2025 looked like a great year on paper — but most investors didn’t experience those returns. In this episode, we break down what really happened beneath the indexes, why passive investing masked widespread underperformance, and how a dividend-first, total-return strategy quietly outperformed the market. We walk through: Why the S&P 500’s gains were driven by ~7 stocksWhich unexpected sectors crushed it (utilities, REITs, commodities)Why many “obvious” AI and tech plays underperformedThe b...

How We Invested $150,000 for Monthly Income | Dividend Portfolio Breakdown In this episode, we break down exactly how we invested a $150,000 lump sum across 2 portfolios with one primary goal: reliable monthly income without reckless risk. We walk through how we structured the portfolios, why certain stocks and ETFs made the cut, and how we’re building a dividend stream that functions like a paycheck — with flexibility, downside protection, and upside optionality. What we cover: How we split ...

2026 Market Predictions (Part 2) | Crypto, Housing, Healthcare + Valuation Targets (80+ Tickers) This is Part 2 of our 2026 market outlook — same format as Part 1, we just split the episode because it was long. We continue walking through the 2026 themes and we keep tying each theme to actionable ideas: what we’d buy, what we’d wait on, what we’d use for income, and what looks over/undervalued right now. Part 2 picks up with: Crypto rebound thesis (beyond just Bitcoin) + income anglesHousing ...

2026 Market Predictions (Part 1) | Macro Trends + Top Ticker Picks This is Part 1 of our 2026 market outlook. We didn’t split this because the strategy changes — we split it because the episode got long. In this series we’re doing what most “predictions” don’t: showing our work. We walk through the major themes we expect to drive 2026 and we layer in how we’re thinking about positioning as we go — income vs growth, risk mitigation, and valuation discipline. Part 1 covers themes like: AI conti...

This episode is our yearly investing accountability report — the “Whoopsie Daisies” review where we openly break down the trades and decisions that didn’t go to plan. We cover: Dividend suspensions and cuts that blindsided us (and what we do now when income goes to zero).Selling too early on winners and how we’re changing our profit-taking rule so we stop prematurely ejecting from huge runners. (Last year's keep going up! WTF) High-yield ETF experiments that didn’t behave the...

This episode is our Q4 dividend update for the Vanning Portfolio—our main income engine as we transition into living off dividends full-time. We share every number openly so investors can follow along, compare progress, and see how an income-first portfolio adjusts in real time to dividend cuts, bad news, market swings, and valuation changes. Here’s what we cover: • Q3 vs Q4 dividend totals Q3 brought in $5,561.84, while Q4 delivered $5,497.18, a small dip mostly caused by weaker payouts fro...

This episode is our Q4 dividend income update for the conservative retirement portfolio — the portfolio built for stability, capital preservation, and reliable income. We compare Q4 dividend payouts against Q3 and break down exactly how much income this portfolio generated, how it has grown, and which holdings are pulling their weight. What we cover in this episode: • Total dividends collected this quarter: $4,532.11 (up 7.55% from Q3) • Full-year income: $18,416.86 — averaging $1,534.74/mon...

This week, we’re reviewing the 2025 macro predictions we made back in December 2024 — and the results are honestly insane. We identified nine major macro trend themes heading into 2025 (plus a “miscellaneous chaos” category), and in this episode we break down exactly how each played out — the hits, the misses, and the monster trends that shaped the entire year. 🔥 BIG THEMES WE COVER: 1. Nuclear Energy We predicted a massive boom… and it actually happened. Nuclear went from policy talk to ful...

Ready to build a portfolio that actually works in today’s market — not 1985’s? In this episode, we break down a complete modern starter portfolio for new investors AND experienced investors who want a reset for 2026. We take the outdated 60/40 model, call it the trash panda it is, and replace it with a diversified, income-strong, resilience-focused allocation built for real market conditions — inflation, rate cuts, volatility, and all. We cover: 🔥 The 7-Category Modern Portfolio Blueprint 15...

🔥 Is Gold Actually a Smart Investment — or Just an Overhyped Security Blanket? This episode breaks down one of the most controversial topics in investing: whether gold really deserves a place in your portfolio. Despite decades of advice telling investors to hold 3–10% in precious metals, the data tells a VERY different story. We dig deep into: ✨ The biggest myths about gold 📉 Why gold underperforms stocks again and again 💰 The hidden costs investors never account for 📊 100-...

Most investors treat Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) like gospel — same amount, same time, no questions asked. We don’t. This week, we dive into our “Dynamic DCA” strategy — a smarter, more flexible way to lower your cost basis and grow income faster. By knowing our dividend stocks so well, we can turn off DRIP when they’re overvalued and pile in when they dip into buy zones. It’s still incremental, still disciplined — but driven by valuation and timing, not automation. 💡 In this episode we cove...

Why do we spend billions on one spooky night? This episode traces Halloween’s evolution—from Samhain and Roman festivals to All Hallows’ Eve—then flips the mask to reveal the behavioral psychology behind today’s $13B spend. We unpack: 🎃 Origins to Modern Mashup: Samhain → Roman Feralia & Pomona → All Saints/All Souls → American trick-or-treat💵 Follow the Money: Costumes, décor, candy, parties; average spend per celebrant; why the total keeps hitting records🧠 Psych Drivers: Nostalgi...

💸 High-Yield Weekly Dividend ETFs: 10 ETFs Enter, But Only a Few Crush It What happens if you invested $10,000 in 10 high-yield, weekly-paying ETFs 7 months ago? In this episode, we analyze the returns—from Roundhill’s tech-heavy monsters like PLTW and COIW to YieldMax’s income-driven options like CHPY and GPTY, we’re ranking each ETF by: 📈 Price appreciation💰 Dividend income🔁 DRIP vs. cash collection strategy outcomesYou’ll see why PLTW and COIW are dominating the leaderboard, how some Yield...

What if you’d invested $10,000 in five dividend aristocrats 30 years ago — and never sold? In this episode, we break down the true compounding power of dividend reinvestment (DRIP) versus taking the cash every quarter. From stock splits to spin-offs, we traced the dividends, the share prices, and every wild twist in the story — including a jaw-dropping $2 million+ result for two of these “boring” blue chips. We cover: 📈 KO, PEP, WMT, ADP, and MO — 30 years of dividends and DRIP 💰 ...

The Fed’s rate cut is shaking up markets — but not every sector reacts the same. In this episode, we take the 6 biggest macrotrends from the current rate environment and dig into real stock and ETF ideas that could benefit most. We cover: 🏗️ Manufacturing & Construction plays with upside potential 🏢 REITs & commercial real estate names that could pop 💻 Tech & growth stocks primed for a comeback 🛍️ Retail, hospitality, and dividend sleepers 🏦 BDC...

The Fed just cut interest rates by 0.25% — but what does that actually mean for you, your portfolio, and the broader economy? In this episode, we dig into the ripple effects of rate cuts across consumers, businesses, and markets. ✔️ Will your mortgage or credit card get cheaper? ✔️ How will BDCs, REITs, and growth stocks react? ✔️ Why a weaker dollar could make your life more expensive, not less. ✔️ The hidden inflation risk no one’s talking about. We’ll also break down how small, “modest” cu...

Credit cards get a bad rap, but they can be one of the most powerful tools in your financial toolkit—if you use them like an investor. In this episode, we break down: How 0% APR balance transfers can be used as short-term liquidity for higher-yield investments.Using credit card cash back and perks as bonus money saving to give you and edge.The difference between credit stacking vs. laddering—and which one fits your situation.The real impact of your credit score on freedom, access, and opportu...

Money problems aren’t just about math—they’re about mindset. In this episode, we explore the hidden side of personal finance: financial trauma, money scripts, and the emotional patterns that quietly sabotage your wealth. We cover: How financial trauma shows up in your body and relationships.Why scarcity budgeting creates “whiplash” overspending.The cultural money myths keeping Americans broke.Practical rewiring tools: automation, emotional triggers, spending rituals, and account structures.Th...

The Van Life Portfolio is where things get wild. Unlike our conservative retirement account, this high-yield setup is built for cash flow, not capital preservation. In this episode, we break down Q3 2025 dividend results, compare them to last quarter, and show how we’re managing volatility while keeping the income steady. 📊 Key Highlights Dividend haul: $5,562 this quarter (~18–19% yield)Monthly payouts: $1,575 (June), $1,777 (July), $2,210 (August—one of our best yet)Biggest movers: USLY, AI...

We’re reporting what our conservative, retirement-style portfolio actually paid in dividends this quarter, how it compares to last quarter, and the pivots we made to keep income on track—without sacrificing principal. What’s inside: Quarter vs. Quarter: Q2 dividends vs Q3 dividends (with timing fixes).Headline: Q2 $4,346 → Q3 $3,952, but adjusted for timing/cuts Q3 would’ve been $4,414.Discrepancies explained: Suspensions (QVCGP), cuts (OGN), and weekly/monthly timing shifts that made the raw...