Money Wise

This week on Money Wise, the team digs into a strong performance on Wall Street - with the Dow up 1.6%, S&P 500 up 1.7%, and NASDAQ climbing 2.1%, while discussing the market’s ongoing resilience in the face of widespread investor skepticism. Despite impressive year-to-date gains across major indices, investor sentiment remains unusually negative, a disconnect that could actually fuel future growth once optimism catches up. Kyle uses his “Mount Everest” analogy to remind listeners that bull markets need pauses to stay healthy, emphasizing that pullbacks are normal and even necessary for long-term momentum. Jeff and Joe weigh in on volatility and investor behavior, noting that market corrections in the 7–12% range are part of any sustainable rally. Louie references recent Fundstrat research showing it’s rare to see such strong market returns alongside negative sentiment, a setup that historically precedes continued gains. The team also highlights a staggering $7.6 trillion sitting in money market funds, suggesting there’s still plenty of cash waiting to reenter the market. Between skeptical investors and cautious fund managers, this “dry powder” could become a powerful force for further upside once confidence returns. WHEN NEGATIVITY MEETS A BULL MARKET While sharp price swings can feel uncomfortable, volatility is a sign of a functioning, responsive market. It reflects investor reactions to new data, earnings results, policy shifts, or economic reports, and helps prices find their true value over time. Without these fluctuations, markets risk becoming complacent or inflated, setting the stage for more severe corrections later. Volatility also serves a purpose in maintaining long-term market health. It encourages investors to reassess positions, reprice risk, and avoid herd mentality. When markets pull back, they often flush out speculative excess and create new entry points for disciplined, long-term investors. In this way, volatility acts as a “pressure valve,” releasing tension before it builds into instability. In the second hour, the Money Wise guys dive into all things 401(K) Rollovers. You don’t want to miss the details! Tune in for the full discussion on your favorite podcast provider or at davidsoncap.com [http://davidsoncap.com], where you can also learn more about the Money Wise guys or take advantage of a portfolio review and analysis with Davidson Capital Management.

This week, the Money Wise team tackles a headline-dominated week that centered on Washington’s government shutdown, and the market’s complete lack of reaction to it. Despite the political drama, the Dow rose 511 points (+1.1%), the S&P 500 climbed 72 points (+1.1%), and the NASDAQ gained 296 points (+1.3%). Year-to-date, all three major indexes continue their steady climb, with the NASDAQ leading at +18%. The guys note that even with economic data releases halted, trading volume stayed strong, with the S&P 500 showing buy-side activity above its daily average all week. They emphasize that this marks the 11th government shutdown since 1980, and history shows markets rarely care. In fact, investors seem to view the lack of news as a relief, “no news is good news.” The conversation turns political as the crew discusses how the administration’s stance on spending and immigration has shaped the fiscal standoff. Yet, from an investment perspective, they stress that markets continue to take it in stride, ignoring media-driven panic. With the S&P 500 just shy of record highs and up 12% since November 2024, the hosts push back on the “bubble talk” dominating financial media, reminding listeners that the economy remains strong, backed by 3.8% GDP growth and consistent investor optimism. MARKETS STAY COOL  Even with political gridlock dominating the headlines, markets stayed cool, showing once again that investors tend to look past short-term noise. The guys point out that history has consistently shown resilience during government shutdowns, budget battles, and other moments of uncertainty. In fact, reviewing past performance reminds us that markets often continue their long-term upward trend despite temporary volatility. Understanding this history helps investors maintain perspective, avoid reactionary decisions, and stay focused on the fundamentals driving growth rather than fleeting headlines. In the second hour, the Money Wise guys discuss Equity Index Annuities. You don’t want to miss the details! Tune in for the full discussion on your favorite podcast provider or at davidsoncap.com [http://davidsoncap.com], where you can also learn more about the Money Wise guys or take advantage of a portfolio review and analysis with Davidson Capital Management.

This week, the Money Wise guys review a quieter stretch for Wall Street, with all three major indexes slightly down. The Dow is off 68 points (-0.1%), the S&P 500 is down 21 points (-0.3%), and the NASDAQ down 147 points (-0.7%). Despite the dip, year-to-date numbers remain strong: Dow up 8.7%, S&P up 13%, and NASDAQ up 16.4%. The big focus was Friday’s Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report, which came in line with expectations at 2.9% core inflation year-over-year. While inflation remains “sticky,” the guys emphasize that dire predictions about tariffs causing runaway inflation haven’t materialized. They also revisit April’s “Liberation Day” selloff, pointing out that their decision not to sell, and even to buy during the dip, has proven wise, as April 8 may stand as the market low of the year. The discussion also highlights how volatility this year has matched expectations, but downturns like this week’s have mostly drawn out “doom and gloom” commentary rather than lasting market damage. They caution listeners not to get spooked by exaggerated comparisons to past bubbles, especially with markets still near record highs. STICKY INFLATION Sticky inflation was a big theme in this week’s episode, especially as the crew dug into the latest Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data. While the headline numbers came in right on expectations, the fact that inflation is still running at 2.9% year-over-year shows that it hasn’t fallen quickly back to the Fed’s 2% target. As the team pointed out, this “stickiness” doesn’t necessarily stem from tariffs, as the financial press often claims, but from the service side of the economy, areas like housing, healthcare, and everyday services that don’t adjust as easily as goods prices. For investors, it means the Federal Reserve may feel compelled to keep rates higher for longer, even if some market voices argue for cuts. The takeaway: while markets rallied earlier this year on hopes of easing inflation, the persistence of sticky inflation keeps monetary policy and volatility in the spotlight. In the second hour, the Money Wise guys dive into all things 401(K) Rollovers. You don’t want to miss the details! Tune in for the full discussion on your favorite podcast provider or at davidsoncap.com [http://davidsoncap.com], where you can also learn more about the Money Wise guys or take advantage of a portfolio review and analysis with Davidson Capital Management.

This week’s Money Wise show focuses on the market’s reaction to the Federal Reserve’s highly anticipated rate cut. The Fed trimmed the federal funds rate by 0.25%, marking its first cut since December 2024. While many expected a “sell the news” moment in stocks, the opposite occurred: the Dow, S&P 500, and NASDAQ all closed at all-time highs by Friday. Instead, the “sell the news” reaction appeared in the bond market, where Treasuries sold off after weeks of strong buying that had briefly pulled the 10-year yield below 4%. The crew also discusses the historical significance of this rally. Since April’s lows, the S&P 500 has surged more than 25%, only the 12th time in the past 70 years such a rally has occurred over 100 days. From a broader perspective, though, the S&P is up about 11.2% since Trump’s election in November 2024, highlighting that context matters when measuring growth. In the second half of the show, they shift to investor education, walking listeners through our stock selection process, emphasizing research, discipline, and avoiding the hype of AI-driven “black box” investment products. FED MOVES The Fed’s quarter-point rate cut sent a mixed but important signal to the markets. Lower rates reduce borrowing costs for businesses and consumers, which can fuel corporate profits and economic activity. That optimism pushed stocks higher, with all three major indexes closing the week at record levels. But in the bond market, the story was different. Investors had already piled into Treasuries in anticipation of easier Fed policy, which drove yields down as low as 4% on the 10-year. Once the cut became official, some traders sold off bonds—locking in gains and rotating into equities—causing yields to rise again. The shift highlighted how the Fed’s actions ripple across markets: stocks cheering cheaper money, bonds adjusting to shifting demand, and investors recalibrating portfolios in real time. In the second hour, the Money Wise guys give listenters a peek into what Wall Street Won’t Tell You. You don’t want to miss the details! Tune in for the full discussion on your favorite podcast provider or at davidsoncap.com [http://davidsoncap.com], where you can also learn more about the Money Wise guys or take advantage of a portfolio review and analysis with Davidson Capital Management.

This week on Money Wise, the guys recap another solid week on Wall Street, with the Dow up 433 points (1%), the S&P 500 up 103 points (1.6%), and the NASDAQ up 441 points (2%). Year-to-date gains now stand at 7.7% for the Dow, 11.9% for the S&P, and 14.7% for the NASDAQ. The conversation highlights how markets reacted to economic data, with producer prices coming in below expectations and jobless claims higher than forecast, fueling optimism that the Fed may announce a rate cut at its upcoming meeting. The Money Wise guys also touch on how Wall Street often interprets “bad news” as “good news,” why liquidity levels remain historically high, and the importance of keeping perspective on market performance beyond headlines. MARKETS EYE FED’S NEXT MOVE Markets are increasingly betting that the Federal Reserve will announce a rate cut at its upcoming meeting, with many expecting a ¼-point move and some even suggesting the possibility of a deeper cut later this year. Recent economic data, including softer producer prices and higher-than-expected jobless claims, have fueled expectations that the Fed will shift toward a more accommodative stance, setting the stage for what could be multiple cuts before year-end. In the second hour, the Money Wise guys explore RIA vs. Broker. You don’t want to miss the details! Tune in for the full discussion on your favorite podcast provider or at davidsoncap.com [http://davidsoncap.com], where you can also learn more about the Money Wise guys or take advantage of a portfolio review and analysis with Davidson Capital Management.