Money Matters With Wes Moss

Unpredictable markets may make even experienced investors question what matters most. In this Money Matters Podcast episode, Wes Moss and Connor Miller seek to put market volatility, interest rates, stock market history, bonds, inflation, and diversified investing into perspective. 

·       Reconsider what the "market average" means by exploring how University of Chicago researchers in the 1960s helped establish a widely used measure of the long-term performance of the overall U.S. stock market, and how that history may influence how investors assess portfolio performance. 00:00:09

·       Examine how higher interest rates may affect mortgage payments, 401(k) accounts, consumer borrowing, business activity, and the wider U.S. economy. 00:00:26

·       Recognize how investment-account high-water marks may affect investor behavior, expectations, and reactions during periods of stock market volatility. 00:01:16

·       Trace the development of stock market benchmarks, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500, and consider why they may remain associated with long-term market performance. 00:05:05

·       Explore educational aspects of broad market participation as a contrast to a narrower set of individual stocks. 00:07:27

·       Assess what approximately a century of U.S. stock market returns might illustrate about long-term investing and financial planning. 00:09:13

·       Examine how the more than $50 trillion U.S. fixed-income market may have responded to shifting interest rates, and why bond yields, bond prices, and diversification may matter to investors. 00:11:45

·       Consider how investment returns may vary from year to year, and examine the historical difference between short-term market results and longer-term return patterns. 00:12:55

·       Connect inflation, economic growth, government debt, and interest rates to the forces that may influence market conditions, household budgets, and purchasing power. 00:14:22

·       Assess why higher bond yields may have increased interest in fixed income, and how bonds may be associated with income potential and diversification within certain balanced-portfolio approaches. 00:21:08

·       Compare how longer holding periods have historically influenced the frequency of positive returns among stocks, bonds, and balanced portfolios, while recognizing that past performance does not guarantee future results. 00:26:06

·       Understand the relationship between bond prices, yields, and duration, and consider why higher starting yields may be associated with income potential and a degree of resilience during some periods of price volatility. 00:29:41

Market conditions, interest rates, and investment returns can change quickly, but a thoughtful framework may help you evaluate the information behind the headlines. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast for conversations with Wes Moss and Connor Miller on investing, retirement planning, bonds, inflation, and long-term financial decision-making.

Fall is here, but interest rates aren't falling. On this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd look at why the 10-year Treasury yield climbed above 5% and what higher rates may mean for investors, savers, and retirees.

·       Analyze the jump in the 10-year Treasury yield and why stocks don't always like a strong economy.

·       Explore the latest manufacturing PMI and GDPNow data, and how market expectations for Federal Reserve policy have shifted since the start of 2026.

·       Track CPI and PCE inflation, and why the Fed may be watching one measure more closely than the other.

·       Consider how the competition for capital between stocks and bonds may influence markets when yields reach new levels.

·       Examine why bond yields are near their highest point in about 20 years and how mortgage rates back above 7% may affect the housing market.

·       Unpack how the Treasury, major banks, and the Federal Reserve work together to expand the money supply, and how pandemic-era stimulus contributed to inflation.

·       Discover research from Jean Chatzky's new book, The Forever Paycheck, suggesting many retirees may underspend in retirement.

·       Learn why income may feel easier for retirees to spend than assets, and how the growth plus incomeequation may factor into total return.

·       Climb the Yield Ladder to see the range of dividend, interest, and distribution income available in today's market.

·       Review how the S&P 500 has historically performed in the 12 months following midterm elections, remembering that past performance does not guarantee future results.

From rising rates and inflation to retiree spending and income investing, Wes and Jeff unpack what a shifting market may mean for your portfolio. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast for more educational conversations about the economy, investing, and retirement.

What do everyday millionaires, Coast FI, pension decisions, and Roth conversions have to do with your financial future? On this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase tackle a wide-ranging mix of money questions about building wealth, planning for retirement, and understanding the potential financial trade-offs along the way.

From everyday millionaires and Coast FI to pensions, taxes, and Roth conversions, this episode puts some of retirement planning’s biggest questions on the table. Listen to the Money Matters Podcast with Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase, and subscribe for more conversations about investing, wealth building, retirement planning, and financial independence.

What are oil prices, interest rates, AI, and American entrepreneurs telling us about today’s economy? On this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Connor Miller analyze the latest economic and market headlines and provide context to investing, technology, and U.S. household wealth.

·       Explore how oil, diesel, and inflation trends may affect consumers, financial markets, and the U.S. economy.

·       Unpack how bond market activity may influence interest rates alongside Federal Reserve policy.

·       Examine why Fed rate changes and long-term Treasury yields don’t always move together.

·       Consider AI concerns involving jobs, regulation, cybersecurity, defense, and existential risk.

·       Explore the potential role of AI in productivity, innovation, digital security, and economic growth.

·       Compare the latest foldable phone technology, device prices, and consumer demand.

·       Meet “everywhere millionaires” who built wealth through food, HVAC, gutters, and other traditional businesses.

·       Discover what pass-through income data may tell us about entrepreneurship, job creation, and wealth across America.

·       Review recent U.S. household net worth trends and the factors that may be influencing American wealth.

·       Examine historical stock market trends around midterm elections, remembering that past performance does not guarantee future results.

Connect the dots between the economy, markets, AI, entrepreneurship, and investing, and explore Wes’s new book, The Retire Sooner Method. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast with Wes Moss and Connor Miller for more educational conversations about financial markets, retirement planning, and the U.S. economy.

What does Labor Day have to do with the economy? On this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd connect the American worker to today’s markets, economic trends, and retirement planning.

·       Celebrate Labor Day with a look at how American workers, productivity, and quality of life may have evolved.

·       Discover how David Booth and the rise of index investing may have helped change the investing landscape.

·       Explore The Retire Sooner Method and Wes’s latest research on what happy retirees may have in common.

·       Rethink the K-shaped economy as Wes and Jeff introduce an “E-shaped” way to view today’s economic landscape.

·       Examine trends in U.S. household wealth, home equity, and consumer spending.

·       Consider where side hustles and multiple jobs may fit into the modern American workforce.

·       Check the pulse of the U.S. job market, unemployment, and workforce flexibility.

·       Compare consumer sentiment and consumer spending to see where perceptions and economic data may differ.

·       See how remote work and youth unemployment may be changing the landscape for young workers and employers.

·       Learn how interest rates and bond duration might relate to fixed-income investments, including bonds held in a 401(k).

·       Follow trends in capital spending, corporate profitability, and productivity growth across the U.S. economy.

·       Explore how American workers may help drive innovation across technology, healthcare, and other industries.

Celebrate Labor Day with a fresh perspective on the U.S. economy, investing, and retirement planning. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast for more educational conversations with Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd.

Football is back, fall is around the corner, and there’s plenty happening with the economy and markets. On this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Connor Miller sort through some of the current financial stories and explore what they may mean for investors and retirees.

·       Analyze the U.S. economy, inflation, and S&P 500 earnings as summer winds down.

·       Explore The Retire Sooner Method and Wes’s latest research on the characteristics associated with happier retirees.

·       Consider the challenges the sandwich generation may face while juggling kids, aging parents, and retirement goals.

·       Compare recent trends in large-cap stocks, dividend growers, small caps, and diversified portfolios.

·       Follow how oil prices, federal debt, interest rates, and housing costs may influence the economy.

·       Track CPI and PCE inflation and potential changes to how these closely watched measures are calculated.

·       Examine why fewer Americans 55+ seem to be participating in the labor force and the factors that may influence retirement decisions.

·       Consider how growing investment in artificial intelligence may influence jobs, productivity, and economic growth.

·       See how changing immigration trends may affect employment and unemployment data.

·       Review the financial and lifestyle characteristics associated with retirement happiness in Wes’s research.

·       Reflect on Dolly Parton’s legacy and her apparent attention to purpose and giving.

From inflation and the stock market to AI and retirement planning, Wes and Connor attempt to make sense of a busy financial landscape. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast for more educational conversations about the economy, investing, and retirement.

From $40 trillion in U.S. debt to an everyday employee who quietly built seven-figure wealth, this episode of the Money Matters Podcast covers a lot of ground. Join Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd as they seek to help make sense of the markets, retirement planning, and a few fascinating detours along the way.

·       Celebrate college football season and the start of fall.

·       Unpack how U.S. debt, federal deficits, and interest rates may affect investors and the economy.

·       See how the bond market and Federal Reserve may influence interest rates.

·       Explore cancer treatment advances and the growing potential of AI in healthcare.

·       Consider what demand for U.S. Treasury bonds and higher yields may mean for investors.

·       Hear what Wes shared on The Money Guy Show about the habits associated with happier retirees.

·       Learn why sequence of returns risk may matter when taking portfolio withdrawals in retirement.

·       Discover how a longtime employee reportedly accumulated seven-figure wealth through decades of consistent saving and investing.

·       Consider how workplace benefits, retirement contributions, and staying invested may support long-term wealth accumulation.

·       Explore the Retire Sooner Method and its approach to retirement planning.

·       Laugh along with a golf analogy that shows why personal finance may be as unique as your swing.

Bring some personality to the serious business of planning for retirement. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast with Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd for more conversations about investing, retirement planning, and personal finance.

What exactly is “boomer candy,” and why is Wall Street talking about it? On the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Connor Miller break down specialty ETFs, retirement income, diversification, inflation, and what history may teach us about staying invested.

·       Explore why high-income specialty ETFs seem to be catching the attention of investors looking for income and potential downside protection.

·       See how ETFs may have evolved from simple, low-cost funds into increasingly complex products with new strategies, costs, and risks.

·       Follow the trend in derivative ETFs, which have grown from under $100 billion to roughly $600 billion in assets.

·       Unpack how high-income S&P 500 ETFs may use options to pursue monthly income and manage volatility.

·       Compare specialty ETFs with buffered and barrier notes, including a noticeable difference: potential counterparty risk.

·       Visualize specialty ETFs as financial burritos—layers of investment strategies wrapped together in one package.

·       Consider where specialty ETFs may fit as a supplement to a diversified portfolio rather than the main course.

·       Revisit the supposed “death of the 60/40 portfolio” after 2022 and see what history may add to the debate.

·       Discover what decades of market data may suggest about stocks, bonds, and balanced portfolios across different holding periods.

·       Check the latest inflation, CPI, and interest rate trends and what they may mean for the Federal Reserve and financial markets.

Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast for a lively, educational look at investing, retirement planning, ETFs, and the markets. 

What's driving record stock market highs? Find out on this episode of the Money Matters Podcast as Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd connect the dots between artificial intelligence (AI), investing, Social Security, and retirement planning in a fast-moving, educational conversation that helps put the current financial headlines into perspective.

·       Find out what may be fueling record stock market highs, from AI to strong corporate earnings.

·       Explore one of the market's biggest five-day rallies since 1950 and see how markets have historically performed following comparable rallies.

·       Follow the wild story of a leveraged hedge fund and what it may reveal about investing risk.

·       Examine how money has shifted from AI stocks toward value investing and dividend-paying companies.

·       Consider why demographic changes may help reshape the future of higher education.

·       Compare practical ways to balance college savings with retirement planning.

·       Weigh Social Security claiming considerations based on income, longevity, and retirement goals.

·       Explore listener questions on pensions, mortgage payoff, cash reserves, and core pursuits.

·       Review financial habits that may support long-term retirement planning.

·       Claim your preorder bonus for The Retire Sooner Method, whether you buy from a major retailer or your favorite local bookstore.

Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast with Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd for more educational conversations about retirement planning, investing, Social Security, AI, stock market trends, and personal finance.

Big market swings, artificial intelligence, and the Federal Reserve are dominating the conversation—but what do they really mean? Join Wes Moss and Connor Miller on the Money Matters Podcast as they separate attention-grabbing headlines from the broader trends that may be shaping investing, retirement planning, and the economy.

• See why a large tech company’s historic $500 billion single-day market move may not be the whole investing story.

• Discover how algorithmic trading may help fuel market volatility and why it often differs from long-term investing.

• Rethink the difference between stock prices and the value of the businesses behind them.

• Explore new research on how artificial intelligence may be changing hiring, management, and workplace productivity.

• Follow the latest Federal Reserve decision and the economic conversation surrounding interest rates.

• Consider the "play the ball, not the referee" mindset when evaluating markets and economic news.

• Follow encouraging progress in Alzheimer's research and discuss potentially positive hiring trends from companies investing in innovation.

Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast with Wes Moss and Connor Miller for engaging and educational conversations about retirement planning, investing, AI, personal finance, and today's economy.