I've been tracking space investments since before SpaceX was cool. Watched the rocket companies get all the headlines while the real money was being made in the background.

NASA just dropped $20 billion on their 'Ignition' moon base plan. Everyone's talking rockets. I'm looking at the company that builds what goes INSIDE those rockets. The infrastructure. The life support. The power systems.

Here's what caught my eye: This company's margins jumped 40% last quarter while their main competitor is still burning cash. They've got contracts locked in for the next decade. And unlike the rocket boys, they don't have to worry about things blowing up on the launch pad.

The space economy is about to shift from 'getting there' to 'staying there.' And there's one play positioned to own that transition.


💡 BONUS: WHAT I'M WATCHING

Oil just cracked $100 a barrel thanks to the Iran mess. That's a 70% surge this year, and it's got me thinking about what this means for guys our age building retirement wealth.

First, the obvious winners: Energy stocks are having their moment. ConocoPhillips, EOG Resources, Diamondback Energy — these companies were built to make money at $60 oil. At $100? They're practically printing cash. If you've been sitting on energy positions, congrats. If you haven't, well, you're chasing now.

But here's what really matters for retirement planning: This oil spike isn't just about energy stocks. It's inflation's ugly cousin coming for dinner. Higher oil means higher everything else — transportation, manufacturing, food costs. The stuff that eats into fixed incomes.

I keep hearing from readers asking if they should chase oil stocks now. Look, I get it. FOMO is real when you see 70% gains. But buying high isn't a retirement strategy. What IS smart? Having some inflation hedges already in place. Real assets. Companies that can pass through higher costs. Dividend growers with pricing power.

The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF story in today's news is a good reminder here. This fund beat the market over the last decade by focusing on companies that raise dividends consistently. Not flashy, but these are exactly the kinds of businesses that survive oil shocks and inflation spikes.

Bottom line: If you're 50-plus and this oil surge caught you completely flat-footed, use it as a wake-up call. Your retirement portfolio needs some defense against these kinds of shocks. Not panic buying at the top, but systematic positioning in real assets and quality companies.

Next week brings Nike earnings and more Iran headlines. The oil story isn't over, and neither is the inflation conversation your portfolio better be ready for.

Until tomorrow,
— Randy Cole, Editor, The Money Memo

While everyone's watching rockets, smart money is buying the companies that keep astronauts alive up there.

See what I found →

Keep Reading