Weekly Commentary (1/12/2026) - The Conditions for Better Decisions
Weekly Commentary (1/12/2026) – The Conditions for Better Decisions
What: What We’re Seeing
This past week reminded us how quickly the mood of the market can shift. A handful of economic releases, ongoing geopolitical headlines, and renewed debate about interest rates led to familiar patterns: short bursts of volatility, confident predictions on television, and a growing sense that investors are supposed to react.
That feeling is understandable. Markets are designed to test patience.
U.S. equity markets posted broad gains last week, with major benchmarks reaching fresh highs. The S&P 500 closed at approximately 6,966, up around 1.6% for the week and showing modest year-to-date gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished near 49,504, rising roughly 2.3% on the week, while the Nasdaq Composite ended near 23,671, gaining about 1.9% over the same period. Smaller-company stocks continued to outperform, with the Russell 2000 up roughly 4.6% for the week.
On the economic front, the December jobs report showed slower payroll growth , approximately 50,000 jobs added. This is the lowest monthly gain since the pandemic, while the unemployment rate ticked lower to about 4.4%.
In the fixed-income market, 10-year Treasury yields remained in a relatively tight range around ~4.15%–4.20%, reflecting a balance between softer economic data and expectations for future policy.
Looking ahead, key releases this week include December CPI and core inflation data, which will give the market fresh information on inflation trends and potential policy direction.
Why: The Longer View
What’s worth remembering is that most weeks like this look very small when viewed from a longer distance.
Volatility is the price of admission we all must pay as investors for long-term returns. The real risk is rarely what happens in a single week, but how decisions are made because of weeks like this. History continues to show that disciplined portfolios, diversified across assets and built with intention, tend to be rewarded not for precision, but for persistence.
How: Designed for Moments Like This
Your portfolio is built around this reality. We don’t position portfolios for headlines or forecasts. We build them to be durable across economic cycles, policy shifts, and emotional moments like these.
This week didn’t change the long-term math, and it didn’t change the discipline behind your plan.
When: What (If Anything) to Do Now
For most investors, the best action right now is no action at all. Staying aligned with your plan is often the most productive decision you can make, especially when the noise gets louder.
As always, if something in your personal life has changed, or if market headlines are raising questions you’d like to talk through, we’re here. Our role is not just to manage investments, but to help create the conditions for better decisions over decades, not days.
“The four most dangerous words in investing are: ‘this time it’s different.’”
— Sir John Templeton