Agency Intelligence: The Insurance Podcast Network

Stuff About Money: Episode 60: Understanding the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite

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"I was excited when I finally understood what the radio announcer was talking about this morning on my commute! All of those financial terms made perfect sense to me" 🙂


In this episode of the Stuff About Money podcast, Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA and Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC, share the story that led to that comment from one of their clients. They break down the three most popular indices for measuring stock market performance: the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq Composite. 


You will learn how they are similar, how they are different, and generally what the indices track and tell us about the stock market.


Episode Highlights:

  • Erik emphasizes the necessity of separating emotions from financial decisions, and its impact on financial success. (3:34)
  • Erik explains discusses the Dow Jones, S&P 500, and NASDAQ. (6:51)
  • Erik mentions the Dow Jones consists of 30 big U.S. companies, with the lineup sometimes changing, such as Amazon recently taking Walgreens' spot. (11:03)
  • Erik shares that the S&P 500, a broader index than the Dow Jones, reflects the stock market's general direction by including a wide range of large companies. (12:44)
  • Erik explains that the NASDAQ Composite is known for its volatility, primarily includes technology and growth-oriented startups, contrasting with the stable, dividend-yielding companies of the Dow Jones. (15:15)
  • Erik shares that the S&P 500, covering 80% of the market capitalization of U.S. publicly traded companies, offers a comprehensive view of the stock market. (20:02)


    • Key Quotes:

    • “There's something called a stock market index. An index is a collection of stocks that we use as a proxy or something to gauge what the stock markets are doing.” - Erik Garcia 
    • “There's a Russell 3000, there's a Dow Jones Industrial Transportation Index, there's an index that tracks semiconductors, if you can think of a possible index or something that you want to track, there's an index that exists.” - Erik Garcia


      • Resources Mentioned:

      • Erik Garcia, CFP®, BFA
      • Xavier Angel, CFP®, ChFC, CLTC
      • Plan Wisely Wealth Advisors
        • ...more
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