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. 3h ago

    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.

    29 min

  2. 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.

    27 min

  3. 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.

    24 min

  4. 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.

    29 min

  5. 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.

    25 min

  6. Apr 28

    Episode 183: Fed Speak and Are You Building Wealth Or Just Staying Busy?

    The Fed may not cut rates tomorrow, but your portfolio can still feel every word Jerome Powell says. We walk through what’s happening in markets right now including earnings chatter, oil price volatility, and why geopolitics has been dominating investor attention. Then we narrow the focus to the FOMC setup: what a “no change” decision could mean, why forward guidance matters, and the specific parts of the Fed statement that hint at whether rate cuts stay on the table. I also lay out the two paths markets are bracing for. A steady, consistent message could bring a modest relief rally. A more hawkish tone tied to inflation pressures and energy prices could spark a sharper drop and shift leadership away from cyclical sectors, with defensive areas like utilities, staples, and health care holding up better. If you’ve ever felt lost translating Fed speak into real-world decisions, this gives you a clean checklist for what to watch. Then we switch gears into a practical “top 10” set of investing and personal finance rules you can actually use: the 1% housing maintenance rule, the 28% mortgage rule, a simple way to estimate passive income using a 4% yield, the Rule of 72 for compounding, the 4% retirement rule, the 50/30/20 budget, building a three-to-six-month emergency fund, and the habit that ties it all together: pay yourself first. Subscribe, share the episode with someone who worries about rates, and leave a review so more people can find smarter, calmer money advice. 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.

    31 min

  7. Apr 15

    Episode 182: Seven Straight Up Days For Stocks With Two Red Flags

    Seven up days in a row for stocks can make the world feel suddenly calmer but the market rarely gives a single, clean signal. I walk through what’s powering the recent S&P 500 rebound, from ceasefire negotiations to better than feared inflation data and early Q1 earnings strength from major banks and household names. Then I slow it down and ask the question serious investors have to ask: are other asset classes confirming the rally? We look at why elevated oil prices and higher Treasury yields can contradict a bullish stock move, and what that tension can mean for interest rates, consumer spending, and the broader market outlook. I also share a simple way to filter “real news” that changes fundamentals from emotional noise that only drives whiplash. Because the calendar matters too, I close with Tax Day thoughts and practical tax planning reminders, including why it pays to coordinate your financial advisor, CPA, and tax attorney if you want to minimize taxes legally and keep your plan aligned with your values. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review with the one market indicator you’re watching most right now. 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.

    21 min

  8. Apr 8

    Episode 181: How To File IRS Form 4547 For A Newborn Trump Account Before April 15

    A newborn could qualify for a $1,000 head start but only if you handle the paperwork on time. We walk through the practical steps behind “Trump Accounts,” including the April 15 tax deadline, what details you need on hand, and how IRS Form 4547 fits into getting the account set up for a child or grandchild. If you’re a parent, grandparent, or you simply know someone with a baby born in 2025, this is the kind of money move that’s easy to miss and frustrating to learn about too late. Then we switch gears to the markets, because the last few weeks have been a roller coaster. I break down how the U.S. Iran ceasefire news hit oil prices and why stocks rallied fast, and I explain what that reaction can reveal about expectations already baked into prices. We also talk about why a single headline doesn’t “fix” volatility, especially when negotiations stay tense and energy markets carry a lingering risk premium. To make this useful for real world investing, we connect the dots to inflation and Federal Reserve policy, including how commodity spikes can keep interest rates higher for longer. I also flag pressure points I’m watching closely, like private credit liquidity limits and AI stock anxiety as investors demand results. We end with a disciplined, trend focused framework and research themes like nuclear energy, the power grid, and data center infrastructure that support long term AI growth. Subscribe, share the episode with a new parent, and leave a review if it helps you think more clearly about your next financial decision. 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.

    25 min
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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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Greg Farrall
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    102
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Money Matters with Greg
  • Show Website
    Money Matters with Greg