You’ve saved for years….
Now everything costs more, another election is approaching, and you’re wondering whether the money you’ve put away will be enough.
- Can you still retire when you wanted to?
- Can you afford to help your children or take that trip?
- Would a market downturn mean putting those decisions on hold?
A stock market near record highs doesn’t answer those questions.
Ryan Detrick, CMT® Chief Market Strategist at Carson Group and CNBC Contributor, returns to the Mitlin Money Mindset® with Larry Sprung, CFP® to discuss the 2026 fourth-quarter market outlook.
Detirck remains optimistic heading toward year-end, supported by company earnings and continued investment in AI. He also explains what could change that outlook.
Here’s what it could mean for the decisions you’re facing.
Should you move your money before the election?
An election result alone won’t tell you whether your investments are right for you. When you’ll need the money matters more than which party you expect to win.
Detrick points to historically strong stock market performance during the fourth quarter of midterm years and the first half of the following year.
His caution is just as relevant: “Never ever invest just on seasonality or the calendar.”
Selling before the election might ease your worry for a while. But then you have to decide when to get back in. Knowing who controls Congress won’t necessarily make that decision easier.
If you’re worried about a decline, consider what it would affect.
Money you’ll need for living expenses next year deserves different treatment from savings you don’t expect to touch for a decade.
Can your investments grow while inflation stays high?
They can. Higher interest rates create challenges for businesses, but growing sales and profits can help support stock prices.
Continued consumer spending and stronger earnings expectations are among the reasons for the positive outlook in this episode.
At the time of recording, Detrick expected one more Federal Reserve rate increase before year-end.
For your family, the concern may be simpler: your money isn’t going as far as it used to.
If you’re approaching retirement, look at what you’re actually spending today. An income estimate based on expenses from several years ago may no longer cover the same lifestyle.
If you’re already retired, higher costs may mean taking more from your savings.
Understanding how those withdrawals affect the years ahead is more useful than waiting for inflation headlines to improve.
Are you missing out if you don’t buy more AI stocks?
Before buying more, check how much you already own through your investment funds.
AI spending remains a reason for optimism in Detrick’s outlook. Many leading technology businesses have substantial earnings, unlike the unprofitable companies that drew attention during the dot-com boom.
That doesn’t make every AI investment a good purchase at any price. Expectations can get ahead of what a business delivers, and a sharp slowdown in AI spending could affect economic growth.
Recent technology gains may also have increased your exposure without you buying anything. The question is whether a decline in those holdings would put money you’re counting on at risk.
How do you know whether you’ll have enough?
A market forecast can’t answer that for your household.
Start with what your money needs to cover and when you’ll need it.
If you want to retire in two years, work through how you’ll pay your bills once your paycheck stops.
If you’re considering a large purchase, look at what would remain afterward. Include today’s living costs rather than relying on an old estimate.
You don’t need to predict the election or the next market move to get a better understanding of where you stand.
Will your money support the life you want to live?
Knowing what you can afford could mean saying yes to something you’ve been putting off, or finding out what needs to change before you do.
Schedule a no-obligation call with Mitlin Financial to discuss if you are on track to support your ideal version of tomorrow.
