Tall Oaks Podcast

The February Market Nobody's Explaining

Branden DuCharme

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0:00 | 43:59

Headlines can hijack your plan—unless you know exactly how markets translate them into prices you pay and returns you earn. In this February 2026 market update, we unpack what war-time volatility historically means for long-horizon investors, how to right-size risk for real-life cash needs, and where today's rate dynamics actually hit your wallet. We break down the yield curve in plain English and connect it to everyday decisions: why credit cards and auto loans live on the short end, why mortgages track the 10-year Treasury plus a prepayment option, and what tight mortgage spreads signal about refi odds. Then we tackle bonds and duration risk, showing how a 1% move in the 10-year can dent principal and why "bond ballast" isn't one-size-fits-all.

On equities, we look beneath the S&P 500's surface: fading momentum from megacaps, stretched valuations that widen downside tails, and scenario math that frames modest upside versus meaningful drawdown risk. Rotation is the quiet story—equal-weight discretionary vs staples points to a cooling consumer, and a secular tilt toward international equities is forming even as the dollar commands safe-haven flows on stress days. We explore why inflation beneficiaries often lead the data, outline gold's relative uptrend supported by central bank buying, and map Bitcoin's now-or-never setup with key levels for accumulation versus trend-following. Want a portfolio that fits your timeline, not the news cycle? Subscribe, share, and leave your biggest money question in the comments.

Find Du Charme Wealth Management here:
https://ducharmewealth.com

Phone: 
(435) 288-3396


DISCLAIMER:
Information presented on this program is believed to be factual and up-to-date, but we do not guarantee its accuracy, and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. Discussions and answers to questions do not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice, but are limited to the dissemination of general information. A professional advisor should be consulted before implementing any of the options presented. Encompass More Asset Management LLC is a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements.

[00:00:00] Disclaimers And Timing Context
[00:06:35] Current Positioning And Signals
[00:11:20] Two-Year And Ten-Year Rate Outlook
[00:17:10] Credit Spreads And Private Credit Stress
[00:22:20] Valuations, Scenarios, And Drawdown Math
[00:29:34] Dollar Strength, Flows, And Safe Havens
[00:34:02] Diversification And Role Of Gold
[00:43:19] Closing And How To Reach Us