A year ago, I wrote about how predictability creates confidence—and how quickly confidence disappears when life feels uncertain.

That hasn’t changed.

But what has changed… is how long people have been living in that uncertainty.

Because this isn’t a moment anymore.
It’s starting to feel like the norm.

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What I’m Seeing Now (2026)

Over the past year, I’ve had dozens of conversations with clients and prospective clients.

And the themes are incredibly consistent:

• “We make good money… but it still feels tight.”
• “We should feel ahead, but we don’t.”
• “I don’t trust what’s coming next.”

That loss of confidence isn’t about income.

It’s about lack of predictability.

And right now, predictability is hard to come by:

• Costs still feel elevated (even if headlines say inflation is slowing)
• Insurance, healthcare, taxes, and everyday expenses keep shifting
• Income feels less certain—even for high earners
• Markets move… then reverse… then move again

When people don’t know what’s coming next, they don’t feel in control.

And when they don’t feel in control… they hesitate.

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The Hidden Cost of Uncertainty

When predictability disappears, something subtle happens:

You stop making clear decisions.

Instead, you start reacting.

That shows up as:

• Holding more cash “just in case”
• Delaying decisions (vacations, investments, home projects)
• Relying on credit to smooth things out
• Second-guessing spending—even on things that matter

It’s not a money problem.

It’s a clarity problem.

As I said last year—and it’s even more true today:

Confidence doesn’t come from having more money.
It comes from knowing what your money is going to do.

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What’s Changed in My Advice (And What Hasn’t)

The core principle still holds:

Predictability builds confidence.

But here’s what I’d emphasize more today:

1. You don’t need the economy to be predictable

You need your plan to be predictable.

The external world is always going to move.

Trying to “wait for things to settle down” is a losing strategy.

2. Control creates calm

The people who feel the most confident right now are not the ones earning the most.

They’re the ones who:

• Know exactly what it costs them to live
• Have a plan for irregular expenses
• Can adjust quickly when things change

They’ve created internal predictability, even when the world isn’t predictable.

3. Most people still don’t know their real numbers

This hasn’t improved much over the last year.

Many people are still:

• Guessing at monthly spending
• Surprised by “random” expenses (that aren’t actually random)
• Living slightly behind their income—even at $150K+

And that creates constant low-level stress.

As I’ve said before:

If you don’t know what it costs to live your life, everything feels uncertain.

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The Game Plan (2026 Version)

If predictability is the goal… here’s how to rebuild it:

1. Get clear on your baseline

What does it actually cost to run your life each month?

Not estimates.
Not averages.

Real numbers.

2. Turn “unexpected” into expected

Car repairs, travel, holidays, home maintenance—
These aren’t surprises.

They’re just poorly timed certainties.

Plan for them monthly.

3. Decide before you spend

This is still the foundation.

Instead of reacting to money…
decide what it needs to do first.

Then spend with confidence.

4. Build flexibility into your plan

Predictability doesn’t mean rigidity.

It means:

• You know your priorities
• You can shift when needed
• You stay in control, even when things change

Final Thought

A year later, the message is even clearer:

The world may not feel predictable anytime soon.

But your money can.

And when your money feels predictable again…

So does your confidence.

If you’re feeling that disconnect—making good money but still not feeling in control—
You’re not alone. And more importantly… It’s fixable.

Need Help Getting Started?

If your money doesn’t feel predictable right now, your confidence won’t either. Let’s change that. Book a complimentary 25-Minute Call. 

Schedule a conversation with me at MeetWithDoug.com.