Beyond the Headlines: Market Trends, AI Investments, and the 2026 Midterm Elections
The Financial Shepherd is back! After a year-long hiatus, Joshua Casey Garland, CFP®, Founder and CEO of Shepherd Wealth Management, returns with a timely look at the forces shaping today's financial markets and what investors should be watching as we approach 2027. In this episode, Joshua breaks down the latest economic indicators, Federal Reserve interest rate decisions, and the growing investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure. Drawing on historical market trends, he explores how today's AI boom compares to the telecommunications expansion of the late 1990s and why understanding the differences matters for investors. With the 2026 midterm elections upon us, Joshua also examines the historical relationship between elections and stock market performance, the impact of geopolitical uncertainty, and the opportunities that could emerge as markets move into a new year. Throughout the conversation, Joshua emphasizes the importance of looking beyond sensational headlines, managing emotional reactions to market volatility, and making informed investment decisions grounded in historical perspective and economic fundamentals. Whether you're a seasoned investor or simply looking to better understand the economy, this episode offers perspective on navigating uncertainty and keeping your long-term financial goals in focus. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. This material presented by Shepherd Wealth Management (“Shepherd”) is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for personalized investment advice or as a recommendation or solicitation of any particular security, strategy, or investment product. Facts presented have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however Shepherd cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information, and certain information presented here may have been condensed or summarized from its original source. All opinions and views constitute our judgments as of the date of publication and are subject to change at any time without notice. This information may contain certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those discussed. No investor should assume future performance will be profitable or equal the previous reflected performance. Any reference to an index is included for illustrative purposes only, as an index is not a security in which an investment can be made. They are unmanaged vehicles that serve as market indicators and do not account for the deduction of management fees and/or transaction costs generally associated with investable products. The holdings and performance of Shepherd client accounts may vary widely from those of the presented indices. Advisory ...






