Caffeine And Cash Flow with Michael Schulte

When the market feels unpredictable, your plan shouldn't be. If you're worried about the volatility and how you're invested, now might be the time to step back and reassess your strategies to ensure we are adequately prepared for whatever the market throws our way. In this episode, Michael shares a structured, three-bucket approach to help investors navigate volatility and prepare for retirement w...

Tariffs are back in the headlines—and so is market volatility. But is this a reason to panic or just another chapter in a long financial story? In this episode of Caffeine & Cash Flow, Michael Schulte walks through five historical periods of U.S. tariffs—from the Smoot-Hawley Act of the 1930s to recent measures under Presidents Trump and Biden—and reveals how markets performed during each era. The...

You've heard the term "diversification" countless times—but are you actually doing it right? As the financial landscape continues to evolve, understanding how to properly diversify your investment portfolio is more crucial than ever. In this episode, we're going to get into the investing fundamentals we consistently stick to in order to help achieve the highest probability of success. Here's some...

March Madness is here, and just like filling out a bracket, picking individual stocks can feel like a thrilling gamble. But the odds of winning big are slim. In fact, history shows that most stock picks, like most brackets, end up busted. Many investors can't resist chasing big wins, even though diversification is a smarter play. One economist, Hendrik Bessembinder, analyzed the returns of nearly...

Today we're going to piggyback of our conversation in the last episode by focusing in on recency bias and show you how the concept plays itself out among investors. As Michael will explain, recency bias is the tendency to give more weight to the most recent information when making decisions, which can often lead to skewed perceptions and poor financial choices. Here's some of what we discuss in th...

As we begin a new year, it's helpful to reflect on our financial habits and the biases that may influence them. By understanding and mitigating these biases, we can make more informed decisions and set ourselves up for greater financial success. In this episode, Michael will highlight the most common cognitive biases that he sees in people, which is a topic that could reshape how you approach your...

In this festive episode of Caffeine and Cash Flow, Michael guides you through the 12 Days of Financial Wellness. Discover essential tips on managing assets, liabilities, protection, and cash flow as you prepare your balance sheet for the new year. Whether you're planning for personal property, savings, investments, or understanding liabilities, this episode provides practical advice to enhance you...

As we approach the new year, it's essential to stay informed about the financial changes that could impact your retirement planning. The latest episode of the Caffeine and Cash Flow podcast will provide you with updates for 2025, focusing on pension and retirement plan contribution limits. Here's some of what we discuss in this episode: The maximum amounts you can put into different types of IRAs....

We'll continue with part two of our conversation on how the economy has grown under previous presidential administrations. In the previous episode, we discussed some of the more recent administrations, but this time we'll go back deeper into history and take a good look at older data. Here's some of what we discuss in this episode: How inflation factors into growth for certain asset classes. How W...

With the election behind us, we now know that former President Trump will have another four years in the White House. While that could mean policy shifts in all sorts of areas, we want to focus on how it may impact the economy so Michael will take a deep dive into the data on different economic growth factors, and what the numbers have looked like under both Republican and Democratic administratio...

When it comes to planning for retirement, there's no shortage of advice out there. Unfortunately, much of it can be misleading or only half-true. That can be a problem for investors because they end up following guidance that doesn't apply to their situation. Today we continue our two-part discussion on these potentially misleading statements by shedding light on some of the most common retirement...

We hear a lot of half-truths in the financial world, not necessarily because people try to make misleading statements, but because sometimes a simple statement just doesn't quite tell the whole story. Join us for part one of this discussion as we cover common misconceptions about market losses, portfolio fees, mortgage interest, diversification, and bonds. We'll provide insights on why these half-...

Paying for college has become increasingly harder with rising costs. Starting early for your child's or grandchild's education can make a big difference and reduce the need for excessive borrowing later. In this two-part series, we'll cover the key aspects of college financial planning from both the parent and grandparent perspectives. Part one broke down the costs associated with college, how muc...

Paying for college has become increasingly harder with rising costs. Starting early for your child's or grandchild's education can make a big difference and reduce the need for excessive borrowing later. In this two-part series, we'll cover the key aspects of college financial planning from both the parent and grandparent perspectives. From understanding the true purpose of college to comparing th...

In any sport, it is often the smallest, most consistent actions that make the biggest difference. In today's episode, Michael shares insights from his experience coaching youth baseball to show that this philosophy is just as important in financial planning as it is on the field. Listen in as he shares 15 "little things" that everyone should focus on in their finances to achieve winning personal f...

Are you ready to take your financial planning to the next level? In this episode of Caffeine and Cash Flow, Michael and Ben explore the timeless wisdom of legendary coach, John Wooden. Wooden's Pyramid of Success has guided countless individuals to greatness, both on and off the court, and has some powerful takeaways for your everyday life and financial planning.   Here's some of what we discuss i...

When it comes to investing, the term 'diversification' is often tossed around, but what does it truly mean to diversify your portfolio? Is it as easy as sticking to the S&P 500 index the to achieve wealth management success? In this episode, we'll answers these questions and dive into the latest returns by asset class to help you better understand what diversification truly means.   Here's some of...

Each generation is currently navigating a unique part of the retirement planning experience. With many Baby Boomers preparing for the transition into retirement and Generation X close behind, these two generations are asking a handful of financial planning questions. In today's episode, we'll share insights into the unique concerns that echo across different age groups. These are the retirement qu...

Have you ever considered how you'll safeguard your financial legacy for the next generation? Today we want to dive into some of the technical aspects of estate planning and the crucial role it plays in retirement strategy. Estate planning can be as complex as it is important, but Michael will demystify the process, providing clarity on how to shield your legacy and make sure your assets flow smoot...

Imagine your retirement plan as a ship sailing toward a horizon of rest and relaxation. But what if one leak could sink it all? In today's episode, we spotlight some of the single oversights that could send your dreams to the bottom. We'll share key strategies to plug the gaps, ensuring your financial ship stays buoyant and on course. Tune in to protect your future from the one mistake that could...

Could the US elections be the market mover that investors have been fretting over, or is that just political noise clouding the bigger financial picture? It's time to talk about the upcoming election and what it could mean for investors over the next two years. We're not just skimming the surface; we are diving into the data to see how investments have historically fared during the electoral tides...

Who knows what this year will bring our way, but there's plenty of noise everywhere you look. With the election ahead and everything else happening around the world, the noise can become a distraction for your financial planning. Today we'll breakdown why a long-term strategy is your financial compass in a sea of sensational headlines and market speculation.   Here's some of what we discuss in thi...

For those who are fortunate enough to generate significant wealth for their family, trying to preserve that wealth for multiple generations is often the much greater challenge. It takes much more than smart investing and asset management to create and sustain family wealth. The stats tell us that just 10 percent of generational wealth lasts beyond the third generation, and you can point to a varie...

The stats tell us that just 10 percent of generational wealth lasts beyond the third generation, and you can point to a variety of reasons for that to be the case. Most people that get to this point want their family to be taken care of for decades to come, but not everyone takes the necessary steps to achieve unity to within their family.   Here are the six elements we discuss in this episode: Fo...

Ever wish you could foresee financial missteps before they happen? On today's episode explore some real-life stories of regret and arm yourself with the essential dos and don'ts to ensure your money works for you, not against you. A lot of the things we're going to be talking could make you lose over the long run, but we want to share what we've learned over years of helping people with their plan...