Q1 2026 Review With Peter Madlem

Peter Madlem is the Chief Investment Officer at Avalan Wealth, a comprehensive wealth management firm specializing in personalized financial, business, and investment planning. With over 35 years of experience in high-net-worth and institutional investment management, Peter has held senior leadership roles at Northern Trust and Montecito Bank & Trust, where he rebuilt investment research capabilities and managed a billion-dollar bond portfolio. Peter is also an accomplished author of five investment books and a former studio musician and composer with credits on major labels. In this episode… Periods of uncertainty often test how investors interpret headlines, risk, and opportunity. When geopolitical conflict dominates the news, it can be easy to assume the markets will respond with the same level of fear. But what if the market signals are telling a different story? A more grounded approach means tuning out the noise and focusing on what the markets are truly reflecting. Peter Madlem, market strategist and investment leader, explains how oil futures, earnings growth, and broad market momentum suggest a more resilient environment than the headlines imply. Peter points to the market's ability to adapt, the value of staying disciplined, and the need to avoid emotional decisions during volatile periods. Rather than trying to time the market, investors can benefit from understanding fundamentals, maintaining diversification, and recognizing where long-term trends, such as AI infrastructure and international exposure, may create significant opportunities. In this episode of The Road Already Traveled, Rich Schuette talks with Peter Madlem, Chief Investment Officer at Avalan Wealth, about market resilience amid geopolitical uncertainty. Peter shares why oil market volatility appears manageable, how earnings are supporting market momentum, and what investors should know about adapting their portfolio construction. He also touches on AI, emerging markets, and investor discipline.