Stay Wealthy San Diego

Every year, Wall Street rolls out its market predictions. Targets get published, expectations get set, and the headlines make it sound like the future is just a spreadsheet away. But markets have a long history of humbling even the most confident forecasts, and that creates a real problem for retirement savers. Because, while short-term forecasts are usually noise, ignoring market expectations altogether isn't the answer either.  So in today's episode, I break down how to think about market outlooks the right way. We'll cover why forecasts so often miss the mark, when long-term assumptions actually matter, and how market research can be used as a planning tool (not a prediction engine). I also share key themes from Vanguard's Economic and Market Outlook for 2026, focusing on growth, inflation, and expected returns—and why all of that matters for your portfolio and retirement plan. ***