Mid-Year Market Recap, S&P Insights, & Tips for Investing During an Election Year
Release Date: 07/12/2024
Greenland, China, Market Rotation and What Actually Matters for Your Money
Off The Wall
Some weeks call for rain boots because the conversation is going somewhere most people would rather avoid. This episode steps into charged territory on purpose: geopolitics, tariffs, China and Taiwan, Greenland, and the policy decisions shaping today’s headlines. There’s no posturing here and no outrage bait, just a willingness to talk through complex questions instead of skirting around them. From there, the focus shifts to what actually matters for investors: how markets tend to react when policy dominates the news cycle, why short-term volatility shows up, and how data and discipline...
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What Last Year Taught Us About Staying Invested
Off The Wall
A new year always brings fresh predictions, louder headlines, and plenty of pressure. In the first Off the Wall episode of the year, Nate W. Tonsager, CIPM and David B. Armstrong, CFA take a step back and anchor the conversation in the reality of what happened in 2025, and why that context is essential as we head into 2026. They reflect on the surprises that shaped last year and connected those lessons to the environment ahead. Key topics: Global markets and why international equities outpaced U.S. stocks in 2025 Volatility, drawdowns, and what last year revealed about investor behavior ...
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What Investors Asked: Predictions, Bitcoin, and Gold
Off The Wall
In this Ask Monument Anything episode, we’re answering real questions from listeners of the show. From a question about Michael Burry’s bold predictions and why they continue to draw attention, to a discussion of Bitcoin’s unusual performance in 2025 and the renewed curiosity around gold as a potential safe-haven asset, the conversation then shifts to private credit’s emerging role inside 401(k) target-date funds. Key takeaways: • The patterns that show up again and again when attention-grabbing forecasts circulate • Forces that pushed Bitcoin into an unexpected...
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The Guide to Less Stressful Holiday Giving
Off The Wall
The holidays come fast and somehow the shopping and gifting part always seems to catch us by surprise. In this episode of Off The Wall, host David B. Armstrong, CFA is joined by Cathleen Phelps and Cecelia Gilliam from our Client Experience team as they sit down in full holiday mode to share ideas that make gifting feel fun again. From opening Roth IRAs for teens, funding 529 plans for nieces and nephews, and introducing kids to charitable giving, to practical strategies like shared family experiences, subscriptions, organizing spreadsheets, and even planning for parents who “don’t need...
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The Biggest Questions Shaping Portfolios Right Now
Off The Wall
Markets feel noisy right now, and investors are asking sharper questions than usual. In this episode of Off The Wall, Nate W. Tonsager, CIPM® and David B. Armstrong, CFA open with the surge in tech valuations and the unusual weight a handful of companies now hold inside the S&P 500. We’ll hear about what that concentration means for volatility, why some portfolios feel out of sync with the index, and how listeners can think about risk when the market feels lopsided. Next, they talk about the current labor environment, which is a mix of hiring freezes and productivity changes, and what...
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3 Trends in Charitable Giving that May Change How You Give This Year
Off The Wall
2025 has been a rough year for charities. Economic uncertainty, decreased federal funding, political polarization – in many ways, nonprofits are facing a lot of the same challenges they did during Covid, as well as a few new ones. Charitable organizations need your donations now more than ever. In this episode, we’re joined by former OFF THE WALL co-host and Partner at Monument, Jessica Gibbs, CFP® as she highlights three current trends in charitable giving and how you can adjust your giving strategy to help make a bigger impact. If you’re currently looking at end-of-year giving...
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Q3 Market Recap: Alternatives, Gold, and the Bull Market Debate
Off The Wall
It’s the start of a new quarter, which means it’s time for a market recap and our special “Ask Monument Anything” segment. David Armstrong, CFA, gets back together with Erin Hay, CFA, CMT, and Nate Tonsager, CIPM, to walk through the latest market moves, where momentum is showing up, and what investors should be paying attention to. This quarter, they dig into alternatives, gold’s surprising surge, and whether today’s bull market has more room to run. They also share candid thoughts on cash, dividends, and why being intentional with your portfolio matters more than chasing the...
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5 Years Until Your Last Day: How to Handle the Shift from Career to Retirement
Off The Wall
When you hit 60, there’s a mental shift that begins to occur. After spending 30+ years earning and saving, you are suddenly just a few years away from beginning to spend your retirement income. It’s a challenge every retiree faces: How do you step away from regular paychecks to drawing down your savings every month? In this episode, we discuss how to create an option-rich life in retirement, where your money will come from, how to handle taxes, how to stay flexible, and much more! Tune in to hear the whole conversation. 0:00 – Disclosure 0:48 – Kicking off the 75th episode...
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Dow Jones, S&P, NASDAQ: What’s the Difference (and Which Should You Use to Track Your Own Portfolio)?
Off The Wall
For many investors, the Dow Jones or S&P 500 or NASDAQ might as well be the same thing, but that’s not true at all. In today’s episode, Dave, Nate, and Erin dive into the differences between the big three indices and whether you should look to them as indicators of how your own portfolio is doing (spoiler alert: no, you shouldn’t). So what should you be tracking to get the best picture of your performance? And how can you avoid the most common mistakes people make when trying to track their portfolio on their own? Tune in to find out! Please see important...
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Should You Wait to Invest? The Q2 Market Review
Off The Wall
In this special Q2 Market Review episode of Off the Wall, we’re introducing a new segment: Ask Monument Anything (AMA). Dave, Nate, and Erin answer questions from clients and listeners, and also cover what went down in the markets during the second quarter of 2025. They cover everything from interest rates and inflation to timing your investment strategy and understanding international diversification. If you are wondering how to approach market timing, if cash is still king, or if international stocks should fit into your portfolio, this episode is for you! Dedicated email address for...
info_outlineIt’s time for another quarterly market update from the Monument Wealth Management team!
In this episode of Off the Wall, our lovely co-host Jessica Gibbs has returned from maternity leave. Please help us give her a warm welcome back!
For this mid-year review, Jessica and co-host David B. Armstrong are joined by Erin Hay and Nate Tonsager from Monument’s Portfolio Management team.
You’ll hear what sectors are performing well in 2024, which stocks are driving the market (and how that compares to previous years), and why you should be checking company earnings and share prices when buying and selling stocks.
Plus… Will the 2024 presidential election increase volatility in the stock market? Should you change your investment strategy around the election? Tune in to find out!
“Just remember that earnings drive share prices and when prices get ahead of earnings, the probability of disappointment increases with each new earnings report.” – David Armstrong
Episode Timeline/Key Highlights:
[00:00] Welcome back Jessica! & The topic of today’s episode.
[00:54] Market recap of Q2 and 2024 overall.
[10:40] An important note about large cap and mega cap stocks in the S&P 500.
[17:45] Notable market stats and insights from Q1 and Q2.
[22:51] Stock Market Volatility: It’s role in investing & how to navigate it in 2024.
[24:32] 2024 Market Breadth: Our breakdown and bottom line.
[31:05] The impact of presidential elections on the stock market & Tips for investing during an election year.
[38:08] What are we most optimistic and pessimistic about?
Please see important podcast disclosure information at https://monumentwealthmanagement.com/disclosures.
Resources Mentioned:
Listen to recent episodes of Off the Wall: https://apple.co/46uttsg
J.P. Morgan’s Guide to the Markets: http://bit.ly/417YgYm
July 2024 BLS Employment Report: https://bit.ly/3VXjY0p
Subscribe to Monument #Unfiltered: https://bit.ly/monumentunfiltered
Follow our Asset Management team on LinkedIn:
Erin Hay https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinhay
Nate Tonsager https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-tonsager-5a019b105
Connect with Monument Wealth Management:
Visit our website: https://bit.ly/monumentwealthwebsite
Follow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/MonumentWealthIG
Connect on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/MonumentWealthLI
Connect on Facebook: https://bit.ly/MonumentWealthFB
Connect on YouTube: https://bit.ly/YouTubeMWMFit
Subscribe to Monument #Unfiltered: https://bit.ly/monumentunfiltered
About “Off the Wall”:
OFF THE WALL is a podcast for business professionals and high-net-worth investors who want to build wealth with purpose. A little bit Wall Street, a little bit off-the-wall; it's your go-to for straightforward, unfiltered wealth advice on topics that founders, business owners, and executives care about.
Learn more about our hosts, Dave and Jessica on our website at https://monumentwealthmanagement.com.