Don't Be a Grinch, Keep Holding

In this segment, Dylan Lewis and Jason Moser discuss the recent performance of the stock market, noting that there's been a slight post-holiday hangover, with the S&P 500 down about 2% since Christmas. They attribute this dip to typical year-end profit-taking and tax-loss harvesting, which is common as investment firms clean up their portfolios. Despite this, they note that 2024 has seen an impressive market performance overall, with the S&P achieving a year-to-date return of around 26-27%.

The podcast shifts focus to the state of the American consumer, emphasizing the disparity between higher-income and lower-income earners. While higher earners appear to be okay, lower earners face significant challenges depicted by rising credit card delinquencies, which have skyrocketed by 50% year-over-year. The discussion centers around the implications of this growing debt on discretionary spending in 2025, particularly examining retail staples like Target and Walmart to gauge consumer trends.

Dylan and Jason then pivot to Alphabet's upcoming plans, spurred by CEO Sundar Pichai's recent strategic meeting. They highlight the disruptions and opportunities presented by AI, particularly as it relates to Google's traditional search and advertising models. The conversation touches upon Alphabet's multi-faceted approach to AI and the development of new products like Gemini, emphasizing how Google is looking to evolve and leverage its vast user base to stay competitive in the changing tech landscape.

In the final segment, Dylan and Jason reflect on personal and investment resolutions for the upcoming year. Dylan shares his intentions to enhance his daily routine, while Jason aims to minimize transaction activity and diversify his portfolio by adding new dividend-paying stocks. They emphasize the importance of maintaining a positive perspective and being proactive in both personal and investment habits as 2025 approaches.