This week David Hays had planned to welcome Jolene Dixon from the Bloomington Social Security office to the show... but the government shutdown that began on October 1 cancelled those plans.

So, instead David pivots to The Variety Show!

What actually happens in a government shutdown? What's the different between the debt ceiling and a shutdown? David and Jim Inman will give a history lesson on modern government shutdowns and the reasons behind them. 

David and Jim will also touch on Social Security - the pros and cons of delaying enrollment, what's expected for the COLA (cost of living adjustment) and some strategies for married couples. Plus, FAFSA applications are now being accepted - what does that mean for someone pursuing higher education? David and Jim will talk on all of this and more...

This week David shares about a variety of news coming out of Washington, DC and across the country - how consumer auto loans are defaulting and Elon Musk's recent comments about the national debt.

David will also share about his upcoming meeting with Ed Slott to learn new insights on IRA planning - especially given the new legislation from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Plus - is your teenager ready for the financial aspects of adulthood? David will share some tips with listeners...

This week David provides a history lesson on the markets, taken from the New York Times newspaper over the past 100 years. Does history repeat itself, as the old saying goes? David will have some interesting stories and headlines to share. 

Rod Holloway from CFCI will also be calling in with a market update. Gold continues to be a big topic - in fact, the US Treasury has $750B in gold that has not been revalued since 1973. 

Plus, David will preview the upcoming Retirement Planning Today classes at Ivy Tech's Center for Lifelong Learning. These classes provide a variety of information on retirement planning.  

Mortgage rates have been on the decline since mid-July, and the 10-year Treasury has also seen a decrease. What could that be signaling? David will discuss debt-to-income ratios and share some history on mortgages over the last 50 years.

Also, David participated in a webinar with Ed Slott this week on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act - and there are more details from the legislation to share from Ed and his team.

Do you know what a self-directed IRA is? Do you know what's allowed and not allowed in the investment? David will talk about the rules and risks involved.

It's been just two months since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law... but questions remain about various aspects of the legislation. What are the financial accounts for newborns? How is overtime going to work in the future... and are there ways to prevent people from abusing the feature? Is tipping going to become a new method of employment, if there is no taxing on tips? How do Americans over 65 benefit from the legislation? What is permanent and what is temporary - and can that change? There's a lot to talk about, and David will bring it to the air this weekend.

David will be discussing what investments can be owned in an IRA - and what the potential risks and rewards might be. Plus, Rod Holloway from CFCI will be on with a market update. 

As we head into the long weekend - and the first weekend of Indiana University football - it's time for the next Question-and-Answer Show. David and Jim Inman will be in the studio with a number of your questions, including:

• What's the difference between a 529 plan, an UTMA and an UGMA?
• What happens to the funds in a Health Savings Account (HSA) when someone passes away?
• Why is it important to determine what account to take money from?
• Should you adjust your financial plan if you don't intend to retire?
• How does an IRA transfer work when it goes from one sibling to another?

There are several other questions to discuss - remember you can always send your questions to [email protected]. We'll get them answered as quickly as possible and may use them on a future episode!

You've heard of CPI - the Consumer Price Index - but have you heard of PPI - the Producer Price Index? This week David welcomes Rod Holloway to kick-off the show and talk about how the two indices are telling different stories.

The seventh IRA commissioner of 2025 has been appointed - what does the non-partisan Tax Foundation have to say about the upheaval?

Plus - there is still time to consider a Roth IRA conversion if you haven't already... American farmers are aging, and what that means to our food supply... and David's upcoming conversation with Senator Todd Young. There's much to share on the show! 

David is back home after a trip to Uruguay in South America, and he will share about his experience there, including the similarities and differences in their financial system to ours. He will also have the latest news on Thursday's inflation reports from Washington.

The Wall Street Journal has had recent articles about business optimism in America. Is it really happening? David will discuss the articles and what it means as we head into the last four months of the year.

Plus, the new tax-breaks for people looking to purchase a new vehicle have a number of caveats... American's 401(k)s are tied to stocks now more than ever... and David's upcoming meeting with Senator Todd Young.

This week's show will start off with a market update from Rod Holloway with CFCI... what's happening with the Federal Reserve and interest rates, the Producer Price Index (PPI) and more. Then David shares about a recent test he took on IRAs - and why the nuances are so important in financial planning.

David will also discuss QCDs - Qualified Charitable Distributions - and their benefits, as well as a financial conference Doug Hughes will be attending in the coming weeks. Now that we're in the latter half of the year, it's time to start thinking about charitable giving, and a QCD might be a good way to give if you fit the criteria.

There's a lot of ground to cover this week!

It's time to take a deep dive into the One Big Beautiful Bill legislation signed into law on July 4. This week David will bring insights on the various pieces of the bill - the changes in standard tax deductions, state and local tax deductions (aka SALT), the "bonus" deduction for older Americans, estate and gift tax exemption and charitable deductions.

Some of these changes have expiration dates, which can have a significant price tag to them. David will discuss what's permanent and what's temporary in the bill.

Will Rogers said "The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets." Remember that when you listen to the show this weekend!