April Monthly Insight: Investing In Uncertainty, A Roth IRA Tip and UMD’s AI Master’s Program
On March 31, Shuo, Colin and I hosted a Medicare in Retirement webinar. The response was overwhelmingly positive. If you'd like to explore further, feel free to reach out. Book a Meeting with Me
Investing: The Middle East, AI, and What We’re Watching
In this environment, it's vital to let economic fundamentals guide your strategy instead of reacting to the 24-hour news cycle. Two forces are shaping the economic outlook:
Ongoing Middle East tensions;
And the accelerating disruption from AI.
On the geopolitical front, elevated oil prices can stoke inflation and act as a drag on growth. In the near term, much depends on how long the conflict persists and whether global energy infrastructure faces meaningful disruption.
On the technology front, concerns about AI reshaping business models across software and many other industries have weighed on certain sectors. Yet the longer-term picture may tell a different story: broader AI adoption could meaningfully lift productivity and corporate profitability over time, which would be a tailwind for equities overall.
Meanwhile, the underlying economy has shown real resilience. U.S. household balance sheets remain strong, corporate earnings have held up, and recent months have seen a pickup in activity led by business investment and manufacturing. Goldman Sachs Research has trimmed its 2026 GDP growth forecast by 0.3 percentage points to 2.2%, and raised its estimated probability of recession over the next 12 months by 5 percentage points to 25%. (https://www.gspublishing.com/content/research/en/reports/2026/03/12/f29acd9f-9ddc-457f-9534-0057a19f2592.html)
Our take: Uncertainty is elevated, but so is opportunity — if you stay disciplined. For those within five years of retirement, this environment is a timely reminder of why downside preservation strategies matter. Volatility is not a reason to panic; it is a reason to plan.
Planning Tip: Think Twice Before Using Roth IRA Funds to Buy an Income Annuity
Qualified Roth IRA withdrawals can be tax-free in retirement — which means the account can offer dynamic benefits when it holds your fastest-growing assets. An income annuity is designed for one thing: guaranteed lifetime income. It is not built for growth. When you fund an annuity primarily with Roth dollars, you may be giving up the very benefit that makes a Roth so powerful.
I recently came across a client situation that illustrated this exactly. Before you purchase any income annuity, make sure you've thought through which dollars you're using — and why.
UMD's AI Master's Program — Anxiety, Headlines, and Learning by Doing
A friend recently told me her anxiety about AI was keeping her up at night. She's not alone. Goldman Sachs Research estimates that roughly 300 million jobs globally are exposed to automation — so the worry is understandable. (https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/articles/how-will-ai-affect-the-us-labor-market?id=i8if7ehbimza&chl=em&cid=2026-03-27&plt=briefings)
After completing courses like AI Builders and AI Architecture, and building a few tools myself, my honest takeaway is simpler than the headlines suggest: most people hear alarming news about AI without yet understanding what today's tools can and cannot actually do. Even experts are still learning. The practical path forward is to work directly with different tools, understand their strengths and limits, and keep iterating. It is never too late to start.
One resource worth knowing about: the University of Maryland launched an M.S. in Artificial Intelligence designed specifically for working professionals in 2025. The curriculum offers a clear, structured map of the field — a useful antidote to vague anxiety.
UMD M.S. in Artificial Intelligence
If any of these topics are on your mind, I’m happy to help you think through your priorities and next steps.
Disclaimer: Content in this material is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.
To qualify for tax-free withdrawals, you must generally be age 59½ and hold the converted funds in the Roth I RA for at least five years. Each conversion has its own five-year period, and early withdrawals may be subject to a 10% penalty unless an exception applies. Income limits still apply for future direct Roth IRA contributions. Fixed and Variable annuities are suitable for long-term investing, such as retirement investing. Gains from tax-deferred investments are taxable as ordinary income upon withdrawal. Guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the issuing company. Withdrawals made prior to age 59 ½ are subject to a 10% IRS penalty tax and surrender charges may apply. Variable annuities are subject to market risk and may lose value.
