
Episode #193
Episode 193: July Volatility Survival Guide
July was the kind of month that makes smart people do dumb things with their money. We felt the whipsaw firsthand: AI names getting hit hard, Treasury yields climbing to multi-year highs, oil ripping higher on renewed Middle East tension, and a Federal Reserve that holds rates steady while offering less guidance than investors are used to. Even when the S&P 500 ends only slightly lower, the day-to-day swings can make it feel far more painful, especially if you’re concentrated in one theme. We walk through the numbers that mattered and the ones that distract, including why we pay more attention to broader benchmarks like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq than the Dow. From the VIX jump to bond index weakness, the message is simple: markets do not go up every day, and volatility is part of the price of admission. Then we dig into the real lightning rod, AI investments. Corporate earnings raised fresh questions about massive data center and AI infrastructure spend, free cash flow pressure, and whether the return on investment will show up fast enough. We also explore how new developments like the open-weight Kimi K3 model from Moonshot AI could reshape expectations around AI costs, hardware demand, and data trust. From there, we connect the dots to oil prices, inflation sensitivity, Fed uncertainty under new leadership, and the reemergence of tariffs as another source of economic complexity. If you want a grounded July market recap plus a clear long-term investing playbook built around diversification and perspective, hit play, then subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review so more people can find it. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions voiced in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may suit you, consult the appropriate qualified professional before deciding.

