Market Moment Podcast

If you’re nearing retirement, producing income from your investments isn’t just about returns — it’s about avoiding the mistakes that could reduce your lifestyle. In this week’s Market Moment, Matt, Isaac, and John break down the most common ways investors try to produce income from their portfolios — and the real pros, cons, and risks behind each approach. They discuss income annuities, dividend-...

Can you retire before age 59½ without costly penalties or tax mistakes? In this episode of The Market Moment, Matt, John, and Isaac break down what early retirees need to know—and what most people miss. Kicking off 2026, the team dives into one of the most common questions they hear: How do you plan for retirement if you want to stop working early? The discussion covers why age 59½ matters, how to...

How was 2025? Did it turn out the way we expected? And what's on the horizon?   Welcome to another episode of The Market Moment with Matt, Lee, and John. In today’s discussion, the guys look back on their predictions in December 2024 for what 2025 would look like. Matt, Lee, and John revisit prior market outlooks, discuss why forecasts are often unreliable, and reflect on what actually drove marke...

Confused about required minimum distributions? You're not alone.   Welcome to another episode of The Market Moment with Matt, Lee, and John. In today’s discussion, we break down Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), current Federal Reserve policy expectations, recent market trends, and broader economic insights that may impact retirees, investors, and individuals planning ahead. Whether you're al...

Thinking about claiming Social Security while still working—or wondering if part-time work before retirement makes financial sense?   Welcome back to The Market Moment! In today’s episode, Matt, John, and Isaac break down two of the most common questions we hear from pre-retirees: 1️⃣ Can you work while receiving Social Security benefits? ✔️ How earned income affects Social Security before Full Re...

How much of your income should go toward retirement? In this week’s episode of The Market Moment, Eli Freeman, Isaac Johnson, and John Martfeld discuss one of the most common (and most confusing) personal finance questions: “What percentage of my income should I be saving for retirement?” The truth? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Your ideal savings rate depends on age, income, debt, employer...

Everyone’s asking the same questions right now: Why are markets pulling back, and should retirees stay invested? We break it all down without the hype — just the insights you need. Welcome back to The Market Moment! In this week’s episode, Lee Mackey and Isaac Johnson cover a wide range of market and financial topics—from the recent pullback in the S&P 500 to whether it still makes sense to ow...

How is AI reshaping the stock market and global investing? J.P. Morgan global market strategist Stephanie Aliaga joins Matt and Lee on The Market Moment to discuss AI’s impact on markets, investor strategy, and where opportunities—and risks—may lie ahead. Stephanie shares data-driven insights on: 💡 How AI-linked stocks have powered over 75% of S&P 500 returns since ChatGPT’s launch 📈 Whether...

Retirement trends: age, financial impact, and tips for managing investments and income.   In this episode of The Market Moment, Matt, Eli, and John break down what’s shaping financial decisions in 2025. They discuss the rising average retirement age in the U.S., how life expectancy impacts long-term planning, and what the FIRE movement means for early retirees. The team also covers today’s mortgag...

In this episode of The Market Moment, hosts Matt and John dive into one of the most common—and most misunderstood—questions in retirement planning: What’s the best order to withdraw money from your accounts? They break down the tax implications and strategic order of drawing from taxable accounts, IRAs, and Roth IRAs, explaining how factors like RMDs (Required Minimum Distributions), Roth conversi...

In this episode of The Market Moment, Matt, Isaac, and John dive into one of the most frequently asked questions by retirees and near-retirees: How is Social Security calculated? They break down the AIME (Average Indexed Monthly Earnings), PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), and the role of inflation-adjusted earnings in determining your Social Security benefits. Whether you're deciding when to claim...

In this episode of The Market Moment, financial professionals Matt, Lee, and John dive deep into one of the most frequently asked questions: What is the ideal asset allocation when entering retirement? The discussion covers: -The importance of balancing growth vs. safety as retirement approaches -Common mistakes retirees make with overly conservative portfolios -Why solving for income should be th...

Welcome back to Market Moment! This week Lee Mackey, John Martfeld, and Isaac Johnson dive into a packed discussion covering retirement planning, market trends, and current economic headlines. 🎙 Frequently Asked Question: Can you retire with $1 million? The hosts break down why the answer isn’t so simple. From income needs to inflation and Social Security, they discuss the many variables that dete...

Welcome back to Market Moment! In today’s episode, Matt, John and Eli explore one of the most common personal finance questions:  "How much should I have in an emergency fund — both before and during retirement?" Together, they unpack the strategy behind building a resilient emergency fund, including: 🔹 When to increase or decrease your cash reserves 🔹 How job security, family dynamics, and inco...

Welcome back to Market Moment! In today’s episode, Matt, Lee, and John tackle one of the most frequently asked retirement planning questions: "How can I lower my taxes in retirement?” From Roth conversions, RMDs (Required Minimum Distributions), and Social Security timing, to HSA utilization, IRMAA surcharges, and charitable giving (QCDs) — this discussion covers critical tax planning tools for bo...

Welcome back to Market Moment! In today’s episode, Matt, Lee, and Isaac tackle one of the most frequently asked retirement planning questions: "When should I claim Social Security benefits?" If you’re approaching age 60 or older, you’ve likely seen projections, conflicting advice, and heard it all—from "claim early at 62" to "wait until 70 for the biggest payout." Today, we break down how to evalu...

Welcome back to The Market Moment! In this episode, Matt, Lee, and John are answering the question “How should I invest as I approach retirement?” They offer an in-depth, candid discussion about retirement investing strategies and the many variables that go into building a sound financial plan. From risk tolerance to income needs and everything in between, the hosts break down what investors shoul...

Welcome back to The Market Moment! In this episode, Matt, John, and Eli dive deep into one of the most frequently asked financial planning questions: "How much do I need to retire?" If you're in your 30s, 50s, or approaching retirement, this conversation covers everything from simple retirement math to the complex variables that impact your long-term financial security. We break down how to estima...

Welcome back to The Market Moment! This week Matt, Lee, and Eli tackle one of the most frequently asked questions they hear from clients and listeners: “Can I retire early?” They break down early retirement planning from both a financial and emotional perspective. Whether you're in your 40s, 50s, or even 60s, this episode will help you define what "early retirement" really means to YOU and what yo...

Welcome back to The Market Moment with Matt, Lee, and Eli! In this episode, we break down the latest inflation report that came in cooler than expected at 2.7%, what that means for the Federal Reserve's next move, and why the markets are rallying as a result.  We dive deep into:  What’s behind the inflation drop—and whether it's sustainable    Growing consensus around Fed rate cuts this September ...

Welcome back to The Market Moment! In this episode, Matt, Isaac, and Eli dive deep into one of retirement's most important—and complex—questions: What's the best way to withdraw income from your portfolio?  There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but we break down the four most common withdrawal strategies, explaining how each works, who they may be best for, and the pros and cons you need to conside...

This week, Matt, John, and Lee unpack several charts exploring the financial consequences of trying to “time the market” or letting personal fears, emotions, and anxiety control your investing. A recent example is what happened in April during the “tariff-talks” and the stockmarket dropped significantly but then also rose back up a week later.  📈 This episode is a must-watch for anyone planning t...

This week, Matt, John, and Isaac, dive deep into the groundbreaking "One Big Beautiful Bill" — a sweeping piece of legislation that could reshape your taxes, savings, and financial future. Whether you're a taxpayer, parent, senior, or business owner, these top 10 highlights are essential listening.  Here's what's inside the bill (and this episode):  1️⃣ Individual Income Tax Rates Made Permanent –...

This week, Lee, John, and Eli discuss some of the latest market updates but also dive deeper into the most common retirees’ regrets. Some of the market updates include how tariffs could be impacting the economy, Jerome Powell’s decision to not lower rates, and generally how people seem to feel about the market - generally speaking, good!   The conversation pivots to a practical conversation about...

This week, John, Eli, and Isaac talk about taking a mid-year financial check-up. This means looking at your finances, maybe even your taxes or tax strategies, any upcoming expenses, your cash on hand, or possibly needing to rebalance, and more. They also discuss the passing of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. While there are massive tax and economic implications, the guys don’t have enough time to dive...