Tax season might be bringing more than just paperwork next year. Word is, refunds could jump by around $2,000 on average — and that's the kind of liquidity injection that historically finds its way into markets.

Think about it: sudden influx of disposable cash, retail investors looking for opportunities, risk appetite potentially ticking up. Could this be the catalyst for another market leg up? Or will it just get absorbed into debt payments and inflation-adjusted expenses?

Either way, worth watching how this extra capital flow might reshape sentiment across equities and risk assets heading into the new cycle.