The wildfires that devastated Southern California in January exposed a larger gap in our economy--shifting fundamentals in the broader insurance market.

The forecast for Q1 is dropping like a rock, raising eyebrows about the possibility of an economic downturn. But before we all start panic-buying gold bars and canned beans, let’s remember—one negative month does not make a recession.

Donald Trump has acted swiftly to execute his agenda. He’s used executive orders as a wrecking ball to demolish essential government functions, often without concrete alternative measures.

Markets moved violently on January 27th following the news that China upstart DeepSeek, a large language model, was “trained” for only $6 million. Sure, and the Dodgers aren’t signing free agents.

We are based in a sprawling master planned community north of Los Angeles. It’s a place where roads are wide and traffic flows. The school district is one of the best in the state. Paseos, parks and walking trails abound.

Our practice is based in Los Angeles. We have many friends and colleagues impacted by the historic devastation here. There were shocking visuals of human despair and heroism.

As the confetti settles and 2025 begins, individuals and companies alike are filled with hope for a new year.

While the stock market often commands attention with its volatile highs and lows, the bond market quietly wields unparalleled influence over the global economy.

See Marc Emmer’s annual Vistage Trends Webinar covering the economy, geopolitical risks, technology and AI, and social and employment trends.