Money Matters With Wes Moss

Life transitions can be exciting and challenging. Throughout our lives, we experience many changes and shifts that will impact our outlook on things. Some changes will take us out of our comfort zone, but experiencing them can help us learn how to cope. This philosophy goes for retirement as well. In this podcast episode, Wes interviews Nancy Schlossberg, former psychology professor, author, and co-president of TransitionWorks. During the episode, Nancy explains the importance of transitions in your life leading up to your retirement. She also shares her life experiences regarding change, different kinds of retirees, resources for coping with change, transition stages, and how the retirement process is affected by these transitions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should you stay? Should you go? Should you rent? Everyone wants to know! Real estate prices fluctuate constantly, making it challenging to predict where the prices will fall in years to come. The real estate market is dependent on a variety of factors. In this podcast episode, Wes examines the ever-changing housing market and where prices are headed in the future. He also dives into real estate trends, supply and demand, the factors that impact housing prices, the home price index, and home pricing comparisons from state to state.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Money can be a difficult subject for many. If we’ve learned anything from the pandemic, it’s that we are not always at fault for being financially unstable. Although no one is to blame for the turn of events, it is up to us to take control and determine a solution for recovering our finances, establishing security, and restoring wealth.  In today’s episode, Wes interviews CEO and podcast host of Her Money, Jean Chatzky. Throughout the episode, Jean debunks some of the most common misconceptions about wealth and wealth building. Jean and Wes also discuss how money can impact your happiness, the major problems people face when repairing their finances, and the differences between men investors versus women investors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is there an ideal moment to invest in the market? It’s a question that worries many investors each time they put money in the market. The answer to this question should be the same no matter what the market environment.  During this episode, Wes shares his insights on the “perfect time” to kickstart your investment journey. He also compares investing at the best time versus investing at the worst time within the market, explains why participation is pivotal, and lays out how to control your investment itinerary.  Source: Bloomberg L.P. Stocks are represented by the S&P 500, and cash equivalents by the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury Bill Index. Indexes are unmanaged, do not incur fees or expenses, and cannot be invested directly.   This chart represents a hypothetical investment and is for illustrative purposes only. Dividends and interest are assumed to have been reinvested , and the example does not reflect the effects of taxes, expenses or fees. The actual annual rate of return will fluctuate with marke

Money can impact your life in positive and negative ways. While many of us are mindful of our money, we don’t always realize how money influences our behavior. Understanding how money impacts behavior can help you reduce or prevent stress, fear, and scarcity.  On today’s podcast episode, Wes sits down with Leisa Peterson, coach, mindset teacher, author, and podcast host of The Mindful Millionaire. Leisa shares her experiences with stress caused by scarcity of money growing up and kickstarting a method for saving more. She also covers abundance, conquering money mistakes, the importance of self-care, and the money tendencies of men versus women.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A rewarding retirement is not just about having enough money to live comfortably. At the end of the day, there are some things that money can’t buy. Having social connectedness is essential to your longevity and happiness. Maintaining lifelong friend groups or social groups is key during this stage in your life, and traveling with these social connections can lead to your most fulfilling retirement.    On today’s podcast episode, Wes explains how social connectedness is vital for a happy retiree. He also dives into the softer side of planning for retirement, four happy retiree secrets of social connectedness, and shares his research on happy retirees versus unhappy retirees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to generating wealth, everyone wants to “get rich quick”. Little do people know, the easiest way to accomplish this is through a slow process and patience. As challenging as that sounds, no one sees the visible ups and downs of the wealth journey. Many seeking wealth only have eyes for the pot of gold at the end.    Today’s episode includes an interview with Brian Preston, a CFP, CPA, PFS, and founder of AboundWealth in Franklin, Tennessee. Brian is also the founder and host of the award-winning Money Guy Show, a podcast that has been broadcasting for over 15 years. Brian shares his top three steps toward wealth creation, three reasons for hiring a fee-only financial advisor, and the biggest blocks to avoid while creating wealth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to retirement, we tend to think of things in black and white. In one stage, you’re working, and the next, you’re retired. Depending on what age you retire, this isn’t always the case. There are times when you find yourself in what’s called “the grey zone” of retirement.    In this episode, podcast host Wes Moss explains the Grey Zone of retirement for an early retiree. Retiring sooner can be a dream, but if you retire young enough to get a second career or transition job, then you should do so to ease into living off of your savings. Wes also shares a tool that he uses to navigate the zone and reviews the five steps for retiring sooner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just because you’re getting older doesn’t mean that you should stop your efforts for longevity. After all, planning for a happy retirement includes following core pursuits and socializing with family and friends. Aging is inevitable, but for those retiring it can be a concern. Planning your retirement with a life expectancy of 70 years old is different from planning for a life expectancy of 90 years old. In today’s episode, Wes interviews Dr. Andrew Steele, a London-based bio-gerontologist, writer, and campaigner as he explains some of the research behind his new book Ageless: The New Science of Getting  Older Without Getting Old. They discuss risk factors of diseases, such as cancer and dementia, the impact of excessive daily exercise, and why sleep is essential to your health. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

his year has brought us into a new economic environment. We are shifting from a closed economy to businesses reopening and gaining momentum as we recover from the past year. But with that momentum has come a bevy of fear and concern. As a result, investors should not be worried or paranoid, but they should be prepared. In today’s podcast, Wes shares tips on how investors can combat what he calls the three-headed monster of higher inflation, rising interest rates, and tax increases.  Throughout this episode, Wes analyzes the historical correlation between tax rates, capital gains, stocks and addresses why some categories of stocks fare better when inflation or interest rates rise. Of course, historical events in markets may not repeat exactly the same, but many events show similarities. As investors, if we stick to a few rules of thumb, we may be able to weather any market conditions that come our way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Studies have found that as many as 40% of retirees have difficulty adjusting, and even those who claim to enjoy retirement may experience some uneasiness as they adapt to a life lacking in structure and direction. The path to a happy retirement may be paved with good intention when it comes to financial preparation, but preparation for your mental health is equally as important.  Today’s episode features licensed psychologist Louis H. Primavera, PhD. Dr. Primavera is co-author of the book The Retirement Maze: What You Should Know Before and After You Retire. He specializes in behavior and rational emotive behavior therapies and is currently the Dean of Health Sciences at Touro College in New York. Wes and Dr. Primavera discuss the four stages of retirement, understanding the purpose of a bridge job, the importance of staying socially connected, and the psychological side of retirement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you get your news by television, websites, or social media, it is often dominated by a negative narrative. After all, the old saying when it comes to the media is, “if it bleeds, it leads.” As investors, we should not just pay attention to what we see and read but also focus on what we know.  In today’s episode, Wes addresses the critical importance of rational optimism for investors. He outlines a list of perpetual, formidable events that could negatively impact the economy at any time. While these events may seem bad now, savvy investors can counter this narrative with the knowledge that fundamentally good things are happening today - starting with the army of American productivity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When learning how to walk, infants fail up to 70 times an hour yet, they still keep trying. So why can we as adults be so afraid to fail when trying something new? As we get older and deeper into adulthood, we sometimes forget what it feels like to begin again. Inspired by his young daughter's insatiable need to know how to do almost everything, and challenged by his own rut of mid-career competence, blogger, journalist, and best-selling author, Tom Vanderbilt took a year-long journey to master five new skills. In today’s episode, Wes sits down with Tom to talk through the important lessons he learned on his journey, how to reclaim your identity by learning something new and why failing is a good thing. Tom shares how anyone can begin again--and, more important, why they should take those first awkward steps. We’re fascinated by Tom’s pursuit to continue learning new skills and hope this episode inspires you to explore your own childlike wonders in retirement. Read more about Tom’s journey in his latest bo

Lately we’ve been inundated with news of people becoming millionaires overnight. 2021 has been the year of the ‘meme’ stock and this phenomenon has made it even more difficult for investors to keep their eye on the ball. For example, AMC recently announced a new program offering perks for shareholders which sent the stock through the roof. This new form of shareholder activism can be exciting but it’s not always a durable investment strategy for long-term investing. Today we’ll discuss the 15/50 Stock Rule, which helps guide investors in maintaining a balance between risk and reward according to their time horizon. The 15/50 portfolio idea has been around for decades, championed by Columbia Business School professor Benjamin Graham (mentor to famed billionaire investor Warren Buffet), as well as Vanguard founder, John Bogle. In this episode, we’ll focus on the conversation soon-to-be retirees are likely having which is, ‘how much as a percentage of our portfolio should we have in stocks over time?’   More on

When it comes to money, even smart people can make dumb decisions. What do you think is the genesis for poor financial decisions? Why can we be so bad at spending? There are so many silly things people do when making financial decisions. Jill Schlesinger, CBS News Business Analyst and Author, shares some fantastic advice about retirement planning and the questions you should be asking to define your needs, manage your money and make smart financial decisions. Jill talks about her beginnings with CBS and start in the financial industry, all which led her to become a leader in translating complicated business and economic news into understandable, relatable topics for everyday viewers and listeners. The Dumb Things Smart People Do With Their Money by Jill Schlesinger: https://www.jillonmoney.com/book/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When The Millionaire Next Door book by Thomas Stanley was first released, I was an intern at my first investment job. Now, in its 23-year history, it has had a major impact on how people understand what it means to be wealthy in the United States.   In this episode, we’ll discuss the habits Thomas Stanley wrote about in 1996, of the people who have created not just high income, but wealth. We’ll talk about the ways you can implement the traits of the Millionaire Next Door, debunk the lies that you need to be hedonistically rich to retire successfully, share some millionaire statistics and the ways in which the Millionaire Next Door is related to the happy retiree.     The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley: https://www.themillionairenextdoor.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we approach midlife, a lot of us may find ourselves taking care of our aging parents, children, or both. How do we not go broke taking care of other people in our lives? Even people who spend a lot of time on financial planning tend to overlook their own needs in the long term for assistance with finances (paying bills, organizing things, etc) and healthcare (rides to appointments, caregiving, etc). Why is that? Richard Eisenberg shares a little bit about his personal experience as a caregiver and shares some best practices to providing care while also protecting our financial future and becoming a happy retiree.   Richard Eisenberg is an author and Managing Editor for Next Avenue - a PBS site. You can find Richard on Twitter at https://twitter.com/richeis315. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Humans are naturally reactive, it’s a survival technique but those who are able to look beyond the market storms are the investors that are typically rewarded.   Today I’m going to share with you one of the most powerful and helpful investment tools, in my opinion, to use when investing gets tough - The Dry Powder Principle. We’ll take a look at the history of how often and severe markets fall, the recovery time for all bear markets from 1928 and how The Dry Powder Principle can be helpful when preparing for retirement. Understanding market cycles can help us gain a sense of patience, look beyond the danger and stay invested over time - which is key to becoming a happy retiree.   More on The Dry Powder Principle: https://www.wesmoss.com/news/how-to-own-your-expenses-and-plan-ahead-for-market-storms/   The 15/50 Stock Rule: https://www.wesmoss.com/news/why-investors-should-consider-using-the-15-50-stock-rule/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you’re 25 or nearing retirement age, you’ll learn something new about how to maximize social security and plan for the future in today’s episode with Mary Beth Franklin. Mary Beth is one of the country’s leading specialist on social security and medicare and writes a weekly column on retirement issues for Investment News, a publication for financial advisers.   In our conversation today she answers questions such as, why do you think Social Security has become so confusing and difficult for so many people to make sense of as they get ready to retire? What are some actionable steps to take right now to prepare for or maximize their social security? And what you need to know when it comes to spouses and social security.   History of Social Security: https://www.ssa.gov/history/index.html Where to find Mary Beth Franklin: maximizingsocialsecuritybenefits.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Retirement is one of the most exciting goals to strive for. All of your hard work saving and investing has paid off, and now you’re living the good life. But making the most of your post-career years means being on guard for a few financial pitfalls.   In my research, I’ve discovered that the happiest retirees know what to avoid and practice in order to retire sooner. So what mistakes are unhappy retirees making to prevent them from reaching economic freedom? In today’s episode, we’ll discuss the Rich Ratio, how much time you should really spend on your own finances, if you should purchase big-ticket items before or after retirement, and the things you should be focusing on while you save and plan for retirement.   David Bach on Retiring Overseas: https://www.wesmoss.com/podcasts/episode-2-david-bach-moving-overseas/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices