Money Matters with Wes Moss

• Latest Episode

  

  Money Matters 4/27/25

  Make informed decisions about your retirement plans, even in a bear market. Learn how to broaden your perspective and examine your safety assets rather than canceling your beach trip because of market fears. What is the most popular benchmark for stock market success? The answer may surprise you. Wes and Christa discuss relevant topics and answer listener questions: • The bungee cord stock market—what if the tariffs continue to wreak havoc? • Bear markets are typically shorter than bull markets. • Is it okay for early retirees to pull money from their TSP if it’s adequately balanced? What roles would layering and multiple streams of income play in that decision? • Can anyone with a pension think of it like dry powder? How many years from retirement should someone with a 100% stock allocation begin to dial back the risk? • What’s the difference between maximizing and optimizing Social Security? Remember that the time horizon includes the rest of your retirement. • When considering Roth conversions, remember that it’s about taxes today vs. taxes tomorrow. • What is the Wash Sale rule, and how does it influence a rebalance of new contributions? Then, Connor joins Wes to analyze essential current events: • Connor asks, "Are We Having Fun Yet?" with the constant scary headlines and market volatility from tariff repercussions. • Stress from the ongoing uncertainty in trade talks with China. • Understanding the VIX (fear index) and its historical spikes. • The administration’s intermittent public criticism and praise for Jerome Powell and the Fed, and how it’s affecting markets. • Bond market turbulence, duration risk, and the relative safety of gold. • The crucial role asset allocation plays in investment portfolios. • When it comes to income investing, is it true that yield is destiny? Finally, Wes tells the story of real-life happy retirees to illustrate that even when starting small, folks can utilize aggressive savings, frugal living, and multiple income streams to achieve financial freedom and structure a post-retirement life full of core pursuits and new purpose.

  April 28, 2025

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• Money Matters 4/20/25

  Money Matters 4/20/25

  April 21, 2025

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• Money Matters 4/13/25

  Maximize your retirement strategy! Get insights on interest rates, part-time work, RMDs, Social Security's 35-year formula, and pension decisions. Plan early retirement for parents with trusts, tax-smart giving, and family finance, avoiding joint account pitfalls. Weigh dollar-cost averaging frequency and the cash vs. spreading-it-out investment debate. Navigate inflation's impact on early retirement and the need for family financial transparency. Learn to stay resilient amid market turbulence—channel your inner George Clooney from O Brother, Where Art Thou?! Understand market volatility, trade negotiations, the inverse bond/interest rate relationship, and how tariffs create price uncertainty. Explore portfolio balance and diversification, and decipher the VIX (fear index) for market insights. Plus: Discover the inflation-defying prices of the Masters' egg salad sandwich and Costco's hot dog/soda combo! Tune in to the Money Matters Radio Show with Wes Moss, Christa DiBiase, Jeff Lloyd, and Connor Miller to help fortify your financial future.

  April 14, 2025

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• Money Matters 4/06/25

  Take control of your financial future by learning how to determine your retirement withdrawal rate. Should you follow the classic 4% rule or consider a 5% rate? Flexibility is key, and your spending approach can affect long-term security. Understand the impact of inflation, Social Security optimization, and how a small group of stocks dominates the S&P 500. Is it better to time the market or focus on consistent participation? The Roth vs. standard IRA debate is about taxes today vs. tomorrow, with implications for RMDs and conversions. Are target-date funds too conservative as retirement approaches? Wes and Christa break it all down by answering listener questions. Next, explore how market volatility often signals potential for positive returns, with data showing that markets tend to perform better after major volatility spikes. Though challenging thus far, the new administration’s tariffs could bring significant revenue, potentially leading to corporate and individual tax cuts. While the impact remains uncertain, Wes, Jeff, and Connor emphasize that a diversified, balanced portfolio is key to outpacing inflation and achieving long-term stability despite short-term market fluctuations.

  April 7, 2025

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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• 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

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