Prepare for an engaging look at today’s markets and the evolving world of retirement living on this episode of Money Matters! Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd unpack key economic signals before Wes sits down with senior living specialist Jen Franks to explore retirement care and housing options with clarity and practicality.

Analyze how Jerome Powell’s dovish speech at Jackson Hole may have influenced markets and what it might suggest for potential Fed rate changes.

Evaluate housing trends as a driver for U.S. economic growth and what rising building permits may indicate.

Examine the Cracker Barrel logo controversy and learn how market sentiment can sometimes affect stock performance independently of business fundamentals.

Review labor data and immigration shifts to understand their possible impact on employment and the Fed’s cautious approach to inflation.

Clarify the meaning of the neutral rate and its potential implications for interest rates and financial planning.

Comprehend the difference between “restrictive” and neutral rates and how each has affected savers, borrowers, and retirees in the past.

Assess the effects of tariffs on inflation and why the Fed may maintain a “wait and see” stance.

Explore potential shifts in Fed leadership in 2025 and the possible influence on monetary policy.

Discover the distinctions between independent living, assisted living, memory care, and CCRCs with the insights and experience of Jen Franks’ from Serving Seniors.

Compare senior living costs across luxury and mid-tier options, highlighting amenities, services, and care levels included.

Investigate rental versus buy-in models for retirement housing and the role of personal finances in selecting an effective fit.

Recognize the importance of early financial preparation for senior care and strategies to manage compressed planning timelines.

Identify ways adult children can support aging parents in selecting appropriate senior living arrangements when time is limited.

Stay informed and empowered for retirement planning, market awareness, and family financial decisions. Listen now and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast for practical, clear insights on your wealth, retirement, and future.

Get plugged into the conversations shaping today’s markets and retirement strategies on the Money Matters Podcast with Wes Moss and Connor Miller. This week’s episode packs timely economic insights with practical planning concepts to help you approach financial decisions with clarity and confidence.

Examine key economic signals ahead of the Federal Reserve’s upcoming meeting and consider potential effects from shifting interest rates.

Compare the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) to better understand what current inflation data may indicate for household budgets.

Interpret the VIX “Chill-ometer” to understand today’s market volatility readings and their possible implications for investors.

Assess how tariffs can influence inflation and why certain price changes could be temporary.

Follow the path of rising producer costs to the checkout counter with clear, everyday examples.

Review which categories—such as groceries, utilities, and textbooks—are experiencing the largest price increases this year.

Outline the pillars of income investing, including multi-asset approaches, withdrawal rates, dividend growth, the dry powder principle, and tax efficiency.

Discuss the 4% withdrawal guideline as one possible framework within retirement planning.

Highlight how dividend growth may contribute to increasing income potential over time, including the concept of “yield on original cost.”

Explain the role of dry powder, or safety assets, in navigating market downturns.

Explore portfolio approaches that take tax efficiency into account, such as asset location and tax-loss harvesting.

Stay informed with the Money Matters Podcast, where current market developments meet practical retirement planning perspectives. Listen now and subscribe to keep up with the conversations that can shape your financial thinking.

Navigate the shifting landscape of today’s economy in this episode of the Money Matters Podcast with Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd. Get clear, timely conversations on the trends, policies, and market forces shaping your wallet, your investments, and your financial decisions—without the noise or jargon.

• Examine how signs of a cooling job market could influence interest rates and financial planning considerations.

• Review the ongoing reliability of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) job reports, noting that while methodologies can evolve, the agency remains a trusted source for employment data.

• Explore the rapid expansion of gig and part-time work and how it challenges long-standing measures of labor market health.

• Track how labor market changes ripple through inflation, wage trends, and the Federal Reserve’s approach to interest rates.

• Unpack the implications of new global tariffs, including exemptions benefiting U.S.-based manufacturing, and why companies like Apple may be committing major investments domestically.

• Discuss how a more balanced labor market could ease wage inflation pressures and influence future Fed decisions on rate adjustments.

• Analyze the growing role of artificial intelligence and automation in reshaping entry-level job opportunities and long-term career paths.

• Review recent shifts in mortgage rates, including recent declines, and how they may impact affordability for buyers and homeowners.

• Compare unemployment rates between the broader workforce and recent college graduates entering the job market.

• Highlight how college tuition growth continues to outpace general inflation, reinforcing the importance of planning ahead for education expenses.

• Identify key financial milestones—such as paying off a mortgage or funding a child’s education—that may signal greater financial readiness for retirement.

• Reaffirm the value of multi-asset class income investing and how diversified, steadily growing income streams can possibly help maintain purchasing power over time.

Press play and get the context you need to approach your financial journey with clarity. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast today so you never miss a conversation that matters. 🎧

Stay Informed and Empowered in Today’s Shifting Economy.

Get ready to navigate today’s retirement landscape with clarity and confidence. In this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Connor Miller unpack timely economic developments and explore how they may shape your financial decision-making.

• Understand the latest Federal Reserve decisions, including two rare dissenting votes.

• Break down recent GDP data to examine what may be contributing to—or obscuring—economic growth.

• Track shifts in consumer sentiment and housing trends to see how affordability and inventory constraints could be affecting real estate dynamics.

• Analyze the current interest rate and inflation environment, and consider potential implications for borrowing and investing.

• Spot patterns in manufacturing, employment, and corporate earnings that may influence broader market behavior.

• Examine the growing role of artificial intelligence—from market momentum to its potential reshaping of the job market and career resilience.

• Explore how multi-asset income strategies are being used to support income needs and respond to market concentration and inflation risk.

• Apply the CHIME framework—Consumer sentiment, Housing, Interest rates, Manufacturing, and Employment—to help interpret today’s economic signals with a structured lens.

Stay engaged with insights that aim to inform, not predict. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast to stay educated, aware, and confident in your long-term financial planning.

Ready to enhance your understanding of retirement planning and financial markets? Join Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd on this episode of the Money Matters Podcast as they provide balanced insights into current market trends and factors that may influence your financial journey.

• Explore the importance of diversification across multiple income sources in today’s market environment.

• Review recent trends in dividend growth within the S&P 500 and consider how these compare to inflation rates.

• Discuss Federal Reserve policies and their potential effects on interest rates, bonds, mortgages, and broader market conditions.

• Examine current and projected interest and mortgage rate trends alongside housing market developments, including observations about Atlanta’s growth trends.

• Summarize key market events of 2025, including new tariffs, geopolitical developments, U.S. credit rating updates, and recent legislation.

• Note how markets have reached new highs amid volatility and reflect on what this might suggest about economic conditions and investor sentiment.

• Consider S&P 500 valuations and shifts in market leadership beyond mega-cap stocks, with attention to earnings growth trends.

• Review recent U.S.-Japan trade agreements and their possible implications for global trade dynamics.

Stay informed! 🎧 Listen now and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast to stay current with evolving market perspectives.

🎯 Rethink your financial future with the Money Matters Podcast, hosted by Wes Moss and Connor Miller. This episode shares real-world strategies to help you stay focused, informed, and better prepared for retirement—without the jargon.

What you’ll discover in this episode:

• Stay alert to shifting market sentiment tied to central bank leadership and evolving economic policies.

• Watch inflation trends that remain relatively controlled despite modest recent increases.

• Track earnings season highlights from banks, airlines, and semiconductors as corporate profits hold steady.

• Monitor projections of $1 trillion in stock buybacks and $640 billion in dividends, reflecting corporate capital allocation trends.

• Learn how buybacks may influence shareholder yield and earnings per share over time.

• Consider a multi-asset class income investing approach designed to generate income from various asset classes.

• Celebrate a new chapter as producer Mallory welcomes her baby to the Money Matters family.

• Examine near-record-low unemployment and steady wage growth supporting consumer strength.

• Explore accelerating AI adoption and its potential impact on worker productivity.

• Follow continued consumer momentum with rising retail and dining sales.

• Evaluate how recent tax legislation and tariff frameworks might shape long-term fiscal stability.

• Recognize that market volatility could accompany positive returns.

• Note a healthier market with nearly half of stocks outperforming benchmarks.

• Reinforce the value of diversification as bonds resume their role in offsetting equity swings.

• Explore building a total return strategy blending income and growth for added balance.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast for practical insights to help support your long-term financial confidence.

Transform your financial future with Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd in this action-focused episode of the Money Matters Podcast. Break down the newly passed "One Big Beautiful Bill" and explore its potentially wide-ranging impact on taxes, retirement planning, and long-term financial flexibility.

• Examine what OBBB means for future tax rates.

• Take advantage of higher SALT deduction limits, potentially reducing your tax burden.

• Utilize new tax treatment for tips and overtime income, helpful for both retirees and part-time earners.

• Accelerate business growth with expanded immediate expensing for investments.

• Plan more confidently for the future with a higher estate tax exemption.

Understand how these changes may create new planning opportunities—and why markets seem to remain resilient despite fiscal uncertainty.

🎧 Listen and subscribe, and start building a future you can feel good about. Visit yourwealth.com to connect with the Money Matters team.

On today’s episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase unlock powerful retirement and investment moves that could help shape your financial future. Today, they:

• Explore how a couple with $5M in assets can consider early retirement while balancing tuition payments and uncertain markets.

• Calculate the power of the 4% rule and see how $5M can potentially yield $200,000 annually in sustainable withdrawals.

• Learn why emotional timing and slow investing may not always serve you best in today's interest rate environment.

• Discover the real purpose of a financial manager—and why it's not about “beating” the S&P 500.

• Examine the peace of mind that can come come from a 6-9 month investment strategy instead of stretching it over years.

• Hear from a retired law enforcement officer with a $4,200/month pension weighing travel vs. keeping property—find out why selling his home may unlock nearly $90K/year in income.

• Understand how capital gains exclusions might work when selling a primary residence before moving abroad.

• Get clarity on using the new 529-to-Roth rollover rule—how parents can repurpose unused college funds for their working children.

• Adjust your withdrawal strategy based on life expectancy—learn how shorter horizons (like 20 years) might allow for higher withdrawal rates, up to 5.5%.

• Evaluate pension options that vary in payout length and amount—see how selecting the right one could impact your long-term cash flow.

• Align retirement timing with market conditions—hear why one couple may want to delay retirement to avoid locking in stock losses.

• Balance equity-heavy portfolios before retirement to help avoid relying too heavily on market performance.

• Plan major home renovations before retiring—discover why waiting could turn into a costly trap.

• Examine harnessing low-income years to help strategically harvest long-term capital gains—while possibly staying in the 0% tax bracket.

• Use tax loss harvesting to offset gains and rebalance portfolios more efficiently.

• Hear a real success story: consistent $1,000/month investing for 20 years yields over $2M—now learn how to effectively shift from aggressive to conservative assets.

• Understand the difference between Roth contributions and Roth conversions—and avoid costly mix-ups.

👉 **Don’t miss this episode if you're ready to take control of your retirement with purpose, clarity, and confidence. Listen, download, and **SUBSCRIBE!

What if the most strategic life and retirement decisions aren’t based on instinct—but on data? In this fascinating episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss is joined by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz—acclaimed author, economist, and data scientist—to explore what big data reveals about our hidden motivations, happiness triggers, and real-world success stories.

🎧 Tune in to discover:

• The Truth Behind Google Searches: What anonymous search data tells us that surveys and social media can’t.

• Why Childhood Can Shape Sports Fandom: The age when loyalty locks in—and how fantasy sports are rewriting the rules.

• Climate & Mental Health: How living in warmer areas can measurably reduce depression, especially in winter.

• Why We Make the Wrong Big Decisions: Gut feelings often mislead—see what the numbers say about more effective choices.

• The Real Keys to Relationship Success: What data says actually predicts long-term happiness in love.

• Who Really Gets Rich: More than actors or Wall Street bankers—learn how regional business owners quietly rise to the top 1%.

• What Shapes Your Kids’ Future: Why neighborhoods and mentors matter more than parenting styles.

• A Better Retirement Blueprint: Strong relationships and time near the water may be the real keys to joy in retirement.

• Surprising Myths Busted by Big Data: From who finishes the books they buy to how parents treat sons vs. daughters.

🔍 Action Step: Want more retirement tools and insights? Visit yourwealth.com.

Hit play now to start building a data-backed life—and purpose-filled, happy retirement.

Dive into this episode for practical insights, updated research, and actionable retirement anecdotes. 🚀

Wes Moss and Connor Miller cut out the financial jargon and help you jumpstart your strategy. Discover:

• Groundbreaking new findings from the Money and Happiness in America study—including how much liquid savings may land you in the “green zone” of retirement happiness.

• The evolving benchmarks for financial comfort and the plateau effect of wealth on happiness.

• Why uncontrollable economic circumstances often top retirees' list of worries.

• How geopolitical events and oil prices could intertwine with retirement planning

• Surprising stats about the happiness levels of Americans near retirement and why simply reaching retirement might boost happiness dramatically.

• The persistent “fear of running out of money”—even among high-net-worth individuals.

• A look at today’s tough job market for recent college grads and the impact of AI.

• The widening gap between market optimism among Republicans and Democrats.

• What history says: Staying invested usually beats trying to time the market based on politics.

• Free new ebook guide for retirement planning by decade, available at yourwealth.com