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Local Service and Financial Freedom: The Case for Hiring a Financial Professional – 09/27/2025 This episode of More for Your Money features host John Berkley and Krista Berkley. The discussion centers on the benefits of hiring a financial professional, focusing on the argument that good local service and expertise should pay for themselves. The hosts examine market activity, including the JDB indicator, and delve into detailed, subjective topics like Roth conversions and the debate over debt versus wealth accumulation. The conversation highlights the dynamic exchange between the two, noting that financial advice is highly personalized. They emphasize the need for knowledge, balance, and making good financial choices. View Details

The Investment Committee on Market Paradoxes, Structural Inflation, and Risk Reduction Strategy – 09/20/2025 Join John Berkley and the Investment Committee (Todd and Greg) analyzing the market’s paradox, where indexes soar despite more stocks declining than advancing. The discussion turns to the Federal Reserve’s dilemma, as rate cuts push longer-term yields higher, signaling increasing inflation risk. The committee tackles the problem of "unsustainable" debt and structural inflation, which acts as an indirect tax on citizens. Learn why experts recommend diversification, hard assets like gold, and reducing risk in today’s chaotic financial environment. Discover the strategy of tweaking your portfolio to find enduring value. View Details

Uncommon Cents: Wisdom on Decisions, Risk, and Retirement Strategies – 09/13/2025 In this episode, John Berkley and Sheena Hanson discuss current market trends, noting an expensive market driven by growth stocks. They cover crucial financial topics like the Rule of 55 for early 401k withdrawals and the importance of trusted contacts for clients. John shares his personal philosophical quotes on decision-making, risk, and consequences, emphasizing learning from others' experiences. The episode also explores the emotional and practical aspects of retirement transition, spending habits, and the passion for one's work. Listeners are encouraged to review their financial plans and utilize the firm's website resources. View Details

Beyond Predictions: Uncommon Cents Investing on Market Trends, Risk, and Unique Strategies – 09/06/2025 John Berkley explores Uncommon Cents Investing's differentiated approach to financial advice. This episode delves into their philosophy of prioritizing individual common stocks to reduce fees and offer greater tax control, a contrast to firms using packaged products. He challenges conventional wisdom on Roth IRA conversions, outlining reasons why it might not always be the best strategy for wealth accumulation, such as the loss of compounding capital and potential future tax benefits. The discussion also covers the unpredictability of market forecasting, their stance on being a fiduciary, and their extensive experience in retirement planning. View Details

Investment Styles Unpacked: Value, Growth, and the Highs and Lows of Speculation – 08/30/2025 This episode of "More for Your Money" provides a detailed discussion on the differences between value and growth stock investing. The hosts explore why value stocks, despite recent underperformance, have historically outperformed growth over a century, while noting the current trend favors growth stocks like AI and crypto. Key concepts like patience, emotional control, and discipline in investing are emphasized, with insights from Benjamin Graham, John Bogle, and Warren Buffett. A significant segment is dedicated to the fascinating story of Jesse Livermore, a legendary speculator who became ultra-rich three times and went broke three times, ultimately dying broke by suicide. His life illustrates the allure and extreme risks of short-term speculation and trading, contrasting sharply with the long-term, deep value approach favored by Uncommon Cents Investing. The discussion also covers market timing, the emotional aspects of buying based on fear of missing out (FOMO), and the dangers of "style drifting" between different investment strategies. Listeners are encouraged to identify their own investment horizon and stick to a consistent strategy. View Details

Attorney Mike Vogel on Estate Planning, Gift Tax, and Irrevocable Trusts – 08/23/2025 This episode of "More for Your Money," hosted by John Berkley, features Attorney Mike Vogel discussing estate planning and elder law. Vogel clarifies Federal Gift Tax (Form 709), detailing the $19,000 annual exclusion and the $14 million lifetime exemption, noting gifts reduce this amount. He also addresses irrevocable trusts for Medicaid planning, explaining the 5-year look-back period while cautioning against their "oversold" nature and significant disadvantages like loss of asset control. Vogel emphasizes maintaining financial flexibility and the importance of tax knowledge in estate planning. View Details

Ray Dalio on the Global Debt Crisis and Interest Rate Outlook – 08/16/2025 Join John Berkley and Todd Berkley for an in-depth discussion centered on Ray Dalio's "The Changing World Order". They explore Dalio's warnings about the incredible global debt crisis across federal, personal, and corporate levels, and its profound implications for the global financial system. The conversation also delves into the future of interest rates, particularly the divergence between short and long rates, and its potential impact on mortgage rates. Todd explains how the US dollar's status as a reserve currency influences borrowing costs and how banks are incentivized to keep short-term rates low. Listeners will gain insights into current market performance and the historical cycles of empires, prompting consideration of wealth accumulation versus wealth preservation strategies in a complex economic landscape. The show emphasizes the importance of disciplined investing and understanding these critical financial issues. View Details

The Future of Investing: AI, Productivity Gains, and Portfolio Bonds – 08/09/2025 Join John Berkley and Sheena Hanson where they discuss Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its influence on market valuations, noting its potential for "enormous productivity gains". Sheena shares practical examples of using AI daily as a "thinking partner" for tasks like packing lists and compliance logs. The episode also delves into bonds, describing them as a "very, very misunderstood" asset class. They clarify bonds as a lending asset, explaining their historical underperformance due to inflation and their integral role in portfolios for income and stability, while detailing their varying risks and tax implications. View Details

A Fireside Chat on Life, Work, and Investing for the Next Generation – 08/02/2025 This "More for Your Money" episode features a "fireside chat" with John Berkley, designed to equip the next generation. John delves into crucial advice on finding work that "trips your trigger", living within your means, and leveraging the power of early investing through vehicles like 401ks and Roth IRAs. The discussion also emphasizes learning from mentors and becoming aware of potential economic and geopolitical challenges that could impact future opportunities for wealth accumulation. View Details

The Local Advisor Difference: Comprehensive Financial Planning Beyond the 1-800 Number – 07/26/2025 Discover the Uncommon Cents Investing difference: local financial advisors offering comprehensive, holistic financial planning that goes beyond impersonal 1-800 numbers. John and Sheena detail personalized, proactive services, including navigating aging parents' finances, pension eligibility, Social Security decisions, long-term care contracts, and RMDs/QCDs. They provide tax planning, assist with IRA contributions, offer asset verification, and guide through major life events like spousal death. Experience deep client relationships and cost-effective, transparent service, utilizing AI for efficiency, not core investing. View Details

Navigating Value, Small Caps, and Market Mechanics – 07/19/2025 This episode features John, Greg, and Todd discussing market dynamics, comparing growth versus value stocks and high P/E ratios. They examine small company stocks as a bargain, noting their historical outperformance post-bear markets and how Sarbanes-Oxley impacted IPOs. The team also clarifies market mechanics like bid/ask prices and limit orders, emphasizing their agile, value-based approach to investing. View Details

Generational Insights and Practical Financial Wisdom – 07/12/2025 This episode of "More for Your Money" features John Berkley and Krista Berkley, who share generational insights and practical financial wisdom. They discuss market trends, the impact of their previous show on global poverty, and their passion for educating young people on financial fundamentals like compounding capital and avoiding debt. The hosts also explain their unique family business model and address listener questions on rebalancing appreciated assets, mortgage payoff strategies vs. investing, and the risks of Bitcoin, emphasizing diversification. View Details