Your Portfolio Doesn't Vote: What Christian Retirees Should Remember Before the 2026 Midterms

Every two years, some retirees try to vote twice: once at the ballot box and once with their retirement account.

The first vote is a civic duty. The second one deserves a harder look.

On November 3, 2026, Americans head to the polls for the midterm elections. Between now and then, you will hear that one outcome will be wonderful for your money and the other will be a disaster. Some of that is sincere. Some of it is designed to keep you watching. Either way, a fearful headline is not a financial plan.

This article does not tell you how to vote, and it does not endorse any party or candidate. It is about something older than any party: where a Christian's confidence belongs.

Psalm 146:3 (KJV) says it plainly: "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help."

That verse cuts in every direction. It is a warning against expecting a politician to rescue your retirement, and it is also a warning against believing a politician can single-handedly ruin it. Elected officials matter. Laws matter. But no election transfers ownership of your stewardship. You still answer for what has been entrusted to you (Matthew 25:14-30).

We will say it without apology: Scripture has a lot to say about the limits of earthly rulers. When Israel demanded a king, Samuel warned them what a king would take: "He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants" (1 Samuel 8:17, KJV). Samuel's warning is a reminder that any earthly power able to give is also able to take.

We believe work is good (Genesis 2:15), that "if any would not work, neither should he eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10, KJV), and that providing for your own household is a sacred duty (1 Timothy 5:8). We believe Scripture gives families, churches, and individuals real responsibility for provision, and we encourage retirees not to rely on any single government program for everything. Honest work, respect for property ("Thou shalt not steal," Exodus 20:15), and personal responsibility are themes we see throughout Scripture, and Christians across the political spectrum hold them.

You can hold those convictions firmly and still refuse to let them drive a panic trade.

Markets react to many things at once: interest rates, earnings, inflation, global events, and yes, policy. Election results are only one input, and how markets respond to any one input is not predictable. Nobody, including us, can tell you what markets will do after November 3.

What we can say is that moving in and out of the market based on election predictions requires being right twice: when to get out and when to get back in. Selling also has costs of its own in a taxable account, and sitting in cash has its own risks, including inflation. Every approach carries risk.

1. Do I have enough set aside for near-term spending? If the next one to three years of planned withdrawals are not sitting in investments you might need to sell in a downturn, a rough market is less likely to force your hand.

2. Is my mix of stocks, bonds, and cash still matched to my timeline and risk tolerance? Elections are a fine reminder to rebalance, not a reason to abandon a plan.

3. Which policies actually touch my plan? Tax brackets, Social Security, and Medicare rules can change with legislation. Those are worth watching and planning around when they become law, not when they become campaign promises.

4. Am I acting from conviction or from fear? Isaiah 26:3 (KJV): "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

Vote. Pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Speak truth in the public square. Then go back to the quiet work of faithful stewardship. Your plan should be built to endure whichever way an election goes, because there will be another one in two years.

If you would like an honest look at whether your retirement plan is built for uncertain seasons, start with the free Retirement Paycheck Readiness Scorecard at scorecard.matt25capital.com. And if you would rather talk it through, call our office at 620-670-9455.

• When markets get loud: what long-term investors can do
• The Woodlands and Houston Pre-Retiree Money Map
• Retirement planning in The Woodlands

I'm Will Snodgrass, CFP®, with Matt25 Capital, serving Christian pre-retirees and retirees in The Woodlands, Houston, and across Texas.

• Matthew 25:14-30, Psalm 146:3, 1 Samuel 8:17, 2 Thessalonians 3:10, 1 Timothy 5:8, Exodus 20:15, Isaiah 26:3, 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (KJV)
• Election date: Nov 3, 2026 (first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 2 U.S.C. 7)