Brandon Hoium - Thrivent

06/26/2026

Pro tip: trim your bushes more than once every 4 years.

06/24/2026

One earnings report I’ll be watching closely today: Micron.

Not because one company’s results should drive anyone’s financial plan, but because Micron may give the market a clearer look into one of the biggest themes driving stocks right now: the AI infrastructure buildout.

Micron reports after the close today, and investors will likely be listening for clues on a few key questions:

Are AI-related memory demand and high-bandwidth memory demand still accelerating?

Are supply bottlenecks improving, worsening, or staying tight?

Does Micron still have pricing power, and how long could that last?

What does management’s outlook suggest about continued data center and hyperscaler spending?

That last point may be the most important. Micron is not just a “Micron story” right now. Memory chips are a key input in the broader AI buildout, so their earnings call could offer signs about whether demand from the largest technology companies remains strong, whether capacity is keeping up, and whether the market’s expectations around AI spending are realistic.

In other words, investors may look at this report as more than a company update. It could be a check-in on the health of the AI trade itself.

As always, one earnings report does not define a long-term investment strategy. But it can give us useful information about where expectations are, where pressure points may be forming, and how the market is thinking about future growth.

Worth watching.

06/24/2026

Pelosi’s latest disclosed trades are making the rounds again — this time with reported purchases of Uber and Intel.

Love her or hate her, congressional trading disclosures always create conversation because they give the public a small window into what some high-profile investors are doing.

No takeaways, no recommendations — just an interesting reminder that transparency matters, and disclosures can be a useful educational tool for understanding market behavior.

06/16/2026

Fed Meeting Preview: Why tomorrow matters

Tomorrow, markets will be watching the Federal Reserve.

The Fed can sound complicated, but its role is pretty straightforward: it helps guide monetary policy in the U.S. economy. One of the main tools it uses is setting short-term interest rates.

Why does that matter?

Because interest rates can influence borrowing costs, mortgage rates, credit cards, business investment, bond yields, stock valuations, and even how confident consumers and businesses feel about the economy.

This meeting is especially interesting because it is expected to be Kevin Warsh’s first as Fed Chair. Any time there is new leadership at the Fed, investors pay close attention not just to what decision is made, but how the message is delivered.

Will the Fed sound more focused on inflation? More concerned about growth? More patient? More cautious?

No one knows exactly how markets will react, but Fed days are a good reminder that financial planning is not about reacting to every headline. It is about understanding how things like rates, inflation, market volatility, and your personal timeline all fit together.

Simple question: when you hear “the Fed,” do you think more about the stock market, mortgage rates, or the overall economy?

06/15/2026

A weekend at the zoo with family was a good reminder of something I think about often: balance matters.

It’s easy to get caught up in calendars, goals, work, and the next thing on the list. But weekends like this make me appreciate the “why” behind all of it.

Financial planning is often about numbers, strategies, and decisions — but at its core, it’s really about helping protect and support the life you’re trying to build.

For me, that means faith, family, time together, and being present for moments like these.

Grateful for a fun weekend, a little slower pace, and some quality family time. 🦁🐘

What’s one place your family always enjoys going together?

06/12/2026

Market Watch: SpaceX IPO preview

One of the bigger market stories this week is the expected SpaceX IPO.

A few fun facts:

SpaceX is best known for rockets, reusable launches, and Starlink — its satellite internet business. Reports suggest the IPO could be one of the largest public offerings ever, which would make it a major test of investor appetite for high-growth, innovation-driven companies.

So what is an IPO?

An IPO, or initial public offering, is when a private company sells shares to the public for the first time. It gives investors a chance to own part of the company, and it gives the company access to public-market capital.

IPOs can generate a lot of excitement, but they can also come with uncertainty. New public companies often face big expectations, limited public trading history, and plenty of questions around valuation.

Whether it is SpaceX, AI, or the next major market headline, moments like this are a good reminder: investing is not just about exciting stories — it is also about understanding risk, time horizon, and how each decision fits into the bigger picture.

What are you more interested in with a company like SpaceX: the space business, Starlink, or the broader innovation story?

06/10/2026

Wednesday Market Note: Inflation data and an AI earnings test

Today gives markets two important things to digest: a fresh CPI inflation report this morning and Oracle earnings after the close.

That combination is worth paying attention to.

Inflation matters because it can influence interest rates, bond yields, borrowing costs, and how investors value stocks. Earnings matter because they tell us whether the optimism around major themes — especially AI and cloud infrastructure — is being supported by real business results.

In other words, today is a good snapshot of what investors are weighing right now:
the economy, interest rates, corporate earnings, and future growth expectations.

But here’s the part that often gets missed: your financial plan should not depend on guessing the next inflation report or the next earnings reaction correctly.

A strong plan should already account for changing rates, market volatility, inflation pressure, tax strategy, retirement income needs, and the timeline for when you actually need the money.

Markets will always have big data days. The real question is whether your plan is built to handle them.

What do you think matters more for the market right now: inflation data or AI-related earnings?

06/09/2026

Today, Liam turns one. 🥳🥺

It’s hard to put into words what this past year has meant. Before becoming a dad, I understood “family” in a certain way. But this year has changed how I think about nearly everything.. time, priorities, work, faith, responsibility, and what it really means to build a life with purpose.

As a financial advisor, I spend a lot of time talking with families about the future. But becoming a parent has made that feel much more personal. Planning is not really about accounts, numbers, or charts. At its core, it is about protecting the people you love, creating options for your family, and being intentional with the years we are given.

Liam has reminded me that the most important things in life are not always the loudest or most urgent. Sometimes they are the small moments.. a laugh, a first step, a quiet morning, or realizing that one year can change your entire perspective.

Happy first birthday, Liam. You have made our family better in every way, and you have made me think more deeply about the kind of husband, father, and advisor I want to be.

06/08/2026

Monday Market Note: Apple’s WWDC and the next AI checkpoint

One of the biggest market themes over the last couple of years has been simple: AI.

We’ve seen investor attention, company valuations, and growth expectations increasingly tied to how businesses are positioning themselves around artificial intelligence. Today, Apple’s WWDC keynote at 12 p.m. CT gives the market another important data point.

Apple has not been the loudest voice in AI compared to some of its peers, but that may be exactly why today’s event matters. Investors will be watching to see whether Apple can show meaningful progress with Apple Intelligence, Siri, and how AI fits into its broader ecosystem of devices and services.

For long-term investors, these moments are a good reminder: markets often move not just on what companies are earning today, but on what investors believe they can become tomorrow.

It will be interesting to see whether Apple gives the market something real to build on — or whether expectations are still running ahead of the story.

What are you watching more closely right now: AI innovation, valuations, or earnings growth?

06/08/2026

Let me know if you can make it.

Five Phases of an IRA

Thursday, June 11 @ 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.



Do you know the five phases of your retirement? There are many options if your goal is to grow, spend, and give more of your wealth. Join [me/us] to learn more at [my/our] workshop, Five Phases of an IRA, Thursday, June 11 at 6:00 p.m. at Minneapolis Marriott West. Dinner is included.



Sign up today: https://bit.ly/3RVbybv



No products will be sold. 27764-13M N1-24

Discover how the 5 phases of an IRA relate to your retirement—and learn strategies for reducing the taxes you and your heirs could pay.