The “Rest Easy” Strategy

The “Rest Easy” Strategy

Last night on social media, the president touted “the Greatest Stock Market in History.” To which one wag replied: “For adrenaline junkies.”

Whatever your opinion of Donald Trump or the stock market, there’s no shortage of thrills-n-chills.

Here’s a chart of the S&P 500 since the start of Trump’s second term…

The big drop and recovery last year coincided with the “Liberation Day” tariffs — and the subsequent delay/walkback of those tariffs.

More recently, just look at the market since the war started at the end of February: The S&P sank from 6,879 to a low of 6,344 at the end of March — nearly an 8% drop in one month.

Then, amid hopes for a ceasefire, it roared up to 6,817 by last Friday — recovering the bulk of those losses in a week and a half.

When Trump threatened over the weekend to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, Dow futures took a 1.1% spill. But as we write this morning, amid a report that U.S.-Iran talks might resume, the Dow’s loss has been trimmed to a half percent.

As is our habit lately, we’ll get to the specifics of the war and the markets today in Bullet No. 2…

For now, let’s keep the focus on that “adrenaline.”

Maybe adrenaline isn’t your thing.

Maybe you’re already in retirement — or at least you’re thinking about what retirement will look like. And maybe what you want from the market, more than anything else, is steady, reliable income with which to meet your expenses.

And ideally, you want that income to grow — so you can keep up with a relentlessly rising cost of living. (Sadly, it’s not the 2010s anymore.)

If that’s you… then you want a strategy that’s going to insulate you from the ups and downs of a market that seems to gyrate with each new presidential post on social media. Something to help you sleep at night while your friends and neighbors are wringing their hands.

In short, a “rest easy” strategy.

Not possible, you say?

OK — take another glance at that chart of the S&P. Notice how the market went essentially nowhere during the first two months of 2026.

And yet, during that time… amid a meltdown in software stocks, a sharp pullback in precious metals, the Supreme Court tariff ruling, and war drums beating ever louder… a fellow we call “The Banker” turned $100,000 into over $205,000.

Within our network, James Altucher knows him well — and knows he can deliver investment income “that doesn’t depend on a paycheck, a pension or a politician.”

Jim Rickards also knows him well — and knows the value his strategy offers at a time like this. “He generates extra income directly from the market. Real cash. Regardless of what the market is doing.”

Together, they’ll introduce you to The Banker during a special streaming event we’re calling The Insiders Suite. It’s set for this coming Thursday at 11:00 a.m. EDT. No cost to attend — all you have to do is confirm your seat, and we’ll see you there.

Confirm Your Seat to Meet The Banker

The War and the Markets: Day 45

“Markets are rallying on ceasefire headlines and the hope that the US-Iran war is ending, but the price action is running well ahead of the fundamentals,” says a research note from MUFG, the Japanese financial giant.

That was last week. And it’s still the case even after the news this weekend.

To quickly catch up: On Saturday, U.S.-Iran talks ended at an impasse. On Sunday, Donald Trump announced the U.S. Navy would blockade the Strait of Hormuz…

Later, the Navy clarified what the president meant: U.S. warships will block all vessels leaving or traveling to Iranian ports.

As noted above, stock futures were tanking — and oil prices were zooming higher — ahead of the blockade taking effect at 10:00 a.m. EDT today.

But shortly before the market opened at 9:30 a.m. EDT, Axios reporter Barak Ravid delivered yet another “scoop” that had the effect of blunting those moves.

Pakistani, Egyptian and Turkish mediators will continue talks with the U.S. and Iran in the coming days, in an effort to bridge the remaining gaps and reach a deal to end the war, according to a regional source and a U.S. official… All parties still believe a deal is possible.

Whatever. We’re used to this from Ravid by now. Or should be. Same stuff, different day.

Upon the start of a new week’s trading last night, a barrel of West Texas Intermediate shot higher, from under $96 to nearly $105. Ravid’s story pushed it down below $103.

And what was shaping up to be an ugly open for stocks is now turning into a humdrum day — the S&P 500 flat at 6,818 and the Nasdaq up a quarter percent.

Earnings season is underway with Goldman Sachs first to report: GS quarterly profit is the highest in five years — but GS shares are down 3.3%. Can’t say it often enough: It’s not the news, it’s the reaction to the news. And financial stocks can’t catch a break lately…

Gold is pulling back but still holding the line on $4,700. Silver, however, is down nearly two bucks and back under $74.

Crypto is holding onto its weekend gains — Bitcoin just under $72,000 and Ethereum just over $2,200.

About That Blockade…

Per The Wall Street Journal, a “senior U.S. official” says 15 warships are in position to enforce the blockade on Iranian ports — which again, took effect at 10:00 a.m. EDT.

Beyond that, much remains fuzzy. “What are the rules of engagement?” tweets retired Army combat officer Daniel Davis. “Are you going to destroy any ship that tries to break the blockade? Will you try to board a ship and take physical control?

“What if it’s a Chinese ship with a Chinese flag, will you destroy it? What about a Russian ship? What do you think their reaction will be?”

Asks ex-Navy SEAL Matthew Bracken: “Can you imagine that US Navy SEALs are going to fast-rope onto Chinese-flagged tankers, soon to be escorted by Chinese warships? If that happens, ‘Hello, World War’."

Then again… a possible answer to these questions came at the end of March — when a Russian oil tanker successfully a the U.S. blockade of Cuba that’s been in effect since January. (For its part, the White House said the tanker was allowed through for “humanitarian reasons.”)

Meanwhile, the two-week ceasefire supposedly remains in effect until April 22 — a week from Wednesday.

And then?

And the consequences are piling up…

• Deliveries of liquefied natural gas to Asia have been squeezed to levels even lower than during COVID in 2020

• The trade group representing European airports warns that the continent will see shortages of jet fuel if the Strait of Hormuz doesn’t open in the next three weeks

• Closer to home, AAA says the national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $4.13 — up from $3.19 a year ago.

Comic Relief

Because we’re equal-opportunity offenders around here…

Mailbag: “Veiled Political Digs” and More Charlie Kirk

“Stop with your little veiled political digs against conservative, or for that matter liberal, journalists or podcasters,” a reader implores after last Wednesday’s edition.

“I’m a staunch advocate for our president and others who voice their views and opinions for the conservative constitutionalists like Mark Levin. You are a stock analyst and I’m a paying client. I don’t like reading derogatory remarks about other Americans and I won’t hesitate to cancel my subscription if this keeps happening. You aren’t the only one who does it, so please pass this on to others at Paradigm Press.

“I realize that political policies affect the market and I don’t have an issue with that point, but please stop the thinly veiled criticisms — so that I can remain a client. Thank you!”

Dave responds: If any “digs” here come off as either little or veiled, then I’ve failed as a writer.

Seriously, though… if you’re a “staunch advocate” for the president and you’re disheartened by “derogatory remarks about other Americans”... perhaps you should petition the White House and urge him to stop insulting Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly?

I’m surprised he didn’t lump in Andrew Napolitano, a real conservative constitutionalist who understands how war powers are supposed to work — as opposed to a 24/7 warhawk like Mark Levin who cares nothing about the $50 billion that this war has already cost, that we can’t remotely afford and that does nothing to benefit everyday Americans just trying to get by.

“Dave — just wanted to say that I appreciate your quiet attempt to keep Charlie Kirk's legacy in the realm of truth,” a reader writes after Kirk came up in these digital pages last week.

“Many of us who once supported Trump mark the day our faith was shaken as when he said ‘Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?’ and the day that it was shattered by the coordinated hit, coverup and cynical martyrdom of Charlie Kirk.

“Trump is dead to many of us because Charlie is dead. But hey, 'Have you SEEN my new ballroom or your 401(k)?'

“Truth will prevail. But few have eyes to see, ears to hear or hearts of flesh to feel or discern. Charlie did. Most of those whom he called friends, colleagues and, indeed, family do not.

“I appreciate that you are seemingly not in on it. Refreshing. And, tragically, rare.”

Dave: Me, I have no idea who killed Charlie Kirk.

But — to invoke a couple of JFK analogies — I have a hard time believing it was a “lone nut” and I sure as hell don’t believe in the “magic spinal cord theory”...