Money Matters with Wes Moss

• Latest Episode

  

  Money Matters 3/30/25

  Inflation, interest rates, and global events stir uncertainty, but history shows that disciplined investors can often still thrive. Discover why staying invested matters, how tax strategies can create significant savings, and what financial moves might help you retire sooner. Unpack real estate trends, market momentum, and the power of the American consumer in an evolving economy. Learn how to maximize tax-advantaged accounts, navigate Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), and avoid common retirement pitfalls. Get insights into pension decisions, Social Security strategies, and the impact of new legislation on your financial plan. Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase guide you through the first hour, while Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd break down the latest financial headlines in the second.

  March 31, 2025

  --:-- --:--

  Download File

• Money Matters 3/23/25

  Take control of your financial future and navigate market turbulence with confidence. Don’t let tariffs, inflation, and economic uncertainty shake your investments—learn how to adapt, strategize, and stay ahead. Major companies are already adjusting to tariffs by diversifying supply chains. Follow their lead to help position yourself for potential long-term success. With investors scrambling and 401(k) trading at record highs, now might be the time to assess your portfolio, manage risk, and seize opportunities. Understand the power of dry powder reserves, rebalance your sector weightings, and maximize your retirement plan before it’s too late. Stop reacting to fear and start executing a productive plan. It can often help to stay invested, stay informed, and stay in control. Tune in to this episode of Money Matters and let Wes Moss, Christa DiBiase, and Jeff Lloyd answer listener questions and analyze real-world financial strategies that could help put you in the pilot’s seat for a smoother retirement glide path.

  March 26, 2025

  --:-- --:--

  Download File

• Money Matters 3/16/25

  Discover how to avoid six costly mistakes that could derail your financial independence. From phased retirement strategies to multiple income streams, break down what it takes to retire sooner and happier. Plus, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase tackle pressing listener questions about retiring at 55 with a $1.1M portfolio, municipal bonds versus Treasury I bonds, places to park cash from a home sale, and whether high-yield, dividend-promising ETFs might be too risky. Then, with markets officially in correction territory, Wes Moss and Connor Miller analyze how often a 10% drop has led to a bear market, what history demonstrates about recoveries, and whether inflation, tariffs, and shifting policies signal deeper trouble. Explore why the new administration may be skipping early “candy” policies for tougher economic “spinach” and how that seems to be shaking investor confidence. Explore insights and actionable strategies, and don’t let hidden mistakes hold you back from securing your financial future.

  March 17, 2025

  --:-- --:--

  Download File

• Money Matters 3/9/25

  Discover the five financial habits that can lead to a happy retirement, including how much you really need to save, the power of multiple income streams, and why paying off your mortgage faster can sometimes boost peace of mind. Learn how rational optimism can often fuel effective investing and how the 4% plus rule of thumb may help retirees avoid running out of money. Then, explore the five lifestyle habits that can serve to keep retirees fulfilled—from core pursuits (hobbies on steroids!) to the importance of strong social connections, independent kids, and group travel. In the second hour, Bigger Pockets Money Podcast host Mindy Jensen shares the secrets of the live-in flip strategy, explaining how to renovate and sell homes in the hope of massive tax-free profits while avoiding financial pitfalls. Plus, hear the real truth about the FIRE movement, how some achieve financial independence in just 10 years, and how to sidestep the middle-class trap that keeps many from significant wealth. This episode is filled with actionable financial strategies. Tune in now!

  March 10, 2025

  --:-- --:--

  Download File

• Money Matters 3-02-25

  Uncover the number you need for retirement using the Fill the Gap (FTG) method. Subtract guaranteed income like Social Security from your spending goal, calculate your savings target, and take control of your financial future. Discover how the Rule of 55 can help you access retirement funds early, weigh the benefits of direct indexing, and find out where to park cash for short-term goals. Compare real estate vs. dividend ETFs for passive income, cut through financial media scare tactics, and navigate inherited trusts without triggering taxes. Whether you're planning, investing, or just getting started, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase arm you with strategies to retire smarter and sooner!

  March 4, 2025

  --:-- --:--

  Download File

• Money Matters 2-23-25

  Jump into the habits of “mini-millionaires” to examine how disciplined investing, homeownership, and hard work—not flashy spending—have turned solid earners into millionaires. Tackle the over-spending tax vortex, a debate between bonds and money markets, the robo-advisor cash trap, and concerns over brokerage security. Through stimulating analysis and answering listener questions, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase spotlight how to balance investments, protect accounts, and avoid letting perfect be the enemy of the good. Then, dismantle doomsday headlines from Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki by highlighting how strong earnings, cooling inflation, and resilient consumer spending often keep the economy humming. Jeff Lloyd joins Wes to inspect Walmart’s earnings stumble and use Amazon’s revenue surge to demonstrate the constantly spinning flywheel of growth. Explore the labor market's return to relative equilibrium, the case for viewing all-time stock market highs as a “green light” rather than a “red flag,” and how bond yields can sometimes provide stability amid rate fluctuations. Finally, unpack the “Doge Dividend” proposal, a concept floated by the Trump administration suggesting taxpayer rebates tied to deficit reductions. Would one-time stimulus checks be more or less productive than debt rollback? Listen to find out more.

  February 24, 2025

  --:-- --:--

  Download File

• Money Matters 2-16-25

  Should you take a lump sum or pension payout? Use the 6% Test to help you decide. With markets hitting record highs, is it the right time to invest or wait? History suggests some clues that retirement planning does not favor hesitation. Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase provide crucial context by answering listener questions about 401(k) target date funds, beta vs. volatility, selling a business for retirement, mega backdoor Roth IRAs, and inherited IRAs. Then, Jeff Lloyd helps unravel the most compelling economic data of the year. From inflation’s sneaky rise to why manufacturing expectations are surging, decode what’s really happening in the economy. With inflation creeping past 3%, is there cause for concern? And finally, is Washington’s birthday not actually called Presidents’ Day? Jeff has the surprising answer.

  February 17, 2025

  --:-- --:--

  Download File

• Money Matters 2-09-25

  Examine financial resilience, retirement strategies, and the changing workforce landscape. Step into the discussion about how early retirement from federal jobs may reshape financial planning. What are the psychological barriers to investing at market highs, and how can future retirees navigate lump sum pension rollovers into IRAs? Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase explore all of this, plus the power of dividends, alternative income investments, and the importance of staying invested in bull markets. Next, tackle the behavioral finance conundrum—should you invest when the market is at an all-time high? Does the data suggest investing at record highs actually outperforms random market timing? Break down historical trends, unpack how bull markets typically last five years on average, and investigate why bonds remain a smart bet despite attractive cash yields. Wes Moss and Connor Miller delve into these crucial topics, plus quirky Super Bowl stock stats and a message about why Kansas City Chiefs fans have more to cheer about than just Taylor Swift in the stands.

  February 10, 2025

  --:-- --:--

  Download File

• Money Matters 2-02-25

  Major Social Security policy changes, such as the elimination of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), may have significant implications for roughly 3 million Americans. Teachers, nurses, firefighters, police officers, and other public-sector workers who previously saw their Social Security benefits slashed may now receive the full benefits they’ve earned. This shift is reshaping retirement planning for many Americans. Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase analyze data and answer listener questions to examine the practical value of working with a trusted advisor. They remind listeners about diversifying portfolios into broad market indices to help minimize risk and explain how a money market is typically a higher-yield alternative to a standard low-interest savings account. There is power in planning for retirement at any age, even in your 50s, because consistent saving and wise investing can lead to more financial flexibility than many might think. In the second hour, Jeff Lloyd joins Wes to discuss GDP growth, the resilience of consumer spending despite inflation, and the ongoing challenges in sectors like housing and manufacturing. With a focus on the Fed's influence, productivity growth, and the gig economy, they explore how these elements shape the economic landscape and compare the current AI revolution to the space race.

  February 3, 2025

  --:-- --:--

  Download File

• Money Matters 1-26-25

  In the first hour of today’s episode of Money Matters, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase begin by diving into the current state of inflation. They discuss what a tightrope walk it can be to encourage economic growth without too many inflation risks and how the Federal Reserve tries to use rate hikes to find a balance. They explore what the housing market’s ongoing supply issues and the tariff situation with China might mean for consumer prices. Finally, they outline how geopolitical tensions could affect the broader financial landscape. Jeff Lloyd joins Wes in the next hour to examine different investment strategies. They run through the criteria that make an asset truly investable and which categories check those boxes more often than others. They wrap up by questioning the investment potential of cryptocurrencies and reinforce the idea that an asset must meet certain standards to be considered "investable."

  January 27, 2025

  --:-- --:--

  Download File