We are now more than one month into 2026, and we like this thought from author James Clear: “What needs to happen for me to look back in December and consider the year a success?”
As investors, we are frequently reminded that there are so many things that we don’t control. Successful investors focus on what they can influence, and this is the focus of sound financial planning.
Whatever the rest of the year brings, we can all plan for success by answering Clear’s question- what needs to happen between now and December 31?
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In our January 10 letter, we wrote about the way that a small number of complainers dominate government work AND cost all of us money. This example from Los Angeles highlights the issue beautifully, or horrifically. In Los Angeles, you can file a complaint against a new housing project for $229. It costs the city $22,000 to investigate it!
We like doors, especially bathroom doors. Many hotel designers don’t seem to agree. This is an unfortunate extension of the “half-enclosure” shower stalls. Hotel bathrooms are too small for this to avoid wetting the entire floor.
This is a neat bit of film history- Disney’s creation of the vertical MultiPlane camera enhanced the quality and depth of animated films.
Humans Share About 60% of Their Genes with Bananas: Despite vast differences, humans and bananas share a significant portion of genetic material, highlighting the consistent way that biological processes take place in many organisms.
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In lieu of a Q&A this week, here are two helpful Commonwealth resources:
February Market Thoughts Video
Who is Kevin Warsh, President’s Trump’s nominee for the next Federal Reserve Chairman? This is a helpful primer, with some analysis of the next few months for the Fed.