Connecting What’s Happening to What Really Matters
As we close out 2025 and look ahead to 2026, Managing Partner Zach Horn reflects on a year marked by market volatility, resilience, and strong long-term results. He shares market insights, firm milestones, and what Foster & Motley is focused on next.
Watch the full video for perspective on navigating uncertainty and building toward long-term goals with confidence.
Disclosures for rankings mentioned:
The CNBC FA 100 list was released on October 1, 2025. Foster & Motley provided data as of June 30, 2025, to be considered. The Cincinnati Business Courier Book of Lists: Top 25 Largest Money Managers, locally based list, was published on September 5, 2025. The Cincinnati Business Courier uses publicly available data to generate this list. FA Magazine Annual RIA Ranking was published in the July/August 2025 edition of Financial Advisor Magazine. These organizations independently set the criteria, and Foster & Motley has no influence on the criteria or the ranking. We paid no fees to be included.
Don't want to watch the video? Here’s the transcript you can read instead:
Hello, I’m Zach Horn, Managing Partner and President of Foster & Motley.
We have closed out 2025 and are looking ahead to a new year. I want to take a few minutes to reflect on the markets, share some highlights from our firm, and talk about what we’re focused on as we enter 2026.
This past year reminded us that long‑term, disciplined investing matters — especially during periods of uncertainty.
In the spring, markets experienced significant volatility, including a nearly nineteen percent pullback for US stocks as tariff uncertainty weighed on investors. It was a clear reminder that even sharp corrections are a normal part of investing, and that patience pays off.
Later in the year, the Federal Reserve began easing interest rates. Those rate cuts helped support risk assets, restored some optimism, and contributed to a strong finish for both stocks and bonds.
By year‑end, U.S. equities delivered solid double‑digit returns, global markets performed extremely well, and diversified portfolios benefited from those contributions outside the U.S. International equities, emerging markets, and fixed income all played important roles in helping portfolios weather volatility throughout the year.
Beyond the markets, 2025 was an important year for our firm.
We grew our Foster & Motley family as we welcomed six new team members and we were thrilled to have five members of our team grow their families with new additions.
We completed a major office expansion and renovation, adding over three thousand square feet to allow for our continued growth, enhance collaboration, and support exceptional client service.
We were grateful to continue welcoming new clients, many through referrals from clients and professional partners. Your trust is the foundation of our work, and we don’t take that for granted.
We were honored to be included on the CNBC Financial Advisor 100 list for the seventh consecutive year, as the only Cincinnati‑based firm recognized.
We were listed in the Cincinnati Business Courier Book of Lists as one of the top 25 largest money managers locally.
And we were included in the Financial Advisors Magazine annual registered investment advisors ranking as a top firm nationally.
As we look ahead to 2026, we begin the year with optimism, discipline, and a continued focus on helping clients navigate uncertainty while building toward long-term goals.
We continue investing in tools and platforms that scale and support or services while maintaining a customized approach to both investment management and financial planning.
And we maintain a continued emphasis on developing a dedicated, caring, and credentialed team that delivers exceptional client service.
On behalf of everyone at Foster & Motley, thank you for your trust and partnership. We wish you a happy, healthy, and fulfilling 2026.