As we step into 2026 together, I want to extend my warmest wishes for a year of meaningful experiences, good health, and personal achievement. Each new year brings with it a blend of optimism and uncertainty, and 2026 is no different. What distinguishes successful outcomes for long-term investors is not prediction, but preparation grounded in disciplined planning, diversified strategy, and a clear understanding of the evolving market landscape. As we saw in 2025, the investment landscape can be volatile, and it can change quickly from day to day, but the long-term outlook remains the same: a steady upwards march when holding proven, high-quality assets in a well-diversified portfolio designed for your objectives.

2025 will be remembered as a year defined by divergence—between regions, between market capitalizations, and between expectations and outcomes. What began under the weight of uncertainty gradually evolved into a far more constructive environment as inflation moderated, central banks pivoted, and investors selectively re-embraced risk. While volatility surfaced at various points throughout the year, markets ultimately rewarded discipline and patience, particularly in areas that had been previously overlooked.

We hope you all enjoyed a great Christmas season and that 2026 brings with it health, happiness, and prosperity.
In Panama, Christmas is quite the celebration. What we lack in snow and reminders of the north pole, is overshadowed by extensive light displays and the Christian religious aspects. Social events are frequent and local theatres are devoted to themes like The Nutcracker ballet. It is a busy time of year here and a reminder not to visit anywhere near the large shopping malls, which become packed with traffic and holiday shoppers.

At Prittie Private Wealth, our goal is to continuously enhance how we support you—through meaningful feedback, accessible education, and intuitive technology. Several recent initiatives reflect this commitment and are designed to help you and your family feel confident, informed, and engaged in your financial journey.
Your Voice Matters: Client Engagement Survey
We recently sent out our Client Engagement Survey and encourage all clients to take a few minutes to participate. As a thank-you for your time and feedback, all completed surveys will be entered into a draw to win one of two $100 Visa gift cards.

At Prittie Private Wealth, our primary goal is to ensure that Electronic Funds Transfers (EFTs) and Wire Orders are initiated, executed, and approved securely and efficiently—while meeting your needs. Whether you’re purchasing a new vehicle or making another important purchase, we want to ensure you receive your funds on time.

In my previous articles, I have emphasized that financial planning is more than numbers on a page but rather that your plan is the cornerstone of long-term investment success. While it is tempting to focus solely on the performance of individual stocks or the headlines of the day, true wealth creation lies in the discipline of planning and the consistency of execution. A well-structured financial plan provides clarity, structure, and direction in an environment that can often feel uncertain, and since it is a living document, it is always prudent to review and stay on top of your plan. This is as true today as ever, particularly as we navigate the ups and downs of global markets with the first half of this year bringing significantly higher volatility.

The third quarter of 2025 marked a decisive turn toward optimism as markets built upon the stability achieved in Q2. With the 90-day tariff pause from “Liberation Day” providing breathing room for negotiations, investors found their footing amid a backdrop of constructive policy developments and encouraging economic data. The quarter’s performance provided evidence that the worst of the policy uncertainty may be behind us. Canadian markets delivered strong performance across the board, with particular strength in areas that had been overshadowed during earlier quarters.

Hola mi amigos. How was your summer? We enjoyed our time in northern New York along the seaway and made a few trips to Ottawa. However, much of our Canada day count was consumed with a list of items to tackle at the rural farm property and required visits to assist my aging father, whose condition continues to deteriorate. At 95 years of age he has certainly “beat the odds”, however in recent months, his quality of life has unfortunately declined. This was our second year outside of Canada with the CRA officially recognizing us as “having left Canada” and accepting all our tax filings as submitted.

Did you know that online scams targeting investors are on the rise? Fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated—using emails, texts, and even fake websites to trick people into sharing personal information or sending money. At Prittie Private Wealth & Mandeville Private Client Inc., protecting your assets goes beyond markets as we also want to safeguard you from these growing digital threats.

Fall 2025’s real estate market theme is perhaps best summed up as “wait and see”. The spring market was flat. Experts have mixed reports about the national average home prices for the remainder of the year. Most (CREA, CMHC, etc.) predict a drop between 1.7-3.2%, but Royal LePage is an outlier still echoing their early year prediction of 3.5-5% price increase.

There are some notable regional differences. In Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec, they could see sales at historically high levels and faster price growth.

In our last edition of the Prittie Perspective, I wrote about navigating uncertainty and the fog of the trade war. Much has happened in the last three months with the US Administration’s “Liberation Day” occurring the day after our last newsletter. Since then, we saw a significant market reaction and geopolitical concerns from global leaders over the future of trade and the reliability of the United States as a partner. Stock markets reacted with both fear and contempt upon the unveiling of the reciprocal tariff schedule as many economists felt is grossly mischaracterized the reality of global trade. This due to the United States being a largely knowledge-based economy that imports goods from smaller countries to meet the demands of its population.

The second quarter of 2025 began on uncertain footing following “Liberation Day,” a surprise policy announcement in the United States on April 2nd that triggered a wave of market volatility. The resulting selloff saw equities decline sharply as investors scrambled to understand the fiscal and regulatory implications. Despite this early disruption, markets regained stability over the quarter and ended with gains due to the administration’s decision to pause the tariffs for 90 days as well as the announcement of several tentative trade deals.