The Get Ready For The Future Show

What is the Santa Claus rally, and does it really matter for investors heading into 2026? In this final Fastest Four Minutes in Finance of 2025, Scott Inman breaks down the history behind the Santa Claus rally — the stock market’s tendency to rise during the final week of the year — and what it may signal for January and the year ahead. In this episode, you’ll learn: • What the Santa Claus rally i...

2025 was anything but predictable — and the markets proved it. In this episode of Fastest 4 Minutes in Finance, Scott Inman breaks down the biggest trends that shaped the markets in 2025 and what investors should take with them into 2026. You’ll learn: - Why the S&P 500 posted a third straight year of double-digit gains — something that’s only happened eight times in the past 100 years - How artif...

“I’m 61 and my husband is 65. We’ve saved about a million dollars, but we’re worried about taxes eating into our retirement income. How do we make our money last and stay tax-smart?” We’re answering YOUR questions on this week’s Get Ready For The Future Show! Can you really trust retirement calculators that project $2.5 to $3 million by age 65 — or are those numbers giving you a false sense of sec...

In this episode of Fastest Four Minutes in Finance, Scott Inman breaks down LPL Research’s 2026 Market Outlook, which pushes back against recession fears while acknowledging a slower pace of growth ahead. According to LPL, the U.S. economy may cool early in 2026, but resilience from AI-driven investment, fiscal spending, and easing monetary policy could fuel a rebound later in the year.

"I’m 66 and still mostly invested in stocks. Should I start shifting into bonds now that I’m retired, or is that old-school thinking?" We're answering YOUR questions on this week's Get Ready For The Future Show! We don’t have kids and want to leave part of our estate to our church and a few nonprofits. What’s the best way to do that while minimizing taxes? We’re 64 and considering selling our home...

A new report just revealed something surprising about retirement: claiming Social Security doesn’t actually mean people stop working. In fact, 40% of Americans work after they claim benefits, and many continue for years. So what does that mean for your retirement strategy — and your long-term financial independence?

Worried about a possible AI bubble? You’re not alone — but the headlines may be missing the bigger picture. In this week’s Fastest 4 Minutes in Finance, Scott Inman breaks down why big market gains and big market pullbacks often go hand-in-hand, and why a correction doesn’t automatically mean a bubble is about to burst.

"Every time I hear bad financial news, I panic and want to change my portfolio. How do I stop reacting emotionally to the news cycle?" We're answering YOUR questions on this week's Get Ready For The Future Show! We have a paid-off home and decent savings. Our friends mentioned getting an umbrella policy, but we don’t fully understand what it covers or if we need it? We’re in our 60s and redoing ou...

Is the housing market in a bubble that’s about to burst? With home prices up 57% nationally since 2019 — and even higher in places like Knoxville (86%) and Northwest Arkansas (84.5%) — it’s easy to wonder whether a crash is coming. In this week’s Fastest Four Minutes in Finance, Scott Inman breaks down the numbers and explains why economist Brian Wesbury says a housing collapse is highly unlikely....

"I turn 73 next year and will have to start RMDs. Is there any way to reduce the tax impact if I don’t need the money?" We're answering YOUR questions on this week's Get Ready For The Future Show! Our youngest just started college, and we’re 56 and 58. We want to help with tuition but still plan to retire at 65. How do we prioritize? We inherited a lake house from my parents, but we don’t use it o...

Worried about a potential downturn? You’re not alone — and the latest data from major fund managers, market movements, and big-name investors shows 4 major yellow flags that every retirement investor should be watching. In this week’s Fastest Four Minutes in Finance, we break down what’s really happening beneath the market’s surface and why now is the time to reassess your risk.  Here’s what...

"I’m 58 and about 40% of my portfolio is in company stock from where I’ve worked for 25 years. Should I diversify even if it’s been performing well?" We're answering YOUR questions on this week's Get Ready For The Future Show! I’m 66 and recently realized my IRA still lists my ex-spouse as the beneficiary. If I update it now, does that override my will — or do I need to change both? We’re 60 and p...

Would you pay for your house for 50 years? The Trump administration is floating a plan to allow banks to offer 50-year mortgages—and while the headline sounds like “affordable homeownership,” the math tells a very different story. In this week’s Fastest 4 Minutes in Finance, Scott Inman breaks down what a 50-year mortgage really means for buyers, including: How much you actually save per month com...

"I’m 60 and feel paralyzed every time the market drops. I’ve missed several rebounds because I waited too long. How do I stop letting fear run my portfolio?" We're answering YOUR questions on this week's Get Ready For The Future Show! I’m 64 and financially ready to retire, but I just can’t bring myself to stop working. How do you know when it’s really time to step away? I’m 63 and just retired. I...

The S&P 500 has hit two all-time highs in the past two months — and it’s surged 85% since October 2022. That kind of run has many investors wondering: Is a pullback coming soon? In this week’s Fastest 4 Minutes in Finance, Scott Inman breaks down key historical data showing why a year-end rally is actually the most likely outcome — not a crash. Since 1950, when the S&P 500 was up more than...

"My spouse and I disagree on how much we need to retire. I think we’re fine with $1 million, she’s convinced we need $2 million. Who’s right — and how do we find out?" We're answering YOUR questions on this week's Get Ready For The Future Show! I’m 66 and planning to downsize next year. We’ll have about $200,000 left over after the move. Should we invest it or use it to generate income? I’m 61 and...

Social Security checks are getting a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment in 2026 — but don’t get too excited. That’s only about $56 more per month for the average retiree. The problem? Healthcare costs are climbing faster than inflation, and Medicare premiums are expected to jump 11.6%, eating away nearly half of that “raise.” In this week’s Fastest Four Minutes in Finance, Scott Inman explains why you...

"I’m 64 and retiring soon. I have the option to take a lump sum from my pension or monthly payments for life. How do I evaluate which one is better for us?" We're answering YOUR questions on this week's Get Ready For The Future Show! We’re 67 and 65 and just paid off our house. We’ve heard that having a trust avoids probate, but our estate isn’t that complicated. How do we know if a trust is worth...

The U.S. national debt just crossed $38 trillion — up $3 trillion in only 12 months. What does that mean for interest rates, inflation, and your retirement savings? In this week’s Fastest 4 Minutes in Finance, Scott Inman breaks down the real impact of America’s exploding debt and why it’s more than just a Washington headline. You’ll learn: Why economists say the debt-to-GDP ratio matters more tha...

"I’m 65 and plan to work a few more years. I’ve got a good amount saved, but I’ve never actually thought through how I’ll turn that into income. Where do I even start?" We're answering YOUR questions on this week's Get Ready For The Future Show! I’ve always contributed to a traditional 401(k), but my employer just added a Roth option. Should I switch, and if so, how much? We’re in our 50s and want...

A new IMF report says President Trump’s tariffs haven’t hit the U.S. economy as hard as expected — and growth might even be stronger than feared. In this week’s Fastest 4 Minutes in Finance, Scott Inman breaks down the numbers: GDP growth projections: 2% in 2025 and 2.1% in 2026 Inflation is cooling faster than expected New trade deals may be offsetting tariff pressure But the risk isn’t gone — if...

"I’m 62, just retired, and don’t plan to take Social Security until 67. Should I be converting some of my IRA to a Roth during these lower-income years?" We're answering YOUR questions on this week's Get Ready For The Future Show! We’re 70 and have three adult children. One is financially responsible, the other two—not so much. Can we structure our estate so that they’re not getting a lump sum all...

Are we living through another stock market bubble? With headlines warning of “frothy markets” and “sky-high valuations,” it’s easy to feel like we’ve seen this movie before. But according to LPL Research, today’s AI-driven rally looks very different from the dot-com boom of the 1990s. In this week’s Fastest 4 Minutes in Finance, Scott Inman breaks down: How the AI revolution compares to the intern...

"I’m 54 and getting serious about retirement planning. We’ve got about $500,000 saved, but no clear budget for what retirement will actually cost us. How do we figure that out?" We're answering YOUR questions on this week's Get Ready For The Future Show! I keep hearing about rebalancing your portfolio, but I don’t really understand what that means or when I’m supposed to do it. Can you explain? I’...

A government shutdown began on October 1st, and while markets are still sitting at all-time highs, the impact could grow the longer it drags on. In this week’s Fastest 4 Minutes in Finance, Scott Inman breaks down: Why Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits keep flowing (but with possible delays) How a prolonged shutdown could trigger market volatility and impact Federal Reserve decision...