Jeff Snell

This Week’s Market

It has been a historic and high-energy week on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average stole the spotlight, surging 2.5% to cross the monumental 50,000 threshold for the first time. While the S&P 500 saw a slight 0.1% dip and the Nasdaq fell 1.8% due to a midweek rotation out of tech, the week ended with a resilient “buy the dip” sentiment. Markets often recalibrate after such milestones, but the underlying economic momentum remains a very bright silver lining.

Trending Topics This Week

A major point of discussion on social media and financial news right now is the “Great Wealth Transfer.” With trillions of dollars expected to pass to the next generation over the next decade, there is a significant focus on multi-generational tax efficiency.

Additionally, many retirees are tracking the 2.8% Social Security COIA increase for 2026, exploring how to best integrate these adjusted payments into their broader inflation-hedging strategies.

This Week’s Ideas

For those within the “retirement red zone” (5–10 years away) or already retired, consider the “Bucket-to-Roth” hack. Instead of a standard Roth conversion, use your required minimum distributions (RMDs) or taxable cash buckets to fund a spouse’s Roth IRA if they are still working even part-time. This allows you to shift “forever taxed” money into a tax-free vehicle, potentially lowering your future taxable estate while maintaining liquidity for healthcare costs later in life.

If you have any questions about these trends or your own strategy, please reach out to us by directly replying to this email, or by calling or texting our office at 480-575-7688. I personally read and respond to all replies.

If you are not yet a client and have in-depth questions or want to see how we can help you, please book a Free Consultation Call.

The information on our website and this blog is for information purposes only. It is believed to be reliable, but JR Snell Capital Management does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The information on our website and in this newsletter or blog is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase of stock or any financial instrument.

This Week’s Market

This week, major indices navigated volatility with resilience. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained about 1% overall, bolstered by strong performances in industrial and financial sectors. The S&P 500 experienced a modest dip of around 1%, while the Nasdaq declined 3% amid tech sector pressures. Friday’s morning rally, with the Dow up over 800 points, S&P advancing 1.3%, and Nasdaq rising 1.2% by 11 a.m. ET, underscores investor optimism and potential for continued stability.¹

The “other” markets swirling around stocks went a little wild this week. Various market commentators have been Chicken-Little-ing about the amount of value in the gold and silver markets that have crashed this week.

I’ve been reading comments about the $4 trillion dollar total market value losses in the gold and silver markets this week, like it’s some kind of a dramatic collapse of valuations.

Right… except it’s the $4 trillion dollars in paper gains that were made since Christmas. Easy come, easy go. January millionaires revert back to February thousandaires. 😉

Trending Topics This Week

A key discussion in financial news this week centers on Roth IRA conversions. With market uncertainty and potential tax changes on the horizon, many are considering shifting funds from traditional IRAs to Roth accounts to lock in current tax rates and enable tax-free growth in retirement.

We’ll do this towards the end of the year with everybody, as always.

This Week’s Ideas

For pre-retirees and retirees, consider claiming state-specific senior property tax exemptions or freezes, available in many areas to cap or reduce annual assessments. This can help preserve cash flow without relocating, but check your state’s treasury site for eligibility and application details.

I’ve done this for a few folks here in Arizona… there are some income caps and you have to renew it every three years (IIRC). And, despite the crazy advice being spooned out on the socials, there’s no actual “discount”… it’s typically protection against further increases.

If you have any questions or comments, please reply directly to this newsletter—I read all responses.

If you’re not a client and have in-depth questions or want to see if we can help, book a Free Consultation Call.

The information on our website and this blog is for information purposes only. It is believed to be reliable, but JR Snell Capital Management does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The information on our website and in this newsletter or blog is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase of stock or any financial instrument.

1. Data from my TradingView trading platform. ↩︎

This Week’s Market

The stock market showed resilience amid mixed performances this week, with major indices navigating earnings reports and policy news. From Monday’s open to Friday morning, the S&P 500 dipped about 0.3% overall, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.5%, and the Nasdaq Composite edged down 0.1%.

Friday’s pullback was likely in reaction to the nomination of Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair, which contributed to the modest declines, the broader January trajectory remains positive, highlighting underlying strength in key sectors.

Gold an silver pulled back dramatically on Thursday and Friday… silver is down about 20% as I write this (Friday morning)¹

Trending Topics This Week

A notable financial planning discussion gaining momentum on social media is the “No-Buy 2026” challenge. This trend encourages individuals to skip non-essential purchases throughout the year to enhance savings and alleviate financial stress. Popular on platforms like TikTok and Reddit, it reflects a growing emphasis on mindful spending in response to persistent economic pressures.

Do it if you want… but I like to emphasize a mindset of abundance, rather than scarcity.

So, you do you.

This Week’s Ideas

Search for unclaimed property through your state’s official treasury website, as many people have forgotten funds from old bank accounts, insurance refunds, or utility deposits waiting to be claimed. This simple step can uncover unexpected money to bolster your emergency fund or investments without additional effort.

If you have questions or comments, please reply directly to this newsletter—I read all responses. You can also reach out to us by calling or texting our office at 480-575-7688.

If you are not a client and have in-depth questions or want to explore how we might assist you, book a Free Consultation Call.

The information on our website and this blog is for information purposes only. It is believed to be reliable, but JR Snell Capital Management does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The information on our website and in this newsletter or blog is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase of stock or any financial instrument.

1. All data is provided by my desktop trading and analysis software, TradingView. ↩︎

The stock market got ‘jiggy’ on Tuesday with the S&P 500 down about 2% (give or take)¹ But, by this morning (Friday), it again started showing resilience, with major indices experiencing modest pullbacks amid earnings season.

From Monday’s open to Friday at 11 a.m. ET, the S&P 500 declined 0.4% to close near 6,940, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3% to 49,359, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.7% to 23,515. Small-cap stocks provided a bright spot, with the Russell 2000 rising over 2%, reflecting a healthy rotation toward undervalued segments and building on year-to-date gains of nearly 8%. Overall, the market remains supported by steady economic signals.

Of interest, many that I spoke to assumed that the market tanked on Tuesday because the mainstream media reported that the US was going to ‘invade’ Greenland (laughable IMHO). In actuality, it was caused by issues with the Japanese bond market auction not going favorably.

So much for assuming the markets care about non-financial things.

Trending Topics This Week

One prominent discussion in financial news and on some of the socials revolves around the role of artificial intelligence in portfolio construction. Advisors are increasingly exploring AI tools to analyze data and recommend personalized asset allocations, potentially enhancing efficiency for retirees managing risk and income needs.

This trend highlights how technology could streamline planning without replacing human oversight.

This Week’s Ideas

• Consider a Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract (QLAC) within your IRA or 401(k), allowing up to 25% of assets (or $200,000) to be deferred from RMDs until age 85, providing guaranteed income later in life while reducing current tax obligations.
• Explore series I savings bonds for inflation-protected growth; with current rates offering a fixed component plus inflation adjustment, they serve as a low-risk hedge for retirement portfolios, especially for those nearing or in retirement seeking principal preservation.

We welcome your questions or comments—feel free to reply directly to this newsletter, or reach out by calling or texting our office at 480-575-7688.

If you are not a client and have in-depth questions or want to explore how we might assist you, we encourage you to book a Discovery Call.

The information on our website and this blog is for information purposes only. It is believed to be reliable, but JR Snell Capital Management does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The information on our website and in this newsletter or blog is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase of stock or any financial instrument.

1. According to TradingView, my trading platform. ↩︎