Author Archives: Matt@DearMrMarket.com

How the Market Keeps Winning While the Headlines Keep Warning

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Dear Mr. Market:

You sure know how to keep us guessing.

“The bubble is about to pop”, right? After years of the constant drumbeat about an “inevitable” recession, the market is sitting near record highs again. But for those paying attention, the mood under the surface feels different. The leadership baton is being transferred …not toward the headline-making names that powered the last leg of the bull run, but toward the quiet, defensive corners of the market: utilities, healthcare, and consumer staples. The kinds of stocks you buy when growth gets wobbly and investors start seeking shelter.

And yet, despite the sector rotation, the broader indexes remain firm. It’s almost as if you’re daring us to overthink it.

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RETIRE Right: Six Keys to a Stronger Financial Plan

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Dear Mr. Market:

This morning I had the pleasure of speaking at the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce breakfast at the Beach House … a room full of business owners, community leaders, and friends. For those who don’t know me, I’m Matt Pixa, founder of My Portfolio Guide, LLC, an independent fee-only wealth management firm. I’ve been honored to serve on the Chamber’s Board of Directors in the past, and was named 2021 Businessperson of the Year. While my schedule doesn’t allow me to attend as often as I’d like, it’s always a privilege to come back, reconnect, and hopefully provide a few takeaways that help people make smarter financial decisions.

Instead of giving a 15-minute “commercial” about my firm, I wanted to do something more interactive. So I asked everyone to take one of my business cards, flip it over, and write down the word RETIRE. Each letter became a conversation point for one of the six key areas of financial planning every person should be thinking about — no matter their age or stage of life.

These are the pillars that determine whether your financial plan can withstand market volatility, economic uncertainty, and life’s inevitable curveballs. If you missed the breakfast, here’s a recap of the discussion (and yes, you can watch the full 18-minute video below).

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From Big Wheels to Ford Escapes: A Father’s Car Payment Hack That Pays for Life

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Dear Mr. Market:

Isabel and her "new" and full paid Ford Escape!

I usually write to you…this fictitious embodiment of economic mood swings and investor psychology, to share thoughts on the markets, interest rates, fiscal policy, or whatever headlines are currently flashing red or green.

But today’s note is personal.

It’s about a different kind of return… not just from stocks or bonds, but from a mindset shift that I believe can serve people for a lifetime. One that came full circle this past weekend when my daughter, Isabel, got engaged and drove off in her first “new” car (a gently used 2024 Ford Escape). As a newly minted TCU graduate about to begin work as a NICU nurse in Fort Worth, Texas, she’s stepping into adulthood with independence, purpose… and a financial hack I hope will serve her for decades to come.

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The Broken Clock Investor: Always Warning, Rarely Winning

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Dear Mr. Market:

One of our favorite recurring themes here at Dear Mr. Market is what we like to call the “Broken Clock Club” — the group of perma-bears, doomcasters, and media pundits who reliably forecast financial catastrophe year after year. Like a broken clock, they’re eventually right… but for all the wrong reasons and far too late to be of any use to investors.

Let’s rewind to December 2023. Headlines were ablaze with bold predictions of economic calamity. Chief among them was the infamous economist Harry Dent, who warned of a 1929-style market crash hitting in early 2024. (click here to review that article that grabbed a lot of nervous eyeballs back then). Dent’s call wasn’t exactly an outlier; it echoed a chorus of dire predictions centered on Fed policy, inflation hangovers, geopolitical instability, commercial real estate defaults, and consumer weakness.

Yet here we are, approaching mid-2025, with the S&P 500 not only above its December 2023 levels, but clawing its way back and approaching highs throughout the first half of this year. What gives?

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Tariffs Are the Headline—But These 3 China Risks Are the Real Market Threat

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Dear Mr. Market:

What If Tariffs Are Just the Beginning?

The tariff headlines are back, and as usual, they make for great cable news debates and political talking points. But beneath the surface, there are far more serious considerations. Recent commentary has raised three key concerns about the escalating tensions between the U.S. and China—and none of them are as simple as price hikes at Walmart.

Let’s break them down:

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March Madness: Final Four Investing Bracket 2025

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Dear Mr. Market:

This is perhaps one of our favorite articles and times of the year; not necessarily because of basketball but rather it allows us the opportunity to articulate our main investment themes we see playing out for the remainder of the year. My Portfolio Guide, LLC was the first investment firm to publish a March Madness investing bracket where we share our picks and match them up against each other.  We break down and assign each of the four “regions” with an asset class and then pick teams (stocks) that we think have the best chance at doing well relative to others. 

Not only is this “exercise” a way for us to share our ideas from a macro perspective, but it offers a fun platform to dig into a couple specific investments and themes we are following or excited about. While NCAA teams battle for supremacy on the court, our annual March Madness Investing Bracket pits stocks and ETFs against each other to determine the investment themes we think are likely to outperform the remainder of the year. The competition spans four “regions”: Large Cap, Small & Mid Cap, International, and Bonds & Alternatives.

Who will be this year’s champion? Let’s break it down (click here to see the full bracket).

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Inflation Myths, Market Realities, and the Tariff Scapegoat

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Dear Mr. Market:

Ah, tariffs. The misunderstood villain of the economic world, blamed for everything from rising grocery bills to why Uncle Bob’s imported car parts now cost a fortune. But let’s set the record straight—tariffs are not always a pure cause of inflation. At least, not in the way most people think.

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Can Microreactors Make Nuclear Energy Cool Again?

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Dear Mr. Market:

Are you enjoying the Senate confirmation hearings with all the theater, finger pointing, and viral media clips? From an investment standpoint there was one hearing to pay attention to on Wednesday and that was with President-elect Trump’s pick for Energy Secretary, Chris Wright. At first glance he certainly touts the “drill baby drill” narrative but Wright said he’s excited about geothermal (heat energy that comes from the Earth) as “an enormous, abundant energy resource below everyone’s feet.” Wright said he wants to accelerate the development of nuclear energy so it can meet a far greater share of the world’s demand for electricity.

Have you also noticed how small things often pack a big punch? Microchips power our digital world, microplastics remind us of our environmental duties, and now microreactors are poised to redefine how we think about energy. Let’s dive into whether this is the investment opportunity of the century or just another overhyped promise in the energy space.

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42% More Likely to Succeed? Write Down Your 10 Financial Goals for 2025!

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Dear Mr. Market:

Ah, the start of a new year—the smell of fresh planners, gym memberships, and resolutions destined to be abandoned by February. But not this year. Not for you. Why? Because when it comes to financial planning, you’re ready to write it down—and studies show that writing down your goals makes you 42% more likely to achieve them. So, grab that pen and let’s get to work. Here’s your top 10 financial planning checklist for the new year.

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Die with Zero: A Financial Planner’s Paradigm Shift in Paradise

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Dear Mr. Market:

A few weeks ago I took a long weekend for a getaway with my wife to our favorite place. As empty nesters we have this opportunity every once in a while so after spending a serene few days on the beaches of Maui, I finally took the opportunity to dive into Die with Zero by Bill Perkins. As someone deeply entrenched in financial planning and chronologically standing on the threshold of pre-retirement, the book was more than just a leisure read—it was a revelation.

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