Money Matters With Wes Moss

This week we’re taking a peek behind the scenes of child stars and the financial struggles that are so often associated with them. Jason Minor, a former Mickey Mouse Club member and child star turned financial advisor, offers his insider knowledge on how individuals such as Britney Spears end up earning significant sums in their formative years only to lose it all. Jason offers suggestions on how a #FreeBritney-like movement can be avoided for the next generation of young rising stars, and we can all learn about the importance of financial planning whenever presented with a sudden cash windfall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the US economy in a market bubble that could burst sooner than we think? It’s the question that has been on the minds of many investors causing some degree of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. After all, we keep witnessing the market hit new all-time highs and investors want to have the confidence that their money is still being put to work. In today’s episode, Wes addresses this common question and discusses the history and lessons we can learn from one of the greatest economic bubbles in history that occurred in Japan during the 1990’s. Wes also shares five nearly unbelievable scenarios that happened during Japan’s bubble, identifies the mark of a bubble, and discusses cycles of bear and bull markets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What can I do to retire sooner? What should I be investing in? What is the status of the stock market? Don’t fret. You came to the right place! In this podcast episode, Wes answers questions sent in from podcast listeners. He also addresses his overall mission to help families retire happy. Additionally, he shares insights and tips around retirement, real estate, investing, and finances. This is provided as a resource for informational purposes and is not to be viewed as investment advice or recommendations. This information is being presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance, or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. The mention of any company is provided to you for informational purposes and as an example only and is not to be considered investment advice or recommendation or an endorsement of any particular company. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk, including the possible lo

When it comes to finances, money conversations can be a difficult topic for some couples. Surprisingly, it’s also common for couples to be clueless about each other’s salaries and what their combined money is being used for. Although money is a major cause of divorce, it can be prevented through better communication and teamwork. In this podcast episode, Wes tackles the touchy subject of couples and their finances. He also explores relationship data in regards to talking about money, relationship transparency, why communication is key, how communication can impact your retirement, and the communication tendencies of happy retirees. https://www.fidelity.com/bin-public/060_www_fidelity_com/documents/about-fidelity/Fidelity-Couples-and-Money-Fact-Sheet-2021.pdf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Income streams and social security benefits are important aspects of retirement, but it’s important to also consider another critical factor: Medicare. Although Medicare is essential to numerous people across the U.S, it’s a complicated subject with many levels to understand. In the long run, knowing the ins and outs of Medicare can help you better prepare for retirement. Mary Beth Franklin, a leading specialist on social security and Medicare and writer of a weekly column on retirement issues for Investment News, is back to explain Medicare in this week’s episode. She also clarifies the difference between Medicare and Medicaid, Medicare enrollment, penalty payments, parts A, B, C, and D of Medicare, and health insurance wrinkles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investing is difficult, and for some of us, it’s very hard to begin the process. Not only are we cautious of starting, but we can become cautious about staying in the market. The hesitancy some investors face stems from an inherent behavioral trait. The prewired trait can be either conquered or leave us in a vicious cycle that will ruin our chances at a return on our investment. In today’s podcast episode, Wes dives into loss aversion, the psychological makeup that makes investing so tough for humans. He also shares a personal experience regarding loss aversion, the pain of losing versus the pleasure of gaining, four steps that we can take to combat the inherent behavior, and how those steps can increase our investing success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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