Pivot with Darryl Lyons

When the financial markets scare you, annuities may seem like a protective wall. They offer you a stable source of income no matter how the stock market performs. 

But here’s the thing… 

Financial advisors earn higher commissions selling annuities than anything else. This is one of the reasons we hear about them on the radio so often. 

Moreover, they’re complex investment instruments, so you can find yourself in a trap with  hidden fees and lower returns than promised.

The People who want to sell annuities to you, won’t explain even the basics, since it’s not in their interest.

In today’s episode, you’ll discover the three types of annuities, how you can avoid greedy annuity sellers, and the type of annuity that may ensure a smooth transition in the last years before you retire.

Listen now!

Show highlights include:

• How to watch out for money grubbing financial advisors that don’t look out for your best interest (2:57)
• The insidious way variable annuities can cripple you with fees (even if they beat the stock market) (3:55) 
• How equity indexed annuity sellers withhold crucial information that can wipe out up to 40% of your returns (6:37) 
• The best strategy to protect yourself from volatile stocks with fixed annuities in today's market (9:12)

Disclosure: 

"Clicking the Like button does not constitute a testimonial for, recommendation or endorsement of our advisory firm, any associated person, or our services. Clicking the Like button is merely a mechanism to circulate our social media page. “Like” is not meant in the traditional sense. In addition, postings must refrain from recommending us or providing testimonials for our firm."

Is the dollar really dead?

That’s all that seems to be in the news of laterecent. Reports sayare that the dollar is losing global reserve status and cannot remain the world's reserve currency for much longer.

With China and BRICS looming over the horizon and more countries getting rid of the dollar backing of their currency, it looks like the U.S dollar is weakening.

It might even be replaced by the Yuan.

But the facts at hand show it’s unlikely that the dollar will be replaced. Not soon, anyway.

Why?

In today’s episode, I’ll show you why the dollar isn’t really dead. You’ll also discover why China’s move to remove the U.S dollar as a global reserve currency is flawed and unlikely to work.

Listen now.

Show highlights include:

• China’s sinister plan to replace the dollar as a global reserve currency. (1:50)
• 4 reasons the yuan can’t destroy the dollar (or replace it as the world’s reserve currency). (3:47)
• How political, religious and militant differences can hinder the progress of BRICS to replace the dollar. (4:11)
• Why Chinese patents are less valuable than US patents globally (and how this protects the dollar against foreign threats) . (10:28)
• The unlikely link between ‘dollar-crashing’ headlines and gold sales. (13:02)

Disclosure:

"Clicking the Like button does not constitute a testimonial for, recommendation or endorsement of our advisory firm, any associated person, or our services. Clicking the Like button is merely a mechanism to circulate our social media page. “Like” is not meant in the traditional sense. In addition, postings must refrain from recommending us or providing testimonials for our firm."

When you notice that your money starts running out before the month ends, there are two usual suspects.

You may need to change your spending habits, especially if you have trouble paying off debt.

And if you can’t cut down your expenses, the only way to fix this is by increasing your income.

Most people think that they may have to work longer hours or find a new job.

But, there is one skill that employers in every field look for desperately, and you can start developing it as soon as today.

What’s this skill? 

It’s your ability to solve problems.

In today’s episode, you’ll discover which attributes every leader has, the four basic leadership skills you can develop starting today, and effective ways you can convince people of your ideas.

Listen now. 

Show highlights include:

• How offering people advice may confuse them into inaction (and how to turn that around) (2:06)
• The dwindling, yet most sought-after skill in business (and how to acquire it) (2:57)
• Why emulating successful people can only hurt you (and how to stay with yourself) (7:59)
• The fastline to success most people avoid out of fear (even if there is no alternative) (10:24)
• The healthy type of “arrogance” that convinces people to trust you (11:38)

Disclosure: 

"Clicking the Like button does not constitute a testimonial for, recommendation or endorsement of our advisory firm, any associated person, or our services. Clicking the Like button is merely a mechanism to circulate our social media page. “Like” is not meant in the traditional sense. In addition, postings must refrain from recommending us or providing testimonials for our firm."

Artificial intelligence is disrupting our everyday life.

Now with ChatGPT, the general public has access to a seemingly all-knowing chatbot.

Students let it write their papers, podcasters make it do their market research. And you can even have it design a website without writing a single line of code.

But, this rapid development raises the question: 

Does ChatGPT do more harm than good?

It is true that AI poses a threat to many traditional industries.

But, knowing the opportunities (and potential drawbacks) of AI-powered machinery is a prerequisite for securing your wealth, and the future for your family.

In today’s episode, you’ll discover the current state of the artificial intelligence space, how AI may shape the future of entire industries, and why harnessing AI now is a rare opportunity for a great business career.

Listen now.

Show highlights include:

• The uncanny way AI already affects your life (and how you may even profit from it) (1:42)
• How students, pastors and podcasters can use ChatGPT to shave hours (or even days) off of their work week (5:30)
• How AI may speed up computer chip production (and improve the treatment of cancer) (9:23)
• China’s “Industrial Revolution” mistake we can’t afford to repeat with AI (or we'll be overtaken by those who dare to use it) (11:19)
• 2 qualities that are “AI-proof” and will never be replaced (13:17)

Disclosure: 

"Clicking the Like button does not constitute a testimonial for, recommendation or endorsement of our advisory firm, any associated person, or our services. Clicking the Like button is merely a mechanism to circulate our social media page. “Like” is not meant in the traditional sense. In addition, postings must refrain from recommending us or providing testimonials for our firm."

Inflation is not only eating its way through our wallets.

It’s also having a toll on our psyche and our outlook on the near future.

In times when the stock market is struggling, people flee into gold that promises stability.

One of the best examples of such movement is the lost decade from 2000 to 2010, when people left the stock market in fear, and leaned into gold.

With a looming banking crisis and geopolitical risks around the world, investing more in gold and less in stocks seems to be the solution.

But, is that really the case?

In today’s episode, you’ll discover how you can invest in gold, if the stock market is inferior to the stability of the gold market, and if gold is a quick fix to hedge against inflation.

Listen now.

Show highlights include:

• How gold commercials want to manipulate you (even if they have good intentions) (1:02)
• The, historically proven,  advantages of the stock market gold-only investors miss out on (even in decades of constant losses) (5:51)
• How a fear rally in the 1970s may have earned gold a reputation it can’t live up to (7:37)
• What you can research to make an informed decision before you buy gold in any form (9:49)
• A healthy amount of gold to have in your portfolio (and still get high returns from the stock market) (12:25)

Disclosure: 

"Clicking the Like button does not constitute a testimonial for, recommendation or endorsement of our advisory firm, any associated person, or our services. Clicking the Like button is merely a mechanism to circulate our social media page. “Like” is not meant in the traditional sense. In addition, postings must refrain from recommending us or providing testimonials for our firm."

Working in the health industry is not easy.

Most of us only know the perspective of a patient, so complaining about doctors who only talk to you for two minutes sending you back home is a low-hanging fruit.

But the truth is, it isn’t their fault. In fact, the insurance companies forces them to meet a daily quota of patients per day if they want to get by.

Fortunately, there are ways to ensure that doctors can take proper care of their patients.

In today’s episode, James Ogletree, Director at Health By Design,shares how agreeableness can kill a business, why doctors can’t take care of their patients, and how businesses can thrive with healthier employees.

Listen now.

Show highlights include:

• Why your likeability may hold you back from better results in your business (5:47)
• Why small town people who choose big universities risk losing several years of their life (and what to do instead) (7:14)
• How the health industry prevents doctors from taking care of their patients (and what you can do about it) (10:40)
• How to prevent falling into a rut of regret as soon as you retire (17:17)

Disclosure:

"Clicking the Like button does not constitute a testimonial for, recommendation or endorsement of our advisory firm, any associated person, or our services. Clicking the Like button is merely a mechanism to circulate our social media page. “Like” is not meant in the traditional sense. In addition, postings must refrain from recommending us or providing testimonials for our firm."

The failure of Silicon Valley Bank worries not only their clients, but also every investor in the U.S.

On one hand, it’s the biggest bank collapse since 2008.

On the other hand, we were lucky it didn’t cause a chain-reaction.

And the Federal Reserve follows a plan—albeit, a risky plan—to reduce the damage, and save SVB’s clients.

Furthermore, understanding how the current situation in the banking sector came to be can help us make better decisions on the stock market.

In today’s episode, you’ll discover why your bank may share SVB's fate, and why the current crisis may even be an opportunity to stabilize the stock market.

Listen now.

Show highlights include:

• The truth about what banks do with your money (and how they risk loosing it all) (4:19)
• What went wrong with Silicon Valley Bank (and why many other banks may share their fate) (6:27)
• Why the Federal Reserve may not save people who lose all their money (even if they can) (11:27)
• The roundabout, yet effective way the Federal Reserve wants to regulate the banking sector and stabilize the stock market (13:40)

Disclosure:

"Clicking the Like button does not constitute a testimonial for, recommendation or endorsement of our advisory firm, any associated person, or our services. Clicking the Like button is merely a mechanism to circulate our social media page. “Like” is not meant in the traditional sense. In addition, postings must refrain from recommending us or providing testimonials for our firm."

The stock market seems turbulent and unpredictable right now.

It’s high volatility is probably not going away soon.

While this is discouraging, you are not powerless or have to just wait it out.

In fact, understanding what makes the current market unpredictable is the first step to set your portfolio up for bigvwins.

In today’s episode, I’ll share a tried and tested strategy to invest in the stock market, how to analyze stocks in a hurry, and how to invest now to reap higher rewards in the future.

Listen now.

Show highlights include:

• The “Core-Satellite” portfolio that gives you stability while saving you time (5:58)
• The simple, yet reliable way to find the right stocks for your portfolio (7:27)
• How changes of the debt ceiling may affect the performance of your portfolio (15:23)
• How to protect your stock portfolio against high volatility in the markets (18:27)

Disclosure:

"Clicking the Like button does not constitute a testimonial for, recommendation or endorsement of our advisory firm, any associated person, or our services. Clicking the Like button is merely a mechanism to circulate our social media page. “Like” is not meant in the traditional sense. In addition, postings must refrain from recommending us or providing testimonials for our firm."

If stocks zig. bonds zag.

This means that, if the stock market goes down, bonds go up.

It’s common to diversify your portfolio by balancing out stocks and bonds, as they historically compliment each other.

But this doesn’t seem to be the case right now. Both are going down.

And people are starting to question diversification as a strategy.

In today’s episode, you’ll get a report on what is going on in the market right now, and how you can still use bonds to build and protect your wealth in 2023.

Listen now.

Show highlights include:

• The “Recipe” method to never worry about your investment portfolio again (2:52)
• What you can ask your financial advisor to understand your portfolio better right away (7:05)
• The reason why stocks and bonds are going down together right now (and why this is only temporary) (7:58)
• Why bonds are a lucrative investment (even if they may burden your portfolio right now) (15:48)

Disclosure: 

"Clicking the Like button does not constitute a testimonial for, recommendation or endorsement of our advisory firm, any associated person, or our services. Clicking the Like button is merely a mechanism to circulate our social media page. “Like” is not meant in the traditional sense. In addition, postings must refrain from recommending us or providing testimonials for our firm."

References:

Don't Lose Faith in the 60/40 Portfolio.  https://www.morningstar.com/articles/1133395/dont-lose-faith-in-the-6040-portfolio

Texas Housing Market Predictions & Trends 2023  https://www.noradarealestate.com/blog/texas-housing-market/

Factbox: The U.S. debt ceiling and markets: Gauging the fallout  https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-debt-ceiling-markets-gauging-fallout-2023-02-16/

When they pivot into retirement, people ask themselves one question first.

Will I be able to pay my bills without working a job?

Being able to cover your expenses gives you peace of mind.

But, you will also have a lot more free time to look forward to. Especially, if you are used to being busy and working long hours in a workweek.

And if you don’t plan on what to do with this time, you may not enjoy your retirement as much as you’d expect.

In this episode, Ron Stanton shares how to pivot from years of working long hours to retiring while you contribute to your community and guide the next generations.

Listen now.

Show highlights include:

• How experiencing humiliation makes having to motivate yourself to do hard work unnecessary (5:18)
• Why setting specific goals helps you succeed (even if you don’t achieve them) (11:12)
• What to expect if you consider to work in special education (14:07)
• One way to aid your community with a little time per week (17:29)

Disclosure:

"Clicking the Like button does not constitute a testimonial for, recommendation or endorsement of our advisory firm, any associated person, or our services. Clicking the Like button is merely a mechanism to circulate our social media page. “Like” is not meant in the traditional sense. In addition, postings must refrain from recommending us or providing testimonials for our firm."