Markets are hitting all-time highs, earnings expectations are rising, and investors are navigating everything from oil prices to Roth conversions. Lance Roberts & Danny Ratliff take live viewer questions and explore the themes investors are most focused on right now. Topics discussed include why earnings may be the primary market driver this year, what recent all-time highs signal for forward returns, and how capital flows are shifting across sectors and asset classes. We also examine oil markets—WTI pricing, energy stocks, Venezuela supply dynamics—and what the "sweet spot" for oil prices means for the broader economy. On the planning side, we address Roth IRA advantages and drawbacks, Roth conversions, RMD considerations, and asset allocation questions across different life stages, including retirement-focused portfolios. Additional discussion covers the growing disconnect between GDP and unemployment data, hidden consumer leverage through buy-now-pay-later programs, and how diversification differs from simply owning non-correlated assets. We also touch on factor rotation, bond ETF structure, metals like gold and silver, and whether certain defensive or out-of-favor sectors may eventually regain investor interest. 0:00 - INTRO 0:18 - Earnings to be The Big Driver this Year 5:45 - Markets Hit All-time Highs 9:23 - Economic Summit Preview & Danny's Holiday Recap 12:25 - WTI, XLE, and Venezuela Oil 17:51 - What is the "Sweet Spot" for Oil Pricing? 21:23 - Tax Advantages - Disadvantages of Roth IRA 24:38 - Where to Look for Capital Flows 27:08 - Roth Conversions & RMD's 28:27 - Commentary - Divergence Between Unemployment & GDP 31:10 - Unrecognized Debt - Buy Now - Pay Later is a Black Box 31:53 - Recommendations for 60-40 Allocations 35:03 - Example of Bond ETF's in SimpleVisor 38:57 - Factor Rotation Portfolio 41:54 - Diversification vs Non-Correlated Assets 44:46 - Silver, Gold, & Other Metals 45:51 - Back Door Roth Conversions 47:30 - Asset Allocations for Septuagenarians 50:18 - Are Packaged Food stocks Ever Coming Back? Hosted by RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist, Lance Roberts, CIO, w Senior Investment Advisor, Danny Ratliff, CFP Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer ------- Watch Today's Full Video on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGgxAtaZIOI&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1 ------- The latest installment of our new feature, Before the Bell, "Sector Rotation Signals Improving Market Breadth," is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8z27km9G1M&list=PLwNgo56zE4RAbkqxgdj-8GOvjZTp9_Zlz&index=1 ------- REGISTER for our 2026 Economic Summit, "The Future of Digital Assets, Artificial Intelligence, and Investing:" https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-ria-economic-summit-tickets-1765951641899?aff=oddtdtcreator ------- Watch our previous show, "Financial Nihilism vs. Financial Planning," here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1qXRp9gLoc&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1 -------- Get more info & commentary: https://realinvestm entadvice.com/newsletter/ -------- SUBSCRIBE to The Real Investment Show here: http://www.youtube.com/c/TheRealInvestmentShow -------- Visit our Site: https://www.realinvestmentadvice.com Contact Us: 1-855-RIA-PLAN -------- Subscribe to SimpleVisor: https://www.simplevisor.com/register-new -------- Connect with us on social: https://twitter.com/RealInvAdvice https://twitter.com/LanceRoberts https://www.facebook.com/RealInvestmentAdvice/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/realinvestmentadvice/ #MarketUpdate #StockMarketToday #MarketRisk #VIX #PortfolioManagement