Market Commentary | Apr 07, 2026
1Q2026 Market Commentary: Markets In a Box
Michael J. AroestyCFP®
CFP®
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
The world is getting happier, but not in the English-speaking world. While global life satisfaction has improved, the Anglosphere is falling behind due to rising pessimism among the younger generations.1 The newly released Gallup 2026 World Happiness Report surveyed more than 1,000 respondents per country, asking them to rate their lives on a scale from zero—the worst possible life—to ten—the best. For the second consecutive year, no English-speaking country cracked the top ten.
The 272-page report can largely be distilled into a simple, modern paradox: the small boxes we carry in our pockets are making us miserable. As social media usage rises, happiness scores tend to fall. The speed and accessibility of information—once celebrated as unequivocal progress—has proven to be both a remarkable blessing and a subtle, persistent curse.
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Michael J. Aroesty
CFP®