2-18-26 Q&A Wednesday: Markets, Money, and Your Questions
The Real Investment Show Podcast
Release Date: 02/18/2026
2-18-26 Q&A Wednesday: Markets, Money, and Your Questions
The Real Investment Show Podcast
It’s Q&A Wednesday—your questions drive the show. Lance Roberts & Danny Ratliff break down what’s moving markets right now, key economic and Fed signals to watch this week, and the practical portfolio decisions that matter most (risk, allocations, income, taxes, and retirement timing). Drop your question in the live chatroom and we’ll tackle as many as we can. Topics we often cover: market volatility & trend levels, rates/inflation, sector rotation, retirement income, tax strategy, ETFs vs. individual bonds, and avoiding emotional decision-making. Hosted by RIA...
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2-18-26 100-DMA Bounce: Range-Bound Markets & Energy Risk | Before the Bell
The Real Investment Show Podcast
Markets tested the 100-day moving average (100-DMA) and buyers stepped in—exactly where many systematic and algorithmic strategies tend to respond. Futures are pointing higher this morning, but that doesn’t automatically mean the selloff is finished. Momentum remains weak and the market is still on a sell signal, which often sets up a choppy, range-bound environment without a clear catalyst. We also discuss why “chasing winners” can get dangerous late in an extended run—highlighted by Walmart’s sharp drop after a strong advance. In commodities, crude oil is trying to stabilize, but...
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2-17-26 Bank, Brokerage, or Corporate Trustee? (It's a Matter of Trust)
The Real Investment Show Podcast
Choosing a corporate trustee is one of the most important decisions in estate planning—especially if you’re naming a bank, brokerage trust department, or independent trust company to manage assets and carry out your wishes after you’re gone. Lance Roberts & Jon Penn break down how to compare corporate trustees beyond just “lowest fees,” including fiduciary standards, investment flexibility, service model, administrative capabilities, distribution discipline, technology/reporting, continuity, and how they handle family dynamics. We also cover the key differences between revocable...
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2-17-26 100-DMA Test - Momentum Fades, Rotation Shifts | Before the Bell
The Real Investment Show Podcast
Markets held the 100-DMA on Friday, but that support is in focus again today. The bigger issue is a negative divergence: price has risen while momentum and relative strength have faded. If the 100-DMA breaks, the next key level is the 200-DMA near 6,650—so stay disciplined on allocations, concentration, and risk. Breadth is improving: the gap between market-cap and equal-weight has narrowed, and equal-weight has led over the past six months. Energy, Utilities, Industrials, and Materials have been driving gains, but several are getting extended—take profits and rebalance where needed. Also...
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2-16-26 Margin Debt & the One-Stock Myth
The Real Investment Show Podcast
Happy Presidents Day—today’s show blends portfolio risk management with real-life planning (and a little chili controversy). We break down margin debt and how leverage turns routine volatility into forced selling and permanent losses. Then we pivot to weddings, pre-nups, and money conversations—what couples should sort out early to protect goals and reduce future stress. Next, we tackle the “one stock forever” question: why the idea is tempting, where concentration risk shows up, and what characteristics investors are really looking for (durable cash flows, pricing power, strong...
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2-13-26 529 Leftovers, Retirement First, & the Real Cost of Cars
The Real Investment Show Podcast
What happens when the “perfect” financial plan doesn’t happen—your kid skips college, your retirement clock is ticking, and the family budget gets ambushed by costs you never saw coming? Jon Penn and Jonathan McCarty connect three real-world money stress points that are showing up everywhere right now: 1) The kid isn’t going to college—now what about that 529? 2) Retirement vs. college: the household tug-of-war 3) Hidden car ownership costs: the budget killer after the dealership 0:00 - INTRO 0:21 - Market Futures & Precious Metals 2:33 - Rising Costs of automobiles &...
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2-12-26 The Value Rotation Illusion
The Real Investment Show Podcast
“Value is back,” the headlines say—so investors rush from mega-cap growth into “boring” staples, utilities, and healthcare. But here’s the problem: sector labels aren’t valuation metrics. In many cases, the so-called “value rotation” is an illusion—because investors may be rotating into expensive stocks while selling the actual value hiding inside “growth.” Lance Roberts & Michael Lebowitz break down why value and growth aren’t mutually exclusive, and why the market’s favorite shortcut—“defensives = value, tech = growth”—can lead to costly portfolio...
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2-12-26 Dollar Rally Risk - Overbought Markets | Before the Bell
The Real Investment Show Podcast
Is the U.S. Dollar setting up for a deeper rally—and what does that mean for markets that have been riding the “weak dollar” trade? Lance Roberts walks through a long-term, monthly chart perspective: when major indexes stretch 2+ standard deviations above long-term means, the odds of a meaningful mean reversion rise. Right now, the S&P 500 is extended, the equal-weight S&P is even more stretched, and several “Dollar-sensitive” areas look extremely overbought—including Basic Materials, Industrials, and Transports. The same setup shows up in international stocks and emerging...
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2-11-26 Q&A Wednesday: You Ask 'em, We'll Answer
The Real Investment Show Podcast
It’s Q&A Wednesday: You ask ’em, we’ll answer—and today’s episode covers the questions investors actually wrestle with when markets get noisy. Lance Roberts & Danny Ratliff start with a preview of upcoming economic reports and what recent data may be signaling about slowing growth and the next bout of market volatility. From there, we dig into real portfolio decisions—especially for investors heading into retirement—including how to think about allocation changes, managing risk, and avoiding the behavioral traps that derail long-term outcomes. Lance & Danny also hit...
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2-11-26 Market Rotation Keeps Stocks Flat | Before the Bell
The Real Investment Show Podcast
Markets are stuck in the same rhythm: rally, pull back, test support, and bounce again. After Tuesday’s dip, futures are mildly higher this morning—but the bigger story is consolidation. Under the surface, leadership is rotating: Energy, Financials, and Value have held the upper hand, while Growth has started to perk up. That internal rotation can keep the index “flat” even as specific sectors trend. The setup still leans toward an upside breakout, but the market hasn’t shown the momentum needed to follow through—yet. Meanwhile, 10-year Treasury yields have been sliding for several...
info_outlineIt’s Q&A Wednesday—your questions drive the show.
Lance Roberts & Danny Ratliff break down what’s moving markets right now, key economic and Fed signals to watch this week, and the practical portfolio decisions that matter most (risk, allocations, income, taxes, and retirement timing). Drop your question in the live chatroom and we’ll tackle as many as we can.
Topics we often cover: market volatility & trend levels, rates/inflation, sector rotation, retirement income, tax strategy, ETFs vs. individual bonds, and avoiding emotional decision-making.
Hosted by RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist, Lance Roberts, CIO, w Senior Investment Advisor, Danny Ratliff, CFP
Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer
0:00 - INTRO
0:19 - Wrapping Earnings Season w Highest Revenue Growth Ever
4:38 - Markets Bounce off 100-DMA
6:47 - What's Next for Crude Oil & Energy Stocks?
9:40 - How Much Money is "Enough" to Retire On?
17:48 - Study: Coffee & Dementia
19:06 - Work Benefits vs Medicare
20:41 - Capital Allocation in Current Markets
23:19 - How to Plan for 2027
25:14 - Bloom Energy & Fuel Cell Tech
26:21 - Price Floor Effects on Trading, Employment & Metals
29:56 - Extended Car Warranty Pros & Cons
31:27 - How Much Trust in Forward Guidance?
32:55 - Is Palantir Over Sold? (Yes)
33:35 - Datacenter Rage vs Fiber Optics
35:00 - Corporate Stock Buy Backs vs AI Cap-Ex Spending
35:54 - Planning to Retire at 56
36:52 - Should You Wait Until 74 for Social Security?
39:09 - Market Rotation Velocity
40:28 - Coming Attractions
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Register for our next Candid Coffee, 2/21/26:
https://streamyard.com/watch/Wq3Yvn9ny5GV
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Watch Today's Full Video on our YouTube Channel:
https://youtube.com/live/3xyx42x5s44
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Articles Mentioned in Today's Show:
"Seasonality: Buy Signal And Investing Outcomes"
https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/seasonality-buy-signal-and-investing-outcomes/
"Technology Stocks: Dead Or An Opportunity?"
https://realinvestmentadvice.com/resources/blog/technology-stocks-dead-or-an-opportunity/
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Watch our previous show, "Bank, Brokerage, or Corporate Trustee? (It's a Matter of Trust)," here:
https://youtube.com/live/MU8qVbSiqxY?feature=share
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The latest installment of our new feature, Before the Bell, "1100-DMA Bounce: Range-Bound Markets & Energy Risk," is here:
https://youtu.be/EJVtzKwAMG4
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https://realinvestmentadvice.com/ria-e-guide-library/
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