08/31/2026
“Is the market too high to stay invested right now?” That was the question during a recent review as a couple juggled a bucket-list trip to Japan and looming tax payments. We pulled up the data: record index levels, yes—but price-to-earnings ratios actually falling thanks to double-digit profit growth. In other words, earnings have been sprinting faster than prices. We kept their mix at 70 % stocks / 30 % bonds—enough equity to outpace inflation, enough ballast to weather the next dip—and agreed to treat any future Fed-induced pullback as a buying opportunity, not a reason to bail. The relief on their faces reminded me that good planning isn’t about predicting headlines; it’s about staying disciplined when headlines get loud. How does your allocation hold up against the noise?