In this week’s episode, Ryan, Chris, and Courtney dive into the paradox of modern investing: why are so many investors chasing assets like Gold, Bitcoin, and Nvidia, which offer little to no income—while ignoring the historical power of dividend-paying stocks?

We unpack a revealing JP Morgan study showing that concludes 55% of the S&P 500’s total return since 1987 came from re-invested dividends. Contrary to popular belief, high-flying tech stocks haven’t been the primary engine of long-term market returns. In fact, the best-performing U.S. stock over the past 40 years, Altria Group (ticker: MO), formerly known as Philip Morris, is an old-school producer and marketer of tobacco products. From 1985–2025, Altria stock returned an incredible 2,033,839%, a $1,000 invested in 1985 would be worth over $20 million today! Even more remarkably, over 80% of that return can be attributed to dividend reinvestment.

But here’s the twist—dividend paying value stocks have been underperforming their growth stock counterparts over the past decade, driven by themes like AI, have dramatically outperformed. Is this just a temporary anomaly? Will markets revert to the mean? Are dividend stocks about to make a comeback? Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is betting big on income-rich sectors like healthcare and energy instead of chasing the current hype around the Magnificent 7. With many high-yielding stocks trading at steep discounts to the tech-heavy S&P 500, is now the time to lean into income? We give you the “Payne Perspective.”

We also tackle the recent signs of weakness in the labor market—and what it really reveals about the underlying health of the economy. Are Wall Street economists missing the mark yet again? The stock market is hitting all-time highs, economic growth is accelerating, and corporate profits are trending upward, all forward-looking indicators that point to a continued expansion. So, do we truly need more rate cuts? Or is the Federal Reserve simply spiking the punch bowl—risking an overheated economy and inflated asset prices? We break it all down and share exactly what we think.

💰 Warren Buffett’s latest moves—abandoning the Magnificent 7 and doubling down on value-rich healthcare, homebuilder & energy stocks

📉 The recent labor market weakness—what it really signals about the economy

📈 Why Wall Street strategists might be missing the mark (again)

🏦 Whether the Fed is about to overdo it with rate cuts, risking an overheated economy

If you’re wondering where the smart money is headed and how to position your portfolio for long-term success, this episode is a must-listen.

This week on Payne Points of Wealth, Bob, Ryan, Chris, and Courtney unpack what Ryan’s recent trip to MetLife Stadium to see his favorite band, Oasis, reveals about the current state of the economy. Yes, even a rock concert can be an economic indicator!

We dive into Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s surprising pivot toward cutting interest rates this fall. What does this mean for economic growth and the stock market? Is this the fuel the bull market really needs to keep melting higher?

Plus, retail investors are now responsible for 18% of all stock market trades—nearly double the amount of 2010, according to estimates by Sifma, a Wall Street trade group. Are individual investors becoming smarter, or are we seeing classic late-stage bull market behavior? We weigh in with our decades of experience navigating market psychology.

And in our Financial Autopsy segment, we dissect a real-life financial plan to spotlight one of the biggest mistakes investors make: overloading on low-yield or declining cash flow investments. Income is king when it comes to financial independence—are you building your portfolio the right way today?

Tune in for insights, hot takes, and actionable advice to help you build real wealth in today’s market.

In this week’s episode of Payne Points of Wealth, we sit down with John A. Catsimatidis Jr., President and COO of Red Apple Group, a $7 billion powerhouse spanning energy, supermarkets, media, real estate, and investments.

In a wide-ranging conversation, we discuss how John applies elements of Warren Buffett’s investment philosophy to his own portfolio management. We forecast the direction of energy prices and their impact on inflation, and explore what Fed interest rate cuts could mean for an ailing real estate market. We also dive into Gen Z’s affordability crisis and how to solve the current New York City housing shortage without resorting to socialism.

John’s approach to life, business, and investing is refreshingly straightforward—rooted in common sense, the ability to integrate principles across many disciplines, driven with clarity & conviction.

Whether you’re an investor, entrepreneur, or just curious about the current forces shaping our economy, this episode offers invaluable insights from one of NYC’s rising business leaders.

🎧 Tune in for a fascinating conversation that blends big-picture thinking with practical wisdom.