I'm Selling... Where I'm Investing in 2026
By Graham Stephan
Key Concepts
- Dollar-Cost Averaging: Investing a fixed amount of money at regular intervals, regardless of asset price.
- Index Funds/ETFs: Investment vehicles that hold a basket of stocks representing a specific market index (e.g., S&P 500).
- Asset Allocation: Distributing investment capital among different asset classes (stocks, real estate, crypto, precious metals, treasuries).
- Tax Loss Harvesting: Selling investments at a loss to offset capital gains taxes.
- Leverage: Using borrowed capital to increase potential returns (and risks).
- Gold-to-Silver Ratio: A metric used to assess the relative valuation of gold and silver.
- Treasuries/Municipal Bonds (Muns): Debt securities issued by the government (Treasuries) or state/local governments (Muns).
- AI Bubble: A potential speculative bubble driven by inflated valuations of companies involved in Artificial Intelligence.
Investment Strategy for 2026: A Detailed Breakdown
The video outlines a comprehensive investment strategy for 2026, acknowledging unprecedented market conditions and emphasizing a long-term, diversified approach. The speaker details his personal portfolio allocation and rationale, offering actionable insights for viewers.
Current Market Conditions & Concerns
The speaker highlights several concerning factors impacting the financial landscape:
- High Asset Valuations: Nearly every asset class is trading at historically high prices.
- Federal Reserve Policy: The Federal Reserve has begun printing more money, contributing to inflationary pressures.
- Insider Selling: Insiders are selling stocks at the fastest rate since 2021, potentially signaling a lack of confidence.
- Affordability Crisis: Home prices are out of reach for many, and 55% of Americans report not having enough money to invest.
- AI Bubble Concerns: Wealthy individuals are warning about a potential bubble in AI-related investments.
Stock Market Strategy
The speaker’s primary investment focus remains on stocks, specifically through a “set it and forget it” dollar-cost averaging strategy.
- Simplicity & Long-Term Growth: The goal is consistent, passive growth without constant monitoring.
- Portfolio Allocation:
- US Broad Market ETF (S&P 500 + Midcaps): The core holding, representing the majority of the portfolio.
- International Stocks (20%): Belief that global markets will catch up to US advancements.
- Emerging Markets (5%): Further diversification and potential for higher growth.
- Resilience During Downturns: The speaker recounts experiencing seven-figure losses during a market dip in April (S&P 500 < 5,000, NASDAQ < 15,000, Bitcoin < $75,000) but continued to buy more, ultimately leading to a 40% gain on invested capital eight months later.
- Buy the Dip Mentality: Encourages viewers to view market corrections as buying opportunities, emphasizing that lower prices allow capital to go further.
- Warren Buffett’s Endorsement: The strategy aligns with Warren Buffett’s recommendation for most investors.
- Market Irrationality: Acknowledges the unpredictable nature of the market ("The market can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent.") and discourages attempting to time the market.
- Historical Performance: The S&P 500 has historically never produced a negative result over a 20-year timeframe.
Real Estate Strategy: Complete Exit
The speaker is actively selling off his entire real estate portfolio, a significant shift from his initial career path.
- Early Career Focus: Began investing in real estate in 2008, focusing on fix-and-flip and rental properties.
- Diversification in 2020: Recognized the risk of being 100% invested in a single asset class and location, leading to diversification.
- Current Market Conditions: High prices, increasing expenses, and the difficulty of finding profitable deals prompted the decision to sell.
- ROI Considerations: In many areas, renting is now cheaper than buying, making real estate less attractive from a return-on-investment perspective.
- Quality of Life: Desire to avoid the hassles of property management (contractors, insurance, etc.) and prioritize time over money.
- Future Plans: Aims to own only a primary residence.
Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) Strategy
The speaker maintains a cautious approach to Bitcoin, acknowledging its volatility.
- Small Portfolio Allocation (10-15%): Allocates a portion of his portfolio to a Bitcoin ETF, representing a risk he’s willing to take.
- Dollar-Cost Averaging: Uses dollar-cost averaging to mitigate risk.
- 2025 Performance: The Bitcoin ETF was his worst performing investment in 2025, despite long-term holdings performing well.
- Tax Loss Harvesting: Utilized tax loss harvesting to offset capital gains.
- Long-Term Optimism: Believes Bitcoin has potential as a digital store of value, particularly in a world of increasing money printing.
Precious Metals Strategy
The speaker has a limited but positive outlook on precious metals.
- Existing Holdings: Owns a small amount of gold, silver, and platinum acquired over time.
- 2025 Outperformance: Precious metals significantly outperformed other asset classes in 2025.
- Silver Fundamentals: Driven by industrial demand (solar panels, EVs, electronics) and supply deficits.
- Gold-to-Silver Ratio: Suggests silver may be undervalued relative to gold, potentially indicating further growth.
- Long-Term Perspective: While acknowledging short-term gains, the speaker remains more optimistic about equities (stocks) for long-term growth.
Treasury/Muni Bond Strategy
The speaker incorporates a safety net into his portfolio with fixed-income investments.
- Portfolio Allocation (20%): Allocates 20% to a mix of tax-free municipal bonds (muns) and treasuries.
- Yields (3.5% - 5.3%): Provides a consistent income stream.
- Risk Mitigation: Offers a cash reserve to capitalize on market downturns.
- Peace of Mind: Prioritizes stability and minimizing potential losses over maximizing returns.
Risk Management & Financial Control
The speaker emphasizes the importance of controlling expenses, particularly in uncertain times.
- Expense Tracking: Highlights the value of tracking expenses to identify unnecessary spending.
- Subscription Management: Uses Rocket Money (sponsor) to manage and cancel unwanted subscriptions.
- Rocket Money Sponsorship: Promotes Rocket Money as a tool for saving money and controlling finances. (Average user saves $1000/year, customers have cancelled $880 million in subscriptions).
2026 Outlook & Conclusion
The speaker anticipates a period of lower, choppier returns and increased volatility in 2026.
- AI Bubble Concerns: Acknowledges potential overvaluation in the AI sector.
- Lower Returns & Volatility: Expects a less explosive market environment.
- Importance of Discipline: Emphasizes the need for consistency, patience, and discipline in investment strategy.
- Core Strategy: Will continue to dollar-cost average into diversified index funds, regardless of market conditions.
- Key Takeaway: The most effective strategy is to diversify, keep buying, and avoid panic selling.
Notable Quote:
“The market can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent.” – Attributed to a common market adage.
This detailed summary provides a comprehensive overview of the video’s content, preserving the original language and technical precision. It aims to offer actionable insights for viewers seeking to navigate the complex investment landscape of 2026.
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