☕️ The four things you’ve got to get right as an investor

Good morning! 👋 

It’s Hayley here again while Keith is on the road.  

There’s a lot going on this morning!  

The markets are split as I type. 

Dow futures are in the green, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq are both in the red. 

That tracks. 

The Dow’s getting a lift from defensive, value-heavy names, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq are weighed down by fresh banking-sector concerns, credit-quality jitters, and tech sensitivity to rising U.S.–China tensions. 

And of course, the 17-day government shutdown hasn’t helped risk appetite either. 

Oh—and let’s not forget the good old valuation worries we talked about yesterday. 

Will this hold? 

Let’s see.  

But I wouldn’t be surprised to see sentiment flip again soon—especially after President Trump said the high tariff levels he’s threatened on Chinese goods (100%) are “not sustainable.” (Read) 

Keith would tell you his experience suggests that a little tug-of-war is exactly what the markets need to shake out the weak hands and the scared money. That’s what clears the runway for the next leg higher. 

History agrees. 

The so-called Fear & Greed Index is flashing extreme fear, and the VIX — Wall Street’s “fear gauge” — is sitting near 25. 

Yet all three indices aren't that far from all-time highs. 🤦‍♂️ 

The mood and the math don’t match. 

That usually means emotion is shouting louder than logic — and that’s often when disciplined investors quietly make their move. 

Remember this: 

There are only four things you’ve got to get right: 

1. Buy the best, ignore the rest.  
2. Focus on what you can control. 
3. Make sure you’re playing to win, not just “not to lose”. 
4. Use the right tactics to control risk as part of your buying process—not as an afterthought. 

As always, let’s MAKE it a great day and finish the week strong. 

You got this — I promise! 

Hayley E 😀