatility, the Fed, or whatever the guy in the White House is doing, it's you, on your worst day, with wi-fi and a trading app. It's you watching get rich quick videos on YouTube. Good investing isn't about the perfect fund, it's about building a plan you can stick with when things get uncomfortable, and they will get uncomfortable! This is where the real returns are made.
We love helping you and would love to help 10 more just like you! If you have found our advice helpful in any way, the best compliment that you can give us is an introduction. We work best with families who value long-term perspective, thoughtful planning, and straight answers, especially when things get noisy. If you think anyone can benefit from this blog, please forward it on to them, and we will take good care of anyone you send our way.
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Footnotes And Sources1. WSJ.com, December 26, 2025 |
Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. 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.
The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, may not materialize, and are subject to revision without notice.
The market indexes discussed are unmanaged, and generally, considered representative of their respective markets. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Indexes do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses. Individuals cannot directly invest in unmanaged indexes. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is an unmanaged index that is generally considered representative of large-capitalization companies on the U.S. stock market. The Nasdaq Composite is an index of the common stocks and similar securities listed on the Nasdaq stock market and considered a broad indicator of the performance of stocks of technology and growth companies. The MSCI EAFE Index was created by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) and serves as a benchmark of the performance of major international equity markets, as represented by 21 major MSCI indexes from Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. The S&P 500 Composite Index is an unmanaged group of securities that are considered to be representative of the stock market in general.
U.S. Treasury Notes are guaranteed by the federal government as to the timely payment of principal and interest. However, if you sell a Treasury Note prior to maturity, it may be worth more or less than the original price paid. Fixed income investments are subject to various risks including changes in interest rates, credit quality, inflation risk, market valuations, prepayments, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors.
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