Description

Is your 401(k) a strategy or just a container? Allan Malina breaks down the 2026 volatility in silver and software before explaining how to move from passive participation to disciplined stewardship of your largest financial asset.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Volatility Is Often Technical, Not Fundamental: Recent weakness in silver and software stocks reflects forced deleveraging and AI-fear repricing—not a collapse in long-term value.
• A 401(k) Is a Tax Container, Not a Strategy: The container itself doesn't determine your future; the intentional allocation inside it does.
• Default Does Not Mean Optimal: Target-date funds are designed for the "average" person—not necessarily your specific timeline, income needs, or risk tolerance.
• Margin Creates Stability: Employer matching and disciplined contributions create the financial flexibility needed to endure market cycles without making emotional decisions.
• Structure Over Headlines: Market noise is temporary. A well-constructed portfolio structure is enduring.

EPISODE OVERVIEW

Stewardship Over Default: Leading Your Retirement Plan Through Volatility In this episode of Purpose Driven Finances, Allan Malina connects two things investors often view in isolation: short-term market turbulence and long-term retirement structure.

The first week of February 2026 brought sharp moves in silver and software. Silver volatility was driven by position limits and leverage constraints on the Shanghai Futures Exchange—a liquidity event, not a fundamental breakdown. Similarly, the 23% decline in software (IYG) reflects a "fear-driven repricing" around AI rather than deteriorating earnings. When hedge funds deleverage, they sell what they can, not what they want.

The Kitchen Table Reality Most working families are more exposed to market volatility through their company retirement plan than any other account. Yet many don’t realize how their 401(k) or 403(b) is actually positioned.

Whether you are a professional in Lynchburg, Forest, or Bedford—working at Centra, Liberty University, BWXT, or Framatome—your investment menu offers institutional building blocks, but it requires intentional construction. This episode challenges you to move beyond the "default" and take ownership of the equity exposure, bond duration, and expense layering inside your largest asset.

FAQ

Why is my portfolio down if the broader economy appears stable? Markets are driven by liquidity. When institutional investors face margin pressure on short positions, they often sell profitable long positions (like metals or tech) to raise cash. This "indiscriminate pressure" is technical, not a sign of economic failure.

Should I change my 401(k) investments during market volatility? Reactionary changes often lock in losses. Instead, evaluate your structure. Are you in a target-date fund by default? Does your equity exposure match your timeline? Strategy should always precede reaction.

Are target-date funds bad? Not inherently, but they are built for the "average participant." If you have a pension, business ownership, or specific charitable goals, the "average" may not be optimal for you.

What does a fiduciary retirement plan review include? At Servus Capital Management, we provide a no-cost review of your company’s investment menu. The goal is clarity: understanding what you own and ensuring it aligns with your long-term objectives without the noise of broker-dealer incentives.

Allan Malina is the founder and fiduciary advisor of Servus Capital Management, a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor located in Forest, Virginia. Serving the Lynchburg and Central Virginia region, Allan specializes in purpose-driven retirement planning and disciplined portfolio construction. He focuses on stewardship over speculation, helping families navigate every financial season with calm, quantitative leadership.