The Momentous Wealth Podcast

In this episode, we're joined by special guest Nathan Sanow for an honest, insightful conversation on long-term care—what it is, why it matters, and why having a plan before you need it is one of the smartest financial decisions you can make. If you're in your 40s or 50s and haven't thought much about this yet, this episode is your wake-up call. We break down the myths, the costs, and the key considerations to help you start the conversation with confidence.

The Momentous Wealth Podcast with Todd PisarczykIn Part 2 of our market volatility series, we're shifting the focus to investors who are nearing or already in retirement. Todd walks through what we call the Buckets of Money approach—a practical framework we use at Momentous Wealth to help clients maintain a long-term perspective, even when it feels like time horizons are shrinking.When markets are unpredictable, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. This episode breaks down how segmenting your assets into strategic “buckets” can provide clarity, reduce emotional decision-making, and ensure your retirement plan stays on track—regardless of short-term market noise.If you're thinking about how to invest more intentionally as you approach retirement, this one's for you.

The Momentous Wealth Podcast with Todd Pisarczyk.2025 has been a volatile year for the markets, and at Momentous Wealth, we know that uncertainty can raise a lot of questions for investors. In this two-part series, we're breaking down timely strategies to help you stay grounded and make confident decisions in a shifting landscape.In Part 1, Todd dives into the power of diversification. While it's not a new concept, we look at why it may be more important than ever right now. We'll share some data that highlights its effectiveness, explore why market timing rarely delivers long-term value—or peace of mind—and revisit the impact of tariffs back in 2018 to better understand what today's headlines might mean for your portfolio.Whether you're a busy professional or enjoying your retirement and trying to make sense of the noise, this episode is designed to help you stay focused on what really matters.

Welcome to a pivotal decade! In this episode, we dive into the crucial strategies every investor in their 40s needs to master. Whether you're a business owner looking to maximize your wealth or a professional navigating career shifts, we'll cover the essential moves to grow and protect your nest egg. Discover how to leverage your peak earning years, craft a tax-savvy investment plan, and build multiple income streams for financial freedom. It's time to take charge of your financial future and turn today's decisions into tomorrow's success. Let's unlock the secrets to building lasting wealth.  

We all know saving for the future is important, but how do you balance that with living your best life right now? In this episode, Todd sits down with special guest Linde Carroll, CFP and co-owner of Momentous Wealth Management, to unpack this very question. Together, they explore practical strategies for managing your money in a way that aligns with your goals and values. How much should you save? How much do you really need? And most importantly, how can you approach saving in a way that reduces stress and anxiety about your financial future? Many of our clients are business owners and busy professionals juggling packed schedules and big aspirations. They want to secure their financial future but also create meaningful experiences for their families today. If you've ever wondered how to allocate your resources between saving for tomorrow and enjoying the present, this episode is for you.

In this “emergency episode,” we break down what you need to know about the Federal Reserve's latest move to lower interest rates.  We give several actionable tips along with information about real-life impacts and the typical reaction of the stock market during rate-cut cycles.  The historical performance data we provided for the S&P 500 in response to Federal Reserve rate cut cycles were from a variety of sources: 1 Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) 2 S&P 500 Historical Returns – Data was cross-referenced from the S&P 500 index performance archives available through financial databases such as Yahoo Finance and historical market data services like Bloomberg. 3 The Wall Street Journal

It goes by many names, including Seperately Managed Accounts, SMAs, Custom Indexing, Personalized Investing, and more. But no matter what you call it, we have to take notice of the growing popularity of this investment vehicle.  According to data from The Cerulli Edge, SMA assets under management grew from $951 billion to $2.1 trillion from 2017-2023.  In this episode, Todd and Nik discuss some of the main benefits of SMAs, who they might be good for, and how they have used them in their own practice for their clients. 

In this episode, Todd sits down with special guest, Ryland Puzzitiello, Regional Director at Dimensional Fund Advisors. Dimensional Funds is one of the world's leading Mutual Fund and ETF providers with over $740 billion under management (as of June 30, 2024). They were one of the pioneers of the Evidence Based Investing approach. Todd and Ryland discuss what evidence based investing is and its potential benefit to investors.

This week's episode is a solo episode hosted by Nik Miner about the potential rollback of the current tax laws. As it currently stands, the tax law changes that were implemented in 2017 are set to end (aka "sunset") at the end of 2025. Nik will be discussing what these changes would bring and how you can start to think about planning your finances accordingly. This is a 2-part mini-series that will be concluded later in the year by Linde Carroll. 

According to data from Bloomberg and Charles Schwab, as of July 16th, 2024, the top 10 companies in the S&P 500 now account for over 38% of the index. This type of concentration has not been seen since the 1970's, when the top 10 companies accounted for around 35% of the index. Much of this has to do with the continued growth of the "Magnificent 7". In this episode, Todd and Nik discuss what this means for investors and if this may be a good or bad thing for markets moving forward. They also share some interesting stats on markets for the first half of 2024.

How much should you keep in cash is a very common question we get from clients. With the significant rise in interest rates we have seeing over the last several years investors now have more attractive options for earning interest on their savings than they have in while. In this episode, Todd and Nik discuss the factors you might consider when trying to decide how much to keep in cash and what types of accounts you might consider for the cash.

In this episode, Todd and Nik discuss the topic of the national debt and its potential long-term impacts on the economy and financial markets. Check out the article mentioned in this episode: https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/deficits-debt-and-markets-myths-vs-realities

Recently the Wall Journal published an article saying the new “magic number” one most have saved in order to retire is $1.46 million.  In this episode Nik and Todd attempt to dissect the reasoning behind the number, how applicable numbers like this are, and how to determine what your “magic number” might be in order to retire.  Check out the article mentioned in this episode: https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/beyond-4-rule-how-much-can-you-spend-retirement

In this episode, Todd sits down with Rick Campfield to discuss how to plan for a successful business transition. Todd even gets some advice on his own situation for the time when he starts to consider when it may be appropriate to begin planning his exit strategy. Rick lays out a framework for businesses to help create health and wealth which is meant to ensure a smooth sale or transition when the time comes for your business, but is also great information no matter what stage of the business lifecycle you may be in. The framework is built on “The Five C's” - Communication, Culture, Clarity, Cash, and Counsel. Rick Campfield has over 38 years of experience in the roles of CEO and consultant, working with businesses of all shapes and sizes. Rick now specializes in working with companies planning a transition planning for family and co-owned businesses. You can find Rick and his amazing resources at www.rickcampfield.com

Todd and Nik return for the second episode in a 2-part series tackling the do's and don't of successful investing. This week's episode highlights the importance of focusing on the elements of investing that are controllable. These 5 tips will keep you on the right financial track in a world inundated by excess information and commentary. Click this link for an article mentioned in this episode: Putting a value on your value: Quantifying Vanguard Advisor's Alpha

Today Todd and Nik discuss three common mistakes investors make and potential pitfalls you should avoid as investor. This is episode one of a two part series where we discuss “what not to do,” and in our next episode we will discuss “what to do”. Link to an article mentioned in the podcast: Three Common Investing Mistakes

In this episode host Todd Pisarczyk and special guest Linde Carroll, CFP discuss how election years have historically impacted financial markets. 2024 will bring not only a US Presidential Election, but it has been called “Electionpalooza” as 76 countries around the world are holding elections as well.

As we turn the calendar year to 2024 Todd and Nik discuss the potential longer term “seasonal” outlook for stocks, interest rates, and the economy. What investors experienced in markets and the economy since 2009 has been abnormal for many reasons. Will 2024 bring a change in the seasons and a return to a more normal economic environment? If that does occur what does normal look like? Check out the articles and sites mentioned in this episode: https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/say-goodbyeto-great-moderation#:~:text=A%20return%20to%20the%20Great,%2C%20economic%2C%20and%20geopolitical%20landscape. https://www.bls.gov/

In this episode Todd and Nik discuss tips and ideas for teaching your children about budgeting, savings, and investing. They also discuss their own experience and exposure to the world of finance as teenagers and Todd shares some practical tips he has used with his own family to help them become more financially aware. For more information on Momentous Wealth Management, visit our website: www.momentouswealth.com

Interest rates in the US have gone up substantially over the past two years making investments like bonds and other “fixed income” investments more attractive than they have been for a long time. In this episode Todd and Nik break down the bond market, how bonds work, and how they may fit in your portfolio. In this episode we mention data from the Federal Reserve website, and Nerd Wallet. https://www.federalreserve.gov https://www.nerdwallet.com/

AI is all over the news now, but what is it, and how can we invest in it? Sources: What is AI: https://www.hcltech.com/blogs/artificial-intelligence-defined-simple-terms Washington Wise podcast from Charles Schwab: https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/artificial-intelligence-investor-considerations https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/artificial-intelligence-power-and-perils https://www.morganstanley.com/im/en-us/individual-investor/insights/articles/compounding-through-the-hype.html

Investors have likely heard many times over the years that is very hard to “time the market.” With the recent volatility in the market – and the potential for markets to remain volatile with an upcoming election year – geopolitical uncertainty, and the Federal Reserve's continued battle with inflation, what CAN investors do to potentially help them increase their returns? What are some strategies we feel are effective over the long term?

Today Nik & Todd talk about five different strategies to maximize your charitable giving.

Today we talk about the capital gains tax coming soon to residents of Washington State.

Today we are talking about the yield curve. What is a yield curve, what are the different types of yield curve, and what does a yield curve predict?

Today we hear about the state of the real estate market from Jeff Walters.

We're addressing the concept of recessions again, as talk of a current recession is still out there! Today we'll answer some commonly asked questions and concerns that investors may have when it comes to the US's current financial state. Thanks again for tuning in!

Today, Todd Pisarczyk and Nik Miner will discuss the current state of the US dollar - where it's headed, how it looks compared to other currencies in today's market, and how we should approach the value of our dollar. Thanks for tuning in!

Hey everybody! We're so excited to have reached 30 episodes us Sustainable Conversations - thank you for supporting us! Today, Nik Miner will be reviewing the United States debt situation and addressing potential concerns. We hope you enjoy!

Are you wondering about changes to the Social Security system and budget? Nik Miner and Taylor Vilhauer are here to answer all of your questions. Tune in to learn about the current situation with Social Security and as always, thank you for supporting our podcast!

Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Maria Quinn, a representative of Vanguard, about the quantifiable impact that working with an advisor can have on personal investors' finances. Vanguard has done a number of studies on this topic, and Maria goes deeper into how these studies were conducted and what they mean. Please contact Sustainable Wealth Management for copies of any of the sources which Maria or Nik mentioned in the podcast.

Welcome back to the show! In this episode, Todd Pisarczyk and Nik Miner will examine the difference between how your assets are protected at banks and brokerage firms, and the main differences between the two.

Welcome back to Sustainable Conversations! Today, Nik Miner discusses the implications of the newly introduced Secure 2 Act; following the previous Secure Act. This makes drastic changes to the 401k contributions structure and other retirement planning in businesses. Thank you for listening!

We're back! This week, we'll be breaking down the complexities of indexes. In the market, indexes can be a confusing topic to wrap your head around, but Todd and Nik do a wonderful job speaking on the current market climate, the rise of ESG investing, and of course, what index investing looks like today. Thank you for tuning in!

Listen to Todd Pisarczyk's latest take on the condition of the markets and financial wellness in the last few months. (Recorded November 24th)

On this week's episode, we'll be discussing the new and highly discussed concept of Web3 - specifically NFT (Non-Fungible Tokens) and the Metaverse. We'll hear the expertise of our special guest Mason Bertrand as well as a professional take by Todd Pisarczyk about the implications of Web3 on the investment and financial planning sphere. Enjoy!

On today's episode, we'll be talking with Taylor Vilhauer and special guest Abe Lodwick about interest rates and how they affect both the mortgage business and financial planning. Abe, a mortgage loan officer, will be giving us his insight on the situation from the perspective of someone in his business. Thank you again for tuning in, we hope you enjoy!

This is an upload from a few months ago, when questions about the US going into a recession arose. We'll be discussing the subject with Todd Pisarczyk, as he illustrates his opinion and experiences with recessions and the possibility of one in the future.

We've hit 20 episodes! Thank you to everyone who's listened along with us. Today we'll be breaking down the different types of Mutual Funds - how to invest in them, how they're looking on today's market, and what they can do for YOU!

Guess what - we have 2 guests today! This week we'll discuss the ins and outs of behavioral finance, how to control your behavior when it comes to investing, and what to do if emotions get in the way. We understand that emotions can play a huge part in our money, so tune in to hear what Todd Pisarczyk and Taylor Vilhauer have to say on the matter!

Let's talk about bonds! They've always been here, but who really knows what they are and how they work? Tune into Sustainable Conversations to finally get an accurate breakdown of the alternative side of investing - bonds.

Tune in this week to hear SWM's take on the Fed raising interest rates. It's a controversial topic, but we'd love to break it down for you!

With the recent controversy in Russia, how will the US stock market respond? If you're wondering this very question, tune in to hear what Todd Pisarczyk has to say.

The market is at a record high! - but sit tight! This episode of Sustainable Conversations will give you a unique look at the climbing stock market through the eyes of long-time financial advisor, Todd Pisarczyk. We hope you enjoy!

Educate yourself on the difference between trading and investing with Todd Pisarczyk! Today, Todd will teach you how you can make yourself a more effective trader and investor, and will explain the extent of these two practices. Enjoy, and have a great week!

Have you ever worried about inflation in our currency? In this week's episode, we will break down the concept of inflation, how it has affected the stock market, and most importantly, how it may affect YOU. Tune in to hear some insight into this hotly debated topic! sources: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/inflation.asp

In this episode, we will teach YOU about ESG Investing. If you want to learn about what ESG investing is, how to use it, and why others have adapted this style of investing, you've come to the right place. We hope you enjoy listening to our podcast as much as we do making it! Sources: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/environmental-social-and-governance-esg-criteria.asp https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/types-of-stocks/esg-investing/ ESG and financial performance: aggregated evidence from more than 2000 empirical studies (tandfonline.com)

In the world of investing, PE Ratios can often be talked about, but not clearly defined. Learn about how PE Ratios can help you be a smarter investor and help you analyze stocks in a whole new way! You'll be getting honest information about the drawbacks and benefits of PE Ratios, along with when to use them, and when to not use them. Enjoy, and happy investing!

Today, we have Linde Carroll with us again to talk about women in investing. Hear Linde talk about what it means to be a woman in the market, disadvantages women may have, and advantages that they may have. Thanks for tuning in!

Today, (recorded on November 10) we will be talking about what the markets look like now that the election is official. We will take a look at how the market is behaving, what we should do as investors, and how to handle the situation properly.

Tune in to hear one of our financial advisor's, Justin Curtiss, talk about life insurance: what it is, how it relates to day to day life, and how it may apply to you!