Be it tarrifs or DOGE or whatever, the March markets start off (way!) down. A good time for Steve and Dave to reiterate their tangible and emotional investing fundamentals! Plus, you’ll learn a new phrase, “The Yen Carry Trade “.* All this and more on episode 118 of PFLN.

*If you already know what “The Yen Carry Trade” is, we recommend less screen time, and more person to person interaction.

Are you a Fed? Is going into the office 5 days a week not for you? Are you retired or recently retired, and know you need a game plan, but have told yourself you’ll “get to it at some point?” If so, starting at the 7:30 mark of Episode 117 of PFLN, Steve and Dave discuss the financial challenges,solutions, and action steps for federal retirees in 2025!

It’s the season of giving, so Steve and Dave start with how the markets certainly held up their share of the bargain in 2024. And speaking of 2024, they move on to “Seven Lessons of 2024” by Charlie Billelo, arguably the second greatest “Lessons” piece ever written ( Sorry, nothing beats my personal golf bible, “Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons”). If you’re interested in financial and philosophical guidelines for 2025 and beyond, then episode 116 of Plan For Life Now is definitely for you!

The Trump (Gravy?) Train

It’s a special election recap episode! What will a second Trump presidency mean for your money? Dave and Steve go over the Pros, the Cons, the Neo Cons… You name it, they will cover it on episode #115 of Plan For Life Now.

Just in case you didn’t believe we were a Washington DC area firm, we decided to take the month of August off from podcasting. So we start with our summer recap, including Steve’s trip to Colorado and Dave’s rare use of the word “frothy” to describe the market’s big returns in July. We also give a stern warning on falling prey to presidential politics and investment emotions. All this and more on episode——of PFLN.

*Best Pod title ever if the Dow Jones was pronounced the “Dough Jones”

It could be Trump. It could be Biden. As of this recording, it could even be someone not born during the Roosevelt administration (Franklin, not Teddy, although it seems like Teddy). In any case , Steve and Dave debate whether this election will lead to a market correction. Plus, you’ll meet Harry Dent-The Bear of all Bears. Forget “Nervous Nellie”, this guy is “ Hair On Fire Nellie”! All this and more on episode—-of Plan For Life Now.

After a brief epilogue on Tony Robbins’ out of touch financial advice (great tips if you’re “The Billionaire Next Door”, not so hot for the bottom 99.9999%), we delve into what may be the next great investment bubble, AI. Dave’s a big fan of Professor Scott Galloway, and he is predicting that the AI bubble will burst. So if you’re not quite ready for the “Mr Roboto* Revolution”,

Episode 112 of Plan For Life Now is definitely for you!

The podcast starts with Steve’s look back at the life and times of Daniel Kahneman. Who’s Daniel Kahneman (Said everyone with a life and/or hobby)? He’s a psychologist whose theories on human behavior have had a profound effect on the world of finance…Oh, that Daniel Kahneman!! We also discuss some questionable investment advice from another guy who knows a thing or two about human behavior, motivational speaker Tony Robbins. So if you’re a human and have ever exhibited behavior, you’ll love episode——of Plan For Life Now.

Nobody wants to be the victim of a financial scam, yet they are becoming more prevalent and exotic every day. The story of one such incident, that Steve relays in this podcast, is fascinating, terrifying and informative all at the same time! Episode 110 of Plan For Life is a must listen, and a must lesson, for all of us.

In episode 109 of Plan For Life Now, Steve and Dave give a detailed overview of what happened in the markets in 2023 (Good Stuff) versus what happened in 2022 (Bad Stuff). All of this as a data point for what may occur in 2024. But regardless of market results, their hypothesis is to buckle up for an election year like no other!