1. Reflation Hopes Drive Market Gains Despite Elevated Stock Valuations
The market got off to a strong start in 2026, with investors chasing industrials, materials, and commodity-related stocks as the reflation narrative gained traction. The “reflation narrative” is the belief that a range of policies will boost the rate of economic growth in the U.S. without triggering inflation. As I discussed at our recent 2026 Investment Summit, the markets are banking on the effects of the passage of the OBBBA, tax cuts, and deregulation to fuel earnings and profit growth in 2026. — Lance Roberts
2. 2026: The Year of Stimulus?
Multiple monetary and fiscal policies and other external factors on the horizon in 2026 have the potential to stimulate the economy with cash and easier borrowing conditions. While their directional impacts, especially on financial markets, remain to be seen, it’s important to be aware of them. — Nolan Mauk
3. Owning Gold the RIGHT Way
Should I still own gold? It’s the #1 question we’ve gotten from clients over the past several months. Some have big gains and wonder if they should cash in. Others are lured by the big run up in price but worry they’ve missed it. The way we see it, a lot of investors are thinking about gold the wrong way. Was owning gold a trade? Were you hoping to cash in on momentum? Geopolitical uncertainty? The so-called debasement trade? — Michael Joseph
4. Autocallables 101: Why Transparency & Fees Matter
Demand from advisors and investors alike for equity income strategies isn’t necessarily a new phenomenon. These strategies have long filled an important niche across a range of portfolio needs. Equity income funds can help diversify one’s yield portfolio away from the bond space, lower potential risk, and provide a hybrid blend of cash flow and long-term returns. — Calamos
5. Why Financial Stability Is the New Romance (And What Daters Are Watching Closely)
Valentine’s Day is Saturday and the purported “Hallmark holiday” has a way of eliciting strong emotions among both single people and those that are in the relationships. The former grouse about being alone on a romantically focused holiday while the latter bemoan things like spending money and finding dinner reservations at the last minute. It’s fair to say that an occasion that’s supposed to be a celebration of love and romance may be sorely lacking in either. That doesn’t mean the flames of passion can’t be stoked the other 364 days of the year and there’s a way to accomplish. No, I’m not talking the stuff of heated romance novels. Rather, it should be acknowledged that in today’s dating environment, financial stability is sexy. — Todd Shriber
6. Why Market Volatility Can Be an Investor’s Greatest Opportunity
Volatility is a feature of investing, not a defect. However, many investors instinctually view it as something to fear and avoid – which can lead to poor behavior and subpar long-term results. Using the daily closing price of the VIX, an investment made at any level had a solid average one-year return of 9.9%. However, an investment made on days where the VIX was elevated performed meaningfully better. Investors could benefit from thinking of the VIX as an “opportunity index.” Because while it’s always a good time to invest, history shows that some of the best opportunities have come during periods associated with elevated volatility. — Lincoln Financial
7. AI Isn’t Taking Over—It’s Learning To Work With Us
Many movies, media and headlines portray AI as frightening. It’s going to take out jobs, bring robocop to the streets and take over our lives. It’s going to be Ex Machina, The Terminator or worse. Very few give context of the positive future with AI, but a headline caught my eye today. — Chris Skinner
8. The 5 Challenges That Will Define Financial Advisory Firms Over the Next Five Years
The next five years won’t be “more of the same.” They’ll be sharper. Faster. Less forgiving. Over the next five years, clients will arrive more informed, more skeptical, and more overloaded. Regulators will request greater clarity and detail. Technology will accelerate what’s possible and valuable, and expose what’s not. Talent will continue to move to firms that feel organized, modern, and human. And quietly, in the background, one question will follow every advisor into every meeting. — Grant Hicks
9. How To Tell Your Parents They’re Driving People Away
There’s a common trope of the blunt elder who “tells it like it is” because they are too old to give a damn. While that may be entertaining for characters in TV and movies, in reality bluntness can be seen as unappreciative or downright hostile. That can drive away loved ones and caregivers, resulting in more isolation. — Tom West
10. AI’s Wealth Management Shock To Separate Leaders From the Rest
The launch of Hazel, the new AI-powered tax planning tool from US fintech Altruist, has delivered a jolt to financial markets. Within hours, wealth management stocks were marked down sharply as investors digested the implications. Hazel promises to analyse 1040s, payslips and account data and generate personalised tax strategies within minutes. The message absorbed by the market was immediate: if sophisticated planning can be automated at speed, traditional advisory economics face pressure. — Nigel Green
11. Your Firm Isn’t Losing Prospects—They’re Silently Escaping
In my work as a strategic marketing partner to financial advisory firms, I spend a lot of time looking at what I call Experience Alpha. While the industry often focuses on portfolio performance or tax alpha, for the modern prospect, the greatest differentiator is all about having a frictionless experience. Friction is the invisible tax on your marketing and business development. It is the messiness in a prospect's journey that makes them feel like working with you is a chore rather than a relief. — Lisa Hinz
