Tariff Tantrum Ends, Recovery Takes Shape, & RIA vs Broker

The Money Wise guys kick off this week’s episode by celebrating a strong rally in the markets and declaring the "tariff tantrum" officially over. The Dow surged 1,405 points (3.4%), the S&P 500 gained 298 points (5.3%), and the NASDAQ jumped 1,282 points (7.2%). That brought the Dow and S&P into positive territory for the year—up 0.3% and 1.3% respectively—while the NASDAQ is now down just 0.5% year-to-date. The spark for this surge? Productive trade talks in Switzerland between Treasury Secretary Bessette and Chinese officials, which resulted in a 90-day pause on the harshest proposed tariffs. The guys have long suspected those extreme tariffs would never be implemented, and the market's sharp V-shaped rebound has affirmed that outlook.

They also discuss how the S&P 500 successfully broke through technical resistance at the 200-day moving average, signaling renewed strength in the market’s momentum. Despite ongoing media skepticism and the likelihood of more headline-driven bumps ahead, the team is optimistic that the worst of the tariff-related fear is in the rearview mirror. They note that there's still room for growth, with the S&P 500 about 3% off its February highs and the NASDAQ still 4.5% below its recent peak. As trade tensions ease, attention is beginning to shift toward domestic policy—particularly the proposed “big beautiful tax bill,” which has hit some pushback. While it's a work in progress, the market hasn’t reacted negatively to political debate, another encouraging sign for investors moving forward.

Recovery Taking Shape 

After weeks of uncertainty and technical stagnation, the market finally broke through resistance at the S&P 500’s 200-day moving average, confirming a V-shaped recovery. The Dow, S&P, and NASDAQ all posted major gains on the week, bringing the indexes closer to their previous highs. While there's still ground to cover—the S&P is about 3% off its February peak, and the NASDAQ is 4.5% below its December high—the team emphasized that recovery isn’t just about bouncing back, but continuing to build. With technical strength returning and investor sentiment improving, the foundation is being laid for a new phase of growth.

In the second hour, the Money Wise guys explore RIA vs. Broker. You don’t want to miss the details! Tune in for the full discussion on your favorite podcast provider or at davidsoncap.com, where you can also learn more about the Money Wise guys or take advantage of a portfolio review and analysis with Davidson Capital Management.