Money Tree Investing

We're in the middle of a run it hot economy. Today our discussion ranged from geopolitics into markets, including precious metals. Silver's recent surge is best understood as a reversion toward historical gold–silver ratios rather than a knowable fundamental catalyst. Silver's parabolic move looks unstable compared to gold's healthier, slower uptrend. But no one can truly know why prices move, so investors should be clear about why they own precious metals since that purpose should drive allocation size and risk tolerance. We also talk macro conditions, the U.S. may be pursuing an "inflationary boom" or "run it hot" strategy to offset high debt and valuations, which would favor real assets like commodities, gold, and real estate over long-duration bonds. It's important to manage fear, avoid extreme predictions, stay diversified, and pay close attention to structure, incentives, taxes, and shifting global leadership rather than relying on narratives or past performance. We discuss... Precious metals are a key focus, with gold behaving in a steady, healthy bull market while silver experienced a sharp and unstable surge. The gold-to-silver ratio was discussed as historically stretched and now reverting toward long-term norms, helping explain silver's outperformance. Silver was highlighted as both a monetary metal and a critical industrial commodity listed by the U.S. government as strategically important. The parabolic nature of silver's recent price action is risky and vulnerable to sharp pullbacks or policy interventions like margin hikes. Investors should define why they own precious metals—portfolio balance, trend participation, or protection against monetary risk. Fear-driven investing and "end of the world" thinking are harmful to rational portfolio decisions. The idea of an "inflationary boom" or "run-it-hot" economic strategy was presented as the likely policy path forward. Big tech is increasingly fragile and potentially misaligned with an inflationary-growth regime. International markets were noted as having recently outperformed U.S. equities despite America-first political narratives. Valuations in U.S. equities were described as high and structurally fragile, even as the bull market remains intact. Technicals and momentum are dominating fundamentals in the current market cycle. Tax considerations are an often-overlooked but critical factor in portfolio construction and asset selection. Bitcoin's unique tax treatment and classification as property offer planning advantages versus securities. Be wary about complacency, overconcentration, and narrative-driven investing in a late-cycle market.   Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/run-it-hot-economy-783 

Jon Ostenson is here today to share secret franchising profits for investors in 2026! Jon tells about his journey from corporate consulting into franchising and explains why non-food franchises can be a compelling, tax-advantaged path to business ownership, offering proven models, franchisor support, and built-in peer networks that often outperform startups or buying existing businesses. He compares franchising with starting or acquiring businesses, highlighted the appeal of "non-sexy" but durable industries resistant to trends and disruption. Jon also talks semi-passive ownership models, scaling through multi-territory ownership or acquisitions, and more that make franchising an attractive option for professionals seeking diversification, cash flow, and long-term growth. We discuss...  Jon Ostenson describes his transition from corporate roles at into franchising, ultimately building a consulting business that helps investors identify and enter non-food franchise opportunities nationwide. Franchising is a tax-advantaged alternative investment that can complement traditional assets like stocks and real estate within a diversified portfolio. Jon argued that boring, essential service businesses often outperform because they are less vulnerable to consumer fads, Amazon disruption, or near-term AI displacement. The concept of semi-passive or executive-model franchising was explained, where owners hire managers to run day-to-day operations while remaining hands-off with proper oversight. Success in semi-passive ownership was tied to having both a strong operator in place and a capable franchisor providing ongoing support and systems. Area developer and master franchise models were discussed as less common today, with most growth occurring through multi-unit franchise ownership. Jon identified people skills, sales experience, and humility to follow the system as the most consistent traits among top-performing franchisees. Franchise peer networks are a built-in mastermind that accelerates learning, best practices, and operational improvements across markets. Franchising is not passive income, but it can be made semi-absentee with the right structure and expectations. Franchising is a practical, scalable path to entrepreneurship for professionals seeking cash flow, control, and long-term wealth outside traditional investments. Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/secret-franchising-profits-jon-ostenson-782 

Today we have your 2026 predictions. We also cover the volatile 2025 year-end and share the extreme moves in precious metals and global geopolitical shocks as a case study for how investors should think: not politically or emotionally, but by watching price action and sector reactions. Low holiday liquidity amplified market swings, but that real signals came from how energy, materials, small caps, and international markets responded. We also think that despite macro unease, debt overhangs, and geopolitical reshuffling, the data still point to a broadly bullish environment, with diversification, attention to relative performance, and humility toward market signals being far more important than predictions. We discuss... Precious metals led early-year performance, with platinum, silver, and gold behaving very differently despite being in the same sector. Investors should respond to global events by asking how markets interpret them, not by reacting to political narratives. The U.S. seizure of Venezuela's president is a geopolitical shock with significant implications for energy markets and global power dynamics. Oil service and infrastructure companies briefly surged as markets discounted future Venezuelan production, though sustainability remains uncertain. China is a key indirect loser due to rising effective energy costs and margin pressure in its low-margin industrial economy. Geopolitical moves are increasingly overt, signaling a reshuffling of the global financial and political order. Have caution because investor intuition is often wrong, and there are historical examples where markets moved opposite of popular expectations. Price action was repeatedly emphasized as the best indicator of what informed capital is actually doing. Early 2026 performance showed leadership from small caps, microcaps, and value stocks rather than mega-cap technology. Materials, industrials, and energy outperformed in the first week, while tech, utilities, and communications lagged. The "Magnificent 7" were noted as early underperformers, challenging the assumption that they always lead markets. Defense stocks strengthened following signals of increased U.S. military spending. Healthcare and other previously beaten-down sectors were flagged as areas worth watching. Be caution against passive overreliance on the S&P 500 due to concentration risk and historical periods of long underperformance. While risks are elevated, market signals remain broadly bullish and investors should stay adaptive rather than predictive. Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/https://moneytreepodcast.com/2026-predictions-781 

Arrash Yasavoli discusses how you should jump on investing in bitoin in 2026! Arrash's path from data engineering at LinkedIn into quantitative trading, crypto, and building Glitch, a SaaS platform that gives broader access to advanced trading strategies gives a unique perspective into possible 2026 investing plans. We also talk Bitcoin's role as a potential store of value, the divergence between Bitcoin and altcoins, the growing importance of real utility and valuation in crypto projects, the rise of ETFs and stablecoins as bridges to mainstream adoption, and more. We discuss... Crypto's transition from a speculative and "scammy" perception toward broader legitimacy through regulation, ETFs, and institutional adoption. Bitcoin is increasingly viewed as a store of value similar to gold rather than a scalable transactional currency. Bitcoin's fixed supply and resilience through multiple market cycles were highlighted as key drivers of long-term investor confidence. Bitcoin's historical growth rates are unlikely to persist, with future returns likely slowing and volatility remaining high. The growing divergence between Bitcoin performance and stagnant altcoins was identified as a sign of increasing market maturity. Many altcoins from earlier cycles failed due to hype-driven models that never delivered real value. The current crypto cycle was compared to the post–dot-com bust era, where focus shifts from excitement to sustainable business models. Regulatory clarity, including frameworks for crypto and stablecoins, was viewed as a major catalyst for continued adoption. Whether investors should trade or hold crypto, with emphasis on patience and fundamentals over speculation. Future crypto valuation models were described as moving toward revenue, profitability, and clear value propositions. Arrash outlined his work on BitTensor, a blockchain designed to create and trade real digital commodities. Crypto's long-term value lies in practical applications that quietly use blockchain under the hood rather than hype-driven narratives. Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/investing-in-bitcoin-in-2026-arrash-yasavolian-780 

There are a lot of year end surprises in store with the 2025 wrap up. The year has come to an end and we are here to discuss everything from year-end reflections and personal anecdotes to a broad market outlook. We focused on the recent surge and volatility in precious metals, especially silver, explaining how futures-market leverage and exchange rule changes (like margin requirement hikes) are used to cool speculative excess, why parabolic price moves are unhealthy, and why investors should be cautious in the near term even if long-term fundamentals remain bullish. We also talked government fraud, rising debt costs, aging demographics, deglobalization, and higher-for-longer rates, arguing that bad asset allocation now carries real risk and diversification with assets like precious metals still matter. We discuss...  We challenge simplistic economic cause-and-effect narratives, arguing that inflation, tariffs, and monetary policy outcomes are highly contextual and often misrepresented by official government data. Past periods of QE and low inflation were cited to illustrate how money printing can offset deflation rather than automatically cause inflation, reinforcing skepticism toward consensus forecasts. Large-scale government fraud is pervasive, rarely punished, and structurally embedded, with the prediction that no high-level figures will face consequences in ongoing public scandals. Precious metals, particularly silver, were a major focus due to extreme recent price volatility, including sharp multi-day gains and losses while most investors were disengaged over the holidays. The mechanics of futures markets were explained in detail, emphasizing how leverage works, why margin requirements matter, and how exchanges can legally change rules to stabilize markets. Recent increases in margin requirements for silver, gold, platinum, and palladium were highlighted as a deliberate attempt by exchanges to flush out speculative leverage and cool "animal spirits." Governments and exchanges can escalate interventions dramatically if needed, including forcing cash settlement or changing delivery rules, which would materially alter market dynamics. Banks' growing discomfort with holding U.S. Treasuries and their shift toward gold are a quiet but significant signal about long-term confidence in fiat systems. The contrast between gold (central-bank owned) and silver (primarily investor and industrial owned) explains differing market behaviors and intervention risks. The hosts argued that the era of "cheap mistakes" is over, meaning poor allocation decisions now result in permanent capital loss, not just missed opportunity. AI enthusiasm should be thought of skeptically as large language models are becoming commoditized quickly, lack durable moats, and resemble past tech bubbles. Be cautious, diversify, be skeptical of narratives, have respect for market structure, and prepare for a year where volatility exposes complacency.   Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/2025-wrap-up 

Elliot Holland joins us to explore the realities of building and sustaining a high-quality, trust-driven professional business in an era dominated by AI hype, declining marketing efficiency, and algorithmic noise. We discuss skepticism around AI's real-world impact especially in high-stakes financial decisions. We also talk marketing and content strategy, why sensationalism and clickbait may win algorithms but will always repel discerning clients. We also unpack our frustrations with modern marketing platforms like Google, Facebook, and HubSpot as they grow increasingly expensive and benefit from opacity while delivering lower-quality data. The most important thing is authentic conversations, patience, and thoughtful content aimed at a small, qualified audience that can outperform viral reach.  We discuss...  Sustaining a professional services business increasingly depends on trust, judgment, and human relationships rather than scale, speed, or technological hype. There's septicism that AI will meaningfully disrupt high-stakes, people-to-people work, arguing it is largely rebranded machine learning with limited real-world adoption so far. Discerning clients value nuance, experience, and improvisational thinking that cannot be captured in static data sets or automated workflows. AI is a productivity aid for summaries and surface-level tasks, but not a substitute for deep expertise, critical thinking, or accountability. YouTube and podcasts are trust-building tools rather than growth hacks, with success measured by client conversion quality instead of view counts. Algorithms reward "nonsense about nonsense," making platforms misaligned with professionals selling high-trust, high-ticket services. Marketing metrics such as views, impressions, and engagement were described as misleading compared to tracking clicks, conversations, and actual revenue outcomes. Google, Facebook, and HubSpot are operating as "confuse-opolies," benefiting from complexity, opacity, and user lock-in rather than clear results. The rising difficulty of marketing has forced business owners to either deeply understand marketing themselves or risk wasting capital on underqualified vendors. Elliott explained restructuring his marketing around specialized vendors, strict performance accountability, and personal ownership of customer persona definition. Long-form, unscripted conversations often deliver more value than polished, optimized content designed for algorithms. Future marketing success will favor authenticity, clarity, and long-term relationship-building over funnels, gimmicks, and viral reach.   Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/ai-hype-and-clickbait-are-failing-elliott-holland 

Today we're sharing the tax loss selling secrets you need to know before 2026! We also talk understanding personal strengths and psychological limits in investing. It's good to avoid shiny-object strategies like day trading and prioritize risk management through diversification. We explore how market structure, valuations, and historical data suggest future returns may be lower and more volatile, making stress-testing portfolios and aligning risk with temperament essential. Remember long-term success comes from discipline, education, adaptability, and thoughtful strategy rather than chasing returns in overheated markets. We discuss...  Successful goal-setting focuses on small, repeatable actions over time rather than unrealistic short-term outcomes. Investors must design strategies that align with their psychological makeup, risk tolerance, and time availability rather than copying what appears profitable for others. Stop-loss orders can be dangerous in volatile or less-liquid markets due to slippage and market maker behavior, often leading to worse-than-expected exits. Markets can remain expensive longer than expected, making flexibility and balanced positioning more important than precise market timing. Concentration in high-performing assets like AI stocks or precious metals can lead to severe losses if momentum reverses sharply. Historical examples showed that long periods of weak or flat equity returns are normal following valuation extremes. Diversification across asset classes, regions, and styles was highlighted as essential for retirement sustainability and long-term wealth preservation. Static portfolios such as traditional 60/40 allocations were questioned, with an emphasis on active monitoring and adjustment as conditions change. Precious metals typically move in sequence, with gold leading, followed by silver and then platinum, often ending in unsustainable parabolic moves. Misuse of statistics, such as confusing average with median net worth, can distort perceptions of wealth and financial reality. Investment performance should be evaluated using geometric averages rather than arithmetic means to reflect true compounded returns. Emotional states like greed and fear often peak near market extremes and should signal the need for reevaluation rather than increased risk-taking. Political, macroeconomic, and election-cycle dynamics can temporarily suppress or amplify commodity prices, particularly in energy markets. Long-term success in investing depends less on prediction and more on preparation, adaptability, and disciplined execution of a well-structured plan. Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/tax-loss-selling-secrets-777 

Sallyann Della Casa, CEO Dubai-based "community as a service" GLEAC, joins us to share her personal journey and how collaborative leadership will thrive in our AI-drive future. She explains how access to networks, proximity to experience, and "quiet capital" are often more powerful than credentials alone in shaping opportunity, leadership, and career outcomes. We explore inequality driven by access rather than ability, leadership and gender mental models, and examines why modern society struggles to produce widely respected leaders. We also education and AI, arguing that traditional schooling is outdated, overly focused on memorization, and ill-suited for a world where AI can outperform humans on hard skills, while human skill can thrive in areas AI can't. AI will reshape leadership, investing, and management and future leaders will succeed by combining learning agility, deep expertise, strong networks, and the ability to co-lead alongside AI. We discuss...  Sally Ann Della Casa shares her personal story to illustrate how proximity, networks, and early access often determine life outcomes more than raw talent. The concept of "quiet capital" is a mix of social trust, reputation, networks, and deep domain knowledge that drives real-world success. The discussion examined inequality as a function of access and networks rather than intelligence or effort. Leadership was debated through the lens of mental models, including gender expectations, risk tolerance, and the loneliness of decision-making. Modern society struggles to identify and develop respected leaders across business, politics, and culture. Education systems are outdated, overly focused on memorization, and misaligned with how people actually learn and collaborate. AI was framed as a forcing function that will finally push education to prioritize human skills like judgment, creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking. The risks and benefits of AI are discussed, emphasizing that AI reflects human biases and represents the "gray average," not top-tier insight. The importance of context, storytelling, and lived experience are highlighted as something AI cannot replace. Leadership in the future is more agile, less hierarchical, and increasingly collaborative with AI tools and agents. Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance Phil Weiss | Apprise Wealth Management Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/collaborative-leadership-in-an-ai-driven-world 

Should you be buying this precious metal this Christmas? Find out what it is today as we reflect on how instant gratification, social media, and shifting consumer behavior mirror broader economic changes. We also talk practical year-end investing discipline, including portfolio "hygiene," investor psychology alignment, rule-based decision making, and tax-loss harvesting strategies. We explore assesing holdings as if investing fresh today, managing oversized winners and stagnant losers, watching natural market turning points around year-end, while also exploring inflation trends, shrinkflation, housing affordability, and generational cost pressures. We also urge listeners to use the final weeks of the year to review risks, taxes, family financial clarity, and opportunities ahead. Thoughtful preparation, not momentum or emotion, drives long-term investment success. We discuss...  The importance of year-end portfolio assessment, emphasizing reviewing holdings as if investing fresh today to determine alignment with investor psychology. Manage oversized winners, stagnant losers, and follow disciplined, rule-based investment practices rather than ego-driven decisions. Tax-loss harvesting is a key strategy, including the special advantage that crypto is treated as property and not subject to the 30-day wash-sale rule. Monitoring natural market turning points, particularly around year-end, to identify potential buying opportunities in beaten-down assets. Gold's leadership in the rally, silver's sharp recent gains, and the implications of JP Morgan shifting from short to long silver positions. Basel III banking regulations and the possibility of global banks increasing gold holdings if U.S. deficits rise above projected thresholds. Strategies for buying gold and silver, emphasizing buying for weight to minimize premiums and potentially profiting from historical spreads in coin pricing. Have caution with rare coin premiums, only experienced investors should consider numismatic factors, otherwise stick to weight-based purchases. Inflation indicators, using Campbell's Soup can pricing as a proxy for quality-adjusted inflation over decades. Shrinkflation and the rising cost of essentials for younger generations, noting housing, insurance, and other expenses have outpaced wages. Recent trends in housing, including declining new home prices but smaller home sizes, illustrating hidden inflation and cost pressures.   Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/santa-clause-rally-ahead-775

Economist George Economou joins us today to share why stocks and gold are soaring in the modern global market. He talks about his global outlook on markets amid rising economic and geopolitical uncertainty, AI-driven growth narratives, stock buybacks, and deep investor anxiety fueled by a multipolar world. We also chat on trade tensions, and escalating conflicts across the globe. He explained how falling interest rates continue to prop up U.S. and European stocks despite stretched valuations, why gold is surging as central banks and investors hedge geopolitical risk, and why tariffs are unlikely to succeed economically over the long run. We discuss...  George Economou outlined his background as a Greece-based macroeconomist, financial consultant, academic, and economics educator. Rising tariffs, shifting trade policies, and the growing independence of BRICS nations are major sources of macro instability. Europe is particularly vulnerable, with echoes of pre-2008 risks despite strong headline equity performance. U.S. equity markets are being driven by AI-led profit growth, excess liquidity, and falling interest rates rather than pure fundamentals. European equity strength is largely attributed to corporate stock buybacks rather than underlying economic health. Falling interest rates globally were highlighted as a key driver pushing investors away from bonds and into equities. Gold prices were said to be surging due to geopolitical uncertainty and aggressive central bank accumulation, especially by BRICS nations. Geopolitical risks involving Russia–Ukraine, the Middle East, and China–Taiwan are central drivers of market anxiety. Tariffs are a political tool aimed at reshoring U.S. production, but one that economic theory suggests will be inefficient long term. AI investment is comparable to early smartphone adoption, requiring heavy upfront spending before productivity gains become visible. CEOs' frustration with AI returns is linked to poor implementation rather than a lack of long-term potential. Extremely high global equity valuations are attributed to investors avoiding bonds and real estate due to unattractive risk-reward dynamics. Sustained market valuations is questioned, with the warning that expensive assets eventually decline when buyers step away. Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance Diana Perkins | Trading With Diana Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/stocks-and-gold-are-soaring-george-economou-774 

The Federal Reserve tipped it's hand for a bull market. Today we discuss the details. We talk economic divergence, as decades of debt-fueled growth and asset inflation have benefited boomers and asset owners while leaving younger generations locked out of housing and upward mobility, creating frustration and political volatility. The U.S. economy is fundamentally leveraged by pulling future earnings forward and this could be an eventual but unpredictable global financial reset. We also talk the near-term debt panic but don't get nervous as deficits are the true risk. We also talk practical investing takeaways around market cycles, sentiment, tax-loss selling, Santa Claus rally dynamics, and the importance of patience, diversification, and avoiding extreme, fear-driven decisions. We discuss... We highlight generational economic disparities, noting younger people struggle with housing affordability and wealth accumulation compared to boomers. Economic frustration among younger generations is linked to the appeal of populist political figures who speak to lived experiences. The U.S. economy is heavily leveraged, with future earnings being pulled forward to maintain growth and consumption. We warn of a potential global financial reset, while emphasizing that timing and specifics are uncertain. Central banks' accumulation of gold is a signal of perceived systemic risk and preparation for a global reset. Debt itself can be manageable, but the ongoing growth of deficits is the real problem. Concerns about foreign countries dumping U.S. bonds were dismissed as largely impractical due to mutual economic harm. Market reactions to Fed rate cuts are analyzed, showing how assets like stocks, silver, the dollar, and Treasury yields respond differently. It's important to analyze market cycles and sentiment, rather than relying on GDP or simplistic economic indicators. Tax-loss selling and end-of-year market dynamics are discussed as opportunities to buy undervalued assets with lower downside risk. The Santa Claus rally and January market patterns are historically strong indicators for short-term gains. Focus on sectors or assets that were beaten down, watch early January flows, and avoid extreme, fear-driven moves.   Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/the-federal-reserved-tipped-its-hand-773 

John Thompson is here today to talk about how the future is reinventing taxes. He discusses his diverse career path from technology and programming into finance, tax services, and nonprofit work, highlighting his long-term involvement with the Financial Health Network and their efforts to improve consumer financial health. He explains how H&R Block has evolved from serving primarily low- and middle-income clients to addressing more complex financial needs, and how automation and technology are changing tax preparation and accounting. Thompson emphasizes the importance of personal finance fundamentals, daily cash-flow systems, and awareness in managing income, debt, and budgeting amid rising costs and structural challenges like housing and healthcare. We discuss...  John Thompson shares his career journey from technology and programming into finance, tax services, and nonprofit work. He highlights his 25-year relationship with the Financial Health Network and their mission to improve consumer financial health. John explains how research on bridging taxes and banking for underbanked populations inspired practical programs at H&R Block. He describes the evolution of H&R Block from serving primarily low- and middle-income clients to addressing more complex financial needs. Automation and technology in tax preparation are allowing professionals to focus on higher-value advisory services rather than data entry. Thompson emphasizes the importance of daily personal finance systems to manage cash flow, spending, saving, and debt. Challenges like inflation, housing affordability, student loans, and healthcare costs create structural barriers to financial health. Thompson discusses how banks and financial institutions are experimenting with different models to serve both underbanked and community-focused customers. He points out that for many simple tax filers, future trends may simplify filing to automated or postcard-level processes. Thompson stresses the importance of taking timely financial actions at key moments, like tax season, raises, or job changes. He highlights upcoming policy and product changes, such as the retirement savings match in 2027–2028 and child savings accounts starting in 2025. Thompson underscores that financial resilience requires both structural solutions and disciplined personal money management. Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/reinventing-taxes-john-thompson-772   

This could be your best trade of the year! Join us as we share December secrets for your portfolio. We also talk about the shifting narratives around climate change, deregulation, and rising energy demand driven by AI. We also explore expectations for low energy prices through the election cycle, concerns about an AI-driven bubble, the continued K-shaped economy, and tactical investing insights such as exploiting year-end tax-loss selling, watching beaten-down sectors, monitoring insider buying, and recognizing mutual-fund distribution dips. We discuss... Political climate influences environmental narratives, pointing out that media references to "climate crisis" suddenly dropped as energy demand pressures changed. The explosion of AI data centers has quietly forced policymakers to pivot from anti-energy rhetoric to encouraging more electricity production and deregulation. How AI companies are now some of the largest new consumers of electricity, making cheap, abundant power a strategic priority for the tech sector. Energy prices are being politically managed to stay low into the midterm elections to keep inflation optics favorable. While AI valuations are stretched, there's unlikely to be an immediate bubble burst because capital flows and earnings momentum remain supportive. How end-of-year tax-loss harvesting creates forced selling in beaten-down stocks, temporarily pushing prices below fair value. Mutual funds selling to raise cash for capital-gains distributions can generate artificial dips that offer tactical buying windows for informed investors. Insider-buying activity is a useful signal in December, since executives often buy when their stock is mispriced due to seasonal pressures. A simple long-term Bitcoin approach: buy when it collapses on fear, hold through chop, and scale out when it becomes euphoric and parabolic. Concerns about the systemic risk attached to MicroStrategy's leveraged Bitcoin balance sheet and how a sharp BTC drawdown could spark forced selling. How crypto ETFs, institutional custody, and Wall Street participation may reduce volatility over time but also increase susceptibility to coordinated market moves. How markets today reward patience, skepticism, and tactical opportunism more than blind buy-and-hold in all sectors.   Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/best-trade-of-the-year-771

Larry Kriesmer shares how his career evolved from life insurance to options-driven wealth management, explaining that supervisory limitations at his former firm pushed him to launch his own RIA focused on option-based strategies. He and the host discuss the industry's longstanding discomfort with options, the differences among custodians, and the surge in option-centric ETFs driven by investor demand for income, downside buffers, and more predictable outcomes. Larry explains why he favors synthetic long exposure to the S&P 500, how options can create defined risk in ways traditional 60/40 portfolios cannot, and why repeated market shocks have increased interest in structures that limit drawdowns. He also stresses that while options can be powerful, they require real understanding—especially given the asymmetric risks—and that most investors are best served using simple strategies or working with experienced professionals. Larry Kriesmer shares his background transitioning from life insurance into wealth management and ultimately founding his own RIA due to options-related supervision limitations at his prior firm. We highlight how many insurance and brokerage firms restrict options usage because supervisors often lack the necessary licensing or comfort with the risks. Early-career experiences show how compliance departments often misunderstand options and overburden advisors executing client-driven trades. Larry explains that custodians also vary widely in their options competency, noting TD Ameritrade's historically advanced approach compared to more conservative platforms like Schwab and Fidelity. He describes how the growth of option-based ETFs and structured strategies reflects rising demand for income, risk buffers, and outcome-based portfolio design. Why options are resurging in popularity despite being decades old, tying it to investor frustration with unpredictable markets, multiple major drawdowns, and the need for more controlled outcomes. Larry outlines his discovery of options through studying indexed annuities, which showed him how options could define downside risk and reshape portfolio construction. He explains his core strategy of staying synthetically long the S&P 500 at all times, avoiding market timing, and focusing on capturing upside while limiting drawdowns. The conversation touches on potential expansion of his strategy into other sectors or international markets, though the S&P remains his primary exposure due to its self-healing nature. Larry critiques modern portfolio theory as outdated and insufficient for managing real downside risk, arguing that a bond-plus-options structure can outperform a traditional 60/40 on a risk-adjusted basis. You discuss how 2022 exposed the limitations of conventional diversification when both stocks and bonds fell simultaneously. Larry emphasizes that while options can be powerful tools, investors must deeply understand which side of the contract's risk they are assuming to avoid catastrophic losses. He concludes that most investors should pursue education but ultimately rely on professionals or ETF structures if they want to safely incorporate options into their portfolios. Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance Phil Weiss | Apprise Wealth Management Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/strategies-for-modern-investors-lawrence-kriesmer-770 

There are financial opportunities in Latin America, silver and more and today we are going to share them with you! We also talk holiday shopping trends and the struggles of retailers in our current economy. We also dive into "confuse-opoly" industries like furniture, mattresses, and healthcare where pricing is intentionally opaque, share personal experiences with overpriced goods, and discuss how margins, supply, and consumer behavior shape retail dynamics. Today we discuss...  Buying a new house and becoming newly attentive to pricing, noting how Black Friday sales have expanded so much that they no longer feel special. How holiday traditions and retail behavior have shifted, with Christmas decorations and sales appearing earlier each year. How perpetual discounts dilute the meaning of sales and reflect retailers' struggles in a weakening, K-shaped economy. Constant "sale" pricing makes it impossible for consumers to know real value, especially in industries like furniture. We share anecdotes about mattress shopping and how identical products are given different names across stores to prevent direct price comparisons. Market charts prompt discussion on growth vs. value investing, highlighting value's long-term underperformance and its historical cyclicality. We compare current market dynamics to the late 1990s tech bubble, noting similarities in speculation and skepticism toward value investing. Latin America's unusually low valuations and strong relative performance this year are examined as a potential opportunity. Emerging markets often struggle with consistency due to currency issues, political instability, and uneven economic development. We emphasize the importance of evaluating assets in relative terms—stocks vs. dollars, gold vs. currencies, and region vs. region. How relative performance charts reveal where capital is flowing, using gold, silver, and mining stocks as examples of cycle progression. Copper miners' potential breakout is highlighted as a key signal for commodity sector strength. Markets ultimately reflect where limited investor capital is being allocated at any given moment. Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance Phil Weiss | Apprise Wealth Management Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/opportunities-in-latin-769 

A bull market in cash is coming! Gary Zimmerman, founder and CEO of Max, explains how he discovered major inefficiencies in the cash-deposit market and built a platform that helps clients earn higher yields while staying fully FDIC-insured. We explore how broker-dealer incentives shaped the "always be invested" mindset, why RIAs take a more fiduciary approach to cash, and how most advisors dramatically underestimate how much cash clients actually hold in outside bank accounts. We also dive into the strategic role of cash in portfolios, the psychology and behavioral finance behind loss aversion, and why many investors keep cash in low-yield big banks despite far better options. We discuss... Gary Zimmerman shares his path from aspiring biochemist to investment banker and ultimately founder of Max. Gary describes how Max helps advisors and clients earn higher yields on cash while staying fully FDIC-insured. The conversation highlights the structural differences between broker-dealers and fiduciary RIAs in how they treat cash. Cash is both the "worst" asset class (low returns) and the "best" (strategic flexibility and optionality). Gary emphasizes that many advisors are unaware of large "held-away" cash balances clients keep at big banks. Research shows high-net-worth households keep roughly 25% of their liquid assets in cash—far above portfolio models. Behavioral finance plays a major role as clients publicly want risk but privately hoard cash for emotional comfort. Cash helps investors sleep better, reduce loss-aversion anxiety, and feel less trapped in work or life decisions. Gary explains that deposit pricing inefficiency exists because large banks don't need or want more deposits. The system also keeps client deposits below insurance limits by spreading funds across multiple banks. They explore how most households either have no emergency reserve or keep excessive idle cash earning too little. Cash reserve needs vary dramatically by life stage, career stability, and complexity of financial obligations. Senior professionals may need years of cash cushion because job searches take longer at higher levels. Behavioral mistakes in downturns often stem from being over-invested relative to one's psychological risk capacity. Gary argues that post-pandemic money-supply expansion suggests more inflation is still embedded in the system. Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Diana Perkins | Trading With Diana Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/bull-market-in-cash-gary-zimmerman-768 

The economy is breaking, and today we discuss the signs. We explore the challenges of navigating today's markets, highlighting the volatility and skepticism around AI-driven companies, overinflated stock valuations, and earnings season dynamics where "beating expectations" often masks underlying realities. It's important to be cautious investors over high P/E ratios, unsustainable growth, and market timing. You need to focus on risk management over speculation. Critical thinking is also imperative while evaluating data and it's important to question assumptions and focus on market behavior rather than blindly trusting reported numbers. We discuss... Volatility in November and the flat performance in October, with a mixed outlook for the remaining six weeks of the year. Historical trends in presidential cycles, noting that the second year is statistically the worst for stock market performance, while years one, three, and four tend to perform better. The impact of earnings season on markets and how companies often beat expectations by managing guidance strategically, which can mislead retail investors. The market's reaction to AI-related companies, the skepticism around reported growth, revenue, and inter-company financing "shenanigans." Historical parallels to the late 1990s internet bubble, where vendor financing inflated revenues before companies ultimately collapsed. The difficulty of individual stock investing, noting that growth rates slow as companies mature and valuations often contract over time. The risk of focusing on long-term predictions without timing, being "right too early" can result in significant opportunity costs and losses. Michael Burry's recent hedge fund moves, his short positions on AI-related stocks like Nvidia and the implications for investors skeptical of inflated earnings. Timing is critical in investing, caution with high-growth sectors and risk management rather than speculative bets are needs. Investors should not blindly trust government or corporate data, but instead focus on market behavior and price trends to assess reality. There's importance in distinguishing between what is factually true and what the market believes. Apply critical thinking, question assumptions, and focus on present market realities rather than speculative long-term projections. Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Phil Weiss | Apprise Wealth Management Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/the-economy-is-breaking 

John Bartleman, the CEO of TradeStation, is here today to talk about how AI will transform the future of trading. John shares his background and the evolution of TradeStation from early backtesting software to a full-service broker, while explaining how its roots in systematic trading differentiated it from competitors. He outlines major industry shifts, along with the benefits and challenges of dark pools and institutional order flow. We also dive into how AI is transforming trading, as John describes his own use of MCP-enabled AI agents for research, portfolio analysis, trade structuring, and more. AI may radically reshape fintech analytics and asset management, enabling traders to work more efficiently and pushing the industry toward fewer traditional money managers and more AI-driven decision systems. We discuss...  Record money market fund levels are being widely misinterpreted, as the balances often represent defensive positioning rather than pent-up buying power. Many investors mistakenly assume large cash balances automatically signal a coming equity influx, ignoring the behavioral reasons people hold cash. The tariff headline created rapid swings in futures markets, revealing how sensitive positioning is ahead of the election. A sharp crypto drawdown triggered widespread stop-loss cascades across major tokens, amplifying downside pressure in a classic liquidity vacuum. Seasonal trends typically provide a tailwind this time of year, but macro uncertainty is preventing markets from fully leaning into the pattern. Investors are observing a notable rotation away from mega-cap tech and toward value-oriented and small-cap sectors. The dispersion between the top seven tech stocks and the rest of the index remains near historic extremes. Elevated cash levels and volatility suggest institutional investors are selectively adding risk rather than buying broadly. Market breadth is improving modestly, but not enough yet to signal a durable trend reversal. Short-term traders are capitalizing on intraday volatility spikes driven by headlines and algos. Longer-term investors remain focused on earnings resilience and margin stability across sectors. Companies with global exposure are expressing concern about potential policy shifts after the election. Energy and industrials are gaining attention as potential beneficiaries of a reflationary environment. Tech remains bifurcated between AI-driven leaders and more traditional software names experiencing deceleration. Crypto markets continue to influence risk appetite, even among investors who do not directly hold digital assets.   Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance Diana Perkins | Trading With Diana Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/the-future-of-trading-john-bartleman-766

The stock market is broken! Today we talk about a broad range of economic, market, and behavioral topics, beginning with the cognitive bias of sunk costs and how it affects personal decisions, investing, and business choices, emphasizing the importance of recognizing losses and cutting them early. We also explore recent market signals, including distress in the credit and auto-loan markets, and the K-shaped economy. We also critique media and policy narratives, pointing to propaganda around climate change and the pivot to nuclear energy. It's important to be aware and prudent in your observations in uncertain times. We also remark on the rising cost of living, currency devaluation (the end of the penny), and market performance trends. We discuss...  Sunk cost bias was illustrated with examples in plumbing repairs, investing in stocks like QQQ, and hiring ineffective marketers in business. People often continue bad relationships or investments due to the psychological discomfort of admitting mistakes. Non-decisions are still decisions, and it's important to consciously choose a path rather than defaulting to inaction. The conversation shifted to propaganda in media and politics, including discussions about global warming and COVID messaging. Nuclear energy is the only scalable solution for energy needs if climate change is real, and that AI and technology interests influenced the shift in media focus. We discussed deliberate and coincidental market messaging, citing examples of Fed statements and past financial crises like 2008. Michael Burry's recent fund positions and put options on Nvidia and Palantir were discussed as a signal for investors to pay attention, though not necessarily to follow blindly. Extreme caution in investing is recommended, particularly in markets or sectors one does not fully understand, such as the stressed auto-loan market. Signs of market stress were highlighted, including unusual moves in the SOFR rate and subprime auto-loan distress, though not on the scale of the 2008 mortgage crisis. The K-shaped economy was explained, where asset holders benefit from price inflation while those without assets see income stagnation and rising expenses. Rising housing costs and mortgage challenges were linked to declining fertility rates and generational effects on college and workforce participation. Indicators of market sentiment, including CNN's Fear and Greed Index, were analyzed, with a caution not to follow them blindly as they often lag or mislead. Observations were made on shifting consumer behaviors, including declining cash usage and businesses refusing pennies as payment. Future discussion topics were teased, including REIT investment opportunities and year-to-date market performance insights.   Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/stock-market-is-broken 

Mark Salisbury shares the secrets to spending less on the cost of college! As the founder of TuitionFit, explains how the college pricing and financial aid system is designed to favor schools over families. He describes how emotional marketing, opaque pricing, and complex financial aid forms create confusion and limit families' leverage. he outlines how students and parents can regain control by defining their price range first, using resources like TuitionFit and net price calculators, and strategically managing assets, timing, and financial disclosures. He also covers how income, savings, and family structure affect aid, and more! We discuss...  Mark Salisbury explains how the college pricing system is intentionally vague, designed to benefit schools rather than families. This conversation exposes how the financial aid process operates like a hidden marketplace where families unknowingly pay vastly different prices for the same education. Mark explains the difference between a school's sticker price, discount rate, and net price, emphasizing that the last is what truly matters. He details how the FAFSA and CSS Profile collect information that can be used by colleges to assess a family's financial "willingness to pay." Timing and disclosure of assets can dramatically impact how much financial aid a family receives. Families with business ownership structures may have advantages in how assets and income are reported. Fnancial aid formulas often penalize savings while rewarding debt. Salisbury argues that families should start with their budget first, then find schools that fit within that price range—rather than applying and hoping for aid. Tools like TuitionFit help families compare real financial aid offers and discover the true market price for college. He advises against oversharing financial information before admission decisions are made to preserve negotiation leverage. Negotiating college costs is compared to buying a car—where informed consumers who know their target price get better deals. Transparency and data sharing among families are key to fixing the broken college pricing system. Mark calls for systemic reform to make higher education pricing fairer, more transparent, and tied to real market value. Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors Diana Perkins | Trading With Diana Jack Wang | Smart College Buyer   Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/secrets-to-spending-less-on-the-cost-of-college-mark-salisbury-764