Social Security going broke? AI stocks too hot to handle? Wondering when you should stop chasing growth and start protecting what you've built?

Adam and Andy discuss three questions they're hearing frequently from clients right now. First, they break down what "going broke" actually means for Social Security (it's not as dire as the headlines make it sound). Then they throw cold water on the AI investment frenzy and explain why you're probably already more exposed than you think. Finally, they introduce a framework for thinking about when your portfolio should shift from growth mode to protection mode.

⏱️ Timestamps: 

• (1:09) Intro: Three client questions about Social Security, AI, and portfolio protection

• (1:32) Will Social Security run out of money?

• (5:25) Three solutions Congress might consider to fix the funding gap

• (10:38) Should you invest more heavily in AI right now?

• (17:32) When should protecting wealth become more important than growing it?

• (20:08) Defining tier one capital: your "don't screw it up" money

• (22:15) What tier two capital is and how to think about it differently

• (30:00) Podcast disclosures

Resources:

Follow Burney Wealth Management on LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/company/burneywealthmanagement 

Follow Adam Newman on Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/adam-newman-cfa-cfp%C2%AE-mst-ricp%C2%AE-cepa-48853916/ 

Follow Andy Pratt on LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/andyjpratt/ 

#RetirementPlanning #SocialSecurity #InvestmentStrategy #WealthManagement

The Burney Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Burney Wealth Management is a division of the Burney Company. Registration with the SEC or any state securities authority does not imply that Burney Company or any of its principals or employees possesses a particular level of skill or training in the investment advisory business or any other business. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as personalized investment advice or a recommendation.

The quarterly webinar live Q&A session covered the topics clients care about most right now. Adam and Andy spent 30 minutes answering questions on international investing, market volatility, tariffs, Bitcoin, gold, and what to expect in 2026.

International stocks dominated the questions. Clients wanted to know how Burney accesses these markets (through funds with on-the-ground analysts), whether the 20-30% allocation still makes sense (yes), and how tariffs affect international performance (April's selloff showed international stocks held up better than U.S. markets).

Volatility questions came next, triggered by the week's 2% down day. Andy provided benchmarks: expect dozens of 1-2% down days yearly, one 10% correction per year, and a 20% bear market every four to five years. Volatility isn't a warning sign. It's the cost of stock returns.

Bitcoin and gold both came up. Andy explained why crypto remains speculative despite the recent drop from $130,000 to $90,000 (multiple 90% drawdowns in its history). Gold's strong 2025 performance looks tempting, but it still fails portfolio optimization tests.

Adam tackled AI investment concerns, noting the strong earnings growth happening outside AI stocks. Tax changes from the Big Beautiful Bill got attention too. The new SALT caps and senior deductions are creating stimulus most people haven't noticed yet.

⏱️ Timestamps: 

• (00:35) Introduction to webinar Q&A format

• (01:35) International investing strategies: Funds vs. individual stocks

• (04:52) Are developed foreign markets better short-term investments?

• (06:30) Tariffs and international performance: The April lesson

• (08:38) Trump's Greenland threats: Distraction or market mover?

• (10:29) Economic slowdowns in Russia & Iran

• (11:46) Best way to access international stocks for 2026

• (14:55) What to make of market volatility

• (17:24) Yesterday's 2% selloff in perspective

• (18:52) Is now a good time to invest in Bitcoin?

• (20:52) Gold stocks soaring: Should you chase the trend?

• (24:16) Tax changes in 2026 and market impact

• (27:56) Why small caps lag large caps

• (29:39) AI investment slowdown concerns

• (33:13) First quarter 2026 expectations

• (35:43) Podcast disclosures

Resources:

Follow Burney Wealth Management on LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/company/burneywealthmanagement 

Follow Adam Newman on Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/adam-newman-cfa-cfp%C2%AE-mst-ricp%C2%AE-cepa-48853916/ 

Follow Andy Pratt on LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/andyjpratt/ 

Understanding the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA): What High Net Worth Families Need to Know | https://burneywealth.com/blog/understanding-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act 

Have questions you want answered on the podcast? Email [email protected].

#InternationalInvesting #MarketVolatility #TaxPlanning #Bitcoin #WealthManagement

The Burney Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Burney Wealth Management is a division of the Burney Company. Registration with the SEC or any state securities authority does not imply that Burney Company or any of its principals or employees possesses a particular level of skill or training in the investment advisory business or any other business. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as personalized investment advice or a recommendation.

The headlines around Morningstar's updated safe withdrawal rate study sent many retirees into a panic. The so-called "4% rule" just became the "3.9% rule," which sounds like a rounding error worth ignoring. But Adam breaks down why the assumptions behind that number matter much more than the headline itself.

The conversation moves to estate planning and an interesting Wall Street Journal piece about a billionaire who holds quarterly family meetings to review finances and estate plans. That level of transparency might not work for everyone, but the principle applies across wealth levels: communication prevents chaos. Nobody wants their family scrambling to piece together accounts and passwords after a loss.

The discussion wraps with the Federal Reserve drama that dominated headlines over the weekend. While the DOJ investigation into Jerome Powell grabbed attention, markets barely flinched. Sometimes the most dramatic headlines deliver the least market impact.

We cover:

• Why Morningstar's 3.9% withdrawal rate assumes things most retirees don't actually do
• The hidden assumptions: 30-50% equity allocation and linear spending for 30 years
• How spending flexibility could push safe withdrawal rates closer to 5.5-6%
• Why quarterly family money meetings (billionaire style) might be overkill, but annual estate plan reviews aren't
• The minimum conversation every couple needs to have about where things are
• Federal Reserve independence, DOJ investigations, and why markets yawned
• Andy’s basement renovation indicator as a bear market predictor

⏱️ Timestamps:

• (01:06) Kindergarten milestones and birthday party economics
• (02:36) Safe retirement withdrawal rates: Unpacking Morningstar's study
• (12:33) Estate planning lessons: The billionaire's quarterly family money meeting
• (20:24) Federal Reserve drama: DOJ, Jerome Powell, and Fed independence
• (29:21) Podcast disclosures

Resources:

Follow Burney Wealth Management on LinkedIn

Follow Adam Newman on Linkedin

Follow Andy Pratt on LinkedIn

Morningstar: The State of Retirement Income for 2026

Wall Street Journal Article: Why This Billionaire Holds a Family Meeting About Money Once a Quarter?

#RetirementPlanning #WithdrawalRates #EstatePlanning #FederalReserve #WealthManagement

The Burney Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Burney Wealth Management is a division of the Burney Company. Registration with the SEC or any state securities authority does not imply that Burney Company or any of its principals or employees possesses a particular level of skill or training in the investment advisory business or any other business. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as personalized investment advice or a recommendation.

In this look back at 2025, Adam and Andy break down the charts and trends that defined the year. From international equities quietly outperforming U.S. stocks by nearly double, to gold unexpectedly beating Bitcoin, the year delivered some surprises most investors missed.

They discuss why bonds finally delivered the returns investors have been waiting for since 2022, what drove the massive AI infrastructure spending boom, and why India's exceptional 2024 performance turned into a flat 2025. The conversation also covers the resiliency of the U.S. economy, including Q3's decade-high GDP growth that caught everyone off guard.

We cover:

• Why international equities pushed 30% while getting little attention

• Gold outperforming Bitcoin (who had that on their bingo card?)

• The cautionary tale of India's performance flip from 2024 to 2025

• How bonds normalized after the brutal 2022 selloff

• Record GDP growth in Q3 2025 and what it means

• The staggering AI infrastructure spending numbers from Big Tech

• Tax cuts creating stimulus most people haven't fully appreciated

• Biggest risks for 2026: AI expectations and cybersecurity threats

⏱️ Timestamps: 

• ((01:26) Happy New Year and personal highlights from 2025

• (02:20) Market recap: The round trip year with near-bear market drama

• (04:25) International equities quietly dominated 2025

• (05:40) Gold beats Bitcoin: The commodity surprise of the year

• (10:51) India's cautionary tale: From hero to zero

• (12:17) The bond market comeback story

• (17:20) U.S. economy resilience: Q3's decade-high GDP growth

• (18:49) AI infrastructure spending reaches staggering levels

• (20:52) Tax cuts creating underappreciated stimulus for 2026

• (25:36) Biggest risks for 2026: AI payoff and cybersecurity

• (29:49) Closing thoughts

• (30:13) Podcast disclosures

Resources:

Follow Burney Wealth Management on LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/company/burneywealthmanagement 

Follow Adam Newman on Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/adam-newman-cfa-cfp%C2%AE-mst-ricp%C2%AE-cepa-48853916/ 

Follow Andy Pratt on LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/andyjpratt/ 

Understanding the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA): What High Net Worth Families Need to Know | https://burneywealth.com/blog/understanding-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act 

Ep #26: Protecting Your Wealth: A Cybersecurity Guide with Max Alles | https://burneywealth.com/blog/cybersecurity-guide-max-alles-long-story-short-episode-26 

#2025Review #MarketRecap #InternationalStocks #BondMarket #WealthManagement

The Burney Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Burney Wealth Management is a division of the Burney Company. Registration with the SEC or any state securities authority does not imply that Burney Company or any of its principals or employees possesses a particular level of skill or training in the investment advisory business or any other business. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as personalized investment advice or a recommendation.

Welcome to 2026. In this episode, Adam and Andy kick off the new year by breaking down the financial housekeeping tasks you should tackle in January, plus key tax law changes taking effect this year.

They also address the question everyone's asking: Can this bull market keep going? Adam walks through historical data showing that the current 38-month, 90% rally is actually quite average compared to past bull markets that lasted 130+ months with gains exceeding 500%.

We cover:

• Financial housekeeping for the new year (savings, spending, risk assessment)

• New charitable giving deductions for non-itemizers

• Changes to itemized charitable deductions based on AGI

• Affordable Care Act subsidy uncertainty heading into 2026

• Estate tax exemption increase to $15 million per person

• Historical bull market data and what it tells us about 2026

• Key trends to watch: International stocks, AI development, growth vs. value rotation

• Why midterm elections shouldn't drive your investment decisions

⏱️ Timestamps: 

• (01:30) Happy New Year and financial housekeeping tips

• (06:47) Changes to charitable giving deductions in 2026

• (09:50) Affordable Care Act tax subsidy uncertainty

• (11:28) Estate tax exemption increases to $15 million

• (13:10) Can the stock market keep going higher?

• (18:07) Historical bull market data puts 2026 in perspective

• (20:33) Themes for 2026: AI, international stocks, and value rotation

• (25:05) How the new Fed chair and midterm elections factor in

• (28:12) Podcast disclosures

Resources:

Follow Burney Wealth Management on LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/company/burneywealthmanagement 

Follow Adam Newman on Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/adam-newman-cfa-cfp%C2%AE-mst-ricp%C2%AE-cepa-48853916/ 

Follow Andy Pratt on LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/andyjpratt/ 

#2026Outlook #MarketOutlook #TaxPlanning #BullMarket #WealthManagement

The Burney Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Burney Wealth Management is a division of the Burney Company. Registration with the SEC or any state securities authority does not imply that Burney Company or any of its principals or employees possesses a particular level of skill or training in the investment advisory business or any other business. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as personalized investment advice or a recommendation.

Adam and Andy tackle an important investment decision: how to divide your portfolio across cash, bonds, stocks, and alternatives.

They start by explaining the two factors that actually matter for determining asset allocation: your personal risk tolerance and how much income you need from the portfolio. Age-based rules like "subtract your age from 100" completely miss these critical inputs.

Then they walk through each building block. Cash is great for emergencies but terrible for long-term investing because of inflation. Bonds offer stability and income but come with credit risk and interest rate risk that many investors don't fully understand. Stocks provide the best long-term inflation protection but require stomaching significant volatility along the way.

They finish with alternatives, cutting through the hype to explain when private equity, private credit, and managed futures actually make sense as diversifiers rather than home run swings.

We cover:

• Why your age doesn't determine your appropriate risk level
• How to think about risk tolerance when markets are calm versus during selloffs
• Cash as an emergency fund versus portfolio holding
• Why inflation is the silent wealth killer
• Credit risk versus interest rate risk in bonds
• The inverse relationship between interest rates and bond prices
• Stock market volatility: what to actually expect each year
• How volatility decreases over longer time horizons
• Alternatives as diversifiers, not performance enhancers
• Which alternative strategies we use and why

⏱️ Timestamps:

• (01:05) Introducing asset allocation and why it’s important
• (03:31) The two inputs that determine your allocation
• (08:10) Should older individuals avoid risk?
• (09:58) Pros & cons: Cash
• (16:07) Pros & cons: Bonds
• (25:53) Pros & cons: Stocks
• (32:31) Pros & cons: Alternatives
• (40:19) Podcast disclosures

Resources:

Follow Burney Wealth Management on LinkedIn

Follow Adam Newman on Linkedin

Follow Andy Pratt on LinkedIn

Ep. #16: The Psychology of Investing: Why We Make Bad Money Decisions

Ep. #24: Required Minimum Distributions, The Fear & Greed Index, and Private Equity

#AssetAllocation #InvestmentStrategy #PortfolioConstruction #RetirementPlanning #WealthManagement #FinancialPlanning

The Burney Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Burney Wealth Management is a division of the Burney Company. Registration with the SEC or any state securities authority does not imply that Burney Company or any of its principals or employees possesses a particular level of skill or training in the investment advisory business or any other business. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as personalized investment advice or a recommendation.

Adam and Andy explain required minimum distributions (RMDs) after fielding countless year-end questions from clients. If you've ever been confused about when RMDs start, how they're calculated, or what happens if you mess them up, this episode covers everything you need to know.

The conversation shifts to CNN's Fear & Greed Index hitting "extreme fear" after just a 5% market pullback. They explain why this type of overreaction is exactly why market timing rarely works and how retail investors might actually be getting smarter.

They wrap up with a deep dive into private equity: the dispersion between top and bottom managers, why access matters more than most people realize, and when it makes sense as a portfolio diversifier versus a home run swing.

We cover:

• RMD basics: when they start, how to calculate them, and common mistakes to avoid

• Why you should consider Roth conversions in the window before RMDs begin

• Qualified charitable distributions as a tax-efficient RMD strategy

• The Fear & Greed Index overreacting to normal market volatility

• How Bitcoin's decline is drawing more questions than its rally to $100k

• Private equity's growing accessibility and what that actually means

• The massive performance gap between best and worst PE managers

• Why private equity works better as diversification than speculation

• Understanding liquidity constraints in private investments

⏱️ Timestamps: 

• (00:57) Andy's Thanksgiving carnitas tradition

• (02:13) CNN's Fear & Greed Index hits extreme fear on a 5% dip

• (08:44) RMD mechanics: age requirements and calculation methods

• (14:21) The spouse age factor and special IRS tables

• (16:30) Flexibility in RMD timing and withholding strategies

• (20:22) Qualified charitable distributions explained

• (21:26) Roth accounts and the pre-RMD conversion window

• (25:57) Private equity and its role in asset allocation strategies

• (28:59) The critical importance of manager selection in PE

• (32:23) Private equity as diversification, not home runs

• (37:35) Liquidity considerations in private investments

• (39:15) Podcast disclosures

Resources:

Follow Burney Wealth Management on LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/company/burneywealthmanagement 

Follow Adam Newman on Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/adam-newman-cfa-cfp%C2%AE-mst-ricp%C2%AE-cepa-48853916/ 

Follow Andy Pratt on LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/andyjpratt/ 

CNN Fear & Greed Index | ​​https://www.cnn.com/markets/fear-and-greed 

#RetirementPlanning #TaxPlanning #PrivateEquity #RMDs #PortfolioDiversification #WealthManagement

The Burney Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Burney Wealth Management is a division of the Burney Company. Registration with the SEC or any state securities authority does not imply that Burney Company or any of its principals or employees possesses a particular level of skill or training in the investment advisory business or any other business. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as personalized investment advice or a recommendation.

Adam and Andy dissect a Wall Street Journal article calling for a prolonged bear market to "fix" investor behavior. Spoiler: the argument falls apart under scrutiny, considering we've had five bear markets since 2008.

The conversation shifts to Bitcoin's recent decline from all-time highs and why retail investors might actually be getting smarter about crypto volatility. Then they explore bonds' quiet comeback after the painful 2022 selloff, including why the inverted yield curve finally unwinding is good news for balanced portfolios.

They wrap up with 2026 retirement contribution limits and a critical change coming for high earners making catch-up contributions.

We cover:

• Why the "we need a long bear market" narrative is irresponsible financial journalism

• The difference between normal bear markets and once-in-a-century crises like 2008

• Bitcoin dropping from recent highs as investors wait to buy the dip

• Why bonds are finally playing their traditional portfolio role again

• The inverted yield curve unwinding and what it means for duration strategy

• 2026 retirement contribution limits across 401(k)s, IRAs, and QCDs

• New Roth requirement for catch-up contributions if you earn over $150,000

• Why diversification is making a comeback in 2025

⏱️ Timestamps: 

• (01:00) Wall Street Journal's irresponsible bear market article

• (02:45) The reality of bear market frequency since 2008

• (07:05) Bitcoin falling after hitting $100,000

• (11:18) Understanding Bitcoin's value proposition (or lack thereof)

• (12:30) Bonds making a quiet comeback after 2022's pain

• (16:44) The inverted yield curve and duration strategy

• (19:50) Why diversification is back in 2025

• (22:57) 2026 retirement contribution limits

• (26:17) New Roth catch-up requirement for high earners

• (28:07) Thanksgiving plans

• (29:47) Podcast disclosures

Resources:

Follow Burney Wealth Management on LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/company/burneywealthmanagement 

Follow Adam Newman on Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/adam-newman-cfa-cfp%C2%AE-mst-ricp%C2%AE-cepa-48853916/ 

Follow Andy Pratt on LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/andyjpratt/ 

Book mention: “1929” by Andrew Ross Sorkin | https://www.amazon.com/1929-Inside-Greatest-History-Shattered-ebook/dp/B0DXMZWTYM?ref_=ast_author_mpb 

Sample Financial Plan | https://burneywealth.com/sample-financial-plan?hsLang=en 

Performance Matters: 7 Steps Toward More Effective Investing | https://burneywealth.com/hubfs/lead-magnets/performance-matters-ebook/Performance%20Matters%20-%207%20Steps%20Toward%20More%20Effective%20Investing%20BWM.pdf?hsLang=en 

Retirement Readiness Checklist | https://burneywealth.com/retirement-checklist?hsLang=en 

#RetirementPlanning #Bitcoin #BondInvesting #PortfolioDiversification #WealthManagement

The Burney Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Burney Wealth Management is a division of the Burney Company. Registration with the SEC or any state securities authority does not imply that Burney Company or any of its principals or employees possesses a particular level of skill or training in the investment advisory business or any other business. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as personalized investment advice or a recommendation.

As Thanksgiving approaches, Andy and Adam tackle money conversations at every life stage. From teaching kindergarteners about spending, saving, and giving to helping retirees navigate Social Security claiming decisions.

Andy shares his new allowance system for his 5-year-old, designed to build lifelong financial habits through three buckets: give, save, and spend. The conversation then shifts to creative giving strategies from grandparents, including 401(k)-style matching programs that encourage adult children to save.

The second half digs into Social Security strategy, covering the three biggest claiming mistakes and why delaying benefits often makes sense when you view them as longevity insurance rather than a game to win.

We cover:

• How to introduce money concepts to young children using allowances

• The three-bucket system: give, save, and spend

• Creative multigenerational wealth transfer strategies

• Why taking Social Security at 62 usually costs you (a lot)

• The importance of viewing Social Security decisions within your overall financial plan

• Social Security as longevity insurance, not an investment to beat

• How spousal benefits work and planning for survivor benefits

• Whether Social Security will actually be there when you need it

⏱️ Timestamps: 

• (00:55) Teaching kids about money with allowances

• (04:00) When to start financial education for children

• (07:40) Creative giving strategies for adult children

• (14:23) Top three Social Security claiming mistakes

• (16:38) The steep cost of claiming at 62

• (21:14) Looking at Social Security within your full financial picture

• (24:04) Will Social Security be there when you retire?

• (28:08) Social Security as longevity insurance

• (33:19) Planning Social Security for couples and survivor benefits

• (35:45) Podcast disclosures

Resources:

Follow Burney Wealth Management on LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/company/burneywealthmanagement 

Follow Adam Newman on Linkedin | www.linkedin.com/in/adam-newman-cfa-cfp%C2%AE-mst-ricp%C2%AE-cepa-48853916/ 

Follow Andy Pratt on LinkedIn | www.linkedin.com/in/andyjpratt/ 

#RetirementPlanning #FinancialLiteracy #SocialSecurity #TaxPlanning #WealthManagement

The Burney Company is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Burney Wealth Management is a division of the Burney Company. Registration with the SEC or any state securities authority does not imply that Burney Company or any of its principals or employees possesses a particular level of skill or training in the investment advisory business or any other business. This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as personalized investment advice or a recommendation.