Jonathan Nurick joins the show to discuss a long-term investing strategy centered on the boring stocks. He talks dividend growth, free cash flow, and the importance of staying invested through market volatility. We explore investor psychology and the challenge of ignoring exciting trends like AI and speculative IPOs in favor of boring but resilient businesses such as Cintas and Home Depot. Jonathan also explains why his strategy favors established mid- to large-cap companies, particularly U.S. market leaders, and he emphasizes that successful investing requires not only choosing the right investments but also having the discipline and framework to hold them long enough for compounding to work.

We discuss...

• Why dividend growth can be a powerful long-term investing strategy.
• Growing dividends can provide investors with a fundamental signal that helps them stay invested through market volatility.
• How free cash flow can be used for dividends, buybacks, debt repayment, and reinvestment.
• Buybacks can be highly effective when companies repurchase shares at attractive valuations.
• Strong management teams and disciplined capital allocation are critical to the success of dividend-growth companies.
• Investor psychology makes it difficult to ignore exciting trends like AI, semiconductors, and IPOs when they are outperforming.
• The investment process emphasizes competitive advantages, low leverage, high returns on capital, and predictable growth.
• Why investing in established market leaders can provide greater resilience than chasing newer, highly competitive industries.
• Choosing what to own is only half of successful investing, with knowing how to hold it being equally important.
• Investors can improve their discipline by focusing on fundamental progress and dividend growth instead of constantly watching share prices.
• Find the beauty in boring businesses and let long-term compounding do the work.

Today's Panelists:

• Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
• Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance

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For more information, visit the full show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/boring-stocks-jonathan-nurick

There is a 90% chance for a rate hike... Today we cover growing economic and market risks, as we hone in on AI, inflation, interest rates, housing, and government spending. There is increasingly negative messaging from major AI companies, arguing that calls for regulation may reflect slowing AI growth and a desire to limit competition rather than purely concern for public safety, while warning that a slowdown in AI investment could expose an already stagnant economy and increase recession risks. We also talk the rising expectations for Fed rate hikes, higher Treasury yields, and weakening housing affordability. We review seasonal market weakness in September and October, stock issuance as a potential warning sign of corporate stress, and why investors should remain cautious and reduce risk amid increasing volatility and uncertainty.

We discuss...

College planning and how scholarships can dramatically reduce the actual cost of expensive liberal arts colleges.
The changing narrative around AI and whether growing calls for AI regulation are partly driven by major companies trying to limit competition.
Whether AI development is beginning to plateau after several years of rapid growth and what that could mean for the economy and markets.
Slowing AI investment could expose underlying economic weakness and potentially contribute to stagnation or recession.
Rising expectations for Federal Reserve rate hikes as inflation and employment data point toward a more challenging economic environment.
Higher interest rates and Treasury yields could put additional pressure on an already stretched housing market.
How housing affordability has deteriorated dramatically for younger Americans and why falling home prices could ultimately be beneficial for buyers.
Why mortgage rates are influenced more directly by Treasury yields and the broader yield curve than by the Fed's policy rate alone.
How the traditional 60/40 portfolio has become less effective as stocks and bonds have increasingly moved together.
Why rising interest rates can make short-term fixed income more attractive while creating risks for investors holding longer-term bonds.
How everyday necessities such as groceries, shelter, insurance, fuel, and coffee have risen sharply in price despite headline inflation appearing much lower.
Rising gas prices and their potential political consequences heading into the midterm elections.
Increased corporate stock issuance as a potential warning sign that companies may be relying on equity financing rather than debt to raise capital.

For more information, visit the full show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/chance-for-a-rate-hike-851

Kalee Boisvert joins the show to discuss the childhood money lessons that are shaping our money beliefs and emotional relationship with finances. She explains why finding a balance between preparing for the future and enjoying life today is so important, how fear and scarcity can prevent people from spending even when they have more than enough, and why money should be viewed as a tool for creating meaningful experiences and freedom. We also talk the generational differences around saving and spending, the pressure of keeping up with others, teaching children healthy money habits, and practical ways to recognize and change limiting "money scripts" so financial decisions better align with what truly matters.

We discuss...

• How childhood experiences and messages about money can create lasting beliefs around scarcity, self-worth, and financial security.
• Why people should examine their "money scripts" and recognize which beliefs from childhood may no longer serve them.
• The challenge of balancing saving for the future with spending money and enjoying life in the present.
• Money is a tool for creating experiences, freedom, and the life you want rather than something that should simply accumulate in a bank account.
• How fear of running out of money can prevent retirees from enjoying their wealth even when they have more than enough to last.
• Generational differences in saving and spending and how older generations often prioritized saving while younger generations may prioritize enjoying money sooner.
• Why people should focus on what they actually value instead of spending money to keep up with others or accumulate things they do not truly enjoy.
• How parents can teach children healthy money habits by talking openly about money, providing context around prices, and teaching the value of giving.
• How gratitude and recognizing what you already have can help reduce the constant feeling that you need more money to feel secure.
• Why even extremely wealthy people often believe they need more money before they will finally feel financially secure.
• Practical ways to change negative money patterns by acknowledging past lessons, letting go of outdated beliefs, and creating more positive internal conversations about money.
• The importance of identifying what you really want from life because goals such as a bigger house or more money may actually represent desires for freedom, time, experiences, or less stress.

Today's Panelists:

• Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
• Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance

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For more information, visit the full show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/childhood-money-lessons-kalee-boisvert-850

The market is changing and today we are talking about the growing risks and shifting dynamics as Wall Street returns from the summer and investors face higher interest rates, persistent inflation, and expensive valuations. We examine why strong economic data can actually be bad news for stocks if it reduces the need for Fed rate cuts and we also discuss the changing role of bonds in diversified portfolios, the importance of sequence-of-returns risk for retirees, the difficulty of comparing investment performance to the S&P 500 during an unusual year, and why investors should focus on the investing fundamentals. We review trends across commodities, gold, Bitcoin, oil, small caps, technology, and the S&P 500, while making sure you remember to proceed with caution heading into historically weaker months.

We discuss...

• Why an expensive market does not necessarily mean investors should stay out, especially after decades of elevated valuations.
• How investor ego can lead to poor decisions, including repeatedly buying declining stocks simply because they appear cheaper.
• Why valuation must be considered relative to a company's expected growth rather than viewed as a standalone P/E ratio.
• Higher inflation and interest rates are major risks that could eventually pressure stock valuations and economic growth.
• How rising interest rates can hurt long-term bonds, utilities, housing, highly leveraged companies, and businesses dependent on borrowing to grow.
• Why investors should pay closer attention to commodities as inflation and geopolitical disruptions affect prices.
• How stronger-than-expected employment data could be bad news for markets because it may reduce the Federal Reserve's need to cut rates.
• We examined the unusually long drawdown in the bond market and why traditional stock-and-bond diversification has not worked as well since the pandemic.
• Bonds should serve a specific purpose in a portfolio, such as income, liquidity, liability matching, or near-term spending needs.
• The market's unusual performance this year, including the outsized influence of semiconductor and technology stocks on overall index returns.
• The dangers of relying on financial media and developing an independent investment view based on facts, fundamentals, and personal research.
• A warning against shorting the overall market and a reminder that there are other ways to manage portfolio risk and hedge against downturns.

Today's Panelists:

Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors

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For more information, visit the full show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/the-market-is-changing-849

Bill Harris discusses the rapidly evolving role of AI personal finance, sharing his experience building companies including Intuit, PayPal, Personal Capital, and his own Evergreen Wealth. We explore how AI is currently being used primarily for internal efficiencies, research, and basic advisor tasks, while the bigger opportunity lies in delivering highly personalized financial guidance directly to consumers. Bill explains why AI still struggles with math, accuracy, consistency, and privacy, and why financial applications should combine AI with deterministic tools and strong security protections. We also talk AI's potential in tax preparation, portfolio management, and investment research, the importance of specialized financial AI systems, and the emerging hybrid model that combines AI technology with human financial advisors.

We discuss...

• How AI is transforming financial technology and why its biggest opportunities may come from highly personalized financial guidance.
• Most financial institutions currently use AI primarily for internal cost savings, while advisors tend to use it for basic tasks like note-taking.
• Why consumers are adopting AI for financial questions faster than financial advisors and firms are integrating it into their practices.
• Why general-purpose AI can produce inaccurate and inconsistent financial answers, particularly when it comes to complex calculations.
• The growing importance of privacy and security when using AI with sensitive personal and financial information.
• How specialized financial AI can combine frontier models with secure environments and strict controls to protect users' data.
• How AI could improve tax preparation by handling reasoning and personalized interactions while relying on deterministic tools for calculations.
• Why AI's probabilistic nature means it should use separate deterministic tools for financial calculations that require consistent and repeatable results.
• The limited use of AI in actual portfolio management and investment decisions, with most professionals currently using it primarily for research, analysis, and idea generation.
• Specialized AI systems built specifically for financial applications will be more effective than general-purpose AI because they can be trained to use the right tools for specific tasks.
• The future of financial advice and why a hybrid model combining AI technology with human advisors could provide the most powerful and personalized experience.

Today's Panelists:

• Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
• Phil Weiss | Apprise Wealth Management

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For more information, visit the full show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/ai-personal-finance-bill-harris-848

Today we talk gold's false start and the housing market fall as we focus on growing risks and uncertainty in the markets. The Fed takes a more hawkish stance on inflation, signaling that interest rates could stay higher for longer while offering little guidance on future policy. We cover the impact of the recent U.S.-Canada tariffs, rising Treasury yields, the $40 trillion national debt, housing-market weakness, rising foreclosures, and the potential risks facing commercial real estate and regional banks. We also examine the current going ons of gold, silver, and Bitcoin as recent gains could be a false start. As always, emphasize caution, diversification, and maintain a long-term perspective rather than reacting to short-term market moves.

We discuss...

• The Fed's hawkish stance on inflation is raising expectations for higher interest rates and a longer period of restrictive monetary policy.
• The escalating U.S.-Canada tariff dispute is creating additional economic uncertainty and increasing concerns about inflation and slower growth.
• Treasury yields and government debt remain major concerns as the U.S. national debt surpasses $40 trillion and interest costs continue to climb.
• The housing market is showing signs of weakness, including elevated inventory, declining new-home sales, rising foreclosures, and worsening affordability.
• Higher mortgage rates and insurance costs are making it increasingly difficult for homeowners to access liquidity from their real estate holdings.
• Commercial real estate faces significant refinancing risks as more than $1 trillion in debt is scheduled to mature while borrowing costs remain elevated.
• Weakening employment data and downward revisions to job growth suggest the labor market may be slowing more than headline figures indicate.
• Gold, silver, and Bitcoin have performed strongly recently, but the hosts believe investors should remain cautious about chasing the rally.
• Historical data shows that midterm election years have frequently experienced significant market drawdowns after August.
• Market timing requires making two decisions, when to sell and when to buy back, and both are difficult to get right.
• Global markets have produced widely different returns, reinforcing the potential benefits of looking beyond the S&P 500 for diversification.
• Hot money has been rotating between Bitcoin, precious metals, industrials, energy, and semiconductors throughout the year rather than staying concentrated in one asset.

Today's Panelists:

Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors

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For more information, visit the full show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/golds-false-start-847

Michael Williams joins the show to talk the tax strategy that most investors aren't using yet! He explains his three-phase approach to tax efficiency, focusing on using depreciation as an interest-free loan from the government to redirect money that would otherwise go toward taxes into income-producing assets. We cover his platform's current focus on data center infrastructure, including GPUs and servers, and digital advertising screens, as well as other potential assets such as construction equipment, bourbon barrels, trash trucks, and rental vehicles. Michael stresses the importance of working with qualified tax professionals and choosing assets with strong contracted revenue, bankability, and real economic performance rather than relying solely on tax savings. Today we discuss...

• How high-net-worth individuals and business owners can use tax-efficient investment strategies to keep more money invested rather than paying it in taxes.
• The three phases of tax efficiency, including structuring finances, using depreciable assets, and determining how to own assets going forward.
• How depreciation can function like an interest-free loan from the government by allowing investors to redirect money that would otherwise go toward taxes.
• Data center infrastructure, including GPUs and servers, as one of the primary depreciable asset strategies currently offered.
• Digital advertising screens and billboards as another cash-flowing asset that can qualify for bonus depreciation.
• That investors should never purchase an asset solely for its tax benefits and that the underlying investment must make economic sense on its own.
• How revenue-sharing pools can help diversify cash flow across multiple assets rather than tying an investor's returns to a single asset.
• How these strategies can provide opportunities for investors who do not want to rely on real estate professional status to take advantage of depreciation.
• The importance of material participation and understanding whether an investor can actively participate enough to utilize certain tax benefits.
• What investors should look for in legitimate programs, including cash-flowing assets, contracted revenue, strong counterparties, and bankability.
• Tax savings should complement a strong investment rather than be the primary reason for making the investment.

Today's Panelists:

• Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
• Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance
• Phil Weiss | Apprise Wealth Management

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For more information, visit the full show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/tax-strategy-michael-williams-846

Gold, Bitcoin, and bonds are sending very important signals right now if you're paying attention. Today we talk about the growing concerns in the bond market, including surging Treasury yields, government intervention, persistent inflation, massive deficits, and the potential impact on mortgage rates and the housing market. We also cover recent moves in stocks, gold, silver, Bitcoin, commodities, and the dollar, with gold showing particular strength as investors seek alternatives amid bond-market uncertainty and concerns about currency debasement. We explore growing demand for precious metals, central-bank gold buying, silver's industrial demand from AI and infrastructure, and the possibility of further volatility from the paper-to-physical gold market. As always, remain cautious, watch market reactions rather than headlines, and pay close attention to what happens after Labor Day as investors return and markets establish a clearer direction.

We discuss...

• Bond yields surged to multi-decade highs, raising concerns about inflation, government deficits, and financial stability.
• The U.S. Treasury intervened in the long-end of the bond market to help control rising borrowing costs.
• Investors are increasingly demanding higher term premiums because of massive government debt issuance and persistent deficits.
• Rising Treasury yields pushed 30-year mortgage rates back above 6.6%, adding pressure to an already frozen housing market.
• The S&P 500 has remained near the top of its trading range while the Nasdaq has largely moved sideways.
• Gold surged unexpectedly, with its strength potentially reflecting investor concerns about the bond market and a search for safe-haven assets.
• Silver has moved alongside gold, suggesting healthier momentum across precious metals than seen during previous periods of divergence.
• The dollar remains within a broader trading range, making its direction an important indicator of overall market health.
• Persistent inflation and uncertainty over Federal Reserve policy are pushing investors to reconsider expectations for interest-rate cuts.
• Geopolitical tensions involving Iran and potential energy supply disruptions could add further inflationary pressure through higher oil prices.
• Trade tensions and tariffs involving the United States, Canada, and Mexico were discussed as another source of economic uncertainty.
• Central-bank gold purchases, de-dollarization concerns, and demand for physical bullion are contributing to gold's strength.
• Bitcoin's recent rally was linked to changing regulation, global liquidity, bond-market conditions, and increased institutional access through spot ETFs.
• Bitcoin's price action was described as increasingly influenced by global liquidity and bond yields rather than its internal supply schedule alone.

Today's Panelists:

Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors

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For more information, visit the full show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/gold-bitcoin-and-bonds-845