The Santa Rally skipped town this year, but the January Effect is making waves, especially for small caps. Markets are buzzing after U.S. forces captured Venezuela’s president Maduro, fueling bold oil ambitions despite steep challenges. Plus, trade tensions and tariff twists continue, and younger workers being affected by AI-exposed occupations. Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen break it all down in this Week in Review, along with segments on key milestone ages for retirement planning and avoiding online scams.

China’s economy hit a rough patch with deflation fears, while U.S. markets soared despite historic tariff hikes and a few headline-grabbing scares. Mark Beck and Brian Jacobsen break down the headlines into the new year with our Week in Review. Gold and silver had a banner year, Bitcoin stumbled, and AI kept stealing the spotlight. Next year looks even bigger for AI with new models from OpenAI and Meta set to shake things up. Also, how could the 4% rule help you in retirement, and how you can be prepared if you are single in your later years.

This week’s show takes a look back at 2025 and noted how the markets have broadened heading into 2026. We explore decisions high net worth people face, as well as considerations when selling assets. One team interview explores “money guilt” – the uncomfortable feeling of second-guessing spending decisions. We also interview Chellee Siewert from Capture Sports Management, who helps athletes and entertainers find their “why.” Finally, we take a look at what you might consider as you enter retirement: what are your first steps?