Your Money Guide on the Side

The podcast challenges the long-held belief that bonds are a safe investment. It highlights hidden risks like interest rate and inflation threats, revealing how bonds may actually erode purchasing power. Listeners are urged to reconsider the 60/40 portfolio mantra and explore alternative investments with better growth potential, such as stocks and real estate. The discussion emphasizes that true financial security comes from diversifying and seeking growth rather than solely preserving wealth with bonds.

Back in 2003, I met Mike Taormina at the London School of Economics, never expecting we'd stay in touch—let alone spend decades debating finance and traveling together. Fast forward, and Mike has become a powerhouse in fintech, co-founding Vault, CommonBond, and Alluvial, with a Wharton MBA and a CFA to back it up.But credentials aside, what sets Mike apart is his ability to break down complex crypto and finance topics into something actually useful. In this episode, we dive into decentralized finance, separating the noise from real opportunities, and why blockchain tech is transforming financial transparency.We also discuss personal investing, risk tolerance, debt, and why even a seasoned finance pro like Mike trusts a robo-advisor over DIY trading. Whether you're deep into crypto or just trying to make smarter financial moves, this conversation is packed with insights.

This discussion delves into how political elections can emotionally sway our views on the stock market. It highlights the enduring growth patterns of investments, emphasizing that market performance often transcends political climates. Listeners are cautioned against the pitfalls of timing the market based on transient political events. The importance of steadfast investment strategies and maintaining a long-term financial focus is reinforced, especially amid shifting employment landscapes. Ultimately, it's about reminding ourselves to breathe and focus on our personal financial goals.

My guest this week, Patrick Wetherille, shares a little bit about his experience with optimizing life, managing empathy through start-up culture, and taking advantage of every opportunity to learn from and alongside business minds at every level. As the episode progresses, Patrick shares his thoughts on the importance of being able to work from anywhere and how that very freedom can often bring teams together and create optimized work cultures and production.

In this episode, I explore the power of diversifying communication channels, income streams, and the irony of many people knowing they should diversify and yet their not quite being able to walk the same walk. When the TikTok "ban" occurred, I was left wondering why so many creators, all of whom discuss the power and importance of diversification on a daily basis, had not diversified their digital assets, as well, and considered their content as part of their overall portfolio. 

In this episode, I do my best to touch on the absolute musts of investing and controlling our emotions. Not only controlling our emotions, but knowing our emotions and our reactions to market volatility first-hand through experience. I attempt to highlight the importance of thinking slightly differently and distantly about the markets and taking a walk when we need to escape from the relentless noise that is encouraging us to panic and make choices that we will, ultimately, regret when the waters calm. 

I am thrilled to offer a brief glimpse into the "why" behind building out the podcast. The ability to add nuance, engage other minds, and learn from multiple voices intrigues me and hopefully will help add value to your life. This episode is primarily highlighting what this endeavor will aim to achieve and how each episode might help you move closer to where you need to be with your personal finances, your attitude towards money, and your ability to learn more each and every day and ultimately take control of your own finances.