Category: News

Tuesday, February 24^th, 2026

WATER Bills Are INCREASING Faster Than You Think!!!

Aging pipes, climate pressure, and INFRASTRUCTURE costs hit households next.

Most families keep an eye on groceries, insurance, and mortgage payments. WATER is the bill that often gets ignored—until a rate notice arrives and the new price is already locked in.

The warning sign is right in the inflation data: water, sewer, and trash services are UP about 4.7% year over year, according to the latest CPI category table—and unlike many expenses, this is a cost you can’t substitute away…

Why This Matters

WATER is a “DISTINCT”, “UNAVOIDABLE” cost driver because it’s tied to PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE and PUBLIC HEALTH rules. Pipes, pumps, treatment plants, lab testing, and emergency crews don’t get cheaper just because households conserve. A large share of the cost is “FIXED”, so utilities still need steady revenue even when usage falls.

The second driver is FINANCING…

When systems age, repairs turn into “REPLACEMENT CYCLES”—and those projects are usually paid for over decades. In plain terms, your monthly bill becomes the “REPAYMENT PLAN” for capital upgrades, plus the ongoing cost of running a safe system.

That’s why water increases often arrive “QUIETLY”

They are approved locally—through a rate study, a utility board vote, or a city council agenda item—then they COMPOUND year after year.

Big providers are now publicly mapping out long spending runways that tend to translate into future rate filings…

A major regulated utility, for example, recently laid out a $46–$48 billion, 10-year upgrade plan in a new report on large-scale INFRASTRUCTURE investment—the kind of capital program that typically supports higher customer charges over time.

At the municipal level, the same math shows up as multi-year “RATE PATHS”…

The San Antonio, Texas utility has proposed increases that would push the typical bill materially HIGHER by 2029, as detailed in a recent local breakdown of a multi-year rate proposal—a clear example of how “SMALL ANNUAL INCREASES” can become a meaningful household line item.

New industrial demand is also adding pressure. With DATA CENTERS expanding rapidly, Microsoft (MSFT) announced steps aimed at preventing the public from absorbing added utility burdens, described in a recent report on DATA CENTER cost and WATER commitments.

Treat WATER like property taxes and insurance: a “MUST-PAY” expense that tends to INCREASE with INFRASTRUCTURE “REALITY”, not personal preference.

Build a modest “UTILITY BUFFER” into your budget—and once a year, read your utility’s RATE NOTICE the way you read an insurance renewal, because the “QUIET” bills are often the ones that “BITE” hardest.

PEACE & BLESSINGS,

Kenneth Reaves, Ph.D.

Thursday, February 5^th, 2026

“CLEVER” Way To Monetize Recent U.S/India Trade Deal

Warren Buffett is fond of saying that when you “BUY” shares of a company, you should do so as if the stock market will be “CLOSED” for the next five (5) years. Point being, if you like the LONG-TERM fundamentals of a business, then what it is trading for in the near term is irrelevant.

The other advantage to such an approach is that it would prevent you from selling your shares no matter what happens during that span. Five (5) years ago, the global economy was in disarray after the coronavirus pandemic upended the economy and severely disrupted global supply chains.

Had you bought stock a year or two (2) prior to that, you may have sold your shares and put your money in a savings account earning almost no interest. But had you been forced to hang onto it until now, you would most likely be sitting on a large gain.

That analogy does not just apply to individual businesses. I believe it is even more helpful when thinking about INTERNATIONAL investing. Outside of the United States, most REGIONAL stock markets go through long cycles of “BOOM” and “BUST”.

For that reason, many investors eschew investing OVERSEAS. It is difficult to rationalize tying up investment capital in something that isn’t moving. Especially when the S&P 500 Index is seemingly growing by DOUBLE-DIGITS every year.

I believe now may be an opportune time for YOU, ME, WE the ATWWI FAMILY to move some money into an INTERNATIONAL market that has not gotten much investor attention…

During the past year, the iShares MSCA India ETF (INDA) has appreciated LESS than 5 percent while the State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is UP more than 15 percent.

Until this week, WALL STREET wasn’t showing much interest in INDIA. The Trump administration’s “FIXATION” with GREENLAND during the WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM in Davos, Switzerland in January (2026) had all eyes on EUROPE.

BUT, that all changed at the start of this week when INDIA PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI had a long phone call with the White House…

Afterwards, TRUMP announced an “AGREEMENT” that would result in both countries LOWERING their reciprocal IMPORT TARIFFS on each other, provided INDIA stops BUYING OIL from RUSSIA and purchases it from the USA (or VENEZUELA) instead.

Purportedly, there are additional “SIDE DEALS” in the works encompassing AGRICULTURE, TECHNOLOGY, and MANUFACTURING. It remains to be seen if the two (2) countries can finish the job, but if they do then INDIA may suddenly find itself no longer sitting at the “KIDDIE TABLE” by the time this THANKSGIVING comes around.

There is a lot of room for ECONOMIC GROWTH in INDIA. It now has the LARGEST population in the world, growing by nearly one (1) percent last year (2025) while China’s population SHRANK.

Its MEDIA AGE of 29.2 is eleven (11) years YOUNGER than CHINA’s, and its FERTILITY RATE of 1.9 is nearly TWICE that of CHINA.

It has a relatively small middle-class population, which bodes well for consumer spending as more INDIAN families raise their standard of living.

In short, all the pieces are in place for a SUSTAINED ECONOMIC “BOOM” in INDIA that could last DECADES!!!

All the country needs is something to get it started, which this week’s “PRELIMINARY” TRADE AGREEMENT may accomplish.

I do not suggest “BUYING” INDIVIDUAL companies in INDIA to capitalize/monetize this opportunity. Its economy is a “WITCH’s BREW” of CAPITALISM, CRONYISM, and OLIGARCHISM rolled into one.

Instead, I suggest taking a “BUCKET” approach by owning the ENTIRE stock market via INDA. Its top holdings include that country’s dominant players in FINANCE, TECHNOLOGY, and MANUFACTURING.

You can think of those businesses as INDIA’s stock market equivalent of what the “MAGNIFICENT 7” TECH STOCKS are to the United States…

They are the engine that drives its economy, and this week they just got a “HUGH” BOOST from an unlikely source.

PEACE & BLESSINGS

Kenneth Reaves, Ph.D.

Monday, January 19th, 2026
How To Get “P.A.I.D.” From Greenland’s Mineral Rights: The Tip of the U.S. “P.A.I.D.” Iceberg

Recently, I discussed “How To Get “P.A.I.D.” From The Recent U.S. Takeover of Venezuela.” In that “WIZ” DAILY JOURNAL article, I suggested investing in COMMODITY PRODUCERS since they will be the ultimate beneficiaries of consolidation in the OIL and MINING industries. Fewer suppliers mean less competition, which should give producers more control over wholesale prices.

To be clear, I was not opining on the “LEGALITY” or “MORALITY” of that event…

From what I can discern, most world leaders agree that something needed to be done. Whether or not this was the “RIGHT WAY” to do it is up for debate, which is outside my purview as an trader/investor/investment analyst.

That said, this situation is far from over…

In fact, it has only just begun!!!

Regardless of how you or I or anyone else feels about, it is going to have repercussions that radiate around the world and decades into the future…

As traders/investors, YOU, ME, the “BELOVED” ATWWI FAMILY should factor that into our portfolio decisions even if we “STRENUOUSLY” object to the manner in which it came about.

RISK Management

Making a portfolio “ADJUSTMENT” to this event is not the same thing as “PROFITEERING”. MANAGING RISK is a core tenet of portfolio construction. You may disagree with what occurred while making “ADJUSTMENTS” in response to it to MANAGE RISK at the same time.

From a FINANCIAL perspective, I view this no differently than responding to previous “BLACK SWAN” events such as the CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. Whether or not the COVID-19 outbreak was an intentional act or a horrible mistake is irrelevant from an INVESTMENT perspective. The bottom line is that it happened and ignoring it won’t change the way in which it may affect our portfolio(s).

That is why I advocate taking a “PROACTIVE” approach to these types of events. This is not profiting from someone else’s misery. It is MANAGING RISK to protect your assets from a new variable that previously did not exist. In that regard, this is no different than HEDGING your portfolio against other GEOPOLITICAL events that can change longstanding relationships among and within asset classes.

A New “THREAT”

Now, a new “THREAT” to the GLOBAL COMMODITY markets has emerged. The White House has stated its desire to wrest control of Greenland’s extensive METALS and MINERAL RESERVES “BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY”, including MILITARY FORCE if a FINANCIAL deal cannot be made.

For the record, many object to “FORCIBLY” taking assets from a country with a “LEGITIMATELY” elected leader that poses no direct “THREAT” to the United States.

In that respect, the Greenland “SITUATION” is quite different from the circumstances that led up to the Venezuela incursion.

Many, hope the “TAKEOVER” of Greenland doesn’t happen, but I’m NOT going to ignore it for that reason. If the U.S. gains control of Greenland’s most valuable COMMODITY RESERVES, then that will trigger “REPERCUSSIONS” in the GLOBAL FINANCIAL markets for years to come.

Actualize/Monetize the Sector

In that case, having exposure to METALS and MINERALS in our portfolio(s) is one way to HEDGE against INFLATION. Those materials are integral to the production of a wide array of CONSUMER and INDUSTRIAL products. If the cost of acquiring those materials increases, so too will the price of the products that use them.

The easiest way to do that is to own shares of a mutual fund such as the State Street SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME). The fund’s objective is “to provide exposure to the metals & mining segment of the S&P TMI, which comprises the following sub-industries: Aluminum, Coal & Consumable Fuels, Copper, Diversified Metals & Mining, Gold, Precious Metals & Minerals, Silver, and Steel.”

The fund’s assets are currently allocated 32 percent to steel, 20 percent to coal & combustibles, 16 percent gold, 9 percent aluminum, 5 percent silver, 5 percent copper, and 13 percent diversified metals and mining.

Recently, the fund’s share price INCREASED 10 percent as Wall Street immediately recognized the implications of the Venezuela “TAKEOVER”.

Many think the White House will bow to international pressure and back away from its “THREAT” to use MILITARY FORCE to obtain Greenland’s HARD ASSETS…

In that case, this fund could just as quickly give back the gain(s) that it recently generated…

HOWEVER, if the Trump administration makes good on its promise to obtain those assets “BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY”, then the recent gain(s) could just be the tip of the U.S. “P.A.I.D.” ICEBERG!!!

PEACE & BLESSINGS,

Kenneth Reaves, Ph.D.

Monday, January 12^th, 2026

How To Get “P.A.I.D.” From The Recent U.S. Takeover of Venezuela

A week ago, Wall Street wasn’t giving serious thought to the possibility of a “FORCED” regime change in Venezuela to gain control of its vast oil reserves. Most people thought the United States would use the threat of military intervention to renegotiate what had become an untenable situation.

However, the United States removed Venezuela’s long-standing political leader, abruptly reopening questions traders/investors have not seriously asked in years…

Chief among them:

Could Venezuela’s oil sector finally begin to recover, and if so, which companies stand to benefit???

It’s an important question, because on paper Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves of any country.

This analysis is certainly NOT an endorsement or celebration of those events. It is a response to trader/investor “REALITY”. When geopolitical shifts occur in a country with the WORLD’s LARGEST “PROVEN” OIL RESERVES, capital markets immediately begin assessing EXPOSURE, RISK, and OPPORTUNITY!!!

Venezuela’s oil industry did not collapse overnight, and it will not recover overnight either…

To OVERSTAND/UNDERSTAND what might come next — and which companies are positioned to benefit if policy and sanctions shift — YOU, ME, WE the “BELOVED” ATWWI FAMILY need to OVERSTAND/UNDERSTAND why Venezuela’s oil sector “FAILED” in the first place AND which parts of that “FAILURE” are REVERSIBLE…

The story begins long before the recent invasion and long before U.S. sanctions. The “TRUE” turning point came nearly two (2) decades ago…

In 2007 the Venezuelan government forced foreign operators into “MINORITY” positions and seized assets from companies that refused the new terms.

ConocoPhillips (COP) and ExxonMobil (XOM) were among the most prominent companies affected.

These were not “CONVENTIONAL” oil fields…

The Orinoco Belt consists largely of EXTRA-HEAVY CRUDE, requiring advanced reservoir management, steady diluent supply, and multi-billion-dollar upgraders to convert the “TAR-LIKE” oil into usable blends.

When these companies left, Venezuela lost far more than “CAPITAL”…

It lost ENGINEERING DISCIPLINE, PROJECT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, and OPERATIONAL EXPERTISE.

Venezuela’s state?owned oil company, PDVSA, inherited the “ASSETS”, but not the “CAPABILITES”!!!

Production did not collapse immediately. For several years, PDVSA continued operating on the momentum of systems it did not fully OVERSTAND/UNDERSTAND.

BUT, the damage was already embedded…

The DECLINE started shortly after the 2007 expropriation, but STEEP DECLINE became visible (2007:3.3 million bpd* to 2025:900 thousand bpd*) in LONG-TERM PRODUCTION CHARTS around 2015—well before U.S. sanctions targeted PDVSA in 2019. That timing is “CRITICAL” for YOU, ME, WE the “BELOVED” ATWWI FAMILY.

*barrels per day

Let me explain…

Beginning around 2014, PDVSA underwent political “PURGES” that stripped out much of its TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP…

MAINTENANCE BUDGETS were CUT…

COMPRESSORS and UPGRADERS fell into DISREPAIR…

SKILLED WORKERS left the country…

RESERVOIR MANAGEMENT DETERIORATED.

When OIL PRICES “COLLAPSED” in 2014, PDVSA’s “FRAGILE” FINANCES “COLLAPSED” with them…

The result was a RAPID, STRUCTURAL DECLINE IN PRODUCTION…

By the time “SANCTIONS” arrived, Venezuela’s OIL SECTOR was already in “FREEFALL”!!!

U.S. “SANCTIONS” imposed in January 2019 did not cause Venezuela’s collapse, but they did accelerate it “SIGNIFANTLY”!!!

The “SANCTIONS” cut off access to U.S. REFINERS, RESTRICTED PAYMENT CHANNELS, BLOCKED DILUENT IMPORTS, and COMPLICATED SHIPPING and INSURANCE

Thus, barrels that could have been produced suddenly had nowhere to go!!!

“SANCTIONS” did not “BREAK” Venezuela’s oil industry. PDVSA’s “MISMANAGEMENT” did and “SANCTIONS” made any recovery far more DIFFICULT…

This distinction matters, because “SANCTIONS” are also the part of the DECLINE that could REVERSE most quickly.

Now, the GLOBAL FINANCIAL MARKETS are confronting two (2) “REALITIES” that it was not grappling with prior to the “INVASION”:

(1) the United States is the “DE FACTO OVERLORD” of a country with the LARGEST OIL RESERVES IN THE WORLD, and

(2) the possibility that the U.S. may expand its reach over other valuable commodities by making a similar move on Greenland to gain control of its vast reserves of RARE EARTH METALS.

If Venezuela’s oil sector begins to reopen, Chevron (CVX) is uniquely positioned to benefit.

Chevron (CVX) is the ONLY major U.S. oil company that never fully exited Venezuela. Through a series of U.S. Treasury licenses, it maintained joint ventures, kept personnel on the ground, and preserved operational continuity while other Western firms left.

That continuity is a major competitive advantage… Chevron (CVX):

• still has active assets and infrastructure
• knows the reservoirs and upgrading systems
• has established relationships with PDVSA
• is already exporting Venezuelan crude under U.S. authorization

For YOU, ME, WE the “BELOVED” ATWWI FAMILY, this makes Chevron (CVX) the CLEAREST and most IMMEDIATE “BENEFICIARY” of any Venezuelan “NORMALIZATION”. No other Western major company has ACTIVE OPERATIONS, LEGAL AUTHORIZATION, and INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE in place TODAY!!!

ConocoPhillips (COP) plays a different role…

The company was expropriated in 2007 and later won an $8.7 billion arbitration award for seized assets in the Orinoco region. The ongoing court-supervised sale of Citgo Petroleum is one of the primary avenues for recovery.

If ConocoPhillips (COP) ultimately receives MEANINGFUL COMPENSATION, or reaches a BROADER SETTLEMENT, re-engagement becomes possible. The company retains deep TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE with HEAVY OIL projects.

HOWEVER, unlike Chevron (CVX), ConocoPhillips (COP) would be starting from “SCRATCH”. It has no ACTIVE OPERATIONS in Venezuela today, and its business model has changed significantly since becoming a pure-play “UPSTREAM” company after the Phillips 66 spinoff.

For YOU, ME, WE the “BELOVED” ATWWI FAMILY, ConocoPhillips (COP) represents a SECONDARY and more SPECULATIVE ANGLE, tied to LEGAL OUTCOMES and POLITICAL STABILITY rather than existing operations.

Venezuela’s OIL “COLLAPSE” was not the result of a single event. It was the cumulative effect of EXPROPRIATIONS, LOSS OF EXPERTISE, PDVSA’s INTERNAL BREAKDOWN, and subsequently the impact of “SANCTIONS”.

The investment implications are clear:

• Chevron (CVX) is the “PRIMARY” BENEFICIARY, with existing operations and the ability to scale quickly
• ConocoPhillips (COP) could benefit, but only if legal claims are resolved and political “RISK” declines
• A full-sector recovery would require political stability, credible contracts, and sustained capital — none of which should be “ASSUMED”

For now, Chevron (CVX) remains the company YOU, ME, WE the “BELOVED” ATWWI FAMILY should watch most closely. It has the ASSETS, EXPERIENCE, and REGULATORY FRAMEWORK to move FIRST if Venezuela’s oil sector takes even a small step toward “NORMALIZATION”

That continuity is a major competitive advantage. Since Chevron (CVX) still has “ACTIVE” ASSETS and INFRASTRUCTURE and is already EXPORTING Venezuelan CRUDE under U.S. authorization, it does not need to “RE-ENTER” Venezuela…

It simply needs to “SCALE UP”!!!

“KNEE-JERK” Reaction

As it is apt to do, Wall Street reacted by bidding “UP” shares of CVX by five (5) percent on Monday, January 5^th, 2026. That day, TRADING VOLUME in Chevron (CVX) was more than four (4) times its AVERAGE DAILY VOLUME (ADV).

If everything goes according to plan, Chevron (CVX) should soon be able to ramp up its oil production in Venezuela at the same time many of the onerous restrictions imposed seven (7) years ago by the first Trump administration are relaxed or eliminated…

NOTE: HIGHER SALES REVENUES COMBINED WITH LOWER PRODUCTION COSTS EQUAL MORE PROFITS.

HOWEVER, that type of “KNEE-JERK” reaction to an “UNEXPECTED” event usually turns out to be WRONG!!!

That’s because a “SEISMIC” GEOPOLITICAL event of this magnitude has “ENORMOUS” REPERCUSSIONS, some of which cannot be foreseen.

When the United States used its military power to remove the leader of a “SOVEREIGN” NATION and gain control of its NATURAL RESOURCES, a message was sent to the rest of the world…

“MIGHT MAKES RIGHT” and right now the “MIGHTIEST” nation in the world wants what other nations have in the way of PETROLEUM and PRECIOUS METALS.

I don’t know exactly how this latest “GAMBIT” by the White House will play out, but I do know of a way to get “P.A.I.D.” from it

The Fidelity Global Commodity Stock Fund (FFGCX) is a “BELLWEATHER” position that owns shares of companies that produce OIL, MINE FOR METALS, and GROW CROPS.

This fund’s top ten (10) holdings include Chevron (CVX) along with Exxon Mobil (XOM), Archer-Daniels Midland (ADM), and Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM). Its single largest holding is Corteva (CTVA), which provides SEED and CROP PROTECTION for farmers.

In the past, I have utilized this fund as an “HEDGE” against INFLATION.

NOTE: WHEN THE PRICES OF COMMODITIES RISE QUICKLY, PROFIT MARGINS FOR THE COMPANIES THAT PRODUCE COMMODITIES INCREASE BECAUSE THEIR OPERATING COSTS ARE MAINLY FIXED.

Now, I view this fund (FFGCX) as a way to monetize renewed U.S. “IMPERIALISM” to gain control of NATURAL RESOURCES outside its national boundaries.

Today, OIL in Venezuela in play….

Soon, it may be PRECIOUS METALS in Greenland…

Later, it could be FOOD CROPS in some other part of the world.

What just happened in Venezuela could turn out to have a LARGER impact on the GLOBAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM in the long run than the outbreak of the CORONAVIRUS “PANDEMIC” six (6) years ago. It could also end up changing the “DYNAMICS” of the COMMODITY markets for a lot longer than that.

PEACE & BLESSINGS

Kenneth Reaves, Ph.D.

Monday, January 5^th, 2026

How To Limit Early 2026 Market “RISK”

The stock market’s erratic behavior over the last two months of 2025 as measured by the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY). After closing above 680 on October 31, the SPY dropped under 669 just one week later. The following week it rose above 681 only to fall below 651 on November 20.

Just as quickly, the index shot back up 681 one week later and then climbed above 689 two weeks after that. The following week it fell below 675 only to rally above 690 by the end of last week. After all that zigzagging, the index had gained a little over one percent during that two-month stretch

So, what was the point of all that seemingly pointless activity???

Conflicting Economic Data

Most of that trading activity was to wash out the dirt and grime created by a sequence of conflicting and confusing economic data due to the federal government “SHUTDOWN”. During the “SHUTDOWN” we wondered if INFLATION was RISING or FALLING, as we did for the UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

After the “SHUTDOWN” we learned both INFLATION and the UNEMPLOYMENT RATE kept RISIN from August through October (2025) but at slow enough paces not to set off “ALARM BELLS” on Wall Street.

That being the case, the FED reduced its policy rate by one-quarter of a percentage point in mid-December (2025), precisely as expected.

Recently, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) announced that GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) INCREASED at an annual rate of 4.3 percent during the third quarter, far above the 3.3 percent figure widely anticipated on Wall Street. Most of that GAIN was due to INCREASED consumer spending and DECREASED imports, neither of which is necessarily “HEALTHY” for the economy in the long run.

That is because both of those conditions are likely to INCREASE INFLATION down the road. Consumers are not buying more items, but they are paying more for them due to in part to recently enacted import tariffs. The fact that imports are decreasing is proof of that, even though that has the perverse effect of increasing GDP in the near term.

Interconnected Markets

All of that raises a tantalizing question heading into the new year (2026): If none of those critical data points were known two (2) months ago, why has the stock market barely budged from where it was before all that information become public???

I believe the answer to that question goes far beyond a simple explanation of how “GREED” and “FEAR” manifest itself in the form of individual investor “PSYCHOLOGY”, as many market “PUNDITS” would have you believe.

I don’t believe you or I have suddenly become more “IRRATIONAL” than we usually are, nor do I think we have suddenly become less “GREEDY”…

HOWEVER, we have become more exposed to the volatility that accompanies the invisible but rapidly growing web of interconnected investment products controlled by CURRENCY TRADERS, HEDGE FUNDS, and INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS that dictate the SHORT-TERM direction of the financial markets.

To be clear, this is not a “CONSPIRACY THEORY” of any sort; each of those investors is engaging in behavior they believe will yield the greatest “RISK-ADJUSTED” return for their clients. In theory that is good for the financial markets by enhancing LIQUIDITY, which in turn should result in more accurate pricing. Which it does, EXCEPT when the amount of money being exchanged becomes so LARGE that it affects prices in other markets.

So, what can you do about it???

As an individual investor, there is nothing you can do to prevent it from happening, but you can devise a strategy to get “P.A.I.D.” from it.

A lot of good companies are going to see their stock prices whipsawed in the weeks and months to come, resulting in temporary “BUYING” opportunities if YOU, ME, WE the ATWWI FAMILY are prepared to act quickly.

I also suggest you learn to shut out the “NOISE” that accompanies extreme VOLATILITY, which only stokes “FEAR” and invites “IRRATIONAL” decision-making. While it is much harder to do in practice than commit to in thought, this is a strategy that all successful long-term investors have learned.

Limit Downside “RISK”

If you find that impossible to do, then consider acquiring an “INSURANCE POLICY” for your portfolio by buying OUT-OF-THE-MONEY “PUT” OPTIONS on the S&P 500 Index. That way, you can CAP your potential losses to an acceptable level in the unlikely event of a stock market “MELTDOWN”.

That should help you sleep better at night and give you the resolve to ignore the daily ups and downs of the stock market. Yes, the cost of that “INSURANCE POLICY” will cut into your future returns, but the net result should still be far greater than bailing out of the market whenever Wall Street hits the “PANIC” button.

Most importantly, it will help you avoid the TRANSACTION COSTS and “PANICKED” trading losses that can leave your portfolio in shambles.

PEACE & BLESSINGS
Kenneth Reaves, Ph.D.

Thursday, January 1^st, 2026

Be “CAUTIOUS” Of Adopting A New Year “RESOLUTION” Mindset…

This year (2026), I will operate with a more “PURPOSED-DRIVEN” approach.

“RESOLUTIONS” tend to behave like “WISHES”…

We “WISH” to get back in the gym.

We “WISH” we will eat better.

We “WISH” to say “no” more often…

We “WISH” we would use our time more carefully.

None of those goals are wrong… they are just INCOMPLETE!!!

“RESOLUTIONS” miss the “WHY”… the reminder.

And finding a “PURPOSE” supplies it.

The good news is that it’s easier to find one than you think.

Build a “FRAMEWORK” for this Year (2026)…

OVERSTANDING/UNDERSTANDING the “PURPOSE” behind something (a GOAL, a RESOLUTION, a new PURCHASE) creates a “FRAMEWORK”.

It gives you a quiet and ticking reminder of why you are getting out of bed early to move your body, or why you are choosing NOT to do something distracting or easy.

The “PURPOSE” will replay in your mind, repeatedly and because that thing matters so much to you, you will see the resolutions as part of that path.

A “PURPOSE” of the ATWWI is to uncover how markets truly work and translate that knowledge so that YOU, ME, WE the ATWWI FAMILY can protect ourselves, seize opportunity, and think independently in a system that rewards confusion.

NOTE: There is a difference between a “PURPOSE” and a “MISSION”. A “PURPOSE” does not change and keeps you HONEST.

“MISSIONS” must change, and must keep you MOVING…

For 2026, the ATWWI “MISSION” linked to that ATWWI “PURPOSE” is pretty simple too: Navigate through volatile market regimes by focusing on how to protect capital first and act decisively when structure aligns, anomalies reward, and contrarian values emerge.

Everything Else Must Align

Most traders/investors do NOT actually have a “TRADING” problem.

They have a “PURPOSE” problem…

Ask someone why they trade/invest and you will usually hear an “OUTCOME”…

They “BEAT THE MARKET”.

They want to quit a job.

They want to get “P.A.I.D.”

The thing you will learn in BEHAVIORAL FINANCE classes, though, is that outcomes are “FRAGILE” and markets have an incredible ability to “STRESS-TEST” them immediately.

A defined “PURPOSE” answers a different question…

What role do markets play in the life you are trying to build???

If your “PURPOSE” is CAPITAL PRESERVATION across cycles, you do NOT chase LATE-STAGE MOMENTUM!!!

If your “PURPOSE” is STEADY INCOME with controlled “RISK”, you do NOT buy lottery tickets!!!

If your “PURPOSE” is ECONOMIC LIBERATION, you do NOT build conviction through headlines and news feeds and you do NOT chase the “EMOTIONAL” temperature of the room.

Once your market “PURPOSE” is clear, rules stop feeling “RESTRICTIVE” and start feeling “LOGICAL”.

Not chasing trades isn’t “DISCIPLINE”…

It’s a form of well-meaning “STRUCTURE”!!!

Your POSITION SIZING will NOT be viewed as “CAUTION”…

It becomes a “RESPECT FOR SURVIVAL”!!!

Walking away when you are exhausted is NOT “WEAKNESS”… It’s a form of “PROFESSIONALISM”…

Markets are very good at exploiting people who do NOT know why they are there.

Specifically, people without “PURPOSE”… just meandering through markets…

They reward “MOTION”, “NOISE”, and “OVERCONFIDENCE” just often enough to make those habits DANGEROUS!!!

So… it’s important to take the time to OVERSTAND/UNDERSTAND your “PURPOSE” BEFORE you try to make market “RESOLUTIONS”…

A good “PURPOSE” for a first-time trader/investor might be something as simple as “to learn how markets operate while protecting my capital.”

Or… “To OVERSTAND/UNDERSTAND RISK, POSITION SIZE, and MARKET BEHAVIOR before trying to extract returns.”

“PURPOSE” will keep you from trading/investing just to trade/invest.

People with decades of market knowledge and trading/investing experience face different challenges…

For the “EXPERTS”, markets aren’t confusing… they are “SEDUCTIVE”.

Experienced traders/investors might want their market “PURPOSE” to constrain “EGO”, preserve “OPTIONALITY”, and honor “TIME” as their primary edge.

I’ll tell you now as a trader/investor… my “CONSTITUTION” here is different than my “EDUCATOR” role, but it’s still clearly defined.

“To OVERSTAND/UNDERSTAND and position for how LIQUIDITY, INCENTIVES, and POWER actually move, while remaining LIQUID enough to ADAPT when they change and get “P.A.I.D.”!!!

That’s it…

It defines my “RISK-REWARD” policies without using those terms.

Take the Time to Determine Your “PURPOSE”

Once you have defined that “PURPOSE” in the markets other things will start to show how they impact your life.

The same “CLARITY” that YOU, ME, WE the ATWWI FAMILY seek to bring to markets has to exist in our HEALTH.

The same “PATIENCE” we talk about when trading/investing utilizing the ATWWI strategies/techniques has to show up in our HOMES.

Our resistance to “NOISE”, which is encouraged when trading/investing, has to apply to how we spend our TIME and where we focus our ATTENTION.

That COMMITMENT (or “RESOLUTION”) aligns as a structured decision about where our ATTENTION goes in a world of market “NOISE” and DISTRACTIONS…

YOU, ME, WE the “BELOVED” ATWWI FAMILY do NOT get to practice independence in one domain and chaos in another without eventually paying for it. They are NOT separate commitments.

They are the same “COMMITMENT”, expressed in different places.

When it all holds together, “RESOLUTIONS” stop feeling like “PROMISES” you are afraid to break. They start feeling like the next “NATURAL” step toward something better…

PEACE & BLESSINGS

Kenneth Reaves, Ph.D.

Monday, January 10th, 2022

The Power of Thinking “Differently”

The past 12 months will go down in history as the most difficult the world has faced since the Second World War.

And the conventional wisdom goes something like this…

*Inner cities, suburban shopping malls and business travel will never rebound.

*Businesses have gone remote. Employees aren’t returning to the office. It’s nothing short of a death spiral.

*Yet this doom and gloom spells opportunity for you, me, we,the ATWWI FAMILY.

I’ve already more than doubled my money investing in cruise lines, movie theater chains, and oil and gas companies left for dead by most traders/investors.

Now, I don’t credit my unique insights for these trades/investments.

I used a far simpler rule of thumb…

I looked at the market consensus…

AND I DID THE OPPOSITE!!!

Investing Rules of Thumb

Hedge fund manager Michael Steinhardt talks about “VARIANT PERCEPTION”.

He argues that the best investment opportunities arise when “PERCEPTION” diverges from reality.

Steinhardt believes his ability to see the world differently than others has been his biggest edge in investing.

Charlie Munger utilizes “INVERSION” to make investing decisions.

Inversion is about observing a situation and then asking yourself whether the opposite could be true.

Steinhardt’s and Munger’s approaches are similar in one crucial way: They force you to challenge the consensus view.

There is no reason you me, we, the ATWWI FAMILY can’t do the same to assess investment opportunities in the post-pandemic world.

So ask yourself the question…

What if the pandemic’s long-term effects will be neither as severe nor as long-lasting as the consensus believes?

There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

Start with remembering the long-term impact of far worse pandemics.

*The Spanish flu claimed 50 million to 100 million lives in 1918 – out of a global population of just 1.8 billion.

*To date, COVID-19 has claimed 2.5 million lives – out of a global population of 7.8 billion.

Of course, every loss of life is a tragedy.

But the Spanish flu – a far more fatal and nefarious pandemic than COVID-19 – left few long-term scars on the U.S. and global economy.

Think Differently About Commercial Property

Commercial property might be the most hated sector on the planet.

After all, city centers are dead. Office rents are plunging. The office sector is a dead man walking.

Bruce Flatt, CEO of the Canadian investment group Brookfield Asset Management (BAM), disagrees.

Since joining Brookfield in 1990, Flatt has seen many ups and downs.

Today, he believes investors are underestimating the speed and extent to which people will return to work in offices.

Why is he so confident?

First, he overstands/understands that this is not the first time real estate has endured a bust.

And it won’t be the last.

Amid a lockdown, it’s easy to believe that people will abandon offices forever.

But if you want a glimpse of the future, look no further than Shanghai, Dubai and Australia.

There, the pandemic is under control. And most workers have happily returned to work at their offices.

There’s little reason to think that their counterparts in New York and London won’t do the same.

Second, the demand for office space may grow in unexpected ways.

Brookfield Asset Management has been back in its New York office since June (2021).

Surprisingly, Brookfield even took an additional floor and a half of office space.

Why?

Pre-pandemic, up to a third of Brookfield’s staff was always away, traveling on business. Today, they need to work in the office more than ever.

Third, Flatt overstand/understands the importance of office culture. 

Set out this way, all the above seems like common sense.

Alas, most investors disagree.

Today, Brookfield’s vast real estate portfolio is trading at a discount to its tangible value. That means investors are paying a fraction of the value of the underlying real estate. And they are largely ignoring the income generated by it.

As a result, Flatt intends to delist Brookfield’s property arm from the stock market.

Flighty public shareholders will be replaced by private investors with a longer-term horizon.

Once the market rebounds, Brookfield will then sell the very same properties back to stock market investors at a tidy profit.

Think Differently About Investing

Why is it so hard to think like Flatt, Steinhardt or Munger in practice?

The price of a stock reflects the collective psychology of the market.

Excess enthusiasm blows financial bubbles with sky-high valuations.

Excess pessimism causes “inverse bubbles” that turn valuable assets into investment pariahs.

The lesson for investors is clear.

Whether you call it “VARIANT PERCEPTION” or “INVERSION”, always think differently AND take trades/investments against the “EXTREMES“.

PEACE & BLESSINGS

Kenneth Reaves, Ph.D.

DON’T MISS TODAY’S ASK THE WIZ RADIO BROADCAST!!!

Today’s (Tuesday November 3^rd, 2020), ASK THE WIZ radio broadcast from 2-4pm (EST) you don’t want to miss!!! Tune in on any internet enabled device or listen “LIVE” via the internet anywhere around the world at: www.askthewiz.info . 

“THE WIZ” will be presenting vital information pertaining to the following economic topics: 

DURING THE 1^st HOUR OF ASK THE WIZ

* DOMESTIC STOCK MARKET ANALYSIS

* THE “WIZ” WILL REVEAL POSITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY (Tuesday, November 3^rd, 2020) GENERATING 55% – 292%+ PROFIT(s) FOR THE ASK THE WIZ WEALTH INSTITUTE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO.

* THE “WIZ” WILL REVEAL NOTEWORTHY “INSIDER TRADING” WHICH OCCURRED TODAY (Tuesday, November 3^rd, 2020).

* THE “WIZ” WILL LIST TODAY’S (Tuesday, November 3^rd, 2020) TOP 10 TRENDING STOCKS.

* THE “WIZ” WILL IDENTIFY A EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) THAT WILL GET YOU “P.A.I.D.” VIA “CALL” OPTIONS IF TRUMP IS “RE-SELECTED/RE-ELECTED”.

* THE “WIZ” WILL INDICATE HOW YOU SHOULD POSITION YOUR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO IF THE PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION/ELECTION IS CONTESTED.

DURING THE 2^ND HOUR OF ASK THE WIZ

* INTERNATIONAL STOCK MARKET ANALYSIS

* THE “WIZ” WILL REVEAL MULTIPLE STOCKS THAT WILL GET YOU “P.A.I.D.” NO MATTER WHO WINS THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION/ELECTION.

* THE “WIZ” WILL IDENTIFY 5 (Five) CONSUMER “STAPLE” STOCKS AND 5 (Five) CONSUMER “DISCRETIONARY” STOCKS THAT WILL GET YOU “P.A.I.D.”

We think you will agree, you need to tune in to today’s (Tuesday, November 3^rd, 2020) radio broadcast!!! Like always “THE WIZ” continues to be adamant about providing the community with vital information people need to finance, obtain, and maintain their economic liberation.

REMEMBER: THERE AIN’T NOTHING “FREE” ABOUT FREEDOM!!! YOU MUST PUT YOUR MONEY TO WORK FOR YOU, NO MATTER WHAT THE AMOUNT {$1 or $1,000,000.00}, 24-7/365 DAYS A YEAR GENERATING REVENUE AND INCOME… 

Don’t miss today’s broadcast of ASK THE WIZ from 2-4pm (EST) “LIVE” via the internet anywhere in the world at: www.askthewiz.info .

NOTE: REBROADCASTS OF ALL ASK THE WIZ RADIO PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE ON DEMAND AT OUR WEBSITE: www.askthewiz.info . 

ATW RADIO BROADCAST DISCLAIMER

The information submitted, during the ASK THE WIZ radio broadcast, is to be utilized for educational purposes ONLY!

Consult your personal financial and/or investment advisor for trading and investing advice.

Thank you for allowing us to be your COMMUNITY SERVANTS!!!

Customer Service Department,

ASK THE WIZ WEALTH INSTITUTE, INC

DON’T MISS TODAY’S ASK THE WIZ RADIO BROADCAST!!!

Today’s (Tuesday October 27^th, 2020), ASK THE WIZ radio broadcast from 2-4pm (EST) you don’t want to miss!!! Tune in on any internet enabled device or listen “LIVE” via the internet anywhere around the world at: www.askthewiz.info . 

“THE WIZ” will be presenting vital information pertaining to the following economic topics: 

DURING THE 1^st HOUR OF ASK THE WIZ

* DOMESTIC STOCK MARKET ANALYSIS

* THE “WIZ” WILL REVEAL POSITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY (Tuesday, October 27^th, 2020) GENERATING 29% – 188%+ PROFIT(s) FOR THE ASK THE WIZ WEALTH INSTITUTE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO.

* THE “WIZ” WILL REVEAL NOTEWORTHY “INSIDER TRADING” WHICH OCCURRED TODAY (Tuesday, October 27^th, 2020).

* THE “WIZ” WILL LIST TODAY’S (Tuesday, October 27^th, 2020) TOP 10 TRENDING STOCKS.

* THE “WIZ” WILL IDENTIFY MULTIPLE TRANSPORTATION STOCKS THAT WILL GET YOU “P.A.I.D.”

* THE “WIZ” WILL INDICATE MULTIPLE UTILITY STOCKS THAT WILL GET YOU “P.A.I.D.”

DURING THE 2^ND HOUR OF ASK THE WIZ

* INTERNATIONAL STOCK MARKET ANALYSIS

* THE “WIZ” WILL REVEAL MULTIPLE STOCKS THAT WILL GET YOU “P.A.I.D.” DUE TO AMERICA’S PANDEMIC ORIENTED “HABITS”.

* THE “WIZ” WILL REVEAL A STOCK, THAT BILL GATES IS “QUIETLY” INVESTING IN, THAT WILL GET YOU “P.A.I.D.”

We think you will agree, you need to tune in to today’s (Tuesday, October 27^th, 2020) radio broadcast!!! Like always “THE WIZ” continues to be adamant about providing the community with vital information people need to finance, obtain, and maintain their economic liberation.

REMEMBER: THERE AIN’T NOTHING “FREE” ABOUT FREEDOM!!! YOU MUST PUT YOUR MONEY TO WORK FOR YOU, NO MATTER WHAT THE AMOUNT {$1 or $1,000,000.00}, 24-7/365 DAYS A YEAR GENERATING REVENUE AND INCOME… 

Don’t miss today’s broadcast of ASK THE WIZ from 2-4pm (EST) “LIVE” via the internet anywhere in the world at: www.askthewiz.info .

NOTE: REBROADCASTS OF ALL ASK THE WIZ RADIO PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE ON DEMAND AT OUR WEBSITE: www.askthewiz.info . 

ATW RADIO BROADCAST DISCLAIMER

The information submitted, during the ASK THE WIZ radio broadcast, is to be utilized for educational purposes ONLY!

Consult your personal financial and/or investment advisor for trading and investing advice.

Thank you for allowing us to be your COMMUNITY SERVANTS!!!

Customer Service Department,

ASK THE WIZ WEALTH INSTITUTE, INC.