Finance Unfiltered

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The Fed held rates. Most people didn’t see that coming, and it changes the math for your savings, your borrowing, and your retirement.

On this episode of Finance Unfiltered, Susan sits down with Luke McCarty, CFP®, of McCarty Wealth, whose insights have been featured in Forbes and Kiplinger, to break down the Fed’s October 2026 rate decision: who wins, who loses, and what it means if you’re retired or getting close.

Luke explains why savers are winning and borrowers are feeling the squeeze. He covers where idle cash should go instead, from money market funds to MYGAs, and what the bond market and the 10-year Treasury are signaling for your portfolio.

Chapters✨

0:31 The Fed’s surprise decision

1:29 What’s next: the December prediction

1:59 Savers win: money markets, CDs and MYGAs

3:27 Borrowers lose: mortgages, credit cards and companies

4:36 How McCarty Wealth adjusted its bond portfolios

5:38 Stocks, the 10-year Treasury and the AI spending bubble

6:43 Fewer Fed meetings: good or bad?

8:21 The one takeaway

Want to know how rate decisions affect your portfolio?

Schedule a conversation with McCarty Wealth: www.mccartywealth.com

📞 (321) 221-7870

📍 4175 US-1 Ste 101, Rockledge, FL 32955

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Finance Unfiltered | Episode 5: Retirement, Investing & What Happens to It All

In this episode, Susan sits down with Luke McCarty, CFP® and founder of McCarty Wealth, to walk through a full financial life in one conversation. They cover Social Security timing and taxes, growing and protecting your portfolio, the mortgage-vs-market debate, and the tax realities of inheriting an IRA and other assets. They close with the question most people put off: do you actually need a trust?

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction

00:38 Social Security: Take It at 62 or Wait Until 70?

03:11 Is Social Security Still Taxable?

04:51 Is Now a Good Time to Invest?

06:26 How Diversified Should Your Portfolio Be?

08:22 Pay Off Your Mortgage or Invest?

09:27 Tax Implications of Inheriting an IRA

11:02 Tax Implications of Other Inheritances

12:14 Do You Need a Trust?

Ready to plan with intention?

Schedule a conversation with McCarty Wealth to build a strategy for your retirement, your investments, and your legacy.

4175 US-1, Suite 101, Rockledge, FL 32955

(321) 221-7870

Listen on the go: Search “Finance Unfiltered” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

Subscribe for full episodes and deep dives every month.

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The Fed made its September move. Inflation is still hitting the grocery bill. And everyone's asking about the $5,000 "Trump checks." What does any of it mean for your money, and who should you trust to manage it?

Susan sits down with Luke McCarty, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and founder of McCarty Wealth, whose money advice has been featured in Forbes and Kiplinger. They start with the big picture, then bring it home to your bank account and the advisor managing it.

In this episode:

00:00 Intro

00:42 The Fed's September decision

2:20 Where inflation really stands

3:32 The $5,000 "Trump checks": real or not?

4:45 How much cash should you hold in the bank?

6:21 Are you a fiduciary?

8:15 How often do you meet with clients?

10:13 Can you help with my taxes?

11:42 Wrap-up

Subscribe for full episodes and deep dives. Prefer to listen? Search "Finance Unfiltered" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music and hit follow.

Work with McCarty Wealth

4175 US-1 Ste 101, Rockledge, FL 32955

(321) 221-7870

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Taxes, Roth conversions, and what to actually do with your 401(k) when you retire. These are the decisions that quietly cost people thousands when they get them wrong.

In this episode, Susan sits down with Luke McCarty of McCarty Wealth to break down his newly published Kiplinger article on retiree tax tips, then dig into the Roth IRA debate, concentrated stock positions, and post-retirement 401(k) strategy.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro

0:16 – Key takeaways

1:26 – Kiplinger Tip #1

2:03 – Kiplinger Tip #2

2:38 – Kiplinger Tip #3

3:28 – Kiplinger Tip #4

4:17 – Kiplinger Tip #5

5:19 – The Roth IRA Debate

7:00 – Concentrated Stock Positions

8:42 – 401(k) Post-Retirement

📖 Read Luke's full Kiplinger article here: https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/tax-planning/quick-tax-tips-for-retirees

Have a question you want answered on the next episode? Drop it in the comments below.

Connect with McCarty Wealth: https://www.mccartywealth.com/

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Join Susan and Luke as they break down the real talk on annuities: are they actually worth it, what happens if you're locked into a bad policy, and how the McCarty Wealth team handles fees with full transparency. Plus, planning a legacy when you don't have kids.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Intro

0:40 – Does a CFP® recommend annuities?

3:23 – Stuck in my current policy — what do I do?

5:36 – McCarty Wealth's fees: transparent pricing

7:06 – Leaving a legacy behind with no children

8:28 – Outro / next episode

📍 4175 US-1 Ste 101, Rockledge, FL 32955

📞 (321) 221-7870

Have a question for our team?

Reach out to McCarty Wealth to schedule a consultation.

🔔 Subscribe for new episodes of Finance Unfiltered.

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Susan sits down with Luke McCarty of McCarty Wealth for a no-fluff breakdown of what's actually moving markets right now. Topics covered:

• How the Iran conflict is influencing portfolio moves and where money is flowing
• What a new Fed Chair (including Kevin Warsh) could mean for markets — and why history isn't on investors' side
• Why the "safe" bond strategy hasn't been so safe lately, and what conservative investors are doing instead
• Where interest rates are headed and how to position now