15 Minutes of Finance

James Walters, CIMA®, CRPC® and Brandon West, CPA
  • 5.0 (11)
  • INVESTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

15 Minutes of Finance is your quick, easy to understand take on markets, taxes, and making smarter financial decisions! The show is produced by West and Walters Tax and Wealth Management, an RIA and tax firm based in Carlsbad, California. Hosted by James Walters, CIMA®, CRPC®, and Brandon West, CPA, co-owners of West and Walters, each episode gives you clear, honest, and actionable financial talk in the time it takes to drink your morning coffee!

  1. Stock Market Outlook for the Rest of 2026

    MAR 13

    Stock Market Outlook for the Rest of 2026

    Is the 2026 stock market sitting on the edge of something bigger? In this video, we talk through why it feels like we are at the precipice, with major uncertainty surrounding the economy, inflation, mortgage rates, real estate, oil prices, and the war in Iran. We break down how all of these forces connect and why investors are watching every new headline so closely.We also explain PCE and Core PCE, two of the inflation measures that matter most to the Federal Reserve, and why they could play a big role in what happens next for interest rates and the stock market. If you want a big-picture discussion on where markets may be heading and what risks could shape the rest of 2026, this episode is for you.All Information is educational in its intent and distribution! Please do not consider this personal financial advice. We believe all clients have unique situations and thus require unique advice.

    18 min

  2. MAR 12

    The New Reality of the Stock Market (Volatility, Risk, and Investor Psychology)

    Volatility is back in a big way.Large daily market swings are becoming more common, and investors are navigating an environment where sentiment can shift quickly.In this interview, Brandon and James break down why the stock market has become more volatile and how different generations approach risk differently.They discuss the rise of high-risk investing, including cryptocurrency-only portfolios and meme coins, and why understanding downside risk is critical when building wealth.The conversation also highlights the importance of discipline, long-term thinking, and the role a financial advisor can play in helping investors avoid emotional decisions during turbulent markets.James also shares two companies he is currently watching closely: HIPO and KLAC.Subscribe for weekly insights on markets, investing, and tax strategies.All Information is educational in its intent and distribution! Please do not consider this personal financial advice. We believe all clients have unique situations and thus require unique advice.

    34 min
  3. What Is the Real Cost of Dying Without a Trust? Estate Planning, Probate, and Protecting Your Family

    MAR 4

    What Is the Real Cost of Dying Without a Trust? Estate Planning, Probate, and Protecting Your Family

    Brandon sits down with Brittany Cohen, Esq., Attorney at Law at Peaceful Warrior Law, APC in San Diego, California, for an important conversation about estate planning, trusts, probate, and protecting your family. Brittany’s boutique law practice focuses on estate planning, trust creation, elder law, Medi-Cal planning, asset protection, tax reduction planning, personal injury, and more. In this interview, Brandon and Brittany break down what a trust is, why it matters, and why it is not just for high net worth families. They discuss how having a trust can potentially save your family hundreds of thousands of dollars, help avoid probate, and reduce the risk of future family conflict and lawsuits. They also explain what assets typically go through probate, what assets may avoid probate, and why understanding the difference matters.This conversation also covers:- Why putting property into a trust is often better than gifting it- How inherited property should be handled- The role of beneficiaries in your estate plan- When the right time is to create a trust- How children factor into estate planning decisions- Why business owners need a contingency plan- Why so many families still do not have an estate plan in place- If you want to better understand what can happen when someone dies without a trust, and how to protect your assets, your loved ones, and your legacy, this interview is a must-watch. All Information is educational in its intent and distribution! Please do not consider this personal financial advice. We believe all clients have unique situations and thus require unique advice. Brittany Cohen | Peaceful Warrior LawYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@brittanycohen_attorneyTik Tok: @attorney_brittanycohenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/peacefulwarriorlawyer_/Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-cohen-49619a77/

    37 min
  4. The Market Pulled Back This Week… But 2% Advisor Fees Are the Real Shock

    FEB 27

    The Market Pulled Back This Week… But 2% Advisor Fees Are the Real Shock

    This week, James breaks down stock market news and events this week. Nvidia sank after strong earnings, the Dow dropped over 500 points, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq also moved lower. Inflation data (PPI and Core PPI) came in hotter than expected. One of the biggest takeaways has nothing to do with headlines. It has to do with fees. James shares that he has now seen four separate portfolios charging a 2% advisor fee this week alone, and that is before platform fees, 12b1 fees, planning fees, mutual fund fees, and transaction costs are even added in. If your money is sitting in basic ETFs or mutual funds, you need to know exactly what you are paying and whether your advisor is truly earning it.He also covers Nvidia’s post-earnings drop, why earnings and short-term share price do not always move together, the 10-year Treasury yield falling to 3.97%, OpenAI’s massive new valuation, Netflix moving higher, CoreWeave’s sharp decline, and the broader fear hanging over markets from inflation, geopolitics, and uncertainty.The bigger message is this: fear is always present. Inflation, rumors of war, political uncertainty, and market volatility will never fully go away. But history shows that downturns do not last forever, and disciplined investors who stay focused tend to be rewarded over time.In this video:• Why 2% advisor fees can quietly destroy long-term returns• The real all-in cost investors need to ask about• Why Nvidia falling after great earnings is not unusual• Key market moves from this past week• Why fear keeps many people from building wealth• Why long-term market history still mattersAll Information is educational in its intent and distribution! Please do not consider this personal financial advice. We believe all clients have unique situations and thus require unique advice.

    15 min
  5. The Rebound We All Needed: Dow Hits 50,000, Volatility Whipsaws, and a Space ETF to Watch

    FEB 7

    The Rebound We All Needed: Dow Hits 50,000, Volatility Whipsaws, and a Space ETF to Watch

    This week felt like a free fall at times, the kind of tape that makes you question everything, and then the market turned around and finished Friday on a much better note. In this episode, James breaks down what happened, why weeks like this are exactly when investor behavior matters most, and how to keep your decision making grounded when headlines and intraday swings get loud.One of the biggest takeaways is a classic reminder from legendary investor Peter Lynch: the most important organ for an investor is not your brain, it is your stomach. Anyone can find a great company on a green day. The real test is whether you can stick with your plan when markets drop fast, sentiment turns negative, and fear starts writing the narrative.James also asks a tough question: did you sell this week? If the market ended the week barely in the red, or even close to flat, but you reacted like it was the end of the world, it might be worth stepping back and reassessing your approach. Investing is not about guessing the next headline. It is about building conviction in what you own, understanding why you own it, and having a process you can follow when volatility spikes.A key lesson James reinforces is that a company’s share price does not tell you how good the company is. Price is simply what buyers and sellers agree on right now. Great businesses can have brutal weeks. Weak businesses can have strong weeks. The job is to separate business quality from market mood.We also talk about a major milestone: the Dow Jones closed above 50,000 for the first time ever, despite an extremely volatile week. That matters because the Dow is not dominated by the same high growth names as the Nasdaq. It can be a signal that money is rotating into more risk aware, steady parts of the market when investors get uneasy.Volatility is part of the story too. Since COVID, big intraday moves, even 2% swings, have become a lot less rare, and James explains why that changes how investors should think about risk, position sizing, and conviction.Then we zoom out to the fear gauge assets: gold and silver, which often get attention when investors are anxious, plus oil prices and what a healthy range can look like for the broader economy.Finally, James shares a potential opportunity in the space theme: the Procure Space ETF, ticker UFO, a basket of companies tied to the space economy. Think satellites, launch providers, and the infrastructure around space based tech. We touch on why this theme is worth watching, and how ETFs like UFO can provide exposure to names people associate with the space race, including holdings like Planet Labs, Rocket Labs, Viasat, Garmin, etc. All Information is educational in its intent and distribution! Please do not consider this personal financial advice. We believe all clients have unique situations and thus require unique advice.

    15 min
  6. 1031 Exchanges Explained: How Real Estate Investors Defer Capital Gains Taxes

    FEB 5

    1031 Exchanges Explained: How Real Estate Investors Defer Capital Gains Taxes

    Selling real estate doesn’t have to mean handing a big check to the IRS. In this episode of 15 Minutes of Finance, we break down 1031 exchanges: What they are, how they work, and how real estate investors can legally defer capital gains taxes when selling investment property. We’re joined by Adam Nishikawa, a 1031 Qualified Intermediary, who walks us through: - What qualifies for a 1031 exchange - Common mistakes that disqualify exchanges - Timing rules you must follow - Who should (and should not) consider a 1031 - How a qualified intermediary fits into the process Learn more about Adam and 1031 exchanges: Website: http://www.ax1031.com Instagram: @1031withadam

    29 min
  7. Trump Makes His Pick, Earnings Reports, and Wishing Wells

    JAN 30

    Trump Makes His Pick, Earnings Reports, and Wishing Wells

    James covers market news, trumps new fed pick Kevin Warsh, and goes over earnings reports, stocks he bought, and investing habits that will make you rich or poor. All Information is educational in its intent and distribution! Please do not consider this personal financial advice. We believe all clients have unique situations and thus require unique advice.

    15 min
  8. Why Next Week Could Set Up the Next Few Months (Earnings + Geopolitics + Gold & Silver)

    JAN 24

    Why Next Week Could Set Up the Next Few Months (Earnings + Geopolitics + Gold & Silver)

    Next week could be one of the most important market weeks we’ve seen in a while, and it may set the tone for the next few months.In this episode, James breaks down why the market reacted so sharply to Trump’s latest headlines involving Greenland, NATO, and rising geopolitical uncertainty, and why moments like this often create opportunity for long term investors. When fear spikes, prices drop, and that is usually when the best buying windows open.We also cover a major issue investors need to watch out for: insurance being sold as an “investment.” James explains why “insurance sold to you as an investment is neither good insurance nor a good investment,” why “infinite banking” is often misleading, and how products like whole life, universal life, and indexed universal life insurance can come with extremely high fees that quietly destroy long term returns.Then we shift to what could be the biggest driver of market direction: major earnings next week. With companies like Apple, Microsoft, Tesla, Meta, and more reporting, we talk about what to watch for, why volatility could pick up, and how investors sitting on cash may find some real buying opportunities.Finally, James closes with an update on gold and silver, where they stand now, what has been driving the move, and whether they can keep pushing higher from here.If you are investing for the long run, this is the kind of week that can create the best setups if you know what to look for.Subscribe for weekly market breakdowns, investing strategy, retirement planning, and tax smart financial planning.All Information is educational in its intent and distribution! Please do not consider this personal financial advice. We believe all clients have unique situations and thus require unique advice.

    17 min
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5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

15 Minutes of Finance is your quick, easy to understand take on markets, taxes, and making smarter financial decisions! The show is produced by West and Walters Tax and Wealth Management, an RIA and tax firm based in Carlsbad, California. Hosted by James Walters, CIMA®, CRPC®, and Brandon West, CPA, co-owners of West and Walters, each episode gives you clear, honest, and actionable financial talk in the time it takes to drink your morning coffee!

Information

  • Creator
    James Walters, CIMA®, CRPC® and Brandon West, CPA
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    204
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © James Walters, CIMA®, CRPC® and Brandon West, CPA
  • Show Website
    15 Minutes of Finance

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