Robertson Stephens Weekly Commentary – April 13, 2026

There is simply no way to spin this: the “affordability” metrics are ugly and likely to get uglier in the next two months. Inflation in the United States is running above 3% at the moment, a development that may indeed be “transitory” but nevertheless remains dispiriting and painful. Stocks traded higher for a second consecutive week as a ceasefire announcement between the U.S. and Iran triggered the strongest single-day rally in roughly a year. The S&P 500 gained +3.7%, the Nasdaq rose +4.2%, and the Russell 2000 returned +4.3%. On the wealth planning front, we discuss how retirement timing and early market conditions impact long-term outcomes.