As we enter the busy economic season of Q4, new economic outlooks are being released and shaping the conversation around the year ahead. With so much change, your annual financial review is an ideal opportunity to step back and consider the bigger picture of your long-term financial plan.

For most people, Social Security is one piece of a larger retirement picture. The key question is how much of that picture Social Security will represent in the future. As the program faces a projected funding gap, some combination of higher contributions, changes to benefits, or later eligibility will likely be needed to close it.

The next time a major IPO dominates the headlines, a useful question is not “how do I get in?” but rather: “Does owning this company advance my long-term plan, and is this a sensible price and time to begin?”

For investors, interest rates can help provide a clearer picture of the economy, but they aren’t the only driver of market outcomes.

Forecasts surrounding AI remain deeply divided. Some analysts believe AI could meaningfully increase productivity and global GDP over time. Goldman Sachs Research, for example, estimated that generative AI could contribute a 7% increase in global GDP through productivity gains.[3] Others argue the transition could intensify inequality and destabilize labor markets.[4]

With developments and headlines shifting daily, clarity becomes essential. This month’s blog looks beyond the headlines to focus on how the war is showing up in markets today. The aim is to understand how these developments are being reflected in market behavior, how that differs across geographies, and how taking a behavioral lens can help stay focused in a shifting environment.