Money Talk: The Annex Wealth Management Show - Milwaukee

On today's Week-in-Review, hosts Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen explore the recent market reactions to court rulings on tariffs, likening them to a "Red Light, Green Light" game. Markets surged Wednesday when tariffs were paused and continued to rally Thursday when they were upheld. The episode also delves into equity compensation and provides an overview of Annex Wealth Management’s insurance assessment process.

On April 9th, the pause on high reciprocal tariffs, followed by a reduction in tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, sparked a surge in shipping activity. This creates a prime opportunity for businesses and households to acquire goods at lower costs. In our Week-in-Review, Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen discuss key insights. Also on the show, we explore why some individuals opt for Social Security benefits earlier than optimal. We also examine "Seasonality" as part of our Spring-Cleaning theme.

This week, a 90-day U.S.-China trade deal truce boosted stock markets and eased recession fears, but small businesses remained pessimistic as shown by the NFIB index, while retail sales and industrial production data were mixed. Despite stable CPI and declining PPI, Walmart’s warning about potential price increases due to tariffs highlighted ongoing concerns about import prices and consumer costs. Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen present our Week-in-Review. Spring Cleaning continues, this week with a dive into your 401k. 

The UK and US strengthen ties, but China's exports to the US have sharply declined. Could this weekend's Switzerland talks pave the way for a resolution? Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady, despite the President's frustration. Brian Jacobsen shares our Week-in-Review, and we continue Spring Cleaning with part two of our investment review.

GDP declined due to surging imports. Consumer Confidence hit COVID-era lows. ISM Manufacturing and new export orders dropped sharply. Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen discuss these trends in the Week-in-Review. Our Spring-Cleaning theme focuses on pruning your investment portfolio, while Ask Annex addresses a bond-related question.

Trump has stepped back from threats to remove Powell, with tariff discussions labeled “constructive” but lacking specifics. US-China relations remain uncertain, with unclear communication and next steps. Major macro data releases provide fresh insights into the economic outlook. Brian Jacobsen has our Week-in-Review. Hear how Annex Private Client mirrors the military phrase 'High Speed/Low Drag'. We'll also have results from the recent transition-to-retirement poll. 

Is Q2 GDP growth masking a Q3 slowdown? Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen break it down in our Week-in-Review, exploring how early boosts could fade without trade policy changes. Curious about true financial planning? Mike Kirk reveals what it is—and what it isn’t. Plus, Ask Annex returns with practical tips on planning for a longer retirement.

Market sensitivity to geopolitical developments and trade policies led to a wild week. Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen present our Week-in-Review. Business owners know all too well that being asset rich, yet cash poor leads to challenges. Learn more how Annex Private Client is equipped to assist. 

Post Liberation Day, President Trump said, "The operation is over, the patient lived." For investors looking at their portfolios, it could have felt like an operation performed without anesthesia. Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen present the Week-in-Review. Learn more about our series of Financial Literacy Month webinars and Ask Annex returns with a question about a Roth conversion 'ladder. 

With "Liberation Day" coming up quickly, the market has been moving in anticipation of the pain. Dave Spano and Brian Jacobsen present our Week-in-Review. Deanne Phillips offers some behavioral finance tips and Ask Annex has suggestions for someone with various accounts spread across multiple advisors.