Market Moment Podcast

Will Federal Reserve rate decisions immediately impact the economy, or is the market overestimating their influence? Plus, with major AI IPOs on the horizon, how should long-term investors evaluate massive valuations against fundamental revenue? In this week’s market moment, Matt and John analyze the upcoming Fed rate meeting, challenge historical assumptions surrounding monetary policy, and break...

Fear is growing as elections approach, but what are we really afraid of? The risk is never zero anyway, and historical data tells a completely different story. In this episode of The Market Moment, Matt, Isaac, and John break down current trailing and forward P/E ratios across large, mid, and small-cap stocks, separate political noise from reality, and analyze why historical S&P 500 performanc...

Fear is growing as we approach the midterms, but what are we so afraid of? The risk is never zero anyway! In this episode of The Market Moment, Matt, Isaac, and John dive into the start of earnings season, looking closely at major bank reports from JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, and Goldman Sachs. They analyze Q4 performance trends, separate hype from reality regarding artificial intelligence and tech sec...

Welcome back to The Market Moment with Matt, John, and Isaac!   In this episode, the team breaks down critical financial topics shaping today's economic landscape, starting with a look at proposed legislation to solve the Social Security shortfall by altering the payroll tax cap. They unpack whether hitting all-time highs in the S&P 500 should trigger fear or confidence, backed by historical r...

Is the traditional 60/40 portfolio still an effective way to manage investment risk, or has it become dormant?     In this episode of The Market Moment, Matt and Isaac dive into a Barron's article questioning the state of the 60/40 strategy. They break down how shifting market conditions and elevated bond yields impact risk, while exploring key alternatives to standard asset allocations.   Key Dis...

Should we be concerned about the United States rising debt? What are your estate planning questions?   And let’s talk about the stock market downturns and small caps’ strong first half of 2026!   Those are some of the topics covered in this week’s Market Moment with Matt, Isaac and Eli. Eli is a special host on the podcast because he spends a lot of time working on our show, Data Brief. In this ep...

Have you heard of the “dead internet theory”? Does the rise of AI have you concerned about the economy and stock market? What about the current Middle Eastern war and oil prices? Let’s cut through the financial noise… In this episode of The Market Moment, Isaac Johnson and John Martfeld break down recent digital and financial trends that every investor should keep on their radar. They dive into th...

Two Democrats in Congress have proposed a new piece of legislation that would impact earners of more than $400,000 annually and have retirement balances over $10 million. These tax implications have some financial planners worried but it is only a proposal – and it serves as a reminder that even with all the planning, some things are uncertain due to being in the hands of politicians. Welcome to t...

Did the market take a hit because of the Fed dissents? This week, Matt, John and Isaac look back on the Fed’s meeting on the economy and interest rates, and overall there are positive reports regarding the US job market, unemployment rate, and business investments– the primary concern seems to be rising inflation thanks to the Iranian conflict and oil prices. The guys lament the volatility and how...

Social Security claiming strategies, spousal benefit rules, and tech market rotations—what do you need to know?   This week, Matt, Lee, and John are unpacking the topics clients and viewers keep asking them about: navigating the timing of Social Security benefits, avoiding tax traps in retirement, and the recent market rotation between Apple and NVIDIA. Topics Discussed: ➡ Social Security Claiming...

It has been five weeks since SpaceX first launched its IPO – What can we learn?   Today on The Market Moment, Matt, Isaac and John are unpacking the topics clients and viewers keep asking them about: the Iranian conflict impacting oil prices and the global economy, the SpaceX IPO, and of course… the World Cup!   Topics Discussed: ➡️ SpaceX Post-IPO Reality & Volatility: The team examines the c...

We are half way through 2026! It is a great opportunity to look back on the last six months and review.  In this episode of The Market Moment, Lee, Isaac, and John take a data-driven look at the major economic forces shaping your wealth. They break down the massive multi-billion-dollar economic impact of hosting the World Cup, review the surprisingly strong first-half performance of major indexes...

With small-cap stocks quietly putting up historic numbers and massive structural changes being proposed for how Americans save for the future, the investing landscape is shifting right before our eyes. But how do these massive macroeconomic trends affect the money in your portfolio? In this episode, Matt, John, and Isaac take a data-driven look at the major trends shaping your portfolio. They brea...

With the stock market hovering around all-time highs at the halfway point of the year, it’s easy to let short-term market noise, geopolitical tensions, or Fed anxiety dictate your strategy. But what truly drives long-term stock returns? In this episode, Matt, Lee, and John take a data-driven step back to look at what the market actually cares about: corporate earnings. They break down the lockstep...

Have you noticed a layoff trend among the tech giants and mega corporations? Meta laid off 8,000 employees (nearly 10% of its workforce, reported in May, 2026), Oracle with 21,000 over the course of a year (the firm's latest annual report shows), and of course, WalMart has conducted periodic workforce reductions. This has raised the question, what do individuals in their 50s or 60s do if they find...

When what has been described as a “historic IPO” like SpaceX hits the market, the sheer volume of institutional and retail demand can influence short-term market dynamics. But as more everyday investors rely heavily on ETFs and mutual funds instead of individual stock transactions, how does that shift impact long-term market volatility? In this episode of The Market Moment, the guys break down the...

In Episode 302 of The Market Moment, Matt, Eli, and Isaac tackle the biggest financial news of the week: the highly anticipated SpaceX IPO. (And yes, it's also Annuity Awareness Month!) . We discuss the motivations behind this massive public offering and debate whether it's truly about raising capital or just creating a liquidity event for early investors. With almost every major bank backing the...

When you watch financial news or look at your 401(k) statement, everything is compared to the S&P 500. But is the S&P 500 actually a fair way to judge your personal investment performance? In this episode of The Market Moment, the guys look beyond the S&P 500 to discuss how to choose the right investment benchmarks for your personal goals. They break down why comparing a diversified po...

Are bonds becoming more attractive again? Or is the exploding U.S. national debt a ticking time bomb for investors? Welcome to the 300th episode of The Market Moment! In this milestone episode, Matt, John, and Lee dive deep into the massive shifts happening in the fixed income and Treasury markets. After a brutal couple of years for fixed income, long‑duration Treasury yields recently climbed over...

Moving to a new job and unsure what to do with your 401(k)? Or maybe you have several from previous jobs? In this episode of The Market Moment, Matt, Lee, and John dive deep into the pros and cons of 401(k) rollovers. They break down hidden fees, the power of investment flexibility, and advanced tax strategies like Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) and the Rule of 55. Plus, the team answers a rece...

Potential Social Security cuts are making headlines again—but should headlines alone drive retirement planning conversations? In this episode of The Market Moment, Matt, Isaac, and John discuss common questions surrounding the future of Social Security and the current state of global markets. With projections suggesting possible benefit reductions by 2033, the team explores how people often think...

Are all-time highs making you nervous about your retirement date? Are you asking the question, “Should I delay my retirement because of everything going on in our economy?”  In this episode of The Market Moment, Matt and John dive into the common fear of Sequence of Returns Risk and whether recent market volatility should push back your 2026 retirement plans. While it’s human nature to worry that...

From navigating the new mandatory Roth catch-up rules to analyzing a market sitting at its second-highest valuation in 155 years, let’s break down what you need to know to stay ahead of the "noise"...  In this episode, Matt, John, and Lee break down recent tax law changes affecting retirement contributions and discuss the current state of the stock market as it sits near all-time highs. They dive...

Is the US economy headed for a 1970s-style stagflation? In this episode of the Market Moment, Lee Mackey, John Martfeld, and Isaac Johnson dive into the massive headlines rocking the financial world this week—from leadership changes at the world’s largest tech giant to the shifting political landscape.   In this episode, we discuss: ➡️The End of an Era at Apple: We break down Tim Cook’s decision t...

"If you can’t handle losing 30% to 50% of your stock’s value, then investing might not be for you." In this episode of Market Moment, Matt, John, and Isaac confront the psychological reality of that famous Peter Lynch quote. With the current volatility surrounding the conflict in Iran and the subsequent market pullback, they discuss the difference between "agreeing" with volatility in a bull marke...