Market Predictions for 2026: Hits, Misses, and Reality

Our New Retirement Resource for Ford, GM & Stellantis Employees

🎯 Not sure where you stand with your retirement plan? Schedule your Complete Planning Review: https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review [https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review] Matt and Steve share a brand-new free resource built specifically for Ford, GM, and Stellantis employees preparing for retirement. In this episode, they walk through their new website, explain the updated Auto Worker’s Guide to Lump Sum Pensions, and break down some of the biggest financial decisions auto workers face. From pension versus lump sum choices to Social Security, annuities, healthcare, and retirement income planning, the conversation highlights why these “million-dollar decisions” deserve careful planning and personalized guidance. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 📚 Free Retirement Resource: A no-barrier education hub for “big three” retirees 🚗 Pension vs. Lump Sum: Why this decision impacts your entire retirement 📉 Interest Rates Matter: How rates can dramatically affect lump sum values 🛡️ Survivor Planning: Important considerations for spouses and beneficiaries 🧩 Hybrid Income Strategies: Combining pensions, annuities, and investments thoughtfully Big Three Retiree: https://www.bigthreeretiree.com/ [https://www.bigthreeretiree.com/] Learn more about us: https://www.rwpaul.com/our-firm [https://www.rwpaul.com/our-firm]  Contact Matt & Steve: https://www.rwpaul.com/contact [https://www.rwpaul.com/contact]  Phone: 248-305-9911 Find us on YouTube: https://bit.ly/481OA51 [https://bit.ly/481OA51]

Financial Hot Takes Under the Microscope

🎯 Not sure where you stand with your retirement plan? Schedule your Complete Planning Review: https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review [https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review] Everyone’s got an opinion about money (especially the people with a book deal or a TV show). Some of that advice is useful, and some of it sounds better on a stage than it works in real life. Today, Matt & Steve put these popular financial opinions under the microscope. Financial hot takes can be entertaining, motivating, and occasionally… unhinged. The key is knowing which advice fits your life and circumstances and ignore the irrelevant stuff. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 🪙 Kiyosaki’s Strategy: Heavy bets on crypto and metals come with major risk 💵 Emergency Fund Debate: Too much cash can quietly lose to inflation 📊 Net Worth Tracking: Awareness matters, but obsession can backfire 📉 Withdrawal Rates: Overestimating returns can derail retirement plans 🤖 AI Predictions: Betting on future abundance is not a current strategy Learn more about us: https://www.rwpaul.com/our-firm [https://www.rwpaul.com/our-firm]  Contact Matt & Steve: https://www.rwpaul.com/contact [https://www.rwpaul.com/contact]  Phone: 248-305-9911 Find us on YouTube: https://bit.ly/481OA51 [https://bit.ly/481OA51]

Market Predictions for 2026: Hits, Misses, and Reality

🎯 Not sure where you stand with your retirement plan? Schedule your Complete Planning Review: https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review [https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review]  Every new year brings bold market predictions and plenty of confident opinions. But how much of that noise actually matters for your retirement? In this episode, Matt & Steve look back at what forecasters said last year, what really happened, and what’s already being predicted for 2026. And because no prediction show is complete without a little honesty, we wrap things up with a Grumpy Grandpa reminder about risk, reality, and expectations.  Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 🔍 2025 Predictions Review: What forecasters got right, and where they were wrong 📊 Forecast Accuracy Check: Why predictions often miss the mark 🔮 2026 Market Outlook: Big themes and expectations ahead 📉 Volatility & Strategy: How retirees should think about uncertainty Learn more about us: https://www.rwpaul.com/our-firm [https://www.rwpaul.com/our-firm]  Contact Matt & Steve: https://www.rwpaul.com/contact [https://www.rwpaul.com/contact]  Phone: 248-305-9911 Find us on YouTube: https://bit.ly/481OA51 [https://bit.ly/481OA51]

New Year, New Rules: Social Security Changes for 2026

🎯 Not sure where you stand with your retirement plan? Schedule your Complete Planning Review: https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review [https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review] Did your Social Security check actually go up in 2026 or did Medicare quietly take some of it back? A new year brings new updates, and 2026 is no exception when it comes to Social Security.  Even small rule changes can have a meaningful impact on your retirement income. Today, we break down what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and why Social Security decisions should never be made in isolation. Whether you’re already collecting benefits or getting close to filing, this conversation helps you think through how these updates fit into a broader retirement strategy, not just a calendar date. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 💵 Cost-of-Living Adjustments vs. Medicare Premiums – Why raises don’t always feel like raises 🧾 Taxes & the New Senior Deduction – What it does (and doesn’t) mean for Social Security taxation ⏳ When to File for Benefits – Early, full retirement age, or delayed strategies ⚖️ Break-Even & Longevity Considerations – Why health and life expectancy matter 🔄 Spousal & Survivor Strategies – Coordinating benefits as a couple Learn more about us: https://www.rwpaul.com/our-firm [https://www.rwpaul.com/our-firm]  Contact Matt & Steve: https://www.rwpaul.com/contact [https://www.rwpaul.com/contact]  Phone: 248-305-9911 Find us on YouTube: https://bit.ly/481OA51 [https://bit.ly/481OA51]

Are We in an AI Bubble?

🎯 Not sure where you stand with your retirement plan? Schedule your Complete Planning Review: https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review [https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review] Artificial Intelligence is transforming everything, but is the hype getting ahead of reality?  This video tackles one of the biggest investor questions of 2025: Are we in an AI bubble? With markets up 20% three years in a row and Nvidia now worth over $5 trillion, it’s easy to wonder if history is repeating itself. The Pauls break down how today’s AI boom compares to past manias — from the dot-com era to railroad stocks in the 1800s — and why the fundamentals behind AI might make this time different. They also explain how they’re managing portfolios in this environment, why trimming oversized positions is smart, and how retirees can protect gains without missing future growth. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 💡 Defining a Bubble: What history teaches us from railroads to dot-coms. 📊 Fundamentals vs. Hype: Why AI may not be another Pets.com. 💸 Portfolio Strategy: How The Pauls are trimming risk and locking in gains. 🏦 Retiree Focus: Preserving income and capital in a euphoric market. 🌍 Diversify Smartly: Why international and value stocks may hold better opportunity. 🔮 Prediction Preview: What they’ll be watching as AI evolves into 2026. Learn more about us: https://www.rwpaul.com/our-firm [https://www.rwpaul.com/our-firm]  Contact Matt & Steve: https://www.rwpaul.com/contact [https://www.rwpaul.com/contact]  Phone: 248-305-9911 Find us on YouTube: https://bit.ly/481OA51 [https://bit.ly/481OA51]