Alex Barnes, CFP - Savvy Wealth

06/12/2026

🚀 Today was finally the day. SpaceX went public in what is being called the largest IPO ever. 🚀

The stock jumped right out of the gate, but just because it's up today doesn't mean that's how the story ends.

I'm not here to talk anyone into or out of buying SpaceX. I just think it's important to remember that IPOs often come with a lot of excitement, media attention, and investor enthusiasm. It can take time for a company to find its footing as a publicly traded stock.

The chart below from Truist looks at how other large IPOs performed after going public. What stands out isn't necessarily the long term returns, but the volatility along the way. The average maximum drawdown during the first year was -55%, and the median was -54%. Even many companies that finished their first year with positive returns experienced significant declines before getting there.

The lesson? A great company doesn't always mean a smooth ride for the stock. Whether you're considering SpaceX or any other IPO, it's worth understanding the potential volatility before making a decision.

06/08/2026

👀 Here's something I see all the time. Most people aren't getting the tax planning they think they are.

📆 It usually looks like a year-end conversation, a few tweaks, and that's it. Meanwhile, thousands of dollars in savings go uncaptured because no one was watching closely enough throughout the year.

⏰ Tax strategy isn't a once-a-year event. It's knowing which accounts to fund and when, how to manage your income, and having someone who reviews your return with a strategic eye, not just a compliance one.

This post from a fellow advisor gets into exactly why the traditional model falls short. Check it out.

🔗👇

Clients believe they receive proactive tax planning, but a hidden gap exists. Integrating tax expertise into financial planning closes this gap and saves money.

06/04/2026

Have you ever noticed that the market seems to do the exact opposite of what everyone expects?

April was a great example of that. Consumer sentiment fell to record lows, investors poured billions into bonds, and it felt like there was no shortage of reasons to be nervous. Yet while all of that was happening, the S&P 500 posted its best month since November 2020, gaining 10.5%.

A few things that stood out to me from this month's market update:

🧭 U.S. stocks had one of their strongest months in decades

🌎 International and emerging markets continue to outperform U.S. stocks so far in 2026

⚖️ Investors moved significantly more money into bonds than stocks, a sign that caution remains high

📊 Historically, periods of extreme pessimism have often been followed by stronger-than-average market returns

None of this means the rest of the year will be smooth sailing. Markets will continue to have ups and downs, and there will always be another headline competing for our attention.

What it does reinforce is the importance of having a plan and sticking with it, especially when emotions are running high.

If you'd like a copy of my latest Monthly Market Update or have questions about how any of this applies to your situation, send me a message. I'm always happy to chat.

Source of all information is the BlackRock’s May 2026 Student of the Market report.

05/25/2026

🇺🇸 Today is about more than a long weekend or the unofficial start of summer.

Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country and the freedoms we enjoy every day because of their sacrifice.

Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day.

05/20/2026

Last chance I had to help at Field day at Gold Hill Elementary School, hard to believe next year I won’t have any kids in elementary school anymore.

Can’t wait to see this girl continue to crush it in Middle school though!

05/15/2026

May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month, and I want to take a moment to talk about something most people genuinely don't think about until it's too late. 👇

Your ability to earn income is probably your most valuable financial asset. Not your house. Not your retirement account. Your paycheck and your ability to keep earning it.

So here's the question: what happens to your finances if an illness or injury keeps you out of work for months?

A lot of people assume their employer has them covered. But most work-based disability plans have real limitations:

❌ Benefits are often capped and could be taxable
❌ Coverage disappears when you change jobs
❌ The definition of "disabled" may be stricter than you think

The good news? You can own a policy outside of your employer that's portable, customizable, and pays benefits tax-free. It's one of the most overlooked tools in personal financial planning.

This month, I put together a full breakdown in my newsletter, covering what disability insurance actually is, where workplace plans fall short, and what to look for in an individual policy. No jargon, no pressure. Just clear, useful information.

Want a copy of the May newsletter?

Drop a comment below or send me a message and I'll get it to you directly.

And if you're not on my monthly list yet, it's a quick sign-up. I send one email a month with straightforward financial insights. No spam, no sales pitches.

05/15/2026

May is Disability Insurance Awareness month. It’s always a good time to make sure you are protecting one of your most valuable assets, your income. Let me know if you want me to send you my May newsletter where I make it simple to understand. 📩

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day 🪷

Today we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate all the moms and mother figures who play such an important role in their families and communities.

Whether you are a mom, grandmother, stepmom, adoptive mom, or someone who has helped guide and support others with care and encouragement, thank you for the impact you make every day.

We hope you are able to spend time with the people who matter most and enjoy a well deserved day of appreciation.

05/07/2026

Sent out my monthly market newsletter yesterday, and there's a lot of good perspective in this one. 📊

Earnings are up, stocks are down, and headlines are loud, but here's what the data is actually saying:

🗓 Every calendar year since 1926 with a pullback under 15% has finished positive. We're still below that level.

📍 When earnings grew and stocks fell in the same quarter, the market averaged +15.6% over the following year.

History suggests this setup has been a pretty favorable starting point for patient investors.

Want the full update or want to talk through what it means for your situation? Just reach out — happy to share! 👇

04/22/2026

Excited to share something new we’ve been working on at Savvy Wealth with the launch of Savvy Intelligence.

This is a pretty cool step forward in how technology can actually help advisors better serve clients. Not about replacing the relationship, but making it stronger.

What I like most is the intention behind it. It’s not just about being faster. It’s about having more time to think ahead, catch opportunities earlier, and be more proactive for the people I work with.

At the end of the day, most people aren’t just looking for investment advice. They want help connecting everything… taxes, cash flow, long term planning, and making smart decisions along the way. Having better tools behind the scenes helps make that possible.

Being part of a firm that’s focused on building in this direction is a big reason why I made the move, and I’m excited about where things are heading.

If you’re curious what this actually looks like in real life, feel free to reach out 👍

4 likes. "Savvy Intelligence: Your Whole Practice, Working for You"