Compound Growth

Most people spend more time comparing cars than they do evaluating their financial advisor. Wheeler and Colin dig into one of the most important — and most avoided — conversations in personal finance: how to know when the advisory relationship you're in isn't working, what it actually costs you to stay, and what to look for when you're ready to make a move. They cover the difference...

March was a rough month for markets — and it came with a lot of noise. Tariffs, geopolitical tension, and a sharp sell-off in tech had a lot of investors watching their portfolios and wondering what to do. In this episode, Wheeler and Colin walk through exactly what happened in March 2026: where markets landed, which sectors got hit hardest, and why the headlines you were reading probably weren&ap...

Most people want to talk about investing. Stock picks, portfolio allocation, whether they're positioned right. Those are real questions — but they're the wrong starting point if the foundation underneath isn't solid. In this episode, Wheeler and Colin go back to basics: knowing what you actually spend, building reserves that can absorb the unexpected, and protecting your income agai...

The economy looks fine on paper. But if you're young and trying to build a life in America right now, it doesn't feel that way. Bryce Gill, economist at First Trust, joins Wheeler and Colin to explain why both things are true at the same time. Bryce breaks down the structural forces quietly reshaping who gets ahead in this economy and who gets left behind. The conversation covers the wid...

Have you ever looked at a job offer and felt overwhelmed by the alphabet soup of RSUs, ESPPs, and vesting schedules? In this episode of Compound Growth, Colin and Wheeler break down the complex world of equity compensation — moving beyond the raw numbers to explore how these benefits actually impact your long-term financial freedom. Using real-world examples from Google and Amazon, they pull back...

The way we build wealth is shifting — and the speed of that shift is unlike anything we've seen before. In this episode, Colin and Wheeler tackle the idea that we may be living through the last great window of traditional wealth-building, and what that actually means for the average person. They draw a direct line between today's AI and robotics boom and the original Gilded Age, when Car...

February's markets told a story of contradictions. US stocks sat mostly flat while energy names surged 30%, Nvidia posted 73% year-over-year growth and still couldn't please the market, and software stocks got crushed on AI fears. Wheeler and Colin unpack why — and whether the selling is justified. They also dig into Blue Owl and the private credit unraveling that Jamie Dimon warned abou...

In this episode, Colin and Wheeler take a hard look at the FIRE movement—Financial Independence, Retire Early—and ask if its rigid rules still make sense in today's world. We revisit the movement's origins in the 2008 financial crisis and the influence of figures like Mr. Money Mustache. We break down the different "flavors" of FIRE, from the extreme frugality of "Lean FIR...

In this episode, Colin and Wheeler break down the buzz surrounding the newly proposed Trump Accounts. We cut through the political noise to examine the core of the proposal: a government-seeded investment account for every child born in America between 2025–2028. We discuss the profound impact of compounding from birth and how these accounts could fundamentally shift the way families approach gene...

In this episode, Colin and Wheeler sit down with Dr. Daryl Appleton, a renowned psychotherapist and executive coach, to explore the complex psychology of high performers. We dive into a paradoxical truth: the very traits that propel us to the top—grit, perfectionism, and relentless ambition—can often become the biggest barriers to long-term fulfillment. Dr. Daryl Appleton explains how to recognize...

As we move through January 2026, the markets are at all-time highs, but the "smooth sailing" narrative is starting to show some cracks. In this episode, Colin and Wheeler explore the "lull" currently happening under the hood of the economy and why diversification is finally proving its worth again after years of US large-cap dominance. We dive deep into the sudden, parabolic ri...

How much of your life is run by systems you didn’t actually choose? In this episode, Colin and Wheeler dive deep into the invisible frameworks that govern our daily lives—from the "crutches" we lean on to the digital noise that drains our focus. We explore the idea that growth isn’t just about setting massive goals; it’s about auditing the small, repetitive habits that either move us for...

In a world where the most valuable assets are no longer physical factories but "invisible" ideas, how do we measure what truly matters? In this episode, we sit down with Kai Wu, founder of Sparkline Capital, to explore the shift from a tangible economy to an intangible one. We dive into how data science and natural language processing are being used to quantify human capital, brand value...

Welcome to the Season 2 premiere of the Compound Growth podcast! As we step into 2026, hosts Collin and Wheeler reflect on the lessons of the past year and move away from the "silly New Year’s resolutions" that rarely stick. Instead, they explore the power of theming your year with a single guiding word to act as a north star for decision-making, personal development, and financial disci...

As we close the chapter on 2025, Colin and Wheeler sit down for a candid reflection on a year that arrived like a "tantruming child". From the initial volatility of tariff shocks and technology fears to the eventual acceptance of a market that climbed a "wall of worry," this episode explores the intersections of finance, culture, and personal evolution. We pull back the curtain...

Welcome to our chaotic but festive episode, where we take a break from the usual financial deep dives to argue and rank our favorite Christmas movies! From the timeless charm of Elf to the highly debatable holiday status of Die Hard , Colin and Wheeler compare lists, only to realize that their disagreements start right at the bottom. Listen as we dive into the cultural context, generational divide...

Colin and Wheeler unpack the profound meaning behind Rick Rubin's quote: "Great is better than now." They dive deep into the concept of deferred gratification and how prioritizing the "great" future over the "good enough" present influences major life decisions, from buying a house to building a successful business. Using real-life examples like the famous Marshm...

In this month’s "What Just Happened" recap, Colin and Wheeler take a look back at November to make sense of the mixed signals in the economy. We start by breaking down the shift in retail season—why Black Friday deals feel different this year and how "sales season" has morphed into a month-long event. We also discuss the cooling auto market and ask a controversial question: Did...

We kicked off this episode with a great question: What's a purchase you've never regretted? That surprising discussion then led us into a much deeper topic: gifting, legacy, and charitable giving . We unpack how intentional gifting can actually be a core part of your financial plan, aligning your money with your personal values. Colin and Wheeler break down various strategies for giving,...

This week's episode starts with a surprise: a script written by ChatGPT titled "The Costco Cart Incident". It involves a forgotten item, an unplanned kayak purchase, and an $842 receipt—a perfect, relatable anecdote illustrating the danger of trading on emotion. The story immediately sets the stage for the topic: why emotions and money don't mix. The hosts also explore why a si...

In this powerful episode, Colin and Wheeler welcome Tara Ryan, Co-founder and CEO of Confidante, an AI-driven platform supporting mothers as they navigate the invisible weight of modern motherhood. Tara opens up about the inspiration behind Confidant, which evolved from a custom GPT for her coaching clients to a dedicated, mother-centered AI designed to be an accessible "thought partner"...

What if everything you thought you knew about October in the markets was wrong? In this episode, Wheeler and Colin dig into the so-called “October Effect” — why history says it’s a bad month for investors, and why this year flipped that narrative on its head. From the 1907 panic to 2008’s crash, they trace how superstition and seasonality shape investor psychology far more than we realize. Then, t...

The “996” work culture — 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week — has found new life in Silicon Valley. But is working yourself to exhaustion really the key to success? In this episode, Wheeler and Colin sit down with returning guest Jessica Crowley to unpack the glorification of overwork, the myth of hustle culture, and the personal toll of tying your entire identity to your job. They explore how the...

What does the American Dream really mean today? In this episode, Wheeler and Colin sit down with Tori to unpack how our idea of “making it” has evolved—from owning a home and climbing the corporate ladder to building a life defined by flexibility, purpose, and balance. They dig into the generational shift from stability to freedom and how financial independence now looks more like personal choice...

When someone passes away suddenly, they often leave more than grief behind — they leave a financial mess. In this episode of Compound Growth , Colin and Wheeler unpack the emotional and logistical chaos that comes from poor estate planning, outdated beneficiaries, and family dynamics that money can strain to the breaking point. From real-life examples to relatable confessions about their own finan...