I was recently listening to a few educational webinars and noticed I could increase the playback speed to 1.25x or even 1.50x. To my surprise, the faster pace was entirely manageable. I absorbed the material more efficiently, spent less time listening, and perhaps most importantly, had less opportunity for my mind to wander. I found myself wishing this option had existed during some of my college lectures.

That small feature led me to think about how quickly our world has been accelerating, particularly as new technologies are adopted. If you look back over time, each major innovation seems to compress the timeline of the one before it. Radio took decades to become commonplace. Television spread faster. Cell phones faster still. The internet accelerated adoption again. Now, with artificial intelligence, the pace has increased even further, measured not in decades or years, but in months.

What is striking is not just the speed of adoption, but how quickly attention and capital follow it. The world does not pause to debate every implication before moving forward. It adapts.

We saw this clearly in 2025. Artificial intelligence and the investment surrounding it came to dominate the conversation in financial markets. At the same time, other very real issues remained present in the background, including changes in trade policy, periodic government shutdown concerns, and stubbornly sticky inflation. These factors did not disappear, but they became minor players as market attention focused elsewhere.

It is also worth noting that 2025 was a very good year for the markets. Most major indices reached all-time highs, interest rates moved lower, and both gold and silver posted strong performance. These positive outcomes, combined with a narrow market narrative, served as a reminder that strong returns can coexist with ongoing uncertainty.

Markets often behave this way. Multiple risks and opportunities can coexist, but capital tends to concentrate around the theme that best fits the moment. The result can feel unbalanced at times, especially for investors who remember how quickly leadership can change.

As we look ahead to 2026, we expect some of the enthusiasm around artificial intelligence to cool, though not disappear. The long-term implications remain significant, but the pace of adoption and investment is likely to become more selective. We also anticipate some beneficial effects from the administration’s tax policies working their way through the economy. At the same time, geopolitical developments continue to warrant close attention, and uncertainty is likely to increase as we move closer to the election later in the year.

Taken together, these forces suggest a market environment that remains dynamic and occasionally unsettled. In periods like this, thoughtful diversification, disciplined decision-making, and a focus on long-term objectives tend to matter far more than short-term predictions. When everything seems to be moving faster, having a plan designed for real life rather than headlines becomes the anchor.

We appreciate your trust and look forward to working with you in 2026.

Kevin P. Sullivan, CFA, CFP®, AIF

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