Today we have a chart for you that will completely change your view of today's stock market. In today's market, investors should remain patient during the slow summer market season as stocks continue to trade in a sideways range despite ongoing geopolitical headlines and the start of earnings season. We explore how to interpret market charts, why investor expectations often differ from reality, and why stock price reactions to earnings matter more than the earnings themselves. We also talk about the growing concerns around AI-related spending, weakening breadth beneath the major indexes, software company valuations, and the risks facing large technology companies as earnings unfold. Increasing market volatility heading into the fall, combined with elevated valuations and economic uncertainty, makes this an ideal time to step back, avoid emotional investing, and focus on long-term discipline rather than short-term market noise.

We discuss...

• Why the stock market has traded sideways for much of the summer and why periods of consolidation are a normal part of investing.
• How geopolitical events and shifting headlines can create short-term market volatility without changing long-term trends.
• Why long-term index investors are often better off ignoring day-to-day market movements during quiet periods.
• The current earnings season and why stock price reactions often matter more than whether companies beat earnings estimates.
• How elevated investor expectations can cause strong earnings reports to be met with falling stock prices.
• The recent performance of major technology companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Tesla, Alphabet, and Meta.
• How massive AI infrastructure spending is affecting cash flow, profitability, and investor sentiment across the technology sector.
• Why institutional investors are becoming more cautious about software companies as AI creates uncertainty around future valuations.
• How AI could disrupt traditional software business models and pricing power over the next several years.
• Weakening market breadth and why a small group of mega-cap stocks continues to drive most index performance.
• Why equal-weight indexes can provide a clearer picture of overall market health than traditional market-cap-weighted indexes.
• Seasonal market patterns and why volatility historically tends to increase during late summer and early fall.
• How upcoming Federal Reserve decisions, corporate earnings, tariffs, and midterm elections could contribute to additional market uncertainty.
• Why rising leverage, concentrated positioning, and institutional fear of missing out could amplify future market declines.

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/todays-stock-market-837

Gregory Kovsky discusses small business owner secrets and the evolving market for buying and selling private businesses. He explained how the "silver tsunami" of retiring baby boomer business owners is creating a surge in businesses for sale, while strong buyer demand from entrepreneurs, private equity firms, family offices, and acquisition-minded companies continues to support the market. We explore business succession planning, SBA financing, valuation methods, tax strategies, and the role of commercial real estate in business sales. Gregory also shared insights into how private equity is reshaping the marketplace, the importance of considering employees and legacy alongside sale price, and the realities of entrepreneurship.

We discuss...

• How the retiring baby boomer generation is creating a wave of business sales known as the "silver tsunami."
• Why many family businesses are sold rather than passed to the next generation.
• How SBA financing makes business ownership accessible with relatively little upfront capital.
• The strong demand for private businesses from entrepreneurs, private equity firms, family offices, and strategic buyers.
• The realities of entrepreneurship and why owning a business requires far more time and commitment than many people expect.
• How staffing challenges and employee turnover are common reasons business owners decide to sell.
• How private equity is influencing the small business market and the importance of evaluating buyers beyond just the purchase price.
• How commercial real estate factors into many business transactions and retirement planning strategies.
• Several tax strategies business owners may use to reduce taxes when selling their companies.
• How business valuations are determined using EBITDA, growth potential, industry trends, and market multiples.
• Concerns about inflated private equity valuations and the challenges firms face exiting investments.

Today's Panelists:

• Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
• Marc Walton | Forex Mentor Pro

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For more information, visit the full show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/small-business-owners-secrets-gregory-kovsky-836

Here's what the World Cup winner means for the market... Today we focus on a market that continues to trade sideways despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, renewed conflict in the Middle East, and a busy earnings season. We examine why patience remains the best strategy while the S&P 500 stays trapped in a trading range. We highlight strong earnings from major banks as a sign the broader economy remains resilient, and discuss growing concerns about AI valuations, software companies, and the capital demands facing firms like OpenAI and SpaceX. We also explore the recent rotation from growth into value stocks, the impact of rising energy prices on inflation and Federal Reserve policy, why speculative behavior is increasing through leveraged ETFs, and several market indicators suggesting today's market environment is becoming increasingly narrow and expensive despite headline index performance. Today we discuss...

• Why the stock market remains stuck in a trading range despite continued volatility and geopolitical uncertainty.
• How renewed conflict in the Middle East is affecting investor sentiment, oil prices, and market performance.
• Why patience and holding cash may be the best strategy until the market breaks out of its current range.
• How strong earnings from major banks suggest the broader economy remains healthier than many investors believe.
• Weakness in software companies and growing concerns about the long-term profitability of AI investments.
• Why OpenAI seeking government investment could raise questions about the sustainability of the AI sector.
• The recent rotation from high-growth technology stocks into value-oriented sectors of the market.
• How higher oil prices could keep inflation elevated and complicate future Federal Reserve policy decisions.
• How insider buying can provide useful clues when evaluating beaten-down stocks such as UnitedHealth.
• The risks created by record investor demand for leveraged ETFs and increasingly speculative market behavior.
• We compare today's AI-driven market enthusiasm to the technology bubble of the late 1990s.
• How semiconductor stocks continue to dominate market performance while many other sectors lag behind.
• Why index performance can be misleading when a small number of large technology companies are driving most of the gains.
• How Federal Reserve balance sheet expansion continues to closely correlate with stock market performance.

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/world-cup-winner-835

Krista Goodrich of Boss Lady Investing joins the show to share her journey from working in the mutual fund industry on Wall Street to building a diversified portfolio of more than 20 private businesses and real estate investments. She discussed how entrepreneurship, strategic partnerships, and investing in vacation rentals allowed her to create financial independence while designing a business portfolio around her lifestyle. We talk today's real estate market, including elevated home prices, higher interest rates, leverage strategies, cash flow analysis, vacation rentals versus long-term rentals, and where she still sees investment opportunities despite market challenges. Krista also shared her approach to evaluating new business opportunities, the importance of choosing the right partners, and how investors can build long-term wealth through disciplined decision-making and diversified private investments.

We discuss...

• Krista Goodrich shared her journey from Wall Street mutual funds to becoming a serial entrepreneur and real estate investor.
• She discusses starting and scaling more than 20 businesses across industries including moving, junk removal, property management, hospitality, and vacation rentals.
• How choosing the right business partners has been critical to her long-term success.
• She shares the qualities she looks for in business partners, including drive, kindness, loyalty, and a sense of fun.
• Why she prefers using cash to start businesses while using leverage primarily for real estate investing.
• How leverage has allowed her to steadily expand her real estate portfolio over time.
• Why vacation rentals can generate significantly higher income when purchased in the right locations.
• How higher interest rates have changed the way she analyzes new real estate investments.
• Why she believes portions of the Florida real estate market remain significantly overvalued.
• How institutional investors and hedge funds have influenced housing affordability.
• She shared her thoughts on proposals to limit large investment firms from purchasing single-family homes.
• How property taxes, interest rates, and government policies influence real estate investing decisions.
• The importance of diversification across businesses, real estate, and traditional investments.
• Why she enjoys real estate investing because it offers greater control than investing in public markets.
• Successful investing requires patience, discipline, and focusing on long-term wealth creation rather than chasing quick returns.

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/boss-lady-investing-krista-goodrich-834

The stock market is showing interesting signals and today we discuss the latest market developments. Renewed geopolitical tensions are driving investors back into large technology and AI stocks while other sectors lag. Patience and caution remain important as economic signals continue to conflict. We cover housing market weakness, consumer spending, wage growth, market valuations, and the Federal Reserve's outlook. We also explored how commodity prices impact businesses and stock performance, shared expectations for future energy prices, and why looking beneath the major indexes is essential to understanding the true health of the market.

We discuss...

• The ongoing rotation between market sectors and why market leadership continues to remain narrow.
• Why looking beneath the major indexes provides a better picture of overall market health than index performance alone.
• How commodity prices, particularly cocoa, can significantly impact corporate profits and stock prices.
• Why cocoa prices have pressured companies like Hershey and what improving crop conditions could mean going forward.
• We reviewed current oil and gasoline price trends and why pump prices have remained elevated despite falling crude oil prices.
• Our outlook for oil prices and why increased global production could push prices lower in the coming months.
• The housing market, including rising days on market and slowing home price growth.
• Consumer spending, wage growth, and the mixed economic signals creating uncertainty for investors.
• How AI investment is affecting technology companies and whether those massive investments will ultimately generate meaningful profits.
• Why many consumers are becoming fatigued with traditional news and increasingly turning to podcasts and online communities for information.
• Why maintaining patience, caution, and adequate liquidity remains important as markets face elevated valuations and political uncertainty heading into the midterm elections.

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/stock-market-is-showing-interesting-signals-833

Are you considering a life switch? Today financial advisor, author, and sports team investor Joel Steele joins us to discuss his unconventional journey from failed entrepreneur to successful wealth manager. Joel shares how a collapsed healthy fast-food restaurant business left him with roughly $800,000 in debt at a young age and how that experience shaped his disciplined approach to saving, investing, and building wealth. We explore his path into professional sports ownership, including why he chose to invest in smaller sports franchises for both financial upside and personal fulfillment. Joel also explains why money alone does not create happiness, the importance of finding passion and purpose, and how avoiding lifestyle inflation helped him maintain financial freedom. We talk investing philosophies, balancing risk and reward, understanding personal financial goals, avoiding speculative investments, and why building a strong financial foundation is essential before taking bigger risks. Today we discuss...

• How a failed restaurant venture and significant debt early in life became the catalyst for building a career in finance.
• The decision to invest in professional sports teams as a way to combine financial opportunity with personal passion.
• Lessons from building a healthy fast-food restaurant chain and why the restaurant industry is so difficult to succeed in.
• How maintaining a high savings rate and avoiding lifestyle inflation helped create long-term financial security.
• Why higher income and greater wealth do not always lead to increased happiness or fulfillment.
• The importance of identifying personal passions, purpose, and meaningful ways to spend time.
• Questions people can ask themselves to better understand what they would pursue if money was no longer a concern.
• How financial planning should focus on balancing risk, return expectations, and individual goals.
• Why most investors should focus on steady wealth accumulation rather than chasing risky investments or outsized returns.
• The importance of understanding personal risk tolerance and avoiding emotional investment decisions.
• Why protecting a strong financial foundation is essential before pursuing higher-risk opportunities.
• Insights from Joel's book Life Switch on creating a life built around purpose, passion, and fulfillment.

Today's Panelists:

• Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
• Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance
• Marc Walton | Forex Mentor Pro

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For more information, visit the full show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/considering-a-life-switch-joel-steele-832

Today we talk market signals for the 2nd half of the 2026 following the Independence Day holiday. We highlight how semiconductor stocks and AI continue to heavily influence market performance while signs of healthy sector rotation emerge across industrials, financials, and other areas of the market. We examine weakening employment data, sluggish housing activity, elevated valuations, and the growing disconnect between economic fundamentals and rising stock prices, along with the Federal Reserve's new communication style under Chair Kevin Warsh and its potential impact on market volatility. We also explore how liquidity, inflation, oil prices, and geopolitical developments could shape the second half of the year.

We discuss...

• How semiconductor stocks continue to drive much of the S&P 500's performance and why that concentration matters.
• Why recent sector rotation into industrials, financials, and other areas is a healthy sign for the broader market.
• Whether AI-related valuations have become stretched after years of exceptional performance.
• Why investors should focus on price action and market trends rather than sensational headlines.
• Historical market seasonality and why the second half of the year can bring increased volatility.
• The latest employment report and explain why revisions and labor force participation deserve close attention.
• Why weak economic data has recently been viewed as positive news because it could reduce pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise rates.
• How slowing economic growth could eventually impact corporate earnings.
• Why the housing market remains sluggish despite record highs in the stock market.
• How oil prices, inflation, and monetary policy continue to influence investor sentiment.
• Why liquidity has remained a major driver of market performance despite weakening fundamentals.
• How government regulation can strengthen the competitive position of large companies while creating barriers for smaller competitors.
• The long-term economic impact of globalization, government policy, and structural market changes.
• Why maintaining a disciplined, long-term investment strategy is especially important in today's market.

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/market-signals-831

Christine Healey explores the rapidly growing world of investing in companies pre-IPOs and how everyday investors are gaining access to private companies like SpaceX, OpenAI, Stripe, and Anthropic before they go public. Christine explains why companies are staying private longer, how private market investing differs from traditional stock investing, and the opportunities and risks involved in buying shares before an IPO.

We talk deal structures, pricing, minimum investment requirements, the role of brokers, and why terms can vary significantly between transactions. We also covers liquidity through secondary markets, how market volatility affects private company valuations and investor demand, and why access to these investments is becoming increasingly important as more of the world's fastest-growing companies remain private for much longer than in previous decades.

We discuss...

• Why more high-growth companies are staying private longer before pursuing an IPO.
• Why founders often prefer to remain private to maintain control and avoid public market pressures.
• How pre-IPO investing has become more accessible beyond institutional investors and billionaires.
• The differences between investing in early-stage startups and late-stage pre-IPO companies.
• Typical investment minimums and why larger investors often receive better pricing and deal terms.
• How pre-IPO transactions are structured, including direct share purchases and SPVs.
• How secondary markets can provide liquidity before a company eventually goes public.
• Why private market pricing is less transparent than public stock markets.
• How market downturns often concentrate investor demand into a handful of high-profile private companies.
• How buyers may find better negotiating leverage in less sought-after private companies during volatile markets.
• The importance of working with experienced brokers to navigate complex private market transactions.
• The growing global demand for U.S. pre-IPO companies from both domestic and international investors.
• The risks, opportunities, and long-term potential of investing in private companies before they reach the public markets.

Today's Panelists:

• Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
• Barbara Friedberg | Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance
• Marc Walton | Forex Mentor Pro

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