Nearly every conversation I’ve had lately has carried the same undercurrent:

Exhaustion, cynicism, and a growing sense that the world is not just stagnating but actively getting worse.

I understand the feeling.

With 24/7 news coverage highlighting almost nothing but the worst of humanity, it would be strange not to feel that way sometimes.

Yet I remain optimistic about the future.

Not because I’m immune to what’s happening, and not because I’m wearing rose-colored glasses.

I’d argue my optimism is rooted in something more rational than that.

In today's email, I'm sharing four ideas I return to regularly, in hopes they might be useful to you as well.

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Before we dive in, did you catch this week's podcast? 👇

The Retirement Risk That Changes Everything In this episode, I'm breaking down the 3 components of risk most investors focus on (and the one they ignore), why rare, extreme events have an outsized impact on long-term wealth, and more! 🎙️ Listen now on ​Apple​, ​Spotify​, or ​YouTube​.

The Case for Rational Optimism

1) The data tells a different story than the headlines.

When you zoom out from the daily news cycle, the long-term trends are remarkably encouraging:

• Global extreme poverty has fallen from 36% in 1990 to under 9% today.
• Worldwide hunger has declined by roughly a third over the same period.
• Violent crime in the U.S. has dropped dramatically since its peak in the early 1990s.
• Medical breakthroughs are happening at an extraordinary pace.

None of this means the world is perfect, or that every place is improving every day.

But the trajectory is clear, and it’s worth remembering when the news makes it feel like everything is falling apart.

2) Problems are often precursors to progress.

Just as you don’t unlock an already unlocked door, you don’t solve problems that don’t exist.

Our growing awareness of today’s challenges—while exhausting—is an unfortunate but necessary step toward tomorrow’s breakthroughs.

No tragedy is “good” in itself, but history repeatedly shows that difficult moments become catalysts for new discoveries, initiatives, and energy.

Whenever I’m overwhelmed by bad news, I try to shift my focus from headlines to the countless people working heads-down on the problems that matter:

• Advancing early cancer detection and treatment
• Making education more accessible worldwide
• Developing breakthrough treatments for Alzheimer's and dementia
• Improving disaster response and preparedness
• Expanding access to clean drinking water
• Reducing child mortality in developing nations
• Improving mental health treatment and access

For me, the shift from consuming the news to considering the response makes all the difference.

3) Political frustration is cyclical—even when it doesn’t feel that way.

Long-term polling data reveals a consistent pendulum effect. When one party feels optimistic, the other tends to feel discouraged.

Then the roles reverse.

This pattern has repeated from one administration to the next, regardless of who is in power.

I realize that in any given moment it can feel like this time is fundamentally different.

That instinct is understandable, and I don’t want to dismiss it.

The issues change, the stakes feel uniquely high, and the frustration is real.

But the pattern holds:

• If you’re frustrated now... history suggests the pendulum will eventually swing.
• If you’re feeling good... you can probably expect frustration to return.

This ebb and flow is a feature of the political system.

It's an uncomfortable one, but one worth keeping in perspective, particularly before making major decisions in the heat of the moment.

4) This matters for your retirement plan.

When fear and frustration run high, they tend to seep into financial decisions.

The urge to overhaul a portfolio, delay a planned Roth conversion, or pull back on spending “just in case” is natural.

But the decisions made during periods of heightened emotion are often the ones people regret most.

Your financial plan should be built to account for uncertainty.

Staying grounded in rational optimism isn’t just a feel-good exercise; it’s one of the most important things you can do to protect the plan you’ve built.

The Difference You Can Make Right Now

There’s very little I can personally do about crises unfolding far away.

But there's a lot I can do to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people around me:

• Volunteer financial literacy education in my community
• Donate to my local schools or library
• Help a friend or family member navigate a difficult season
• Be more present with the people in my life
• Buy a coffee for a stranger

To me, these examples are some of the most powerful forms of optimism there is.

When you make a positive difference in the lives of the people around you, you are literally making the world a better place.

Bottom Line

My goal today is not to dismiss anyone’s frustration; it's to acknowledge it.

It's also to zoom out beyond the headlines, beyond the political noise, beyond the algorithm-driven negativity, and remember that progress has always been uneven and emotional in real time.

There are reasons for rational optimism and there are reasons to expect continued progress.

I hope this note offers a small reminder of that.

Until next time, stay the course.

📚 What I've Been Reading

• Your ‘Safe’ Stock Funds May Be Riskier Than You Think (New York Times)​
• Retirees: Should You Take RMDs Early in the Year or Wait? (Morningstar)​
• The Pyramid of S&P 500 Returns: 152 Years of Market Performance (Visual Capitalist)​
• AI Is Reshaping Police Detective Work, Starting With Cold Cases (Axios)​
• Positive Thinking Might Boost Your Immune System’s Responses to Vaccines, New Research Suggests (Smithsonian)​

Thank you for reading!

Please reply to this email with comments, questions, and/or feedback.

Stay wealthy,

Taylor Schulte, CFP®