#52 - Reflecting on 1 Year of The Gazette

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To my loyal followers, today I write the 52nd edition since the beginning of this newsletter. On this one year anniversary I want to thank all of you for subscribing, commenting, and making this source a part of your Friday morning ritual.

While the Gazette may change over time just know I will always appreciate the O.G. subscribers that you are, and appreciate the time you take to make me apart of your busy day!

Market Recap

• Market Tanks as Trump's 'Liberation Day' Tariffs Spark Political Debate

  • President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs, including a universal 10% tariff on all imported goods effective April 5, with additional higher tariffs on specific countries starting April 9. These measures led to significant market volatility, erasing approximately $2.5 trillion from the $SPX ( ▼ 4.84% ) Index amid investor concerns over potential economic fallout leading to one of the worst day in the market since 2020.

  • Many on the right are split, while Trump’s base embraces tariffs as a tool to protect American industry and assert economic sovereignty, several Republicans in Congress are pushing back. They argue unchecked executive authority on trade is dangerous and are backing legislation requiring congressional approval before tariffs can take effect.

  • The left largely opposes the tariffs, warning they will drive up costs for working families and strain international relationships. Democrats emphasize that tariffs function like a hidden tax on consumers and believe targeting allies like Canada undermines both diplomacy and economic stability.

• Nintendo Switch 2 Faces Price Increase Amid New Tariffs

  • Nintendo $NTDOY ( ▼ 3.74% ) has announced that the Switch 2 will launch on June 5, 2025, with a starting price of $449.99, marking a significant increase from the original Switch's $300 launch price in 2017.

  • The price hike coincides with the Trump administration's imposition of new tariffs, including a 34% tariff on Chinese imports and a 46% tariff on Vietnamese imports, effective April 5. These tariffs are expected to impact the cost of electronics, as many components are manufactured in these countries.

  • To mitigate tariff effects, Nintendo has been shifting production from China to Vietnam and Cambodia. Despite these efforts, the new tariffs on Vietnamese imports may still affect the Switch 2's final retail price.

• Newsmax Stock Plummets Over 70% Following Meteoric Rise

  • Newsmax's $NMAX ( ▲ 18.28% ) stock experienced an unprecedented surge of up to 2,550% in its first two days of trading this week, peaking at $265 per share.

  • On the third trading day, the stock plunged 77%, closing at $52.71, erasing a significant portion of its earlier gains. Analysts attribute the extreme price swings to the stock's low float and heightened interest from retail investors, drawing comparisons to 'meme stock' behavior.

  • Stock pumps like this happen when retail investors, often coordinated through social media platforms like Reddit or X, pile into specific stocks based on hype, trends, or a shared narrative rather than company fundamentals. These surges are typically fueled by a mix of viral momentum, low share availability (float), and the potential to trigger short squeezes, causing dramatic price swings detached from the company’s actual value.

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Freedom Fund Portfolio

• March 2025 Recap:

  • Portfolio Value: $26,340.57

  • March Dividends: $70.82

  • Total Return Since Inception (W/ Dividends): 15.54%

  • The hardest part of building a new portfolio from scratch is that whenever you have a market dip that results in the S&P or NASDAQ dropping 8-14% year to date this will definitely eliminate a lot of progress you make on equity gains early on. But when equities are on discount like this you have to stay consistent and keep stacking and investing. These are the multi-month stretches where you can really build a good floor for your investments and they will pay off well in the long run if you stay consistent through them. Remember… this too shall pass.

• Friday Freedom Fund Purchase:

  • 13 shares of $EVLV ( ▼ 4.5% )  

    • Evolv Technology reported that 92% of its K-12 education customers eligible to cancel their contracts during a 60-day period opted to continue their agreements, with some even expanding their use of Evolv Express systems.

    • This resulted in a minimal impact on the company's annual recurring revenue, estimated at approximately $445,000. The high retention rate underscores customer satisfaction and confidence in Evolv's AI-based security solutions.

    • The company aims to achieve positive Adjusted EBITDA by the second quarter of 2025 and positive free cash flow by the fourth quarter, reflecting a commitment to financial health.

  • 5 shares of $SOFI ( ▼ 13.57% )  

  • 5 shares of $SCHB ( ▼ 4.92% )  

Freedom Fund Background: I created the Freedom Fund as a public brokerage account back in October of 2022 to share that anyone with a social security # and a bank account can begin their investing journey by investing a couple hundred dollars a week. Every week and month I post on X (@GrahamInvesting) public updates about the purchases, exits, dividends, and growth of the fund if you want to follow in real time. The biggest obstacle people have to investing is just getting started so I decided to start a new account at $0 to start from nothing with you.

10 Things I Learned From Year 1 of The Gazette

The reality is that when it comes to investing, newsletter writing, and working in construction management I will always be a small fish in a very big sea. There will always be someone with a bigger investment account, bigger newsletter, better career, healthier body, and a calmer mind. However, by forcing myself to put down these thoughts week after week and share them with you it forces me to think, share, and stay consistent. My ultimate goal when starting this newsletter a year ago to help share investing, financial, and personal growth hacks that I am practicing myself.

Whether it is starting a new public brokerage account from zero dollars (Freedom Fund) and showing you wins and losses to help new investors get started on their own accounts. Sharing personal finance hacks that I am continuously learning about on my own so you don’t have to go through the same growing pains. Or giving you a quote or a deep dive into an idea to open your mind to a new way of thinking. The key that I have learned is to constantly keep learning and wondering about the environment around us. Below are the top 10 things I learned from writing this newsletter over the past year:

1. Consistency over everything. Some weeks this newsletter, buying stocks, and putting myself out there is a breeze and for the most part super enjoyable. But we all have busy lives with work, family, and friends and the key with any side passion is to stay consistent with it week after week. Whether it is an hour a week writing, twenty minutes of reading a day, or an afternoon of learning something new. The key to growing anything in life is to stick with it.

2. Writing paints the mind. Everyone is an artist in their own unique way you just have to explore it. Some do it through creative expression. Others through business and entrepreneurship. I truly believe you should be writing your thoughts down every week and reflecting on them. Not only to decompress from the business of your schedule and life. But to document over time how you are growing and experiencing life. Write about the life you are experiencing and the one that you want to live. It will help you capture your thoughts and paint your future reality.

3. Express and explore ideas. I truly believe we are all products of our environment. It is so easy to get stuck in a pigeonhole of your life. Your routines, people in your life, and daily experiences will shape your mind. I challenge you to explore new ideas and express them. Put your mind and self in new situations every week. Don’t let your environment control who you are no matter how positive or negative it is.

4. Build something from scratch. A lot of times we wait for the perfect situation or environment to start working on something. And many times the things we are pursuing can be reliant on others or external situations. Have something you are even an ounce interested in building or growing in your life? Start building from scratch. Start from zero. Just start and do the thing no matter how little you know about it. The path to growth starts right where you are today and only you can take the first step.

5. Weekly reflection matters. All of us have busy lives and the hours, days, and weeks tend to fly by the older you get. Before you know it a year will go by and you will look back and think what did I even do? Some like to journal daily. I prefer doing it on a weekly or event basis. Write down what you did, who you were with, and what you observed in the world. Years down the road it will be very special to look back and read what you overcame, saw, or experienced. Don’t rely on social media to be the album of your life. Imagine if you had a journal for each year of your life for your kids, grandkids, or the world to read long after you are gone.

6. Cringe factor is only in your mind. This ties back into building something from scratch and starting from zero. Being a beginner at anything is hard. The world will try to tell you that you don’t have the skills, experience, education, or connections to do what you want. Embrace the cringe and imposter syndrome. When you feel like you don’t belong or don’t know what you are doing keep exploring it and working on it. That feeling is special and you should embrace it.

7. If you believe in something productive share it. A lot of our media and current events these days are divisive and unproductive. Getting sucked into a vortex of negative content, products, or events adds no value to our lives. If you think of something whether that is a product, idea, or event that would be productive for society share it! People want to consume productive ideas.

8. The only way to build something is brick by brick. Rome was not built in a day and neither were the pyramids. They were built piece by piece every single day. A retirement account won’t be built by one contribution it takes 20-30 years of consistent investing. A book won’t be wrote in one sitting, it takes writing pages and pages day after day. If you are going to build anything you have to be willing to chip away at it by laying the foundation brick by brick.

9. Everyone is an amateur. Even if you think someone is a professional at something one day they were a beginner. The majority of people you cross paths with on a daily basis are not the best at their craft of what they practice. Don’t fear the beginning and the middle of what you are working towards. Everyone is a beginner and is defining their craft as we speak. Even if you think they have it all figured out.

10. Focus on what you can control. At the end of the day all you can control is your effort, decisions, and where to spend your time. We all get the same 24 hours and how you decide to spend them is in your control. Many of us spend most of our adult lives at work and sleeping. Spend the time you can control and spend it wisely.

Over the past 52 weeks I spent a lot of my weeknights reading about the stock market, about business leaders, and about the mental side of personal growth. A typical week for me is emailing myself articles, notes, or ideas about what to compile for this newsletter every week. And then sitting down at the kitchen table and writing it every Thursday night regardless of if I want to or not. This newsletter has forced me to document my financial and personal mindset every week and share it with you all (which can feel vulnerable at times). I'm excited to write the next 52 editions of this newsletter and continue to build a strong network of growth-minded individuals.

The purpose of this newsletter is to encourage you and our other 85 Gazette subscribers to start and stay consistent with your personal, professional, and financial journey.

Thanks for investing your time reading this.

-Graham (@GrahamInvesting)

Disclaimer: Graham’s Gazette provides information and resources related to investing, financial topics, and personal growth for educational and entertainment purposes only. The content presented is not intended to be construed as financial advice. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with qualified professionals before making any financial decisions. Graham’s Gazette and its creators do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided nor do they guarantee any specific results from such use of information.