May 2025: Navigating a Changing World

Summer is almost here, and I hope you’re enjoying the longer days and warmer weather wherever you are. As always, thank you for your continued trust.

We’re living in a time of real global transition. Headlines are filled with news about rising tariffs, geopolitical tensions, inflation, unemployment, threat of annexation, and perhaps most concerning, denial of truth and climate change. It’s understandable that many people are feeling uncertain about the future of their retirement and long-term income.

Having worked in the investment world for nearly 30 years, I’ve seen many periods of disruption; from the tech bubble and Y2K, to 9/11, the Iraq War, the 2008 financial crisis, the COVID pandemic, and the global supply chain issues that followed. What history teaches us is this: while markets do experience corrections, they have always recovered, and often with impressive gains.

Many investors look back on those challenging times and wish they had stayed the course or even invested more actively during the downturns. That’s why I believe a calm, steady approach is more important now than ever.

We are entering a new era that some are calling “post-globalization.” This shift brings both risk and opportunity. To navigate it wisely, I recommend a globally diversified, actively managed balanced portfolio that includes a mix of stocks, bonds, and alternative investments.

Balanced portfolios tend to have lower volatility than pure equity portfolios, which helps investors stay invested through the ups and downs of the market cycle. Staying invested is key to benefiting from long-term growth.

I remain committed to managing your portfolio actively and thoughtfully, and I welcome any questions or concerns you may have. In fact, I’ll be hosting a Zoom seminar in June to provide a market update and outlook, please keep an eye out for the invite.

Also, if you have friends or family who are worried or would like a second opinion regarding their retirement plans or investment strategies, I’d be happy to speak with them. Now is a good time to explore stable and sustainable financial strategies.