It’s been a strong year for the markets—but the ride hasn’t been smooth. Yields continue to be pulled in opposite directions: lower on expectations of rate cuts, but higher on concerns about sticky inflation, labor market weakness, and elevated Treasury debt levels.

In this episode of Wealthy Behavior, Heritage Financial’s CIO Bob Weisse joins CEO Sammy Azzouz to discuss the current state of the markets and economy, including:

• Key takeaways from Jerome Powell’s Jackson Hole speech
• Goldman Sachs’ recent research on U.S. fiscal worries: “Is This Time Different?”
• A reminder of true Wealthy Behavior: after a strong run in stocks, don’t let the tax tail wag the dog
• What investors should be watching for in the months ahead
• Portfolio moves our investment team made to help manage today’s risks

Visit us at www.heritagefinancial.net. Send your questions to [email protected],

And, don’t miss our free ebook and video course, How To Build Your Next Million—packed with expert insights on saving, investing, and protecting your wealth.

Markets remain near all-time highs, and investor sentiment is strong — but a softer July jobs report, along with downward revisions to prior months, points to a cooling labor market.

Heritage Financial CIO, Bob Weisse, joins CEO, Sammy Azzouz, to discuss what this means for the Fed, the economy, and investors. They also break down key valuation metrics (CAPE vs. PE ratios), share views on market efficiency, and examine the potential impact of new tariffs.

Tune in for timely insights on markets, economic data, and how they’re influencing portfolio strategy today.



• Send your questions to [email protected],
• Visit us at www.heritagefinancial.net.
• And, don’t miss our free ebook and video course, How To Build Your Next Million—packed with expert insights on saving, investing, and protecting your wealth.

In this episode, Ed Jastrem, Heritage Financial's Chief Planning Officer, joins Sammy Azzouz to break down the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and what it means for your financial future. They discuss what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and how individuals and business owners can make the most of planning opportunities.

Topics include:

• Key changes taking effect in 2025 vs. 2026
• Misconceptions around Social Security and taxation
• Expiring and new tax credits
• Why 529 plans just got more attractive
• Charitable giving opportunities
• Business owner provisions, including depreciation and capital expenses
• What actions to take before the end of 2025 to avoid surprises at tax time
• How scenario planning helps clients stay ahead

Whether you're planning for retirement, running a business, or just want to avoid surprises at tax time, this episode is packed with insights.

• Send your questions to [email protected],
• Visit us at www.heritagefinancial.net.
• And, don’t miss our free ebook and video course, How To Build Your Next Million—packed with expert insights on saving, investing, and protecting your wealth.

Markets continued their upward trend in June, reflecting investor resilience despite ongoing global uncertainty.

In this episode, Bob Weisse, Heritage Financial's CIO, joins Sammy Azzouz, CEO, to explore what’s driving strong market performance, offering historical context and some investment opportunities.

He also discusses how the investment landscape has evolved—many products once reserved for institutions, such as interval funds, are now more accessible to individual investors.

Bob shares his framework for evaluating alternative investments, often called the “third pillar” of investing. But is diversification alone enough to justify their place in a portfolio? He breaks down the wide range of strategies, fee structures, and market exposures to consider.

Plus, we answer a listener question: Why aren’t we investing in gold right now?

• Send your questions to [email protected],
• Visit us at www.heritagefinancial.net.
• And, don’t miss our free ebook and video course, How To Build Your Next Million—packed with expert insights on saving, investing, and protecting your wealth.

You can have a solid financial plan and a great estate plan—but if they aren’t aligned, neither may work as intended. Liz Meyer, JD, Heritage Financial’s Estate Planning Specialist, shares strategies to strengthen your estate plan, common mistakes, and answers the questions she hears most often.

We cover:

• Why estate planning matters—both during your life and after
• Key estate planning documents
• How beneficiary designations interact with your estate plan and can override your intentions
• What is included in your taxable estate and ways to help reduce estate taxes
• The annual gift exclusion—how it works and why it matters
• What to know if you own property in multiple states
• How transparent you should be with your children and family

Don’t wait to protect what you’ve worked so hard for—your family, your future, and your peace of mind.

• Send your questions to [email protected],
• Visit us at www.heritagefinancial.net.
• And, don’t miss our free ebook and video course, How To Build Your Next Million—packed with expert insights on saving, investing, and protecting your wealth.

Despite unsettling headlines and ongoing market volatility, both stocks and bonds are in positive territory year-to-date—led by international markets outpacing the U.S. Since April’s dip, markets have rebounded, giving investors a second chance to reassess their portfolios, consider global diversification, and revisit their risk tolerance. In this episode, Sammy and Bob break down what’s driving the markets and dive into:

• Why the growing U.S. budget deficit matters to bond investors
• The role of real assets in a diversified portfolio
• A new opportunity our team is analyzing in foreign bonds

Send your questions to [email protected]



And, don’t miss our free ebook and video course, How To Build Your Next Million—packed with expert insights on saving, investing, and protecting your wealth.

Barry Ritholtz — Co-founder, Chairman, and Chief Investment Officer of Ritholtz Wealth Management, and host of the Masters in Business podcast — joins Sammy to discuss his new book, “How Not To Invest: The ideas, numbers, and behaviors that destroy wealth – and how to avoid them”.

Barry blends behavioral finance with data analysis to uncover some of the most common (and costly) investing mistakes — and how to steer clear of them. Tune in for actionable takeaways on failing better, managing market noise, and navigating the world of financial “experts.”

Plus, Barry explains why the childhood advice “Don’t take candy from strangers” also holds true for grown-up investors.

Send questions to [email protected] and don’t forget to rate the show!

And, don’t miss our free ebook and video course, How To Build Your Next Million—packed with expert insights on saving, investing, and protecting your wealth.

Bob Weisse, CIO of Heritage Financial, joins Sammy Azzouz to break down the latest market trends and what investors need to know. While markets have shown improvement in recent weeks, signs of weakness remain, raising concerns about a potential recession.

Bob discusses the factors behind the Q1 GDP contraction and what it could signal for the broader economy. He also offers insights on how investors can navigate uncertainty and volatility, including an explanation of the difference between fundamental and technical price movements.

In addition, Bob shares his perspective on the small-cap market and, in light of Warren Buffett’s announcement that he will step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, reflects on timeless investment lessons from one of history’s most influential investors.

Send questions to [email protected] and don’t forget to rate the show!

And, don’t miss our free ebook and video course, How To Build Your Next Million—packed with expert insights on saving, investing, and protecting your wealth.

We usually advise against mixing politics and portfolios, but since the April 2 tariff announcement, politics—not fundamentals—have been driving the markets. Sammy Azzouz sits back down with Heritage Financial’s CIO, Bob Weisse, to unpack what’s happened since “Liberation Day” and answer some FAQs about the state of the investment universe today. If you’re wondering what just happened to your portfolio—and what could come next—tune in!

Send questions to [email protected] and don’t forget to rate the show!

And, don’t miss our free ebook and video course, How To Build Your Next Million—packed with expert insights on saving, investing, and protecting your wealth.

Diversification proved its worth in Q1. While U.S. markets struggled, dragged down by a tech-sector sell-off, international and fixed-income markets delivered strong returns. Heritage Financial’s CIO, Bob Weisse, breaks down the Q1 results and highlights why diversification remains crucial in today’s environment of heightened risks, policy uncertainty, and elevated U.S. equity valuations.

In this episode, we:

✅ Share some glimmers of hope

✅ Explain market momentum—why winners tend to keep winning and losers keep losing

✅ Explore how direct indexing can be a smart solution for investors with idle cash, high capital gains, or those preparing to sell a business

Join us for insights that can help you navigate today’s complex market with confidence.

Plus, don’t miss our free ebook and video course, How To Build Your Next Million—packed with expert insights on saving, investing, and protecting your wealth.

Have questions or topics you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected].