Money Matters With Wes Moss

Wes Moss
  • 4.5 (19)
  • INVESTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Since its debut in 1992, Money Matters was created to deliver objective and timely financial advice on WSB, Atlanta's legendary, award-winning news/talk radio station. Now, in addition to airing weekly on WSB, Money Matters is available as a podcast, tailor-made for both modern retirees and those still in the planning stages. Hosted since 2009 by Wes Moss — CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, best-selling author, Forbes contributor, and managing partner at Capital Investment Advisors in Atlanta — and backed by the Retire Sooner Team, the Money Matters podcast aims to continue the show's legacy of demystifying retirement finances. From dissecting the latest financial news to offering personalized answers to listener questions, the goal of Money Matters is to keep you informed and empowered. Our focus? Providing clear, actionable advice without the financial jargon to help 1 million families retire sooner and happier. Join us in this exciting new chapter, and let's journey toward a financially secure and joyful retirement together.

  1. 1D AGO

    War, Oil, and Market Volatility: What Investors Should Understand Right Now

    Global headlines are colliding with markets—from geopolitical tension to rising oil and shifting labor trends. In this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Connor Miller break down what’s driving volatility and what investors may want to understand when evaluating long-term portfolio strategy. • Evaluate how geopolitical tensions and global conflict headlines may influence market volatility and investor sentiment. • Interpret the recent drop in the Dow, rising oil prices, and weaker jobs data to understand how multiple economic pressures can converge. • Analyze why the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical energy chokepoint and how oil supply disruptions may ripple through inflation and markets. • Review more than a century of historical market behavior following geopolitical conflicts to frame today’s headlines in context. • Assess how inflation, interest rates, and energy prices interact—and how those forces may influence Federal Reserve decisions. • Examine labor market shifts, layoffs, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the global workforce. • Clarify the narratives around the U.S. dollar, gold, and global currencies when evaluating claims of “de-dollarization.” • Recognize why diversification, disciplined investing, and understanding what you own may remain central to long-term portfolio construction. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast for context on today’s market headlines and the broader forces shaping investing decisions.

    53 min

  2. MAR 3

    Retirement Trade-Offs Explained: TSP vs. Rollover, 4% Rule, RMDs, Roth Conversions & High-Yield Bonds

    Retirement planning isn’t one decision—it’s a series of trade-offs shaped by rules, markets, and real life. In this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase address listener questions and frame timely retirement, tax, and investment topics in a balanced, long-term context designed to inform—not predict—financial outcomes. • Clarify how TSP protections, RMD rules, and post-retirement investment options interact, and compare staying in the TSP versus rolling to a provider when evaluating fees, Roth conversions, and flexibility. • Evaluate UTMA vs. UGMA accounts for children, including tax treatment, ownership control, and potential financial aid implications. • Reassess the 4% withdrawal rule of thumb, consider adjustments if you own your home outright, and apply the 25X framework when estimating retirement income needs. • Analyze high-yield bond ETFs within a diversified allocation by reviewing risk, yield characteristics, and how they differ from traditional bonds. • Examine whether keeping life insurance near retirement aligns with income protection, estate planning, or legacy objectives. • Explore what pursuing the CFP® designation may require and how a financial planning career path can take shape. Retirement strategy is built on thoughtful evaluation, disciplined allocation, and informed decision-making—not guarantees. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast for educational retirement planning, investment strategy, and wealth management discussions grounded in long-term perspective.

    36 min

  3. FEB 24

    AI, Ozempic, Market Highs And Rising Prices: What It Means For Retirement Planning

    Retirement planning isn’t happening in isolation—it’s intersecting with artificial intelligence, changing health trends, record market highs, and even rising grocery prices. In this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Connor Miller translate fast-moving headlines into balanced, long-term financial planning considerations designed to inform—not predict. • Assess how GLP-1 medications like Ozempic may be influencing workplace habits, health trends, and broader economic ripple effects. • Evaluate pronounced sector divergence in today’s market, including defensive leadership in energy, materials, and consumer staples, alongside lagging technology and financials. • Examine how artificial intelligence may be reshaping industries and workforce expectations, particularly for professionals nearing retirement. • Analyze research suggesting AI adoption may shift competitive advantages toward workers who effectively integrate emerging tools. • Consider how the $27.40 savings framework may help structure retirement contributions while working toward milestones such as building a $10,000 reserve. • Explore automated savings strategies and income-based contribution benchmarks that may support consistency over time. • Review research indicating that written retirement plans may be associated with higher reported levels of happiness and financial confidence. • Recognize behavioral and psychological hurdles retirees often face when determining when—and how—to step away from work. • Break down the economic forces behind rising steak and ground beef prices, including cattle supply constraints and inflation dynamics. • Interpret market behavior at all-time highs by understanding how bull markets have historically unfolded through repeated peaks. Markets evolve, technology advances, and headlines shift—but disciplined, long-term thinking remains foundational. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast for balanced financial education designed to provide perspective during an ever-changing economic landscape.

    35 min

  4. FEB 17

    AI, Jobs & The Fed: What Today’s Economic Shifts Could Mean for Investors

    Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, and recent labor market data has continued to show relative resilience. In this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd connect fast-moving headlines on AI, jobs, interest rates, and retirement research to long-term investment and planning considerations. • Evaluate how AI is influencing financial services, real estate, and software companies—and how rapid innovation may contribute to sector volatility. • Assess rising cybersecurity and data breach risks as automation expands, while recognizing the ongoing role of human trust in financial decision-making. • Analyze the latest U.S. employment and wage trends alongside consumer spending patterns to better understand current economic conditions. • Connect labor market strength to potential Federal Reserve rate decisions and their possible effects on equity and bond markets. • Examine research indicating that individuals with written retirement plans often report higher confidence and greater retirement satisfaction. • Consider how disciplined, long-term investing approaches have historically helped investors navigate changing market cycles. Stay informed with balanced insights designed to provide perspective—not predictions—during rapidly evolving economic conditions. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast to keep your investment and retirement planning conversations aligned with today’s shifting landscape.

    34 min

  5. FEB 10

    Markets in Motion: AI, the Fed, and Shifting Leadership Across Stocks, Crypto, and Media

    Markets seem to be shifting quickly as artificial intelligence, monetary policy discussion, and sector leadership evolve. In this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Connor Miller provide educational context around the economic and market topics shaping today’s financial conversation. • Review recent advances in artificial intelligence, including new OpenAI releases and the emergence of autonomous agent networks often referenced in productivity discussions. • Discuss recent market volatility alongside sharp movements in gold, silver, and Bitcoin amid ongoing questions surrounding Federal Reserve independence. • Examine the nomination of Kevin Warsh as a potential Federal Reserve chair and his past work with Ben Bernanke, including widely cited views on the Fed’s balance sheet. • Describe the challenges facing Software-as-a-Service companies as AI innovation raises questions around competition and margins. • Compare growth and value stocks using commonly referenced valuation metrics, dividend yields, and price characteristics. • Explain what Federal Reserve balance sheet normalization refers to and how it is commonly linked to conversations about interest rates, mortgages, and housing activity. • Explore the scale and economics of Super Bowl advertising and sports betting as examples of evolving consumer attention and media fragmentation. • Summarize research frequently cited in retirement planning discussions regarding written plans and reported retirement satisfaction. Big-picture context can matter when headlines move fast. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast for ongoing, educational conversations about markets, money, and retirement planning.

    36 min

  6. FEB 3

    Markets in Motion: Dividends, Inflation, and Retirement Planning

    As markets continue to shift, long-term retirement planning often demands clarity rather than reaction. In this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd provide economic and market context to help listeners interpret today’s financial headlines with perspective. • Analyze how recent S&P 500 performance, Federal Reserve decisions, and earnings results seem to be shaping market sentiment. • Interpret an airline’s move away from unassigned seating as a reflection of broader consumer behavior and industry competition. • Track U.S. dollar movements and their historical relationship to gold, silver, and international markets. • Review the current health of the U.S. economy, including consumer spending, housing trends, inflation, unemployment, and stimulus considerations heading toward 2026. • Define what qualifies companies as dividend aristocrats and why payout consistency and discipline matter. • Compare which everyday expenses have risen with inflation and which categories have stabilized or declined. • Examine historical data showing how dividends have often outpaced inflation and demonstrated resilience during past market downturns. • Explore how income-focused investing, diversified portfolios, and retirement withdrawal frameworks like the 4% rule of thumb are commonly discussed together. • Revisit personal retirement checklists to assess whether professional planning guidance aligns with individual circumstances. Listen to this episode for a context-driven discussion focused on markets, income, and retirement planning. Subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast to stay connected to thoughtful conversations that span market cycles and economic environments.

    33 min

  7. JAN 27

    Why Perspective Matters When Markets Get Loud

    Market volatility, global headlines, and policy uncertainty continue to shape how investors experience 2026. In this episode of the Money Matters Podcast, Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd focus on context, not commentary, to help listeners interpret today’s fast-moving financial narrative. • Frame rising investor anxiety amid market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, highlighted by global discussions at Davos. • Contextualize geopolitical developments—including Arctic defense strategy, Greenland, Venezuela, and Middle East tensions—and their influence on markets and sentiment. • Illustrate how rapid headline shifts, from escalation risk to de-escalation, can move markets and emotions within a single trading day. • Outline how fiscal and monetary forces—policy stimulus, liquidity measures, tax dynamics, and regulatory discussions—may be shaping 2026 economic expectations. • Evaluate the role of interest rates and upcoming Federal Reserve meetings in current market narratives. • Review market drawdowns and recoveries since 2020, reinforcing long-term perspective alongside recent volatility. • Emphasize discipline and zooming out as recurring themes when navigating short-term uncertainty. • Examine artificial intelligence discussions through the lens of productivity, workforce evolution, and economic impact. • Compare assets often associated with perceived stability, including gold, utilities, energy, and companies with durable business models. • Revisit historical dividend trends and their role in income-focused investment conversations. • Explain how frequent reaction to news and emotional decision-making have historically influenced investor outcomes, referencing DALBAR research. • Note every day financial changes—such as the end of new penny minting—and their practical implications. Markets will keep changing, but perspective remains essential. Listen and subscribe to the Money Matters Podcast to follow Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd as they provide structured, long-term context on the financial headlines shaping today’s investing conversations.

    33 min

  8. JAN 20

    From Wall Street to Youth Sports: Markets, Money, and Modern Costs

    Gain clear, educational perspective on today’s highly talked-about market, inflation, and household finance trends in this episode of the Money Matters Podcast. Wes Moss and Jeff Lloyd connect economic data, market history, and real-world stories to help listeners evaluate financial decisions through a long-term planning lens. • Review the start of earnings season and explain why early results from major banks are drawing attention. • Analyze the latest inflation data and discuss how current trends may affect everyday household expenses. • Clarify how small-cap, mid-cap, and mega-cap classifications are evolving amid growing market concentration. • Examine rising youth sports costs, proposed tax incentives, and why Congress seems increasingly focused on family affordability. Also, connect youth sports economics with personal stories involving travel teams, car repairs, and the changing balance between recreational and elite competition. • Define the concept of the “Tomorrow Investor” while exploring long-term shifts in middle-class wealth and saving behavior. • Highlight national championship ticket prices and how event costs can reflect broader inflation pressures. • Assess the impact of the recent Verizon outage and review typical customer compensation practices following service disruptions. • Compare asset class returns from 1928 through 2025, including inflation, cash, housing, bonds, gold, and U.S. stocks. • Evaluate historical S&P 500 drawdowns, bear markets, and how often market volatility has occurred over time. • Break down the latest U.S. inflation report and discuss why some indicators are described as a “Goldilocks” scenario. • Track changes in average 30-year mortgage rates and what rate movement may signal for homebuyers. • Monitor legislative proposals to cap credit card interest rates and their potential impact on consumer affordability discussions. • Survey improvements in inflation-adjusted income, household net worth, and changes in America’s class structure. • Illustrate long-term growth in U.S. productivity, S&P 500 values, and dividend trends using historical data. This episode emphasizes context over commentary by pairing market history with real-life financial experiences. **Listen and subscribe to the **Money Matters Podcast to stay informed on markets, inflation, and long-term financial decision-making.

    35 min
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4.5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Since its debut in 1992, Money Matters was created to deliver objective and timely financial advice on WSB, Atlanta's legendary, award-winning news/talk radio station. Now, in addition to airing weekly on WSB, Money Matters is available as a podcast, tailor-made for both modern retirees and those still in the planning stages. Hosted since 2009 by Wes Moss — CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, best-selling author, Forbes contributor, and managing partner at Capital Investment Advisors in Atlanta — and backed by the Retire Sooner Team, the Money Matters podcast aims to continue the show's legacy of demystifying retirement finances. From dissecting the latest financial news to offering personalized answers to listener questions, the goal of Money Matters is to keep you informed and empowered. Our focus? Providing clear, actionable advice without the financial jargon to help 1 million families retire sooner and happier. Join us in this exciting new chapter, and let's journey toward a financially secure and joyful retirement together.

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