Market volatility, global headlines, and policy uncertainty continue to shape how investors experience 2026. In this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd focus on context, not commentary, to help listeners interpret today’s fast-moving financial narrative.

• Frame rising investor anxiety amid market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, highlighted by global discussions at Davos.

• Contextualize geopolitical developments—including Arctic defense strategy, Greenland, Venezuela, and Middle East tensions—and their influence on markets and sentiment.

• Illustrate how rapid headline shifts, from escalation risk to de-escalation, can move markets and emotions within a single trading day.

• Outline how fiscal and monetary forces—policy stimulus, liquidity measures, tax dynamics, and regulatory discussions—may be shaping 2026 economic expectations.

• Evaluate the role of interest rates and upcoming Federal Reserve meetings in current market narratives.

• Review market drawdowns and recoveries since 2020, reinforcing long-term perspective alongside recent volatility.

• Emphasize discipline and zooming out as recurring themes when navigating short-term uncertainty.

• Examine artificial intelligence discussions through the lens of productivity, workforce evolution, and economic impact.

• Compare assets often associated with perceived stability, including gold, utilities, energy, and companies with durable business models.

• Revisit historical dividend trends and their role in income-focused investment conversations.

• Explain how frequent reaction to news and emotional decision-making have historically influenced investor outcomes, referencing DALBAR research.

• Note every day financial changes—such as the end of new penny minting—and their practical implications.

Markets will keep changing, but perspective remains essential. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast to follow Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd as they provide structured, long-term context on the financial headlines shaping today’s investing conversations.