You are a free subscriber to Me and the Money Printer. To upgrade to paid and receive the daily Capital Wave Report - which features our Red-Green market signals, subscribe here. Why I Ditched New Year's Resolutions for This InsteadA resolution is just a wish... it requires a framework for it to be achieved. Traders pay attention... because this shift in thinking will make 2026 your best year yet.
Dear Fellow Traveler: Happy New Year. I hope yours is off to a strong start. Two nights ago, Josh Brown asked me if I had any New Year’s resolutions. I told him I wanted to be back in the pool this morning, building toward a mile a day again. I already regret saying that out loud. In hindsight, I should’ve answered “Lower expectations.” Between a lingering sinus infection and a back that seems to have strong opinions about every move I make, this had all the ingredients of a resolution that expires before my first cup of coffee (still waiting to drink that). That’s when I remembered something important. I’ve abandoned the resolution mindset altogether. Instead, this year, I’m trying to operate with a more purpose-driven approach. Resolutions tend to behave like wishes. We want to get back in the gym and eat better. We wish to say “no” more often and guard our time more carefully. None of those goals is wrong… they’re just incomplete. Resolutions miss the why… the reminder. And finding a purpose supplies it. The good news is that it’s easier to find one than you think. Build a Framework for the Year Ahead…Understanding the purpose behind something (a goal, a resolution, a new purchase) creates a framework. It gives you a quiet and ticking reminder of why you’re getting out of bed early to move your body, or why you’re choosing not to do something distracting or easy. The purpose will replay in your mind, repeatedly. And because that thing matters so much to you, you’ll see the resolutions as part of that path. In 2025, I defined my editorial purpose at Me and the Money Printer… as follows:
Once that Constitution existed, a lot of things became easier for me… Writing became easier. Deadlines were met. Framing stories became easier. Conversations with you became more natural, and story selection mattered more. Before I write anything, I ask: Does the story align with that statement above? If it doesn’t, I abandon the topic. That saves time, energy, and attention. It keeps me from chasing things that might perform well in the short term but don’t actually move the mission (agenda) forward. Recall… there’s a difference between a purpose and a mission. A purpose doesn’t change and keeps you honest. Missions must change, and must keep you moving. For 2026, the mission linked to that purpose is pretty simple too: Guide readers through volatile market regimes by teaching them how to protect capital first and act decisively when structure aligns, anomalies reward, and contrarian values emerge. You’ll rarely see “clickbait” headlines at Me and the Money Printer… (unless it’s a joke) And hopefully you come back because you know the value of what I’m trying to do... Of course, that Constitution and mission don’t stop at the edge of the page. Everything Else Must AlignI can’t do this work well if I’m burned out, foggy, or running on fumes. I can’t help people think clearly about markets if I’m not taking care of the physical and mental systems that allow me to think clearly in the first place. Which brings me back to the pool. Getting back into the water isn’t a fitness resolution in the abstract. It’s a commitment to sustaining the focus, patience, and regulation this work requires over the long run. It’s a pure grind… no doubt… and it’s been like this for almost two decades. So… if I want to still be having these conversations five years from now, I have to take care of the machinery that makes them possible. This framework isn’t limited to writing or fitness. It applies directly to markets, trading, and investing as well. Most traders don’t actually have a trading problem. They have a purpose problem. Ask someone why they trade, and you’ll usually hear an outcome. They want to make money, beat the market, quit a job… or just be right. The thing you’ll learn in behavioral finance classes, though, is that outcomes are fragile. And markets have an incredible ability to stress-test them immediately. A defined purpose answers a different question… What role do markets play in the life you’re trying to build? If your purpose is capital preservation across cycles, you don’t chase late-stage momentum. If your purpose is steady income with controlled risk, you don’t swing for lottery tickets. If your purpose is independence, you don’t build conviction through headlines and news feeds, and you don’t chase the emotional temperature of the room. Once your market purpose is clear, rules stop feeling restrictive and start feeling logical. Not chasing trades isn’t discipline… It’s a form of well-meaning structure. Your position sizing won’t be viewed as caution. It becomes a respect for survival. Walking away when you’re exhausted isn’t weakness… It’s a form of professionalism. Markets are very good at exploiting people who don’t know why they’re there. Specifically, people without purpose… just meandering through markets. They reward motion, noise, and overconfidence just often enough to make those habits dangerous. So… it’s important to take the time to understand your purpose before you try to make market resolutions. A good purpose for a first-time trader might be something as simple as “to learn how markets move while protecting my capital long enough to stay in the game.” Or… “To understand risk, position size, and market behavior before trying to extract returns.” Purpose will keep you from trading just to trade… or investing just to invest. People with decades of market knowledge and trading/investing experience face different challenges. For the “experts,” markets aren’t confusing… they are seductive. Experienced investors might want their market purpose to constrain ego, preserve optionality, and honor time as their primary edge. I’ll tell you now as a trader and investor… my Constitution here is different than my educator role, but it’s still clearly defined.
That’s it. It defines my risk-reward policies without using those terms… Take the Time to Determine Your PurposeOnce you have defined that purpose in the markets (especially if you do any of this professionally), other things will start to show how they impact your life. The same clarity I try to bring to markets has to exist in my health. The same patience I talk about in investing has to show up at home. My resistance to noise, which I encourage in trading, has to apply to how I spend my time and attention. That’s why I gave my daughter an hourglass for Christmas (late birthday present). As I explained in a recent article, I wanted to give her more of my time because my purpose at home is to be more present and to prioritize mornings and evenings with her and my wife... Amelia gets 30 minutes a night when she chooses… no phones or screens. Just us… She understood the rules immediately. I did not (we played The Game of Life last night, and her decision not to retire early cost her the game). That commitment (or resolution) aligns as a structured decision about where my attention goes in a world of market noise and distractions… You don’t get to practice independence in one domain and chaos in another without eventually paying for it. The pool, the writing, the allocations, and the time at home aren’t separate commitments. They’re the same commitment, expressed in different places. And when it all holds together, resolutions stop feeling like promises you’re afraid to break. They start feeling like the next natural step toward something better... Now, on that note, I really do need to get in the pool. I’ll be back tomorrow to explain the problems with Europe’s financial system… Stay positive, Garrett Baldwin About Me and the Money Printer Me and the Money Printer is a daily publication covering the financial markets through three critical equations. We track liquidity (money in the financial system), momentum (where money is moving in the system), and insider buying (where Smart Money at companies is moving their money). Combining these elements with a deep understanding of central banking and how the global system works has allowed us to navigate financial cycles and boost our probability of success as investors and traders. This insight is based on roughly 17 years of intensive academic work at four universities, extensive collaboration with market experts, and the joy of trial and error in research. You can take a free look at our worldview and thesis right here. Disclaimer Nothing in this email should be considered personalized financial advice. While we may answer your general customer questions, we are not licensed under securities laws to guide your investment situation. Do not consider any communication between you and Florida Republic employees as financial advice. The communication in this letter is for information and educational purposes unless otherwise strictly worded as a recommendation. Model portfolios are tracked to showcase a variety of academic, fundamental, and technical tools, and insight is provided to help readers gain knowledge and experience. Readers should not trade if they cannot handle a loss and should not trade more than they can afford to lose. There are large amounts of risk in the equity markets. Consider consulting with a professional before making decisions with your money.
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