MW Suze Orman reveals her favorite stock right now and the investing mistake that shaped her strategy

By Michael Sincere

The personal-finance guru talks tech stocks, crypto and her targets for the S&P 500 and bitcoin

Suze Orman: "Always trust yourself more than you trust others."

'The market is strong. I would not be surprised to see the S&P 500 cross over 7,000 by the end of the year.'

Suze Orman is a two-time Emmy Award-winning television host and the author of 10 consecutive New York Times bestsellers on personal finance. She has been named twice to Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people and is widely recognized for her work in financial education.

Orman currently hosts the "Women & Money" podcast, where she discusses personal-finance topics, and is the co-founder of SecureSave, a company focused on workplace emergency-savings programs. Orman's career spans television, publishing and entrepreneurship, with an emphasis on helping individuals manage money and plan for financial security.

Orman also has spotted some stock-market winners. On CNBC's "Fast Money" in late October 2023, she recommended Palantir Technologies (PLTR), Microsoft $(MSFT)$, Amazon.com (AMZN), Shopify (SHOP) and Broadcom $(AVGO)$. Since then, Palantir has soared about 850%, with Microsoft and Shopify up about 50% and 165%, respectively, and Broadcom up about 230%.

In this recent interview, edited for length and clarity, Orman shares her top stock picks, her short-term outlook for the U.S. stock market, her take on cryptocurrencies - and the biggest investment mistake she's ever made.

MarketWatch: What are some of the stocks and investments you like right now?

Orman: I continue to favor large technology companies such as Microsoft, Meta Platforms (META) and Broadcom. Palantir is my favorite stock, which I've followed closely, even though it's controversial. I first recommended it when it was around $7 based on a suggestion from financial strategist Keith Fitz-Gerald. Beyond those big names, I own and still love Apple $(AAPL)$, Advanced Micro Devices $(AMD)$, IonQ $(IONQ)$ and Coinbase Global (COIN). I also like GE Vernova (GEV), which I started buying around $100 to $150, and is now over $600. I'd also look at JPMorgan $(JPM)$.

For those who would rather own exchange-traded funds than individual stocks, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF VOO offers a nice overall participation. VanEck Semiconductor SMH also can be a good choice. Also, the ETF for bitcoin (BTCUSD) - the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF IBIT - is for a small part of your portfolio. For REITs, I like CareTrust $(CTRE)$ - but remember that REITs should be held in retirement accounts.

MarketWatch: What's a sensible way for investors to allocate their money right now if they are looking for long-term growth?

Orman: One simple approach is to dollar-cost average and allocate a total of 50% into a broad index fund such as VOO. With the rest, you could divide your money among a handful of strong individual names such as Microsoft, Palantir, Meta, Apple, Costco Wholesale $(COST)$, Walmart $(WMT)$, Gilead Sciences (GILD), Coinbase, VOO, SMH, the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF XBI and IBIT, the bitcoin ETF.

This way, you're diversified between the overall market and leading companies, rather than putting everything in one place. My broader message is that people should not be investing large sums all at once. Dollar-cost average and invest for the long term, and focus on companies or assets you truly understand.

'Do not put one penny in the stock market that you might need within the next five years.'

MarketWatch: Do you have any caveats for investors?

Orman: Yes - other than your retirement account, do not put one penny in the stock market that you might need within the next five years. Money that you need within five years is not money that belongs in the stock market, period.

MarketWatch: Where do you see the U.S. stock market trading at the end of 2025?

Orman: Overall, the market is strong. I would not be surprised to see the S&P 500 SPX cross over 7,000 by the end of the year. This is not your dot-com bubble.

MarketWatch: Looking back, is there an investing mistake you regret or advice you wish you could take back?

Orman: The biggest mistake I've made was thinking I was smart just because I doubled, tripled or even quadrupled my money, and then selling too soon. I used to believe that when a stock went from $7 to $50, like Palantir, it couldn't possibly go higher - so I sold, only to watch it keep climbing. Then I'd have to buy back in at $70, which made no sense. The same thing happened with Amazon and Apple. If I had just held on from the beginning and continued to dollar-cost average, the gains would have been extraordinary. That doesn't mean you never sell.

'I wouldn't be surprised to see bitcoin climb higher over time, perhaps to $140,000 or $170,000.'

MarketWatch: You mentioned crypto. What are your thoughts on bitcoin, and how does crypto fit into a long-term portfolio?

Orman: With crypto, there's a place for it, but only in moderation. Personally, I'd stick to bitcoin ETFs from well-known firms such as BlackRock $(BLK)$. I don't have a problem with that, but I'd want limits - no more than 5% of your portfolio. Otherwise, some people, especially younger investors, might go all in. Are you nuts? That's too risky.

MarketWatch: What is your outlook for bitcoin?

Orman: Bitcoin has become too mainstream to ignore. Big banks such as JPMorgan are involved, and I wouldn't be surprised to see bitcoin climb higher over time, perhaps to $140,000 or $170,000 one day. But don't forget the risks. If you buy bitcoin directly, you can make more than with an ETF, but then you have to worry about storage and trust, especially after FTX collapsed. That's why I'd rather use ETFs or even stocks like Strategy (MSTR), which holds a lot of bitcoin on its balance sheet. Crypto can be part of a diversified portfolio, but it should never be your whole portfolio.

MarketWatch: Some people argue that the market is manipulated, or at least heavily influenced, by large players. Do you think that's true?

Orman: What I see is that when traders miss out and there's trillions of dollars still sitting on the sidelines, the fear of missing out $(FOMO)$ kicks in. At some point, the market tends to pull back; whether that's natural or influenced, I can't say for sure. But what often happens is that a selloff shakes out the weaker hands of people who get scared when prices dip. That, in turn, creates an opportunity for bigger money to step in and drive the market even higher.

MarketWatch: You've often spoken about retirement accounts. Do you prefer a traditional retirement account or a Roth IRA?

Orman: If you're eligible, I will always tell you: choose a Roth over a traditional. Yes, with a traditional 401(k), 403b or Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), your money compounds tax-deferred, but don't fool yourself. It's not just compounding for you - it's compounding for Uncle Sam, too. You've literally made him your partner, and one day, he'll want his share.

In my opinion, the biggest mistake you can make with your retirement accounts is not having them in Roths. With a Roth, you pay taxes upfront - end of story. Every single penny of growth, and every single withdrawal in retirement, is yours to keep. Tax-free. Forever. As well as your beneficiaries.

And don't think you're locked out just because of income limits. Regardless of what you earn, there are always ways to get money into Roth accounts. If you don't, are you nuts? In the end, with a traditional retirement account, Uncle Sam will take a big bite out of your retirement savings and it will affect taxation on Social Security, Medicare Part B premiums and your required minimum distributions (RMDs). This is not true in a Roth, so don't make Uncle Sam your partner.

MarketWatch: What final piece of advice would you give investors?

Orman: Always trust yourself more than you trust others. After all, what happens to your money directly affects the quality of your life - not your financial adviser's life, insurance agent's life, banker's life, but your life. Finally, don't let your fear of loss keep you from incredible gains.

Coming next week: Part 2 of this interview, focusing on Orman's current advice about personal finance and managing your money.

Michael Sincere is the author of books including "Understanding Stocks," "Understanding Options" and "Help Your Child Build Wealth."

More: Suze Orman says retirees should have a 5-year 'just-in-case' fund. Is this true?

Also read: Worried about taxes on huge RMDs? Consider this alternative to Roth conversions.

-Michael Sincere

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August 23, 2025 14:09 ET (18:09 GMT)

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