The Higher Standard

The podcast covers topics such as Jerome Powell's threats concerning inflation, Zillow's questionable 1% down payment program, and the potential destruction of the housing market. They also discuss the impact of low mortgage rates on the housing market, the frustration with the Fed's decision-making process, and UFC fighter Israel Arasanya's fashion choices as a form of self-expression.

After wasting an hour eating Chick-fil-A, the boys are off to a slow start this episode.  Maybe it was the unnecessary amounts of sodium.  After gaining some traction and coming out of a food coma, Chris dives in to the ideology of a “rolling recession” and what this could mean for you.  They pivot in to an interesting Yahoo! Finance article on the American retailers and restaurants that are bracing for the impact of student loan payments restarting.  Many of these topics we have all covered together before; however, there is more data and probable impacts that can be seen in the economy that should not be ignored.  Chris and Saied navigate through 30-year mortgage rate and mortgage application charts suggesting that the trending is indicative of recessionary stress.  And finally, you all get to hear the coughing that Haroon does behind the scenes which we edit out for your audio pleasure. Resources:The experience-hungry American consumer is already crashing the economy into a ‘rolling recession,’ Oxford Economics says (Fortune)America's retailers and restaurants brace for a shock from student loan payments (Yahoo! Finance)US 30-year mortgage rate soars to highest since 2000 (Reuters)S&P just downgraded some big banks. Here are the 5 that are impacted (Yahoo! Finance)Powell Is Using Jackson Hole as Final Push in Inflation Fight (Yahoo! Finance)Home sales fall again in July, as supply drops to near quarter-century low (CNBC)Disclaimer: Please note that the content shared on this show is solely for entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal or investment advice or attributed to any company. The views and opinions expressed are personal and not reflective of any entity. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, and listeners are urged to seek professional advice before making any legal or financial decisions. By listening to The Higher Standard podcast you agree to these terms, and the show, its hosts and employees are not liable for any consequences arising from your use of the content.

Business loans, also known as “Commercial and Industrial” lending is shifting as the landscape of the economy pivots.  The boys break down what you need to know and what this means for you.  They spend some time on the generational differences in the expectation of workers as they dive in to a CNBC article that states “American workers are demanding almost $80,000 a year to take a new job.”  In what is arguably the world’s worst segue they jump in to the car market and some of the changes the industry is experiencing that are early indicators of strain on the consumer.  Chris provides a colorful backstory on the never-ending “beef” between Nouriel Roubini and CZ.  Saied awkwardly forces in an unnecessary article on mortgage rates to cap the show and Haroon fumbles the audio, but blames it on the “inter-webs.”  We also got a new, spectacular review.  We appreciate every single one, so much.  Thank you!  Also, if you haven’t, we are not friends.  No pressure….Resources:Commercial and industrial lending falls again this week, but lending by small banks is up (Market Watch)American workers are demanding almost $80,000 a year to take a new job (CNBC)Car Prices Might Be Unsustainable for Buyers (Wall Street Journal)How to Get Rich and Famous From a Stock Market Crash (Wall Street Journal)Mortgage rates hit their highest point since 2000 (CNBC)Toronto Mortgage Rates 1981 (Instagram)Disclaimer: Please note that the content shared on this show is solely for entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal or investment advice or attributed to any company. The views and opinions expressed are personal and not reflective of any entity. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, and listeners are urged to seek professional advice before making any legal or financial decisions. By listening to The Higher Standard podcast you agree to these terms, and the show, its hosts and employees are not liable for any consequences arising from your use of the content.

Well, damn it, mortgage rates just hit their highest level in 21 years and Chris, Saied and Haroon are here to tell you why.  Spoiler alert, they think the yield curve inversion has something to do with it and that the 10-year treasury has more to move up before the end of the year signaling 8% to end the year for mortgage rates as a possibility.  The Fed dropped their minutes where some of the FOMC members were apparently quoted as suggesting that another 25bps increase may be necessary; however, our Chief Economist is declaring shenanigans.  Chris pops off on real estate company Compass and apparently Janet Yellen micro-doses mushrooms when she visits China. Resources:Mortgage Rates Just Hit Highest Level In 21 Years (Forbes)Mortgage rates could hit 8%, economists say, citing a worrying sign not seen since the Great Recession (Market Watch)Fed officials see ‘upside risks’ to inflation possibly leading to more rate hikes, minutes show (CNBC)Unpaid commissions key ingredient in Compass’ cash-flow positivity (The Real Deal)Did Janet Yellen Accidentally Eat Psychedelics In China? What To Know About The Sold-Out Dish Cooked With Hallucinogenic Mushrooms (Forbes)Here's when the San Francisco Fed expects households to run out of COVID-era extra savings (Morning Star)Fed Saw ‘Significant’ Inflation Risk That May Merit More Hikes (Bloomberg)How Severe Is the Housing Shortage? It Depends on How You Define ‘Shortage’  (Wall Street Journal)Wall Street Is Ready to Scoop Up Commercial Real Estate on the Cheap (Wall Street Journal)Disclaimer: Please note that the content shared on this show is solely for entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal or investment advice or attributed to any company. The views and opinions expressed are personal and not reflective of any entity. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, and listeners are urged to seek professional advice before making any legal or financial decisions. By listening to The Higher Standard podcast you agree to these terms, and the show, its hosts and employees are not liable for any consequences arising from your use of the content.

In this captivating episode, we dive into the extraordinary life of Larry Wheels, a remarkable individual who's not only conquered the realms of bodybuilding, powerlifting, strongman and arm wrestling but has also taken the social media world by storm. Larry opens up about his journey, from being a teenage powerlifting prodigy to evolving into a multifaceted entertainer, influencer, and budding entrepreneur. In this hour-long interview, we explore Larry's candid reflections on his early use of performance-enhancing substances, shedding light on the challenges and lessons learned. As he shares his experiences, Larry also imparts invaluable wisdom for aspiring youth looking up to him, highlighting the importance of making informed decisions. The episode kicks off with Larry discussing his recent hospitalization due to a health scare involving Rhabdomyolysis, offering a raw and real glimpse into his life beyond the spotlight. Tune in for a conversation that goes beyond the surface, aiming to inspire and educate on "The Higher Standard." Also, please note, Saied was on vacation and only Chris and Haroon were present for the interview. Saied is still very salty about it, please don't mention it to him. This is our secret. Larry's Links:Larry Wheels WebsiteLarry's YouTube Channel Larry's InstagramLarry's Threads Larry's FacebookLarry's TwitterLarry's TikTokLarry's SnapchatLarry's Brands:PR LifestylePump & Power Meal PrepTranscend CompanyDisclaimer: Please note that the content shared on this show is solely for entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal or investment advice or attributed to any company. The views and opinions expressed are personal and not reflective of any entity. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, and listeners are urged to seek professional advice before making any legal or financial decisions. By listening to The Higher Standard podcast you agree to these terms, and the show, its hosts and employees are not liable for any consequences arising from your use of the content.

Episode 167 is here and, spoiler alert, it is not the promised Larry Wheels episode.  Not to worry, that episode will drop in the days to come.  In the meantime, please place all tray tables and setbacks in their locked and upright positions as the boys take you along on their fantastical journey of this sexy Tuesday’s financial literacy.  This episode will give you a robust review of the impacts of the looming student loan repayment restarting post-pandemic, a deeper dive in to the average consumer credit card debt and what this means for the creation of wealth for generations to come.  Chris says that while he does not want a recession, he is more scared of what happens to this country if we do not have one.  While carefully navigating a small political discussion, the boys breakdown what could lead to the “smashing” of the middle-class.  Of course, there is no better way to cap the show off than by basking in the tragic comedy that is the now infamous SBF’s most recent debacle.Resources:When student loan payments resume, 56% of borrowers say they’ll have to choose between their debt and buying groceries (CNBC)Average consumer carries $5,947 in credit card debt — a 10-year high (CNBC)Only 16% of Californians Can Afford to Buy a Home (Bloomberg)Are You Rich? (Bloomberg)Americans are moving further away for affordable homes and 'grandbabies' (Yahoo! Finance)Judge Sends FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried to Jail Ahead of Fraud Trial (Wall Street Journal)Disclaimer: Please note that the content shared on this show is solely for entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal or investment advice or attributed to any company. The views and opinions expressed are personal and not reflective of any entity. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, and listeners are urged to seek professional advice before making any legal or financial decisions. By listening to The Higher Standard podcast you agree to these terms, and the show, its hosts and employees are not liable for any consequences arising from your use of the content.

The boys are finally back together again.  Haroon has welcomed the birth of his second daughter and Saied is back from his family’s Hawaiian vacation.  To start the show Chris, Saied and Haroon wanted to emphasize their thoughts and prayers are with the people of Maui who have been impacted by this tragic and devastating fire.  After which, they jump in to Ray Dalio’s interesting recession perspective.  Saied gives a complete rundown of July’s inflation numbers and Chris continues to declare that the JOLTs report is manipulated and can’t be trusted.  Something interesting is happening in Minneapolis, home prices hit a record high in 60% of U.S. markets and credit card debt hits a record high at $1 trillion dollars.  Then, despite Chris thinking that asking for reviews was a colossal waste of time, we got several new amazing honest five star reviews.  This of course continues to prove that 50% of the time Chris is wrong, every time. Resources:Billionaire investor Ray Dalio says the Fed’s measures haven’t slowed consumers down, and the government is paying the price (Fortune)July CPI report shows inflation gauge rose 3.2%, less than expected (CNBC)US economy adds 187,000 July jobs in sign labor market is cooling (The Guardian)First American City to Tame Inflation Owes Its Success to Affordable Housing (Bloomberg)Home prices hit record highs in 60% of U.S. markets (CNBC)Rental housing cost rises to ‘slow significantly’ over next 18 months, Fed researchers say (Market Watch)Credit card debt hits a record high at $1 trillion, NY Fed says (Yahoo! Finance)Americans are pulling money out of their 401(k) plans at an alarming rate (CNN Business)July jobs report: U.S. payroll growth totaled 187,000, lower than expected (CNBC)Disclaimer: Please note that the content shared on this show is solely for entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal or investment advice or attributed to any company. The views and opinions expressed are personal and not reflective of any entity. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, and listeners are urged to seek professional advice before making any legal or financial decisions. By listening to The Higher Standard podcast you agree to these terms, and the show, its hosts and employees are not liable for any consequences arising from your use of the content.

Haroon starts off the show extra sassy by giving Chris a taste of his own medicine.  Chris quickly jumps in to a CNBC article about how 1 in 4 U.S. homebuyers want to move to a different city.  The boys break down why Zillow tends to be bullish and their data should be looked at with caution.  U.S bank lending is declining for the second straight week and Chris goes off on “tipflation” once again.  He has been visceral every single time he talks about how out of control tipping has gotten.  They round-out episode 165 by diving in to where starter homes are affordable and migration trends as reported by the always superior data source provider - Redfin.  If you’ve read this far and you haven’t left us an “honest 5 star review,” we would appreciate you doing so now. Resources:1 in 4 U.S. homebuyers want to move to a different city—here’s the No. 1 place they’re looking (CNBC)It’s Getting Even Harder to Afford a ‘Starter’ Home in the US (Bloomberg)Zillow is so sure that U.S. home prices have bottomed that it just issued bullish calls for these 48 housing markets (Fortune)U.S. bank lending declines for second straight week (Market Watch)Clock on the Fed's 'soft landing' may already be ticking (Reuters)3 places people say they never tip amid ‘tipflation’: ‘It’s out of control’ (CNBC)One-Quarter of U.S. Homebuyers Are Looking to Relocate (Redfin)Las Vegas Tops List of Popular Homebuyer Destinations For First Time, With West Coast Migrants Drawn to Cheaper Homes (Redfin)Key Fed inflation rate falls to lowest annual level in nearly 2 years (CNBC)How the U.S. Economy Is Sticking the Soft Landing (WSJ)Disclaimer: Please note that the content shared on this show is solely for entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal or investment advice or attributed to any company. The views and opinions expressed are personal and not reflective of any entity. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, and listeners are urged to seek professional advice before making any legal or financial decisions. By listening to The Higher Standard podcast you agree to these terms, and the show, its hosts and employees are not liable for any consequences arising from your use of the content.

Finishing off their double header, the boys are back-to-back again and are ferociously diving in to the Austin office market, the luxury home market's new reality and some new changes in Dallas. Apparently Dallas' City Council has banned short-term rentals from "single-family areas." Oh, and Saied also thinks that this is a financial literary podcast where we discuss books about finance. Confused? So are we. Episode 164 of The Higher Standard is here to save the day. Resources:Austin office market hits record-high vacancy (The Real Deal)The Luxury Home Market Confronts Its New Reality: Not Enough Buyers and Sellers (The Wall Street Journal)The Dow sinks, snapping its longest run since 1987 (CNN Business)Dallas City Council bans short-term rentals from single-family areas (Fox 4 News)Biggest winners and losers from the Fed’s interest rate hike (Yahoo! News)US economy defies recession fears with strong second-quarter performance (Yahoo! News)A $5.5 trillion savings wipeout is raising risks for the US economy (Yahoo! News)Disclaimer: Please note that the content shared on this show is solely for entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal or investment advice or attributed to any company. The views and opinions expressed are personal and not reflective of any entity. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, and listeners are urged to seek professional advice before making any legal or financial decisions. By listening to The Higher Standard podcast you agree to these terms, and the show, its hosts and employees are not liable for any consequences arising from your use of the content.

Welcome back to the number one financial literacy podcast in the world! It’s The Higher Standard. Saied, Chris and Haroon come out swinging in Episode 163 and they are no pulling in punches in their thoughts on The Fed’s latest 25bps interest rate increase. Join us as the boys go deep, real deep, in to the US economy, GDP and give you a historical look at the Fed Funds Rate with a 62 Year Historical Chart. It also marks the third episode of back-to-back appearances by Haroon who had been out sick for three consecutive episodes. Resources:US economy blows past expectations: 3 quick takeaways (The Hill)GDP grew at a 2.4% pace in the second quarter, topping expectations despite recession calls (CNBC)Federal Funds Rate - 62 Year Historical Chart (Macrotrends)Disclaimer: Please note that the content shared on this show is solely for entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal or investment advice or attributed to any company. The views and opinions expressed are personal and not reflective of any entity. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, and listeners are urged to seek professional advice before making any legal or financial decisions. By listening to The Higher Standard podcast you agree to these terms, and the show, its hosts and employees are not liable for any consequences arising from your use of the content.