Plan For Life Now

Ever wonder what happens when a whole bunch of financial advisors get together for a 3 day conference? If you said, “Yes”, then you need to critically analyze your “Things To Wonder About” list. Having said that, Steve, Dave, and Amy* learned a lot at their Broker Dealer’s annual meeting at the Gaylord in National Harbor. We share all the information, stories, and helpful takeaways on Episode 122 of Plan For Life Now! *It only took Amy 122 episodes to be mentioned in the Pod summary. Now I have to figure out how to work her into episode 244.

On episode 121 of Plan For Life Now, Steve and Dave break down the recently passed “Big, Beautiful Bill”. How does this bill affect you? If you’re very rich, you’ll be very happy. If you’re retired and a typical client of ours, we think you’ll like some of the things you hear. If you’re on Medicaid…there are so many other podcasts out there for your listening pleasure.

A very bullish episode 120 of Plan For Life Now starts with Dave’s review of his trip to Japan. He’s bullish on Japan, especially the toilets ( That, my friends, is what we call “a tease!). Steve then makes a strong case that we are not going into a recession, followed by a more existential discussion of the psychological reaction people now have towards the stock market. The Wall Street Journal says, “Episode 120 has a truly positive vibe, one of our favorites!”* *The Wall Street Journal did not say this. They don’t even review podcasts.

In this day after “Liberation Day” podcast, Steve and Dave try to unwind and analyze what all this tariff stuff means. Is their analysis accurate? Only time will tell. More importantly, how does this affect your retirement plan, and what should you do going forward? A lot of questions and (we think) some good answers on episode #119 of Plan For Life Now.

Be it tarrifs or DOGE or whatever, the March markets start off (way!) down. A good time for Steve and Dave to reiterate their tangible and emotional investing fundamentals! Plus, you’ll learn a new phrase, “The Yen Carry Trade “.* All this and more on episode 118 of PFLN. *If you already know what “The Yen Carry Trade” is, we recommend less screen time, and more person to person interaction.

Are you a Fed? Is going into the office 5 days a week not for you? Are you retired or recently retired, and know you need a game plan, but have told yourself you’ll “get to it at some point?” If so, starting at the 7:30 mark of Episode 117 of PFLN, Steve and Dave discuss the financial challenges,solutions, and action steps for federal retirees in 2025!

It’s the season of giving, so Steve and Dave start with how the markets certainly held up their share of the bargain in 2024. And speaking of 2024, they move on to “Seven Lessons of 2024” by Charlie Billelo, arguably the second greatest “Lessons” piece ever written ( Sorry, nothing beats my personal golf bible, “Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons”). If you’re interested in financial and philosophical guidelines for 2025 and beyond, then episode 116 of Plan For Life Now is definitely for you!

The Trump (Gravy?) Train It’s a special election recap episode! What will a second Trump presidency mean for your money? Dave and Steve go over the Pros, the Cons, the Neo Cons… You name it, they will cover it on episode #115 of Plan For Life Now.

Just in case you didn’t believe we were a Washington DC area firm, we decided to take the month of August off from podcasting. So we start with our summer recap, including Steve’s trip to Colorado and Dave’s rare use of the word “frothy” to describe the market’s big returns in July. We also give a stern warning on falling prey to presidential politics and investment emotions. All this and more on episode——of PFLN. *Best Pod title ever if the Dow Jones was pronounced the “Dough Jones”

It could be Trump. It could be Biden. As of this recording, it could even be someone not born during the Roosevelt administration (Franklin, not Teddy, although it seems like Teddy). In any case , Steve and Dave debate whether this election will lead to a market correction. Plus, you’ll meet Harry Dent-The Bear of all Bears. Forget “Nervous Nellie”, this guy is “ Hair On Fire Nellie”! All this and more on episode—-of Plan For Life Now.

After a brief epilogue on Tony Robbins’ out of touch financial advice (great tips if you’re “The Billionaire Next Door”, not so hot for the bottom 99.9999%), we delve into what may be the next great investment bubble, AI. Dave’s a big fan of Professor Scott Galloway, and he is predicting that the AI bubble will burst. So if you’re not quite ready for the “Mr Roboto* Revolution”, Episode 112 of Plan For Life Now is definitely for you!

The podcast starts with Steve’s look back at the life and times of Daniel Kahneman. Who’s Daniel Kahneman (Said everyone with a life and/or hobby)? He’s a psychologist whose theories on human behavior have had a profound effect on the world of finance…Oh, that Daniel Kahneman!! We also discuss some questionable investment advice from another guy who knows a thing or two about human behavior, motivational speaker Tony Robbins. So if you’re a human and have ever exhibited behavior, you’ll love episode——of Plan For Life Now.

Nobody wants to be the victim of a financial scam, yet they are becoming more prevalent and exotic every day. The story of one such incident, that Steve relays in this podcast, is fascinating, terrifying and informative all at the same time! Episode 110 of Plan For Life is a must listen, and a must lesson, for all of us.

In episode 109 of Plan For Life Now, Steve and Dave give a detailed overview of what happened in the markets in 2023 (Good Stuff) versus what happened in 2022 (Bad Stuff). All of this as a data point for what may occur in 2024. But regardless of market results, their hypothesis is to buckle up for an election year like no other!

It’s a festive episode for this holiday season, with a lot cool gifts-Like the stock market, the bond market, and the 60/40 portfolio! Also, a special tribute to the late, great Charlie Munger. If you’ve never heard of him, listen and find out about one of money’s wisest men. And finally, don’t always take the advice of those famous financial pundits. So there’s presents, a wise man, and a grinch…a perfect recipe for episode 108 of Plan For Life Now. *Actually, he lived to 99, so we knew ye pretty well

Steve and Dave spend the majority of episode 107 reviewing where we are right now as the markets head toward 2024. Steve adds some prescient* insight on bonds: Dave finishes the pod off with some startling reality about Long Term Care, proving once again that life, money, and segments of Plan For Life Now are truly unpredictable! *Recently voted into the “Fancy Word That Makes You Sound Smart” Hall Of Fame

No way to sugarcoat this one- If you own the Federal LTCi plan, you’re looking at another price hike that could be up to 86%. But there will be options to amend your policy to mitigate the cost. Please use this short podcast as a guide on how to deal with this. We strongly recommend passing this Pod on to others you know who will also have some important decisions to make!

The show begins with Steve and Dave “waxing poetic”* about the end of summer, and quickly moves into a detailed review of a great column by Michelle Singletary about the emotional fraught of retirement. Then Steve debunks Michael Burry’s latest doom and gloom market prediction. If you’re worried about your money running out, and a fan of shorting the “Big Short” guy, you’ll love episode 105 of Plan For Life Now *Fancy words for complaining

After a quick market recap (and a good one at that!), Steve and Dave get into a detailed discussion about the fine line between how an investment opportunity is advertised on radio and TV* versus how it performs in real life. Before you buy what your favorite media outlet is selling, you may want to listen to episode (whatever) of Plan For Life Now. *The world is collapsing, so drop what you’re doing and get some gold

This show is full of financial fireworks!* Steve and Dave start off with a discussion of how the markets did for the first half of 2023, then pivot into a back and forth about Artificial Intelligence. They finish with some sophisticated ideas to make your extra cash really work for you. Plus, a rare (and only ever) cameo mention of former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop! It’s all on episode 103 of Plan For Life Now *Not really, but had to write something for 4th of July