# If I Started Investing in 2026, This is What I Would Do Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/marketbeat-stock-market-news-analysis-7198436/if-i-started-investing-in-2026-this-is-what-i-would-do Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/marketbeat-stock-market-news-analysis-7198436/if-i-started-investing-in-2026-this-is-what-i-would-do.md Podcast: [MarketBeat | Stock Market News & Analysis](https://stenobird.com/podcast/marketbeat-stock-market-news-analysis-7198436) Published: 2026-07-29T22:42:46+00:00 Episode link: https://2bae4538-0225-4a5e-855d-e74388245c45.libsyn.com/if-i-started-investing-in-2026-this-is-what-i-would-do Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/2bae4538-0225-4a5e-855d-e74388245c45/347738888_If_I_Started_Investing_in_2026_This_is_What_I_Would_Do_MarketBeat_Bridget_Bennett_Investin-2505.mp3?dest-id=4872075 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/marketbeat-stock-market-news-analysis-7198436/episodes/if-i-started-investing-in-2026-this-is-what-i-would-do Duration seconds: 1763 ## Resource Get the FREE Report of the 10 Best Stocks to Buy in 2026: https://www.marketbeat.com/y/yt948/ If you're new to investing, or feel like you missed the AI growth story already, this one's for you. Today we're laying out a full playbook, six stocks and ETFs to help new investors build a balanced portfolio heading into the rest of 2026. Joining me is MarketBeat's Jeffrey Neal Johnson to break down why the AI story is far from over, how to think about the risk of a potential correction without panicking, and why chasing last year's winners isn't always the right strategy. We cover AMD as a real challenger to Nvidia, GE Vernova and the power buildout behind AI data centers, Amazon's diversified growth beyond retail, and ExxonMobil's position as a more insulated energy play amid geopolitical volatility. We also get into two ETFs every new investor should know about, the iShares Aerospace and Defense ETF for diversified exposure to the defense sector, and the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF for steady, foundational, lower-risk growth. Whether you're just getting started or looking to rebalance your portfolio for the second half of the year, this conversation lays out a clear, practical roadmap. View Bridget's Buys here: https://www.marketbeat.com/bridget 📲 Text 'YouTube' to 68285 for FREE SMS breaking news alerts on top stocks. Chapters: 0:00 Intro – AI Boom & Investing in 2026 1:29 Is There an AI Bubble? 3:26 Stock #1 9:15 Stock #2 12:36 Stock #3 15:52 Stock #4 19:30 Stock #5 23:20 Stock #6 27:30 Portfolio Allocation Strategy 29:05 Final Thoughts & Investing Playbook DISCLAIMER: MarketBeat's videos are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. We are not registered investment advisers, and nothing herein is a recom… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/marketbeat-stock-market-news-analysis-7198436/episodes/if-i-started-investing-in-2026-this-is-what-i-would-do/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/marketbeat-stock-market-news-analysis-7198436/if-i-started-investing-in-2026-this-is-what-i-would-do.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.