The Luck of The Irish Isn't Luck, It's Strategy. LFG Daily - March 17, 2026

If you’ve been saving and investing for years, one question eventually comes up: “Am I actually on the right track?”

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Dream Bigger, Sleep Better

Luke Lloyd, CEO Lloyd Financial Group

Napoleon Hill spent much of his life studying what separates those who merely wish for success from those who actually achieve it. His core message wasn’t complicated—but it was powerful: what you consistently think about, believe in, and act on will ultimately shape your financial reality.

In financial planning, this couldn’t be more relevant. Too often, people know what they should be doing—saving more, investing wisely, planning ahead—but procrastination creeps in. Hill warned about this exact trap. He called procrastination one of the most dangerous habits, because it quietly steals time—the most valuable asset any investor has.

Real progress begins when intention turns into belief. Not just saying, “I want to retire comfortably,” but truly seeing it, expecting it, and aligning daily decisions with that outcome. That’s where manifestation—done the right way—comes into play. It’s not wishful thinking; it’s disciplined thinking. Repetition. Clarity. Conviction.

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At Lloyd Financial Group, we help take those goals—those visions you think about every day—and turn them into a tangible, actionable financial strategy. Because when you combine clear belief with disciplined planning and execution, you’re no longer hoping for results…

You’re building them.

Everyone talks about luck on St. Patrick’s Day.But in business, investing, and life… luck usually isn’t random.What people call “luck” is often preparation meeting opportunity.

The entrepreneur who spent years building relationships before the big client shows up.

The investor who stayed disciplined through volatility before the market rewards patience.

The professional who kept improving their skills until the right opportunity appeared.

The most successful people I know aren’t the luckiest — they’re the most prepared, the most consistent, and the most willing to take calculated risks.

They create their own luck.St. Patrick’s Day might celebrate luck… but in the real world, the people who win are usually the ones who show up every day, put in the work, and stay ready when opportunity knocks.

That’s not luck. That’s strategy

Don’t leave your financial future up to chance. Let’s build a plan that gives you confidence today and peace of mind for tomorrow. Click here to schedule a meeting — I’m here to help you take the next step toward financial freedom.

Colin Symons, CIO Lloyd Financial Group

So, are all problems solved and we can get back to making easy money? Wouldn’t that be nice. It’s probably more accurate to say the market is likely to continue trying to price in changing odds for the future direction of markets.

Fortunately, for bulls, I think they have a lot going for them. We’ve seen a lot of shorting and selling. Credit spreads were quite stressed by the private credit fears. Inflation fears rose sharply due to the Iran war. The dollar saw a safe haven bid. All of these negatives that were built up can be unwound if concerns lessen.

That said, this is the start of a potential move and starts can be weak. Remember when I talked about carry trades? At first, these moves can be uncertain. People who wish they’d sold before the decline sell bounces and early bulls can be skittish. Maybe the move up fails, as these things don’t come with guarantees.

Not everything needs to move back at the same pace, for that matter. While markets may have gone too far in predicting doom for oil markets, it’s true that damage was done and troubles are far from healed. Are we going back to $60 oil anytime soon? What level may we be at in three months? The market is trying hard to price these things.

We also have a lot happening this week. We have VIXpiration and the FOMC meeting on Wednesday, then OpEx (Options Expiration) on Friday. All three of those can really reset positioning. Adding that to the current mess, it’s easy to imagine that’s too much turbulence to expect clear sailing for a bit.

I wouldn’t be surprised if what we’re seeing today continues to one extent or another through the week. People who got scared during the decline may sell upticks, trend sellers stand a good chance of showing up, and every headline can lead to extra volatility, up or down.

No doubt, markets were damaged over the last month, but I expect it’s too soon to call the bull market over. Did we really impact earnings or the economy that much? If we get lower prices or higher volatility, I’ll change my mind, but for now this looks more encouraging than not.

With the reset of the options market, along with market worries seemingly decreasing, I’d say we’re setting the scene for a pretty constructive market, next week and on. Obviously, trouble can assert or reassert itself, but it’s worth remembering we’ve already priced in a lot of concern. If those worries can lessen, we have the potential to have quite a nice rally as investors stop shorting or holding cash and come back into the market.

Industrial Production was up 0.2% m/m vs. exp. 0.1%, with capacity utilization 76.3% vs. exp. 76.2%. Nothing wrong, there.

Empire State Manufacturing was weaker than expected, at -0.2 vs. exp. 3.2. Prices paid went down but so did shipments. Honestly, the details don’t seem to bad, not that it’s that huge of a number.

Oil went down further, to $94, as the US said they would allow Iranian oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil is up a bit and stocks down a little as the Iran war continues.

ADP Employment Change, Empire State Services, and Pending home sales, today.

What does it all mean? Oil volatility is keeping anxiety high but the damage is contained.

Don’t leave your financial future up to chance. Let’s build a plan that gives you confidence today and peace of mind for tomorrow. Click here to schedule a meeting — I’m here to help you take the next step toward financial freedom.

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