It's All Money

We're in year 3 of interest rates being basically 2-4x what they were the prior 3 years. Just this past month, June 2025, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said “For the time being, we are well positioned to wait to learn more about the likely course of the economy before considering any adjustments to our policy stance.” In other words, NO. At Sonoma Wealth, we plan toward potential futures and outcomes in finance, but also help clients operate under current circumstances. Life doesn't stop for some desired future. If interest rates remain high, how can you adjust? Or even take advantage? In this INTERESTing episode of It's All Money, we look at 4 strategies to employ when interest rates won't drop. What's the root cause of credit card debt? Are you over your skis on your real estate? Why is now a great time to maximize cash? What assets thrive in the market in a high interest rate environment? We hope you or someone you may know impacted by interest rates will find this episode helpful!

Full video available on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/_Tfmt4nhr4o
Learn more about Sonoma Wealth here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/
Book your Wealth Analysis right here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/book-your-wealth-analysis

CHAPTERS
0:00 Cold Open: Waiting For Interest Rates To Drop
1:48 Welcome To It's All Money
6:31 What Even Are “Interest Rates”?
16:08 #1 – Get Your Debt Under Control
22:57 #2 – Be Honest About Real Estate
31:04 #3 – Maximizing Cash
34:41 #4 – What To Do In The Market
40:30 Closing Thoughts

References: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/americans-credit-card-debt-reaches-new-record-high/story?id=118788620 https://www.axios.com/2025/03/07/car-loan-payment-delinquencies-record-high https://www.macrotrends.net/2015/fed-funds-rate-historical-chart https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/historical-cd-rates https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-federal-reserve-trump-inflation-df5b9ac09f0cd283797c6c294a98da9c https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/data-2023-budgeting-report https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/testimony/powell20250624a.htm

We've all been doomscrolling on a phone at god-knows-AM when some stranger in a video says something that makes “sense” about money. Ever wonder what a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® might say to that same video? In this fun episode of It's All Money, we open up the pandora's box of internet money advice and let our Managing Principal, Daren Blonski CFP® give his take. Additionally, Marketing Director and Podcast host Dano Weir shares how an average person might process and logic through some of this content, and the pitfalls therein. Why not just put your emergency fund in an index fund to “make more”? What is the “tolerance for ambiguity”? Why is Bitcoin not the “only store of value”? Should I do a real estate double-backflip to get a “free” G Wagon? Why does the Wolf Of Wall Street call CNBC the “worst thing to happen to investing”? Can you “write off” a private chef? If you ever wanted to throw cold water on the money nonsense you see on the internet, this episode is for you.

Full video available on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/DQBwIDGnE04
Learn more about Sonoma Wealth here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/
Book your Wealth Analysis right here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/book-your-wealth-analysis


CHAPTERS
0:00 Cold Open: What's Inside The Internet?
1:03 Welcome To It's All Money
1:48 Today's Episode: Reacting To Bad Internet Money Advice
2:36 Clip One: Hard Knocks And The Compound Interest Pitch
3:53 What Financial Advisors Actually Do For Their Fee
8:25 Clip Two: The New Bitcoin Ad
8:57 Is Bitcoin Really The "Only" Store Of Value?
12:05 Clip Three: Jerry Jones On "Tolerance For Ambiguity"
14:31 Why Knowing Your Risk Tolerance Helps You Stick To A Plan
18:39 Clip Four: The Two-Income Trap
20:38 How This Ties Back To Today's Economy
23:20 Clip Five: The Wolf Of Wall Street Slams CNBC
25:06 Why Long-Term Thinking Beats Timing The Market
27:50 The I-5 Analogy For Sticking To Your Plan
29:30 Clip Six: The "Free" G-Wagon Real Estate Trick
32:30 Clip Seven: Should Your Emergency Fund Sit In An Index Fund?
33:59 Clip Eight: Can You Really "Write Off" A Private Chef?
36:34 Final Takeaways: Reading Internet Money Advice Wisely
References: https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/literature/whitepaper/re-underwriting-bitcoin.pdf https://advisors.vanguard.com/content/dam/fas/pdfs/IARCQAA.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Two-Income_Trap https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-18-76.pdf

References:
Financial Advice from the Cleveland Brownshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN9WSgeETCoSource: HBO, NFL Films
New Bitcoin Adhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DJkJLeoxlV9/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==Source: Coinbase
Risk Tolerance With Jerry Joneshttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DIgeCK2OLRc/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==Source: Undeniable with Joe Buck
Two Income Traphttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DJcInkGswmB/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==Source: Last Meal With Tom Nash
Wolf Of Wall Street on CNBChttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DIzDFynTxKx/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==Source: @wolfofwallst instagram
Rentals to buy a G Wagonhttps://youtube.com/shorts/FM_ChKFVUJ4?si=cdQWr4R4e1O-X1tMSource: ThachNguyen, YouTube
Emergency Fund in the Market?https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MxZFjTqp4GcSource: Ben Alistor, YouTube
Writing Off My Private Chefhttps://youtube.com/shorts/dwt1fggBga0?si=LS1mljmiqFuDaxh8Source: Karlton Dennis Youtube
https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/literature/whitepaper/re-underwriting-bitcoin.pdfhttps://advisors.vanguard.com/content/dam/fas/pdfs/IARCQAA.pdfhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Two-Income_Traphttps://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-18-76.pdf

Everybody knows ‘Social Security is going to go broke’...but is it? A Social Security discussion often becomes a political one, and a key question often gets ignored for a retiree - what functionally happens to the check I get every month when Social Security 'goes broke'? Would you be surprised to find out you will likely still get a check? In this episode focused on retirees (and not politics), Sonoma Wealth Managing Principal Daren Blonski CFP® and Marketing Director Dano Weir are joined by Certified National Social Security Advisor Clay Dunkle CFP® on the realities of what Social Security might look like for a retiree after 2035. What's inside this episode is not what you've heard in your newsfeed. We hope you find it educational and informational.

Full video available on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/PvJltOGCRlU

Learn more about Sonoma Wealth here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/

Book your Wealth Analysis right here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/book-your-wealth-analysis

CHAPTERS
0:00 Cold Open: Is Social Security Really Going Broke?
0:41 Meet The Guest: Certified Social Security Advisor Clay Dunkle
1:02 Why We're Keeping Politics Out Of This
2:39 How Social Security Is Actually Funded
5:20 From Surplus To Deficit: What Changed
7:23 What Happens When The Trust Fund Runs Dry
9:17 So It Doesn't Go Broke — It Just Pays Less
10:27 The Numbers: Receipts, Expenditures, And The 2034 Deadline
12:34 The Real Problem: Fewer Workers, More Retirees
14:17 How The 2025 Tax Proposals Could Make It Worse
17:07 The Double-Dipping Change Nobody's Talking About
19:35 Should You Even Plan Around Social Security?
22:57 The Big Question: Claim At 62, Full Retirement Age, Or 70?
30:01 Final Takeaways: What To Do About It

References:
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/trsum/ https://www.ssa.gov/news/en/press/releases/2025-06-18.html
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/social-security-fairness-act.html
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/delayret.html

Real Estate Headlines hurt these days don't they? "Pending Sales Hit All Time Low." "Commission Litigation Could Impact Sales." "REAL ESTATE HALTED." While trends, data and comps matter, in real estate every deal is unique and individual. Your friend's house price doesn't matter as much as your list price, your offer price. This week on It's All Money, host Dano Weir and Sonoma Wealth Advisor Shelby Wirick go in search of real answers from realtors actually doing deals right now- Kristie Eddy and Mary Bienek from Sotheby's, Morgan Devencenzi from eXp, Chris Meadors from Compass, Mary Fillinger from Hedge and Miguel Paredes III from Holmes Burrell. Collectively the panel has over $1 billion in real estate transactions across dozens of years in Sonoma, Napa, Marin Counties and beyond.

Filmed on-location at SOMO Cowork in Rohnert Park, CA: https://www.somocowork.com/

Guests:
Kristie Eddy
Sotheby's International Realty
(949) 577-1717
[email protected]
http://www.kristieeddy.com/
Youtube: @kristieeddy
DRE# 02095273

Mary Bienek
Sotheby's International Realty
(707) 787-8659
[email protected]
https://www.sothebysrealty.com/eng/associate/180-a-3176-66368357/mary-bienek
Youtube: @marybienek1
DRE#01877389

Morgan Devencenzi
Sullivan Group @ eXp Realty
(707) 696.8654
[email protected]
https://morgansullivan.exprealty.com/index.php
Youtube: @hellosonomacounty
DRE Number: 02092448

Miguel Paredes III
Holmes Burrell Real Estate
(415) 233-3235
[email protected]
https://miguel.viewnorthbayhomes.com/
Youtube: @miguelaparedesiiiholmesbur8394
DRE License# 01790855

Chris Meadors
Compass Napa and Sonoma
(707) 287-3528
[email protected]
https://www.meadorsgroup.com/
Youtube: @chrismeadors7814
DRE #02024636

Mary Fillinger
Pearson Fillinger Group @ Hedge Realty
(650) 703-4800
[email protected]
https://pearsonfillinger.com/
YouTube: @PearsonFillinger
DRE #02147040

Full video available on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/2nUiLsfHMXA

Learn more about Sonoma Wealth here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/

Book your Wealth Analysis right here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/book-your-wealth-analysis

CHAPTERS
0:00 Cold Open: Meet The Real Estate Panel
4:38 Real Estate Headlines: How Bad Was 2024, Really?
8:07 The COVID Frenzy And Why Inventory Cratered
14:32 What's The Deal With The Commission Lawsuit?
22:48 Interest Rates: Why There's No Such Thing As A Bad One
29:16 Flipping Vs. Buy-And-Hold Right Now
33:15 Why Now Is Actually A Good Time To Buy
39:49 Is Zillow Even Close To Accurate?
45:11 Do First-Time Homebuyers Still Exist In The North Bay?
49:55 Realtor Success Stories: Client Wins That Mattered
1:04:37 Closing Thoughts & Where To Find These Realtors

References: https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/southern-california/housing/2024/09/30/home-turnovers-are-at-their-lowest-level-in-30-years https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/realestate/housing-market-2024-2025.html https://www.realestatenews.com/2025/03/24/home-sales-optimism-fades-with-nar-economists-new-forecast https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-pending-home-sales-tumble-record-low-january-2025-02-27/ https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/industry-news/sonoma-county-lost-decade-of-new-housing-in-2008-financial-crisis/ https://rocket.com/homes/market-reports/ca/sonoma-county https://www.resiclubanalytics.com/p/the-vanishing-young-homebuyer-median-first-time-homebuyer-age-jumps-from-28-in-1991-to-38-in-2024 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/26/realestate/nar-settlement-approval-commissions.html https://www.zillow.com/learn/influencing-your-zestimate/ https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/historical-mortgage-rates-30-year-fixed

You don't want to watch this episode. No one does. But if you're a planner, you probably need to. Depending on the situation, the government can take a 40% bite of what you have just to transfer it from you to your loved ones. Did you know naming every one of your kids as a mutual trustee can actually create a problem for them? What if the mark you wanted to leave on the world isn't left the way you intended? Sonoma Wealth Managing Principal Daren Blonski, CFP®, shares real experiences from countless estate plans, covering federal and state death taxes, how California's Prop 19 can force families to sell inherited property, the 10-year rule on inherited IRAs, step-up in basis on stocks and property, why DIY estate planning is risky, how family dynamics can undo even a well-documented plan, and what a private fiduciary actually does.

Full video available on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/E-E4cwYmgaQ

Learn more about Sonoma Wealth here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/

Book your Wealth Analysis right here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/book-your-wealth-analysis

CHAPTERS
0:00 Cold Open: Does Every Estate Plan Go As Planned?
1:45 Welcome To The Show: Talking Estate Mistakes
5:21 How Federal And State Taxes Hit Your Estate
7:49 The Hidden Cost Of Prop 19 On Inherited Property
11:33 The 10-Year Rule On Inherited IRAs
13:36 Roth Conversions And The Step-Up In Basis
17:05 The Risk Of DIY Estate Planning
21:20 How Family Dynamics Shape An Estate Plan
23:48 What Is A Private Fiduciary?
25:02 What A Well-Planned Estate Looks Like
27:53 Protecting Your Family From Predatory Advisors
28:58 Closing Thoughts

References:
https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/whats-new-estate-and-gift-tax https://www.boe.ca.gov/pdf/pub801.pdf 
https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-beneficiary

"Money's all in your mind" sounds pretty hokey, doesn't it? But trace every decision you've ever made in life, including your money. Where did it all flow from? Right 😉🧠. At Sonoma Wealth Advisors, we offer a holistic approach for our clients (and future clients!). This includes starting at square 1, or even square 0- How do you think about money? What's your behavior around it? What's your history with it? Where did that come from? Are you happy with the results, or time for a reanalysis? In this introspective episode, hosts Dano Weir and Daren Blonski CFP® look at the 8 Ways We Think About Money at Sonoma Wealth Advisors. This is a great episode for someone just getting started with organizing their finances, we hope you enjoy and learn even 1 thing to help you in your journey.

Full video available on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/2G6j5QqV4pI

Learn more about Sonoma Wealth here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/

Book your Wealth Analysis right here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/book-your-wealth-analysis

CHAPTERS
0:00 Cold Open: Everything You Shouldn't Do With Money
0:55 Welcome To The Show: Money Is Mostly Psychology
1:46 Telling Your Money Where To Go
7:32 Understanding Trade-Offs
12:42 Paying Yourself First
16:48 Examining Archaic Mental Models
22:09 Debt Is Not An Asset Class
25:05 The Power Of Getting Organized
32:26 Emotional Intelligence Around Needs And Wants
38:08 Barbell Thinking And Diversification
41:58 The 8 Ways, In Reverse
42:57 Closing Thoughts And Next Steps

References: https://www.advisorperspectives.com/articles/2025/02/12/nvidia-shares-no-longer-bulletproof-deepseek-fears

We’ve all “done our taxes”. Gather up documents, send them in to your person or software program, maybe you write a check or maybe you receive a check. But have you ever had a conversation with a professional about the long-term tax burden of being in certain investments? How a move you make today could affect your taxes in 5 years? Has anyone ever told you that certain charitable contributions you’re making you thought weren’t deductible could be with a Donor-Advised Fund under certain circumstances? These are insights learned during Tax Planning, also called Tax Observations. Our own Clay Dunkle CFP®, AIF® makes his debut on It's All Money to discuss one of his favorite parts of the business, and analyze the subtle nuance of the phrase “It's not what you make that matters, it's what you keep that counts.”

Full video available on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/ZzXenWLy6gY

Learn more about Sonoma Wealth here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/

Book your Wealth Analysis right here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/book-your-wealth-analysis

CHAPTERS
0:00 The $20 Tax Question (Cold Open)
0:35 Meet Clay Dunkle: His Podcast Debut
1:56 Tax Planning vs. Tax Service: What's the Difference?
5:53 What a Real Tax Planning Review Looks Like
9:17 It's Not What You Make, It's What You Keep
10:04 Why Good Tax Help Is Getting Harder to Find
14:53 Case Study: Meet John Doe
16:55 The Backdoor Roth IRA Strategy
18:53 Donor-Advised Funds Explained
20:42 Annuity Distributions and Taxes
23:00 Home Sale Cost Basis and Capital Improvements
25:33 Closing Thoughts and Next Steps
References: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc701 https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8606 https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/guidance/charitable-tax-strategies/bunching-charitable-donations.html

Is your "financial advisor" actually a Broker? An insurance agent? Or a Fiduciary to you?
Host Dano Weir and Sonoma Wealth Managing Principals Daren Blonski CFP® and Chris Sipes CFP® look at the key questions around the broker v. fiduciary divide. How are they paid? Why is a "suitable" investment for you perhaps very different than something in your "best interest"? Wait, why wouldn't your advisor show you something in your best interest? And find out your answer to this question- is it time to breakup with your broker?

Full video available on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/rFLQZLj1Lc8

If you're new to Sonoma Wealth, book your Wealth Analysis right here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/book-your-wealth-analysis

CHAPTERS
0:00 Cold Open: Are You Buying From A Broker?
1:11 Welcome To It's All Money: Is It Time To Break Up With Your Broker?
2:26 What Is A Fiduciary?
3:22 Why "Best Interest" Rules Keep Getting Blocked
5:37 The Car Dealership Example: Minivan Vs. Truck
6:57 Why This Relationship Feels So Personal
8:12 Daren's Story As A "Recovering Broker"
11:35 How Fiduciaries Actually Get Paid
12:55 The Hybrid Advisor Problem
13:41 What CFP Really Means
16:06 CFP Vs. Financial Advisor: What's The Difference?
20:04 Why Advisors Never Stop Studying
21:27 Wall Street's Manufacturing Business And Share Classes
25:04 The "Happy Meal" Brokerage
26:37 The Real Cost Of Staying With The Wrong Advisor
28:57 Are You Ready To Break Up With Your Broker?
29:23 The One Question To Ask Any Advisor
30:38 Closing: How To Reach Sonoma Wealth

References:
https://www.aoshearman.com/en/insights/texas-two-step-dol-fiduciary-rule-halted-by-texas-district-courts
https://www.cfp.net/ethics/code-of-ethics-and-standards-of-conduct

It's a New Year, and you might be dreaming of making that big leap. That career you've always wondered and worried about. How would it affect your income? Would you make it? How could you afford it before you make it? How much would it cost? This guy did it. In 2020, carpenter Johnny Fagundes saw meat shortages on TV as a result of the pandemic, and after years of raising cattle on the side, jumped in with both feet to follow his dream. It's All Money host Dano Weir sits down with Johnny at his farm, Full Circle Ranches in west Petaluma, CA to discuss his story of entrepreneurship and his holistic ranching philosophy.

Full video available on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/91_T0FRza2Y

Learn more about Sonoma Wealth here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/
Learn more about Full Circle Ranches here: https://fullcircleranches.com/
Learn more about Panizzera Meat Company here: https://www.panizzerameatco.com/

Book your Wealth Analysis right here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/book-your-wealth-analysis

CHAPTERS
0:00 Show Open: Boots, Pearl Snaps, And Full Circle Ranches
1:06 A Tour Of Full Circle Ranches' Home Base
2:11 From Grandfather's Cattle To A Weekend Hobby
3:44 The Union Carpenter Career Before The Ranch
4:25 Watching The Meat Shortage On TV During Lockdown
4:58 Why There Was Nowhere Local To Process Cattle
5:17 From Backyard Idea To A USDA-Licensed Mobile Harvest Unit
6:25 What The Community Thought Of The New Guy
6:58 A Federal Inspector Watches Every Animal
8:57 The Old-Timer Who Taught Him To Butcher
10:50 Two Businesses: JMF Slaughter Vs. Full Circle Ranches
11:09 What "Full Circle" Really Means
12:54 Breeding For Marbling, Flavor, And Grade
15:37 How Much Space Do The Cattle Actually Get?
18:09 Has Being The New Guy Ruffled Any Feathers?
19:57 Four Years In: Living The Dream
21:47 His One Piece Of Advice For Anyone Dreaming Of The Leap
23:36 Lena's Role Running Full Circle Ranches
25:39 The Story Behind The Beef Tallow Hand Cream
27:31 What Makes Sonoma County Beef Different — And Why Most Ship To Nebraska
31:15 Where To Find Full Circle Ranches Beef
32:34 Closing: New Studio Vibes And A Truck Of Hay

References:
https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/whats-your-beef-prime-choice-or-select https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9478983/

Back To School after 20+ years to pay it forward. Dano Weir and Daren Blonski CFP® host the first episode of It's All Money with a live audience back at their high school, Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, CA. The firm recently passed the billion dollars under management mark, and it felt like a good occasion to return to the place where both hosts' educational foundation began and share some life experiences and business tips with tomorrow's business leaders. The questions from Mr. Meirik's Entrepreneurship Class rolled in fast — career advice, what a financial advisor actually does, borrowing money from family, crypto, and whether to follow your passion or the money.

Full video available on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/RLeBwomN4CU
Learn more about Sonoma Wealth here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/
Book your Wealth Analysis right here: https://sonomawealthadvisors.com/book-your-wealth-analysis

CHAPTERS
0:00 Welcome To Our First Live Audience
1:43 What Does It Mean To Manage A Billion Dollars?
2:37 From Firefighter To Financial Advisor
4:52 Green Lights: Deciding And Letting The Universe Show Up
8:57 Pivot: Why You Have To Kill Your Sacred Cow
10:26 Knocking On 9,000 Doors For His First Client
12:38 What Social Media Gets Wrong About Millionaires
13:38 What A Financial Advisor Actually Does
14:14 Creating Value Vs. Chasing Money
15:09 Money As A Tool For Meaningful Life Moments
15:36 Where Does Your Money Actually Live?
16:19 The Biggest Money Mistake New Grads Make
17:21 Investing In Yourself Is A Superpower
18:48 When Should You Start Investing?
19:40 Is It OK To Borrow Money From Family?
20:36 Does A Fancy Car Mean You're Wealthy?
21:00 Student Q&A: What Inspired The Podcast?
25:42 What Makes A Business Successful, From The Ground Up
28:58 Do You Even Need An Advisor If You Can Use Vanguard?
30:49 Behavioral Finance: Your Brain Is Wired To Get It Wrong
33:21 Broker Vs. Fiduciary: The Difference That Matters
35:21 Where Insurance Agents Cross The Fiduciary Line
36:27 Meme Coins, Pump And Dumps, And Rug Pulls
38:34 How Daren Finds Value In His Work
42:39 Should Young People Trade Stocks?
50:44 Should You Follow Your Passion Or The Money?
52:43 "We Can't Do Everything, But You Can Do Anything"
55:49 Closing: Thank You, Casa Grande

References:
https://advisors.vanguard.com/advisors-alpha https://www.fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/national-debt/ https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fiduciary.asp https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/broker.asp