Market Mondays Ep. 304: “Trump’s Iran Deadline 🚨 What It Means For Your Money”

Date: April 7, 2026
Hosts: Rashad Bilal, Troy Millings, Ian Dunlap (EYL Network)

Overview

This episode dives deep into the impact of the ongoing Iran crisis on the stock market, financial planning strategies during uncertainty, and the broader implications of political decisions (especially Trump’s recent moves) for investors. The hosts break down actionable trading and investing tips, dissect Trump’s controversial statements, predict market outcomes based on global developments, and field live audience questions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trading & Investing Amidst Uncertainty

• Trading Tip of the Week (09:29)
  • Ian advises futures traders to practice doubling contract size and targets due to increased volatility from the Iran conflict.

    “If we have double the volatility, you need to double your contract size…while your long term account may get beat up, the futures market can offset those losses.” – Ian (09:29)

  • Rashad draws parallels for options traders: double the number of contracts to balance risk and reward. (10:57)
  • The importance of automating investments—removes emotion and benefits from historical market recoveries, especially in April, which is historically a strong month for the S&P 500. (16:07)
• Brutal Truth About the Market (19:50)
  • "You don't deserve to be rich if you're afraid to invest in this market climate." – Ian (19:50)
  • Importance of being proactive, investing in times of crisis, and not waiting for perfect timing.
• Historical Context & Data (13:37, 14:31)
  • April is "green" for S&P 500 returns in 80% of the last 20 years.
  • If S&P climbs above its 200-day moving average within 30 days (by April 19), it historically signals a strong year.

2. How Wealthy People Leverage Assets Without Selling

• Strategies to Access Capital without selling assets (31:14)
  • HELOC & Refis: Tap property equity via lines of credit.
  • Securities-Backed Loans: Borrow against your stock portfolio; keeps your investments compounding and often has lower rates than capital gains taxes.

    “Loans are one of the keys that the rich utilize 100%...you don’t pay taxes on debt.” – Troy (32:36)

  • Art Collecting: Art in offices can be tax-deductible and used as loan collateral.
  • 401K loans: Additional, lesser-known option.
  • Caveats: Don’t co-mingle options and long-term accounts if you want to access securities-based loans (35:26). Margin accounts are distinct risks from lines of credit. (36:55)
  • Advice: Use these tools smartly—responsibly, and with guidance from a tax strategist (34:56).

3. Trump, Iran, and the Strait Crisis—Direct Market Implications

• Trump’s “Easter Deadline” Post (40:25–41:05)
  • The hosts analyze Trump’s now notorious True Social rant:

    “Open the strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in hell. Just watch. Praise be to Allah.” – Trump, True Social (41:05, read aloud by Rashad)

• Global Ripple Effects If Strait Stays Closed (42:11)
  • Loss of 20% in oil supply, spiking gas prices (+30–70%), shipping costs, inflation, food prices.
  • Economic and geopolitical fallout: hitting GDP, currencies, and consumer spending worldwide (43:22).
  • Troy: “If they can’t open the strait, it’s not just affecting us, it’s affecting the globe.” (60:32)
• Market’s Unusual Calm While crude soars and risks mount, the market isn’t plunging as expected (51:09). Tech and energy stocks are attracting “smart money” (51:54).
• War, Miscalculation, and Market Corruption (24:26, 26:17)
  • Highest level of perceived corruption and market rigging ever seen.
  • Discussion about prediction markets, congressional inside trading, and systemic Ponzi-like frameworks.

4. Investment Playbook for Each Scenario

• If War Escalates (58:46)

  • Short-term shock, but significant market collapse unlikely unless the strait remains closed.
  • Focus on “key levers”: watch for oil at $123.89 and VIX at 31.85—“that’s when you’ll start to get a calculation going back to two weeks ago. Economic levers.” – Ian (62:21)
  • Guerrilla tactics (like speedboat missile attacks) can effectively freeze shipping without outright closure (61:10).

• If a Deal Happens (63:32)

  • Predict a market rally “to the moon,” especially for tech and high-growth assets. (63:39)
  • “We would just be to the levels where we should have been.” – Ian (64:29)

5. Stock Picks, Long-Term Perspective, and Retirement Advice

• Retirement Accounts: Don’t panic, don’t sell into a declining market; historically, those who stay in benefit from recoveries (73:02).
• Top Stocks/ETFs for the Current Climate (75:01)
  • Ian: Microsoft, Apple, Visa. “Those are the three I will lean on heavily over the next year.” (75:50)
  • Rashad: Nvidia, Google, Micron, XLK ETF, Netflix (77:54)
  • Troy: Microsoft, Bitcoin, QQQ/ETF exposures.
  • Bonus: Waste Management called “conflict-proof, recession-proof, almost black swan-proof.” (77:05)
• Futures, VIX & Volatility: VIX remains in a “safe” range, suggesting coming out the other side will be a “blip in history compared to 2008.” (98:00, 101:12)

6. Tesla, SpaceX, and the Tech “Innovation Premium”

• Tesla’s Risk and SpaceX IPO (83:34)
  • JP Morgan warning that Tesla could drop 60%. Hosts discuss the “innovation premium” around Elon Musk, whose new projects (SpaceX, Starlink, Neuralink) could overshadow Tesla.
  • “SpaceX is more important than Tesla… Tesla could very well not even make it past another ten years… that’s a possibility.” – Troy (87:18)

7. Bracing for Black Swans—Planning and Mindset

• Ian’s Homework: “Give me the top 50 black swans that are probable for the next 50 years and calibrate my portfolio according to it.” (70:44)
  • Study history, expect volatility, and act accordingly.

8. Live Q&A and Action Steps

• Advice for Traders and Investors (70:44, 72:01)
  • Stick to your plan. Don’t get shaken out by geopolitics. In times of uncertainty, seek clarity in your investment thesis and checklist.
• For Entrepreneurs: Pitch competition at Invest Fest, emphasis on scalable, efficient, and convenient business ideas, especially leveraging AI. (125:02–127:23)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the Power of Political Decisions:

  “Political decisions, as we’ve told you since 2020, have a great impact on the market. You have to know what’s coming down the line.” – Ian (53:49)

• On Volatility:

  “Volatility creates opportunity… uptrend, downtrend, consolidation—if you can get those three things, put your seatbelt on, enjoy the ride, and you’ll be here long term.” – Rashad (105:55)

• On Wealth Building Tactics:

  “You don’t pay taxes on debt… that’s why I’m not a fan when people say all debt is bad.” – Troy (32:36)

• On Trump’s Iran Post:

  “The post was so crazy, most people didn’t even think it was real… I had to make a post to be like, no, that is true.” – Troy (38:56)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trading Tips & Volatility: 09:29–13:37
• Long-Term Market Trends, S&P Stats: 13:37–17:48
• Asset-backed Loans & Wealth Tactics: 31:14–36:13
• Brutal Truth about Wealth & Investing: 19:50–24:26
• Trump’s Iran Deadline, Market Effects: 40:25–46:19
• Oil, Strait Crisis, Scenario Analysis: 42:11–63:31
• Top Stock Picks: 74:58–77:54
• Tesla/SpaceX/Innovation Discussion: 83:34–95:36
• Volatility & VIX Deep Dive: 96:48–106:51
• Advice for Retirement Accounts: 73:02–73:57
• Pitch Competition Announcement: 125:02–127:23

Tone & Style

The conversation is unfiltered, energetic, at times humorous, and always action-oriented. The hosts maintain a sense of urgency about being proactive in one’s financial journey, mix in pop culture references, and layer technical analysis with candid personal anecdotes.

Practical Takeaways

• Stay invested and automate your contributions—historically, markets rebound.
• Leverage assets smartly through loans rather than unnecessary liquidation.
• Monitor VIX and oil as “canaries in the coal mine” for global instability.
• In times of panic: seek discounted high-quality stocks (Microsoft, Apple, Visa, Nvidia, etc.).
• Recognize the crucial link between political headlines and your brokerage account.
• If you’re an entrepreneur, focus on scalable, tech-enabled, efficiency-driven solutions for maximum impact.

This summary captures the essential themes, strategic financial advice, and electric exchanges from episode 304 of Market Mondays—arming investors and entrepreneurs alike with context, clarity, and tactical recommendations for turbulent times.