Hi There! Reset can feel scary. But, sometimes it is the kindest thing you can do for yourself. A reset is how you shed what no longer serves you, even when it has been with you for a long time.

Not long ago, I ran into my primary care physician from my younger years in Grenada. She looked at me, smiled, and asked a question she had asked me for decades. Do you still have migraines?

For the first time in my life, I got to tell her no. Those migraines left in 2013 and never came back.

They started when I was about eight years old, and followed me through childhood, high school, and college. They were brutal. I still remember my college roommate sitting with me on the bathroom floor, tapping my head with a cold cloth while I was sick over the toilet. Every doctor visit for the migraines ended with new and stronger medicine. One prescription finally left me walking around like a zombie. I knew then I could not continue like that.

My roommate, the same one who sat with me through those worst days, sent me a book called Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman. I read it in two days and made a real change to how I ate. Everything about my health shifted after that, and I have not had a migraine since (knock on wood).

I share all this to drive home a point.

I did not fix everything overnight. I changed one daily decision and it changed my life. You can do the same in any aspect of your life, especially with money.

Change comes from repeated choices, not New Year’s Resolutions.

Therefore, that fresh start you yearn for in 2026 does not require a total overhaul. It requires consistency.

So, let us make this practical by using my version S M A R T framework:

Simple

Choose one focus and stick with it. One area is enough. It could be building emergency savings, learning how your 401k actually works, paying down a single debt, or adding a walk to your daily regimen. Keeping it simple helps you stay consistent instead of overwhelmed.

Meaningful

Connect the goal to real life results. Think fewer sleepless nights, more breathing room, and a stronger sense of control. When the goal ties directly to how you want to live and feel, showing up becomes easier.

Aligned

Make sure the goal fits the season you are in right now. Busy schedules, rebuilding years, and caregiving responsibilities all matter. Alignment allows progress without burnout.

Realistic

Set a goal you can execute without forcing perfection. Small wins build confidence, and confidence keeps you moving forward.

Time bound

Give the goal a clear window. Ninety days. Six months. A defined timeframe creates focus and makes it easier to track progress and adjust as needed without guilt.

Before 2026 begins, do three things:

1. Write down one financial or health decision you can improve daily.

2. Schedule a short weekly money check in with yourself. No judgment allowed.

3. Remind yourself daily that you are in charge of your life, even when things feel messy.

A reset does not announce itself. It begins with one honest choice you make, repeatedly, when no one is watching. Those choices add up, and before you realize it, life starts moving in a new direction.

Alright, let’s dig in!

U.S. markets closed the final full trading week of the year in a familiar rhythm with early weakness followed by a late-week rebound. The S&P 500 snapped a four-day losing streak as upbeat tech earnings and cooler inflation data helped lift sentiment out of risk-off mode. Technology stocks reclaimed leadership late in the week, while international markets were shaped by central bank decisions. Fixed income traded sideways, commodities softened overall, and crypto remained under pressure despite brief stabilization attempts.

U.S. Markets Recap (December 14 - December 20, 2025)

Last week, trading unfolded in two clear phases. Stocks slid early as investors waited on labour and inflation data and reassessed elevated AI valuations. Last Tuesday’s November employment report showed a labour market that was slowing but not collapsing, which failed to ignite risk appetite. Volatility spiked midweek after reports that Blue Owl Capital backed away from financing an Oracle-linked data center project, reviving concerns about the sustainability of the AI-led rally.

Sentiment improved after Micron delivered an upbeat earnings report, easing pressure on the semiconductor space. The momentum carried into last Friday after inflation surprised to the downside, with both headline and core CPI printing a two-handle. Big tech led the charge into the largest options expiration on record, helping major indexes finish last week stronger despite soft guidance from Nike and cost challenges cited by FedEx.

Equities:

Last week, trading unfolded in two clear phases. Stocks slid early as investors waited on labour and inflation data and reassessed elevated AI valuations. Last Tuesday’s November employment report showed a labour market that was slowing but not collapsing, which failed to ignite risk appetite. Volatility spiked midweek after reports that Blue Owl Capital backed away from financing an Oracle-linked data center project, reviving concerns about the sustainability of the AI-led rally.

Sentiment improved after Micron delivered an upbeat earnings report, easing pressure on the semiconductor space. The momentum carried into last Friday after inflation surprised to the downside, with both headline and core CPI printing a two-handle. Big tech led the charge into the largest options expiration on record, helping major indexes finish last week stronger despite soft guidance from Nike and cost challenges cited by FedEx.

Fixed Income:

Core bonds, tracked by the Bloomberg Aggregate Index, ended last week with little change after choppy trading. Treasury yields fell following the inflation surprise, lifting expectations for Fed easing in 2026, before reversing as Japanese Government Bond yields climbed toward 20-year highs. Even so, fixed income remains on track for a strong year, with the Aggregate Index up more than 7%. Mortgage-backed securities are up over 8.5%, outperforming both investment-grade and high-yield credit.

Most of this year’s bond returns came from income rather than price appreciation, a trend expected to continue in 2026 as yields remain rangebound. Inflation expectations stay anchored, giving the Fed room to cut rates gradually next year. Treasury yields are expected to remain within a 3.75% to 4.25% range, while corporate credit spreads may widen modestly as downgrade risks increase. Municipal bonds have improved meaningfully in recent months, supported by attractive valuations and solid fundamentals.

Commodities:

The commodities complex traded modestly lower overall. WTI crude sold off early last week on optimism around a potential Russia-Ukraine resolution before stabilizing near $56 per barrel following renewed geopolitical tensions tied to Venezuelan shipping. In metals, gold rose more than 1% for the second straight week as easing inflation reinforced expectations for additional Fed cuts in 2026. Silver extended its year-to-date rally, and copper prices also moved higher.

Currencies:

The U.S. dollar strengthened modestly, with the dollar index up 0.2%. The move was driven primarily by sharp yen weakness after the Bank of Japan (BoJ) struck a more accommodative tone than expected.

Key pairs:

• EUR/USD: -0.26%

• GBP/USD: +0.05%

• USD/JPY: +1.25%

U.S. Economic Recap (December 14 - December 20, 2025)

Inflation data showed meaningful cooling, though with important caveats. Headline and core inflation both rose 0.2% over a two-month period due to missing October data from the government shutdown. On a year-over-year basis, headline inflation slowed to 2.7% and core to 2.6%. Several categories, including hotels, recreation, and apparel, saw outright price declines, while energy services rose more than 7% year over year due to elevated electricity demand.

Markets welcomed the report, pushing yields lower. While inflation readings may remain uneven in early 2026 due to demand effects from larger-than-expected tax refunds, expectations still point toward cooling later in the year. Current forecasts place year-end inflation near 2.5%, giving the Fed room for multiple rate cuts next year.

Global Markets Recap (December 14 - December 20, 2025)

Europe:

European equities advanced despite weaker PMI data early in the week. U.K. markets outperformed after inflation eased to an eight-month low, paving the way for a narrow 5-4 Bank of England (BoE) vote to cut rates by 0.25%. The European Central Bank (ECB) held rates steady, with core inflation matching expectations and headline inflation cooling slightly.

Asia:

Asia-Pacific markets closed broadly lower. Tech-heavy markets such as South Korea and Taiwan led declines amid AI valuation concerns. Hong Kong tech stocks were pressured by weak retail sales and contracting real estate investment. Japan also faced early pressure, though markets stabilized after the BoJ delivered a 0.25% rate hike while offering less hawkish guidance than feared.

Crypto Recap (December 14 - December 20, 2025)

Bitcoin

Bitcoin fell 2.37% last week as U.S. spot BTC ETFs saw $497.05M in outflows. BTC opened near $88,155 and closed around $88,205 after failing to hold above $90,000. The midweek drop to roughly $84,490 was driven primarily by leverage liquidations rather than spot selling. Roughly $480M in crypto liquidations clustered around the December 18 low.

The rebound into December 19 reflected short-covering, not renewed risk appetite. Liquidity conditions tightened further following the Bank of Japan’s rate hike, adding pressure to high-beta assets. Stablecoin activity remained dominant, with USDT and USDC transfers averaging roughly $192B per day on a 90-day basis, nearly double the volume of the top five crypto assets combined.

Relative performance remained weak, with the Bitcoin-to-gold ratio down about 50% in 2025. While some institutions maintain bullish long-term targets, on-chain indicators point to slowing demand and rising downside risk.

Ethereum

Ethereum declined 4.38% as U.S. spot ETH ETFs recorded $643.97M in outflows. ETH saw a 14% peak-to-trough range before stabilizing near $2,977. Exchange supply fell to its lowest level since 2016, highlighting long-term holder accumulation even as TradFi vehicles reduced exposure. Developers confirmed “Hegota” as the next major upgrade following Glamsterdam, reinforcing Ethereum’s long-term roadmap.

Top crypto gainers (last week): NIGHT, CC, UNI, XMR, SKY

Here are other key highlights from last week

• Solana tested quantum-resistant transactions in new Project Eleven pilot.

• Kucoin tapped Tomorrowland Festivals mica-onramp.

• Securities and Exchange Commission published crypto custody guide.

• Polygon made an investment in Boys Club to advance cultural crypto storytelling.

This is a very short holiday week with fewer catalysts!

Key U.S. Economic News:

• ADP Weekly Employment Change (Tuesday)

• Q3 GDP (Tuesday)

• Durable Goods Orders (Tuesday)

• Consumer Confidence (Tuesday)

• Richmond Fed Index (Tuesday)

• Jobless Claims (Wednesday)

Fed Speakers:

• None scheduled due to the Christmas holiday.

Earnings: 

• No earnings releases this week due to the Christmas holiday.

Medium-to-High Impact Global Economic Events This Week:

• Tuesday 12/23: Canada GDP M/M

• Thursday 12/25: BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda may speak in Tokyo

Special Tools & Strategies - The 15 Minute Stock Opening Rule

I have been seeing a surge of interest around the 15 minute stock opening rule of thumb, commonly known as the Opening Range Breakout or ORB. On the surface, it looks simple and repeatable. In practice, many traders lose money with it because they treat it as a mechanical signal instead of a market observation tool. Below is a clean, technical breakdown of how this strategy actually works, why the 15 minute window matters, and how beginners can protect themselves from traps.

Core Concept: What the strategy is

The 15 minute opening rule of thumb is based on defining the market’s initial balance after the New York session opens.

From 9:30 to 9:45 AM Eastern Time:

• Observe price only, no trades

• Mark the highest high reached

• Mark the lowest low reached

These two levels form the opening range.

The basic premise is:

• A break above the range suggests bullish intent

• A break below the range suggests bearish intent

This range is treated as short term support and resistance for the trading session. The mistake many traders make is assuming that the first break of this range equals direction. Institutions (aka smart money) know this assumption exists and often use it against retail traders.

How it works in real time

The correct workflow looks like this:

• Market opens at 9:30 AM

• No trades are placed for the first 15 minutes

• Price volatility is allowed to play out

• High and low of the range are marked at 9:45 AM

• Traders then observe how price behaves around these levels

Key observations during this phase include:

• Does price aggressively accept above or below the range

• Does volume expand or dry up

• Does price quickly reject back into the range

The goal is not to predict direction, but to assess intent.

Implementation rules of thumb

These guidelines help reduce false signals:

• Wait for a candle close outside the range, not just a wick

• Confirm the breakout with increased volume

• Avoid trades if the opening range is extremely narrow, as narrow ranges are more prone to noise

• Place stop losses beyond logical structure, not directly at the range edge

• Use realistic profit targets based on the size of the opening range

Many traders use a risk to reward framework such as 1.5 to 2 times the range size, but only when context supports the trade.

Why 15 minutes?

The 15 minute window sits between two extremes:

• The first 5 minutes are often too chaotic and dominated by order imbalances

• A 30 minute range is more stable but often delays entries too long

Fifteen minutes allows:

• Overnight orders to clear

• Early stop hunts to occur

• Market makers to reveal initial positioning

It filters some noise while still capturing early session direction when it is real.

How to use this setup the right way to avoid traps and fakeouts

Protective rules for beginners

This is where most beginners either grow or get discouraged.

Protective principles to follow:

• Do not trade the opening range without higher time frame context

• Only take ORB trades in the direction of the 15 minute or one hour trend

• Expect fake breakouts and plan for them instead of reacting emotionally

• Watch for liquidity sweeps above or below the range followed by rejection

• Use confirmation tools such as structure breaks, trend lines, or Fibonacci retracement zones

• If price breaks the range and immediately returns inside, stand aside

Think of the opening range as a map, not a command. It shows where liquidity is likely resting and where institutions may push price to test participation.

When used alone, the ORB has no trend, no structure, and no bias. When combined with higher time frame direction and confirmation, it becomes a powerful filtering tool rather than a trap.

If you want help learning how to layer this strategy properly into your trading style, that is where focused one on one guidance makes a real difference.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is strictly educational. The information this report provides does not constitute investment, financial, trading, or any other advice. You should not treat any of the report’s content as such. Please be careful and do your research.