On February 28, 2026, the global geopolitical landscape fractured with the launch of "Operation Epic Fury." What began as a targeted U.S.-Israeli decapitation strike against Iranian leadership has rapidly metastasized into a sprawling regional war. Today, as U.S. airborne divisions amass in the Middle East and the White House openly threatens to obliterate Iran's Kharg Island oil terminal, the global economy is bearing the brunt of the fallout.

The markets reacted with relief this Monday morning. After weeks of escalating tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, which threatened to choke off the Strait of Hormuz—the world’s most critical energy passage—President Donald Trump announced a sudden five-day pause on planned strikes against Iranian power plants. This announcement sparked a surge in stock markets and a sharp drop in oil prices, with Brent crude falling from nearly $120 a barrel to around $101.

If you have turned on the financial news anytime in the last few weeks, you would be forgiven for feeling like your retirement portfolio is under siege. Between surging global conflicts, shifting interest rates, and the constant drumbeat of inflation, the macroeconomic headlines are shouting at us daily. For investors—especially those nearing or in retirement who rely on their portfolios for income—these threats loom incredibly large. When the headlines get scary, the tempta

Between surging global energy tensions, the drumbeat of inflation, massive tech volatility, and unpredictable geopolitical unrest, the headlines are shouting at us daily. For the everyday investor, these macroeconomic threats loom incredibly large. They are the modern-day Goliaths of our financial lives—intimidating, loud, and constantly threatening to crush our peace of mind and our portfolios.

The USA is coming together on many fronts Here's what I noticed Before I get into the address itself, there is a bit of a backdrop leading up to the event. Just a day before the State of the Union, my son randomly asked our family to hold hands and pray for our family and for the world. My wife and I were taken by surprise, but didn't question a thing. It was a beautiful, unprompted moment of faith that touched my heart. I actually had goosebumps and wondered what prompted hi

Tariffs, Tech Wrecks, and the Great Rotation of 2026 Headline Drama The mainstream headlines are panicking about trade wars and stumbling tech giants. But if you’ve been following my "Financial Model Blog," you know this isn’t a crisis—it’s the healthy broadening we’ve been waiting for. If you only watched the nightly news this February, you’d think the financial sky was falling. First, we had the staggering executive orders announcing blanket 15% tariffs on a wide range of i

Is anyone else tired of wearing three layers just to walk to the mailbox? Welcome to the first update of the year. If you’ve stepped outside in Rochester lately, you know we are in the middle of the coldest winter in a decade. My car thermometer hit 2 degrees yesterday, and let me tell you—that electric vehicle range anxiety is real  when the battery loses 30% of its juice just sitting in the driveway. But while we’re all freezing, the financial world is actually heating up i

Fear is normal for anyone who depends on their investments to live. Volatility sounds like a fancy word advisors use to put lipstick on investment losses, but that's not always the case. Firstly, if you are feeling anxious or fearful about the stock market, investments, and your money, you are not alone. Growing apprehension about potential market volatility and rich, frothy valuations is commonplace and quite simply expected. There are numerous reports and concerns surroundi

The thing we've been hearing about for a while that everyone thinks they know, but not really sure how it works and what the bill itself does. It's the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill" or O, triple B that everyone's throwing around like they know it front and back! We have only just scratched the surface about the bill and what it means to fellow Americans. Let's get a little more context and talking points to get an idea of how things actually played out. Just enough to keep thing

As the final months of 2025 race toward us, your financial advisor is likely talking to you about required minimum distributions, Roth conversions, tax-loss harvesting opportunities, and maximizing your year-end contributions. And while those wealth strategies are critical for a strong finish, we’re challenging you to consider an even more fundamental question: How is your health preparing you for your wealth? Probably one of the most neglected pieces to the puzzle because it

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