Natalie Pace Blogs
Photo of Natalie Pace by Marie Commiskey. Avalon Photography.
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 The Googleplex rooftops and car parks blanketed in solar cells as seen from the Zeppelin NT (with Marissa Mayer pointing out her office window) on our Geek Tour of Silicon Valley. Photo by Steve Jurvetson from Menlo Park, USA. Wiki Commons. Used with permission. The Future Looks Bright for Clean Energy (Though Individual Companies Remain Vulnerable). We need more energy to power AI, quantum and data centers, for the developing world and as the population expands. New power generation projects are overwhelmingly clean energy. Email [email protected] if you’d like an updated EV or Solar Stock Report Card. The U.S. Department of Energy is run by an oil and gas CEO. Tax credits for homeowners and businesses to install solar and wind end Dec. 31, 2025, and EV tax credits expire Sept. 30, 2025. Yet, solar and battery storage are expected to lead new power generation in the U.S. this year, according to the Energy Information Administration. Solar (32.5 GW) represents 52%, followed by battery storage (18.2 GW) at 29%, wind (7.7 GW) with 12% and new natural gas (4.4 GW) at just 7%. A large part of the demand for clean energy is coming from the technology giants, many of whom aim for 100% renewable power in their operations.  Electricity use is being pushed up by AI, data center demand, economic development (Asia, the Middle East and Africa), EVs and the cooling demands of quantum and AI. Bloomberg NEF is predicting the demand for electric power to rise by 75% over the next 25 years, with Asia, the Middle East and Africa accounting for much of the increased demand. Natalie Note: Homeowners! If you live in a sunny state, solar, before the tax credit expires, could be a great idea to offset rising electricity costs. There are more than a few tricks to learn before getting the quote, so be sure to read the chapter “How to Save Thousands on Your Electric Bill,” from The ABCs of Money 6th edition for essential tips. The rapid expansion of solar, wind and EVs in the U.S. is expected to continue, despite political roadblocks. Fossil fuel-based power generation facilities are old, and many require costly upgrades and maintenance. ICE* vehicles are expensive to operate and fuel up, while EVs often resale at higher valuations. According to the Bloomberg NEF 2025 New Energy Report released on April 15, 2025: Renewables and electric vehicles play an expanding role in the Economic Transition Scenario, as ever-lower costs and maturing technologies drive faster adoption. While points of resistance have emerged in recent years, namely higher interest rates, volatile costs and rising trade barriers, these technologies continue to show advantageous and improving economics, which ultimately drive their adoption to unprecedented levels. *ICE: Internal Combustion Engine We sometimes forget that investing is global. While the U.S. has rolled back a lot of its clean energy goals, other countries have been exceeding theirs. For instance, China is the top consumer of EVs, buying 11 million of the 17.1 million total EVs sold in 2024 (source: Rho Motion). (Learn more about the EV Price Wars in my EV Blog.) According to Climate Action Tracker, “China achieved its 1,200 GW wind and solar capacity target six years ahead of schedule, reaching 1,407 GW in 2024.” Despite shattering renewable goals, China receives an overall rating of “highly inefficient,” because 60% of the grid in China is still powered by coal. In the U.S., 60% of the grid is also powered by fossil fuels – mostly natural gas. Renewable sources increased in the U.S. from 13% in 2014 to 21% in 2023, while coal dropped from 40% to 16% over the same period (source: EIA.gov). Here are the things I’ll cover in this blog. China Investing in Individual Companies Widgets AI & Data Centers Consumption of Energy Clean Energy ETFs And here is more information on each point. China China invested $1.9 trillion (USD) in EVs, batteries and solar in 2024, representing 10% of the country’s GDP (source: Climate Action Tracker). As I’ve indicated in prior blogs, the country’s rapid shift to EVs from ICE vehicles is a big reason why oil demand is down, and prices are stuck around $65/barrel – which is below the price that most oil companies can profitably drill a new rig. (Click to read my Oil blog.) At the same time, U.S. investors are not particularly interested in Chinese equities. Many of the Chinese ETFs that soared in 2021 are now trading at prices that are down -50%. Chinese EVs are some of the top sellers in the world (though they are not available in the U.S.). As an example, China’s BYD had $109 billion in sales in 2024. That’s more revenue than Tesla. However, Tesla is worth over $1 trillion and BYD is only worth $142 billion. Former EV darlings Nio and XPeng are trading at discounts of -2/3rds (XPEV) to -90% (Nio). Be careful about investing in Chinese equities. Buyers on Wall Street are scarce for the country’s stock these days. Investing in Individual Companies Investing in individual companies is always risky and particularly in the clean energy field. Many of the clean energy companies are carrying high debt with net losses or low margins. Sunpower went through bankruptcy on August 5, 2024. TPI Composites entered Chapter 11 on August 11, 2025. Most Main Street investors would be better off sticking to funds. I’ll talk about this more below and in my blog, “Get Safe & Hot in One Easy Plan.” If you are willing to take on the high risk of an individual company in the clean energy space, you must get familiar with all of the tools that hedge funds use, in order to have any hope of being on the right side of the trade. (I offer a Stock Masterclass each year.) It’s also a good idea to think of this as your Vegas Money. Widgets There is some impressive revenue growth in some of the companies that provide parts and gadgets, over the companies that manufacture solar panels or wind turbines. American Super Conductor saw revenue growth of 80% year over year in the most recent quarter. Array Technology, Enphase and Shoals Technology each had growth of 42%, 20%, and 12%, respectively. AMSC is trading near its 5-year high. However, Array, Enphase and Shoals are all trading sharply lower from their highs in 2021. Yet, even with that pullback, they still have high valuations. Of all the companies on the Solar Wind Energy Stock Report Card, these four look the most promising. However, the price, debt and valuations would prompt me to put them on a stock shopping list, waiting for a more favorable price, rather than buying high. All three of these companies are part of the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF. Email [email protected] if you’d like an updated Solar Stock Report Card. AI & Data Centers Consumption of Energy Won’t utilities benefit from high demand? The high energy demands of AI, data centers and quantum computing have all the mega technology companies scrambling for energy. However, many of them are also getting smart about it. They are making their chips, factories and even headquarters more energy efficient. Many, including Amazon, Apple, Google (Alphabet), Nvidia and Tesla power their facilities with their own solar and/or have ambitious plans to expand their renewable energy and cut out their reliance on fossil fuel power. Utilities should benefit from the demand expectations down the road. However, many utilities are carrying very high debt and are constrained on how much they can charge. Constellation Energy will benefit from a deal with Microsoft to reopen 3-Mile Island. However, Constellation, like many utilities, is at the lowest rung of investment grade. Additionally, it could take a while to bring more capacity online to sell to these companies. Finally, there is the additional burden that many utility companies have been sued for natural disasters, particularly wildfires. This caused PG&E to declare bankruptcy in 2019. I outline some of the risks of investing in utilities in my Utilities blog, which I encourage you to check out. The simple math would say invest in utilities for buoyancy, income and for the expansion, but there are a lot of other important factors to consider. Clean Energy ETFs Owning a fund helps to reduce the risk. If one company gets into trouble, the others should do well enough to keep the fund viable. The iShare’s global clean energy ETF, symbol ICLN, invests in countries around the world. So, we are getting exposure to various markets and companies that would be difficult to invest in on our own. At this point, the ETF is offering a 1.9% yield. It is trading at a 5-year low because investors have given up on clean energy with the pro-oil/anti-clean energy headlines and the elimination of tax credits. However, when we wait for the headlines to be on fire, we are going to buy high. ICLN is currently trading under $15/share. In January 2021, it was above $33 a share. This is a reminder that we want to have a ‘capture gains’ rebalancing plan for our wealth. Doing that would have ensured that we sold high. Just like we spring clean our home at least once year, we should make sure that our financial home is sparkling, too. That way, we are keeping our money when an industry is in favor (such as clean energy in Jan. 2021) and buying more at a lower price when it isn’t, instead of just riding a Wall Street rollercoaster. Bottom Line The demand for energy is profound and increasing. It will likely cost us more on our electric bills. We will start seeing headlines and being inundated with investment opportunities. However, investing in this sector is complicated due to the overhang of debt, net losses and low margins that many of the utility, solar and wind companies are experiencing. For most of us, we might think about a clean energy ETF, if we want to get exposure to the sector. Remember that buying a fund from a creditworthy company is important. There are a lot of smaller companies that come up with fancy names and marketing strategies to get us to invest in them. However, that could be perilous for investors due to the elevated risk of the fund company itself. (Direxion Funds is an example of the problem.) You can learn more about this in my private coaching or at our Financial Freedom Retreat. Email [email protected] to learn more. Follow me on social media for daily money tips and Main Street analysis updates. X Substack Youtube Email [email protected] to receive links to our free web apps where you can personalize your own sample nest egg pie chart. Let us know if you’re interested in private coaching, an unbiased 2nd opinion or in joining me online for our Oct. 11-13, 2025 Financial Freedom Retreat. Register now to join us at our online Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025 where you'll learn how to protect your wealth, save thousands annually in your budget and how to hedge in a volatile Debt World. If you'd like a life-changing adventure of a lifetime, be our guest at a royal manor house in Cornwall, England, March 12-19, 2027. (With just eight rooms available, this exclusive, private, bucket-list adventure sells out a year in advance!) Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] to learn more. The 2025 Restormel Retreat was a magical and royal experience. Click to learn more. Receive the best price when you register with friends and family for the online Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025. Request testimonials at [email protected]. You can also view some on the flyer page of the retreat. Learn how to: * Invest in hot industries, such as cryptocurrency, Nvidia, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, * Hedge against a weaker dollar, * Invest and compound your gains, * Green your retirement plan, * Easy and efficacious nest egg strategies, * Get hot and diversified (including in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and crypto), * Evaluate stocks, * Avoid capital gains and financial predators, * Keep an age-appropriate amount safe, and, * Know what's safe in a Debt World. You'll even discover how to save thousands annually with smarter big-ticket choices. Yes, it's a complete money makeover. Email [email protected] or call 310-430-2397 to learn more and register. Learn the 15+ things you'll master and read testimonials in the flyer on the home page at NataliePace.com. Register with friends and family to receive the best price. "Ten minutes into the first day I was already much smarter about investing than I ever thought I would be in my life and I knew I was in exactly the right place at this retreat. I am amazed at how EASY and FUN it is to make my money work for me and those I love. I think this kind of information should be compulsory in schools. I wish I'd learned this sooner." CM If you’d like an unbiased 2nd opinion on your current wealth plan, email [email protected] for pricing and information.  Receive the best price when you register with friends and family. Visit NataliePace.com to learn more. Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] for pricing, additional information and to register.  Join us for our Restormel Royal Immersive Adventure Retreat. March 2027. Email [email protected] to learn more. Click for testimonials, pricing, hours & details. Register now to receive the best price, the best room and eight private, prosperity coaching sessions. There are only 8 rooms available. This retreat includes an all-access pass to all of our online training for a full year for two. Considering the perks, you're receiving a 65% discount to learn the life math that we all should have received in high school, and the room is free! Email [email protected] to learn more. The best rooms at the 2025 retreat were sold out in 2024! Yes, it's a great idea to register and start transforming our lives now!  Natalie Wynne Pace is an Advocate for Sustainability, Financial Literacy & Women's Empowerment. Natalie is the bestselling author of The ABCs of Money (6th edition) and The Power of 8 Billion: It's Up to Us, and is the co-creator of the Earth Gratitude Project. She has been ranked as a No. 1 stock picker, above over 835 A-list pundits, by an independent tracking agency (TipsTraders). Her book The ABCs of Money remained at or near the #1 Investing Basics e-book on Amazon for over 3 years (in its vertical), with over 120,000 downloads and a mean 5-star ranking. The 6th edition of The ABCs of Money and the 2nd edition of Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is (2nd edition) are the most recent releases of these books. Follow her on Instagram. Natalie Pace's easy as a pie chart nest egg strategies earned gains in the last two recessions and have outperformed the bull markets in between. That is why her Investor Educational Retreats, books and private coaching are enthusiastically recommended by Nobel Prize winning economist Gary S. Becker, TD AMERITRADE chairman Joe Moglia, Kay Koplovitz and many Main Street investors who have transformed their lives using her Thrive Budget and investing strategies. Click to view a video testimonial from Nilo Bolden. Check out Natalie Pace's Substack podcast on Apple and Spotify. Watch videoconferences and webinars on Youtube. Other Blogs of Interest Capture Gains at an All-Time High. Jerome Powell's Big Speech in Jackson Hole. HHS Cuts MRNA Research. Weight Loss Drugs Soar. Summer Sale & Sweepstakes. Will Tariffs Cause Stocks to Sink or Soar? Are You Paying Thousands to Lose Money? Coke & Pepsi Suffer From Poor Fiscal Health. Crypto, Gold, AI, Energy, Healthcare, Real Estate. Which Sector Performed Best in the First Half of 2025. Crypto Goes Mainstream. The Genius Act Becomes Law. Wealth Hacks: Are You Getting Killed in Capital Gains Taxes? Clean Energy Unplugged. Tesla Sales Slump in 2Q 2025. Our Super Performing Hots and Value Replacements. Is Your Income Strategy Losing Money? Get Safe & Hot in 1 Easy Plan. Home Prices Soften. Is Your City Next? Tesla Vision vs. Waymo LiDAR and Air Taxis. Are Any of Them Safe? Archer Aviation is Chosen to be the Exclusive Air Taxi Service for the 2028 L.A. Olympics. Company of the Year? USA Downgraded. Is U.S. Reserve Currency Status Threatened? Utilities: In the Eye of the Natural Disaster Storms. Aging Mom Doesn't Want to Discuss Dilapidated House. Investors Ask Natalie. Tesla, Tariffs, Chinese Competition and Price Wars. 21st Century Recessions Look More Like Depressions. Will Oil Prices Sink or Soar? Executives are Uncertain. Health Savings Accounts. Save Thousands. Get a Tax Credit. Provide for Tomorrow's Healthcare Needs. Restormel Manor House 2025. A Truly Royal and Magical Adventure. 9 Ways to Cut Your Tax Bill in Half and Save Thousands Annually. Berkshire Hathaway. Should I Just Invest in Warren Buffett? Should I Have a Money Manager? Top Dividend/Income Strategies for 2025. 10 Rules of Successful Investing. Quantum Computing. Paper Losses. Another Warning About Long-Term Bonds! 2025 Investor IQ Test. 2025 Investor IQ Test Answers. Indonesia: Rich in Nickel with Ambitions of Becoming an EV Battery Hub. RoboTaxis. AI. The Magnificent 7. Why Are So Many Safe Investments Losing Money? Canadian, Australian and U.S. Banks. Are Any of Them Safe? Ireland. Rich in Technology, Biotechnology and Agribusiness. Robo Investing and AI. No, They are Not Foolproof. Copper. Peru ETF Outperforms the S&P500. 9 Money Secrets of the Ultra Wealthy. Housing & Budgeting Solutions. Arkansas Sues Temu for Data Theft. Fast Fashion. Fossil Fuels. Plastic Clothing. Atacama Desert Waste Dumps. Fintechs and Brokerages that Fail are Not FDIC-Insured. 2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. Answers to the 2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. China & Russia Double Their Gold Holdings. Housing. Unaffordable. What Works? Case studies and creative solutions. The Underperforming DJIA, Full of Fossil Fuels and Forever Chemicals. 13 Lifestyle Choices to Reduce Waste, Pollution & CO2 & Save a Boatload of Dough. 11-Point Green Checklist for Schools. 10 Wealth Secrets of Billionaires and Royals. Fiat. Crypto. Gold. BRICS. Real Estate. Alternative Investments. BRICS Currency. Will the Dollar Become Extinct? Is Your FDIC-Insured Cash Really Safe? Money Market Funds, FDIC, SIPC: Are Any of Them Safe? Important Disclaimers Please note: Natalie Pace does not act or operate like a broker. She reports on financial news, and is one of the most trusted sources of financial literacy, education and forensic analysis in the world. Natalie Pace educates and informs individual investors to give investors a competitive edge in their personal decision-making. Any publicly-traded companies, funds or projects mentioned by Natalie Pace are not intended to be buy or sell recommendations. ALWAYS do your research and consult an experienced, reputable financial professional before buying or selling any security, and consider your long-term goals and strategies. Investors should NOT be all in on any asset class or individual stocks. Your retirement plan should reflect an age-appropriate, diversified wealth plan, which has been designed strategically, with the assistance of financial professionals who are familiar with your goals, risk tolerance, tax needs and more. The "trading" portion of your portfolio should be a very small part of your investment strategy, and the amount of money you invest into individual companies should never be greater than your experience, wisdom, knowledge, patience and diversified strategy. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, NataliePace.com does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Opinions constitute our judgment as of the date of this publication and are subject to change without notice. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument.  Capture Gains at an All-Time High The S&P 500 just hit another all-time high on Friday, August 22, 2025, after Jerome Powell‘s Jackson Hole speech. While he didn’t explicitly say the FOMC would cut rates at the Sept. 17, 2025 meeting, he indicated that was on the table. Powell said, “With policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance.” Investors partied like it was 1999, pushing the S&P500 to a new high of 6,481.34. 1999 is an appropriate time to hail back to. As you can see in the chart below, the only time over the past century when stocks have been more expensive than they are today (by the CAPE ratio), was in 1999 before the Dot Com Recession (when the NASDAQ Composite Index plunged 78% before hitting rock bottom). Prices are higher today than they were in the Great Depression (1929).  Source: Prof. Robert Shiller, Yale.edu. Nobel Prize winning economist. We’ve seen swift plunges over the past 5 years that rapidly recovered. However, 21st Century history teaches us that we can’t always print up $5+ trillion to borrow our way out of a downturn. In a note on LinkedIn on August 25, 2025, Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody's Analytics, warned: "Based on my assessment of various data, states making up nearly a third of U.S. GDP are either in or at high risk of recession, another third are just holding steady, and the remaining third are growing. States experiencing recessions are spread across the country, but the broader DC area stands out due to government job cuts. Southern states are generally the strongest, but their growth is slowing. California and New York, which together account for over a fifth of U.S. GDP, are holding their own, and their stability is crucial for the national economy to avoid a downturn." So, should we be thinking about capturing gains at an all-time high? Here are the things that I’ll cover in this blog. Rebalance, Not Market Timing Age-Appropriate and Properly Diversified, Not Buy & Hope Safe 4% Income Without Paper Losses Hot Industries and Countries Are You Paying to Underperform (or Lose Money)? And here is more information on each topic. Rebalance, Not Market Timing Capturing gains at an all-time high does not mean selling everything and moving into cash. Rather, take a look at what we’ve got and make sure that we’re keeping at least a percentage equal to our age safe, and that the at-risk side of our plan is properly diversified. (I’ll talk about the safe side below, too.) We can get a little fancier than that, as we do in our retreats, and lean into the areas that are super performers and underweight the areas that are problematic and not keeping up with Wall Street. Many managed plans are not well-diversified. If we don’t know what we’ve selected for our retirement plan, then now is the time to know. It’s human nature to wait until things are broken and then try to fix them. When it comes to our money that is not a great idea. It took the NASDAQ 15 years to crawl back to the highs of 2000. Buy & Hope was a true disaster in both the Dot Com and the Great Recessions. Market timing rarely works. Trying to jump all in or jump all out is more likely to cost us an arm and a leg than it is to shoot the moon. Our simple pie chart strategy helps us to capture gains when stocks are high, protect ourselves from downturns, and keeps our money safe and liquid, so we can take advantage of buying opportunities when prices drop. It’s important to remember that most people don’t buy low because they can’t. When we lose too much money, we’ve got all kinds of problems, a terrible FICO score, and no extra cash on hand to plug the leaks in our life boat. Age-Appropriate and Properly Diversified, Not Buy & Hope I’ve described what I mean by age-appropriate above. Let’s dive deeper into diversification. Some people think if they have 18 pages of whole things or somebody else’s managing their plan for them, that they are properly diversified. I do a great deal of unbiased 2nd opinions on managed plans, and I have yet to see one that was age-appropriate and properly diversified. Pages of holdings might be the same size and style over and over again. 10 funds that are diversified by size and style, and include hot sectors, helps us to outperform and ensures that we’ve got the companies that are driving the performance, such as the Magnificent 7. Which hot sectors are we leaning into today? We have a number of countries and sectors that we’re interested in, many of which have performed very well over the past few years. Email [email protected] to receive links to our blogs on cryptocurrency, cybersecurity, AI, gold/silver, Australia, Indonesia, Ireland and Peru. If you’re adding something hot and it is trading at an all-time high, it’s important to dollar cost average. By the time everybody thinks it’s hot, the asset is often overpriced (like real estate). When we wait for the headlines, we’re almost always late. When no one wants something, like clean energy funds today, that could be the best buying opportunity. What sector will be important and on fire in 2026 and 2027? Safe 4% Income Without Paper Losses What I’m also discovering in my second opinions is that there are a lot of conservative investors who are being told they’re making 5-7% income, without being told that once you factor in fees and commissions, the return might be 2% or lower. If you’re experiencing paper losses, which many people are, you might even be losing money. That’s not income. I’m very proud to say that the people who have been sticking to our safe strategies over the past decade have good reasons to be very happy. When interest rates were at zero, we pointed out that real estate was a great opportunity. Many people doubled their money. Now that we can earn almost 4% yield without taking on risk, retreat attendees and my private coaching clients are getting that true yield without paper losses, and many times without fees or commissions. (Of course, that is why the broker salesman is not going to be incentivized to sell these products, and why some of the risky assets with paper losses, surrender fees and other potential money pits are sold – for the high commissions that they offer or because the brokerage has a symbiotic relationship with an investment bank.) Are you aware that annuities are one of the few investments where we lose up to 9% the minute we purchase it? (They call it a surrender fee.) Meanwhile, the broker salesman might be earning a 6% commission on the sale. Hot Industries and Countries Let’s dive deeper into hot sectors and countries. Some of the countries we featured include Australia, Peru, Ireland, and Indonesia. Most of those are trading close to all-time highs, with the exception of Indonesia. As I mentioned in my mid-year report blog, Peru was one of the great performers so far this year, with gains of 25.6%. With regard to sectors, we’ve been leaning into the Magnificent 7 since the Great Recession. Silver has also been the top performer in 2025. Bitcoin was our 2024 Investment of the Year. Breakthrough technology, cyber security, medical devices: these are all super performers on Wall Street that we featured as hot potential hot sectors in our Financial Freedom Retreats. Email [email protected] for links to the blogs. Again, if something is trading at an all-time high, you want a dollar cost average into it, with an age-appropriate, pie chart plan as your blueprint. Are You Paying to Underperform (or Lose Money)? Are you paying thousands or even tens of thousands annually to underperform or experience paper losses? If you’re not really reading the fine print and adding things up (which tend to be on a few different pages), you might not know that you’re paying through the nose, not earning the income that you’re being told you’re earning, have losses that are more problematic than the term “paper” implies and underperforming the market. This is likely to be the case if you are a conservative investor. 4% income is not enough to offset major loss of principle, especially when that percentage is often dramatically reduced by fees and expenses. Bottom Line A lot of people think, “My personal advisor is doing great.” This is because we’ve had a market on fire for the past two and a half years. It is no guarantee that our plan is sound. Never confuse a bull market with wisdom. It’s time to be the boss of our money and make sure we know exactly what we own and why. Email [email protected] if you would like a link to our free web app where you can personalize your own sample pie chart. You’ll also need to know the basics of investing so that you can compare what you should have to what you do have. You can start learning by reading The ABCs of Money, 6th edition. If you would like to learn and implement these strategies right away, join us for our online October 11-13, 2025, Financial Freedom Retreat. For people looking for income, we will be hosting a Fixed Income Without Paper Losses Masterclass on Saturday, October 18, 2025. These classes are all online, so there is no travel or lodging costs. We offer a bundling discount for taking both online courses. Email [email protected] to receive links to our free web apps where you can personalize your own sample nest egg pie chart. Let us know if you’re interested in private coaching, an unbiased 2nd opinion or in joining me online for our Oct. 11-13, 2025 Financial Freedom Retreat. Register now to join us at our online Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025 where you'll learn how to protect your wealth, save thousands annually in your budget and how to hedge in a volatile Debt World. If you'd like a life-changing adventure of a lifetime, be our guest at a royal manor house in Cornwall, England, March 12-19, 2027. (With just eight rooms available, this exclusive, private, bucket-list adventure sells out a year in advance!) Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] to learn more. The 2025 Restormel Retreat was a magical and royal experience. Click to learn more. Receive the best price when you register with friends and family for the online Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025. Request testimonials at [email protected]. You can also view some on the flyer page of the retreat. Learn how to: * Invest in hot industries, such as cryptocurrency, Nvidia, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, * Hedge against a weaker dollar, * Invest and compound your gains, * Green your retirement plan, * Easy and efficacious nest egg strategies, * Get hot and diversified (including in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and crypto), * Evaluate stocks, * Avoid capital gains and financial predators, * Keep an age-appropriate amount safe, and, * Know what's safe in a Debt World. You'll even discover how to save thousands annually with smarter big-ticket choices. Yes, it's a complete money makeover. Email [email protected] or call 310-430-2397 to learn more and register. Learn the 15+ things you'll master and read testimonials in the flyer on the home page at NataliePace.com. Register with friends and family to receive the best price. "Ten minutes into the first day I was already much smarter about investing than I ever thought I would be in my life and I knew I was in exactly the right place at this retreat. I am amazed at how EASY and FUN it is to make my money work for me and those I love. I think this kind of information should be compulsory in schools. I wish I'd learned this sooner." CM If you’d like an unbiased 2nd opinion on your current wealth plan, email [email protected] for pricing and information.  Receive the best price when you register with friends and family. Visit NataliePace.com to learn more. Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] for pricing, additional information and to register.  Join us for our Restormel Royal Immersive Adventure Retreat. March 2027. Email [email protected] to learn more. Click for testimonials, pricing, hours & details. Register now to receive the best price, the best room and eight private, prosperity coaching sessions. There are only 8 rooms available. This retreat includes an all-access pass to all of our online training for a full year for two. Considering the perks, you're receiving a 65% discount to learn the life math that we all should have received in high school, and the room is free! Email [email protected] to learn more. The best rooms at the 2025 retreat were sold out in 2024! Yes, it's a great idea to register and start transforming our lives now!  Natalie Wynne Pace is an Advocate for Sustainability, Financial Literacy & Women's Empowerment. Natalie is the bestselling author of The ABCs of Money (6th edition) and The Power of 8 Billion: It's Up to Us, and is the co-creator of the Earth Gratitude Project. She has been ranked as a No. 1 stock picker, above over 835 A-list pundits, by an independent tracking agency (TipsTraders). Her book The ABCs of Money remained at or near the #1 Investing Basics e-book on Amazon for over 3 years (in its vertical), with over 120,000 downloads and a mean 5-star ranking. The 6th edition of The ABCs of Money and the 2nd edition of Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is (2nd edition) are the most recent releases of these books. Follow her on Instagram. Natalie Pace's easy as a pie chart nest egg strategies earned gains in the last two recessions and have outperformed the bull markets in between. That is why her Investor Educational Retreats, books and private coaching are enthusiastically recommended by Nobel Prize winning economist Gary S. Becker, TD AMERITRADE chairman Joe Moglia, Kay Koplovitz and many Main Street investors who have transformed their lives using her Thrive Budget and investing strategies. Click to view a video testimonial from Nilo Bolden. Check out Natalie Pace's Substack podcast on Apple and Spotify. Watch videoconferences and webinars on Youtube. Other Blogs of Interest Jerome Powell's Big Speech in Jackson Hole. HHS Cuts MRNA Research. Weight Loss Drugs Soar. Summer Sale & Sweepstakes. Will Tariffs Cause Stocks to Sink or Soar? Are You Paying Thousands to Lose Money? Coke & Pepsi Suffer From Poor Fiscal Health. Crypto, Gold, AI, Energy, Healthcare, Real Estate. Which Sector Performed Best in the First Half of 2025. Crypto Goes Mainstream. The Genius Act Becomes Law. Wealth Hacks: Are You Getting Killed in Capital Gains Taxes? Clean Energy Unplugged. Tesla Sales Slump in 2Q 2025. Our Super Performing Hots and Value Replacements. Is Your Income Strategy Losing Money? Get Safe & Hot in 1 Easy Plan. Home Prices Soften. Is Your City Next? Tesla Vision vs. Waymo LiDAR and Air Taxis. Are Any of Them Safe? Archer Aviation is Chosen to be the Exclusive Air Taxi Service for the 2028 L.A. Olympics. Company of the Year? USA Downgraded. Is U.S. Reserve Currency Status Threatened? Utilities: In the Eye of the Natural Disaster Storms. Aging Mom Doesn't Want to Discuss Dilapidated House. Investors Ask Natalie. Tesla, Tariffs, Chinese Competition and Price Wars. 21st Century Recessions Look More Like Depressions. Will Oil Prices Sink or Soar? Executives are Uncertain. Health Savings Accounts. Save Thousands. Get a Tax Credit. Provide for Tomorrow's Healthcare Needs. Restormel Manor House 2025. A Truly Royal and Magical Adventure. 9 Ways to Cut Your Tax Bill in Half and Save Thousands Annually. Berkshire Hathaway. Should I Just Invest in Warren Buffett? Should I Have a Money Manager? Top Dividend/Income Strategies for 2025. 10 Rules of Successful Investing. Quantum Computing. Paper Losses. Another Warning About Long-Term Bonds! 2025 Investor IQ Test. 2025 Investor IQ Test Answers. Indonesia: Rich in Nickel with Ambitions of Becoming an EV Battery Hub. RoboTaxis. AI. The Magnificent 7. Why Are So Many Safe Investments Losing Money? Canadian, Australian and U.S. Banks. Are Any of Them Safe? Ireland. Rich in Technology, Biotechnology and Agribusiness. Robo Investing and AI. No, They are Not Foolproof. Copper. Peru ETF Outperforms the S&P500. 9 Money Secrets of the Ultra Wealthy. Housing & Budgeting Solutions. Arkansas Sues Temu for Data Theft. Fast Fashion. Fossil Fuels. Plastic Clothing. Atacama Desert Waste Dumps. Fintechs and Brokerages that Fail are Not FDIC-Insured. 2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. Answers to the 2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. China & Russia Double Their Gold Holdings. Housing. Unaffordable. What Works? Case studies and creative solutions. The Underperforming DJIA, Full of Fossil Fuels and Forever Chemicals. 13 Lifestyle Choices to Reduce Waste, Pollution & CO2 & Save a Boatload of Dough. 11-Point Green Checklist for Schools. 10 Wealth Secrets of Billionaires and Royals. Fiat. Crypto. Gold. BRICS. Real Estate. Alternative Investments. BRICS Currency. Will the Dollar Become Extinct? Is Your FDIC-Insured Cash Really Safe? Money Market Funds, FDIC, SIPC: Are Any of Them Safe? Important Disclaimers Please note: Natalie Pace does not act or operate like a broker. She reports on financial news, and is one of the most trusted sources of financial literacy, education and forensic analysis in the world. Natalie Pace educates and informs individual investors to give investors a competitive edge in their personal decision-making. Any publicly-traded companies, funds or projects mentioned by Natalie Pace are not intended to be buy or sell recommendations. ALWAYS do your research and consult an experienced, reputable financial professional before buying or selling any security, and consider your long-term goals and strategies. Investors should NOT be all in on any asset class or individual stocks. Your retirement plan should reflect an age-appropriate, diversified wealth plan, which has been designed strategically, with the assistance of financial professionals who are familiar with your goals, risk tolerance, tax needs and more. The "trading" portion of your portfolio should be a very small part of your investment strategy, and the amount of money you invest into individual companies should never be greater than your experience, wisdom, knowledge, patience and diversified strategy. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, NataliePace.com does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Opinions constitute our judgment as of the date of this publication and are subject to change without notice. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument.  Jerome Powell‘s Big Speech in Jackson Hole. Natalie's Note on 8.22.2025 (after Powell's speech) “With policy in restrictive territory, the baseline outlook and the shifting balance of risks may warrant adjusting our policy stance,” Jerome Powell at Jackson Hole on 8.22.2025. Wall Street celebrates the assumption that there will be a rate cut in Sept. Expectations of a rate cut then are now at 91.5% (source: CME Group). It's important, however, to note that going from 4.25-4.50% to 4.0-4.25% is no magic pill for all of the challenges going on right now, unaffordable housing for Millennials and Gen Z, paper losses for Gen X and Boomers, higher costs for small businesses, etc. The Thrive Budget and our pie chart strategy for investing (including retirement plans, checking/savings, crypto+) are time-proven at protecting wealth in corrections and outperforming the bull markets. Join us for our Financial Freedom Retreat ONLINE Oct. 11-13, 2025. Email [email protected]. Get additional information at the flyer (click to access). On Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, at 10 am ET (7 am PT), Jerome Powell will give a keynote at the Jackson Hole meeting. This is a highly anticipated speech, and the stakes are high. Investors will be watching it. Will he or won’t he signal a rate cut for the September 17, 2025 FOMC meeting? How will that affect stocks on Friday and for the rest of the year? Here are the topics I’ll cover in this blog. Wall Street Thinks There Will be a Cut in September Minutes from the July FOMC Meeting Indicate… Will the S&P500 Sink or Soar on Friday After Powell’s Remarks? Will Stocks End Up or Down in 2025? What Should You Do? And here is more information on each topic. Wall Street Thinks There Will be a Cut in September According to the CME group, there is a 74% probability of a 25-basis point rate cut on September 17, 2025. 26% of futures’ investors believe that the FOMC will pause again and keep rates where they are. The probabilities have been whipsawing a great deal, however. Last week, everyone believed the FOMC would pause. Minutes from the July FOMC Meeting Indicate… According to the minutes from the last meeting, inflation remains a greater concern than unemployment. The word inflation was mentioned 65 times in the minutes compared to employment, which was only mentioned 25 times. According to the minutes, “With regard to the outlook for inflation, participants generally expected inflation to increase in the near term. Participants judged that considerable uncertainty remained about the timing, magnitude, and persistence of the effects of this year's increase in tariffs.” When inflation is a concern, interest rates are higher to try to tame the price increases. Meanwhile, unemployment is still low. The participants expect that the labor market will weaken “around the end of this year.” Once the FOMC gets concerned about layoffs, they will want to cut interest rates to help the economy grow. Clearly, these two scenarios are at odds with one another. When inflation and unemployment rise in tandem, requiring the opposite remedy, the Federal Reserve Board governors must determine which is the bigger bugaboo. During the Volcker Stagflation period, the Fed Fund Rate peaked at 20% (and we’re worried about 4.5%)! As of the June 2025 meeting, when the FOMC released their Summary of Economic Projections, we were expected to get two rate cuts in 2025, taking the Fed Fund Rate down to 3.9%. We’ll get the next SEP forecast on Sept. 17, 2025, along with the news of a pause or a 25 basis point cut. Interest rates have been paused at 4-1/4 to 4-1/2 percent since December of 2024. Will the S&P500 Sink or Soar on Friday After Powell’s Remarks? Jerome Powell has been clear that he wants the Federal Reserve Board to be independent from White House pressure. (He has succumbed to Trump pressure in the past, in the now notorious decision to let inflation get out of control during the pandemic.) However, this time he’s very close to his retirement and may have more of a Devil May Care attitude that allows him to stick to his principals. Powell is notorious for saying that everything is data dependent. He often kicks the ball forward to the meeting, noting that the FOMC participants will review fresh data and make their decision at that time. In other words, investors might be very disappointed with his remarks. If he signals a cut, Wall Street could celebrate. It will be a big surprise (in my view) if Powell signals a rate cut at the September meeting. It seems more likely (IMHO, after 20 years of Fed-Speak) that Powell will be keep his cards close to his chest. The speech comes early in the day. Expect a lot of activity when he’s finished around 10:30 a.m. ET. Will Stocks End Up or Down in 2025? The U.S. economy has been very resilient amidst a great deal of turmoil. A lot of that has to do with investments in AI and the Wall Street trillion-dollar darlings known fondly as the Magnificent 7. However, the good news is already priced in. By many measures, stocks are overvalued. Also, the economy is expected to slow down to 2.1% GDP growth from 2.8% last year. That’s not bad in terms of performance, given all the tariff wars and real battles going on. However, it’s not great considering how lofty valuations are. The reason that economists and analysts use percentages and probabilities instead of sure-fire predictions is that stocks are fueled by investor sentiment. While there have been plenty of reasons for profit taking, investors have been ignoring all kinds of troublesome news, including tariffs, persistent inflation, war, isolationism, slower GDP growth, inflated prices, unsustainable debt, unaffordable housing, and much more. Citi has a target for the S&P500 of 6,600, which they released on August 11, 2025. The S&P500 is currently at 6,370. So, if the index hits its target price, that will be an increase of 3.6% from where it is now. Goldman Sachs warned on August 14, 2025, that there was heightened risk of a stock market correction (-10%). J.P. Morgan analysts, including Jamie Dimon, are in the cautious correction risk camp as well. What Should You Do? Rather than think we can outsmart Wall Street, it’s a good idea to always have an age-appropriate, properly diversified strategy. Using our pie chart system, we can protect our wealth from corrections and stock plunges and profit from the best performers, all while earning a good income on the safe side, without paper losses. It is equally important to know what is safe in a world where over half of the S&P500 companies are at or near junk status. We hear a lot about the $37.2 trillion public debt. However, corporate debt is astronomical as well, at $14 trillion. Consumer debt is also at an all-time high ($18.4 trillion). Student loan delinquencies are elevated at 13%. Credit card delinquencies are also starting to creep up. Since about 70% of the U.S. economy is fueled by consumer spending, these statistics are troubling.  Bottom Line Wall Street is trading near an all-time high, and could go up another 3.6%, if Citi’s forecast is right. On the other hand, since equity prices are very expensive, when investors worry about the future, stocks drop far and fast and the correction scenario (-10%) could materialize. In April, the drop was -19%. Sure, everything recovered. However, that is not always the case. A better strategy is to have a plan that protects our wealth from downturns, with the liquidity to buy on the dip, instead of riding the Wall Street rollercoaster. We also want to make sure that we have a piece of the hot companies (Magnificent 7) which have accounted for most of the gains on Wall Street since 2023. In the meantime, our safe side can earn close to 4%, if we know some very important tricks on how to navigate elevated credit and duration risk. The fixed income side is very tricky, and those paper losses are far more problematic than Main Street is being told. It’s human nature to wait and see and try to fix things when they are broken. When it comes to our money, that’s a bad strategy. Email [email protected] to receive links to our free web apps where you can personalize your own sample nest egg pie chart. Let us know if you’re interested in private coaching, an unbiased 2nd opinion or in joining me online for our Oct. 11-13, 2025 Financial Freedom Retreat. Register now to join us at our online Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025 where you'll learn how to protect your wealth, save thousands annually in your budget and how to hedge in a volatile Debt World. If you'd like a life-changing adventure of a lifetime, be our guest at a royal manor house in Cornwall, England, March 12-19, 2027. (With just eight rooms available, this exclusive, private, bucket-list adventure sells out a year in advance!) Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] to learn more. The 2025 Restormel Retreat was a magical and royal experience. Click to learn more. Receive the best price when you register with friends and family for the online Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025. Request testimonials at [email protected]. You can also view some on the flyer page of the retreat. Learn how to: * Invest in hot industries, such as cryptocurrency, Nvidia, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, * Hedge against a weaker dollar, * Invest and compound your gains, * Green your retirement plan, * Easy and efficacious nest egg strategies, * Get hot and diversified (including in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and crypto), * Evaluate stocks, * Avoid capital gains and financial predators, * Keep an age-appropriate amount safe, and, * Know what's safe in a Debt World. You'll even discover how to save thousands annually with smarter big-ticket choices. Yes, it's a complete money makeover. Email [email protected] or call 310-430-2397 to learn more and register. Learn the 15+ things you'll master and read testimonials in the flyer on the home page at NataliePace.com. Register with friends and family to receive the best price. "Ten minutes into the first day I was already much smarter about investing than I ever thought I would be in my life and I knew I was in exactly the right place at this retreat. I am amazed at how EASY and FUN it is to make my money work for me and those I love. I think this kind of information should be compulsory in schools. I wish I'd learned this sooner." CM If you’d like an unbiased 2nd opinion on your current wealth plan, email [email protected] for pricing and information.  Receive the best price when you register with friends and family. Visit NataliePace.com to learn more. Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] for pricing, additional information and to register.  Join us for our Restormel Royal Immersive Adventure Retreat. March 2027. Email [email protected] to learn more. Click for testimonials, pricing, hours & details. Register now to receive the best price, the best room and eight private, prosperity coaching sessions. There are only 8 rooms available. This retreat includes an all-access pass to all of our online training for a full year for two. Considering the perks, you're receiving a 65% discount to learn the life math that we all should have received in high school, and the room is free! Email [email protected] to learn more. The best rooms at the 2025 retreat were sold out in 2024! Yes, it's a great idea to register and start transforming our lives now!  Natalie Wynne Pace is an Advocate for Sustainability, Financial Literacy & Women's Empowerment. Natalie is the bestselling author of The ABCs of Money (6th edition) and The Power of 8 Billion: It's Up to Us, and is the co-creator of the Earth Gratitude Project. She has been ranked as a No. 1 stock picker, above over 835 A-list pundits, by an independent tracking agency (TipsTraders). Her book The ABCs of Money remained at or near the #1 Investing Basics e-book on Amazon for over 3 years (in its vertical), with over 120,000 downloads and a mean 5-star ranking. The 6th edition of The ABCs of Money and the 2nd edition of Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is (2nd edition) are the most recent releases of these books. Follow her on Instagram. Natalie Pace's easy as a pie chart nest egg strategies earned gains in the last two recessions and have outperformed the bull markets in between. That is why her Investor Educational Retreats, books and private coaching are enthusiastically recommended by Nobel Prize winning economist Gary S. Becker, TD AMERITRADE chairman Joe Moglia, Kay Koplovitz and many Main Street investors who have transformed their lives using her Thrive Budget and investing strategies. Click to view a video testimonial from Nilo Bolden. Check out Natalie Pace's Substack podcast on Apple and Spotify. Watch videoconferences and webinars on Youtube. Other Blogs of Interest HHS Cuts MRNA Research. Weight Loss Drugs Soar. Summer Sale & Sweepstakes. Will Tariffs Cause Stocks to Sink or Soar? Are You Paying Thousands to Lose Money? Coke & Pepsi Suffer From Poor Fiscal Health. Crypto, Gold, AI, Energy, Healthcare, Real Estate. Which Sector Performed Best in the First Half of 2025. Crypto Goes Mainstream. The Genius Act Becomes Law. Wealth Hacks: Are You Getting Killed in Capital Gains Taxes? Clean Energy Unplugged. Tesla Sales Slump in 2Q 2025. Our Super Performing Hots and Value Replacements. Is Gold a Tier 1 HQLA Reserve Currency? Is Your Income Strategy Losing Money? Gold, Silver & Crypto Soar. Stocks Offer 5%. Debt Balloons. Some Foreigners are Selling U.S. Treasuries. Get Safe & Hot in 1 Easy Plan. Home Prices Soften. Is Your City Next? Tesla Vision vs. Waymo LiDAR and Air Taxis. Are Any of Them Safe? Archer Aviation is Chosen to be the Exclusive Air Taxi Service for the 2028 L.A. Olympics. Company of the Year? USA Downgraded. Is U.S. Reserve Currency Status Threatened? Utilities: In the Eye of the Natural Disaster Storms. Aging Mom Doesn't Want to Discuss Dilapidated House. Investors Ask Natalie. Sell in May? Tesla, Tariffs, Chinese Competition and Price Wars. Fun Ways to Celebrate Earth Day April 22nd. Will the Correction Become a Bear Market? 21st Century Recessions Look More Like Depressions. Will Oil Prices Sink or Soar? Executives are Uncertain. Health Savings Accounts. Save Thousands. Get a Tax Credit. Provide for Tomorrow's Healthcare Needs. Restormel Manor House 2025. A Truly Royal and Magical Adventure. 9 Ways to Cut Your Tax Bill in Half and Save Thousands Annually. Berkshire Hathaway. Should I Just Invest in Warren Buffett? Should I Have a Money Manager? Top Dividend/Income Strategies for 2025. 10 Rules of Successful Investing. Quantum Computing. Paper Losses. Another Warning About Long-Term Bonds! 2025 Investor IQ Test. 2025 Investor IQ Test Answers. Indonesia: Rich in Nickel with Ambitions of Becoming an EV Battery Hub. RoboTaxis. AI. The Magnificent 7. Why Are So Many Safe Investments Losing Money? Canadian, Australian and U.S. Banks. Are Any of Them Safe? Ireland. Rich in Technology, Biotechnology and Agribusiness. Robo Investing and AI. No, They are Not Foolproof. Copper. Peru ETF Outperforms the S&P500. Will Insurance Companies & Homeowners Weather the Hurricanes? 9 Money Secrets of the Ultra Wealthy. Housing & Budgeting Solutions. Arkansas Sues Temu for Data Theft. We Must Be the Boss of Our Money. Why? Fast Fashion. Fossil Fuels. Plastic Clothing. Atacama Desert Waste Dumps. Fintechs and Brokerages that Fail are Not FDIC-Insured. 5 Green Tips for Clean Beaches Week. So, You Think You Want to Be a B&B Owner... Retiring Soon? Start Planning Now. 2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. Answers to the 2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. 9 Inflation, Budgeting, Debt Reduction and Investing Solutions. China & Russia Double Their Gold Holdings. Uh. Oh. More Bank Trouble. Housing. Unaffordable. What Works? Case studies and creative solutions. The Underperforming DJIA, Full of Fossil Fuels and Forever Chemicals. The Best ROI* (Almost 40%!) & 7 Life Hacks That Save Thousands. 13 Lifestyle Choices to Reduce Waste, Pollution & CO2 & Save a Boatload of Dough. 11-Point Green Checklist for Schools. 10 Wealth Secrets of Billionaires and Royals. Fiat. Crypto. Gold. BRICS. Real Estate. Alternative Investments. BRICS Currency. Will the Dollar Become Extinct? Why We Are Underweighting Banks and the Financial Industry. Save Thousands Annually With Smarter Energy Choices Is Your FDIC-Insured Cash Really Safe? Money Market Funds, FDIC, SIPC: Are Any of Them Safe? Important Disclaimers Please note: Natalie Pace does not act or operate like a broker. She reports on financial news, and is one of the most trusted sources of financial literacy, education and forensic analysis in the world. Natalie Pace educates and informs individual investors to give investors a competitive edge in their personal decision-making. Any publicly-traded companies, funds or projects mentioned by Natalie Pace are not intended to be buy or sell recommendations. ALWAYS do your research and consult an experienced, reputable financial professional before buying or selling any security, and consider your long-term goals and strategies. Investors should NOT be all in on any asset class or individual stocks. Your retirement plan should reflect an age-appropriate, diversified wealth plan, which has been designed strategically, with the assistance of financial professionals who are familiar with your goals, risk tolerance, tax needs and more. The "trading" portion of your portfolio should be a very small part of your investment strategy, and the amount of money you invest into individual companies should never be greater than your experience, wisdom, knowledge, patience and diversified strategy. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, NataliePace.com does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Opinions constitute our judgment as of the date of this publication and are subject to change without notice. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument.  Weight Loss Drugs Dominate Headlines, While mRNA Gets Defunded. Medicine has really changed. Four years ago, vaccines were all the rage. This month many of the companies that were hailed as the saviors of Operation Warp Speed are being defunded. Now weight loss drugs dominate the headlines. Ozempic (NovoNordisk) and Mounjaro (Eli Lilly) have gone mainstream. It seems like everybody’s getting a jab. HIMS/HERS have brought pharmacies into the 21st-century with subscriptions, apps and deliveries right to your porch. There are tales of woe and wonder in biotech and healthcare. How do we best navigate that? Is there a fund that targets the future and underweights the problem areas? It’s easy to understand why Moderna (symbol: MRNA) is on the ropes. But why is Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy also trading down -66% from its 5-year high? Does that make the stock a buying opportunity? Here are the topics we’ll cover in this blog. Email [email protected] if you’d like an updated healthcare, biotechnology or medical devices stock report card. Pandemic Leaders are at the Bottom Diabetes and Weight Loss Drugs are Leading Medical Devices ETFs: IBB vs. IHI UNH vs. HIMS/HERS Here Today, Gone Tomorrow And here is more information on each point. Biotech: Pandemic Leaders are at the Bottom With the pandemic concerns behind us, mRNA biotechnology companies were already on the ropes. Last week they took another blow when it was announced that mRNA research projects were being defunded. According to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, JR., “BARDA is terminating 22 mRNA vaccine development investments because the data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu. We’re shifting that funding toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate.” Which companies will be affected? Projects that have been terminated, restructured or rejected include Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna. Read a more complete list in the HHS press release. Moderna’s 2024 sales were just $3.24 billion, after hitting a high of $19.3 billion in 2022. Revenue was down another -41% in the most recent quarter. Not surprisingly, Moderna’s shares are trading near an all-time low. Pfizer sales are suffering quite a lot, too, with a total of $63.63 billion in 2024, compared to $101.18 billion in revenue in 2022. Pfizer revenue dropped another -8% in the 2nd quarter of 2025. The company’s stock is trading near a 5-year low, down by more than half from the highs in December 2021. Diabetes and Weight Loss Drugs are Leading Obesity is an epidemic in the U.S. According to the CDC, 41.9% of U.S. adults suffer from obesity, costing $173 billion in medical expenditures. So, a shot or pill that helps people lose weight is in high demand. Eli Lilly saw sales increase 37.64% in the most recent quarter (YOY), while Novo Nordisk’s growth was 12.93%. Lilly is forecasting an increase to $60-$62 billion in revenue in 2025 versus 2024’s $45.04 billion (+38% at the top of the range). However, Eli Lilly shares are down -34.2% from the high of $972/share in July 2024. Before you jump in, note that the price-earnings ratio is a lofty 41.77, and the competition in the weight loss space is fierce. While Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are the current leaders, many big companies, including Amgen, are hot on the heels of this massive industry. Novo Nordisk’s CEO wasn’t as rosy in his forecast of just 8-14% sales growth in 2025. Ozempic is the name we all know, so why isn’t it leaping over the competition? According to the Novo Nordisk press release of August 6, 2025, “ The lowered sales outlook for 2025 is driven by lower growth expectations for the second half of 2025, reflecting the persistent use of compounded GLP-1s, slower-than-expected market expansion and competition… for Wegovy® in the US obesity market, for Ozempic® in the US GLP-1 diabetes market as well as for Wegovy® in select IO markets.” At $50/share, Novo Nordisk’s stock is down 65.7% from its June 24, 2024 high of $146/share. Medical Devices While weight loss companies are struggling and pandemic companies are at rock bottom, the iShares Medical Devices ETF has soared over the past two years, flying from a low of $44/share in Oct. 2023 to a high of $65 in February. Shares are steady at $61.50. Robotic surgery, hip replacements, insulin monitors, stents, catheters and defibrillators might not make as many headlines as weight loss but have been more popular with investors. UNH vs. HIMS/HERS UnitedHealth stock fell off a cliff, plunging from $525/share (April 2025) to $261.57/share (8.12.2025). What happened? The UNH stock had already survived the murder of CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, a problematic report from the Office of the Inspector General about questionable Medicare payments and practices (Oct. 24, 2024) and a Department of Justice investigation that gets more problematic and expansive each day. However, when the 1Q 2025 earnings report was released and growth was a mere 9.8%, investors sold in droves. The DOJ is reportedly investigating civil and criminal wrongdoing at the company. As one of the 30 Dow Jones Industrial Average components, UNH has been dragging on the DJIA performance. The Dow Jones Industrial average is only up 4.9% on the year, compared to the S&P500’s 10.2% ROI year to date. (This is a typical pattern over the last few years.) You might have seen an ad for HIMS or HERS, a new app that makes it easy to lose weight, grow hair and stay supplied with erectile dysfunction medication. Revenue is up 72.61% at HIMS. The good news may already be priced in, however, as HIMS’ price-earnings ratio is 64. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow The past five years have shown investors just how fast things change. In the pandemic, Moderna and Pfizer were the hottest investments on Wall Street and today they are being defunded by the HHS. Weight loss drugs are all over the airwaves, but 2025 investors have largely lost money. HIMS is a darling with retail investors and meme stock aficionados. However, lofty valuations create massive volatility, as we’ve seen with pandemic and weight loss companies. Tread lightly. ETFs: IBB vs. IHI Funds are one way to smooth out the volatility of owning just one company. Purchasing a fund within our pie chart system will also help to keep us on the right side of the trade. (Learn more in my blog, Get Safe & Hot in 1 Easy Plan.)  We’ve been leaning more into the Medical Devices ETF over the past two years. The iShares Medical Devices ETF (symbol: IHI) is up 40% from the Oct. 2023 low. Meanwhile, the iShares Biotechnology ETF (symbol: IBB) is down -25% from its pandemic highs of $176/share and is only up 19.6% from the Oct. 2023 low. Why is biotech performing at half the speed of medical devices? Biotech is inherently volatile and highly competitive. Medical devices are always needed and each company has their own area of expertise and dominance. Still, rebalancing 1-3 times a year is an important part of our time-proven wealth plan. That keeps us capturing gains at the high, and buying low, instead of riding the Wall Street rollercoaster. Bottom Line Chasing headlines often puts us on the wrong side of the trade, buying high before bad news or lofty valuations spook investors into selling. Investing in an individual superstar can cost us a great deal of money when the tides change, or if a competitor comes out with a better product. Leaning into an ETF, such as the IHI iShares Medical Devices ETF, can be an important part of an age-appropriate, diversified wealth plan. (Dollar cost average when prices are at an all-time high.) Rebalancing 1-3 times a year can help us to keep more of our money – capturing gains in an easy-to-follow system, while protecting our wealth from the inherent volatility of equities. Email [email protected] to receive links to our free web apps where you can personalize your own sample nest egg pie chart. Let us know if you’re interested in private coaching, an unbiased 2nd opinion or in joining me online for our Oct. 11-13, 2025 Financial Freedom Retreat. Register now to join us at our online Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025 where you'll learn how to protect your wealth, save thousands annually in your budget and how to hedge in a volatile Debt World. If you'd like a life-changing adventure of a lifetime, be our guest at a royal manor house in Cornwall, England, March 12-19, 2027. (With just eight rooms available, this exclusive, private, bucket-list adventure sells out a year in advance!) Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] to learn more. The 2025 Restormel Retreat was a magical and royal experience. Click to learn more. Receive the best price when you register with friends and family for the online Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025. Request testimonials at [email protected]. You can also view some on the flyer page of the retreat. Learn how to: * Invest in hot industries, such as cryptocurrency, Nvidia, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, * Hedge against a weaker dollar, * Invest and compound your gains, * Green your retirement plan, * Easy and efficacious nest egg strategies, * Get hot and diversified (including in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and crypto), * Evaluate stocks, * Avoid capital gains and financial predators, * Keep an age-appropriate amount safe, and, * Know what's safe in a Debt World. You'll even discover how to save thousands annually with smarter big-ticket choices. Yes, it's a complete money makeover. Email [email protected] or call 310-430-2397 to learn more and register. Learn the 15+ things you'll master and read testimonials in the flyer on the home page at NataliePace.com. Register with friends and family to receive the best price. "Ten minutes into the first day I was already much smarter about investing than I ever thought I would be in my life and I knew I was in exactly the right place at this retreat. I am amazed at how EASY and FUN it is to make my money work for me and those I love. I think this kind of information should be compulsory in schools. I wish I'd learned this sooner." CM If you’d like an unbiased 2nd opinion on your current wealth plan, email [email protected] for pricing and information.  Receive the best price when you register with friends and family. Visit NataliePace.com to learn more. Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] for pricing, additional information and to register.   Natalie Pace in Ireland. Photo by Marie Commiskey. Natalie Wynne Pace is an Advocate for Sustainability, Financial Literacy & Women's Empowerment. Natalie is the bestselling author of The ABCs of Money (6th edition) and The Power of 8 Billion: It's Up to Us, and is the co-creator of the Earth Gratitude Project. She has been ranked as a No. 1 stock picker, above over 835 A-list pundits, by an independent tracking agency (TipsTraders). Her book The ABCs of Money remained at or near the #1 Investing Basics e-book on Amazon for over 3 years (in its vertical), with over 120,000 downloads and a mean 5-star ranking. The 6th edition of The ABCs of Money and the 2nd edition of Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is (2nd edition) are the most recent releases of these books. Follow her on Instagram. Natalie Pace's easy as a pie chart nest egg strategies earned gains in the last two recessions and have outperformed the bull markets in between. That is why her Investor Educational Retreats, books and private coaching are enthusiastically recommended by Nobel Prize winning economist Gary S. Becker, TD AMERITRADE chairman Joe Moglia, Kay Koplovitz and many Main Street investors who have transformed their lives using her Thrive Budget and investing strategies. Click to view a video testimonial from Nilo Bolden. Check out Natalie Pace's Substack podcast on Apple and Spotify. Watch videoconferences and webinars on Youtube. Other Blogs of Interest Summer Sale & Sweepstakes. Will Tariffs Cause Stocks to Sink or Soar? Are You Paying Thousands to Lose Money? Coke & Pepsi Suffer From Poor Fiscal Health. Crypto, Gold, AI, Energy, Healthcare, Real Estate. Which Sector Performed Best in the First Half of 2025. Crypto Goes Mainstream. The Genius Act Becomes Law. Wealth Hacks: Are You Getting Killed in Capital Gains Taxes? Clean Energy Unplugged. Tesla Sales Slump in 2Q 2025. Our Super Performing Hots and Value Replacements. Is Gold a Tier 1 HQLA Reserve Currency? Is Your Income Strategy Losing Money? Gold, Silver & Crypto Soar. Stocks Offer 5%. Debt Balloons. Some Foreigners are Selling U.S. Treasuries. Get Safe & Hot in 1 Easy Plan. Home Prices Soften. Is Your City Next? Tesla Vision vs. Waymo LiDAR and Air Taxis. Are Any of Them Safe? Archer Aviation is Chosen to be the Exclusive Air Taxi Service for the 2028 L.A. Olympics. Company of the Year? USA Downgraded. Is U.S. Reserve Currency Status Threatened? Utilities: In the Eye of the Natural Disaster Storms. Aging Mom Doesn't Want to Discuss Dilapidated House. Investors Ask Natalie. Sell in May? Tesla, Tariffs, Chinese Competition and Price Wars. Fun Ways to Celebrate Earth Day April 22nd. Will the Correction Become a Bear Market? 21st Century Recessions Look More Like Depressions. Will Oil Prices Sink or Soar? Executives are Uncertain. Health Savings Accounts. Save Thousands. Get a Tax Credit. Provide for Tomorrow's Healthcare Needs. Restormel Manor House 2025. A Truly Royal and Magical Adventure. 9 Ways to Cut Your Tax Bill in Half and Save Thousands Annually. Berkshire Hathaway. Should I Just Invest in Warren Buffett? Should I Have a Money Manager? Top Dividend/Income Strategies for 2025. 10 Rules of Successful Investing. Quantum Computing. Paper Losses. Another Warning About Long-Term Bonds! 2025 Investor IQ Test. 2025 Investor IQ Test Answers. Indonesia: Rich in Nickel with Ambitions of Becoming an EV Battery Hub. RoboTaxis. AI. The Magnificent 7. Why Are So Many Safe Investments Losing Money? Canadian, Australian and U.S. Banks. Are Any of Them Safe? Ireland. Rich in Technology, Biotechnology and Agribusiness. Robo Investing and AI. No, They are Not Foolproof. Copper. Peru ETF Outperforms the S&P500. Will Insurance Companies & Homeowners Weather the Hurricanes? 9 Money Secrets of the Ultra Wealthy. Housing & Budgeting Solutions. Arkansas Sues Temu for Data Theft. We Must Be the Boss of Our Money. Why? Fast Fashion. Fossil Fuels. Plastic Clothing. Atacama Desert Waste Dumps. Fintechs and Brokerages that Fail are Not FDIC-Insured. 5 Green Tips for Clean Beaches Week. So, You Think You Want to Be a B&B Owner... Retiring Soon? Start Planning Now. 2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. Answers to the 2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. 9 Inflation, Budgeting, Debt Reduction and Investing Solutions. China & Russia Double Their Gold Holdings. Uh. Oh. More Bank Trouble. Housing. Unaffordable. What Works? Case studies and creative solutions. The Underperforming DJIA, Full of Fossil Fuels and Forever Chemicals. The Best ROI* (Almost 40%!) & 7 Life Hacks That Save Thousands. 13 Lifestyle Choices to Reduce Waste, Pollution & CO2 & Save a Boatload of Dough. 11-Point Green Checklist for Schools. 10 Wealth Secrets of Billionaires and Royals. Fiat. Crypto. Gold. BRICS. Real Estate. Alternative Investments. BRICS Currency. Will the Dollar Become Extinct? Why We Are Underweighting Banks and the Financial Industry. Save Thousands Annually With Smarter Energy Choices Is Your FDIC-Insured Cash Really Safe? Money Market Funds, FDIC, SIPC: Are Any of Them Safe? Important Disclaimers Please note: Natalie Pace does not act or operate like a broker. She reports on financial news, and is one of the most trusted sources of financial literacy, education and forensic analysis in the world. Natalie Pace educates and informs individual investors to give investors a competitive edge in their personal decision-making. Any publicly-traded companies, funds or projects mentioned by Natalie Pace are not intended to be buy or sell recommendations. ALWAYS do your research and consult an experienced, reputable financial professional before buying or selling any security, and consider your long-term goals and strategies. Investors should NOT be all in on any asset class or individual stocks. Your retirement plan should reflect an age-appropriate, diversified wealth plan, which has been designed strategically, with the assistance of financial professionals who are familiar with your goals, risk tolerance, tax needs and more. The "trading" portion of your portfolio should be a very small part of your investment strategy, and the amount of money you invest into individual companies should never be greater than your experience, wisdom, knowledge, patience and diversified strategy. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, NataliePace.com does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Opinions constitute our judgment as of the date of this publication and are subject to change without notice. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument.  Summer 2025 Sale and Sweepstakes. Win a Seat at the Retreat and Other Prizes Get Half Off on Private Coaching Receive a Complimentary Coaching Session and $200 Off on Our Oct. 2025 Retreat Time Sensitive: Offers Expire Wednesday, August 20, 2025 FYI: I post regular money tips on my Instagram Broadcast Channel. We will never get rich by working harder. The system is rigged. Those who know the wealth secrets of the 1% prosper. Those who don’t can get trapped in a cycle of debt. The solution is simple. Learn the life math that we all should have received in high school and college. Save thousands annually in our budget with smarter big-ticket choices. Build wealth by earning money while we sleep in our tax-protected retirement accounts. We’re happy to offer the following Summer deals, freebies and sweepstakes. If you want to enter to win, it’s simple and there is no purchase required. Simply email [email protected] with Summer Sweepstakes in the subject line. (A list of prizes is at the bottom of this blog.) Online Financial Freedom Retreat. Oct. 11-13, 2025 Register now through Wed., August 20, 2025 and receive $200 off the regular price and a complimentary coaching session. Bring a friend with you for half off the regular price (and receive a 2nd coaching session for the referral). Email [email protected] or call 310-430-2397 to learn more and register now. Check out testimonials (as part of your Due Diligence) on the flyer at the home page at NataliePace.com. (If you are a volunteer or a repeat attendee, your price is even lower!) An Unbiased 2nd Opinion of Your Current Wealth Plan: BOGO Coaching Most managed plans do what the market does and cost us thousands (or tens of thousands) annually. With stocks at an all-time high (while the risks in the world remain very high), now is the perfect time to make sure that we have an age-appropriate, diversified wealth plan in place. If we were concerned about our physical health, we’d seek a 2nd opinion from an expert. Natalie Pace’s analysis of your wealth plan is unbiased because we don’t sell financial products. We offer news, information, education and time-proven wealth systems. Invest in wisdom. With our BOGO coaching popup sale, the 2nd opinion has never been more affordable. Buy one coaching session at retail and receive a 2nd session free. Split a 12-pack of coaching with someone for the best price (buy 5 and receive 7 free). Email [email protected] or call 310-430-2397 to learn more now. End of Summer Sweepstakes Win a Seat at the Retreat Everyone is a winner in our 2025 End of Summer Sweepstakes. (See the full list of prizes below.) The Grand prize is a 12-month, all-access pass to all our online courses, which includes 3-4 retreats and 3-4 master classes (retail value: $6,480). Our next retreat is Oct 11-13, 2025, (online). Simply email [email protected] with the subject line Summer Sweepstakes! You will be automatically entered to win. There is no purchase necessary. If you’d like to up your odds, then follow Natalie Pace on Instagram.com/NatalieWynnePace. Send us a link to your Instagram profile, and we’ll enter you 10 more times in the Sweepstakes. We must receive your information by Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Please include #NataliePace and tag us when you have a money question, comment or post. https://instagram.com/nataliewynnepace https://www.facebook.com/TheABCsofMoney https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliepace/ https://x.com/NataliePace Act now. Entries must be received by August 20, 2025. Winners will be notified on or before August 31, 2025.  10 Wealth Tips of the Rich. (c) Natalie Pace 2025. All rights reserved. List of Prizes 12-Month All-Access Pass (value $6,480) Retreat Seat (value up to $995) ½ off Retreat Seat (value $497.50) 2nd opinion on your current budgeting and investing plan (value up to $1595) Three 50-minute private prosperity coaching sessions (value $1200). 50-minute private prosperity coaching session (value $400). Autographed print edition of The ABCs of Money 6th edition or The Power of 8 Billion: It’s Up to Us (your choice of one). (priceless) Everyone is a Winner Every person who enters the sweepstakes can choose to receive a complimentary gift from us. We have a new Wealth Secrets of the 1% exclusive videoconference that is available ONLY to our Summer Sweepstakes entries. You can also choose from the videocoaching programs below: 1. A complimentary 21-day Prosperity and Abundance videocoaching program: 21 days to a healthier, wealthier, more beautiful you, and/or 2. A budgeting, debt reduction, or sustainability videoconference series, where you can learn how to save thousands of dollars annually with smarter big-ticket choices. Simply indicate which videocoaching series you prefer when you register for the sweepstakes. Again, simply email [email protected] with the subject line Summer Sweepstakes! You will be automatically entered to win. Ebooks Are Priced at Under $10 The ABCs of Money (6th edition) Time-Proven 21st Century Strategies for Debt Reduction, Budgeting, Real Estate, Stocks, Bonds, Crypto, Gold and more. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DG186KZ5 The Power of 8 Billion: It’s Up to Us. Learn the triple win of greener choices. Save thousands annually. Healthier You, Healthier Budget, Sustainable Planet. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09VFVBGRS The ABCs of Money for College Get a better degree for up to half the cost. Parents: you want to read this book when your child is born. Teens: if you’re going to have to plan this on your own, there are great tips and resources that you just won’t find with your college counselors and those standardized personality tests. https://www.amazon.com/ABCs-Money-College-Success-Distress-ebook/dp/B083117HFF The Gratitude Game 21 days to a healthier, wealthier, more beautiful you. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RER5FTI Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is (2nd edition) Investing Strategies for Lifetime Wealth and a Sustainable Planet. One of the original ESG Investing books that was first in 2008. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GMTTLQN Thank You! Your presence in our community, with a dedication to financial empowerment and sustainability, means the world to us. We work hard to add a splash of green to Wall Street and transform lives on Main Street. We thank you for helping us to spread the word of just how effective and empowering the Thrive Budget and easy-as-a-pie-chart investing strategies are. Be sure to share this Sweepstakes information with your friends and family. Anyone can enter! The Sweepstakes entry period expires August 20, 2025. Anyone who has emailed us on or before August 20, 2025, with Sweepstakes in the subject line will be entered in the drawing. Winners will be chosen and notified on or before August 31, 2025. There is no cash value for the prizes. The above offers expire Monday, August 20, 2025, at midnight PT, and are available to new retreat registrations only. Praise for The ABCs of Money and Natalie Pace’s work. “Many people, including educated men and women, often get into trouble when they neglect to follow these simple and fundamental rules.” Professor Gary S. Becker Gary Becker won the 1992 Nobel Prize in economics. “As a young professional, between the knowledge gained through retreats and the experiences from our immersive trip [to Cornwall England], I feel much more aligned with my visions and values than most of my peers.” M "The ABCs of Money will teach you how to stop getting buried in debt and start scoring gains for the home team. The more you score, the more you'll win financial freedom and enjoy your life. College students need the information before they get their first credit card. Young adults need it before they buy their first home. Empty nesters can use the information to downsize to a sustainable lifestyle, before they get into trouble." Joe Moglia, former Chairman & CEO, TD AMERITRADE "Thank you, Natalie, for saving my retirement!" Nilo Bolden, executive director at a law firm in Century City, CA “We asked Natalie Pace for a second opinion on our investment portfolio. She researched and reviewed each stock and fund. She then explained to us in plain English how we were positioned in the market and how high our risk exposure was. Her knowledge was so profound that we decided to take her retreat in Arizona. My husband was still quite skeptical, but 20 minutes into the retreat he turned to me and said, ‘Thank you.’ Stocks and investing are no longer rocket science. We are finally able to take control of our money. We give thanks just about every day that we met Natalie. I feel like I live on a different planet. I'm so grateful. Thank you for changing our lives, our peace of mind, our future and our vision of what is possible. We made a tectonic shift with you.” AC & AM "The ABCs of Money is a must-read to help people understand the complicated economics of modern day (and how to protect and grow their wealth), or to go from surviving to thriving. It helped me and numerous members of my non-profit, The New Hollywood, to become empowered, educated bad asses with their financial literacy." Brianna Brown Keen Film and Television Actress Founder and CEO of The New Hollywood Learn the ABCs of Money that we all should have received in high school and college to score As in: life math, investing, budgeting, housing, debt reduction and living a richer life. See the collage of Natalie Pace's own life journey to financial freedom in some of the pictures below (and in a reel on Instagram.com/NatalieWynnePace.) https://www.instagram.com/p/DNRJ48OSr6H/ My journey from humble beginnings to financial freedom paves the way for yours. Summer Sweepstakes and Sale Ends August 20, 2025. Email [email protected] to receive links to our free web apps where you can personalize your own sample nest egg pie chart. Let us know if you’re interested in private coaching, an unbiased 2nd opinion or in joining me online for our Oct. 11-13, 2025 Financial Freedom Retreat. Register now to join us at our online Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025 where you'll learn how to protect your wealth, save thousands annually in your budget and how to hedge in a volatile Debt World. If you'd like a life-changing adventure of a lifetime, be our guest at a royal manor house in Cornwall, England, March 12-19, 2027. (With just eight rooms available, this exclusive, private, bucket-list adventure sells out a year in advance!) Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] to learn more. The 2025 Restormel Retreat was a magical and royal experience. Click to learn more. Receive the best price when you register with friends and family for the online Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025. Request testimonials at [email protected]. You can also view some on the flyer page of the retreat. Learn how to: * Invest in hot industries, such as cryptocurrency, Nvidia, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, * Hedge against a weaker dollar, * Invest and compound your gains, * Green your retirement plan, * Easy and efficacious nest egg strategies, * Get hot and diversified (including in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and crypto), * Evaluate stocks, * Avoid capital gains and financial predators, * Keep an age-appropriate amount safe, and, * Know what's safe in a Debt World. You'll even discover how to save thousands annually with smarter big-ticket choices. Yes, it's a complete money makeover. Email [email protected] or call 310-430-2397 to learn more and register. Learn the 15+ things you'll master and read testimonials in the flyer on the home page at NataliePace.com. Register with friends and family to receive the best price. "Ten minutes into the first day I was already much smarter about investing than I ever thought I would be in my life and I knew I was in exactly the right place at this retreat. I am amazed at how EASY and FUN it is to make my money work for me and those I love. I think this kind of information should be compulsory in schools. I wish I'd learned this sooner." CM If you’d like an unbiased 2nd opinion on your current wealth plan, email [email protected] for pricing and information.  Receive the best price when you register with friends and family. Visit NataliePace.com to learn more. Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] for pricing, additional information and to register.  Join us for our Restormel Royal Immersive Adventure Retreat. March 2027. Email [email protected] to learn more. Click for testimonials, pricing, hours & details. Register now to receive the best price, the best room and eight private, prosperity coaching sessions. There are only 8 rooms available. This retreat includes an all-access pass to all of our online training for a full year for two. Considering the perks, you're receiving a 65% discount to learn the life math that we all should have received in high school, and the room is free! Email [email protected] to learn more. The best rooms at the 2025 retreat were sold out in 2024! Yes, it's a great idea to register and start transforming our lives now!  Natalie Wynne Pace is an Advocate for Sustainability, Financial Literacy & Women's Empowerment. Natalie is the bestselling author of The ABCs of Money (6th edition) and The Power of 8 Billion: It's Up to Us, and is the co-creator of the Earth Gratitude Project. She has been ranked as a No. 1 stock picker, above over 835 A-list pundits, by an independent tracking agency (TipsTraders). Her book The ABCs of Money remained at or near the #1 Investing Basics e-book on Amazon for over 3 years (in its vertical), with over 120,000 downloads and a mean 5-star ranking. The 6th edition of The ABCs of Money and the 2nd edition of Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is (2nd edition) are the most recent releases of these books. Follow her on Instagram. Natalie Pace's easy as a pie chart nest egg strategies earned gains in the last two recessions and have outperformed the bull markets in between. That is why her Investor Educational Retreats, books and private coaching are enthusiastically recommended by Nobel Prize winning economist Gary S. Becker, TD AMERITRADE chairman Joe Moglia, Kay Koplovitz and many Main Street investors who have transformed their lives using her Thrive Budget and investing strategies. Click to view a video testimonial from Nilo Bolden. Check out Natalie Pace's Substack podcast on Apple and Spotify. Watch videoconferences and webinars on Youtube. Other Blogs of Interest Will Tariffs Cause Stocks to Sink or Soar? Are You Paying Thousands to Lose Money? Coke & Pepsi Suffer From Poor Fiscal Health. Crypto, Gold, AI, Energy, Healthcare, Real Estate. Which Sector Performed Best in the First Half of 2025. Crypto Goes Mainstream. The Genius Act Becomes Law. Wealth Hacks: Are You Getting Killed in Capital Gains Taxes? Clean Energy Unplugged. Tesla Sales Slump in 2Q 2025. Our Super Performing Hots and Value Replacements. Is Gold a Tier 1 HQLA Reserve Currency? Is Your Income Strategy Losing Money? Gold, Silver & Crypto Soar. Stocks Offer 5%. Debt Balloons. Some Foreigners are Selling U.S. Treasuries. Get Safe & Hot in 1 Easy Plan. Home Prices Soften. Is Your City Next? Tesla Vision vs. Waymo LiDAR and Air Taxis. Are Any of Them Safe? Archer Aviation is Chosen to be the Exclusive Air Taxi Service for the 2028 L.A. Olympics. Company of the Year? USA Downgraded. Is U.S. Reserve Currency Status Threatened? Utilities: In the Eye of the Natural Disaster Storms. Aging Mom Doesn't Want to Discuss Dilapidated House. Investors Ask Natalie. Sell in May? Tesla, Tariffs, Chinese Competition and Price Wars. Fun Ways to Celebrate Earth Day April 22nd. Will the Correction Become a Bear Market? 21st Century Recessions Look More Like Depressions. Will Oil Prices Sink or Soar? Executives are Uncertain. Health Savings Accounts. Save Thousands. Get a Tax Credit. Provide for Tomorrow's Healthcare Needs. Restormel Manor House 2025. A Truly Royal and Magical Adventure. 9 Ways to Cut Your Tax Bill in Half and Save Thousands Annually. Berkshire Hathaway. Should I Just Invest in Warren Buffett? Should I Have a Money Manager? Top Dividend/Income Strategies for 2025. 10 Rules of Successful Investing. Quantum Computing. Paper Losses. Another Warning About Long-Term Bonds! 2025 Investor IQ Test. 2025 Investor IQ Test Answers. Indonesia: Rich in Nickel with Ambitions of Becoming an EV Battery Hub. RoboTaxis. AI. The Magnificent 7. Why Are So Many Safe Investments Losing Money? Canadian, Australian and U.S. Banks. Are Any of Them Safe? Ireland. Rich in Technology, Biotechnology and Agribusiness. Robo Investing and AI. No, They are Not Foolproof. Copper. Peru ETF Outperforms the S&P500. Will Insurance Companies & Homeowners Weather the Hurricanes? 9 Money Secrets of the Ultra Wealthy. Housing & Budgeting Solutions. Arkansas Sues Temu for Data Theft. We Must Be the Boss of Our Money. Why? Fast Fashion. Fossil Fuels. Plastic Clothing. Atacama Desert Waste Dumps. Fintechs and Brokerages that Fail are Not FDIC-Insured. 5 Green Tips for Clean Beaches Week. So, You Think You Want to Be a B&B Owner... Retiring Soon? Start Planning Now. 2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. Answers to the 2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. 9 Inflation, Budgeting, Debt Reduction and Investing Solutions. China & Russia Double Their Gold Holdings. Uh. Oh. More Bank Trouble. Housing. Unaffordable. What Works? Case studies and creative solutions. The Underperforming DJIA, Full of Fossil Fuels and Forever Chemicals. The Best ROI* (Almost 40%!) & 7 Life Hacks That Save Thousands. 13 Lifestyle Choices to Reduce Waste, Pollution & CO2 & Save a Boatload of Dough. 11-Point Green Checklist for Schools. 10 Wealth Secrets of Billionaires and Royals. Fiat. Crypto. Gold. BRICS. Real Estate. Alternative Investments. BRICS Currency. Will the Dollar Become Extinct? Why We Are Underweighting Banks and the Financial Industry. Save Thousands Annually With Smarter Energy Choices Is Your FDIC-Insured Cash Really Safe? Money Market Funds, FDIC, SIPC: Are Any of Them Safe? Important Disclaimers Please note: Natalie Pace does not act or operate like a broker. She reports on financial news, and is one of the most trusted sources of financial literacy, education and forensic analysis in the world. Natalie Pace educates and informs individual investors to give investors a competitive edge in their personal decision-making. Any publicly-traded companies, funds or projects mentioned by Natalie Pace are not intended to be buy or sell recommendations. ALWAYS do your research and consult an experienced, reputable financial professional before buying or selling any security, and consider your long-term goals and strategies. Investors should NOT be all in on any asset class or individual stocks. Your retirement plan should reflect an age-appropriate, diversified wealth plan, which has been designed strategically, with the assistance of financial professionals who are familiar with your goals, risk tolerance, tax needs and more. The "trading" portion of your portfolio should be a very small part of your investment strategy, and the amount of money you invest into individual companies should never be greater than your experience, wisdom, knowledge, patience and diversified strategy. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, NataliePace.com does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Opinions constitute our judgment as of the date of this publication and are subject to change without notice. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument.  Will Tariffs and Slow Growth Spark a Wall Street Sell-Off? Tariffs are Locked In. (No more TACOs.) Can Wall Street hold up? “Some of Wall Street’s biggest firms are warning clients to prepare for a major market pullback as sky-high equity valuations slam into souring US economic data,” according to Bloomberg’s Natasha Solo-Lyons. So, is now the time to get defensive, while stocks are near an all-time high? Here are the things we will look at in this blog. Will Tariffs Cause Inflation? General Motors $1.1 Billion Tariff Hit Will Wall Street Sink or Soar? Corporate Buybacks and the Magnificent 7 Will it Be 2022 All Over Again? September is Historically the Lowest Performing Month of the Year Should You Get Defensive? And here is more information on each point. Will Tariffs Cause Inflation? In a global economy, where Asia is the factory of the world and many rare earth minerals must be sourced internationally, tariffs will increase costs – even for companies, like Apple, that have received an exemption. Economists are hopeful that tariffs will have a one-off effect on prices, and that inflation will not get sticky, but there is little doubt that companies and consumers will pay more for things. We’re seeing higher costs at the grocery store, which also means a bigger tab when we eat out. Anecdotal information from other small business owners isn’t great either. My hairdresser sources her hair products from Europe, increasing her costs in a business that also pays high rent. So, many of us will end up paying more for food, highlights and haircuts at a time when consumer debt is at an all-time high, housing is eating up 30% or more of the family budget, and the personal savings rate is at an historic low. Companies will want to pass as much of the increased costs as they can onto their customers, so that they can stay out of the red and maintain healthy profit margins. However, as we’re seeing in the auto industry, that’s not always possible. There is a global price war going on, particularly with electric vehicles, that has forced many companies to lower prices to compete. (Learn more in my EV blog.) General Motors $1.1 Billion Tariff Hit On July 22, 2025, in their 2Q 2025 earnings report, GM reported that the company swallowed $1.1 billion in tariffs that they didn’t pass on to the customer. The company forecasted that the impact in the 3rd quarter will be higher. Ford reported that tariffs negatively impacted their 2Q results by $800 million. Ford expects a “net tariff-related headwind of about $2 billion” in 2025. The company had a net loss of -$36 million in the 2nd quarter, compared to net profit of $1.8 billion a year ago. This is tough news for a company that only recently moved up to investment grade from speculative status. S&P Global has given Ford a BBB- credit rating with a negative outlook. S&P Global indicated that “underperformance” increases the risk of a downgrade (to junk status again). Apple has just secured a tariff exemption, and other technology companies, including Nvidia, have some tariff relief. Companies like Meta and Google rely more on advertising and services than goods for their revenue. However, costs could potentially increase on the chips and data centers that are key to their business. Will Wall Street Sink or Soar? Price to earnings ratios are elevated on equities. If earnings take a hit due to the increased cost of tariffs, which is happening, then the price-earnings ratio will look even more out of whack. That is negative for Wall Street. However, we have seen a massive amount of corporate buybacks, particularly in the Magnificent 7*. That could provide support for stocks. *Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, Meta (Instagram), Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla All told, there could be more headwinds than support, however. (Keep reading.) Corporate Buybacks and the Magnificent 7 1Q 2025 corporate buybacks of $293.2 billion set a quarterly record, according to Howard Silverblatt, the senior index analyst of the S&P Dow Jones Indices. Over the past year (through the end of March 2025), buybacks were almost a trillion dollars ($999.2 billion). Five of the Magnificent 7 were in the Top 8 companies with the most share repurchases – Apple, Meta (Instagram), Nvidia, Alphabet (Google), and Microsoft.  So, what happened in April of this year, when stocks dropped -20%, and can it happen again (without the rapid recovery)? Technology stocks dropped even further than the index in April, pulling everything down with them. According to the June 2025 earnings report, Apple reduced its buybacks by -19.3% in the June quarter. The slowdown could have been during that two-week period in April. We’ve seen the general market follow Apple’s lead over the last decade. In December of 2018, when the S&P500 dropped over -9.0% (the worst December performance since 1931, in the Great Depression), Apple had suspended its buybacks. (Click to read my report from that time.) With Apple seeking an exemption from tariffs, it’s possible that a tacit part of the deal could include continuing their buyback program, which might provide some buoyancy for stocks. However, the company’s robust share repurchase plan didn’t save the markets from the rout in 2022. Will it Be 2022 All Over Again? In 2022, the S&P500 dropped -19.66%. The Magnificent 7 were some of the worst performers. Meta and Tesla dropped more than -60%. Amazon, Google and Nvidia were down by half. Apple sank by -26.8%, while Microsoft was off by -28.7%.  Surprisingly, there were more corporate buybacks in 2022 ($922.7 billion) than in 2021 ($881.8 billion) or 2023 ($795.2 billion). The selloff wasn’t coming from the mega technology companies of the Magnificent 7. 2022’s flight to safety, away from equities, had a lot to do with high inflation, interest rate hikes (which slow down the economy), the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, two quarters of negative GDP (although a recession was never declared) and profit-taking from a spectacular 2021 performance. FUD*, according to the VIX chart, was double what it is currently. *Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt The economy is predicted to slow down in the second half of 2025. Earnings could turn to losses due to the impact of tariffs. Share prices are higher today than they were in the Great Depression, according to the CAPE Ratio. It’s easy to see why many Wall Street firms are warning their clients to get defensive. The question is, “Where do you fly to safety, when paper losses are pronounced in the bond market?” We spend one full day on this topic at our Financial Freedom Retreat and will host a Fixed Income/Bonds Without Paper Losses Masterclass the Sat. after that training weekend. Join us online from the comfort of your living room. September is Historically the Lowest Performing Month of the Year As you can see in the chart below, September can be a disappointing month on Wall Street. If you haven’t rebalanced this year or aren’t sure that you have an age-appropriate, properly diversified plan, now would be a great time to get a fiscal checkup and/or an unbiased 2nd opinion (something I offer through my private coaching). Email [email protected] for pricing and information. It’s human nature to wait until something is broken to fix it. However, when it comes to our money that is a terrible idea. Should You Get Defensive? We are overweighting 20% additional safe in our sample pie charts based upon historically high equity prices, a slowing economy, unprecedented levels of debt and a tightening of liquidity in many sectors, including DJIA stocks, long-term bonds and even Treasury bills. According to Heather Long, the chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, “The economy is increasingly dependent on a small sliver of superstar companies and wealthy consumers to stay afloat because these are the only firms and families able to withstand the tariff onslaught. A highly concentrated economy increases the risk of a downturn — and will leave many middle-class Americans frustrated and strained.” Bottom Line A Wall Street selloff isn’t a given. However, what is assured is that if we wait for the headline, we’ll be late and could be in serious trouble. Most of us can’t afford to lose 20% or more of our wealth. A diversified strategy that we rebalance 1-3 times a year protects our wealth, allows us to get safe and hot in one easy plan, prompts us to add low and sell high, and takes the emotions out of the process (which often point us to the wrong side of the trade). (Click to learn more about that plan.) There are certainly a great deal of challenges and headwinds for U.S. companies and consumers. When consumers are tapped out, and corporations are reporting lower earnings or net losses, stocks typically decrease in value. When the valuations are as high as they are today, they drop far and fast. (-20% in two weeks in April.) Sadly, the whales of Wall Street are the first to exit, while Main Street investors might not get the note until they’ve seen their wealth plunge, at which point they could be selling low. So, now is the time to make sure that we are ahead of the curve – capturing gains near an all-time high. Remember that market timing rarely works. When we are worried, overweight a little safer rather than selling everything. (Always keep a percentage equal to our age safe from losses.) Get rich quick ideas, like piling into crypto or gold, can have windows of superior performance, followed by long Crypto Winters and gold deserts. Putting our safe havens in a hot slice or two of the nest egg pie chart system prompts us to capture gains, keep the bet within reason and even have the liquidity to buy low when everyone else has abandoned them. Email [email protected] to receive links to our free web apps where you can personalize your own sample nest egg pie chart. Let us know if you’re interested in private coaching, an unbiased 2nd opinion or in joining me online for our Oct. 11-13, 2025 Financial Freedom Retreat. Register now to join us at our online Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025 where you'll learn how to protect your wealth, save thousands annually in your budget and how to hedge in a volatile Debt World. If you'd like a life-changing adventure of a lifetime, be our guest at a royal manor house in Cornwall, England, March 12-19, 2027. (With just eight rooms available, this exclusive, private, bucket-list adventure sells out a year in advance!) Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] to learn more. The 2025 Restormel Retreat was a magical and royal experience. Click to learn more. Receive the best price when you register with friends and family for the online Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025. Request testimonials at [email protected]. You can also view some on the flyer page of the retreat. Learn how to: * Invest in hot industries, such as cryptocurrency, Nvidia, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, * Hedge against a weaker dollar, * Invest and compound your gains, * Green your retirement plan, * Easy and efficacious nest egg strategies, * Get hot and diversified (including in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and crypto), * Evaluate stocks, * Avoid capital gains and financial predators, * Keep an age-appropriate amount safe, and, * Know what's safe in a Debt World. You'll even discover how to save thousands annually with smarter big-ticket choices. Yes, it's a complete money makeover. Email [email protected] or call 310-430-2397 to learn more and register. Learn the 15+ things you'll master and read testimonials in the flyer on the home page at NataliePace.com. Register with friends and family to receive the best price. "Ten minutes into the first day I was already much smarter about investing than I ever thought I would be in my life and I knew I was in exactly the right place at this retreat. I am amazed at how EASY and FUN it is to make my money work for me and those I love. I think this kind of information should be compulsory in schools. I wish I'd learned this sooner." CM If you’d like an unbiased 2nd opinion on your current wealth plan, email [email protected] for pricing and information.  Receive the best price when you register with friends and family. Visit NataliePace.com to learn more. Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] for pricing, additional information and to register.  Join us for our Restormel Royal Immersive Adventure Retreat. March 2027. Email [email protected] to learn more. Click for testimonials, pricing, hours & details. Register now to receive the best price, the best room and eight private, prosperity coaching sessions. There are only 8 rooms available. This retreat includes an all-access pass to all of our online training for a full year for two. Considering the perks, you're receiving a 65% discount to learn the life math that we all should have received in high school, and the room is free! Email [email protected] to learn more. The best rooms at the 2025 retreat were sold out in 2024! Yes, it's a great idea to register and start transforming our lives now!  Natalie Wynne Pace is an Advocate for Sustainability, Financial Literacy & Women's Empowerment. Natalie is the bestselling author of The ABCs of Money (6th edition) and The Power of 8 Billion: It's Up to Us, and is the co-creator of the Earth Gratitude Project. She has been ranked as a No. 1 stock picker, above over 835 A-list pundits, by an independent tracking agency (TipsTraders). Her book The ABCs of Money remained at or near the #1 Investing Basics e-book on Amazon for over 3 years (in its vertical), with over 120,000 downloads and a mean 5-star ranking. The 6th edition of The ABCs of Money and the 2nd edition of Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is (2nd edition) are the most recent releases of these books. Follow her on Instagram. Natalie Pace's easy as a pie chart nest egg strategies earned gains in the last two recessions and have outperformed the bull markets in between. That is why her Investor Educational Retreats, books and private coaching are enthusiastically recommended by Nobel Prize winning economist Gary S. Becker, TD AMERITRADE chairman Joe Moglia, Kay Koplovitz and many Main Street investors who have transformed their lives using her Thrive Budget and investing strategies. Click to view a video testimonial from Nilo Bolden. Check out Natalie Pace's Substack podcast on Apple and Spotify. Watch videoconferences and webinars on Youtube. Other Blogs of Interest Are You Paying Thousands to Lose Money? Coke & Pepsi Suffer From Poor Fiscal Health. Crypto, Gold, AI, Energy, Healthcare, Real Estate. Which Sector Performed Best in the First Half of 2025. Crypto Goes Mainstream. The Genius Act Becomes Law. Wealth Hacks: Are You Getting Killed in Capital Gains Taxes? Clean Energy Unplugged. Tesla Sales Slump in 2Q 2025. Our Super Performing Hots and Value Replacements. Is Gold a Tier 1 HQLA Reserve Currency? Is Your Income Strategy Losing Money? Gold, Silver & Crypto Soar. Stocks Offer 5%. Debt Balloons. Some Foreigners are Selling U.S. Treasuries. Get Safe & Hot in 1 Easy Plan. Home Prices Soften. Is Your City Next? Tesla Vision vs. Waymo LiDAR and Air Taxis. Are Any of Them Safe? Archer Aviation is Chosen to be the Exclusive Air Taxi Service for the 2028 L.A. Olympics. Company of the Year? USA Downgraded. Is U.S. Reserve Currency Status Threatened? Utilities: In the Eye of the Natural Disaster Storms. Aging Mom Doesn't Want to Discuss Dilapidated House. Investors Ask Natalie. Sell in May? Tesla, Tariffs, Chinese Competition and Price Wars. Fun Ways to Celebrate Earth Day April 22nd. Will the Correction Become a Bear Market? 21st Century Recessions Look More Like Depressions. Will Oil Prices Sink or Soar? Executives are Uncertain. Health Savings Accounts. Save Thousands. Get a Tax Credit. Provide for Tomorrow's Healthcare Needs. Restormel Manor House 2025. A Truly Royal and Magical Adventure. 9 Ways to Cut Your Tax Bill in Half and Save Thousands Annually. Berkshire Hathaway. Should I Just Invest in Warren Buffett? Should I Have a Money Manager? Top Dividend/Income Strategies for 2025. 10 Rules of Successful Investing. Quantum Computing. Paper Losses. Another Warning About Long-Term Bonds! 2025 Investor IQ Test. 2025 Investor IQ Test Answers. Indonesia: Rich in Nickel with Ambitions of Becoming an EV Battery Hub. RoboTaxis. AI. The Magnificent 7. Why Are So Many Safe Investments Losing Money? Canadian, Australian and U.S. Banks. Are Any of Them Safe? Ireland. Rich in Technology, Biotechnology and Agribusiness. Robo Investing and AI. No, They are Not Foolproof. Copper. Peru ETF Outperforms the S&P500. Will Insurance Companies & Homeowners Weather the Hurricanes? 9 Money Secrets of the Ultra Wealthy. Housing & Budgeting Solutions. Arkansas Sues Temu for Data Theft. We Must Be the Boss of Our Money. Why? Fast Fashion. Fossil Fuels. Plastic Clothing. Atacama Desert Waste Dumps. Fintechs and Brokerages that Fail are Not FDIC-Insured. 5 Green Tips for Clean Beaches Week. So, You Think You Want to Be a B&B Owner... Retiring Soon? Start Planning Now. 2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. Answers to the 2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. 9 Inflation, Budgeting, Debt Reduction and Investing Solutions. China & Russia Double Their Gold Holdings. Uh. Oh. More Bank Trouble. Housing. Unaffordable. What Works? Case studies and creative solutions. The Underperforming DJIA, Full of Fossil Fuels and Forever Chemicals. The Best ROI* (Almost 40%!) & 7 Life Hacks That Save Thousands. 13 Lifestyle Choices to Reduce Waste, Pollution & CO2 & Save a Boatload of Dough. 11-Point Green Checklist for Schools. 10 Wealth Secrets of Billionaires and Royals. Fiat. Crypto. Gold. BRICS. Real Estate. Alternative Investments. BRICS Currency. Will the Dollar Become Extinct? Why We Are Underweighting Banks and the Financial Industry. Save Thousands Annually With Smarter Energy Choices Is Your FDIC-Insured Cash Really Safe? Money Market Funds, FDIC, SIPC: Are Any of Them Safe? Important Disclaimers Please note: Natalie Pace does not act or operate like a broker. She reports on financial news, and is one of the most trusted sources of financial literacy, education and forensic analysis in the world. Natalie Pace educates and informs individual investors to give investors a competitive edge in their personal decision-making. Any publicly-traded companies, funds or projects mentioned by Natalie Pace are not intended to be buy or sell recommendations. ALWAYS do your research and consult an experienced, reputable financial professional before buying or selling any security, and consider your long-term goals and strategies. Investors should NOT be all in on any asset class or individual stocks. Your retirement plan should reflect an age-appropriate, diversified wealth plan, which has been designed strategically, with the assistance of financial professionals who are familiar with your goals, risk tolerance, tax needs and more. The "trading" portion of your portfolio should be a very small part of your investment strategy, and the amount of money you invest into individual companies should never be greater than your experience, wisdom, knowledge, patience and diversified strategy. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, NataliePace.com does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Opinions constitute our judgment as of the date of this publication and are subject to change without notice. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument.  Are You Paying Thousands Each Year to Lose Money? Is Your Conservative Plan Losing Money or At Risk? Annuities, dividend stocks and target-date funds are offering less income than certificates of deposit, without the safety net of FDIC Insurance. Stablecoins are now backed by dollars, but we’ve seen one failure and another almost fail. So, why are they being sold to us? The S&P500 has almost doubled over the past 5 years, going from 3,271 on July 31, 2020, to 6,370.86 on July 29, 2025. So, has your wealth doubled over the same period? Or are you barely hanging onto even, or inching along, in the name of protecting your wealth?  S&P500 5-year performance through August 3, 2025. Source: MSN.com. (c) Microsoft. Used with permission. All the explosive gains that we’re hearing about on Wall Street makes us happy, thinking we’re getting richer every time Wall Street rings in a new high. However, if we’re not invested in the trillion-dollar tech, bitcoin or gold industries, we might be earning less than inflation. Many annuities, dividend stocks, bonds, and target-date retirement funds are earning half or less of what we could make in a short-term, FDIC-insured CD. Add in management fees and paper losses, and we might be losing money. Conservative investors – those with very little appetite for losses and risk – are the ones who are most vulnerable to this. Sadly, paper losses have become common in certain sections of the bond market. Are you aware of how much you pay in expenses are every year? It might give us peace of mind to have someone else “manage our money,” where we might pay 1.65% or more annually for that service. However, few of us would find those fees palatable when we are losing money. It is important to remember that most managed plans do what the markets do, but 1-2% lower, due to fees. Conservative investors are usually missing out on large cap growth companies (many of which don’t pay dividends). If we’re not reading the fine print of our complete brokerage statement and doing the math, we might be thinking we’re earning some money, without realizing how little it actually is when we subtract the fees and paper losses. 1.65% annual management fee of $250,000 is $4,125/year or $16,500/year of $1,000,000. An S&P500 ETF might not cost anything. Here are the topics we will discuss in this blog. Annuities Target-Date Retirement Funds Dividend Stocks Bonds Fixed-Income Paper Losses Stablecoins High-Yield Savings Accounts A Time-Proven, Easy Wealth Plan 401k (RSP) vs. IRA (TFSA) And here is more information on each topic. Annuities Many annuities are underperforming. I recently looked at one that was earning 2% annualized. If it’s earning more than that, it could be tied to the stock market and might get hit hard in an extended downturn. Annuities are one of the few investments where you lose up to 9% the minute you purchase them. Then, even if they are only giving you 2% back each year, you feel like you must wait a decade to extricate yourself – so that you don’t lose your surrender fee – even though you’ve given up hope for making much money on it. Were you advised of this upfront, or was this downplayed? Are you aware that many annuities pay 6-7% commission to the broker-salesman? That’s $6,000 if you invested $100,000 or $18,000 if you put in $300,000. Are you aware of the other hidden fees and risks? Annuities are not government backed or FDIC insured. Life insurance companies are some of the most highly leveraged companies in the U.S., and some of them have very poor credit quality. According to the most recent Financial Stability Report, “Life insurers’ leverage remained at the upper end of its historical distribution, and life insurers continued to hold a significant share of illiquid and risky assets.” It’s important to remember that AIG wouldn’t even be in business if we hadn’t bailed the company out in 2008. It would have gone the way of Lehman Brothers.  Federal Reserve Financial Stability Report. April 2025. FINRA.org has a good tutorial on annuities that everyone should read before buying. In a world where FDIC-insured CDs and short-term T-bills are earning almost 4%, it’s easy to earn more income and have more safety than most annuities offer. Target-Date Retirement Funds The Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund (symbol: VTHRX) earned 10.6% total over the past 5 years, spending most of the time underwater. That’s another asset that crept along at a 2.1% annualized ROI.  Source: MSN.com. (c) Microsoft. Used with permission. Why are target-date retirement fund such miserable performers? Most of them have everything and the kitchen sink in them, including some of the highest risk, poorest performing sectors – such as long-term bonds. Remember, even investment-grade bond funds can have up to 20% junk bonds in them. We’re often missing out on the spectacular performance of the Magnificent 7 (or have only a sliver of this in our exposure). So, what should you do instead? Essentially, we should adopt an age-appropriate, properly diversified strategy (time-proven) that we rebalance 1-3 times a year. Check out my blog on how to get safe and hot in one easy plan. We want to think about all the ways that we can build wealth and minimize taxes, including funding our employer-sponsored retirement plan, our own Individual Retirement Plan, potentially a Health Savings Account and our child’s college savings or dependent IRA account. You can learn more about our time-proven, easy-as-a-pie-chart nest egg strategy in The ABCs of Money, 6th edition, at our Financial Freedom Retreat and in my blogs. Dividend Stocks The higher the dividend, the higher the risk. Chasing “income” can sometimes cost us our principal investment. We’ve seen this in former dividend darlings, such as General Electric and in many of the CRE REITs. Dow Jones Industrial Average funds can be vulnerable due to legacy debt and leverage. (Boeing and 3M are two of the 30 components that have struggled over the past few years; 20% of the DJIA was bailed out or went bankrupt during the Great Recession.) There is a place for income in our portfolio. However, we need to be aware of the low credit quality that plagues a lot of the U.S. based income-generating funds. In our sample pie charts, we are using value substitution funds, some of which have higher credit quality and higher yield — we’re getting paid more for less risk. We discuss this in greater detail at our Financial Freedom Retreat. Bonds Long-term bonds have been the worst performers on Wall Street over the last three years.  Long-term government bonds lost -6.41% in 2024.  On one hand, we might be aware of the public debt. However, how many of us are conscious of just how much there is in total debt and loans, including corporate debt – which is an astonishingly high $103 trillion.  Many Main Street investors are not informed that the capital losses of -26% in long-term government bonds in 2022 were directly responsible for the bank failures in March 2023. (Some quick financial engineering prevented a spate of bank failures.) Long-term bonds lost again in 2024. You might be told these are only paper losses. What are paper losses? They reflect the new value of what we purchased, if we were to resale them. Our wealth and assets are based upon this new market value, not the amount we paid for the bond. We are supposed to be repaid at the agreed upon term. However, some of these are long-term bonds with a duration that is longer than our lifespan. The minute we purchase them, they lose value because no one wants to buy them from us. So, is there a better strategy? Of course there is. No one is suffering paper losses who is using our safe strategy that we’ve had in place since 2009. Learn more by joining us at our online oct. 11-13, 2025 Financial Freedom Retreat. We spend one full day on what’s safe. We will follow that training up with a Bonds, Fixed Income without Paper Losses Masterclass on Saturday, October 18, 2025. Fixed-Income Strategy Be careful reaching for yield. Sometimes chasing income can mean that we lose principal. Oftentimes we’re told it’s just a paper loss. However, as you’ve read above, that money is no longer available to us. If we need access to some cash, we’re going to have to sell and realize those losses. I’m seeing a lot of conservative investors who are sold into illiquid, high-risk investments in the name of earning a small amount of income. Sometimes they are even locked in without the ability to get even a portion of their money back. Reading the fine print and the risk factors on everything today is essential – before we agree to the investment. Don’t be rushed, pushed or baited into anything without doing the proper due diligence. (If you need help with this, email [email protected] and learn more about our private coaching program.) Stablecoins In my stablecoins blog and videoconference, I pointed out that we really must read the risk factors on stablecoins. The marketing copy on the first page of the website might be factual, but could be misleading if we re not reading every word very carefully. The risk factors are where the drawbacks are clearly state in bold. Disclaimers make things legal, even if we don’t bother to find the Risks page and read it. Some, but not all, stablecoins pay dividends. Here again, the higher the dividend, the higher the risk rings true. One notorious example was Terra Luna, which was a business that went bankrupt, taking investments down with it. Investors are not expected to be made whole. When Silicon Valley Bank failed, the USDC stablecoin dropped in value after Circle (the company behind the coin) advised investors that they had $3.3 billion deposited at SVB. Within days, the FDIC and Treasury Secretary Yellen advised that there would be an exception in the SVB failure to make all depositors whole – even uninsured depositors. Both events are cautionary tales. The FDIC is not expected to make an exception for uninsured investors in the event of another bank failure. Paypal’s stablecoin is backed by dollars held at the Paxos Trust Company – not a bank, and thus not FDIC-insured. Stablecoins are only backed by the company offering them (not the government). The same holds true for many income-producing savings accounts offered by non-banks. https://newsroom.paypal-corp.com/2025-07-28-PayPal-Drives-Crypto-Payments-into-the-Mainstream,-Reducing-Costs-and-Expanding-Global-Commerce High-Yield Savings Accounts The interesting thing about these so-called high-yield savings accounts is that they aren’t really paying much more than FDIC-insured Certificates of Deposit and short-term treasury bills. Some of these are being offered by non-bank financial services companies. American Express is not a bank, neither is the Coinbase, Cash App, Rocket Money, Venmo or PayPal. When brokers say that your cash is FDIC insured, there is a loophole because brokerages are not banks. If the brokerage or financial services company goes out of business, the FDIC does nothing to backstop it (only if the bank does). Learn more in my blog on the various risks by clicking on the blue-highlighted words. A Time-Proven, Easy Wealth Plan There’s room for safety without paper losses, earning steady income, and spectacular gains with the Magnificent 7, while also capturing gains to make sure we keep our wealth. As I mentioned above, we are using value replacement funds that pay a higher income than most US based dividend equity funds. Get additional information in my Safe, Hot blog. I encourage you to at least start by personalizing your own pie chart using our free Web app. (Email [email protected] for a link.) You can read about these strategies in The ABCs of Money 6th edition. You can learn and implement them at our next Financial Freedom Retreat online October 11-13, 2025. If you know that you have paper losses or are worried about anything else in your wealth plan or are ready to be the boss of your money (even if you have a money manager) consider getting an unbiased 2nd opinion from me through my private coaching program. It’s always good to know exactly what you own and why and to capture games at an all-time high. That’s going to be a lot smarter than waiting for a problem to occur and then scrambling to try and rebuild wealth. 401k (RSP) vs. IRA (TFSA) Our wealth plan should consist of an employer-sponsored plan, where we might get free money through a match, but have less freedom of choice in what we invest in, and individual retirement accounts, where we can get better diversification and potentially even safety. One other tip: it’s very important to invest within a retirement account, so that we are eliminating our capital gains exposure. This is even possible with Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, something that wasn’t available just a few years ago. Bottom Line A lot of the conservative, safe products are not as safe as we’re being told, many are costing us paper losses, which reduce our wealth and our FICO score. Now is a beautiful window of opportunity to fix things at an all-time high. Wall Street is on fire, and there still is a little liquidity in the bond market. Liquidity is tightening in the bond market, and even with Treasury bills.  Now is the time to read the fine print and know what we own and why and to make appropriate adjustments to ensure that we have an age-appropriate, properly diversified wealth plan. Why now? Summer is a low-volume time on Wall Street, and September is historically the worst performing month of the year. Register now to join us at our online Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025 where you'll learn how to protect your wealth, save thousands annually in your budget and how to hedge in a volatile Debt World. If you'd like a life-changing adventure of a lifetime, be our guest at a royal manor house in Cornwall, England, March 12-19, 2027. (With just eight rooms available, this exclusive, private, bucket-list adventure sells out a year in advance!) Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] to learn more. The 2025 Restormel Retreat was a magical and royal experience. Click to learn more. Receive the best price when you register with friends and family for the online Financial Freedom Retreat Oct. 11-13 2025. Request testimonials at [email protected]. You can also view some on the flyer page of the retreat. Learn how to: * Invest in hot industries, such as cryptocurrency, Nvidia, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, * Hedge against a weaker dollar, * Invest and compound your gains, * Green your retirement plan, * Easy and efficacious nest egg strategies, * Get hot and diversified (including in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and crypto), * Evaluate stocks, * Avoid capital gains and financial predators, * Keep an age-appropriate amount safe, and, * Know what's safe in a Debt World. You'll even discover how to save thousands annually with smarter big-ticket choices. Yes, it's a complete money makeover. Email [email protected] or call 310-430-2397 to learn more and register. Learn the 15+ things you'll master and read testimonials in the flyer on the home page at NataliePace.com. Register with friends and family to receive the best price. "Ten minutes into the first day I was already much smarter about investing than I ever thought I would be in my life and I knew I was in exactly the right place at this retreat. I am amazed at how EASY and FUN it is to make my money work for me and those I love. I think this kind of information should be compulsory in schools. I wish I'd learned this sooner." CM If you’d like an unbiased 2nd opinion on your current wealth plan, email [email protected] for pricing and information.  Receive the best price when you register with friends and family. Visit NataliePace.com to learn more. Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] for pricing, additional information and to register.  Join us for our Restormel Royal Immersive Adventure Retreat. March 2027. Email [email protected] to learn more. Click for testimonials, pricing, hours & details. Register now to receive the best price, the best room and eight private, prosperity coaching sessions. There are only 8 rooms available. This retreat includes an all-access pass to all of our online training for a full year for two. Considering the perks, you're receiving a 65% discount to learn the life math that we all should have received in high school, and the room is free! Email [email protected] to learn more. The best rooms at the 2025 retreat were sold out in 2024! Yes, it's a great idea to register and start transforming our lives now!  Natalie Wynne Pace is an Advocate for Sustainability, Financial Literacy & Women's Empowerment. Natalie is the bestselling author of The ABCs of Money (6th edition) and The Power of 8 Billion: It's Up to Us, and is the co-creator of the Earth Gratitude Project. She has been ranked as a No. 1 stock picker, above over 835 A-list pundits, by an independent tracking agency (TipsTraders). Her book The ABCs of Money remained at or near the #1 Investing Basics e-book on Amazon for over 3 years (in its vertical), with over 120,000 downloads and a mean 5-star ranking. The 6th edition of The ABCs of Money and the 2nd edition of Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is (2nd edition) are the most recent releases of these books. Follow her on Instagram. Natalie Pace's easy as a pie chart nest egg strategies earned gains in the last two recessions and have outperformed the bull markets in between. That is why her Investor Educational Retreats, books and private coaching are enthusiastically recommended by Nobel Prize winning economist Gary S. Becker, TD AMERITRADE chairman Joe Moglia, Kay Koplovitz and many Main Street investors who have transformed their lives using her Thrive Budget and investing strategies. Click to view a video testimonial from Nilo Bolden. Check out Natalie Pace's Substack podcast on Apple and Spotify. Watch videoconferences and webinars on Youtube. Other Blogs of Interest Coke & Pepsi Suffer From Poor Fiscal Health. Crypto, Gold, AI, Energy, Healthcare, Real Estate. Which Sector Performed Best in the First Half of 2025. Crypto Goes Mainstream. The Genius Act Becomes Law. Wealth Hacks: Are You Getting Killed in Capital Gains Taxes? Clean Energy Unplugged. Tesla Sales Slump in 2Q 2025. Our Super Performing Hots and Value Replacements. Is Gold a Tier 1 HQLA Reserve Currency? Is Your Income Strategy Losing Money? Gold, Silver & Crypto Soar. Stocks Offer 5%. Debt Balloons. Some Foreigners are Selling U.S. Treasuries. Get Safe & Hot in 1 Easy Plan. Home Prices Soften. Is Your City Next? Tesla Vision vs. Waymo LiDAR and Air Taxis. Are Any of Them Safe? Archer Aviation is Chosen to be the Exclusive Air Taxi Service for the 2028 L.A. Olympics. Company of the Year? USA Downgraded. Is U.S. Reserve Currency Status Threatened? Utilities: In the Eye of the Natural Disaster Storms. Aging Mom Doesn't Want to Discuss Dilapidated House. Investors Ask Natalie. Sell in May? Tesla, Tariffs, Chinese Competition and Price Wars. Fun Ways to Celebrate Earth Day April 22nd. Will the Correction Become a Bear Market? 21st Century Recessions Look More Like Depressions. Will Oil Prices Sink or Soar? Executives are Uncertain. Health Savings Accounts. Save Thousands. Get a Tax Credit. Provide for Tomorrow's Healthcare Needs. Restormel Manor House 2025. A Truly Royal and Magical Adventure. 9 Ways to Cut Your Tax Bill in Half and Save Thousands Annually. Berkshire Hathaway. Should I Just Invest in Warren Buffett? Should I Have a Money Manager? Top Dividend/Income Strategies for 2025. 10 Rules of Successful Investing. Quantum Computing. Paper Losses. Another Warning About Long-Term Bonds! 2025 Investor IQ Test. 2025 Investor IQ Test Answers. Indonesia: Rich in Nickel with Ambitions of Becoming an EV Battery Hub. RoboTaxis. AI. The Magnificent 7. Why Are So Many Safe Investments Losing Money? Canadian, Australian and U.S. Banks. Are Any of Them Safe? Ireland. Rich in Technology, Biotechnology and Agribusiness. Robo Investing and AI. No, They are Not Foolproof. Copper. Peru ETF Outperforms the S&P500. Will Insurance Companies & Homeowners Weather the Hurricanes? 9 Money Secrets of the Ultra Wealthy. Housing & Budgeting Solutions. Arkansas Sues Temu for Data Theft. We Must Be the Boss of Our Money. Why? Fast Fashion. Fossil Fuels. Plastic Clothing. Atacama Desert Waste Dumps. Fintechs and Brokerages that Fail are Not FDIC-Insured. 5 Green Tips for Clean Beaches Week. So, You Think You Want to Be a B&B Owner... Retiring Soon? Start Planning Now. 2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. Answers to the 2024 Rebalancing IQ Test. 9 Inflation, Budgeting, Debt Reduction and Investing Solutions. China & Russia Double Their Gold Holdings. Uh. Oh. More Bank Trouble. Housing. Unaffordable. What Works? Case studies and creative solutions. The Underperforming DJIA, Full of Fossil Fuels and Forever Chemicals. The Best ROI* (Almost 40%!) & 7 Life Hacks That Save Thousands. 13 Lifestyle Choices to Reduce Waste, Pollution & CO2 & Save a Boatload of Dough. 11-Point Green Checklist for Schools. 10 Wealth Secrets of Billionaires and Royals. Fiat. Crypto. Gold. BRICS. Real Estate. Alternative Investments. BRICS Currency. Will the Dollar Become Extinct? Why We Are Underweighting Banks and the Financial Industry. Save Thousands Annually With Smarter Energy Choices Is Your FDIC-Insured Cash Really Safe? Money Market Funds, FDIC, SIPC: Are Any of Them Safe? Important Disclaimers Please note: Natalie Pace does not act or operate like a broker. She reports on financial news, and is one of the most trusted sources of financial literacy, education and forensic analysis in the world. Natalie Pace educates and informs individual investors to give investors a competitive edge in their personal decision-making. Any publicly-traded companies, funds or projects mentioned by Natalie Pace are not intended to be buy or sell recommendations. ALWAYS do your research and consult an experienced, reputable financial professional before buying or selling any security, and consider your long-term goals and strategies. Investors should NOT be all in on any asset class or individual stocks. Your retirement plan should reflect an age-appropriate, diversified wealth plan, which has been designed strategically, with the assistance of financial professionals who are familiar with your goals, risk tolerance, tax needs and more. The "trading" portion of your portfolio should be a very small part of your investment strategy, and the amount of money you invest into individual companies should never be greater than your experience, wisdom, knowledge, patience and diversified strategy. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, NataliePace.com does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Opinions constitute our judgment as of the date of this publication and are subject to change without notice. This material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. |
AuthorNatalie Pace is the co-creator of the Earth Gratitude Project and the author of The Power of 8 Billion: It's Up to Us, The ABCs of Money, The ABCs of Money for College, The Gratitude Game and Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is. She is a repeat guest & speaker on national news shows and stages. She has been ranked the No. 1 stock picker, above over 830 A-list pundits, by an independent tracking agency, and has been saving homes and nest eggs since 1999. Archives
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