A Fiduciary Perspective on Today’s Market and Retirement Landscape

As a Fiduciary-based advisor my role is to help clients cut through the current headlines noise, focus on what they can control, and make informed decisions that support long-term financial strength. In today’s environment, several critical issues demand attention—not hype, but perspective and strategy.

Here are the key themes I am discussing with clients right now:

Tariffs, Trade Policy, and Market Volatility

The return of Trump-era tariff discussions is creating renewed uncertainty across global markets. While these measures aim to protect U.S. industries, the reality for consumers is often higher prices on goods, especially essentials. As the markets digest these shifts, increased volatility is to be expected.

Fiduciary Insight: Policy changes will always come and go. The key is not to react emotionally, but to ensure your portfolio is positioned for long-term resilience and growth.

Inflation and the Rising Cost of Living

From groceries and gas to insurance and services, inflation continues to impact everyday spending. Even if the overall inflation rate is cooling, the pressure on retirees and pre-retires remains real.

Fiduciary Insight: You may be retired, or close to it, but your money is not. Your money still needs to work for you. It must grow to keep pace with inflation and the rising cost of living over the next 20 to 30 years, or more.

Market Fluctuations and Retirement Account Values

The ups and downs of the market can be stressful, especially when you are relying on your investment accounts for income. But short-term volatility is not a new phenomenon, and it is not a reason to abandon a prudent disciplined approach.

Fiduciary Insight: Retirement is a decades-long journey, not a snapshot. Your investment strategy should reflect that reality — built to weather storms, not chase headlines.

Taxes in Retirement: Planning Beats Reacting

Retirement does not equal a tax-free life. In-fact, taxes often become more complex once RMDs, Social Security, pensions, and investment income kick in, especially if tax rates
increase in the future.

Fiduciary Insight: A smart retirement plan does not just focus on income — it also accounts for taxes. Proactive moves today, like Roth conversions or withdrawal sequencing, can potentially reduce your lifetime tax bill.

The Power of Passive, Long-Term Investing

It is tempting to want to “do something” when the market feels unstable. But often, the smartest move is staying the course. Passive investing, with thoughtful allocation and regular rebalancing, can lead to more consistent long-term results. Remember why I reinvest all dividends: to dollar cost average our share purchases and help grow our share balance.

Fiduciary Insight: You do not need to outsmart the market. You need a plan that lets you participate in it over time—calmly, consistently, and with purpose, structure, and discipline.

Bottom Line:

You may be retired — but your money isn’t. It needs to keep growing to support your lifestyle, outpace inflation, and manage rising tax risks. As a Certified Financial Fiduciary®, my focus is on helping you stay anchored to what works: a clear strategy, with full transparency and financial clarity, while ignoring market headlines noise, and distractions.

If you are concerned about the direction of the economy, you are not alone. But rather than guessing what comes next, let’s make sure your plan is built for whatever comes next.

Please call or email me with any questions, thoughts, or comments.

Rich Eller