Bull & Baird: Reelin' in the Year
Spotify Wrapped is one of my favorite things tech companies do for their subscribers. Each December, Spotify shows its users all their top songs and how many hours they streamed music throughout the year – a fun reminder of your year and what you listened to along the way.
I figured I’d steal their idea for a year-end review of the songs that reflect how 2025 felt and what we learned. Here is my soundtrack for 2025:
“I’m Still Standing” by Elton John
One of my favorite Elton John songs. Written to remind us about the power of remaining resilient amidst hardship and uncertainty.
The roaring stock market that started in 2022 continued to march higher in 2025. This will likely be the third year in a row of double-digit gains. Incredible. Not only that, the 2020s are shaping up to be one of the best decades for investors since the 90s. I looked to see how often the stock market is up 4 years in a row, and it turns out to be quite often (past performance is no guarantee of future results). We have a phrase for markets that are up that many years in a row. They’re called bull markets. You’re in one.
“Caution” by The Killers
While the central theme of this song is about throwing caution to the wind, we need to talk about what worries me in the stock market.
I love the Killers. I can’t name a better singalong than “Mr. Brightside.” If that song comes on in a group of people, you know the vibes are going to soar.
There were a few macro concerns in 2025 that will persist in 2026. What were they? What gives me caution? Housing and jobs. If the housing market doesn’t unlock soon, it could hinder economic growth. If the jobs market remains weak (or gets weaker) you are looking at a toxic combo for earnings. Also, let’s remember that midterm years can be tricky, so we’ll keep our eyes on all this.
“What It Sounds Like” by HUNTR/X
The final song of the movie is about having people in your life you can trust to be alongside you even in the darkest moments.
K-Pop Demon Hunters seemed to come into my life out of nowhere, but it’s easily one of the best animated musicals I’ve ever seen. Netflix hit a multibillion-dollar home run with a piece of original IP, and its lessons will be studied for years to come.
We live in a noisy world full of pessimism and outrage, and if you let it get to you, you’ll suffer in more ways than just poor investment returns. Know this: we at Baird are right here by your side every moment of the day. Upset by politics? Talk to us. Angry about the news? Talk to us. Unsure about what to do with your money? Talk to us. AI might do a lot of things in our world, but it won’t help manage the roller coaster of a financial life. We do and always will.
“Time in a Bottle” by Jim Croce
Written just one year before I was born. Its message is as timeless in 2025 as it was in 1972.
In the end, 2025 was another year that you walked the path of life. Did you enjoy it? I hope you did.
I was flying to Denver the other day and heard something incredible on the Diary of a CEO podcast. The host asked comedian Jimmy Carr if he knew the secret to life. Jimmy replied, “Yes, I do – and it’s only 5 words.” The host then asked “Well, what are they?” Jimmy’s answer was simple: “Enjoying the passage of time.”
I think that’s so profound and I’ve been pondering it for days. We are here once, if you aren’t enjoying the passage of time then I hope you find a way to change that. Again, the world is a noisy place meant to challenge you at every turn. If you consume endless hours of media (especially politics) it will almost certainly reduce your enjoyment of the passage of time. You must minimize it for your own mental health.
If you want two easy resolutions for 2026: Watch less news and move your body more (I’ll be walking, but even gentle body stretches count!). Do whatever you can to enjoy the years as they pass by because time is precious.
Well, that’s a wrap on 2025. I wish you and your family a healthy, happy holiday season. Let’s come back next year and hopefully it’ll be a Stairway to Heaven otherwise, Gimme Shelter!
