Money Talks

January 2023

A Powerful New Tailwind for Energy Stocks Is Coming this Year

January 13, 2023TradeSmith Editorial Staff

Keith’s Note: Last month I explained why energy prices are likely to remain higher for longer than many folks expect. This should provide a continued tailwind for stocks in the Energy sector, which were already among the best performers over the past couple years. However, this week’s guest essay from Inside TradeSmith editor Justin Brill highlights an additional catalyst that could drive energy stocks – and oil and gas stocks in particular – even higher in the months and years ahead. If you’re

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How to (Finally) Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions in 2023

January 6, 2023TradeSmith Editorial Staff

Keith’s Note: Welcome to the first Money Talks of 2023! I hope you had a wonderful holiday. In honor of the New Year, I’m resharing a piece I originally wrote this time last year. It’s about an easy (yet powerful) way to keep your resolutions and achieve your goals in 2023. Whether you’re new to Money Talks or have been reading since the start, I encourage you to review this strategy and give it a try as you begin your year.

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December 2022

My Favorite ‘Investment’ Strategy for 2023 Might Surprise You

December 30, 2022TradeSmith Editorial Staff

I’ve given the TradeSmith team some extra (and well-deserved) time off this week for the holidays. So, today’s Money Talks will be brief. I just wanted to ensure you didn’t miss out on all the great (and free) content we’ve been sharing over the past several days. Earlier this week, I gathered three of TradeSmith’s most experienced analysts – Mike Burnick, Jason Bodner, and Justice Clark Litle – for our Crisis and Opportunity 2023 event, where they shared their detailed outlooks for the year ahead. In

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My Gift to You

December 23, 2022TradeSmith Editorial Staff

I launched this letter almost two years ago with one simple goal in mind: To share the best of what I’ve learned about personal finance and investing – through my own trials and tribulations — so that readers like you might be able to reach your own financial goals more easily. I hope I delivered on that promise in at least some small way for you this year. And I hope you enjoyed reading these weekly letters as much as

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Don’t Celebrate Falling Energy and Oil Prices Just Yet

December 16, 2022TradeSmith Editorial Staff

One of the biggest stories of 2022 was inflation. At its recent peak this summer, consumer prices in the U.S. were rising at a rate of 9.1% per year. That’s worse than anything we’ve seen since the 1970s. And just like back then, a big driver of inflation has been rising energy prices – and oil in particular. Crude oil more than doubled this year, from nearly $60 per barrel last December to as high as $131 this spring. And

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What You Should Know about Investment Tax-Loss Harvesting

December 9, 2022TradeSmith Editorial Staff

Last week, I shared five money-saving tax moves to consider before year-end. One of those moves was “tax-loss harvesting,” which involves selling losing investments. As I explained: [Selling a losing investment] creates a “realized capital loss” in tax-speak, which can then offset an equal amount of realized capital gains (profits) in other assets that year. Capital losses can also offset up to $3,000 in ordinary income each year. And any unused losses can be rolled forward to future years indefinitely. I

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Five Money-Saving Tax Moves to Consider Before Year-End

December 2, 2022TradeSmith Editorial Staff

It’s officially the holiday season. For many folks, it’s a time for slowing down, celebrating with loved ones, and reflecting on the year that was. That means taxes are probably the last thing on your mind right now. However, there are a handful of steps you should consider taking before year-end to potentially save yourself some money (and stress!) during the 2023 tax season. And fortunately, most of them are relatively straightforward. 1. Take required minimum distributions (RMDs) if applicable. Investors over

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November 2022

Want Real ‘Sizzle’ With Your 2023 Stock Plays? Make This One Move Now.

November 25, 2022TradeSmith Editorial Staff

I love bacon. There, I said it. You heard it. And now you know. I love bacon as a snack. On my burgers (can’t have a burger without it). As a breakfast or brunch “side” with my eggs. On breakfast sandwiches. As a key element of a BLT. On smoked meats. Mixed in with the chopped sirloin on cheesesteak subs. As a crumbly salad topper. And – in a timely nod to the approaching holidays – as a “flavor” for

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<strong>Why a Wave of ‘Forced Selling’ Could Hit the Markets Next Month</strong>

November 18, 2022TradeSmith Editorial Staff

This week’s Money Talks is a little different. In place of my usual editorial, I’m sharing a guest essay from Inside TradeSmith editor Justin Brill. It highlights a potential risk to the markets (and your retirement accounts) over the final weeks of the year that I think every reader should be aware of. As always, if you know someone who could benefit from these ideas, please share this email or encourage them to sign up for Money Talks (for FREE)

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A Little Good News for Your Retirement Accounts Next Year

November 11, 2022TradeSmith Editorial Staff

There’s no sugarcoating it… It’s been a rough year for anyone trying to invest for retirement. Everyone knows stocks are in a bear market. The benchmark S&P 500 (SPX) was down 28% at its recent October low. But even the typically boring bond market has done poorly, with various bond-market indexes falling as much as 17% through October. According to Bank of America Global Investment Strategy research, that’s on track for the fourth-worst annual performance for bonds in all of

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What You Should Know About This Popular Income Investment

November 4, 2022TradeSmith Editorial Staff

I love hearing from Money Talks readers. And in the last several months, I’ve received more questions on one topic than just about any other. I’m talking about income investing. It’s not surprising… With inflation steadily eating away at our purchasing power and an ongoing bear market in many assets, it’s never been more important to find sources of safe, steady returns. Recently, several folks have asked about one type of income investment in particular: master limited partnerships, or “MLPs.” So today, I’d

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October 2022

Have Your Financial ‘Go Bag’ Ready in an Emergency

October 28, 2022TradeSmith Editorial Staff

Exactly one month ago today, I closed TradeSmith’s Florida offices as Hurricane Ian was barreling toward Tampa — the first such storm expected to hit the area in over a century. While Ian ultimately made landfall further south than initially anticipated, the experience was a stark reminder that disaster can strike any of us without warning. And whether it’s hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, blizzards, floods, fires, or something else, chances are most of us will have to deal with a similar emergency at

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