February may have been the shortest month of the year, but it delivered no shortage of market-moving events. Bob Weisse joins Sammy Azzouz to break down what’s driving today’s financial markets—and what it could mean for investors.

• A pessimistic report from Cetrini Research, 2028 Global Intelligence Crisis, raised concerns about artificial intelligence’s economic impact, sparking stock market sell-offs, sector rotations, and widespread debate. Sammy and Bob share their perspective on the findings and the broader implications of technological disruption.
• Escalating conflict in the Middle East prompted swift reactions in both stock and bond markets. We discuss what long-term investors should consider amid heightened volatility and uncertainty.
• Bond yields have risen while bond prices have declined. We explain what’s driving this unusual dynamic in fixed income markets.

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In this month’s Market Update, CIO Bob Weisse joins Sammy Azzouz to unpack what’s driving today’s financial markets—and what it could mean for investors going forward.

Tune in as they discuss:

• President Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh as Fed Chairman
• If the economy appears strong, why are rate cuts still on the table?
• Where we are in the current market cycle—and how much longer markets could run
• Uncharted territory: how sweeping technological change could reshape companies, economies, and investment opportunities
• Why U.S. value stocks are leading the market (up ~5% YTD)
• A practical primer on foreign fixed income: what it is and when it may make sense in a portfolio

Send your questions to wealthybehavior@heritagefinancial.net

In this first episode of the new year, Heritage Financial’s CIO, Bob Weisse, joins CEO Sammy Azzouz to reflect on 2025 market performance and share insights for the year ahead.

2025 was a strong year for investors. U.S. equities delivered a third consecutive year of double-digit returns, international equities finally outperformed the U.S., and fixed income produced solid positive returns.

So, what’s in store for 2026? Bob examines emerging trends and outlines Heritage’s 2026 Capital Market Assumptions—our long-term return forecasts—and explains how to evaluate the data, balance risk and return expectations, and use these assumptions to inform portfolio allocation decisions.

Plus, with gold shining brightly in 2025, Bob shares his perspective on investing in gold, including potential risks and returns, when it may add value, and when it may fall short.

Send your questions to wealthybehavior@heritagefinancial.net

Visit us at www.heritagefinancial.net