Money Matters with Greg

Greg Farrall

Needing guidance on finances, or just curious about investments? Join CEO and Owner of Farrall Wealth, Greg Farrall, as he dives into all things relating to money and often interviews interesting people he is fortunate enough to call his friends. Thanks for listening! Please share, review, and subscribe! Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. 

  1. 6d ago

    Episode 193: July Volatility Survival Guide

    July was the kind of month that makes smart people do dumb things with their money. We felt the whipsaw firsthand: AI names getting hit hard, Treasury yields climbing to multi-year highs, oil ripping higher on renewed Middle East tension, and a Federal Reserve that holds rates steady while offering less guidance than investors are used to. Even when the S&P 500 ends only slightly lower, the day-to-day swings can make it feel far more painful, especially if you’re concentrated in one theme. We walk through the numbers that mattered and the ones that distract, including why we pay more attention to broader benchmarks like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq than the Dow. From the VIX jump to bond index weakness, the message is simple: markets do not go up every day, and volatility is part of the price of admission. Then we dig into the real lightning rod, AI investments. Corporate earnings raised fresh questions about massive data center and AI infrastructure spend, free cash flow pressure, and whether the return on investment will show up fast enough. We also explore how new developments like the open-weight Kimi K3 model from Moonshot AI could reshape expectations around AI costs, hardware demand, and data trust. From there, we connect the dots to oil prices, inflation sensitivity, Fed uncertainty under new leadership, and the reemergence of tariffs as another source of economic complexity. If you want a grounded July market recap plus a clear long-term investing playbook built around diversification and perspective, hit play, then subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review so more people can find it. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions voiced in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may suit you, consult the appropriate qualified professional before deciding.

  2. Jul 28

    AI Can Transform Markets But Investors Need Proof

    AI can feel like magic: download an app, type a prompt, and you get an answer that would have sounded like science fiction not long ago. But we don’t invest in “magic” we invest in real businesses with real costs, real supply chains, and real expectations baked into stock prices. That’s why we step back and look at AI through a clearer lens: the full AI value chain, from semiconductors and GPUs to data centers, software, and the companies trying to turn AI into measurable productivity gains. We walk through the two big compute phases that drive demand, training and inference, and why that matters for chip makers, cloud capacity, and the massive buildout of data center infrastructure. We also talk about why the market can swing so hard around AI-related stocks: new facilities take time to build, models may become more efficient, and investors keep asking whether hundreds of billions in AI spending will earn sufficient returns. Along the way, we connect today’s uncertainty to familiar market history, including dot-com era lessons about valuation, execution, and how long it can take for a new technology to translate into durable profits. Finally, we bring it back to practical investing. Valuations are not a crystal ball, but they can help us choose an appropriate mix of assets, stay diversified, and keep our focus on long-term financial goals and legacy planning. If you want a smarter way to think about AI investing beyond the headlines, hit play, then subscribe, share the show, and leave a review so more people can find it. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions voiced in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may suit you, consult the appropriate qualified professional before deciding.

  3. Jul 14

    Episode 191: What Happens When Space Becomes Infrastructure

    Space is quietly becoming the backbone of modern life, and most of us only notice it when something breaks. We sit down with Matt Voss, President of Near Space Launch in Upland, Indiana, to unpack how the small-satellite revolution is changing the cost of building, testing, and launching real hardware into orbit. From CubeSats to rapid prototyping, we talk about why the “new space” era looks more like manufacturing and iteration than slow, custom, one-off missions. We also get practical about what satellites actually do for people on the ground and how they can help everyday people save money. Matt connects space technology to critical infrastructure such as GPS and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), as well as improved weather forecasting, wildfire detection, and disaster communications that can reconnect communities when terrestrial networks go down. We dig into why constellations are a big deal, how low Earth orbit and very low Earth orbit (VLEO) open new opportunities for data, and why “space weather” and atmospheric effects matter more than most people realize. One of the most inspiring parts of the conversation is education. Near Space Launch’s student-focused programs show how STEM education, space camps, and hands-on clean room work can move from theory to a full build-to-launch-to-data cycle in about a year, so students can learn fast and see outcomes before they graduate. If you want a clearer view of the space economy, small satellite manufacturing, and the real-world benefits of space infrastructure, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review telling us what topic you want next. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions voiced in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may suit you, consult the appropriate qualified professional before deciding.

  4. Jul 8

    Midyear Market Checkup For Long-Term Investors

    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, including the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow, then contrast that strength with the frustration many bond investors feel as the US Aggregate Bond Index lags. From there, we connect the dots on key drivers people ask us about every day: Treasury yields, the Federal Reserve holding rates steady, the business cycle that began in the pandemic era, and why consumer sentiment can look gloomy even while spending stays resilient. We also tackle the stories behind the volatility. Oil spikes and pullbacks tied to the Iran conflict feed directly into inflation prints like CPI, while measures like the VIX show how quickly fear can fade. On opportunity and risk, we discuss the wave of IPO attention, including SpaceX and anticipated AI-related listings, plus what high stock valuations really mean when earnings are strong. We close with a hard truth about “cash on the sidelines”: cash feels safe, but after inflation, purchasing power can quietly erode. Subscribe for more real-world investing guidance, share the episode with a friend who is stressed about markets, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions voiced in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may suit you, consult the appropriate qualified professional before deciding.

  5. Jul 1

    Estate Planning That Actually Works

    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 tax surprises when life changes fast. We start with the basics many people still skip: a last will and testament, a medical power of attorney, and a living will. From there, we lay out the three questions that shape every strong plan: what assets are being transferred, to whom, and when. That framework makes it easier to spot where complexity hides, especially with real estate, closely held business interests, and alternative investments that are hard to value or split. Then we get into strategy. We talk lifetime gifting and how annual exclusions can help move value over time, including the 2026 annual gift tax exclusion numbers. For higher net worth families, we discuss advanced estate planning tools like irrevocable trusts and grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs). If charitable giving is part of your legacy, we cover charitable remainder trusts (CRTs) and donor-advised funds (DAFs), including how they can fit into capital gains and philanthropy goals. Business owners get a dedicated segment on continuity and liquidity: buy-sell agreements, key person life insurance, and family limited partnerships (FLPs) that can help transfer ownership while retaining control. We close with the big takeaway: estate planning is a living, breathing process that must adjust as your family grows and tax laws change. Subscribe, share the show with someone who needs a nudge to get their plan in place, and leave us a review with the one estate planning question you want answered next. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions voiced in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may suit you, consult the appropriate qualified professional before deciding.

  6. Jun 24

    What A Quieter Federal Reserve Could Mean For Your Rates

    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 investing. We walk through two Fed eras, starting with Alan Greenspan’s legacy and the old world of “Fed speak,” where markets often had to infer policy moves. Then we track how the Fed evolved into today’s high-transparency model with statements, press conferences, dot plots, and forward guidance, especially after the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 crisis. From there, we get practical: new Chair Kevin Warsh shortens the Fed statement, removes forward guidance, skips submitting his own forecast, and launches five working groups covering communications, data, the inflation framework, AI and technology, and the Fed’s balance sheet. We also connect the dots to real-life money decisions. We talk inflation pressures, how energy prices and uncertainty can influence rate expectations, and why the Fed’s balance sheet and quantitative tightening can affect bond prices, mortgage rates, and corporate borrowing costs. Finally, we bring it back to what matters most: keeping a steady portfolio and a clear financial plan when the Fed’s playbook shifts. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can learn how to make their money work smarter. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions voiced in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may suit you, consult the appropriate qualified professional before deciding.   Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions voiced in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may suit you, consult the appropriate qualified professional before deciding.

  7. May 26

    Are You Planning For Health Costs Or Guessing

    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 start with the basics that trip people up: Medicare vs Medicaid, when your Medicare effective date begins, and how enrollment works if you are or are not already taking Social Security. Then we zoom out to the real-world problem we see constantly in financial planning: retiring early at 62 or 63 and getting hammered by health insurance premiums. We compare COBRA to Affordable Care Act marketplace plans on Healthcare.gov, including how provider networks can limit out-of-state care and why “Affordable” often depends on your modified adjusted gross income. From there, we get into the details that matter for your budget: Medicare Part A and Part B, how Part B premiums are set, and how IRMAA income surcharges can raise both Part B and Part D costs for higher earners. Paul explains why Medicare Supplement Plan G is often the strongest, most predictable coverage, what Indiana’s new Birthday Rule means for switching supplement companies without medical underwriting, and why Part D prescription drug coverage is worth enrolling in on time to avoid lifetime penalties. We also break down Medicare Advantage plans, including the tradeoffs behind $0 premium plans, network rules, copays, and hospital costs up to the annual out-of-pocket maximum. If you want a practical roadmap for Medicare enrollment, Medicare supplement vs Medicare Advantage, and retirement health insurance planning, this conversation will save you time and money. Subscribe, share this with someone turning 65, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions voiced in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may suit you, consult the appropriate qualified professional before deciding.

  8. May 7

    Decoding Financial Advisor Credentials

    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 with the basics that often get skipped: the licensing and regulatory foundation. We talk through what it means to pass key securities exams like the Series 7 and the Series 65/66, why firms treat them as non-negotiable, and how that connects to an advisor’s ability to discuss stocks, mutual funds, and investment strategy. Then we untangle two names that sound similar but do very different jobs: FINRA as the watchdog that enforces rules and oversight, and SIPC as protection designed to help customers recover assets if a brokerage firm fails. If you remember the fear of 2008, you’ll recognize why that distinction still matters for investor confidence today. From there, we get into the “why” behind continuing education and fiduciary training. I explain what the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) designation teaches about putting client interests first through a documented investment process, and what earning the AIFA adds for consulting with 401(k) plan sponsors. We also walk through retirement plan focused credentials and wealth strategy training that support high net worth planning, plan governance, and the kind of structure that holds up under scrutiny. If you want a clearer way to evaluate a financial advisor, share this with a friend, subscribe, and leave a review. What credential or financial term do you want us to decode next? Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. The opinions voiced in this podcast are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may suit you, consult the appropriate qualified professional before deciding.

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About

Needing guidance on finances, or just curious about investments? Join CEO and Owner of Farrall Wealth, Greg Farrall, as he dives into all things relating to money and often interviews interesting people he is fortunate enough to call his friends. Thanks for listening! Please share, review, and subscribe! Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC.