What mattered most this year wasn't the markets

Luke Sauter | Dec 23, 2025

Take a deep breath.

Do you feel that? That’s 2025… finally slowing down.

Some years fly by. This one felt like it had about 15 months packed into it.

Even if you tried to tune out the chaos, the world had a way of crashing through. Markets. Media. Mayhem.

But now that we’ve made it to the finish line, the real story isn’t what the S&P 500 did.

It’s how we stayed steady while everything else spun out.

If your emotions felt like they were constantly being tested this year, you have plenty of company.

We didn’t just face a “wall of worry.” We made it over, some days more confidently than others.

Here’s what we observed together:

The Spring Selloff: Trade tensions boiled over, and boom… markets tanked nearly 20% in a matter of weeks.¹ It wasn’t just red numbers. It was gut-punch territory. Cash suddenly felt like the only safe bet.
Geopolitical Whiplash: One bizarre headline after another. Invasion threats.² A 12-day war in the Middle East.³ China hoarding rare earth minerals.⁴ Even Canada got dragged into the drama.⁵ The global tension dial was set to high.
The Gold Rush: Confidence in the dollar slipped.⁶ Gold took off, soaring over 60% as investors piled in.⁷ Fear took over the driver’s seat.
The Shutdown: Washington ground to a halt. Services paused. Paychecks stopped. For many, the chaos turned personal and financial anxiety hit closer to home.⁸
The AI Mania: Tech stocks went vertical.⁹ Many were chasing the next big thing. If you weren’t in, you felt left out. If you were in, you wondered if it was too much, too fast.
The Economic Grind: Inflation stuck around.¹⁰ The job market softened.¹¹

And under all the noise, one tough question kept bubbling up: Is my plan still working?

Getting through 2025 didn’t just feel like "investing."

It felt like doing brain surgery in the back of a Jeep, bouncing through the savanna.

Loud. Jarring. Constantly testing your focus.

But here’s the plot twist…

After all the shocks and shutdowns, the market found its rhythm.

By early December, we were brushing up against record highs.¹²

So as we look toward 2026 and all its unknowns, here's what I keep coming back to:

Feeling confident at year-end doesn't come from chasing headlines or timing trades. It comes from staying steady. Focused. Grounded.

So what can help you stay that way through all the noise?

Clarity through the chaos: Knowing that global drama — no matter how loud — doesn't have to derail your long-term plan.
Courage in the quiet: Resisting the urge to panic sell when markets dip or react when headlines scream.
Balance over big moves: AI stocks went vertical. The government hit pause. But none of that has to hijack your strategy.
Personal over popular: Keeping your eyes on what actually matters: your goals, your values, your version of success.

As we turn the page to 2026, I can tell you one thing…

There will be new surprises.

We can't control world leaders, the economy, or global conflicts.

But we can control how we respond to them.

Thank you for letting me be part of your journey this year. I’m honored to be in your corner.

Wishing you a calm, confident start to 2026.

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