Iran Conflict: How Market Volatility Affects Your Retirement

Educational Tool: Access the Retirement Plan Checklist to benchmark your current 401(k) and Social Security strategy against 2026 inflation. Topical Deep-Dive: Visit the Modern Wealth Education Center for informative content on withdrawal strategies and tax-efficient retirement planning. Fiduciary Consultation: To move from education to a personalized financial plan, you can schedule a meeting with our CFP® and CPA team. The 2026 conflict in Iran and the closure of the Straits of Hormuz—a chokepoint for approximately 40% of the world's oil—have pushed energy prices above $100 per barrel, leading the Nasdaq and S&P 500 into correction territory. While the U.S. remains net energy independent, global pricing interconnectedness has triggered a 10% market pullback, requiring retirees to focus on portfolio rebalancing rather than emotional liquidations. This analysis features Dean Barber, Managing Director at Modern Wealth Management and David Mitchell, Managing Director at AllianceBernstein. We examine potential outcomes of the Iranian conflict, noting that Iran's population of 92 million and its control over global commodity inputs like helium and fertilizer make this vastly different from previous Middle Eastern conflicts. We also discuss the 2026 bear market in tech, citing Microsoft's 27% decline despite stable earnings, and the emergence of tax-exempt municipal bonds with taxable equivalent yields reaching the 7% range. Sources: Insights provided by David Mitchell of AllianceBernstein and Dean Barber of Modern Wealth Management. This session emphasizes the fiduciary duty to manage portfolios based on stick-to-itiveness and mathematical probability. https://www.gspublishing.com/content/research/en/reports/2023/09/05/d33a1656-f37e-4661-9111-f6fe593ffa8a.html  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Iran  https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/  https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/correction.asp  https://www.eia.gov/international/analysis/special-topics/World_Oil_Transit_Chokepoints  https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/index/dxy  https://www.morganstanley.com/im/en-us/institutional-investor/insights/articles/potential-gains-in-2026.html  https://www.marketplace.org/story/2026/03/30/oil-passed-100-a-barrel-prices-are-expected-to-keep-rising  https://www.macrotrends.net/1369/crude-oil-price-history-chart  https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/30/powell-sees-inflation-outlook-in-check-no-wider-crisis-yet-in-private-credit.html  https://youtu.be/c7t_H6k2GW8?si=aGiID1fgUpzQ97wl  https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/1970s-flashback%3A-history-is-starting-to-rhyme-offering-a-road-map-of-how-to-profit  https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/microsoft-just-had-worst-quarter-113000733.html?guccounter=1  https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2026/03/25/americans-broadly-disapprove-of-u-s-military-action-in-iran/  https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-iran-war-strait-of-hormuz-ee950ad4  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3M7jdSxNY8  https://finance.yahoo.com/news/consumer-spending-has-powered-us-economic-growth-the-iran-war-is-testing-its-resilience-090043647.html?guccounter=1   ______________ Investment advisory services offered through Modern Wealth Management, LLC, a registered investment adviser. The views expressed represent the opinion of Modern Wealth Management a Registered Investment Adviser. Information provided is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. Modern Wealth Management does not accept any liability for the use of the information discussed. Consult with a qualified financial, legal, or tax professional prior to taking any action.