R.D. Smothers Wealth Management

06/26/2026

Happy Birthday to our newest RDS Advisor, Dalton! 🎂

Dalton recently joined our team, and he is already making a tremendous impact! His positive attitude, willingness to jump in wherever needed, and genuine care for our clients shine through in everything he does.

Help us wish Dalton a very happy Birthday!

06/23/2026

Some of the most common retirement advice out there is missing the ...

06/17/2026

Risk On, Risk Off: The Mr. Miyagi Approach to Retirement Planning

We recently wrote about this concept for Kiplinger, and it's the same philosophy I talk about with clients every week: the first 10 years of retirement are the riskiest years for your money and how you handle "risk on, risk off" decisions during that stretch can make or break your plan.

We call it the Mr. Miyagi Portfolio. Wax on, wax off. Risk on, risk off.

Here's what that means in practice. Every retiree's income phase needs two pieces working together: a "risk on" position that stays invested for growth, and a "risk off" position that has zero chance of downside. How much goes into each depends entirely on where someone is in their retirement journey- there's no universal split.

Right now, our "risk on" piece is heavy on index leadership. We recently repositioned money out of the major indexes and into Oracle specifically, because our philosophy is to overweight the leaders and take advantage of pullbacks in strong names rather than just riding the broad index.
The point isn't to avoid risk altogether. It's to know exactly how much risk you're carrying, and why.

If you want to read the full breakdown, I covered it in Kiplinger here: https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/risk-on-risk-off-the-mr-miyagi-approach-to-retirement-planning

And if you want to talk through what your own risk on/risk off split should look like, give us a call at 270.600.PLAN or visit https://rdsmotherswealth.com/contact/

Retire the Way You Desire™
Save Money. Plan Well. Live Happy.


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6sJk8R806xA

Why we build portfolios with a "risk on, risk off" philosophy - and...

06/11/2026

At RDS Wealth, we often talk about legacy in terms of financial planning, but some of life's most meaningful legacies aren't measured in dollars and cents.

They're built through shared experiences, laughter, memories, and quality time with the people we love.

This past Sunday, we had the privilege of hosting our Grandparents on Us event at The Alley and it was a sweet reminder of what retirement is truly about. Watching grandparents bowl alongside their grandchildren, share stories, cheer each other on, and simply enjoy being together was something special.

Retirement isn't just about having enough money. It's about having the freedom to spend time with the people who matter most and creating memories that will last for generations.

A big thank you to all of our clients and their families who joined us. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you and to celebrate these meaningful moments together! ❤️

06/10/2026

The AI Stock Boom Has a "Picks and Shovels" Play Most Investors Are Missing

Everyone's talking about Nvidia.

But the smarter question might be: who sells Nvidia its shovels?

I joined Varney & Co. on Fox Business recently to break down what I'm watching in the AI investment space and why the biggest opportunity right now isn't necessarily the most obvious one.

Nvidia Is Still the Story- But It's Not the Only Story

Nvidia's earnings continue to validate the AI boom. The demand is real. The growth is real. But when a stock has already run the way Nvidia has, the risk-reward calculus changes.
That doesn't mean you sell it. It means you need to understand why you own it -and what you're willing to tolerate on the downside when the dips come. And they will come.

The Picks and Shovels Opportunity
During the Gold Rush, the people who consistently made money weren't always the miners. It was the folks selling the picks and shovels.

AI is no different.

The infrastructure powering this revolution- semiconductors, connectivity, data center buildout- represents a significant opportunity for investors willing to look one layer deeper. Names like Astera Labs, CoreWeave, and Nebius aren't household names yet. But they're building the backbone of what every major AI company depends on.

That's where I'm paying attention.

Yes, 8,000 Is Possible. No, It Won't Be a Straight Line.

I believe the S&P 500 can reach 8,000. But there are speed bumps along the way and right now, oil is one of them. If prices stay elevated, inflation gets sticky. Sticky inflation doesn't help anybody.

The investors who get hurt aren't the ones who stayed in. They're the ones who chased returns, overextended on risk, and sold at the bottom when fear took over.

We've seen one of the most remarkable multi-year market rallies in history. The opportunity ahead is real. But discipline is what determines whether you capitalize on it- or give it back.

What This Means for Your Retirement Portfolio:
If you're within 10 years of retirement, this market environment deserves your full attention- not panic, not reckless optimism, but intentional ownership.
Know what you own. Know why you own it. And have a plan that doesn't depend on perfect timing.

That's what we build for every client at RDS Wealth Management.

Have questions about your retirement strategy?
Reach us at 270.600.PLAN https://rdsmotherswealth.com/contact/

📺 Watch the full Fox Business segment:
https://youtu.be/8-iu58tmy8Y?si=3F9WpWRfuBcwAGO0

Our CEO, Dale Smothers joins Stuart Varney on Fox Business to break down the AI stock boom, Nvidia earnings, and the investment opportunities beyond the bigg...

06/09/2026

You're Not on the Wrong Train - You're Just Going to a Different Destination

My first time in New York City, I made a mistake.
I jumped on the 6 train when I should have been on the 4. The 6 is the local that stops at every single station. Meanwhile, I'm watching the 4 train fly past me on the same tracks, going twice as fast.

And standing there, a little frustrated, it hit me: that's retirement.

Just because the other train is going faster doesn't mean you belong on it.
Right now, AI is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
We're likely in the early innings of earnings, not the late ones.
The names leading this charge- Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Oracle- have real runway ahead.

But if you're in the income phase of retirement and you start chasing growth stocks without a plan, you may find yourself way past your stop with no easy way back.

Here's what I keep telling our clients: losses hurt you more in retirement than gains help you.

If a client loses 20%, it changes how they live. If they make 20%, maybe they take an extra trip. That asymmetry is everything and it's why discipline matters more than performance at this stage of the game.

If you retire without an income plan, you're not retired. You're just unemployed.

I sat down recently with Lou Bassanese on The Big Skinny to talk AI, the markets, and what most investors still aren't paying attention to.

Catch the full episode below!

270.600.PLAN Save Money. Plan Well. Live Happy.

SpaceX may be one of the most anticipated IPOs in history, but our ...

06/06/2026

🌭 HOT DOG, IT’S SAMI’S BIRTHDAY!

Since Sami is our office’s biggest hot dog fan, there was really only one way to celebrate…with a hot dog party!

Sami brings hard work, a positive attitude, and plenty of fun to the office, and we’re lucky to have her.

Join us in wishing Sami a very happy birthday! 🎉

06/05/2026

Dale Smothers discusses potential stock market tailwinds. He says in order for the S&P 500 (SPX) to hit 8,000, AI demand must continue to spark optimism, oil prices cannot climb, earnings must grow, and investors must stay calm through summer volatility. Dale also talks about how to navigate the sell-off into this weekend and his expectations for market volatility- Schwab Network

Our CEO, Dale Smothers RICP, MBA joins Schwab Network to discuss po...

06/04/2026

The Trigger Guard Nobody Talks About in Retirement Planning

A few years back, I took my son hunting.

As we were heading into the woods, he reached over and touched the trigger guard on the rifle and asked, "Dad, what does that piece do?"

I had to stop and think about it.

Honestly? That piece doesn't fire anything. It doesn't send the bullet downrange. The rifle would technically work without it.

But here's what it does do- it keeps you from accidentally pulling the trigger at the wrong moment. It adds stability. Safety. Accuracy.
And that's exactly what a complete retirement plan looks like.

Most people come to me with a solid investment portfolio. They've saved diligently for 30+ years. They've got the "rifle"- the firing mechanism, the growth engine.

But are they prepared for retirement? Or just funded for it?
There's a big difference.

Sure, if you never face a market downturn in retirement, you're fine. If you somehow earn 30% returns year after year and never hit a rough patch... you're fine.
But the odds of that? Very, very low.

The trigger guard in your retirement plan is everything around the investment portfolio- the income strategy, the tax planning, the healthcare coverage, the sequence-of-returns protection. It's the part that keeps one bad year from becoming a catastrophic mistake.

Your portfolio gets the bullet downrange. Your plan makes sure it goes where you actually intended.
If you're within 5-10 years of retirement and you've only been focused on growing your money- not protecting and distributing it- it's time to talk.

A rifle without a trigger guard isn't ready for the field and neither is a retirement plan without the right protections in place.

♻️ Repost if this resonates with someone you know heading toward retirement. 💬 Drop a comment- what's the piece of your retirement plan you feel least confident about?

https://youtube.com/shorts/eZ-gC3N95rE?feature=share

06/01/2026

🎉 Happy 1 Year RDS-iversary to Sami! 🎉

If you have joined the RDS family over the last year, there’s a good chance you’ve had the pleasure of working with Sami.

As our onboarding extraordinaire, Sami helps guide new clients through the transition process. From coordinating transfers to answering questions along the way, she brings patience, care, and genuine desire to help every client feel supported from day one. We are lucky to have her on the team.

Join us in wishing Sami a happy first RDS-iversary! 🎉