Money Matters with Greg

A market at all-time highs can still feel like rough water when the news cycle never stops. We step back and make the first half of 2026 understandable, using a simple investing lens: markets can climb even when uncertainty is loud, and the real advantage comes from discipline, diversification, and a long-term time horizon. We walk through the midyear scoreboard across major asset classes, includi...

If you have worked hard to build savings, a home, a business, or investment accounts, there is one uncomfortable question that decides what happens next: will your money move the way you want, or the way your state’s default rules allow? Greg gets specific about why estate planning is not a one-time task or a “later” problem. It is the system that protects your family from confusion, delays, and t...

The Federal Reserve doesn’t just set a number on a screen, it sets the mood for the entire economy. When the Fed changes how it communicates, it can change how investors price risk, how lenders set mortgage rates, and how businesses decide to borrow and grow. That’s why we zoom in on a major leadership shift and what it signals for monetary policy, interest rates, inflation, and long-term investin...

Medicare is one of those milestones that sounds scary until you see the rules laid out clearly and realize you actually have more control than you think. We sit down with Paul Jankowski from Shepherd Insurance, a Medicare specialist who has helped people navigate Medicare since 2005, to walk through what happens as you approach age 65 and how to avoid the most common (and costly) mistakes. We star...

Those credentials after a financial advisor’s name can either be a meaningful signal or pure noise, and most people are never taught how to tell the difference. We’re opening the hood on the financial advice industry and translating the terms you see on websites, account statements, and disclosures so you can ask sharper questions and feel more confident about who is managing your money. We start...

The Fed may not cut rates tomorrow, but your portfolio can still feel every word Jerome Powell says. We walk through what’s happening in markets right now including earnings chatter, oil price volatility, and why geopolitics has been dominating investor attention. Then we narrow the focus to the FOMC setup: what a “no change” decision could mean, why forward guidance matters, and the specific part...

Seven up days in a row for stocks can make the world feel suddenly calmer but the market rarely gives a single, clean signal. I walk through what’s powering the recent S&P 500 rebound, from ceasefire negotiations to better than feared inflation data and early Q1 earnings strength from major banks and household names. Then I slow it down and ask the question serious investors have to ask: are o...

A newborn could qualify for a $1,000 head start but only if you handle the paperwork on time. We walk through the practical steps behind “Trump Accounts,” including the April 15 tax deadline, what details you need on hand, and how IRS Form 4547 fits into getting the account set up for a child or grandchild. If you’re a parent, grandparent, or you simply know someone with a baby born in 2025, this...

Headlines are loud, but your plan should be louder. We break down the Iran war’s fast‑moving developments, the jump in oil, and what all of it really means for stocks, bonds, and your day‑to‑day budget. Greg draws on decades in the markets—from the pits in Chicago through the tech bust, the Great Recession, the pandemic, and everything between—to separate signal from noise and show how disciplined...

Scammers sound like your kids now. Emails read perfectly. Vendors “change banks” with spotless instructions. We’ve hit a turning point where AI raises both the ceiling on productivity and the floor on fraud—so we sat down with AI strategist Debra Peters-Smith and the owner of Easy as ABC Computing to draw a clear line between fear and smart adoption. The plan is refreshingly simple: assess first,...

Markets don’t fear innovation; they fear paying too much for it without proof. We dig into why stocks whipsawed to start 2026, how a string of data points moved sentiment, and where the AI narrative flipped from easy tailwind to hard questions about ROI, competition, and disruption risk. From softer retail sales to steadier jobs, from chip margin pressure to mortgage rates slipping below six perce...

Estate planning doesn’t have to be scary or expensive to be effective. Greg sits down with attorney Tyler Gluth to demystify the essentials—what really belongs in a basic plan, how to keep your loved ones out of court, and why beneficiary designations can quietly override everything you wrote in your will. We get real about the documents every adult should have, the pitfalls that create family rif...

Housing decisions aren’t made on interest rates alone. Greg invited Valparaiso broker-owner Matt Evans to break down the real levers behind today’s market: monthly costs that hide in plain sight, the changing shape of local supply, and the life events that won’t wait for a perfect APR. From the practical “date the rate, marry the home” mindset to the math behind taxes, HOAs, and insurance, we map...

Hiring shouldn’t feel like juggling chainsaws, and payroll shouldn’t require a spreadsheet rodeo. In today's episode, Greg Farrall, CEO and Owner of an independent wealth management firm, Farrall Wealth,  sat down with HR consultant Mike Ramian from Paylocity to show how small and mid-sized businesses can streamline the entire employee lifecycle, save real money, and sleep better at night.  F...

Holiday shopping is a gold rush for fraudsters, and we’ve seen firsthand how fast a quiet click can turn into sleepless nights. After helping a client recover from a bank account hit, we pulled together a clear, end-of-year cyber checklist to protect your money, your identity, and your family’s peace of mind. No jargon, no scare tactics—just the high-leverage moves that actually work. We start wit...

A stronger-than-expected market can make us feel confident, but the real wins show up when our tax and savings decisions are just as intentional as our investments. We open with what actually moved the indexes lately—resilient earnings, AI noise, and surprising consumer strength—then translate that backdrop into a practical, year-end playbook you can act on before December 31. The goal: keep more...

Markets are hot, headlines are louder, and it’s getting harder to tell what actually moves your money. We dig into why earnings strength and stable macro drivers have kept the S&P 500 climbing, even as trade talk and shutdown noise try to steal the spotlight. You’ll hear a clear breakdown of what’s fueling recent highs, where momentum is cooling, and how to separate durable signals from fast‑f...

Markets are flirting with all-time highs while official data stalls—a strange mix that demands sharper signals and steadier conviction. We walk through the flat open, the week’s global moves, and why investor patience might outpace the Fed’s projections as minutes hint at more easing this year. From Nvidia’s export greenlight and early reads from Pepsi and Delta to a steadier dollar and softer Tre...

Confused about trusts? You're not alone. In this enlightening episode, we demystify the complex world of trust planning and explain how these powerful tools can safeguard your legacy and protect your loved ones. We begin by sharing insights from Opportunity Enterprises' Legacy Luncheon, where charitable giving takes center stage in estate planning conversations. The intersection of phila...

So excited to welcome my Mom to the show. She got me started with investing, and we continue to talk about the stock market and economics almost daily. Love you, Mom! When it comes to investment wisdom, sometimes the most valuable insights come from unexpected sources. Meet Delores "Dee" Farrall, a former nurse with no formal business education who transformed herself into an investment...

The financial world is witnessing the rise of what experts call the "Degenerate Economy" - a fascinating yet concerning trend where retail investors are betting on virtually anything that moves. From traditional stocks to cryptocurrency, from sports outcomes to inflation rates, the lines between investing and gambling have never been more blurred. As markets hit all-time highs across maj...

The economic landscape is shifting beneath our feet as we transition from summer to fall. Recent data has painted a concerning picture of economic slowdown, with the latest jobs report delivering disappointing numbers and significant downward revisions spanning multiple months. What was once a resilient labor market is clearly losing steam, signaling broader economic deceleration that's resha...

Tired of wondering where your tax dollars go? The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) aims to transform the way government spending is managed while delivering substantial tax benefits to Americans at every income level. Think of it as cleaning out 47 messy junk drawers in your house and organizing them into one efficient system. Or, better yet, upgrading from dial-up internet to fiber-optic cable....

The college sports landscape has undergone a complete revolution, and Greg Farrall takes listeners behind the scenes of how the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era is transforming opportunities for athletes across America. Drawing from his personal experience as a former All-Big Ten defensive end at Indiana University, Greg vividly contrasts today's college athletes with his own playing days...

Jobs reports often move markets, but few understand exactly why. Today's "Goldilocks" employment number of 144,000 new jobs strikes the perfect balance - strong enough to show economic resilience but sufficient to keep September rate cut expectations alive. For wealth managers overseeing millions in client assets, these details matter greatly for portfolio positioning. The market&ap...