Robertson Stephens Weekly Commentary – September 8, 2026

The productivity of American workers has consistently been credited with the dominant economic growth and relatively low inflation of the US economy compared to other developed economies in the world, and so the question looms large today: Will this pattern continue, what will it require, and how does the American workforce best benefit from its critical role in economic expansion? Through the end of August, the equity performance landscape generated: MSCI Emerging Markets Index +24.3%; Russell 2000 Value Index +23.7%; Russell 1000 Value Index +23.1%; MSCI Japan Index +21.1%; Russell 2000 Index +20.2%; S&P 400 MidCap Growth Index +17%; Russell 2000 Growth Index +16.9%; S&P 500 Equal Weight Index +15.6%. On the wealth planning front, we discuss year-end planning strategies for managing deferred Opportunity Zone gains and the resulting tax and liquidity implications.