What's Happening in the Markets and What It Means for You

You've likely been following the headlines about the military conflict in the Middle East, and we wanted to reach out directly to share our perspective on what it means for your portfolio.

Here's what's happening:

The escalation of military operations in the Middle East has introduced new uncertainty into global markets, with oil prices climbing in response. The primary concern centers on the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway off Iran's coast through which roughly 20 percent of the world's daily oil supply flows. Any sustained disruption there could push energy costs higher, which might unsettle the markets and could trickle down to consumer prices.¹

Here's what it means for you:

Market volatility during geopolitical events is expected. We've seen situations like this before, and markets adjust to the news over time. Your financial strategy was built to weather periods of uncertainty like this one.

There are also some updates worth noting. OPEC+ has announced it’s prepared to increase oil production by 206,000 barrels per day starting in April. Global oil supply was already healthy heading into this event, with the International Energy Agency projecting global oil production growth of 2.4 million barrels per day in 2026. Major oil-producing nations in the Gulf also hold approximately 3.5 million barrels per day in spare capacity that can be brought online relatively quickly.^2,3,4

Our insight:

Your portfolio reflects your goals and time horizon, so reacting to short-term headlines can be a mistake. History has shown time and again that during periods of volatility, it's important to stay disciplined.

We are monitoring the situation closely and are here for you. If you have questions or simply want to talk things through, please don't hesitate to reach out. That's exactly what we're here for.

^{1. U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Amid Regional Conflict, the Strait of Hormuz Remains Critical Oil Chokepoint,"} 

^{2. OPEC+ Production Adjustment Announcement, March 1, 2026}

^{3. International Energy Agency, Oil Market Report, February 2026}

^{4. The National, "OPEC+ Agrees 206,000 BPD Increase as Iran Conflict Tests Supply Routes," March 1, 2026}