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Financial advice is everywhere on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media platforms—but how do you know what advice you can actually trust?

In this episode, Mike and Madison discuss the rise of financial influencers, why popular advice may not fit your personal situation, and the risks of following investment recommendations without understanding the full picture. They also break down what to look for when evaluating financial content online, from credentials and compensation to promises of quick returns, and explain why social media can be a great place to learn—as long as it is not where your financial decision-making ends.

WSJ Article: https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/a-breakdown-of-the-financial-advice-thats-flying-all-over-tiktok-2c466e70

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Dividends can feel like the ideal source of retirement income: cash arrives regularly without having to sell your investments. But focusing too heavily on dividend yield can create unintended risks.

In this episode, Mike and Madison discuss why retirees are drawn to dividends, the difference between dividend income and total return, the risks of chasing high yields, and how taxes and diversification factor into a retirement income strategy. They also explain why selling investments in retirement is not necessarily a sign that your plan is failing—and why the bigger question is whether your portfolio can sustainably support the life you want to live.

WSJ Article: https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/retirees-love-dividends-but-the-stock-market-surge-is-making-them-think-again-0e448ff6

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When a recognizable company announces it’s going public, the headlines, excitement, and fear of missing out can make buying shares feel like an opportunity you can’t afford to miss. But by the time most individual investors can actually buy the stock, the story may look very different.

In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison break down what really happens when a company goes public—from IPO pricing and institutional access to opening-day jumps, lockup periods, and long-term performance. They also explore the behavioral biases that can make a popular company feel like an obvious investment, even when the valuation tells a different story.

Mike shares the questions investors should ask before buying into a newly public company, including how much of your portfolio you’re willing to risk, whether you’re investing in the business or the narrative, and how the opportunity fits into your broader financial plan.

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At some point, many adult children find themselves stepping into a new role—helping aging parents manage financial decisions, legal documents, healthcare wishes, and the possibility of long-term care. In this episode, Mike and Madison explain how families can begin these conversations without making parents feel as though they are losing their independence. They also cover durable powers of attorney, healthcare directives, financial organization, warning signs of elder financial exploitation, and the importance of planning for care costs before a crisis forces the issue.

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In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison discuss why investors often struggle to separate smart long-term strategy from emotional decision-making. Using recent articles on performance chasing and Americans’ preference for real estate over stocks, they explore the “behavior gap,” why familiar investments can feel safer than they really are, and how buying after an investment becomes popular can lead to disappointing results. Mike also explains why owning the biggest, most recognizable companies does not guarantee future jackpot-like returns, and why diversification, discipline, and a clear investment strategy matter more than chasing whatever is working right now.

Articles:

https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/the-mind-game-that-investors-cant-stop-playing-e3ad96af

https://www.pressreader.com/usa/times-record-ft-smith-southwest/20260712/281505052972367

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Stocks are trading at historically high valuations, but is comparing today’s market to the past really an apples-to-apples comparison? In this episode, Mike and Madison explore how lower trading costs, index funds, ETFs, retirement accounts, fractional shares, and broader diversification have transformed the investing experience.

They look back at the days of fixed commissions, expensive mutual fund sales loads, round-lot requirements, and limited access to diversified portfolios. They also discuss why most individual stocks have failed to outperform Treasury bills, how a small number of companies have created most of the stock market’s long-term wealth, and why broad diversification remains so important.

Stocks may be expensive by historical standards, but today’s market is also cheaper, easier, and more accessible to investors than ever before. Mike explains why those changes may help justify higher valuations—without eliminating volatility, market risk, or the need for a personalized investment strategy.

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In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison discuss the new Trump Accounts and what families should understand before opening or funding one. They cover who may qualify for the federal $1,000 seed contribution, how the accounts work, contribution limits, employer and grandparent contributions, investment restrictions, tax treatment, recordkeeping concerns, and how Trump Accounts compare with 529 plans.

Mike also explains why state tax rules matter, why families should keep careful records from the beginning, and how these accounts may fit into a broader financial plan for children and grandchildren. Whether you have a newborn who may qualify for the federal contribution or an older child who could still use the account, this conversation highlights the key details to consider before taking action.

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In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison unpack three recent Wall Street Journal articles that raise timely questions about stocks, bonds, and cash. They discuss why the equity risk premium has narrowed, what higher bond yields may mean for investors, and why holding too much cash can quietly erode purchasing power over time. Mike explains how investors can think beyond simple rules of thumb and build portfolios around their goals, time horizon, cash flow needs, and comfort with risk. The conversation highlights why asset allocation is personal, why market headlines should not drive major portfolio decisions, and how the right mix of stocks, bonds, and cash depends on each investor’s financial plan.


Wall Street Journal article links:
https://www.wsj.com/finance/stocks/the-risk-premium-for-holding-stocks-over-bonds-is-vanishing-95be5b9d
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/youre-probably-overinvested-in-bonds-1a498844
https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/were-keeping-too-much-cash-in-our-accounts-these-days-8cf6f3a0