Planning · Video
Don’t Let Fall Market Forecasts Spook You
With Colin Meeks, CFP® · Published November 11, 2026
What this one covers
Every fall, financial news fills up with dramatic market forecasts, interest rate predictions and economic warnings. In this October check-in, Colin Meeks, CFP® explains why he suggests tuning out the sensational headlines, and what to focus on instead.
Colin walks through four year-end items to handle before the holiday rush: open enrollment, holiday spending caps, mapping your 2027 milestones and charitable gifts. Each of these carries its own deadlines and trade-offs, so it helps to start early. For more on timing, see why December is too late for year-end planning.
He closes with a different way to look at financial success: not only account balances or index returns, but what your money empowers you to do. That includes asking what you can afford to say yes to, and aligning your spending with what brings you genuine joy.
This video is general education, not advice for any individual, and we coordinate with your attorney and tax advisor. If you would like to talk through your own situation, you can schedule a 15-minute call.
Key topics and timestamps
- 0:00Spooky Season and the Rise of “Forecast Season”
- 0:48The Real Antidote to Financial Headline Panic
- 1:454 Year-End Financial Moves (Open Enrollment, Budgets and Giving)
- 3:08Beyond Market Indexes: What Did Your Money Empower You to Do?
- 4:08Flipping the Script: What Can You Afford to Say Yes To?
- 4:58Spending Lavishly on What You Love
- 5:43Staying Grounded Through Year-End
Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. Maryland Financial Advocates and LPL Financial are separate entities. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Consult your financial professional or legal/tax advisor regarding your specific situation before making benefit enrollment or investment decisions. All investing involves risk including loss of principal.
Takeaways
- Fall “forecast season” headlines are designed to provoke anxiety, so tuning them out can be a sensible starting point
- Four year-end items to handle before the December rush: open enrollment, holiday spending caps, 2027 milestone mapping and charitable gifts
- Financial success can be measured by what your money empowers you to do, not only by account balances or index returns
- Aligning your spending with what brings you genuine joy is part of a sound plan
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