Are Index Funds Enough in a Volatile Market? The Case for and Against Active Strategies

Are Index Funds Enough in a Volatile Market? The Case for and Against Active Strategies

With markets simultaneously hitting record highs on AI optimism while facing war-driven inflation and potential rate hikes, some prominent voices are questioning whether passive index investing is still the right default strategy. We weigh the evidence on when active management or factor-based strategies may genuinely add value — and when they don't.Today's Stocks & Topics: Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIPR), Market Wrap, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SPCX), PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG), Are Index Funds Enough in a Volatile Market? The Case for and Against Active Strategies, Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (TLK), Bitcoin Strategy, NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA), IPOs Time. Our Sponsors: * Check out Anthropic and use my code Claude.ai/invest for a great deal: https://www.anthropic.com * Check out Chilipad and use my code sleep.me/INVEST for a great deal: https://sleep.me * Check out Plaud AI and use my code INVEST for a great deal: https://plaud.ai * Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com * Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/invest for a great deal: https://www.quince.com * Check out Scribe and use my code scribe.how/invest for a great deal: https://scribe.com * Check out TaskRabbit and use my code INVEST for a great deal: https://taskrabbit.com * Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code INVEST20 for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands]

Defense Stocks 2026: How the Global Security Boom Creates Long-Term Investment Opportunities

(From NATO allies boosting budgets in response to Russia's aggression to Asia-Pacific nations rearming amid China's military buildup, defense spending is rising on virtually every continent. We examine how investors can think about the long-term defense sector tailwind without simply chasing headlines.)Today's Stocks & Topics: Lincoln National Corporation (LNC), Market Wrap, AT&T Inc. (T), The Clorox Company (CLX), Insulet Corporation (PODD), Defense Stocks 2026: How the Global Security Boom Creates Long-Term Investment Opportunities, The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (HIG), Key Benchmark Numbers: Treasury Yields, Gold, Silver, Oil and Gasoline, WESCO International, Inc. (WCC), KPP Newsletter, Fidelity Total Bond Fund (FTBFX), Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (BSV), Lithium.Our Next Wealth Webinar: “Beyond the Yield: How to Invest for Your Income Needs” June 30th, 2026 - 12:00 pmTo sign up: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5717793889555/WN_XuoDgMVwSv6wZXXurrZTLg [https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5717793889555/WN_XuoDgMVwSv6wZXXurrZTLg] Our Sponsors: * Check out Anthropic and use my code Claude.ai/invest for a great deal: https://www.anthropic.com * Check out Chilipad and use my code sleep.me/INVEST for a great deal: https://sleep.me * Check out Plaud AI and use my code INVEST for a great deal: https://plaud.ai * Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com * Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/invest for a great deal: https://www.quince.com * Check out Scribe and use my code scribe.how/invest for a great deal: https://scribe.com * Check out TaskRabbit and use my code INVEST for a great deal: https://taskrabbit.com * Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code INVEST20 for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands]

Net Worth Milestones by Age: Why Net Worth Matters More Than Income for Financial Security

A new survey finds that net worth — not income — is the dominant driver of financial anxiety, suggesting that many high earners are far less financially secure than their paychecks imply. We dig into what this means for how everyday investors should be building and measuring their financial progress.Today's Stocks & Topics: Carvana Co. (CVNA), Market Wrap, Expand Energy Corporation (EXE), Vista Shares Electrification Supercycle ETF (POW), Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (FIX), Centrus Energy Corp. (LEU), Net Worth Milestones by Age: Why Net Worth Matters More Than Income for Financial Security, Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX), Marvell Technology, Inc. (MRVL), Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM), CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF), Million Dollar Retirement? Our Next Wealth Webinar: “Beyond the Yield: How to Invest for Your Income Needs” June 30th, 2026 - 12:00 pmTo sign up: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5717793889555/WN_XuoDgMVwSv6wZXXurrZTLg [https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5717793889555/WN_XuoDgMVwSv6wZXXurrZTLg] Our Sponsors: * Check out Anthropic and use my code Claude.ai/invest for a great deal: https://www.anthropic.com * Check out Chilipad and use my code sleep.me/INVEST for a great deal: https://sleep.me * Check out Plaud AI and use my code INVEST for a great deal: https://plaud.ai * Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com * Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/invest for a great deal: https://www.quince.com * Check out Scribe and use my code scribe.how/invest for a great deal: https://scribe.com * Check out TaskRabbit and use my code INVEST for a great deal: https://taskrabbit.com * Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code INVEST20 for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands]

Gold's Confusing Signal: Why the Safe-Haven Trade Isn't Playing Out as Expected

Gold is dipping even as the Middle East conflict intensifies and inflation worries mount — a counterintuitive move that has investors scratching their heads about where to find safety. We explore what's really driving gold prices and whether the precious metal still belongs in a defensive portfolio.Today's Stocks & Topics: Treasury Bill, Market Wrap, Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD), Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (MLM), Gold's Confusing Signal: Why the Safe-Haven Trade Isn't Playing Out as Expected, Select STOXX Europe Aerospace & Defense ETF (EUAD), Salesforce, Inc. (CRM), Uranium Royalty Corp. (UROY), AstraZeneca PLC (AZN).Our Next Wealth Webinar: “Beyond the Yield: How to Invest for Your Income Needs” June 30th, 2026 - 12:00 pmTo sign up: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5717793889555/WN_XuoDgMVwSv6wZXXurrZTLg [https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5717793889555/WN_XuoDgMVwSv6wZXXurrZTLg] Our Sponsors: * Check out Anthropic and use my code Claude.ai/invest for a great deal: https://www.anthropic.com * Check out Chilipad and use my code sleep.me/INVEST for a great deal: https://sleep.me * Check out Plaud AI and use my code INVEST for a great deal: https://plaud.ai * Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com * Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/invest for a great deal: https://www.quince.com * Check out Scribe and use my code scribe.how/invest for a great deal: https://scribe.com * Check out TaskRabbit and use my code INVEST for a great deal: https://taskrabbit.com * Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code INVEST20 for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands]

Is the 10-Year Treasury Yield About to Break Out? What Rising Rates Mean for Bonds and Borrowing

Treasury yields are edging higher as U.S.-Iran military exchanges rattle markets and inflation expectations climb, creating a challenging environment for fixed income investors. We decode what's driving yield movement right now and whether bond investors should be repositioning for a higher-for-longer world.Today's Stocks & Topics: Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC), Market Wrap, Phibro Animal Health Corporation (PAHC), Mueller Industries, Inc. (MLI), Is the 10-Year Treasury Yield About to Break Out? What Rising Rates Mean for Bonds and Borrowing, Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF (JAAA), Barrett Business Services, Inc. (BBSI), The IPO Market, Dividend Reinvestment, Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (VO). Our Next Wealth Webinar: “Beyond the Yield: How to Invest for Your Income Needs” June 30th, 2026 - 12:00 pmTo sign up: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5717793889555/WN_XuoDgMVwSv6wZXXurrZTLg [https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5717793889555/WN_XuoDgMVwSv6wZXXurrZTLg] Our Sponsors: * Check out Anthropic and use my code Claude.ai/invest for a great deal: https://www.anthropic.com * Check out Chilipad and use my code sleep.me/INVEST for a great deal: https://sleep.me * Check out Plaud AI and use my code INVEST for a great deal: https://plaud.ai * Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com * Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/invest for a great deal: https://www.quince.com * Check out Scribe and use my code scribe.how/invest for a great deal: https://scribe.com * Check out TaskRabbit and use my code INVEST for a great deal: https://taskrabbit.com * Check out TruDiagnostic and use my code INVEST20 for a great deal: https://www.trudiagnostic.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands]