Capture Gains at an All-Time High. Rebalance.

Capture Gains at an All-Time High. Rebalance.
 
Stocks just hit another all-time high on Thursday, May 14, 2026. Everything seems to be coming up roses despite the significant amount of economic uncertainty in the world. Many analysts are expecting the S&P 500 to rise to 7,600 – 8,100 this year. The index is already up 9.6% year to date.
 
At the same time, 2026 is a mid-term year in the election cycle. We have seen stocks drop in the last two mid-term election years of 2022 and 2018, with losses of -19.44% and -6.24%, respectively. Gemini notes that there is a 70% chance of a correction in 2026, based upon the mid-term trend. So, we must be mindful that there is a risk that the stock market could weaken.

Rather than hoping that our superstars keep lighting up the sky, why not capture some gains at an all-time high? It’s never a question of all or nothing but rather making sure that we have an age-appropriate, properly diversified plan every year. This keeps our wealth growing instead of just riding a Wall Street rollercoaster. Fortunately, that can be done in one, easy, well-designed plan – something I write about in my bestselling book The ABCs of Money, 6th edition, teach at our online Financial Freedom Retreats and masterclasses and offer private coaching and an unbiased 2nd opinion on. Email [email protected] to learn more.
 
Here are the things I will cover in this blog.
 
Stocks are at an All-Time High
Rebalance and Employ a ‘Capture Gains’ Mindset
An Age-Appropriate, Properly Diversified Plan
Tax-Protected Retirement Accounts
Hot Industries
Underweight Excessive Debt, Leverage and Poor Credit Quality
Review the 15 Wealth Rules of the Rich
Sounds Complicated? It’s as Easy as a Pie Chart!
 
And here is additional information on each point
 
Stocks are at an All-Time High
The S&P 500 hit another high on May 14, 2026. We’ve been singing that tune for two and a half years now! It’s still all about the Magnificent 7. However, in 2022, the highest flyers were the largest sinkers, as you can see in the chart below. Many of the Magnificent 7 companies were the biggest losers, with Amazon and Nvidia sinking by half, and Meta and Tesla plunging by -64-65%.
 

The chart also reveals that silver was more buoyant (as was gold), which is one of the reasons why we’ve been leaning into the precious metal for one or more of our hot slices. Peru was another 2025 superstar, as was clean energy. These all outperformed the Magnificent 7 (as a whole) in 2025 and 2026, and most of them individually as well, with the exception of Google (Alphabet).
 
Do your wealth and retirement plans include hot sectors? Do you place the top performing funds in your Roth IRA to eliminate capital gains and income taxes? These are some of the strategies that we teach in the Financial Freedom Retreat. Adding performance and protection to our wealth plan is a game changer.
 
Rebalance and Employ a ‘Capture Gains’ Mindset
Rebalance now, while stocks are at an all-time high to capture gains. When we don’t have this important discipline baked into our plan, we might be led by emotions. Are you complacent thinking that stocks will just keep going up – with Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) on more money if you capture some gains now? Did you feel like selling (low) in 2022 or April of last year, when stocks dropped -20%? If so, that’s a sign that you need a better system. Emotions almost always put us on the wrong side of the trade. It’s been so long since we had a recession that most of us have forgotten just how painful they are.
 
Younger retail investors might have never seen a sustained downturn. The pandemic recession was the shortest in history – largely because we printed up over $4 trillion and passed it out to everyone with a heartbeat. That is not the way that normal corrections run. There won’t be a blank check from Congress in the next one. (If there is, that can spark its own set of problems, given that public debt is already at $39 trillion.)
 
An Age-Appropriate, Properly Diversified Plan
As we get closer to retirement, we just can’t afford to lose half of our wealth. So, having enough safe – not at risk of losing money – and knowing what is safe in a Debt World (so we don’t have to endure paper losses either) is critically important. A properly diversified plan adds performance, while reducing risk. It also allows us to invest in industries we think are going to outperform – whether we love precious metals, copper, AI, breakthrough technology, quantum, robotics, cybersecurity, clean energy or crypto.
 
Tax-Protected Retirement Accounts
Why not put your best performing target sector ETFs in your Roth IRA? Do you have most or all of your investments in tax-protected retirement accounts, so that you don’t have to worry about capital gains taxes? You can even put your crypto investments (at least a Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF) in your self-directed IRA.
 
Employer-sponsored plans have more limited options, which is why it is important to contribute to your own IRA (hopefully a Roth IRA), in addition to getting the free match that many employers offer. If you’ve left your job, then rolling over your 401k or RSP into a self-directed retirement account is going to offer greater freedom of choice.
 
Start with your 1st job! The Rule of 72 means that you could be a millionaire before you retire if you are simply depositing 10% of your income into a tax-protected retirement account and earning a 10% annualized gain – something that stocks have done and more over the past 30 years.

Hot Industries
What do you think is hot in 2026? Is the good news already priced in? Should you be capturing gains? If you don’t own it, should you dollar-cost average in, instead of buying high? Is there something that is currently out-of-favor that might gain ground going forward? Could you be buying low on an Indonesian ETF or medical devices?
 
Having a strategy that includes hot industries increases performance, provided we have a way of capturing gains and sticking with that age-appropriate, properly diversified plan. As we’ve seen above, superstars are also the ones that crash and burn.
 
This is something we cover in-depth in the Financial Freedom Retreat. Join us! Even if you have a managed plan, it’s a very good idea to be the boss of your money and to know exactly what you own and why. Now.
 
Underweight Excessive Debt, Leverage and Poor Credit Quality.
We’re using country diversified value replacement funds to skirt the debt and leverage load of many U.S. companies. Are you aware that over half of the S&P 500 is at or near junk bond status? Check out my blogs on “Hot Countries,” and “Whirlpool Cutting Their Dividend.”
 
Also, our safe strategies have been earning a competitive yield with no paper losses – since 1999! Getting safe is not difficult, but it is very tricky. This is why we spend one full day on “What’s Safe?” at the Financial Freedom Retreat. Also, refer to my blogs, “Why I Prefer Select Corporate Bonds to U.S. Treasuries,” and “6 Rules to Earn Tens of Thousands With Low Risk.”

Review the 15 Wealth Rules of the Rich
There are so many small and subtle changes that can compound and add up. The general theme is that the more money we can keep in the family, the better. So my “15 Wealth Rules of the Rich” blog offers many budget and investing hacks that stop us from making the taxman, the landlord, the health insurance company, the utility, the gas station and so many others rich at our own expense. With more money in our wallet, we can invest, compound gains and live a much richer life.

Sounds Complicated? It’s as Easy as a Pie Chart!
Having an age-appropriate, properly diversified plan can be as easy as a pie chart. We’ve got free web apps where you can personalize your own plan. These will make more sense when you read The ABCs of Money 6th edition and attend the Financial Freedom Retreat. Also take our Investor IQ Test and Rebalancing IQ Test to learn more about implementing this time-proven system.

Bottom Line
Rebalancing 1-3 times a year is an important part of an age-appropriate, time-proven plan. The end of the Spring Rally (now) is typically a great time to rebalance and capture gains. If you don’t know how to do this, now is the time to learn. The sooner we adopt an age-appropriate, properly diversified wealth plan, the faster our lives transform.
 

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​Are you aware that the hot funds we've been featuring in our sample pie charts and retreats performed at the top of Wall Street in 2025? Silver gained 141%. Peru (copper) was on fire with 83% gains. Even clean energy scored 44%... 

Why not treat yourself to the gift of financial freedom to create a New Year, New Me in 2026?
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Register now to join us at our online Financial Freedom Retreat June 5-7, 2026 where you'll learn how to protect your wealth, save thousands annually in your budget, invest in hot industries like AI, gold, crypto and more, and how to be in the best seat during our volatile Debt World. Register with family and friends to receive the best price. (Ask for access to a recording of our Bond masterclass as our gift to you.) Email [email protected] to learn more and register now.

If you'd like a life-changing adventure of a lifetime, be our guest at a royal manor house in Cornwall, England, March 4-11, 2027. (With just three rooms still 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. 

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,
* Save thousands annually with smarter big-ticket choices
* 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.

Yes, it's a complete money makeover. 
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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. ​

"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
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"Many people, including educated men and women, often get into trouble when they 
neglect to follow simple and fundamental rules of the type provided [by Natalie]. 
This is why I recommend them with enthusiasm." 
Professor Gary S. Becker. Dr. Becker won the 1992 Nobel Prize in economics for his theories on human capital

"College students need this 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.


If you’d like an unbiased 2nd opinion on your current wealth plan, email [email protected] for pricing and information.

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Click through to the flyer to learn more. Call 310-430-2397 or email [email protected] for pricing, additional information and to register. Register with family and friends to receive the best price. Teens and college students can attend for just $99.

Join us for our Restormel Royal Immersive Adventure Retreat. Spring Equinox 2027. Email [email protected] to learn more. Click for testimonials, pricing, hours & details. Register now to receive two 12-month all-access passes to our online training and four private, prosperity coaching sessions. There are only 3 rooms available. 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. Yes, it's a great idea to register and start transforming our lives now with the online ABCs of money courses.

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 The ABCs of Money for College are the most recent releases of these books. Follow her on Instagram. 
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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.​​

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Check out Natalie Pace's Substack podcast and watch videoconferences and webinars on Youtube.

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Aging Mom Doesn't Want to Discuss Dilapidated House. Investors Ask Natalie.
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Restormel Manor House 2025. A Truly Royal and Magical Adventure. 
9 Ways to Cut Your Tax Bill in Half and Save Thousands Annually.
Should I Have a Money Manager?
10 Rules of Successful Investing. 
Indonesia: Rich in Nickel with Ambitions of Becoming an EV Battery Hub.
RoboTaxis. AI. The Magnificent 7. 
Canadian, Australian and U.S. Banks. Are Any of Them Safe?
Ireland. Rich in Technology, Biotechnology and Agribusiness. 
9 Money Secrets of the Ultra Wealthy.
Housing & Budgeting Solutions.
Fast Fashion. Fossil Fuels. Plastic Clothing. Atacama Desert Waste Dumps. 
Fintechs and Brokerages that Fail are Not FDIC-Insured.
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.  
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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.