MAY NEWSLETTER | Permission (and rules) to give now
Hi friends,
We’ve been reveling in blossom-strewn days and our seasonal return to team lunch at the downtown farmers market!
We’re using this spring joy to help us navigate the news while taking thoughtful political and cultural action. Check out our Q1 market review (which feels like ages ago) to help you tune out the market noise to focus on impact in this season.
Happy spring,
Team Modernist
PSA: Join us in taking breaks from the news to get outside for a stroll and a mental reset!
investing insights
In our Q1 Market Commentary from our Investment Committee, we reviewed market & economic performance. Let’s all remember:
📉 The not-so-magnificent 7. The once-shining stars of the US market dimmed substantially in 2025, with every member under water through the first quarter with (ahem) particularly poor performance from Tesla.
🌎 International is back. After years of underperformance, international markets are making a strong comeback in 2025. With more modest valuations across over the last decade, this international rally could sustain itself over the long term.
📈 Expect volatility. Uncertain policies have fueled an increase in US stock market volatility. Investors who react to headlines risk missing the longer-term recovery that historically follows such pullbacks.
🐌 Stay the course. The biggest risk to long-term financial plans is overreacting to short-term volatility. The sharp sell-off in early April triggered by worse-than-anticipated tariff announcements reminds us that volatility is not only common, but often sudden.
And finally, last quarter we shared an overview of Trump’s tariff “strategy” and a critical take on “American Exceptionalism” and whether it is likely to continue in stock markets.
STRUCTURE YOUR WEALTH AROUND YOUR VALUES
We’re excited about Jasmine Rashid’s Portland tour stop in support of her new book The Financial Activist Playbook. This comprehensive resource empowers everyday people on how to move their money to create a more equitable economy. 💪 Pick up a copy or join us at a reading.
From the Team
Big changes from our team!
🌱 After nearly 6 years supporting Modernist’s growth and our clients, Director of Client Experience & Associate Financial Planner Katia is off to new adventures, she says:
“Serving you has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. While this chapter is ending, the warmth I feel for all of you stays with me. Thanks for allowing me to be part of your lives. Thanks for your trust, warmth, and the care you’ve shown me in return.”
🌱 We’re also celebrating promotions for Alejandra and Bernard and the return of the fabulous Tracy Rogers! The newly bolstered team is ready to support our growth.
🤝🔗🌱
We love connecting with mission-aligned CFPs as our Financial Planning team grows. If you know a radical, heart-centered, super-nerd planner we should meet, drop us a line to send them our way!
FUND YOUR HEROES
The time to give is NOW. As 47’s administration tries to deconstruct our systems of care, join us by creating a giving rule to shift from “anxious giving” to a feeling of permission and intention when you donate. At Modernist, we donate 3% of our revenue to impact racial wealth equality and encourage you to adopt this structure, too.
How Modernist does it: At the end of each month, we move 1% of revenue to a “Seeding Justice” savings account for our annual fund contribution, we move another 1% to a savings account for spontaneous donations during the year, and the remaining 1% are set up as monthly “bills” aka recurring donations from our checking account.
Kudos to our rad client who applied their “3% donation for reparations” rule to a recent inheritance! 👏
Looking for other ways to resist? Indivisible organizes virtual events and protests across the country, look up a gathering near you and make your voice heard!
FIGHT FOR THE ARTS
Credit: the fabulous Pattie Gonia, based on an illustration by Vasco Gargala
Oregon Humanities is taking DOGE to court! ⚖️💪🎨 Humanities councils around the country are joining forces to challenge the attack on their budgets. We are so so so proud of Portland law firm, Tonkin Torp, for their pro bono lawsuit to restore 2025 NEH funding.
⚡Write a letter to the editor of any Republican representative’s local paper, reminding them of the local economic benefit of these federal dollars.
⚡Thank any representative that is fighting DOGE’s cuts to Congressional appropriations for the NEH, NEA, Head Start, Parks, etc.
⚡Start a recurring contribution to an impacted organization, even $5 per month helps their requests for greater foundation support while they navigate this moment.
⚡Take your estate planning and other legal work to the law firms fighting 47: we’re proud as hell that our downtown neighbors at Tonkin Torp and Perkins Coie are fighting the good fight.
👏 Everybody is an art person! 👏 We love this wonderful, inclusive video from the Portland Art Museum that invites art people (aka everyone) to visit ♥️expanded exhibition space opening November 2025!
A SONG THAT’S REALLY ABOUT JOY
Isn’t it refreshing to ditch the algorithm and tune into public radio? We love local DJ Rev. Shines’ shows on KMHD, Portland’s local jazz station. You can find his shows on weekday mornings and weekend afternoons, or listen on demand.
⚡Reminder that public radio is for everyone (and is facing federal funding cuts too 😑), so tune in and donate monthly if you can! ⚡