Join us for the 100th episode of our podcast where Brian and his daughter, Hannah, explore the evolution of financial literacy from adolescence to college. In Hannah’s second appearance on the podcast (three years since her first show), this episode features discussions on the importance of early savings, adhering to a budget, and the basics of investing. They also tackle practical financial skills and the art of making informed financial decisions.
Read MoreIn this episode, we’re going to take a look at some academic market theories through a set of fresh eyes. Summer intern Kayla is back to share her insights into market efficiencies and help answer the ever-elusive question of whether or not you can beat the market. We delve into Eugene Fama's Efficient Market Hypothesis, contrasting real-world examples of market efficiencies and failures, from the Challenger Disaster to the Mortgage Crisis. Learn about the tug-of-war between active and passive investment strategies and gather key takeaways to optimize your portfolio.
Read MoreIn this episode of Make The Dough Rise, we explore the critical yet often overlooked aspects of retirement planning—sequence of returns, long-term super cycles, and withdrawal rates. Join us as our summer intern, Kayla, shares fresh insights from her research on market efficiencies and investing strategies. Plus, we'll analyze scenarios of retirees facing vastly different financial landscapes based on timing alone, revealing how choices made during major market events like the dot-com bubble and other financial crises can drastically alter one's financial future. Whether it's panic selling or attempting to time the market, learn why staying disciplined with a well-thought-out investment plan is crucial.
Read MoreIt’s time to revisit some of our favorite wacky indicators that we discussed for the first time back in 2022. Today we’ll find out if Starbucks and gold prices are solid indicators of the economy’s direction. We’ll also give you an update on Social Security in the wake of the annual report released by the trustees. Can you believe that the news isn’t all bad? Listen to this episode of Make the Dough Rise to find out all the details. Finally, we celebrate a cool recognition for the podcast and welcome a new voice, intern Kayla, to the show!
Read MoreWhile you're tidying up the garage and carrying on your traditional spring cleaning tasks, tune into this episode of Make The Dough Rise where we focus on "spring cleaning" your finances, covering essential topics such as tax preparation, the importance of beneficiary reviews, and strategic updates to your investment portfolio. Could Small Cap Value be the most undervalued segment in the market right now? We'll also provide insights into effective planning tools and the implications of upcoming tax law changes.
Read MoreDive into the evolving global landscape in our latest episode of Make The Dough Rise, where we explore the seismic shifts challenging the post-WWII status quo. This "New World Order" could change how we think and approach personal and macro-finance conversations for decades to come. From the end of America's role as the global maritime protector to the pressing realities of de-globalization and the unprecedented energy shifts, we dissect how these changes are reshaping economies and geopolitics. Tune in as we seek to understand a new era defined by industrial upheaval, energy revolutions, and the critical need for innovation in facing the future's uncertain tides.
Read MoreIt’s time to turn our attention to 2024 and unravel the potential twists and turns ahead in the financial world. With the "Recession is coming" mantra entering its third year, we explore the diminishing shadows of inflation and emerging signs of industrial deflation. And as we step into an election year, we demystify the impact of political shifts on the market, and we don't shy away from addressing the elephant in the room: Federal actions. Will there be a shift from rate raising to cutting? Finally, we wrap up with a crucial segment on strategic goal setting. Join us for this episode as we equip you with the knowledge and strategies to make 2024 not just another year, but a milestone in your financial journey.
Read MoreWith 2024 almost here, this episode seeks to take a positive reflection on 2023. We'll highlight some personal and professional achievements from the year and give you some tips on how to make the most out of your remaining days this year. We'll also reflect on an issue that has gained more national attention, Social Security overpayments. Brian brought this to light on the last episode and shares additional insights with us today. We'll conclude with some money moves you can consider in the final few weeks of the year like tax optimization, charitable giving strategies, end-of-year contributions, and more...
Read MoreExplore the tangled web of healthcare economics on this episode of Make The Dough Rise. We're tackling the sky high rise of health insurance costs, the historical roots of current policies, and the entangled systems that drive these soaring prices. Brian will also provide an update on his recent story about navigating the rigid structures of Social Security and what the migration of thousands of millionaires to new countries means for the global financial climate (BRICS).
Read MoreIn this episode, we dive into the numbers and explore wealth percentiles. Where do you rank? Are you on par with everyone else? What does it mean to be financially comfortable? Find out how your net worth compares to different age groups and wealth percentiles across the United States. We’ll also expose the flaws in the standard 60/40 portfolio and look at the pandemic’s impact on our attitudes about what it means to “be wealthy”.
Read MoreIs Mexico the new China? Brian takes a close look at the reasons China might be in serious economic trouble and contrasts it with Mexico's rise as the #1 trading partner with the United States. What will be the impact of China dropping to third place in that metric? We'll also spend a little time circling back to our conversation about ESG and break down some popular investor personalities. How does your personality impact how you prepare for retirement? We'll touch on that and more on this episode of Make the Dough Rise!
Read MoreWe'll revisit our prior conversations about ESG, DEI, and Woke Capitalism on today's episode. Have Brian's warnings about blindly following these investing fads found merit? We'll hit a few other topics as well, touching base on upcoming tax rate changes and breaking down some problematic financial advisor personalities and strategies. And is Taylor Swift stealing business from Disney? Tune in to learn about all of this and more on today's episode.
Read MoreBeing bored in retirement doesn't sound realistic. But, unfortunately, it's what's happening to a lot of people who enter this phase of their life unprepared. In this episode, Brian will underscore the importance of knowing what you're retiring "from" and "to.” We'll define the Freedom Factor and how it plays into your post-working life. Plus, for some of our new listeners, we'll spend a little time getting to know Brian a little bit better with some unique personality questions.
Read MoreLet's take a close look at a recent Social Security quiz that tested the knowledge of pre-retirees on some of the basics and nuances of this important element of retirement planning. Incredibly, 69% of those tested did NOT get a passing grade. Brian will help us work through all 13 questions of the quiz to try to help clear up some of the confusion and to make sure you're not sabotaging your retirement future with bad Social Security decisions.
Read MoreHave you read the headlines about the US Dollar losing its status as reserve currency, no longer privileged, and that this is all leading to terrible economic woes? If so, you're not alone. It has many people wondering if this is indeed the death of the dollar... Brian's here to break this complex conversation down for us. We'll get into China, The Euro, debt, energy, and other economic factors to try to get a better understanding of what's going on so we can make a little more sense of the headlines.
Read MoreBrian takes us on a deep dive into some fascinating global population data that unveils some of the immense problems facing economically significant countries like China, Germany and Italy in the years ahead. How will it impact the US and what will it do to our relationship with our neighbors Canada & Mexico? We'll explore those questions, delve into the potential consequences hitting Social Security and Medicare, and boil down how these global, macro forces might nudge you in various directions when it comes to your individual portfolio and retirement.
Read MoreThis episode is full of good nuggets as Brian has podcast and book recommendations for you. First, we'll breakdown some key takeaways from the fascinating book, The End of The World Is Just The Beginning by Peter Zeihan. Brian will breakdown the major reasons Russia and China are in big trouble and why the USA is in a better position than you might think to withstand some sort of globalization collapse. This all dovetails into revisiting the topic of ESG investing, which we first discussed in episode 52.
Read MoreMarket volatility became the norm in 2022. Are we in for more of the same in 2023? We’ll talk about the market outlook for the next 12 months, plus share tips on how you can best prepare for potential future volatility.
Read MoreBonds have been a pretty hot topic this year. Oftentimes, people misunderstand how they work and what role they play in a proper financial plan. On today’s show, we’re addressing some of the misinformation and explaining why this has not been a good year for bonds.
Read MoreMain Street Financial Solutions Founder & Managing Partner Brett Danko, CFP®, is back on the show to drop some truth bombs about the economy, the stock market, interest rates and more. And in a 2-for-1 deal, Brett and Brian will spend the second half of the episode covering the 5 most common questions people ask when they get forced into retirement.
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