Connecting What’s Happening to What Really Matters
As we get further into 2026, markets are navigating change—but opportunity remains. In this update, Zach Horn shares perspective on a shifting dollar, thoughtful global diversification, the powerful momentum behind AI, and why steady guidance and long-term relationships continue to be a meaningful advantage for investors.
Watch the full video to learn more about how AI is reshaping the economy, how to protect against the weakening dollar, and to learn what we believe can never be replaced by AI.
Sources:
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.
The start of 2026, while overall positive, has been a little unsettled with markets trying to find their footing. One theme that’s carried over from last year is a weakening US dollar, driven by expected interest rate cuts, potential new tariffs, and the country's growing budget deficit.
So we want to take a step back and look at two things.
First, the dollar remains the world's reserve currency—the currency other countries trust and use for global trade. We don't see this changing. And when markets feel uncertain, remembering the dollar’s long-term stability can help avoid reactive decisions.
That said, short-term volatility in the US currency may not be going away anytime soon. And if it continues, you may start to feel it, whether it’s in the cost of imported goods or if you're traveling internationally.
One way to help protect against short-term weakness is making sure you have some international exposure in your portfolio. If our currency keeps declining, diversification can be key to smoothing things out.
Now, let's talk about AI, because it's impossible to ignore right now. The industry’s acceleration has been remarkable. Google announced it's pouring billions into AI development this year alongside other major tech giants, and AMD CEO Lisa Su noted that some forecasts put the AI data center market could exceed a trillion dollars by 2030.
For investors who believe in this technology, like our team at Foster & Motley, the smart approach isn't to concentrate your investment into one or two companies. It's to spread investments across the broader technology sector to limit concentration risk. Internally, we’re also seeing the benefits of AI as a tool that makes us more efficient, and we think it'll do the same in the global economy.
But here's what AI will never replace: the human relationships at the center of your financial life.
Unfortunately, in today’s digitally-driven world, personal financial relationships are harder to come by. The wealth management industry is losing experienced professionals faster than it can replace them. According to recent data from AdvizorPro, last year alone, over 57,000 retiring advisors left the profession — 4,000 more than entered it. And by the mid-2030s, estimates suggest 40% of all advisors could be retiring.
This leaves many people wondering who will manage their wealth in the coming decades.
At Foster & Motley, we’ve been thinking about longevity and continuity for years. Our succession plan is strong, with broad ownership and a focus on continually bringing in new talent to work alongside our most experienced people.
And as an employee-owned firm, the decisions we make are for our clients and lasting relationships, not for corporate shareholders.
We're grateful to serve you, and we know that in times of uncertainty as well as times of opportunity, having trusted advisors who are here for the long haul matters.
Markets change, but our commitment to you doesn't.
On behalf of everyone at Foster & Motley, thank you for your trust and partnership.