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The Biggest Financial Surprises of 2025 and What They Mean for 2026
A year ago, I was asked a simple question: What do you expect in 2025?
My honest answer was, “Who knows?”
Looking back now, that may have been one of the most accurate forecasts anyone could have given.
Not because I’m avoiding accountability but because 2025 proved just how unpredictable and fragile our financial system really is. Even seasoned economists, money managers, and analysts were caught off guard by what unfolded. And as we move into 2026, those surprises aren’t behind us they’re setting the stage for what comes next.
The Three Biggest Financial Surprises of 2025
Let’s start with what shocked almost everyone.
1. Tariffs and Market Volatility Came Fast and Hard
One of the biggest surprises of 2025 was the sudden escalation of tariff wars. When tariffs were announced, markets didn’t just react they panicked. In the spring, stocks sold off sharply, confidence wavered, and investors were left scrambling to understand what this meant long term.
Although markets recovered later in the year, the damage wasn’t just financial—it was psychological. It reminded everyone how quickly political decisions can shake the economy.
2. Gold and Silver Exploded
Few people expected precious metals to perform the way they did.
Silver nearly doubled in price in a matter of months, and gold surged to levels that would have sounded ridiculous just a year earlier. That kind of movement doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Historically, gold and silver rise when confidence in currency falls.
Which leads to an uncomfortable question: Was inflation really as “controlled” as we were told?
3. Stocks and Precious Metals Rose Together
This is where things get especially interesting.
Normally, investors flee to gold when stocks struggle. In 2025, we saw the opposite stocks and precious metals hitting highs at the same time. That combination doesn’t signal strength. It signals distortion.
It suggests that liquidity not economic health is driving markets.
Other Surprises Few People Are Talking About
Inflation didn’t appear higher on paper, but purchasing power told a different story. Crypto failed to behave as “digital gold” and instead tracked closely with stocks. Meanwhile, the AI-driven tech boom continued inflating valuations, even as comparisons to the 1920s and the dot-com bubble became harder to ignore.
When people say, “This time is different,” history usually proves otherwise.
What This Means Heading Into 2026
Here’s where I get cautious. We’re now approaching nearly 17 years of an extended bull market, with only one meaningful down year. Historically, markets don’t behave this way. The normal cycle is closer to five years up, two years down.
That pattern has been broken and not in a healthy way.
The only reason markets have been able to keep rising is because money keeps getting easier. More liquidity. More stimulus. More credit. But printing money doesn’t create wealth it redistributes pain.
At some point, spending slows. Lending tightens. Employers freeze hiring or cut jobs. When money stops changing hands, the economy doesn’t bend it breaks.
Why I’m Playing Defense Going Into 2026
I’m not claiming to predict the future. I’m not a guru. I’m an investor just like you. But based on what I’m seeing, I’m choosing caution.
That means:
- Staying skeptical of stock market valuations
- Prioritizing liquidity and flexibility
- Building infinite banking policies
- Holding real assets like real estate and precious metals
- Avoiding speculative plays and hype-driven investments
This isn’t about fear. It’s about preparation.
A Final Thought
If markets continue rising for years, it would be unprecedented. And if that happens, the eventual correction would likely be far more painful than most people are prepared for.
My challenge to you as we enter 2026 is simple: Don’t rely on hope. Rely on strategy.
Ask yourself whether your wealth is built on paper promises or on real assets that can weather uncertainty. Because cycles always turn.
And those who prepare ahead of time don’t just survive them they come out stronger.
Here’s to a thoughtful, intentional, and prosperous 2026.