Happy Wednesday,

Angelo here! Welcome to New Money, where we go over weekly tips to help you build your wealth, one dollar at a time.

Today’s edition:

• What “buy the dip” actually means

• What’s actually worth buying

• Paypal restructures, MIcrosoft drops and more…

Read time: 2 min 30 seconds

🍎Wealth Tip of the Week

Gas was up. Stocks were down. And we were watching a war play out in real time.

Here's the reality check first: The S&P 500 dropped around 7%. The Nasdaq fell over 10%. Oil crossed $100 after a key global supply route was disrupted.

That’s what dominated every headline and here's the part they're leaving out.

Markets have gone through wars, crises, and shocks before. In many cases, prices drop early, things feel uncertain, and over time the broader market tends to recover.

Everyone keeps saying “buy the dip,” but nobody really explains what that means, what’s actually worth buying, or how to do it when your account barely has anything in it.

So let’s fix that. 

Because the next time this happens and it will, what you do matters more than the drop itself.

1. What a Market Crash Means In Plain English

When you see red numbers, your brain reads danger. That’s normal.

But here’s what’s actually happening: prices dropped. That’s it.

The businesses didn’t disappear. Amazon still ships packages. Meta still runs the apps you scroll every day. The economy didn’t suddenly stop.

The price of owning those businesses just got cheaper.

Think about it like this. Nothing about the company changed overnight, fear changed the price.

That’s where the opportunity comes from. Not because crashes are fun, but because you’re now buying the same businesses at a lower price than before.

Historically, every major drop has recovered. The people who bought during those moments didn’t win because they were smarter. They won because they stayed in when everyone else stepped out.

What to do: Stop asking if this is the bottom. Start asking if this is something you’re willing to hold for years.

2. 7 Stocks I'm Actually Buying

Before anything, this is just what I’m personally doing.

Not financial advice. Not a guarantee. 

Just a transparent look at what I'm actually doing with my money and why. Take what makes sense for your situation and leave the rest.

• VOO. This is my base. It tracks the top 500 companies in the U.S., and I invest in it every single week whether the market is up or down.

• VXUS. This gives exposure to international markets outside the U.S. Most of my portfolio used to be U.S.-based, so I’m building this up to diversify over time.

• Meta. Took a big hit recently, but I’m still bullish on it long term.

• Amazon. Still looks undervalued to me, especially with how big its overall business is.

• Broadcom. Part of the semiconductor space, which continues to be important for tech and AI.

• Bitcoin. High risk. Not a core position, but something I keep as a small part of my portfolio.

• Micron. I got in earlier and I’m already up significantly. Still bullish long term.

Economic downturns is a perfect time to start investing because you're able to buy these assets at a discount. You can check here to see my full portfolio and get notified in when I buy!

3. How To Start Buying With A Small Amount

This is the part most financial content skips entirely. Here's how you actually do this when you don't have thousands sitting around.

• Start with $25 or $50. You don’t need much, just consistency. Most platforms let you buy fractional shares, so you can start small.

• Buy on a schedule not a feeling. Pick a day and stick to it. This keeps you consistent and helps you buy more when prices drop.

• Start with VOO before anything else. It gives you exposure to 500 companies without needing to pick winners.

• Keep your emergency fund in a HYSA first. Before you invest a single dollar make sure you have a cushion sitting in a High Yield Savings Account earning ~4 to 5% interest so you’re not forced to sell your investments at the worst time.

Here are the top recs I use! Your money isn’t just sitting there.

4. The One Thing You Can Control

You can’t control the war. You can’t control oil prices. You can’t control what the market does tomorrow.

But you can control how you respond.

Most people panic or hesitate. The ones who do well just stay consistent.

Wealth isn’t built when everything feels easy.

It’s built in moments like this when things feel uncertain and most people hesitate.

This is where it matters.

💬Quote of the Week

📉 Market Recap

Check out some of the biggest stories shaking up money, markets, and momentum this week.

👉Alphabet jumps after strong earnings 

Google’s parent company beat expectations, driven by strong ad revenue and rapid growth in its cloud and AI business. 

Wallet Impact: Big tech investing heavily in AI means better tools and services over time but it can also mean higher costs built into subscriptions, ads, and digital services. 

👉Microsoft drops despite strong earnings 

Microsoft beat expectations, but its stock fell as AI spending surged toward $190 billion.

Wallet Impact: Strong earnings don’t always mean stock prices go up, big spending plans can push prices down in the short term.

👉PayPal restructures as Venmo becomes standalone

PayPal is separating Venmo into its own unit as the company faces pressure, competition, and potential takeover interest. 

Wallet Impact: This could lead to changes in how Venmo works over time, new features, fees, or even ownership depending on how the situation develops. 

👉Fed holds rates steady as leadership shifts

The Fed kept interest rates unchanged, while Powell prepares to step down and a new chair steps in amid rising uncertainty. 

Wallet Impact: Rates staying high means borrowing doesn’t get cheaper, so credit cards, loans, and mortgages will likely stay expensive for now.

👀 In Case You Missed It

I didn’t realize how important my 20s were financially until I made a few mistakes. If I had to start again, these are the 9 things I’d focus on.

 🌱3 more ways I can help build your wealth

See y’all next week 🫡

Angelo Castillo

Disclaimer: The content of this newsletter is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, or tax advice. The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of any business, employer, or other entity. Investing involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Readers are advised to conduct their own research and consult with qualified professionals before making any investment, legal, or financial decisions. The information provided is believed to be accurate but cannot be guaranteed. The author and publisher disclaim any liability for actions taken based on the content of this newsletter. This newsletter is not an offer to buy or sell any security. By subscribing or continuing to read this newsletter, you acknowledge and accept these terms and conditions.

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