AXP

Berkshire Hathaway's Top Holdings: Apple, American Express, and Occidental Petroleum are key stocks in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio, but all have faced declines this year, with Apple down 20% due to concerns over its AI strategy, while American Express has shown some recovery after a strong earnings report.

Investment Opportunities: Despite current struggles, these stocks may present buying opportunities for long-term investors, particularly as American Express caters to affluent customers and Occidental Petroleum offers potential income through dividends amidst oil market volatility.

Marjorie Taylor Greene's Stock Transactions: Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has made significant stock purchases in 2025, including over 50 different stocks, and was previously ranked as a top-performing member of Congress based on her trades in 2024, achieving a 30.2% gain compared to the S&P 500's 24.9%.

Legislative Scrutiny on Congressional Trading: Greene's trading activities have drawn public scrutiny due to concerns about potential insider information, leading to renewed legislative efforts, such as the PELOSI Act, aimed at banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks to restore trust in the legislative body.

Federal Reserve and Cash Yields: The Federal Reserve's decision to maintain interest rates has allowed investors to benefit from attractive cash yields, which have proven to be a better diversifier than Treasurys in recent years, according to Morningstar analysis. Cash yields remain around 4%, providing stability amid stock and bond market fluctuations.

Investment Strategy for Different Age Groups: Investors are advised to hold varying amounts of cash based on their life stage, with retirees recommended to keep one to two years' worth of spending in cash, while younger investors should aim for three to six months of expenses. It's important to gradually deploy excess cash into diverse income sources to protect portfolios against market volatility.