Money Matters With Wes Moss

Only 36% of voters still believe the American Dream is attainable, according to a 2023 Wall Street Journal/NORC survey. This figure is decidedly lower than other pollster findings in similar surveys. Those revealed that 48% of voters in 2016 and 53% in 2012 felt reasonably assured of their opportunities for a prosperous future. In other words, more than half of Americans felt optimistic in 2012, and only slightly more than one-third do now. Americans are consistently barraged with negative headlines and stressful news updates, from supersized natural disasters to political unrest to foreign wars. Despite the challenges, there is still plenty of evidence to justify a bullish attitude about the United States and the potential to reach the American Dream of financial prosperity. Five specific categories come to mind: education, demographics, geography/agriculture, energy, and the U.S. Constitution. The road to a happy retirement can be lined with hazards, but the strength of the United States was never based

Think about the day you drove your favorite car off the dealer’s lot. The engine was purring, the paint job was shining, and it ran like a dream. But as time passed, little things started to go wrong. A scratch here. An odd noise there. You took it to the shop for repairs, but eventually, you had to buy a new one. The same thing happens to our bodies. Unfortunately, we can’t just buy new ones when something breaks down, but today’s guest wants to help us keep the ride smoother and longer. Will Harlow authored the word-of-mouth bestseller Thriving Beyond Fifty and founded HT Physio, a Physiotherapy Clinic specializing in helping health-conscious, active people over fifty regain mobility and avoid surgery. We dug into the profound benefits of strength training at any age, the impact of regular exercise on conditions like arthritis, and the truth behind commonly marketed supplements. We explored his own transition from professional sports physiotherapy to a more refined aim of enhancing health span and lifesp

Warren Buffett once said, “If a statue is ever erected to honor the person who has done the most for American investors, the hands-down choice should be Jack Bogle.” By creating index investing, the Vanguard Group founder helped to provide investors with a streamlined and low-cost way to buy broader market-tracking mutual funds. Though he died in 2019, his lessons continue to light the path toward a financially secure and happy retirement. Reviewing them is a healthy exercise for all those trying to make their hard-earned savings outpace inflation over time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investing for the future can be daunting. And while many of us assume the key is mastering the market’s financial aspects, a persuasive argument says the behavioral side is perhaps even more critical. How we think about money can significantly impact our journey to financial freedom in retirement. But where exactly is that intersection of mind and markets? Dr. Daniel Crosby is the Chief Behavioral Officer at Orion Advisor Solutions and a leading voice in decoding market psychology. His books always seem to hit the NY Times Bestseller list or win some kind of investment award, but the truth is that his PhD isn’t in finance or economics but rather in Clinical Psychology. By applying his research and analysis to everything from financial product design to security selection, he helps others grasp economic behaviorism so they can reap the long-term benefits of making healthy, self-aware decisions. That sounds pretty compelling to me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How will the recent Federal Reserve rate cut impact your retirement income? Are your investments at risk or ready to benefit? In today’s episode of Retire Sooner, Wes Moss breaks down the 0.5% interest rate cut announced on September 18th and what it could mean for income investors. Plus, we revisit our popular episode, “Income Investing: The Process, The Approach, and The Reward,” where Wes dives deep into the fundamentals of income investing. From understanding the emotional side of investing your retirement money to the diverse ways to approach investing, this episode covers it all. Whether you’re just starting your income investment journey or looking for a refresher, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Don’t miss this crucial discussion! Listen now and let us know your thoughts by leaving a review. Your feedback helps us create the content you care about most! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than one in five Americans serve as caretakers for an elderly parent or aging relative. How will we know what to do if and when that time comes? Is there someone we can ask? On today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes sits down with author and Certified Caregiving Consultant Elizabeth Miller. Elizabeth’s experiences caring for her aging parents and a brother with a developmental disability while simultaneously raising children and working full-time inspired her to create Happy Health Caregiver LLC, in 2015. As host of the Happy Healthy Caregiver Podcast on The Whole Care Network and author of the Just for You Daily Self-Care Journal, she helps educate others about the big picture, the fine print, and the importance of creating self-care boundaries to ensure everyone, including you, can remain as healthy as possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes takes aim at a recent Wall Street Journal article claiming the 60/40 portfolio and 4% retirement withdrawal rate could lead to ‘catastrophic’ outcomes. Wes concedes the author’s point about market unpredictability but rebuts such a gloomy hypothetical. He points to the potentially destructive consequences such an outlook can have on those fighting for retirement security and uses market history to illustrate examples of these time-honored strategies bouncing back from difficult periods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever met a 75-year-old who seems 40? How about a 30-year-old who seems 50? Why do some folks seem to age like a fine wine while others settle like a lukewarm wine cooler? On today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes sits down with Dr. Alan Castel to delve into how we might be able to improve our own aging process. A Professor in UCLA’s Psychology Department, he studies learning, memory, and aging and is particularly interested in how younger and older adults can selectively remember important information. If you can recall your son’s assist-to-turnover ratio from last year’s lacrosse season but not the name of the neighbor you’ve been waving to for the past 10 years, find out what kind of retrieval practices might enhance your memory. And if you’ve focused extensively on retirement’s financial implications but neglected the psychological side, Dr. Castel’s lessons might be what you need to increase socialization and harness the knowledge of those who have been in similar situations. Father

Americans have faced immense financial challenges in the past two-plus decades. The Dotcom Bubble sent stock prices down nearly 50% between 2000 and 2002, the Great Recession and Housing Crisis of 2007-2009 cratered stocks more than 55%, and theCOVID-19 Pandemic and shutdowns sent stocks tumbling 30% in a month’s span and led to massive inflation and high interest rates thereafter. In today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes admits that a sensible retirement strategy while accounting for unknown future world events can feel overwhelming. However, he believes utilizing the foundational principles of the Retire Sooner community can help increase your probability of achieving the financial freedom that many happy retirees enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A fulfilling job is great, but being able to do it in your pajamas? Now, we’re talking. On today’s episode, we’re joined by Kerry Hannon, author of “Great Pajama Jobs: Your Complete Guide To Working From Home.” Between that and the dozen other books she’s published, Kerry is a renowned professional on careers, entrepreneurship, and financial planning for older adults. The smoother your transition into retirement, the sooner you can find the happiness and fulfillment you deserve. Kerry points out three crucial themes to help you get there. From starting a micro-business to using your retirement savings as continuous income to navigating the inter-generational workplace dynamics, Kerry reveals how remote work is completely reshaping opportunities for older workers. It’s a Retire Sooner Pajama party; you don’t want to miss it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of the Retire Sooner Podcast, Wes examines the recent market crash and analyzes how the Fed’s decisions may have helped lower inflation but negatively affected the housing market and unemployment rate. Wes acknowledges that the specific challenges can differ for each market downturn but reassures listeners that productive reactions often follow evergreen principles. He then discusses the importance of having enough dry powder for periods of sluggish portfolio earnings. Finally, he digs into the potential stock growth for future retirees willing to practice patience and discipline. What’s a great way to plan for outpacing inflation without extending beyond your risk tolerance? Listen and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been said that loneliness is worse for our health than smoking cigarettes. Take a second to inhale that scary thought. In contrast, pro-social behavior triggers the release of oxytocin in our body. That’s the love hormone, and it’s crucial for happiness. We’ve all had that nagging feeling that we need to spend more leisure time with friends and family. But some of the options out there aren’t realistic. People with careers and families don’t have time for group yoga sessions or all-day escape room parties. In other words, we know what we need to do to be happy but don’t know how to make it happen. Dr. Mike Rucker is an organizational psychologist, behavioral scientist, and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Forbes, and more. He currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness and is the author of the best-selling book The Fun Habit. Mike uses his “Rucker PLAY Model” to ran

In today’s episode, Wes points out that the population of mini-millionaires is growing and that society’s perception of them isn’t always very accurate. Producer Mallory Boggs joins to discuss this latest variant of what authors Thomas Stanley and Bill Danko originally coined, The Millionaire Next Door. They elaborate on five habits that this cohort tends to follow. And Wes points out that although investing is often a critical step to becoming a millionaire, it’s perhaps even more essential in the pursuit of staying a millionaire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this actionable episode of Retire Sooner, Wes Moss sits down with Erin Eleuterio to explore the importance of physical activity for older adults. Erin shares her unique techniques, like parkour-based fall resiliency training, to help people in their 70s and 80s stay strong and recover from falls. They discuss the benefits of programs such as SilverSneakers, which offers resources for seniors to stay fit. Erin emphasizes the joy and social aspects of movement, rather than just focusing on exercise. She also talks about the growing trend of older adults taking up new activities, like weightlifting and even low-flying trapeze, challenging stereotypes about aging. With practical tips and inspiring stories, this episode highlights how staying active can lead to a healthier, happier retirement.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, we ponder the question, “Can money buy happiness?” The answer might surprise listeners, and Wes borrows the words of best-selling author Morgan Housel to help discuss the positive and negative psychological effects money can have on retirees. Wes then uses his own “Bucket System” analogy to explain income investing and how three keys can help folks sleep well at night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Morgan Housel’s eye-opening book amplified the idea that the intersection of psychology and money is bigger and more bustling than most of us know. Today’s guest, Christine Moriarty, has dedicated her life to finding harmony between the two. Christine isn’t the typical CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. Despite her finance degree and MBA in Entrepreneurship, she was never even remotely interested in finances. She was always more interested in the people behind them. Money is just an object. Yet, it has the power to trigger our deepest fears and anxieties. Her mission, as the founder of MoneyPeace, is to help individuals recognize and overcome these emotional barriers, empowering them to achieve peace and prosperity in their financial and personal lives. She also discusses money and memory and wants to help families plan for the implications the aging process can have on financial situations. Having worked with thousands of people and shared her insights with publications such as USA Today, Good Housekeeping, F

Despite the continued popularity of retiring at 65, many folks are drawn to the allure of an early exit. The promise of more time for family, travel, and core pursuits can be hard to resist—the very mission of this podcast is to help people retire sooner than they ever thought possible. But as wonderful as an early retirement can be if you can afford it, there are potential hazards for people who don’t take the time to plan. On today’s episode, Wes dives into five common missteps that risk sabotaging the happiness you’ve worked so hard to achieve. With diligent and strategic planning, you can run down the list and make sure all of your ducks are in a row before making your decision. The right lifestyle and money habits can help you prepare for a secure future so that you can decide the right time to make that future your present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jaspreet Singh’s parents gave him two choices: become a doctor or be a failure. Understandably, he chose medicine, but deep down, he knew it was for all the wrong reasons. People like Jaspreet are born entrepreneurs. They just see the world a little bit differently. He inherently knew he could be happier and make more money doing something else, and he tried just about everything. From drumming to an event planning company to law school to real estate, one thing became clear—he needed more funding. So, he came up with a unique idea: a water-resistant athletic sock. He used this innovative product to raise the capital he needed. When a marketing scam lost him thousands of dollars, he started an educational social media page called The Minority Mindset to help other outside-the-box thinkers avoid making the same mistakes. To his surprise, the YouTube Channel hit 100,000 subscribers, so he put the sock back in the drawer and dedicated himself to making financial education fun and accessible. Today, The Minori

According to a National Institute on Retirement Security report, 79% of Americans agree that there is a retirement crisis. It also revealed that over half of Americans are concerned they won’t be able to achieve financial security.  Retirement insecurity may be a daunting reality,​ but on today’s episode Wes sets some theoretical parameters to illustrate potential scenarios and how they might positively affect the future. Planning for retirement can be challenging, but Wes points out that with self-discipline, some savings, and time, happiness and financial freedom may be within reach sooner than you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all know that older person who just seems so young. How do they pull it off? Did they hit the genetic jackpot? Or do their lifestyle habits act as a fountain of youth? Doctor Dawn Carr has answers. With a PhD in Sociology and Gerontology, she directs the Claude Pepper Center at Florida State University and is a former researcher at the Stanford Center on Longevity. What I loved about Dawn was that, unlike so many in her field, she has concrete solutions to many of life’s challenges. She doesn’t just identify the problems or hand out vague suggestions. She has a litmus test for determining a person’s social health. How many close friends should we have? How cognitively complex should our daily activities be? Can more sleep help prevent mental decline? Answering her specific questions can help us determine how to maximize the vibrancy of youth while we age. No one has a magic wand. We’re all getting older. But listening to Dawn Carr might help you enjoy the process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me