Ty Hendrix Investment Management

05/08/2026

Stocks surged in April, delivering their strongest monthly gains in five years as solid economic data, easing geopolitical tensions, and upbeat first-quarter earnings lifted investor sentiment. The Nasdaq climbed 15.29%, the S&P 500 rose 10.42%, and the Dow gained 7.14%, while Canada’s S&P/TSX Composite added 3.65%. With no Fed meeting in May, attention turns to remarks from Fed officials and how evolving economic data may shape expectations moving forward. From \$34.1 billion in U.S. spending to the popularity of Mother’s Day dining and gifts, this month’s By the Numbers highlights how families celebrate the occasion.

Stocks surged in April, notching their best month in five years as investors cheered upbeat economic news, efforts to lower tensions in the Middle East, and first-quarter results.

04/07/2026

U.S. stocks slipped in Q1 as AI disruption fears and Middle East tensions rattled investors. The S&P 500 fell 4.63%, the Nasdaq dropped 7.11%, and the Dow lost 3.58% — though six of eleven S&P 500 sectors still finished in the green, led by Energy's standout 37.91% gain. As the weather warms up and spring gets us outside, it turns out Americans are right there with you — over 181 million U.S. residents participated in outdoor recreation in 2024. Check out this month's by-the-numbers for more on the outdoor recreation economy.

U.S. stocks struggled in February amid fears that artificial intelligence would disrupt a wide swath of industries, unsettling investors. Late in the month, geopolitical concerns weighed on the market amid tensions in the Middle East.

03/13/2026

A tax refund can be a welcome surprise, but deciding what to do with it matters.
From tackling high-interest debt to contributing to long-term goals (or simply treating yourself), every choice can reflect what’s most meaningful to you.



Sources:
FINRA, “6 Smart Ways to Use Your Tax Refund,” March 18, 2025

CNBC Select, “5 Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund,” April 11, 2025

03/12/2026

Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s January meeting show that most policymakers want to see additional progress on inflation before supporting further rate reductions this year.

While two officials favored another quarter-point cut, the vast majority agreed the benchmark rate should remain steady for now at roughly 3.6%.

Here’s what stood out:
▪️Many participants believe the labor market has stabilized after late-2025 weakness.
▪️Inflation remains above the central bank’s 2% target, even as price growth has cooled.
▪️Some policymakers signaled openness to future easing if price pressures continue to decline — while others indicated they would prefer holding policy unchanged for an extended period.

Recent data adds context:
▪️Employers added 130,000 jobs in January.
▪️The unemployment rate slipped to 4.3%.
▪️The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge is expected to run near 3% year over year.

For now, officials appear comfortable waiting for more unmistakable evidence that price growth is sustainably moving toward the target before adjusting policy again.


Source:

Many Federal Reserve officials want to see inflation fall further before they would support additional interest rate cuts this year, particularly if the job market continues to stabilize, minutes of last month’s meeting show.

03/11/2026

Did you know that Fed Chair Nominee Kevin Warsh was a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors from 2006 to 2011—a period marked by the Global Financial Crisis? His Senate confirmation process will start soon, so it’s time to start to recognize the name!

03/10/2026

Roth conversions can be a great tool—but they’re not for everyone. 🧩

A conversion may increase taxes today and could affect Medicare premiums, tax credits, or how benefits are taxed. It also matters what tax bracket you’re in now vs. later.

Before you convert, run the numbers and consider your full plan. ✅

10/11/2024

My team created this FREE tool. Download it here.

10/04/2024

Market volatility is here. Take action with my free flowchart.

09/27/2024

Markets are volatile — don't be caught by surprise.

09/20/2024

Use this simple flowchart to determine what steps you might want to take next.