Aurora Strategic Advisors, LLC

03/04/2026

Morning notes
3/4/2026
6:30 AM

The "Invisible" Progress of 2026

Ever feel like you’re running a marathon just to stay in the same place?

If you’ve been watching the S&P 500 since January 1st, you’ve seen a lot of "theatre"—tariff threats, Naval escorts in the Middle East, and the Fed leadership transition. After all that drama, the market is essentially flat-to-slightly down for the year.

But here’s what 30 years in this business has taught me: The date you enter matters more than the drama in between.

The "Early" Winners: If you started in April 2025 (S&P ~5,300), you’re up significantly despite the recent noise.

The "Peak" Complainers: If you entered in July 2025 near the local highs, you’re feeling the "lows" right now.

The "New Year" Investors: If you joined us in Jan 2026, you’ve seen a lot of "gyrations" only to end up back at the starting line, slightly higher or slightly lower. .

The Lesson: Don’t let a 60-day window drive you crazy. Market history shows that January "noise" is often a non-issue by December. We aren't trading the "in-between"—we are investing for the destination.

02/25/2026

We are knee deep in tax season.

Starting Jan 1st of each year through May 1st, as an investment firm, we are at our busiest time gathering tax documents, cost basis, and other items for CPAs, Accountants, and businesses.

The question we are being asked most often is about the Trump Accounts for Kids.

Here is some basic information..

Give Your Kids a $1,000 Head Start

Starting July 4, 2026, a brand-new way to save for your children’s future officially launches: Trump Accounts.

View it as a "Starter IRA" for kids. The best part? The government is starting the accounts for newborns!

The Quick Basics:

Free Money: Children born between 2025 and 2028 are eligible for a one-time $1,000 government contribution to kick things off.

Who is eligible? Any U.S. citizen under age 18 with a Social Security number.

How much can I add? You, your family, or even your employer can contribute up to $5,000 per year.

Tax Benefits: Your investments grow tax-deferred, meaning no taxes on the growth while your child is growing up!

The Goal: By the time they turn 18, they could have a massive head start for a first home, college, or their own retirement.

Ready to secure their future? You can start the process now by filing IRS Form 4547 or visiting the official portal below.

Open an Account & Learn More: trumpaccounts.gov



Talk to your accountant when you file your taxes.

The directions are very straightforward, so don't let anyone talk you into paying them to fill out an account for your child or grandchild..

02/09/2026

Loving what you do...

If we are lucky, we are all in a career that we love—one where we don't mind the long hours and hard work required to be successful. I can faithfully say, "I LOVE WHAT I DO." I received a call from a client this morning that reminded me why. He said: "Mr. Darek, we just added this position on Frid...

02/06/2026

Our trimmed-down article on the impact of AI on the workforce.

The 2027 "Efficiency Cliff": Why "Someday" Just Became "Today"

For two years, we’ve tracked the move into AI as an investment theme. But today, the timeline has collapsed. If you think this is a 2030 problem, look at the AI voice-bot taking your order at the drive-thru or the autonomous warehouse sorters already on the clock.

The $650 Billion "Survival Tax."

This week, the "Big Four" (Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, and Microsoft) projected a collective $650 Billion in spending for 2026.

Amazon & Alphabet: Leading with nearly $200B and $180B, respectively.

The Reality: This isn't just "buying chips." It’s a survival tax to build the infrastructure of the next economy.

The "Quantum-AI" Miracle

Giants like Novartis and Google are now using Quantum-AI to run "digital twins" of cells. According to the McKinsey 2026 Life Sciences Report, this is creating $500 Billion in value by doing 10 years of drug research in 10 months. But that value comes from replacing thousands of hours of human "grunt work."

2027-2028: The Year the Excuses End

We are approaching a statistical cliff. The World Economic Forum (WEF) projects that 92 million jobs will be displaced by 2030, with a major "churn" hitting in 2027-2028.

The Shift: While roles like AI Specialists and Sustainability Engineers are growing, the gap for those who don't "retool" is widening.

The Social Contract: This is why Universal Basic Income (UBI) pilots are moving to the forefront. Data from 2025/2026 trials shows that a "Global Dividend" may be the only way to keep the economy moving when AI handles the production.

Are you positioned for the 2028 cliff, or are you waiting to become part of the statistics?

02/05/2026

Morning Note
5:15 AM
2/5/2026

The AI "Perfect Trap": Why Good Earnings Are a Smoke Screen
I’ve been warning about the "Perfect Trap" for most of last year, and we are watching it play out in real-time.

Blue-chip tech giants are reporting "beats" across the board—revenue is up, earnings are solid—yet the market is recoiling. Why? Because investors are finally realizing the true cost—and the risk—of the AI arms race.

The Case Study: Alphabet’s $185 Billion Shocker:

Yesterday’s Alphabet report (Feb 4, 2026) is the perfect example. On paper, they exceeded revenue and earnings targets and reported 48% Cloud growth.

But the stock saw immediate volatility because they forecasted an eye-popping $175–$185 billion in Capex for 2026. That is nearly double their 2025 spend. They are spending fortress-level cash flows, but it’s "crowding out" the dividends and buybacks we’ve come to expect.

The "Billable Hour" Crisis & Client Pullback

The Software Threat: Fear gripped the legal world this week with the release of Anthropic Claude Cowork. As reported by AI Business, this tool "threatens to replace software providers that serve specific professions such as law, sales, and finance."

Why the massive spend? Because the productivity gains are so significant, they are disrupting existing business models.

The "AI Discount": Nearly 60% of corporate clients are now demanding "AI discounts." They refuse to pay traditional hourly rates for work they know is being automated.

In an article I’m releasing later today, I’ll be diving into a growing crisis: The "Real" impact of AI.

The 1-Hour Week: I recently saw an example on CNBC in which coders completed work that could take days, thereby substantially reducing the window.

The Bottom Line:
The volatility we’re seeing reflects the market's attempt to price in a future in which "growth" is incredibly expensive. The earnings look great, but the "Perfect Trap" is set.

01/21/2026

Before you invest or chase a rocket, understand the rationale behind your thoughts. Have both a buy and a sell strategy. If you are a long-term investor, why now and not six or twelve months ago?

While Gold is up roughly 65% over the past year, Silver has surged by more than 140%—and the reason is a story most people are missing. I’ve been asked several times today for my professional opinion on why both metals continue to shatter all-time records, and whether investors should buy at the...

12/31/2025

As we begin to close out the day, we look back on a great 2025 and a very optimistic 2026.

2025 Year-End Review: Tracking Our Predictions and Looking Toward 2026

As we approach the end of 2025, it is essential to look back at the projections we made in December 2024. Reviewing our "hits" helps us refine our strategy and provides a clear picture of the current market landscape as we prepare for 2026.

I am pleased to report that several of our key forecasts for 2025 were realized, providing a strong foundation for our portfolios:

2025 Projections: What We Got Right

• Federal Reserve Action: We projected the Fed would implement at least two 25-basis-point rate cuts in the latter half of 2025. This materialized as expected, bringing the Federal Fund range down from 4.25%–4.50% to its current 3.50%–3.75%.

• Index Targets: Despite a volatile first half of the year with pullbacks of 15%–20%, we maintained our bullish outlook. The S&P 500 has successfully reached our 6,950 (12% gain) targets, and the Nasdaq has surpassed our 23,500 (15% gain) projection.

• Tax Legislation: Our forecast regarding the new administration’s tax policy proved correct. The passage of new legislation has made many individual tax cuts permanent and introduced new exemptions for tips, overtime, and auto loan interest.

• Bitcoin Targets: We set a 2025 target of $125,000 for Bitcoin. While the market has recently pulled back below $100,000, we successfully hit the $125k milestone earlier this year.

• The "Magnificent Seven" & AI: Our commitment to the tech giants and the AI buildout remained a primary driver of performance, even as we expanded into emerging sectors like Quantum Computing.

Portfolio Evolution

Throughout the year, we used market pullbacks to strengthen our positions. We added new names to our portfolios—including Alphabet, Affirm, Boeing, and Coinbase—while maintaining core conviction in long-term holdings like AMD, GE, and Nvidia.

Looking Ahead to 2026

While we have enjoyed a third straight year of solid gains, we are staying vigilant. We are currently monitoring:

• The upcoming appointment of a new Federal Reserve Chair in May 2026.

• The "Perfection Trap" for AI earnings.

• High consumer credit card debt and its impact on future spending.

• New Target of 8,131 for S&P 500 and 28,500 for Nasdaq.

Our goal remains to provide a professional, long-term look-ahead for your investments rather than reacting to short-term market noise.

Would you like to schedule a brief call to review your current 401(k) or brokerage rebalancing strategy for the new year?

Best regards, and we wish you a Happy New Year!!!

Darek Hunt

12/24/2025

During the holiday season, we reflect on the good things we have and appreciate the blessings we have been granted.

We wish everyone the very best this holiday season and look forward to the year ahead.

It is truly an honor and a privilege to work with our clients and the community at large to help improve your financial life.

12/15/2025

Our 2026 First Half Outlook

Individuals or Businesses looking for a Registered Investment Advisory firm in the Fayetteville Regional, we advise on Retirement Planning, 401k/403b for organizations and Portfolio Management