The Money Alchemist Podcast

Should you pay off your mortgage early or invest the extra money instead?

That is one of the biggest financial decisions people get wrong because compounding is much harder to understand over 20, 30, or 40 years than it looks on paper.

In Episode 65 of The Money Alchemist Podcast, Brent Gargano, CFP®, and Ben Jones, CFP®, break down how compounding affects investing, home equity, cash, inflation, retirement planning, and long-term wealth.

They start with simple examples of compounding over time, including Disney tickets, home prices, and long-term stock market returns.

The bigger point is that small differences in annual returns can create huge differences over 20, 30, or 40 years.

Brent and Ben then compare paying extra toward a mortgage versus investing the difference. In one example, an extra $1,000 per month toward the mortgage could save about $400,000 in interest, while historically investing that same amount over 30 years would have grown to about $2.36 million.

They also cover common mistakes like keeping too much cash in checking, taking too little appropriate risk when young, and prioritizing a paid-off mortgage over liquidity and long-term investing.

Later, the conversation shifts to financial independence and a different problem: what happens when your wealth keeps growing beyond what you actually need?

That leads to a bigger question:

What is your money actually for?

Brent and Ben discuss why good financial planning is not just about building the biggest possible portfolio. It is also about deciding how your money should support your life, your goals, and the people or causes that matter to you.

About Your Hosts

Ben Jones, CFP® 

Managing Director, National Wealth Management Group 

www.nwmgadvisors.com  

Sign up for Ben’s newsletter at www.karatstick.com  

Follow him on X @thekaratstick 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-nwmg/ 

Brent Gargano, CFP®

Founder & Advisor, Infinite Wealth Planning  

www.infinitewealthplanning.com 

linkedin.com/in/brent-gargano-cfp®-2067b573 

Join Brent's Newsletter: https://forms.infinitewealthplanning.com/join-brents-newsletter

They also cover:

Why the 10-year Treasury matters for mortgage rates

Why Fed rate changes do not directly control long-term mortgage rates

How inflation and higher energy costs affect markets

Why financial assets can compound differently than everyday goods

How to automate investing instead of relying on budgeting discipline

Why young investors may underestimate the value of taking appropriate risk

How financially independent people can give their wealth a purpose

Have a question you’d like Brent and Ben to discuss on the show? Submit it through the link on our page.

Chapters

00:00 - Market Update: Fed, Inflation, Bonds & AI

19:00 - Why Compounding Is So Powerful Over Time

36:30 - Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early or Invest?

48:00 - 3 Common Money Mistakes That Hurt Long-Term Wealth

53:30 - What Happens When Your Money Outgrows Your Needs?

Disclosure: 

The information provided on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice.  The views expressed here are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of National Wealth Management Group, LLC or its affiliates.

Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy discussed will be successful or profitable. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Economic discussions are based on current data and opinions, which are subject to change and may not accurately predict future events. We encourage listeners to conduct their own research and seek guidance from a certified financial advisor before making any decisions.

Advisory services are offered through National Wealth Management Group, LLC. For more information about National Wealth Management Group including our Forms ADV and CRS, please visit our website www.nwmgadvisors.com or contact us directly.

#CompoundInterest #Investing #FinancialPlanning #Mortgage #RetirementPlanning #WealthBuilding #MoneyAlchemist

Learn More / Submit Questions: https://info.moneyalchemistshow.com/SubmitQuestion-Contact-AC?test=true

Why are younger generations reporting lower levels of happiness and flourishing than people decades older than them?

In Episode 64 of The Money Alchemist Podcast, Brent Gargano, CFP®, and Ben Jones, CFP®, dig into Harvard’s Global Flourishing Study and what more than 200,000 participants across 22 countries can teach us about happiness, money, relationships, purpose, health, and what it actually means to live a good life.

One of the most surprising findings is the growing happiness gap between generations. Younger adults ages 18–29 are reporting significantly lower flourishing scores than adults in their 60s, a reversal from the pattern researchers historically expected to see.

Brent and Ben explore what may be contributing to that shift, including smartphones, social media, constant comparison, and Jonathan Haidt’s work in The Anxious Generation.

They also look beyond the generational divide to ask a bigger question:

What actually makes a good life?

The conversation covers the six areas of human flourishing, how much money really contributes to happiness, why financial security matters without guaranteeing fulfillment, and the role that relationships, community, employment, marriage, health, and having a sense of purpose can play.

Plus, Brent and Ben cover several major market stories, including inflation and Federal Reserve policy, Treasury buybacks, NVIDIA earnings, recent strength in healthcare, and why short-term stock-price movements can often be more noise than useful information.

Ben Jones, CFP® 

Managing Director, National Wealth Management Group 

www.nwmgadvisors.com  

Sign up for Ben’s newsletter at www.karatstick.com  

Follow him on X @thekaratstick 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-nwmg/ 

Brent Gargano, CFP®

Founder & Advisor, Infinite Wealth Planning  

www.infinitewealthplanning.com 

linkedin.com/in/brent-gargano-cfp®-2067b573 

Join Brent's Newsletter: https://forms.infinitewealthplanning.com/join-brents-newsletter

In this episode:

Global Flourishing Study:

Subscribe to The Money Alchemist Podcast for more conversations about investing, retirement, financial planning, markets, and how money fits into the life you actually want to live.

Disclosure: 

The information provided on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice.  The views expressed here are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of National Wealth Management Group, LLC or its affiliates.

Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy discussed will be successful or profitable. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Economic discussions are based on current data and opinions, which are subject to change and may not accurately predict future events. We encourage listeners to conduct their own research and seek guidance from a certified financial advisor before making any decisions.

Advisory services are offered through National Wealth Management Group, LLC. For more information about National Wealth Management Group including our Forms ADV and CRS, please visit our website www.nwmgadvisors.com or contact us directly.

To connect with Ben Jones or Brent Gargano directly, email us at [email protected].

Is saving money on taxes always a good financial decision?

What if you're spending money you otherwise wouldn't spend simply to get the deduction?

In Part 2 of The Money Alchemist Podcast at FPA All Ohio, Brent Gargano, CFP® and Ben Jones, CFP® sit down with Catherine Tindall, CPA of Dominion to discuss what thoughtful tax planning can look like for financial advisors and business owners.

Catherine explains why tax planning shouldn't simply be about finding another deduction. Before looking at more complicated strategies, business owners need to understand their financial infrastructure, projected tax liability, and where their money may actually create the greatest return.

From there, the conversation gets much bigger than taxes.

Brent, Ben, and Catherine discuss when it may make more sense to pay the tax, when reinvesting in the business could be worthwhile, how to identify bottlenecks, when outsourcing makes sense, and why the owner's own time can become one of the biggest constraints on growth.

Ultimately, it's a conversation about treating your business as an asset and making more intentional decisions about where your next dollar should go.

Ben Jones, CFP® 

Managing Director, National Wealth Management Group 

www.nwmgadvisors.com  

Sign up for Ben’s newsletter at www.karatstick.com  

Follow him on X @thekaratstick 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-nwmg/ 

Brent Gargano, CFP®

Founder & Advisor, Infinite Wealth Planning  

www.infinitewealthplanning.com 

linkedin.com/in/brent-gargano-cfp®-2067b573 

Join Brent's Newsletter: https://forms.infinitewealthplanning.com/join-brents-newsletter

Subscribe to The Money Alchemist Podcast for more conversations about investing, financial planning, retirement, markets, and building wealth consistently over time.

This is Part 2 of our five-part FPA All Ohio series, featuring conversations with guests from across the financial planning profession.

A special thank you to FPA All Ohio, the FPA Cincinnati chapter, and everyone who helped make these conversations possible.

We still have three more guests to come, so subscribe or follow The Money Alchemist Podcast wherever you listen.

Have a question about investing, retirement, financial planning, taxes, or the markets that you'd like Brent and Ben to discuss on a future episode?

Submit your question through the link in our show bio. Your question could be featured in an upcoming episode of The Money Alchemist Podcast.

Disclosure: 

The information provided on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice.  The views expressed here are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of National Wealth Management Group, LLC or its affiliates.

Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy discussed will be successful or profitable. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Economic discussions are based on current data and opinions, which are subject to change and may not accurately predict future events. We encourage listeners to conduct their own research and seek guidance from a certified financial advisor before making any decisions.

Advisory services are offered through National Wealth Management Group, LLC. For more information about National Wealth Management Group including our Forms ADV and CRS, please visit our website www.nwmgadvisors.com or contact us directly.

To connect with Ben Jones or Brent Gargano directly, email us at [email protected].

Learn More / Submit Questions: https://info.moneyalchemistshow.com/SubmitQuestion-Contact-AC?test=true

What can investing advice published just before one of the worst stock market crashes in history teach us about building wealth today?

In Episode 63 of The Money Alchemist Podcast, Brent Gargano, CFP® and Ben Jones, CFP® look back at John Raskob’s famous 1929 article, Everybody Ought to Be Rich. Published just weeks before the market peaked, Raskob encouraged people to consistently save and invest in diversified baskets of high-quality companies.

The timing could hardly have been worse.

But was the underlying advice actually wrong?

Brent and Ben use the story to explore the behaviors that can help or hurt investors across bull markets, bear markets, bubbles, and crashes. They discuss the fearful saver who never gets invested, the speculator constantly searching for the next big winner, and the investor who eventually gets frustrated and throws in the towel.

The conversation also takes Brent to New York City and the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, with stories about Wall Street, Peter Tuchman, the Empire State Building, and what history can teach us about markets that feel unstoppable right before they change.

Before the main discussion, Brent and Ben cover several current market and economic stories, including recent S&P 500 earnings, the Federal Reserve holding rates steady, the K-shaped economy, and SpaceX moving back above its IPO price.

They finish with a practical Tip of the Week for anyone preparing to buy a car: shop financing before you ever walk into the dealership.

- John Raskob and "Everybody Ought to Be Rich"

Have a financial, investing, retirement, or market question you'd like Brent and Ben to discuss on a future episode?

Submit your question through the link in our show bio. Your question could be featured in an upcoming episode of The Money Alchemist Podcast.

Ben Jones, CFP® 

Managing Director, National Wealth Management Group 

www.nwmgadvisors.com  

Sign up for Ben’s newsletter at www.karatstick.com  

Follow him on X @thekaratstick 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-nwmg/ 

Brent Gargano, CFP®

Founder & Advisor, Infinite Wealth Planning  

www.infinitewealthplanning.com 

linkedin.com/in/brent-gargano-cfp®-2067b573 

Join Brent's Newsletter: https://forms.infinitewealthplanning.com/join-brents-newsletter

Subscribe to The Money Alchemist Podcast for more conversations about investing, financial planning, retirement, markets, and building wealth consistently over time.

00:00 "I Never Make Money When I Invest"

Disclosure: 

The information provided on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice.  The views expressed here are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of National Wealth Management Group, LLC or its affiliates.

Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy discussed will be successful or profitable. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Economic discussions are based on current data and opinions, which are subject to change and may not accurately predict future events. We encourage listeners to conduct their own research and seek guidance from a certified financial advisor before making any decisions.

Advisory services are offered through National Wealth Management Group, LLC. For more information about National Wealth Management Group including our Forms ADV and CRS, please visit our website www.nwmgadvisors.com or contact us directly.

To connect with Ben Jones or Brent Gargano directly, email us at [email protected].

Learn More / Submit Questions: https://info.moneyalchemistshow.com/SubmitQuestion-Contact-AC?test=true

Welcome to The Money Alchemist Podcast at FPA All Ohio, a special interview series featuring conversations recorded live at one of the Midwest's premier financial planning conferences.

Hosted by Brent Gargano, CFP® and Ben Jones, CFP®, this playlist brings together financial advisors, industry leaders, authors, consultants, and innovators to discuss the future of financial planning, investing, retirement, client relationships, behavioral finance, artificial intelligence, practice management, and the ideas shaping the advisory profession.

These conversations go beyond markets and portfolios to explore how advisors can create greater value for the people they serve while adapting to an ever-changing financial landscape.

A special thank you to the Financial Planning Association (FPA) of Cincinnati for welcoming us to the FPA All Ohio Conference and helping make these conversations possible.

Dennis Mosley-Williams is the founder of Dennis Mosley-Williams Strategic Consulting, a boutique consulting firm that works predominantly with financial advisors on customer experience, client transformation, and creating greater value beyond traditional financial planning. He is also the author of Serious Shift.

About your Hosts 

Ben Jones, CFP® 

Managing Director, National Wealth Management Group 

www.nwmgadvisors.com  

Sign up for Ben’s newsletter at www.karatstick.com  

Follow him on X @thekaratstick 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-nwmg/ 

Brent Gargano, CFP®

Founder & Advisor, Infinite Wealth Planning  

www.infinitewealthplanning.com 

linkedin.com/in/brent-gargano-cfp®-2067b573 

Join Brent's Newsletter: https://forms.infinitewealthplanning.com/join-brents-newsletter

Subscribe to The Money Alchemist Podcast for more interviews, investing insights, retirement planning strategies, and conversations with some of the brightest minds in financial planning.

Have a financial question you'd like Brent and Ben to discuss on a future episode? Submit it through the link in our bio. Your question could be featured in an upcoming episode.

Disclosure: 

The information provided on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice.  The views expressed here are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of National Wealth Management Group, LLC or its affiliates.

Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy discussed will be successful or profitable. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Economic discussions are based on current data and opinions, which are subject to change and may not accurately predict future events. We encourage listeners to conduct their own research and seek guidance from a certified financial advisor before making any decisions.

Advisory services are offered through National Wealth Management Group, LLC. For more information about National Wealth Management Group including our Forms ADV and CRS, please visit our website www.nwmgadvisors.com or contact us directly.

To connect with Ben Jones or Brent Gargano directly, email us at [email protected].

Comments or questions?  Submit to our link in our show bio 

Are you spending too much time trying to optimize the wrong parts of your financial life?

In this episode of The Money Alchemist Podcast, Brent Gargano and Ben Jones discuss one of the biggest mistakes they see investors make: obsessing over financial decisions that have very little impact while overlooking the habits that actually build long-term wealth.

From budgeting and investment returns to Social Security timing, retirement planning, taxes, and asset allocation, they explain why focusing on the fundamentals often produces better financial outcomes than chasing the "perfect" strategy.

They also break down this week's biggest market headlines, including the Federal Reserve meeting, SpaceX trading below its IPO price, inflation, Apple reclaiming the top market cap, and what's happening across the AI and semiconductor landscape.

The biggest gains in personal finance rarely come from finding a better investment. They come from consistently making better decisions over decades.

About your Hosts 

Ben Jones, CFP® 

Managing Director, National Wealth Management Group 

www.nwmgadvisors.com  

Sign up for Ben’s newsletter at www.karatstick.com  

Follow him on X @thekaratstick 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-nwmg/ 

Brent Gargano, CFP®

Founder & Advisor, Infinite Wealth Planning  

www.infinitewealthplanning.com 

linkedin.com/in/brent-gargano-cfp®-2067b573 

Join Brent's Newsletter: https://forms.infinitewealthplanning.com/join-brents-newsletter

Disclosure: 

The information provided on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice.  The views expressed here are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of National Wealth Management Group, LLC or its affiliates.

Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy discussed will be successful or profitable. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Economic discussions are based on current data and opinions, which are subject to change and may not accurately predict future events. We encourage listeners to conduct their own research and seek guidance from a certified financial advisor before making any decisions.

Advisory services are offered through National Wealth Management Group, LLC. For more information about National Wealth Management Group including our Forms ADV and CRS, please visit our website www.nwmgadvisors.com or contact us directly.

To connect with Ben Jones or Brent Gargano directly, email us at [email protected].

Millions of Americans dream about building wealth, but what do wealthy families actually do differently?

In this episode, Brent Gargano and Ben Jones break down a recent survey of more than 1,400 Americans with over $3 million in invested assets. They explore the habits, decisions, and long-term mindset that consistently separate wealthy households from everyone else—and, more importantly, which of those habits anyone can begin applying today.

Topics include:

• Why ownership is the foundation of wealth

Plus, the hosts discuss current market headlines, including:

• Trump's new investment accounts

Tip of the Week

If you enjoy conversations on investing, retirement planning, and building long-term wealth, subscribe to The Money Alchemist Podcast for new episodes every week.

Have a financial question you'd like us to discuss on the show?

Submit it through the link in our bio or leave a comment below.

About your Hosts 

Ben Jones, CFP® 

Managing Director, National Wealth Management Group 

www.nwmgadvisors.com  

Sign up for Ben’s newsletter at www.karatstick.com  

Follow him on X @thekaratstick 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-nwmg/ 

Brent Gargano, CFP®

Founder & Advisor, Infinite Wealth Planning  

www.infinitewealthplanning.com 

linkedin.com/in/brent-gargano-cfp®-2067b573 

Comments or questions?  Submit to our link in our show bio 

Disclosure: 

The information provided on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice.  The views expressed here are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of National Wealth Management Group, LLC or its affiliates.

Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy discussed will be successful or profitable. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Economic discussions are based on current data and opinions, which are subject to change and may not accurately predict future events. We encourage listeners to conduct their own research and seek guidance from a certified financial advisor before making any decisions.

Advisory services are offered through National Wealth Management Group, LLC. For more information about National Wealth Management Group including our Forms ADV and CRS, please visit our website www.nwmgadvisors.com or contact us directly.

To connect with Ben Jones or Brent Gargano directly, email us at [email protected].

The 4% Rule has guided retirement planning for decades, but does it still make sense in today's market?

In Episode 60, Ben Jones and Brent Gargano break down the origins of the 4% Rule, Bill Bengen's original research, the Trinity Study, and how retirees can think about safe withdrawal rates and spending guardrails throughout retirement.

The conversation also covers recent developments in the markets, including inflation concerns, the latest updates surrounding the SpaceX IPO, and what investors should be watching.

To wrap up the episode, Ben and Brent share a practical tip on how to check for unclaimed funds that may be waiting for you.

Submit Your Questions: https://info.moneyalchemistshow.com/SubmitQuestion-Contact-AC?test=true

About your Hosts 

Ben Jones, CFP® 

Managing Director, National Wealth Management Group 

www.nwmgadvisors.com  

Sign up for Ben’s newsletter at www.karatstick.com  

Follow him on X @thekaratstick 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-nwmg/ 

Brent Gargano, CFP®

Founder & Advisor, Infinite Wealth Planning  

www.infinitewealthplanning.com 

linkedin.com/in/brent-gargano-cfp®-2067b573 

Comments or questions?  Email us at [email protected] 

Disclosure: 

The information provided on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice.  The views expressed here are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of National Wealth Management Group, LLC or its affiliates.

Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy discussed will be successful or profitable. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Economic discussions are based on current data and opinions, which are subject to change and may not accurately predict future events. We encourage listeners to conduct their own research and seek guidance from a certified financial advisor before making any decisions.

Advisory services are offered through National Wealth Management Group, LLC. For more information about National Wealth Management Group including our Forms ADV and CRS, please visit our website www.nwmgadvisors.com or contact us directly.

To connect with Ben Jones or Brent Gargano directly, email us at [email protected].

In Episode 59 of The Money Alchemist Podcast, Brent Gargano and Ben Jones discuss one of the largest IPOs in history as SpaceX officially goes public, raising billions and pushing Elon Musk's net worth to unprecedented levels.

The conversation explores how IPOs work, why companies go public, what investors should know about IPO volatility, and whether participating in high-profile public offerings is actually a good investment strategy.

The episode also covers new stock market highs, recent developments in the Middle East, the growing debate around AI regulation, and what today's headlines may mean for investors.

In Episode 59, topics include:

• The SpaceX IPO

About Your Hosts

Ben Jones, CFP®

Sign up for Ben's newsletter at www.karatstick.com

Follow Ben on X @thekaratstick

Brent Gargano, CFP®

Questions or comments?

[email protected]

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome Back & Episode Introduction

02:35 Recapping Episode 58 with Dr. Bryan Buechner

04:45 Consumer Psychology & Investing

12:00 Middle East Updates & Market Impact

15:00 Why Markets Keep Hitting New Highs

18:45 AI Adoption & Career Implications

22:15 Anthropic, AI Regulation & Government Intervention

30:00 SpaceX IPO Explained

34:30 How IPOs Actually Work

38:30 Elon Musk Becomes The World's First Trillionaire

46:30 Should Investors Participate In IPOs?

49:00 Why IPOs Often Struggle After Launch

53:00 Valuations, Dilution & Share Issuance

57:30 Concentration vs Diversification

59:30 Final Thoughts

The information provided on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. The views expressed here are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of National Wealth Management Group, LLC or its affiliates.

Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy discussed will be successful or profitable. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Economic discussions are based on current data and opinions, which are subject to change and may not accurately predict future events. We encourage listeners to conduct their own research and seek guidance from a certified financial advisor before making any decisions.

Advisory services are offered through National Wealth Management Group, LLC. For more information about National Wealth Management Group including Forms ADV and CRS, please visit www.nwmgadvisors.com.

Have you ever bought something and immediately wondered, "Why did I spend money on that?"

In Episode 58 of The Money Alchemist Podcast, Brent sits down with Dr. Bryan Buechner, marketing professor at Xavier University and expert in consumer psychology, to explore the hidden forces that influence our financial decisions every day.

Together they discuss how marketing shapes behavior, why self-control is more complicated than simply "spending less," and how consumers can make better purchasing decisions in a world filled with endless choices, targeted advertising, social media, AI recommendations, and subscription services.

They also dive into topics such as Costco's cult-like customer loyalty, the rise and fall of Peloton, the psychology of pricing, consumer biases, AI shopping assistants, decision fatigue, loyalty programs, and how understanding consumer behavior can ultimately help you become a better steward of your money.

Whether you're trying to spend more intentionally, improve your financial habits, or simply understand why companies market the way they do, this episode offers practical insights that can help you make better decisions with your money.

Managing Director, National Wealth Management Group

Founder & Advisor, Infinite Wealth Planning

Comments or questions?