Signal vs Noise, Powell, and Why Fed Independence Matters (Plus 2026 Market Positioning)

There's a lot of noise right now—and it can hijack investor decision-making. In this episode, Hannah Chapman, CFP® and Brad Haines, CFA, FRM zoom out to separate signal from headlines, discuss early-year market context, and share what they're watching for 2026. You'll hear why recency bias leads people to panic-sell, why earnings and innovation may matter more than day-to-day politics over a 5-year horizon, and why rebalancing at the start of the year can support both portfolio discipline and tax planning. Then, they break down a major story involving Jerome Powell and discuss why Federal Reserve independence is a cornerstone of long-term economic stability. What's covered: “Noise vs. signal” and how to stay grounded as an investor Earnings trends: broadening beyond mega-cap tech The AI buildout: data centers, compute capacity, and the next wave of applications Why rebalancing early in the year can be strategically helpful Emerging markets explained (developed vs emerging vs frontier) Why Fed independence matters and what happens when central banks aren't independent Inflation, wage catch-up, and why it can feel hard even when data improves Reminder: Follow Investment Friday and subscribe on YouTube—this show will live fully in its own feed/channel starting in February. Connect with Hannah at [email protected] and online at https://x2wealthplanning.com Connect with Brad at [email protected] and online at https://www.juncturewealth.com