Maximizing Your 401(k), and Is Retirement Bad for Your Brain?

The article notes the US SP 500 is trading near all-time highs (up 6.4% YTD) but highlights that small caps and international stocks have outperformed so far in 2026 — the S&P 600 is up 15.7% and the FTSE Global All Cap ex‑US is up 10.6% YTD. It cites research showing international equities have decoupled somewhat from the U.S. market (Morningstar Developed Markets ex‑US three‑year correlation down from 0.92 to 0.71 by end‑2025), underscoring diversification benefits. Macro risk is flagged as well: U.S. debt held by the public was $31.27 trillion vs. trailing‑12‑month GDP of $31.22 trillion (debt/GDP ~100.2%), a potential longer‑term market headwind. The piece combines market performance context with 401(k) retirement guidance and demographic/fiscal risks that could influence investor allocations.