3 Things 5-4-26

Thing One

A Reminder About Markets

As surprising as it is considering the mood of the country (and the world), markets have quietly worked their way back into positive territory this year. The S&P 500 closed 2025 at 6,845, then fell to 6,528 on March 31, 2026 - a decline of about 4.6%. From that low, it recovered to 7,230 0n May 1, 2026, a rebound of roughly 10.7% and about 5.6% above where it ended 2025. And it’s not just one area driving it - it’s happening across the board. Large caps, mid-caps, small-caps, international, emerging markets, Treasuries, and real estate have moved higher.

Again, this stands out because of how disconnected the “mood” feels from reality. The markets were recovering just as consumer sentiment dropped to one of its lowest levels in decades. That’s not to say the low sentiment reading is unwarranted. We’re constantly surrounded by headlines - war, inflation, political tension, rising costs. It’s nonstop. Add in concerns about AI and the future of jobs, and it’s easy to understand why people feel uneasy. And yet, despite all of that, markets have done what they’ve always done - they’ve kept moving in a generally upward direction.

If you zoom out a bit, this is a good lesson, from an investing perspective anyway, about being careful about how much weight you give to headlines. We certainly aren’t suggesting that headlines should be ignored, but we do believe you should be wary of trading on them. They’re designed to capture attention in the moment, not to guide long-term decisions. They highlight what feels urgent, not necessarily what actually matters over time.

That’s why, even though we know the ideas can seem too simple, especially when things seem uncertain, we keep coming back to the same ones: Stay invested, Stay diversified, Stick to the plan. Don’t rely on your ability to guess what’s going to happen next. And don’t get caught up in trying to predict future interest rates, inflation, elections, or global events to follow them. Rely on your ability to develop a plan and be both disciplined and adaptive (when necessary).

Why? Because we’ve always been in an uncertain period. And each time it's felt different while we were in it. And each time, markets adjusted—not because they can accurately predict the future, but because they’re made up of businesses and consumers. Businesses evolve. Consumers adapt. Innovation follows. That’s how progress happens. It’s not always smooth, and it rarely happens on our timeline - but it does happen.

None of this means the road ahead will be easy. Markets will keep moving - sometimes sharply up or down - and headlines will continue to sound urgent. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this: Believing that markets will continue to find a way forward, even when it feels unlikely, has been one of the most reliable assumptions over time.

Thing Two  

Retirement Planning And The Little Things

Retirement isn’t just about the big financial decisions.  It’s about plugging the small leaks nobody thinks to check.  The subscription you forgot about. The insurance policy you’re overpaying on. The discount you don’t use. The Amazon cart you click without thinking.  None of it sounds like much. All of it adds up.

Take subscriptions alone. The average household now spends around $200–$300 per month on recurring services. That’s $2,400–$3,600 per year—often with several subscriptions rarely used. Over a 20-year retirement, that’s $50,000–$70,000+, not including what that money could have earned if invested.

Insurance is another big one. It's not uncommon to see retirees overpaying $1,000–$2,500 per year across home, auto, and umbrella policies simply because they haven’t shopped rates in years. Over time, that’s easily another $20,000–$50,000 of unnecessary drag.

Then there’s everyday spending. It doesn’t take much:

• An extra $25 per week on impulse purchases = $1,300 per year

• A few unused memberships or services = another $500–$1,000

• Skipping available discounts (travel, dining, retail) = $500+ annually

Add it up, and it’s not uncommon to see $3,000–$6,000 per year quietly leaking out.  Over a 25-year retirement, that’s $75,000–$150,000.  And that’s before considering opportunity cost. At a modest 5% annual return, $5,000 per year over 20 years isn’t just $100,000—it’s closer to $165,000+.  That’s real money. That’s years of travel. That’s flexibility. That’s peace of mind.

This is where the conversation around retirement often misses the mark. We tend to focus on the big levers—portfolio allocation, withdrawal rates, Social Security timing. Those things absolutely matter.  But what often separates the people who feel financially secure in retirement from those who don’t isn’t just their investment performance.  It’s their awareness.

The clients who protect their retirement the best aren’t just the ones with the best portfolios.  They’re the ones who pay attention to the small stuff everyone else ignores.  They review expenses regularly.  They question recurring charges.  They optimize what they already have before reaching for more.  Not because they’re trying to be restrictive—but because they understand control.

Every dollar that isn’t wasted is a dollar that can be used intentionally—whether that’s for travel, family, giving, or simply reducing stress.  Retirement isn’t about perfection.  It’s about alignment.  And sometimes, the biggest improvements don’t come from making a massive change.  They come from tightening the small things that have been quietly working against you all along.

Thing Three

Just A Thought  

"Blowing out someone else’s candle doesn’t make yours shine brighter." – Vi Keeland