4-29-26 Q&A Wednesday: Markets & Your Money

2026-04-29

Commodity markets are forward-looking. Traders don’t wait for events to happen—they price in expectations early. So if the market believes reopening is coming, prices top out in advance.

Most people think oil prices are driven mainly by physical supply/demand—but that’s only part of the story.
– A small portion = real producers hedging (locking in prices for future delivery)
– A tiny portion = retail traders
– A huge portion = speculators trading futures contracts

These speculators are what move prices day-to-day, reacting quickly to headlines and expectations.

When there’s a talk of reopening the Strait (or a ceasefire), oil drops immediately. This happens because traders understand: oil production hasn’t stopped, it’s just blocked from reaching the market. Example: Iran is still

2026-04-27

Why are markets $SPX $QQQ staying strong (even hitting all-time highs) despite a major geopolitical shock like the Strait of Hormuz disruption, which affects ~20% of global #crudeoil supply?
The ~10% pullback we had wasn’t unusual—it’s a typical correction we have every year.

The Hormuz situation didn’t create this correction—it simply acted as the catalyst for a correction that was likely coming anyway.
That drop was mainly a valuation reset, not a structural breakdown. Once that reset happened, markets quickly resumed their upward trend.

* The key assumption is that this disruption is short-lived. Investors believe the strait will reopen relatively soon, restoring supply.
However, if the disruption lasts 3–4 months, the entire narrative changes.

* Oil supply shock is being actively

2026-04-21

Financial illiteracy is no longer just a personal challenge—it’s a growing national risk. With U.S. household debt exceeding $18 trillion and nearly 40% of Americans unable to cover a $400 emergency, the consequences are becoming impossible to ignore.

Lance Roberts & Jon Penn break down how a lack of basic financial education is driving poor decision-making, rising debt levels, and long-term economic instability. From budgeting and credit to investing and risk management, millions are navigating an increasingly complex financial system without the tools they need.

Key topics include:

0:00 – INTRO
1:18 – Market Pull Back No Surprise
7:28 – Leg Day & Italy Prep
9:45 – Financial Literacy Dearth in America
14:44 – Subscriptions & Memberships – The KISS Army
16:13 – High School & College

2026-04-21

Since the start of the year, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Sector Index (SOXX) is up 33% compared with the broader market, which is up only 4%. The primary rationale for the significant outperformance appears to be the insatiable demand for AI and a shift in its usage. Unlike the past couple of years, in which Nvidia …

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2026-03-05

Increasing corporate credit spreads, or a growing divergence between corporate bond yields and similar-maturity Treasury yields, can be an omen of stock market weakness. Recent troublesome defaults in the private credit markets are showing signs of spreading concern to the more liquid corporate debt markets. Thus, it’s appropriate to review corporate credit spreads. in the …

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2026-01-20

Supporting the dollar-debasement narrative is the claim that money supply growth is out of control. For instance, we saw a post claiming “US money creation is happening at an alarming pace.” Specifically, he says the money supply increased by $1.65 trillion in 2025. Quoting the money supply, as he does, in absolute dollar terms is …

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2026-01-13

The economic reflation narrative is back—but is it durable or just another market storyline driven by optimism and liquidity?

Lance Roberts explains what investors mean by “economic reflation,” why markets are once again pricing in stronger growth, and which data points are reinforcing the bullish case. We examine the role of monetary policy shifts, fiscal spending, labor market dynamics, and commodity trends that are supporting expectations for improving earnings and profitability.

Just as importantly, we address the risks to the reflation narrative. Sticky inflation, slowing global growth, tighter financial conditions, and policy missteps could all challenge the assumption that reflation is sustainable. Markets often price in best-case outcomes long before the data confirms them—and

2025-11-21

It’s a cornucopia of content for this Friday following Thanksgiving, and Richard Rosso and Jonathan McCarty bemoan the demise of the U.S. Penny, the fallacy of risk tolerance questionnaires, Rich’s Financial Fitness Garage and creating Retirement income; plus Rich’s salutation for Thanksgiving.

0:00 – INTRO
0:44 – The Demise of the U.S. Penny
4:54 – Financial Risk Surveys – Rich & Jonathan’s Scores
11:05 – Rich’s Fitness Garage – Creating Retirement Income
24:41 – Happy Thanksgiving to You!

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Hosted by RIA Advisors Director of Financial Planning, Richard Rosso, CFP, w Senior Investment Advisor, Jonathan McCarty, CFP
Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive