Market briefing
The long view on markets, told with a century of data
Headlines about oil, inflation and interest rates arrive every week. These guides put each one in a century of context, with charts drawn from primary sources, and explain what it means for a portfolio and a retirement plan.
The long view
Oil, inflation and the Fed: the three forces behind most market headlines.
Portfolio Structure · 6 min readOil in a Portfolio: 125 Years of Booms, Busts, and What They TeachOil has made and erased fortunes for 125 years. What the price history says about owning it, how it moves with inflation and stocks, and how to size it.
Income Planning · 5 min readWhen Inflation Comes Back: What a Century of Data Says About Your Retirement PlanInflation ran above 5% in 26 of the last 112 years. What a century of data says about inflation and retirement, and how a plan can prepare.
Income Planning · 5 min readWhen the Fed Pauses: Cash, Bonds, and the Rate You Lock InFive of the last six Fed pauses ended in cuts, yet long rates fell after only half. What that means for cash, bonds and the rate you lock in.Markets and portfolios
How timing, diversification, private markets and taxes shape what a portfolio delivers.
Investment Management · 3 min readSequence Risk Still MattersSequence risk is one of the clearest examples of why average returns do not tell the whole story.
Investment Management · 3 min readDiversified or Overengineered?Complex portfolios often look sophisticated because they contain many accounts, funds, and exposures.
Private Markets · 3 min readPrivate Markets in 2026: Where the Opportunity Is, and Why Selectivity Matters More Than EverOne of the most common affluent-investor questions is simple: what private investments can I add to my portfolio, and do they actually belong there?
Tax Planning · 3 min readWhen Tax Planning Distorts the PortfolioTax planning matters. Letting taxes lead every investment decision is different.