Tariffs, fear, and stockpiling—oh my! Don and Tom break down how consumer sentiment, not just consumer spending, is shifting dramatically under the weight of tariff uncertainty. They connect behavioral shifts—like Googling “recession” and panic-buying tires—to bigger economic signals and what it all means for investors. From the role of emergency savings to the misleading pitch of indexed annuities, they dismantle hype and stress the importance of sticking to a real plan. They also field smart questions on Roth conversions, muni bonds, and whether now is the time to invest that idle cash. Oh, and don’t worry: most of our toilet paper is made right here in the good ol’ USA!

0:11 Consumers drive the economy—and investment returns
0:47 Sentiment is slipping fast, and it could trigger a slowdown
2:05 “Recession” and “depression” searches spike amid uncertainty
3:11 Tariffs shift what we buy: food in, luxury out
4:24 What investors should do now: boost emergency savings
7:22 Auto stockpiling and tariff-fueled panic buying
8:50 Prices rising, brand loyalty falling, and psychology shifting
10:27 Volatility confuses perception—despite flat portfolio returns
12:16 Emergency funds are real insurance without the gimmicks
14:14 Spry 102-year-olds and the power of Bulgarian yogurt
17:47 Best muni bond fund choice for high tax brackets: VTEB
20:31 Can’t milk a Buckeye, but they might ward off arthritis
22:52 Roth conversions: should you pay the tax now or wait?
28:57 Indexed annuities: steak dinners, sales tricks, and the ugly truth
34:16 Why the commissions are so high—and the returns so low
37:55 Got cash on the sidelines? Here's what to do before investing
39:27 Final advice: plan first, invest later, ignore the noise

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