Greetings!
Welcome.
I’m glad you’re here.
I hope you found a moment to reflect on positive memories and express love for your dad over Father’s Day weekend. And for those who needed it, I trust you felt the encouragement and support you truly deserve!
One of my favorite quotes comes from Jean-Jacques Rousseau: “A good father is worth a hundred teachers.” This sentiment certainly resonates with my experiences with my own father, a blessing that I don’t take for granted.
In today’s Wealth Advisory, we’ll delve into the historical effects of geopolitical risk on portfolio management and its current implications, particularly concerning the oil market.
Next, our Wellness Navigator, Christine Despres, a Registered Nurse and Certified Dementia Practitioner, will share valuable strategies for supporting family members coping with dementia.
Finally, in the Etcetera section, we’ll highlight some interesting tidbits you may have missed this week, along with a video on making the most of your evenings.
Let’s get started!
Wealth Advisory: How Wars Impact Investors
Regional tensions between Israel and Iran have drawn worldwide focus, generating market uncertainty across global financial systems. Following Israeli operations targeting Iranian nuclear and military installations that commenced June 13, swift retaliation followed. Though circumstances remain fluid and rapidly changing, emerging reports suggest Iran may consider ceasing hostilities and reengaging in nuclear program negotiations. This development unfolds as the Israel-Gaza conflict persists and regional disputes continue elsewhere globally.
While humanitarian impacts remain paramount, investors must comprehend how such developments influence markets. The primary investor concern centers on whether these incidents could spiral into comprehensive global warfare. Though always conceivable, recent historical patterns don’t support this trajectory. Major conflicts, including Russia’s Ukrainian invasion and Hamas’s Israeli assault, remained geographically limited, generating only temporary stock market fluctuations.
This observation doesn’t minimize these conflicts’ gravity, but emphasizes that portfolio overreactions can prove detrimental. During such periods, maintaining perspective and concentrating on historical lessons and extended market patterns becomes crucial. What should investors prioritize in this climate to preserve market discipline?
Regional Middle Eastern tensions have intensified.
Recent events represent heightened Israel-Iran tensions. Israeli operations focused on Iranian nuclear installations and military command, with reports indicating uranium conversion facility damage. Iran countered with missile and drone assaults, some penetrating Israeli airspace. The confrontation has harmed vital infrastructure bilaterally, encompassing natural gas installations and petroleum refineries.
At the risk of oversimplification, historians typically regard each occurrence as distinct, featuring unique narratives, origins, and outcomes. Economists conversely seek commonalities and patterns between incidents to formulate broader insights. For investors, both viewpoints prove valuable for understanding applicable and inapplicable lessons. A familiar adage states that history doesn’t duplicate itself, yet frequently echoes.
The included chart offers historical context regarding geopolitical incidents spanning the previous 25 years. This encompasses Middle Eastern conflicts affecting petroleum prices, such as Iran’s 2019 drone attacks on Saudi Arabia. These timeframes demonstrate that despite potential short-term market fluctuations, markets generally rebound from geopolitical disruptions, typically within weeks or months following initial events. More significant during these intervals were fundamental business cycle movements.
Petroleum prices have experienced fluctuation.
Short-term petroleum prices can serve as conduits through which regional conflicts affect global markets. Initial market responses to recent conflicts centered on energy sectors, with Brent crude futures climbing above $74 per barrel. Oil prices remain unstable but retreated toward $70 per barrel amid possible de-escalation.
Petroleum prices influence the worldwide economy as they constitute substantial inputs for all goods and services. Elevated oil costs result in higher gasoline and transportation expenses, increasing prices for consumers and enterprises. This compounds with potential closures of crucial shipping passages, including the Persian Gulf’s Strait of Hormuz. This waterway represents a vital channel through which roughly one-third of global oil supplies transit.
Nevertheless, maintaining perspective on current petroleum price levels remains important. While recent fluctuations are noteworthy, prices stay considerably below 2022 peaks during initial Russia-Ukraine conflict stages, when oil surpassed $120 per barrel. Present levels around $70 fall within ranges experienced over recent years. This year alone, oil prices have varied between $60 and $82 per barrel.
Additionally, the U.S. has achieved greater energy independence over recent decades. American petroleum production now surpasses 13.5 million barrels daily. Some may find it surprising that America leads global production in both oil and natural gas. While the U.S. still needs foreign oil and remains sensitive to international petroleum prices, substantial domestic supply helps shield the American economy and financial markets.
Warfare’s portfolio impact depends on business cycles.
For investors concerned about worldwide escalating conflicts, broader perspective can provide clarity. From World War II through the Iraq War, markets may have responded to these conflicts short-term, but were ultimately guided by investment fundamentals long-term.
For instance, World War II stimulated industrial production following the Great Depression, creating substantial labor market shifts as women joined the workforce. These elements helped drive economic growth throughout the remaining century. Similarly, the Gulf War influenced oil prices but also coincided with the 1990s Information Technology revolution. Conversely, the post-Vietnam War decade coincided with elevated oil prices and stagflation, producing poor market results.
Again, this doesn’t minimize these wars’ humanitarian and societal impacts. For current circumstances, much depends on whether conflict expands or begins de-escalating. Major power involvement and critical supply route threats add complexity, but history indicates even substantial regional conflicts typically have restricted long-term global financial market impact.
The bottom line? While Middle Eastern tensions have generated short-term market volatility, investors should preserve perspective and avoid headline overreactions. Portfolios aligned with long-term financial objectives remain the optimal approach for navigating geopolitical uncertainty periods.
Your Wellness Navigator and Holistic Health Guide: Christine Despres, RN, NBC-HWC, CDP
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month.
As a Registered Nurse and Certified Dementia Practitioner, I’m deeply passionate about geriatric nursing care and especially committed to treating individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other related dementias with the respect and dignity they deserve.
While I haven’t seen everything in my 30 years as a nurse, I’ve certainly witnessed my fair share of complex, wild, and often endearing moments—from patients swinging canes and cursing like sailors to mistaking dog treats for snacks or spontaneously disrobing. Behind all of it, there is still a deeply lovable, very human person trying to make sense of their world.
Dementia affects the brain in mysterious and unpredictable ways.
Often, it’s not the disease alone that leads to distressing behaviors, but a combination of factors—including medical conditions, environmental triggers, and most importantly, how we interact with those living with dementia. Miscommunication and misunderstanding—whether at home or in care facilities—can quickly escalate otherwise manageable situations.
One of my greatest teachers in this work has been Teepa Snow, a renowned dementia care specialist whose Positive Approach to Care has changed how many of us support those with cognitive decline. Her message is powerful: “Dementia doesn’t rob someone of their dignity; it is our reaction to them that does.”
I’ve spent many hours learning from Teepa over the last 15 years, and her tools and techniques are accessible and transformative for both caregivers and professionals. If dementia has touched your life—or someone you love—I encourage you to explore her resources atwww.teepasnow.com.
My Top 5 Tips for Meaningful Communication with Someone Living with Dementia:
1. Approach with awareness.
When supporting someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of cognitive impairment, always keep in mind that changes in vision, hearing, and cognition require a slower, more intentional approach.
Begin by entering their field of vision—never from the side or behind. Establish gentle eye contact and offer your hand as a signal of your presence. Pay close attention to their body language and facial expressions, as these may communicate more than their words can. If they appear startled or unwelcoming, pause, step back, and reapproach calmly. Avoid sudden movements or loud entrances that may cause fear or confusion.
2. Communicate with Compassion.
Even if they don’t understand every word, they will remember how you made them feel. Use a tone that’s loud enough to be heard but still soft, warm, and reassuring. Allow time for them to process and respond—resist the urge to rush. Use gestures, visual cues, or gentle guidance to help explain what you want or where you’re leading them.
3. Set Them Up for Success.
Understanding their triggers and preferences is key to creating a safe, calm, and positive environment. If noise, large groups, or overstimulation is an issue, opt for smaller, quieter activities. If they enjoy music, perhaps a headset or listening in a peaceful room is best.
If they resist tasks like bathing or other ADLs (activities of daily living), investigate the root cause—are they cold, frightened, or embarrassed? As dementia expert Teepa Snow reminds us: “Reactions are often triggered by fears, desires, and unmet needs.”Basic needs like hunger, thirst, pain, temperature, or needing the restroom may be behind distress—they just may not be able to express it. Anticipate these needs proactively.
4. Ask the Right Questions.
Use open-ended and non-pressuring questions to promote dignity and comfort. For example:
* ✅ “How was your day?”
* 🚫 “What did you do today?”
* ✅ “Did you enjoy your lunch?”
* 🚫 “What did you have for lunch?”
These subtle changes reduce the chance of them feeling confused, wrong, or ashamed. If they repeat themselves or get details wrong, resist correcting them. Saying “You already told us that,” or highlighting inconsistencies only hurts feelings and serves no positive purpose.
5. Remember and Honor Who They Truly Are.
It’s easy to see a person with Alzheimer’s only through the lens of who they are now—confused, forgetful, or withdrawn. But they are so much more than this moment.
Keep photos nearby from their youth and prime—images of their family, career, travels, and favorite memories. These visual cues can help reconnect them with joyful times and bring comfort. Meet them in that place—that safe, familiar space that still lives vividly in their mind .The more you know about who they were, the more compassionately and effectively you can meet them where they are. Every elder carries a story worth knowing—a life lived with purpose, joy, struggle, and love. Honor that story each day, regardless of their current abilities or behavior.
As cognitive decline progresses, the brain often shifts backward in time. This may explain repetitive actions or questions, such as feeling the need to pick up the kids from school, go to work, or use the restroom. Rather than correcting or resisting these behaviors, take time to understand where they’re coming from. These are echoes of the life they once led—and still feel deeply connected to. And, of course, treat everyone with the love, respect, and dignity you would want for yourself or your loved ones. Because behind every moment of confusion is a human being still worthy of connection, compassion, and care.
These tips are grounded in my clinical and life experiences as well as my deep respect for the precious elders I’ve had the honor of caring for. Whether your loved one is in the early or later stages, creating awareness around how we interact can make a profound difference in both their experience and your relationship moving forward.
If interested in working with Christine directly, you can reach her through her email at christine@thewellnessnavigator.com or www.thewellnessnavigator.com.
Compliments of newsletter, 1440
Our minds go blank 5% to 20% of the time.
Personality traits of people who write grocery lists by hand.
Cybersecurity risks from hitting “unsubscribe.”
The quest to create the perfect grass.
How AI is being used to help save the oceans.
Your breathing pattern is as unique as a fingerprint.
Breaking down the global religious landscape.
Humpback whales may be blowing bubbles to talk to us.
The dirty science behind the smell of rain.
Why the dash is a sign of a seasoned writer, not ChatGPT.
Last but not least, how not to waste your evenings (personal fave: “microdosing movement to boost energy.”)
That’s all for today.
Until next week,
All my best,
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