The stock market is back at all-time highs, with the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all closing at new records. The S&P 500 also posted its 9th straight week of gains, but as exciting as this moment feels, it is important to remember: this too shall pass.

In this Friday market recap, James breaks down why investors should avoid getting too emotional when markets are up or down, how the AI revolution is still driving this market cycle, and why this moment could be compared to major periods of innovation like the railroad, the internet, and other major technology shifts.

We also cover the big moves of the week, including Snowflake’s huge gains, Costco’s decline, weakness across most of the Magnificent 7 outside of Microsoft, crude oil moving lower, and the 10-year Treasury yield closing lowering to around 4.4% helping investors take a more risk on approach to the market.

James also discusses whether it may be time to take profits in major winners like Western Digital, SanDisk, and Micron, plus what massive potential IPOs like SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic could mean for the market. If these companies go public, money has to come from somewhere, and that could create a major shift in where investors are allocating capital.The AI story is still the main driver of this market, but record highs can also bring new risks, new emotions, and the possibility of a pullback. The key is staying disciplined, investing in progress, and understanding that markets are always moving in cycles.

Hosted by James Walters, CIMA®, CRPC®, and Brandon West, CPA, co-owners of West & Walters Tax and Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and tax firm based in Carlsbad, California. Our goal is to share market insights, investing tips, tax strategies, and straightforward financial education to help viewers make smarter financial decisions. All Information is educational in its intent and distribution! Please do not consider this personal financial advice. We believe all clients have unique situations and thus require unique advice.