Wealth and Wisdom: Week of January 12, 2026
- Mike Brown
- Jan 12
- 4 min read
This is the time of year when we pay far too much attention to market predictions – and far too little attention to what those experts were forecasting just one year ago.
Wall Street strategists are almost universally bullish on the market’s prospects for 2026, caught up in the prospect of falling interest rates, rising corporate earnings, and the promise of artificial intelligence to change our lives for the better. The Wall Street Journal points out that the S&P 500 has climbed a total of 80% over the past three calendar years – a pace that will be historically challenging to sustain.
One of the often-quoted Market Rules to Remember by legendary market strategist Bob Farrell seems especially important to bear in mind today: “When all the experts and forecasts agree – something else is going to happen.”
Long-term investors should take comfort in the knowledge that predicting the future – while sometimes a pleasant distraction – is not a requirement of financial success. What matters far more is how those investors respond when bullish prognosticators get it wrong.
A growing economy, a single interest rate cut, and more modest – but positive – returns from stocks. (Reading time: 4 minutes)
Market pullbacks are normal but unpredictable. The key to surviving them in retirement is for you – and your portfolio – to be ready for them. (Reading time: 7 minutes)
These 7 tips will get you organized, protect your privacy, and help you save time and money when you file your taxes. (Reading time: 8 minutes)
The trick is to turn one-time resolutions into long-term habits – and tie them to your financial goals. (Reading time: 4 minutes)
Here are the top 40 professions considered most at risk from AI technology – and there are some surprises on the list. (Reading time: 2 minutes)
The good news: There are several viable solutions for reforming the system before time runs out. The bad news: There’s no consensus on which to choose. (Reading time: 5 minutes)
Social Security doubts and the rising cost of living are just two of the factors pulling Americans back to the workplace. (Reading time: 3 minutes)
Can you believe more than 40% of retirees are still paying down debt? (Reading time: 4 minutes)
This 7-step process should help – and for more ideas, listen to my podcast on creating a retirement spending plan. (Reading time: 3 minutes)
For the first time ever, investors now have access to private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds in their retirement plans. But do high fees and complexity actually improve your results? (Reading time: 6 minutes)
Words to the Wise
“Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things.”
– Isaac Newton
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