🎯 Money Guide: Traditional IRA

tl;dr: A Traditional IRA lets you contribute pre-tax (or tax-deductible) dollars now, grow your investments tax-deferred, and pay taxes only when you withdraw funds in retirement. It’s a powerful tool for lowering your taxable income today while building retirement savings. Withdrawals before age 59½ typically incur taxes and a penalty.

Traditional IRAs: A Comprehensive Guide to Tax-Deferred Retirement Savings

A Traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) remains a foundational pillar of American retirement planning. It offers immediate tax advantages, long-term investment growth, and a structured path to retirement security. This guide breaks down how Traditional IRAs work, who qualifies, how to use them strategically, and why they remain relevant in a modern portfolio.

🌎 Markets in a Minute

📈 Markets Held Steady
U.S. markets were flat-to-up last week as investors weighed softer inflation data, big tech earnings, and Fed speak.

• S&P 500 $SPY ( ▲ 0.06% ), Nasdaq $QQQ ( ▼ 0.05% ), Dow $DIA ( ▼ 0.01% ) all ended slightly higher

• Cooling CPI data boosted hopes for rate cuts

• Sector rotation into defensives as earnings sent mixed signals

📊 Big Earnings & Moves

• United Healthcare $UNH ( ▲ 0.98% ) down after abrupt exit of CEO Andrew Witty

• Disney $DIS ( ▲ 0.25% ) rose after streaming turned a profit for the first time

• Arm $ARM ( ▲ 1.12% ) popped on strong AI licensing demand and upbeat results

🤖 AI & Tech Watch

• OpenAI previewed ChatGPT voice upgrades in spring update

• Nvidia $NVDA ( ▲ 0.71% ) gained on CEO Jensen Huang’s announcement of a partnership with Saudi Arabia-backed Humain to build a data center

• Moderna $MRNA ( ▲ 3.72% ) falls to its lowest point since COVID

🌍 Global Macro & Policy

• April CPI: 3.4% YoY — in line and slightly cooler than March

• Fed Chair Powell: “Inflation improving, but not yet sufficient for cuts”

• China exports +8.5% YoY — a surprise upside in global demand

📌 Other Developments

• Coinbase $COIN ( ▲ 6.7% ) is set to join the S&P 500 index $SPY ( ▲ 0.06% ) 

• Reddit $RDDT ( ▼ 2.06% ) surged on its first profitable quarter post-IPO

• Ethereum $ETH.X ( ▲ 3.3% ) climbed above $3,000 on ETF hopes

📈 Market Vitals

$DIA ( ▼ 0.01% ) _{Tracks 30 blue-chip stocks, showing industrial health.}

$SPY ( ▲ 0.06% ) _{Mirrors S&P 500, gauging broad market performance.}

$QQQ ( ▼ 0.05% ) _{Follows Nasdaq-100, reflecting tech and growth trends.}

$BTC.X ( ▲ 1.62% ) _{Indicates crypto sentiment and risk appetite.}

🎯 Brokerage Review: Gemini

tl;dr: Gemini is a U.S.-regulated crypto exchange founded by the Winklevoss twins in 2014, known for its strong emphasis on security, compliance, and ease of use. It offers fiat onramps, spot trading for 100+ assets, staking (including ETH), a secure wallet, a crypto rewards credit card, and an ActiveTrader platform with lower fees and advanced tools. Best for beginners and cautious investors prioritizing trust and safety. Less ideal for DeFi users, NFT collectors, or those seeking the lowest fees or widest token selection.

✅ What is Gemini?

Founded in 2014 by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, Gemini is a New York-based cryptocurrency platform that emphasizes regulatory compliance and user security. Unlike the wilder corners of crypto, Gemini was built to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the digital asset world — with a strong focus on trust.

🔥 Clickworthy

• HBO: Max rebrands (again) back to HBO Max $WBD ( ▼ 1.15% ) 

• Retail Investors: Retail investors are buying dips, outperforming ‘institutional” investors who told clients to sell April lows

• Housing: inflation-adjusted home prices setting a record over the last three years

• eToro: Trading platform eToro $ETOR ( ▼ 1.24% ) goes public

• Airbnb: Airbnb $ABNB ( ▲ 0.39% ) CEO trying to make the travel app into the “everything app”

• Dick’s: Dick’s Sporting Goods $DKS ( ▲ 2.92% ) buys Foot Locker $FL ( ▼ 0.46% )