Sep 29, 2026
September has historically been a tough month for stocks. Add headlines about tariffs, interest rates, and geopolitical tensions, and it’s easy to wonder whether you should be doing something differently with your portfolio.
On this episode of OFF THE WALL, Dave Armstrong, CFA®, and Nate Tonsager, CIPM, CFA®, answer three Ask Monument Anything (AMA) questions about what’s happening in the markets and what investors should be paying attention to.
They get into the risks surrounding private credit and the AI buildout, the potential impact of tariffs and energy market uncertainty, and what historical market data tells us about September and the fourth quarter.
They also discuss why having a cash buffer matters when markets get volatile. If you have money set aside for near-term needs, you may be less likely to find yourself selling investments at an inopportune time.
The takeaway: Market pullbacks are part of investing, but that doesn't mean every headline requires a portfolio change. Dave and Nate explain how they evaluate current risks, what the historical data can—and can't—tell us, and why your investment strategy should account for the money you'll need before the market has time to recover.
Please see important podcast disclosure information at https://monumentwealthmanagement.com/disclosures
Episode Timeline/Key Highlights:
00:00 - Disclosures And Quick Cold Open
0:25 - Welcome And Three AMA Questions
1:51 - Geopolitics Oil AI And Markets
9:20 - Tariffs Trade Wars And Inflation
13:10 - Data First Investing Amid Headlines
14:13 - Higher For Longer Rate Reality
23:31 - Build A Plan Buy Sell Hold
25:26 - September Effect And Q4 Hope
31:26 - Send Questions Subscribe And Close
32:52 - Full Disclosures
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About “Off the Wall”:
Markets move fast, and headlines rarely tell the full story. Off The Wall cuts through the noise with unfiltered market and economic insight from Monument's CEO David B. Armstrong, CFA and Portfolio Manager Nate Tonsager, CFA, CIPM. Tune in for the conversations that actually explain what's moving your portfolio, without the Wall Street spin.
Learn more about our hosts on our website at https://monumentwealthmanagement.com