Casual Friday: Financial Insights
Welcome to Ford Financial Group's Casual Friday Podcast, where we review subjects relevant to investing, and topics that impact our clients and their plans for retirement.Investment advice is offered through Ford Financial Group, a Registered Investment Advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial. The Financial Advisors of Ford Financial Group are also Registered Representatives with and securities are offered through LPL Financial, Member SIPC, www.sipc.org.For a list of states in which we are registered to do business, please visit www.FordFG.com.1-856451
Episodes
214 episodes
Pullbacks Amid Growing Recession Fears
**Connect with Us:**- Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fordfinancialgroup- Subscribe to the Casual Friday - Financial Insights podcast: Apple and Spotify- Share your stories or questions: info@FordFG.com- Fin...
•
36:34
Breaking Down Outlook 2025
**Connect with Us:**- Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fordfinancialgroup- Subscribe to the Casual Friday - Financial Insights podcast: Apple and Spotify- Share your stories or questions: info@FordFG.com- Fin...
•
52:44
4 Compelling Reasons Your Business Needs a 401(k) in 2025 – Insights with Marc Fowler
This week Brian and Ryan sit down with Marc Fowler, 401(k) expert and representative of Human Interest, to discuss why 2025 is a pivotal year for small businesses to start offering a 401(k) plan. If you’re a business owner who hasn’t yet taken ...
•
59:23
The $36 Trillion Question: National Debt and Its Impact on Investors
In this episode, Ryan and Brian explore the U.S. national debt as it approaches a staggering $36 trillion—a figure that has nearly quadrupled since before the 2008 global financial crisis. With the federal debt growing every year since 2001, it...
•
34:18
Facing Retirement Income Challenges in a High-Cost World
In this episode, we delve into the latest insights on retirement planning amidst rising living costs and inflation. Here’s what we cover:1. Current Inflation and Social Security Adjustments: - 2025 Cost-of-Living Adjustm...
•
42:30
Navigating Interest Rate Shifts: Bonds, Money Market Funds, & Portfolio Strategies
In this episode, we explore the effects of rising and falling interest rates on bonds and money market funds. We discuss:Bonds as a Hedge: Are government bonds have become a less reliable hedge in volatile markets...
•
27:42
Quick Reaction to Today's Interest Rate Cut by the Federal Reserve
Today Ryan, Brian, and Eric all jumped on the podcast to discuss today's news that the Federal Reserve is cutting the Fed Fund rates by 0.50%, the first cut by the Fed in 4 years and the first of what is likely many to come.**Connect wi...
•
21:53
Navigating 401(k) Plans and Department of Labor Audits - Featuring Expert Marc Fowler
In this episode, we dive into the complexities of 401(k) plans and the audits conducted by the Department of Labor (DOL). The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is the group responsible for investigating and auditing 401(k) plans,...
•
45:54
Perspective on the Fed and Market Sell-Off
To paraphrase Ernest Hemingway, changes in the stock market often happen "gradually, then suddenly." This week Brian and Ryan discuss how, over the past month, there has been a rotation from large-cap technology stocks to small caps and other s...
•
38:50
Mid-Year Outlook: A Different Second Half
This week Brian and Ryan took to the second half of 2024 by reviewing some of the key highlights from LPL Research's recently unveiled Midyear Outlook 2024: Still Waiting for the Turn, the semi-annual report that recaps where markets a...
•
49:44
The Fed's Projections & Bond Market Implications
Over the past few years, the path of interest rates has been highly unpredictable due to factors like inflation, economic growth, and the Federal Reserve's policies. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield exemplifies this volatility, having surged fro...
•
34:25
Unmasking Online Scams: Protecting Yourself in the Digital Age
In this eye-opening episode of the Casual Friday: Financial Insights podcast, hosts Brian and Ryan delve into the ever-evolving world of online scams, fraud, and identity theft. As the digital landscape expands, so do the tactics of cybercrimin...
•
40:00
Real Estate Q&A with Expert Brian Domingos
This week Brian is joined by our special guest Brian Domingos, owner of Premier Valley Realty, a full-service real estate brokerage firm based in Fresno, California. Brian and his brokerage assists clients with buying and selling ...
•
34:17
Dow 40,000
This week Brian and Ryan talk about how the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached 40,000 for the first time recently as markets continue to rebound from a 5% decline earlier this year. While this has felt like a difficult year for many investors...
•
32:25
Cash Isn't King
In uncertain market conditions, cash holdings can offer a sense of security for investors. The past few years have seen significant market volatility due to various factors such as the pandemic, geopolitical tensions, monetary policy changes, i...
•
33:47
Geopolitics and Pullbacks
In this episode of Casual Friday: Financial Insights, Brian and Ryan delve into the recent pullback in the markets, which have dipped at the onset of the second quarter. After kicking off the year with strong gains, the landscape has shifted du...
•
30:36
Tax Time: How High are Tax Brackets?
This week Ryan and Brian come up for air from a busy tax season to examine how current tax brackets, both personal and corporate, compare to where brackets have been historically. They also touch on the possibility of brackets changing in the f...
•
29:20
Time to Talk Politics: Market Performance in a Presidential Election Year
As we delve into the intensifying presidential election season, every day brings us closer to November 5, Election Day. We're witnessing what appears to be an impending rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Given the months ahead until No...
•
25:30
Money Market Funds After Rates Drop
This week Eric and Brian review how much "dry powder" is in money market funds and how these cash equivalent investments have swollen to record levels as rates have risen. However, event the Federal Reserve has said rates are coming down, so wh...
•
23:48
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
This week Ryan and Brian discuss how all of the jobs lost during the pandemic have been recovered (and then some), and how business are still having trouble hiring, despite the large number of unemployed workers.Watch on YouTube:
•
32:36
Falling Yields and Rising Markets
This week Ryan and Brian review what could be ahead this year as the Fed begins to cut interest rates, and discuss how that impacts both equities and bonds in portfolios.Watch on YouTube:
•
39:11
New Year for Markets, S&P 500 Hangover?
This week Ryan and Brian review LPL Research's 2024 outlook for stocks, bonds and the economy, and give there take on what could be ahead.LPL Research 2024 Outlook: https://bit.ly/3RKkZXGWatc...
•
45:12
Ripping Into Year-End
This week Ryan and Brian talk about how both stocks and bonds have been accelerating into the end of the year, though there may be reason to temper your optimism for 2024.Watch on YouTube:
•
36:11
Doing Well by Doing Good: Exploring the Tax Benefits of Gifting from Your IRA
In this episode, we dive deep into the world of Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs). Join us as we explore how QCDs can be a tax-savvy way to support your favorite charitable causes while benefiting your retirement savings. Brian shares v...
•
15:43