Presented By: Seeking Alpha​

What, Me Worry?

Look, I get it. Between working long hours driving around, welding things all day, and checking my news apps, I see the same election headlines as you. Everyone has an opinion about what will happen after the votes are counted.

But I've learned something from reading history and listening to those much smarter than me...

Here's the Thing About America

The American economy has chugged along through wars, depressions, and 46 presidents. Think about that – we've survived:

•The Civil War

•The Great Depression

•Two World Wars

•Disco (seriously, how did we?)

•The 2008 financial crisis

•A global pandemic

And you know what? We came back stronger every single time.

Check out the performance of the S&P500 since 1926.

Now, For Some Numbers (I'll Keep It Brief, I Promise!)

I spend my days welding and fixing mechanical equipment, but I study markets and long-term investing in my free time. And let me tell you – the stock market doesn't care who's in the White House as much as you might think (Source: CNN.Com):

•This year alone, the S&P500 is up 21%

•Under Biden: 14% average annual growth

•Under Trump: 12% average annual growth

•Under Clinton: 16.5% average annual growth

See a pattern? The market grows regardless of who's in charge. Why? Because American businesses – from the shop floor to the top floor – keep innovating, working, and creating value, no matter what's happening in Washington.

What This Means for You

I don't wear a suit to a fancy office. I'm a welder who discovered that while building things with my hands, my money could be building my financial future. And I've learned that investing isn't all that different from welding – it's about:

•Being consistent (like laying down a perfect bead)

•Learning from mistakes (success through failure)

•Trusting the process (letting time and compound interest do their work)

You're not just investing in a president's four-year term. You're investing in American ingenuity and innovation.

To paraphrase Warren Buffett: You're betting on millions of hardworking people who get up every morning, put on their work boots (and suits), and move our country forward. You're betting on America.

"But What About [Insert Current Crisis]?"

There's always something, right? But here's what 250+ years of American history tells us: We figure it out. We adapt. We overcome. For example, we find another way when one approach doesn't work in my shop. And through it all, the American economy grows.

What You Can Actually Control

You can't control:

•Who wins the election

•What the market does tomorrow

•Whether your kids, coworkers, or significant other will ever learn to clean up after themselves

But you can control:

•How much you save and invest

•Where you invest it

•How you react to market drama

Talk to me, Goose!

I'm not just throwing this out into the internet ether – I really want to hear from you:

•What's keeping you up at night about the markets?

•How are you handling the election anxiety?

•Got any passive income strategies you're exploring?

Just hit reply – I read and respond to every response!

Remember: Presidents come and go, but the American economy? That's been a pretty safe bet for longer than any of us have been alive. Like a well-laid weld (with LECO rod), it holds strong through the toughest conditions.

Keep investing, believe in American resilience, and try not to let the political noise scare you. We've got this. We always have.

Keep it cool out there,

~Russ Knopf

P.S. If you found this helpful, share it with someone who could use a little peace of mind. We're all in this together.

😁THANK YOU to everyone who responded to the last newsletter!!

Check out the portfolios and podcasts, or see what’s cooking on YouTube.

And now, here is this week's portfolio activity...

Dividends Received This Week ~$9.02

• Schwab Value Money Fund (SWVXX) | $9.02

Dividends Received Year to Date~

$6,003.36

Stocks Sold (AVERAGE)

• 1,000 Schwab Value Money Fund (SWVXX) | $1.00
• 1 Nexstar Media (NXST) 11/15/24 $185 Call | $449.33 (The rationale for this was explained in the October Portfolio Update Video)

Stocks Bought (AVERAGE)

• 5 Nike (NKE) | $76.23
• 5 Global X MLP & Energy Infra. ETF (MLPX) | $56.58
• 1 Visa (V) | $283.50
• 5 VICI Properties (VICI) | $31.69
• 1 Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) | $282.25

Notable Ex-Dividends This Week + SSD Score

• 11/5 MetLife (MET), 2.78% | 79S
• 11/8 American Electric Power (AEP), 3.83% | 81VS
• 11/8 BP p.l.c. (BP), 6.50% | 50BS
• 11/8 Pfizer (PFE), 5.98% | 75S
• 11/8 ConocoPhillips (COP), 2.89% | 61S
• 11/8 Unilever (UL), 3.10% | 75S
• 11/8 Energy Transfer (ET), 7.85% | 50BS
• 11/8 Main Street Capital (MAIN), 5.80% | 62S

🎙️Podcast of the week🎙️

This episode of Business Breakdowns helped me better understand Merck (MRK) and the pharmaceutical industry but also made me think twice about investing in companies that depend too heavily on just one successful medicine... like Merck.

🎦If you missed it, the Full October Portfolio Update!

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🎶Random music from the Dapper Dividends Jukebox🎶

Black Sabbath - Changes

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That said, have a WONDERFUL week, and I'll see you in the next one.