Preparation matters. Discipline matters.
Having a plan matters.
From Your Trusted Advisor
“The details change, but the principles rarely do.”
 | As we move into the final months of 2026, I find myself thinking about how often the headlines seem determined to keep investors on their toes. Over the past year, we have seen inflation concerns, interest rate discussions, geopolitical conflict, artificial intelligence, and some of the most anticipated public offerings in market history. If there is one thing markets continue to prove, it is that they rarely run out of things for us to worry about. The encouraging part is that successful investing has never required a world free of uncertainty. It requires thoughtful decisions despite it. One of the reasons I enjoy this profession is that no two years are ever quite the same. The details change, but the principles rarely do. Preparation matters. Discipline matters. Having a plan matters. In this issue, I share thoughts on markets, retirement income, year-end tax opportunities, and a timeless lesson from a story nearly three thousand years old. Thank you for the trust you place in me. I hope you find this valuable and worth sharing. Warmest regards, |
 | Market Perspective SpaceX, AI, Inflation... Now What?Remain prepared, diversified, and opportunistic. The past twelve months have given investors plenty to absorb. Markets have continued to respond to changing interest rate expectations, a healthier but still stubborn inflation backdrop, rapid advances in artificial intelligence, and one of the most anticipated IPO environments in recent history, highlighted by the public debut of SpaceX. |
At the same time, global instability briefly increased volatility across energy markets and equities as investors evaluated the potential impact on oil prices, supply chains, and global growth.
Even with these headlines, markets have continued to demonstrate resilience. That said, inflation may remain higher for longer than many expected, which makes household spending and cash-flow awareness especially important.
Interest rates were once expected to move lower, but now there is at least a possibility they stay elevated or even move higher. Markets have a way of keeping everyone humble.
This is why discipline matters. Strong markets can make investors want to take unnecessary risk, while temporary pullbacks can make them want to abandon a sound strategy too early. Neither is ideal.
Quarterly rebalancing helps keep portfolios aligned while creating a thoughtful process for trimming areas that have appreciated and identifying opportunities to add where prices have become more attractive.
No one knows exactly when the next market pullback will occur. What we can do is remain prepared, diversified, and ready to be opportunistic through the discomfort of market disruption. Long-term investing is not about perfect timing. It is about having the discipline to weather difficult periods well and, over time, come out stronger on the other side.
Retirement Planning
Retire With Confidence
Retirement planning is about more than creating income. It is about helping that income remain dependable through changing markets, rising costs, unexpected expenses, and life transitions.
As we approach year-end, this is a valuable time to review the opportunities that can help strengthen retirement confidence heading into the new year.
A thoughtful income plan should account for inflation, healthcare costs, taxes, portfolio withdrawals, and the need for flexibility.
Just as portfolios should be prepared for future market volatility, retirement income should be structured with enough balance and liquidity to avoid unnecessary pressure during a down market or an unexpected life event.
We will be reaching out to clients who need to address Required Minimum Distributions before year-end. The goal is to remain prepared, not reactive, so retirement income continues to provide confidence, stability, and peace of mind.
Year-End Planning Opportunities to Review
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✓ Confirm next year’s income needs, including inflation and higher living costs
✓ Review cash reserves for unexpected expenses or temporary market declines
✓ Evaluate portfolio withdrawals and which accounts should fund income first
✓ Take Required Minimum Distributions if they have not yet been completed or are not set up automatically
✓ Revisit Social Security, pension, annuity, and investment income sources
Year-End Planning
The Tax Decisions That Can't Wait for Spring
With year-end quickly approaching, now is an important time to review tax planning opportunities before December 31. For many clients, areas such as Required Minimum Distributions, charitable giving, capital gains, Roth conversions, and Medicare premium thresholds can all create meaningful planning considerations.
In the right situations, Qualified Charitable Distributions may help satisfy charitable goals while reducing taxable income. Tax-loss harvesting may help offset gains or improve future tax flexibility. Years with temporarily lower income may also provide an opportunity to consider partial Roth conversions or other tax-focused strategies before future income increases.
“The earlier these conversations happen, the more options we may have before year-end deadlines arrive.”
Because tax planning works best when coordinated, I encourage clients to reach out to their CPA or accountant and invite them to collaborate with me directly.
When your tax professional and financial advisor are working from the same information, we can better evaluate opportunities, avoid unintended consequences, and coordinate decisions around your broader financial plan.
Investor Insight
Big Money Is a Journey
With this summer’s blockbuster release, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, many people were reminded of one of history’s most enduring stories about perseverance, uncertainty, and the long journey home. It also serves as a useful reminder for investors.
In Homer’s The Odyssey, the journey was rarely direct. There were delays, distractions, storms, and moments that tested patience and discipline. Long-term investing often feels much the same.
Markets move through cycles of optimism and also through periods of uncertainty. Headlines change quickly, predictions shift constantly, and many periods of volatility can appear without warning.
Yet some of the most successful investors are not those who react the fastest, but those who remain patient, disciplined, and focused on long-term objectives.
“The big money is not in the buying and selling, but in the waiting.”
Charlie Munger
Andre Selfa, APMA
Financial Advisor
Pinnacle Ascent Wealth Management
2009 Walla Walla Ave, Suite A
Walla Walla, WA 99362
509-524-9074
www.pinnacleascentwealth.com
Securities offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Osaic Advisory Services, LLC. Pinnacle Ascent Wealth Management, Osaic Wealth, and Osaic Advisory are separate companies.