Capitalist Investor

The Federal Reserve just released data linking immigration to housing market trends. Learn how rising house prices impact your retirement. This episode of The Capitalist Investor examines recent research from the Federal Reserve regarding the connection between unauthorized immigration and housing market trends. We bypass the political noise to focus strictly on the economic data provided by the c...

Roth or traditional IRA? 401(k) or IRA? Tax deduction now or tax-free withdrawals later? These are common questions when saving for retirement, but many people get stuck trying to make the “perfect” decision and end up delaying the most important step: actually saving. In this episode of The Capitalist Investor, the crew breaks down common IRA and retirement account mistakes, including why Roth vs...

A record number of Americans are tapping their 401(k)s through hardship withdrawals, and the reasons are not small or careless expenses. Many people are using retirement savings to avoid foreclosure, cover medical bills, or pay for major home repairs. In this episode of The Capitalist Investor , Derek and Dave Huberty discuss what is driving the increase in hardship withdrawals, why inflation and...

SpaceX just made history with the largest IPO ever, raising $75 billion and quickly becoming one of the most valuable companies in the world. The excitement has investors asking one question: Should you buy SpaceX stock? In this episode of The Capitalist Investor , Derek and Jack take a balanced look at the opportunities and risks surrounding SpaceX's public debut. Rather than focusing on hyp...

Most retirement planning focuses on building wealth. But what happens when age, illness, or cognitive decline make it difficult, or impossible, to manage your money? In this episode of The Capitalist Investor , Diamond Hands D is joined by Sam and Jack to talk through one of the most important retirement planning conversations families tend to avoid: how to protect your finances before something g...

For decades, the 4% rule has been one of the most common retirement planning guidelines. The idea was simple: withdraw 4% of your portfolio in the first year of retirement, adjust for inflation each year, and your money should last for 30 years. But does that rule still work today? In this episode of The Capitalist Investor , Diamond Hands D is joined by Sam and Jack to break down where the 4% rul...

Most people assume the key to retirement is aggressively saving every extra dollar possible. But what if working just two more years could have an even bigger impact? In this episode of The Capitalist Investor , Tony and Derek break down the surprising math behind delaying retirement. They explain how two additional working years can potentially increase 401(k) contributions, allow more time for c...

Many Americans dream about retiring early, but few fully understand the healthcare costs that come before Medicare eligibility at age 65. In this episode of the Capitalist Investor, Mark Tepper and Tony Zabiegala break down the real financial impact of retiring early and why healthcare planning needs to be part of every retirement strategy. They discuss COBRA, Affordable Care Act options, HSA stra...

What happens when one spouse is ready to retire… and the other hasn’t even thought about what retirement actually looks like yet? In this episode of The Capitalist Investor , the team breaks down the retirement conversations couples often avoid until it’s too late. From retirement timelines and spending habits to travel plans, Social Security decisions, healthcare costs, and lifestyle expectations...

What happens when the market drops right as you need your money most?  In this episode, we break down one of the biggest retirement planning mistakes people make: being overexposed to the stock market without a true cash safety net. Using real-world market scenarios like the 2020 crash, we discuss sequence of returns risk, retirement income planning, and why liquidity matters more than most invest...

Are Social Security increases actually helping retirees or quietly falling behind? In this episode of The Capitalist Investor, we break down why a recent 2.8% cost of living adjustment may feel more like a loss than a gain. When rising costs for healthcare, groceries, and energy outpace government adjustments, retirees are left asking a simple question: is this really enough? We also explain how C...

Most people think they understand retirement planning … but the reality is, small decisions today can completely change your future. Whether you’re contributing to a 401k , exploring a Roth IRA , or just starting to think about saving for retirement , this conversation breaks down what actually matters. We cover how everyday spending habits impact your ability to save , build retirement income , a...

Building your nest egg is great, but remember that "Uncle Sam" is a silent partner in your retirement planning. The government collects taxes on individual retirement account funds through required minimum distributions (RMDs). This ensures that funds are taxed before your death, making proper tax planning and understanding taxes in retirement crucial for your financial future. 💰 

For those nearing retirement, the absence of a clearly defined financial plan can create significant risk, regardless of accumulated assets. This episode examines the consequences of delayed planning and the challenges that arise when key factors such as longevity, healthcare costs, inflation, and spending are not properly accounted for. The discussion explores why individuals often avoid planning...

In this episode of The Capitalist Investor , Tony Zabiegala speaks with Sam Petitjean about earning the Certified Financial Planner designation and what that process reveals about the depth of financial advice. They discuss the discipline required to complete the CFP, the difference between basic investment management and true financial planning, and why coordination across tax, legal, and investm...

As retirement approaches, the margin for error narrows. What helped build wealth may no longer be appropriate once income replaces accumulation, and poorly managed risk at this stage can have lasting consequences.  In this episode, the discussion centers on how portfolio structure should evolve before and after retirement. The conversation explores the impact of market downturns at the wrong time,...

For investors with significant assets, geopolitical events can introduce uncertainty that extends beyond short-term market movement. Energy prices, inflation pressures, and supply chain disruptions all play a role in shaping the economic landscape. This episode examines how current conflict in the Middle East is affecting markets, with a focus on energy dependency, market volatility, and sector-le...

Many experienced investors question whether recent market volatility reflects a deeper structural issue or simply a shift in expectations. In this episode of The Capitalist Investor , Tony and Dave discuss the difference between headline driven volatility and fundamental market deterioration. They explore how geopolitical developments can influence energy markets, why employment and earnings growt...

Debt can be a powerful financial tool, but it can also become a major obstacle as retirement approaches. In this episode of The Capitalist Investor, Derek Gabrielsen and Jack Root explore how debt affects retirement planning and why managing liabilities becomes increasingly important as earning years begin to shrink. The conversation covers how business owners should approach debt tied to their co...

For investors nearing retirement, decisions surrounding pension elections and portfolio discipline require careful analysis. In this episode, we examine two foundational areas of retirement planning. First, we discuss the mechanics of portfolio rebalancing and its role in maintaining intended risk levels over time. Second, we analyze a real world pension scenario involving a $60,000 lifetime annui...

If you are approaching retirement, investment risk is no longer just about chasing higher returns. It becomes about whether you have enough time to recover from market declines and how volatility can affect your ability to retire when planned.  In this episode of The Capitalist Investor , Diamond Hands - Derek and Jack Root discuss how risk tolerance evolves as retirement nears and why preserving...

In this episode of The Capitalist Investor, Derek and Tony break down how California’s tax system can impact professional athletes, even after winning a championship. They also examine whether consumer spending is truly slowing, reviewing retail growth data, job creation numbers, wage trends, and what higher tax refunds in 2026 could mean for the economy. Finally, they discuss the streaming wars a...

In this episode, Tony and Derrick open with a practical warning about identity theft and financial fraud, sharing real client stories and simple steps you can take today, including changing passwords, freezing credit, and using identity monitoring services. They then shift into recent market volatility, breaking down gold and silver swings, Bitcoin’s technical patterns, and the surprising connecti...

In this episode of The Capitalist Investor , Derek and Tony deliver rapid fire hot takes on what’s really driving today’s markets and what investors should be watching as 2026 approaches. They break down why Costco selling physical gold is grabbing headlines, what soaring gold and silver prices may signal, and why Bitcoin isn’t reacting the way many expected. The conversation also covers the “Big...

You worked hard to build your wealth. Now comes the real challenge: making sure it lasts. In this episode, Derek and Tony break down legacy planning strategies to help families preserve wealth across generations. You’ll learn how Roth conversions, estate taxes, trust structures, and family meetings play a role in long term wealth transfer and how to prepare heirs to responsibly manage inherited as...