SHP Financial Co-Founder, Matt Peck, CFP®, CIMA®, and Lead Advisor, Laura Russo, sit down for their quarterly market update. Matt and Laura will take a look back at 2025, discuss the current state of the markets, where we are headed, and what this means for your future and finances. Visit shpfinancial.com for more information!

It's a new year, and financial uncertainty continues to be a pressing topic for investors. Questions around interest rates, inflation, tariffs, artificial intelligence, and global market stability continue to dominate headlines, leaving many retirees and pre-retirees wondering how to position their portfolios for what comes next.

That's why we're incredibly grateful to have Michael Arone on the podcast today. Mike is the Managing Director and Chief Investment Strategist at State Street Investment Management and has over three decades of experience navigating market cycles. From other down periods like the dot-com bubble, the global financial crisis, and the pandemic, Mike brings a historically grounded perspective to today's environment.

In our conversation, Mike shares how State Street is thinking about the economic outlook for 2026, including the Federal Reserve's policy direction, the likelihood of recession, and why he describes the current market setup as "uncomfortably bullish." He explains why inflation may remain sticky but manageable, how tariffs have potentially been misunderstood, and what investors should realistically expect from equities after several strong years.

You'll also hear why Mike believes that portfolio diversification matters more than ever, how tangible assets like commodities and precious metals can help improve portfolio resilience, and why time horizon remains one of the most powerful drivers of long-term investment success.

In this podcast interview, you'll learn:

• Why State Street expects continued economic growth and no near-term recession in 2026.
• How Federal Reserve policy, inflation trends, and labor dynamics are shaping the market outlook.
• Why fears around tariffs and inflation may be overstated.
• The role real assets and alternatives can play in boosting portfolio resilience.
• How lessons from past market crises help investors navigate future uncertainty.
• Why long-term discipline matters more than short-term market predictions.

Want the Full Show Notes?

To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit SHPfinancial.com/podcast

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For many investors, 2025 has raised difficult questions about safety, inflation, global instability, and how to protect wealth in an increasingly unpredictable environment. With gold posting some of its strongest performance in decades, many are wondering whether it belongs in their portfolios.

So today, SHP Financial's Matthew Peck is joined by Senior Portfolio Analyst David Hathaway to break down the factors behind gold's surge. From geopolitical tensions to inflation concerns, David explains why gold has historically served as a store of value, how it behaves in crisis periods, and why it often shines when uncertainty is at its highest.

In this conversation, you'll also learn how investors can actually access gold, whether through ETFs, physical metals, or alternative allocations; what percentage ranges may make sense inside a diversified portfolio; and how SHP evaluates when to introduce or increase exposure.

Matthew and David also compare gold with assets like Bitcoin and discuss its role in alternative investments. They outline why a disciplined, research-based approach—not a fearful approach—is essential when evaluating gold's place in long-term planning.

In this podcast interview, you'll learn:

• The forces driving gold's surge in 2025, including geopolitical tension and central bank buying.
• How inflation pressures, weakening currencies, and rate cuts often boost demand for gold.
• The most common ways to invest in gold and why ETFs are typically the most efficient.
• Typical allocation ranges for gold and how it fits within an alternatives bucket.
• How gold differs from Bitcoin in correlation and diversification benefits.
• Why SHP uses a careful, research-based process before adding or increasing gold exposure.

Want the Full Show Notes?

To get access to the full show notes, including audio, transcripts, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit SHPfinancial.com/podcast

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