Hicks & Associates Wealth Management

10/16/2026

We are NOT arguing that the US economy is gonna go bankrupt.
But we ARE arguing that we are in a different environment.
And you better be on guard.

This is a clip from Ted's time on the Financial Freedom Podcast.
Steven Richardson and Ted discussed many things.
The U.S. National Debt is one of them.

That said, Ted said something wrong here.
It's not that we issue our own currency.

As long as we can issue DEBT in our own currency,
we can argue that we will be fine.

However, that is not guaranteed forever.
Especially if we lose World Reserve Currency status.

That's beginning to happen already.
If you look under the surface, it's started.

And, soon, we will likely have to issue debt,
➡️ just to make debt payments.

❓ Does that sound like a healthy fiscally sound household?

Please don't fall asleep at the wheel.
Don't assume it'll all be okay.

We are convinced we are in an environment where you really should be tactical.

Buy 'n hold, in our opinion, is very dangerous in this environment.

It'll work for a time, sure.
'Til it won't.

10/14/2026

This morning's CPI report pushes that measure of inflation above 4%. However, if you have been following our content, you know that we also want to look at the 18-month rate of change. Take a look.

The traditional CPI stat is looking at a 12-month rate of change. But, as we discussed in our YouTube video from September 21st, when you look at an 18-month rate of change, the 5% level represents particularly dangerous territory for the S&P 500.

And today's inflation report pushed the 18-month rate of change above that 5% level.

10/13/2026

Right now, the market's internals are suggesting that this is not a healthy stock market. As a result, caution is very much advised ... especially if you are near or in retirement. There's just too much at stake.

10/01/2026

If you know your market history, 1999 was the last year of the great 1990s bull market run. Then, in March of 2000, the Dot Com bubble burst. Back then, we had the Dot Com stocks pushing the cap-weighted market indices higher while the...

If you know your market history, 1999 was the last year of the great 1990s bull market run. Then, in March of 2000, the Dot Com bubble burst.

10/01/2026

If you know your market history, 1999 was the last year of the great 1990s bull market run. Then, in March of 2000, the Dot Com bubble burst. Back then, we had the Dot Com stocks pushing the cap-weighted market indices higher while the...

09/25/2026

Do you want your doctor to receive a commission when they prescribe you certain medications or procedures?

A pet peeve of ours:
lots of financial "professionals" are just salesmen. That's not a knock on salesmen, that's a knock on the industry.

There's so much about this industry that is still very much a sales focused industry.

We do not have a problem with salesmen.
We do not have a problem with salesmen getting commissions.

But we do have a problem with professionals getting commissions.

We do not believe it's ethical for medical professionals to earn more money because they've prescribed some medication or some procedure.

We're willing to bet you would be shocked if you learned your doctor had a financial incentive to prescribe something to their patients.

The same is true for financial professionals.
If a commission is earned, was it really advice?

Or was it just a sales pitch.

This is a short clip from Fredrik Sandvall's podcast Invest In You. You can watch the full episode on YouTube here:

https://lnkd.in/e-vnJ4D4

09/23/2026

Only 5 of the 11 S&P 500 sectors are out-performing a money market YTD. Three of the 11 sectors are actually negative YTD.

One could easily argue that this is further proof of a K-Shaped economy, a K-Shaped stock market.

What does that mean?

It means some are thriving - that's the upper part of that K -
some are definitely NOT thriving - that's the lower part of that K.

Measure the risk in the environment.
Measure the risk in your portfolio.
Make adjustments as appropriate.

Our approach isn't right for everyone, that's for sure.

But if you're at that stage where a meaningful market decline,
means a strong possibility of a meaningful deterioration in your wealth,

Well, "risk" is riskier.
And bonds are not necessarily "safe" either.

[email protected]
if you'd like a Guardrails & Growth Discovery Call.

06/22/2026

Late last week, I learned that my book was a finalist in an international book competition. Unfortunately, the book came in second place - still quite the honor! I am humbled that the book has done as well as it has. To that end, ...

06/15/2026

This past week, we saw broadening strength in the United States stock market. But, this video blog is intended to help our clients better understand one step of our investment management process: WHY we buy WHEN we buy.

06/09/2026

The Initial Public Offering for SpaceX is blowing up. Well, it's blowing up the news feed. But will the stock follow through? Or will it blow up after it hits the secondary markets?