2026 already? Yes, as soon as these next few pesky holiday weeks pass.
Might be time to begin taking a tiny peek at what might be in store. And, if you don’t like what you see, there is plenty of time to party these next few weeks and ignore what the looming new year brings.
First, don’t forget (or overlook) that on the very first day of 2026, health insurance is set to skyrocket. Of course, if you die on New Year’s Eve, this will not apply to you. However, the higher health insurance premiums are going to certainly cut into the spending habits of a huge portion of the population. Will consumer spending slow? How could it not?
As the first month of the new year evolves, the economic data that was unavailable due to the government shutdown will begin coming back online. It is expected that it may show things around the country were not as rosy as thought. Perhaps the economy was humming as expected, or perhaps not. Either way, all that backed-up data is finally getting into the system. Surprise?
Oh, speaking of that government shutdown, how about a replay? Yes, a sequel is set for the end of January. Didn’t get enough of all the political “games” a few months ago? Let’s shut the government down again just for sport. Gosh, that’s only a month+ away. Can’t wait.
Moving deeper into 2026, the always popular mid-term elections are set to kick off. This is where name-calling, lying, misleading facts, and just plain nastiness run wild. How fun. Now, in case the House of Representatives does change hands, it is almost a “lock” that President Trump will be impeached again. I mean, why not? It’s worked so well the last three times—why tinker with “success?”
So, if government shutdowns, sketchy economic data, and political mud-slinging (mud?) aren’t enough to think about, consider the “greater fool” theory.
What’s that? Easy explanation. It’s where “people” (usually BIG people) who want to get out of the market (or just a position) try to convince you that you need to be in the market (or that one super cool shiny position). Don’t worry—everyone falls for it at some time. The “can’t miss” in 2026 has already begun. According to the president, next year will be: 1) fantastic, 2) the biggest and best EVER, 3) the economy will explode higher. OK then.
(Having just seen over the past two months how Bitcoin has gone from $120K to $85K, with every… EVERY… expert saying there is no supply, you need to get in now because it’s going to: $200K, $1.5M, $10T, or… pick your own. For something you couldn’t get, you sure got it.)
Having seen (experienced) the Bitcoin “greater fool theory,” skepticism abounds. 2026 is hardly here, so let’s just hope all will be well. Or, at least par.
Or, at least partly well.
Bill Taylor is the CEO and Chief Market Strategist at Digital Wealth News, offering expert insights on markets and asset classes. A proud Horned Frog and Texas Christian University grad, he played college basketball while there. With a strong finance background and passion for digital innovation, Bill shares thought leadership on market trends and portfolio strategy for our audience.
