"Weekly jobless claims dropped below 200,000."

"The overall performance has exceeded expectations... the factors for a healthy economy are aligning, even as uncertainties remain."

2025 was another great year for investors. This marks the 3rd year in a bull market, and as we step into 2026, the horizon looks increasingly bright—save for any unforeseen global catastrophes.

In our latest episode of Market Chatter, Adam and Joey break down the momentum that carried us through the past year and why the economic indicators are signaling a robust 12 months ahead for Strivus Wealth Partners' clients and listeners alike.

While the year may not have felt like a constant sprint, the data tells a powerful story. Tune in to learn how healthy market rotations (away from tech), increasing market breadth, healthy consumer reports, declining interest rates, falling jobless claims, boosted tax incentives, and a normalizing yield curve set the stage for healthy market performance in 2026.

Key Topics:

• Market Overview and Recent Trends (00:00)
• Tech Sector Insights (01:04)
• Consumer Health and Bank Earnings (05:08)
• Inflation Discussion (08:23)
• Silver and Gold Price Surge (09:18)
• Mortgage Rates and Yield Curve (13:47)
• Tax Changes and Economic Impact (18:02)

This podcast is brought to you by Joey Loss, CFP®, Adam Van Wie, CFP®, and Strivus Wealth Partners. Through Strivus, Joey and Adam provide financial planning and investment management services to clients across the country from their home base in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

You can find show notes and transcript of the conversations here: Strivus Wealth - Wealth Unplugged.

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"Comparison is a thief of joy."

"What do we really want?"

"Wealth equals freedom."

In this conversation, Chris Eckols shares how money is your tool for unlocking freedom and agency in your life.

He encourages you to define wealth beyond money alone…suggesting that wealth is better defined as the freedom to make choices in life. He explains how your money behaviors start to improve and align once you’ve defined what this definition of wealth looks like for you.

Joey and Chris explore the challenges of career satisfaction, the impact of comparison on happiness, and the necessity of taking inventory of one's life to align spending with true desires. Ultimately, the conversation highlights the essential exercise of creating a clear “why” and “what” to unlock your full cash flow potential and future wealth.

Key Topics:

• Introduction to Chris Eckols (00:00 - 06:01)
• Understanding Money Behavior (06:02 - 09:03)
• Defining Wealth and Freedom (09:04 - 12:00)
• The Importance of Spending and Agency (12:01 - 14:57)
• Navigating Career Satisfaction (14:58 - 8:05)
• The Role of Purpose in Life (18:06 - 23:55)
• Cashflow Mavericks and Financial Behavior (23:56 - 27:07)
• Taking Inventory of Your Life (27:08 - 30:10)
• Preparing for the Unexpected (30:11 - 36:03)
• Finding Meaning in Work (36:04 - 39:06)
• The Impact of Comparison on Happiness (39:07 - 41:58)
• Closing Thoughts on Agency and Freedom (41:59 - 52:46)

Resources:

• https://www.accessiblemoneycoach.com/

This podcast is brought to you by Joey Loss, CFP®, Adam Van Wie, CFP®, and Strivus Wealth Partners. Through Strivus, Joey and Adam provide financial planning and investment management services to clients across the country from their home base in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

You can find show notes and transcript of the conversations here: Strivus Wealth - Wealth Unplugged.

Follow Joey & Strivus on Social Media:

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“Companies just want to know the rules because once they know the rules, they know how to figure out how to make money.”

Joey & Adam host the final “Market Chatter” session of the year. They reflected on the eventful year of 2025, marked by their company’s merger and a surge in business activity, especially in the fourth quarter. The discussion centered around key market trends and economic indicators, focusing on the S&P 500’s forward PE ratio and its implications for anticipated growth in 2026. They noted a shift in market dynamics, highlighting increased market breadth and diversification from the dominant “MAG7” stocks.

They delved into the impact of tariffs earlier in the year, describing the market’s volatile reaction and subsequent recovery following a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs. The conversation also explored the tangible benefits of AI in their operations, enhancing efficiency in tasks like meeting preparation and note-taking.

Further discussion revolved around 2025’s favorable tax environment, particularly the bonus depreciation benefits for businesses, which spurred increased economic activity, including a notable rise in corporate jet sales. They speculated on the economic effects of additional tax benefits set to activate in 2026, projecting continued growth and earnings potential.

Looking ahead, Joey and Adam expressed optimism for 2026, anticipating favorable conditions and hoping for increased charitable giving due to new tax incentives. They concluded with holiday well wishes, looking forward to the next “Market Chatter” and a successful new year.

Key Topics:

• Introduction and 2025 Year Review (00:00 - 02:30)
• S&P 500 Valuations and Market Growth Expectations (02:31 - 07:00)
• Q4 and Market Performance Trends (07:01 - 08:45)
• Market Breadth and MAG7 Performance (08:46 - 13:15)
• AI’s Impact on Business Operations (13:16 - 19:45)
• Tariff Impact and Economic Recovery (19:46 - 24:30)
• Bonus Depreciation and Tax Law Changes (24:31 - 27:45)
• Personal Tax Benefits and Charitable Deductions (27:46 - 30:30)
• Conclusion and Outlook for 2026 (30:31 - 36:00)

This podcast is brought to you by Joey Loss, CFP®, Adam Van Wie, CFP®, and Strivus Wealth Partners. Through Strivus, Joey and Adam provide financial planning and investment management services to clients across the country from their home base in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

You can find show notes and transcript of the conversations here: Strivus Wealth - Wealth Unplugged.

Follow Joey & Strivus on Social Media:

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Read our audio, video, and written content disclaimer here.

“It’s really hard to wrap your mind around change and the future. And I think it gets harder every year because the change goes faster and it gets exponentially larger.”

In this episode of Market Chatter, hosts Joey Loss and Adam Van Wie, the session explored the current state of the financial markets, recent volatility, and potential future impacts of AI.

Joey opened the discussion by expressing surprise at the recent halt in market momentum, and Adam provided insights into this development. He described the market’s recent volatility as expected, emphasizing that it was a normal correction after months of growth. Despite initial concerns, Adam noted several positive economic indicators, including strong reports from Nvidia, Walmart, and the labor market, suggesting no major negative forces were at play.

The conversation transitioned to AI, with both hosts expressing enthusiasm about its transformative potential. They highlighted Nvidia’s remarkable performance and considered the broader implications of AI across various industries. Joey and Adam discussed its potential to revolutionize sectors like healthcare and housing, despite current challenges.

The session also touched on the housing market and potential changes, such as the introduction of 50-year mortgages and mortgage portability. While recognizing potential benefits, Adam and Joey expressed concern about long-term equity and housing affordability.

Throughout the meeting, both emphasized the importance of maintaining perspective amid market fluctuations and the speculative nature of current investments in AI. They urged listeners to remain calm and focused on long-term growth rather than short-term market disruptions.

Key Topics:

• Market Volatility Overview (00:00)
• Positive News and Market Reaction (02:45)
• Market Personality and Earnings (06:50)
• AI Impact on Market and Industry (14:10)
• Housing and Mortgage Industry (33:00)
• General Economic Concerns (50:10)
• Closing Thoughts on Market Perspective (60:30)

This podcast is brought to you by Joey Loss, CFP®, Adam Van Wie, CFP®, and Strivus Wealth Partners. Through Strivus, Joey and Adam provide financial planning and investment management services to clients across the country from their home base in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

You can find show notes and transcript of the conversations here: Strivus Wealth - Wealth Unplugged.

Follow Joey & Strivus on Social Media:

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Read our audio, video, and written content disclaimer here.

“There’s a fine line between Grifter and Genius.”

In this episode of “Market Chatter,” hosts Joey Loss and Adam Van Wie discuss recent market trends and concerns over a potential AI bubble. Adam shares insights from a Financial Planning Association conference in Vegas, emphasizing investment discipline. They analyze market performance, noting increased volatility and a rise in investor fear. Joey provides updates on major indexes’ year-to-date performance, highlighting the contrast between recent gains and short-term losses. The duo debates whether AI is in a bubble, referencing headlines and Sam Altman’s defensive stance on OpenAI’s financials. They explore risk factors, including government involvement in tech markets, and stress the importance of long-term investment strategies over reactive decisions. Concluding, Adam expresses optimism for end-of-year market trends, recalling the historical “Santa Claus rally” and advising investors to maintain a strategic allocation despite short-term fluctuations.

Key Topics:

• Introduction and Adam's Vegas Trip (00:00)
• Market Overview (02:11)
• Market Fear and Volatility (05:04)
• I Bubble Discussion (07:26)
• Comparison to Historical Market Events (21:13)
• Thematic ETFs and Investment Strategy (30:00)
• Job Market and Amazon Layoffs (34:46)
• Closing Remarks (37:40)

This podcast is brought to you by Joey Loss, CFP®, Adam Van Wie, CFP®, and Strivus Wealth Partners. Through Strivus, Joey and Adam provide financial planning and investment management services to clients across the country from their home base in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

You can find show notes and transcript of the conversations here: Strivus Wealth - Wealth Unplugged.

Follow Joey & Strivus on Social Media:

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Two in five Americans can't handle a $400 surprise expense, and the median emergency fund sits at a shocking $500-600. Our hosts, Joey Loss and Adam Van Wie, tackle America's savings crisis head-on by offering a practical six-step framework for families to build wealth systematically.

Gen Z has $400 saved, Millennials embarrassingly trail at $300, Gen X holds $500, and even Boomers over 61 manage only $2,000 on average. Against this backdrop, Joey and Adam lay out priorities that could mean the difference between prosperity and poverty.

Step one: emergency fund. Three to six months of expenses creates a buffer between you and credit card debt, which is currently averaging 23% interest. Adam shares his personal victory of watching his 401k halve in 2008, then maxing contributions every year since, on his father's advice. Consistent saving works.

Next, capture your full 401k match (it's free money), fund a Roth IRA if eligible, max your 401k ($23,500 under 50, $30,000+ over), then build a taxable account for flexibility. This three-bucket strategy—traditional, Roth, and taxable—creates what Adam calls a "tax menu" in retirement where you pick your annual tax bill.

For families with kids, 529 plans come sixth, but with warnings. Don't overfund them. Don't prioritize them over retirement. You can borrow for college; you can't borrow for retirement. Florida's prepaid plan gets special mention, guaranteeing lock-in-state tuition rates even if you move away.

The optional seventh step, kids' "liftoff accounts," brings up a debate about setting children up versus letting them struggle appropriately. Adam teaches investing through small UTMA accounts where his kids compete for returns. In fact, his son’s been crushing it with a prescient Fortnite-adjacent investment!

Key Topics:

• America's Emergency Fund Crisis (06:57)
• Emergency Fund as Credit Card Buffer (07:49)
• 401k Match Priority (14:20)
• Roth IRA Eligibility & Benefits (15:47)
• Maxing 401k Strategy (16:45)
• Taxable Account Flexibility (20:34)
• 529 Plans & College Savings (24:13)
• Kids' Liftoff Accounts Debate (30:17)

This podcast is brought to you by Joey Loss, CFP®, Adam Van Wie, CFP®, and Strivus Wealth Partners. Through Strivus, Joey and Adam provide financial planning and investment management services to clients across the country from their home base in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

You can find show notes and transcript of the conversations here: Strivus Wealth - Wealth Unplugged.

Follow Joey & Strivus on Social Media:

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"If in our job, we got a retirement plan 88% wrong, I think we would rightfully lose our jobs, or at least I would hope we should."

In today’s installment of Market Chatter, Joey Loss and Adam Van Wie of Strivus Wealth Partners dissect the Bureau of Labor Statistics revision that wiped out 258,000 jobs—88% of the reported job creation from the past two months—and what this institutional failure means for Fed policy, market volatility, and your portfolio.

The timing couldn't have been worse. Wednesday, Powell stands firm on no rate cuts, despite two dissenters on his board (the first time since the 1990s). Friday, the BLS essentially admits: "Oops, those jobs we've been counting? Most of them never existed." The original forecast called for 100,000 new jobs; reality delivered around 70,000. But the real bombshell is that revisions have erased nearly 90% of previously reported job growth.

More than bureaucratic incompetence, this is market-moving mayhem. The Fed makes critical policy decisions based on these numbers. Investors gauge economic health through this lens. When your data is 88% wrong, everyone's flying blind. The CME Fed Watch tool went haywire, swinging 60% in both directions within 48 hours.

Joey and Adam pivot to portfolio implications. Growth stocks continue their mysterious dominance—up 17% last quarter, while some value funds actually lost money. Historical patterns suggest owning both, but timing the switch is a fool's errand. The Mag Seven defy gravity in every economic environment, while small caps languish in a 15-year slump.

There’s a silver lining, though. The democratization of investing through zero-fee trading has created an army of dip-buyers. Robinhood deserves credit—when you can invest $10 with zero fees into funds owning thousands of companies, wealth-building becomes accessible to everyone.

Looking ahead, expect volatility through September (traders returning from the Hamptons), but Q4 historically delivers Santa Claus rallies. With housing markets shifting from seller's paradise to buyer's opportunity and rate cuts now virtually guaranteed, positioning matters more than ever.

Key Topics:

• Fed Meeting on Rate Cuts & Two Dissenters (00:52)
• Market Reaction & Institutional Incompetence (03:32)
• Rate Cut Probability Swings (12:10)
• Housing Market Shifts (14:01)
• Diversification Matters (16:58)
• Zero-Fee Trading Revolution (18:52)
• Seasonal Volatility Patterns (22:51)

This podcast is brought to you by Joey Loss, CFP®, Adam Van Wie, CFP®, and Strivus Wealth Partners. Through Strivus, Joey and Adam provide financial planning and investment management services to clients across the country from their home base in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

You can find show notes and transcript of the conversations here: Strivus Wealth - Wealth Unplugged.

Follow Joey & Strivus on Social Media:

• Instagram
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Read our audio, video, and written content disclaimer here.

“When you understand taxes, there’s so much that you can do that when you add them together, they really do make a difference.”

Today, Joey breaks down 15 key changes in the new 900-page tax bill—what’s already in effect, what’s changing, and how it impacts your income, investments, business, and retirement.

First, the big picture: the U.S. deficit sits at $36 trillion. This tax bill, while aimed at economic growth, is expected to add another $5 trillion to the deficit in the next decade.

Joey walks through three possible deficit solutions—print money (hello, inflation!), raise taxes (bad for growth), or cut taxes and encourage spending. The bill leans into the third. Tax brackets stay low, tips and overtime see new exemptions, and universal deductions for charitable giving finally throw a bone to the 90% who don’t itemize.

Adjusted gross income (AGI) gets a break with smarter 529 rules and the new MAGA account—a $500–$1,000 government-funded growth account for each US Citizen born between 2025 and 2028.

Seniors win big with a bonus standard deduction that effectively erases taxes for those living on Social Security. Business owners can breathe easier with a now-permanent 20% QBI deduction. And if you’re living in a high-tax state, the SALT cap just jumped from $10K to $40K.

Caveat: EV credits vanish after September, so act fast. Meanwhile, the estate exemption stays at $15M per person, avoiding massive tax burdens for wealth transfers—at least for now.

Tax policy may be nerdy, but smart planning can meaningfully boost your nest egg over time. Don’t ignore the small stuff—it adds up.

Key Topics:

• U.S. Deficit & Economic Strategy (00:05)
• New Tax Brackets & Income Planning (06:58)
• Tips, Overtime & Investment Income (10:37)
• Universal Charitable Deduction (12:50)
• 529 Expansion & MAGA Accounts (14:40)
• Senior Deductions & Social Security (19:31)
• QBI Deduction & SALT Cap (21:54)
• EV Credit Expiration (25:50)
• Estate Tax Exemption Made Permanent (26:53)

This podcast is brought to you by Joey Loss, CFP®, Adam Van Wie, CFP®, and Strivus Wealth Partners. Through Strivus, Joey and Adam provide financial planning and investment management services to clients across the country from their home base in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

You can find show notes and transcript of the conversations here: Strivus Wealth - Wealth Unplugged.

Follow Joey & Strivus on Social Media:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter (X)

Read our audio, video, and written content disclaimer here.