Just when Wall Street thought inflation reports and the Federal Reserve were driving the market, oil grabbed the steering wheel. Brent crude surged above $100 a barrel after attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea and renewed military escalation between the U.S. and Iran. Stocks backed up, bond yields accelerated, and investors were reminded that sometimes an entirely different driver shows up without warning.

That reaction makes sense when you think about where oil shows up in everyday life. It's in the fuel that moves your groceries across the country, the jet taking your family on vacation, the equipment building new homes, and eventually the prices businesses charge for just about everything. When oil climbs, investors start asking a different question: What if inflation isn't quite finished? If energy costs stay elevated, the Fed may have to keep interest rates higher for longer—and markets don't wait around for an official announcement before adjusting.

But here's where we think people get tripped up. The market isn't throwing a fit because oil crossed $100. It's reacting because nobody knows who's really driving from here. The attacks in the Red Sea, the renewed threats between the U.S. and Iran, and the uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz all create one thing markets hate more than bad news: unanswered questions. History has shown the market can digest almost anything... as long as it has some confidence about what's coming next.

That's why we don't spend our time chasing headlines. Headlines change by lunchtime. Price tells a much more honest story. While everyone else is trying to predict the next missile strike, diplomatic breakthrough, or late-night social media post, we'd rather let the market show us where it's actually headed. It isn't the flashiest approach, but it's a much better way to navigate when emotions are trying to grab the wheel.

Markets will always have surprise passengers trying to take control. Sometimes it's the Fed. Sometimes it's earnings season. This week, it was oil. The names change, but our process doesn't—and that's exactly the point.

The market doesn't pay you for having strong opinions. It pays you for having disciplined decisions.