Explore every episode of the podcast Market MakeHer Podcast
Dive into the complete episode list for Market MakeHer Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
105: The Ghost of Dot-Com Past is Haunting AI Investors (Part 2)
19 Mar 2026
00:35:42
We're continuing our deep-dive into one of the most fascinating moments in market history: the dot-com bubble - and what happened after it burst.
[This is part 2; listen to episode 101 for part 1!]
You’ve probably heard of companies like Pets.com, the infamous dot-com failure, and Amazon, which somehow survived a 90% stock collapse and went on to become one of the most powerful companies in the world. But what actually separated the companies that failed from the ones that survived?
Jess Inskip walks us through the key lesson investors learned the hard way: growth alone isn’t enough. Companies need a real “path to profitability” and “free cash flow.”
And here’s why this matters today: Every time a new AI breakthrough hits the market, whether it’s DeepSeek, Claude, or the next big model, investors start asking the same question they asked during the dot-com era: Who will actually survive this technological shift?
Together we unpack:
The rise and fall of Pets.com, the poster child of dot-com excess
How Amazon survived a 90% crash and became a dominant company
Why investors became obsessed with free cash flow and burn rate after the bubble
How the crash reshaped the tech industry and investing behavior
And why the ghost of the dot-com bubble is still haunting today’s AI boom
If you want to understand why markets react the way they do to revolutionary technology, this episode will give you the historical context that is showing up in markets todaaayy!
Make good choices. ;)
Episode note: About 23 minutes in, Jess mentions "bar codes," but she meant "QR Codes" - FYI.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
104: Okay, But What Even Is an Index Fund?
12 Mar 2026
00:35:28
Don’t Beat the Market; Be the Market.
You hear about index funds everywhere…on TikTok, from your finance friends, even on our Market MakeHer merch (yes, the “Index Funds and Chill Shirt” is real). But what are they, really? And why do people say we should have them in our portfolio?
In this episode, I asked Jess to break it all down for us, starting with the jargon. We dig into why index funds are the simplest way to invest and why they’re considered the foundation of most long-term portfolios.
Plus, we take a quick trip back to the 1970s for the surprisingly dramatic story of how the first index fund was created and why people once called it “Bogle’s Folly.” Spoiler: it changed everything. Spoiler from the spoiler: markets are constantly innovating and changing.
If you’ve ever wondered where to start with investing, this one’s for you. By the end, you’ll understand exactly how index funds work and why just “being the market” can sometimes be the smartest move of all.
EducAction To-Do List:
Check your 401(k) or IRA: Do you already own an index fund? Many retirement plans default to them.
Compare expense ratios: If you own mutual funds, look up their fees. Are index funds cheaper?
Think about your goals: Do you want broad exposure (total market) or focused exposure (like a sector)?
Try dollar-cost averaging: Start small and invest consistently, instead of worrying about timing the market.
If you enjoyed this episode:
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Share it with a friend who’s just starting to invest.
Leave us a review—your feedback helps more people find Market MakeHer.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
96. Top-Down Investing Framework: Time to Zoom Out
04 Jul 2025
00:32:44
Has anyone ever told you a “hot tip” about a stock to buy? Or do you see suggestions about sectors ETFs to invest in right now on TV or social media because it’s a good time to invest in “xyz industry” for “___” reason?
We’re going to learn how to zoom out, look at all the factors, and actually figure out if a company or industry is a good investment for our individual investing styles. This week, Jess Inskip teaches me, Jessie DeNuit, (and all of you 😉) about “top-down investing,” a strategy that starts with the economy and works its way down to the stock level. It’s about understanding what’s happening in the world, figuring out which sectors benefit, and then zooming in on specific companies.
We cover:
How to assess the current economic environment using real-world clues
Why sectors matter and how they respond to changes in growth, inflation, and interest rates
How to connect the dots from macro trends → sectors → stocks
If you’ve ever felt like your investing decisions are based on isolated info or gut feelings, this episode will help you build a more thoughtful, step-by-step approach. Top-down investing gave me context and confidence - and I think it will for you too. 🔮✨
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
6. Stock Market Update: Who Is "The Fed?" What's Happening w/Inflation and the Labor Market?
05 Jul 2023
00:15:36
What is the stock market doing today? What's going on with inflation? Learn this and more in our July 2023 "SMU."
The stock market is all around you!
We aren’t just talking about the current state of the stock market - we’re understanding how the things that are currently happening in the U.S. (and the world) affect the “forward-looking” value of stocks.
We’ve been laying down the foundation of what the stock market is, and now, we’re going to talk about what the current state of the stock market looks like, so that we can become savvy investors. Then, we can start getting into “the how” (that is, how to put this all into action for yourself).
Things we discussed in Ep. 06:
July 2023 theme of the market - inflation (surprise)
Who is “the Fed” and why do we care?
Monetary Policy (interest rates, reserves, banks)
How does the Fed’s decisions affect the stock market?
The labor market is back to where it was pre-pandemic, but we’re seeing different age ranges in the labor market (i.e. 50+ workers left during the pandemic). What will this mean?
This is what it sounds like, when the Hawk cries.
We’re probably going to need more automation and/or immigration to keep up with the labor needs.
Why does any of this matter and what does it have to do with stocks?
Restrictive policy (raising interest rates) makes the stock market go on sale 😉
Bull Market vs Bear Market (hint: + or - 20%)
How will the stock market change in the next 10 - 20 years?
Labor market report is coming!
Earnings season is coming!
What should we name these updates?
Upcoming episodes: Jess will teach us how to have an investment thesis, so that we can make wise decisions while we pay attention to what’s happening in the world, and ultimately, the stock market. We have another educational episode coming up, then we’ll learn how to pick a brokerage firm/company, and theeennnn we’ll be on our way to building our own portfolios. Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe for updates!
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
5. Types of Brokerage Accounts and Tax Differences
27 Jun 2023
00:20:43
In Episode 5 of the Market MakeHer Podcast, you’ll learn about the different brokerage account types and how you might be taxed on this kind of investment income. Yes, we’re talking about taxes, one of the two things in life you can’t avoid. 👻
Don’t stress too much over taxes though, your brokerage firm is there to make it simple for you and will send you the appropriate form(s). We’ll break down how it all works and share other valuable information and resources.
What we discussed in Ep. 05:
Taxable accounts and Non-taxable accounts
tax-deferred or retirement (IRAs, not 401Ks - yet)
Individual account vs Joint account
Traditional IRA vs Roth IRA
There’s also a Rollover IRA account type
Beneficiaries!!
Separate Log-ins!!
Capital Gains and Dividends
Taxable Events - everything is tracked and reported to the IRS
“Know Your Client Rule”
Offsetting tax implications with losses
We’re starting to get into strategy
Everyone has a unique income situation and strategy
IRS changes things - look at irs.gov to see current limits and tax info
How Jess and Jessie would do in a zombie apocalypse
And a question from one of our listeners
Be sure to subscribe to be alerted about our next episodes to come, and don't forget to check out the Episode Equity for this episode!
Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast and LLC with a mission to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We believe that investing is fo
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
4. What Are Mutual Funds and ETFs?
20 Jun 2023
00:26:10
In Episode 4 of the Market MakeHer Podcast, Jess Inskip teaches us what mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are and how they work - and whew - we learned a lot! If you couldn’t take notes while you listened, don’t worry - Jess wrote an article to help explain it in the Episode Equity for the Episode 4 page of the site and Jessie took notes, which can be found in the Dividends section of the site.
Here are some things we learned in Episode 04:
The differences between mutual funds and ETFs
Active vs Passive
You can’t just buy the whole S&P 500, but you can buy a mirror of it
Allll the types of funds that are out there (including Target Date Funds - yes, we will do a retirement episode!)
Stocks are securities, but securities are so much more than stock (i.e. Stocks, Bonds, Funds, Money Markets - oh my!)
Portfolios are like an easter egg basket analogy
Mutual Funds are like a group gift analogy (Bonds are “IOUs” - duh)
Mutual Fund ticker symbols always has 5 letters and ends in "X"
Jessie’s light bulb moment about Primary vs Secondary Markets
Fees Fees Fees! (we also need to do an entire episode about taxes)
How Mutual Funds and ETFs could make you money
“The Greeks” and what Beta means - definitely marinating on this one
How often Jessie says "like" - all the time apparently
Bonus Tip: Don't leave your money sitting in a Money Market in your Brokerage Account! You have to take that money and then invest it in stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, etc.
There was also a surprise pop-in visit from Darling Lady Darla, which you can enjoy on our YouTube channel.
As always, you can send us any questions you have about Mutual Funds, ETFs, or anything about the Stock Market at www.marketmakeherpodcast.com/contact-us or on any of our social channels. We are keeping them all organized to be answered in the appropriate episode. And PRETTY PLEASE, if you’re learning something from these episodes - share with your friends, leave us a review, subscribe - you know the deal. <3
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
3. What is a Stock (and how does a stock make money)?
12 Jun 2023
00:22:30
In Episode 03 of the Market MakeHer Podcast, Jessie asks Jess: what stocks are, how stocks work, why people buy stocks, and how to understand the value of a stock. Don't forget that you can get more "Episode Equity" on the Ep. 03 page of our website: https://www.marketmakeherpodcast.com/episode/ep-3-what-is-a-stock What We Learned: 1. A stock is a type of investment that gives you a share of ownership in a company. 2. A company's profitability can be measured through earnings per share (EPS) and profit margin. 3. A company reports its earnings quarterly, it provides information about its past quarter performance and future quarter expectations, which can impact the value of its stock. 4. It is good to see increasing EPS and revenue, expanding profit margins, and optimistic forward looking guidance
Upcoming: On the next episodes we will talk about Mutual Funds and 401(k) accounts - subscribe to be alerted when these episodes drop! You can also submit your questions on our website for the next episodes. Keep the conversation going on our social media channels!
Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast and LLC with a mission to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We believe that investing is for everyone and that's why we break down complex investing topics (from "Her" perspective), show you free tools/resources on our podcast, and offer a ton of free educational content on our website!
Important Disclosures:
Market MakeHer podcast is unsponsored at the time of recording.
Tools and resources mentioned are for informational and educ
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
2. Understanding the Stock Market
02 Jun 2023
00:23:20
In Episode 02 of the Market MakeHer Podcast, we learn what the stock market actually is (with shopping analogies 👜) and how the overall performance of the stock market is measured. In true Market MakeHer fashion, Jess explains these elusive concepts to us in more simplified language, and Jessie stops her to ask questions, define jargon, and break things down in even more relatable terms.
And speaking of "fashion" - the theme for today's episode was "hats" (hence the witch hat and Nasdaq bucket hat). We're open to episode theme suggestions, so be sure to send us your ideas for the video version of this podcast.
What we learned in Episode 02: * What the stock market is and how it is similar to those buy/sell/trade clothing stores (it even has open and closing hours: 9:30 am - 4:00 pm EST) * What the 3 major indexes are (also called "indices" pronounced in-dih-sees) and how they help us measure the "health" of the stock market - the value of all the stocks. * Difference between "price weighted" and "market cap weighted" * Difference between micro-cap, small-cap, mid-cap, and large-cap (these things are not necessary to know right now at a beginner level, but are helpful terms to keep in mind for later) * What are "points" when we hear that "x" index went up or down "100 points," for example? * How do consumers influence the performance of the stock market? * How does "fiscal policy" (what the government does) influence stock value? And how things like "the U.S. debt ceiling," for example, influence stock prices. * The consumers have the power - where we spend our hard-earned money matters ;)
Episode 02 - Simplified and Summed Up: The stock market is a "place" where a collection of stocks are bought and sold. A brokerage firm connects you to this place for you to buy and sell your stocks. The stock market is measured collectively through indexes/indices. Consumers influence sales by deciding where they spend their money, which makes the value of stocks go up and down. Stocks are commonly measured on 3 major indices/indexes (Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, Nasdaq - the S&P 500 is the best gauge of how the market is performing because it has the most variety) and this is how we get an idea of how the stock market is performing overall. Learning how to measure the stock market is not super important right now, but we go over some of these things briefly in case you ever really want to und
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
1. What is Self-Directed Investing?
25 May 2023
00:16:43
Welcome to Market MakeHer, a podcast designed to help anyone who has ever felt kept in the dark about how stock market investing works achieve financial empowerment. In this inaugural episode, join us as we introduce ourselves and share our mission of providing inclusive and accessible financial education for all - from HER perspective. We'll also give you a sneak peek of what's to come, as we break down complex investing concepts into simple, easy-to-understand terms and explain how the investing landscape has changed in the self-directed investing world.
Meet your hosts: Jess Inskip is the financial expert who gave up her financial licenses to be able to teach us how to invest (did you know that the finance industry is more regulated than the healthcare industry?) and Jessie DeNuit is a digital marketer by trade and life-long learner wanting to understand everything there is to know about investing in the stock market and making that money work! Whether you're a seasoned investor or new to the world of stocks, Market MakeHer is your go-to resource for mastering the market and achieving your financial investment goals. Watch us on YouTube, listen wherever you listen to podcasts, and check out our website for even more free investment education resources: www.marketmakeherpodcast.com And here is that BrokerCheck website we mentioned, so you can tell if the people you are getting your investment information from are legit: https://brokercheck.finra.org/ (you can find Jessica Inskip on there for sure). Thanks for listening, and please subscribe! $$$$$
Watch us on YouTube to see our weekly theme or screen in action. 🌚🌞 Join our Market MakeHer Community of Fin-Fatales on FaceBook 😎💚
Market MakeHer provides inclusive and accessible investing education for women and anyone who has ever felt kept in the dark from learning how to invest in the stock market by breaking down complex topics in an easy-to-understand, relatable manner - from Her perspective. We provide educational investing content, not advice. Investing involves risk - we are here to teach you how to navigate and understand the stock mar
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Market MakeHer Trailer
23 May 2023
00:01:36
Welcome to Market MakeHer - a stock market education podcast making financial literacy accessible to all, but taught from Her perspective.
Does the world of investing seem confusing and unreachable to you? Have you ever felt kept in the dark from understanding how to invest in the stock market yourself?
Jess Inskip and Jessie DeNuit created a podcast that breaks down complex investing topics in an easy-to-understand manner, empowering listeners to navigate the market with confidence. Join us as we break barriers and make a mark in the finance world together!
Watch us on YouTube to see our weekly theme or screen in action. 🌚🌞 Join our Market MakeHer Community of Fin-Fatales on FaceBook 😎💚
Market MakeHer provides inclusive and accessible investing education for women and anyone who has ever felt kept in the dark from learning how to invest in the stock market by breaking down complex topics in an easy-to-understand, relatable manner - from Her perspective. We provide educational investing content, not advice. Investing involves risk - we are here to teach you how to navigate and understand the stock market.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
95. Dividend Investing: Not Just for Retirees
27 Jun 2025
00:26:26
What are dividend stocks and how do they work for you in your investing portfolio? Maybe you already know what a dividend is, but do you know how to actually use that knowledge to build a better portfolio? In this episode, Jess Inskip (the investing expert) breaks down dividend investing in a way that finally made it click for me (Jessie DeNuit - the novice). We’re not just learning what dividends are, but how they can support different investing goals.
We talk about:
How dividend stocks differ from growth stocks
What makes a dividend stock high-quality (spoiler: it’s not just about yield)
The key dividend dates you need to know so you actually get paid
How to look at Beta when choosing dividend stocks to smooth volatility in portfolios
How dividend stocks can add income, stability, or reinvestment power to your strategy
Whether you’re investing for the long haul or just getting started, this episode will help you see dividends as more than a bonus—they’re a tool. Learn how to use them wisely. ✨
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
94. It’s in the Name – Investing Jargon That Actually Makes Sense (Replay)
20 Jun 2025
00:25:34
Sometimes, the smartest move you can make is going back to the basics. After 33 episodes of learning this language, I realized something: investing terms aren’t just jargon—they’re building blocks. Terms compound, just like your money should!
And when you understand them in the right order, everything clicks. That’s why we’re replaying this episode. Jess walks me through essential concepts like capital, stocks, IPOs, mutual funds, ETFs, market cap, dividends, and more, layered in a way that makes the market make actual sense.
Whether you're just starting out or need a refresher, this episode is proof that financial literacy isn’t complicated when it's explained clearly. And yes, most of it really is in the name.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
93. Fed Deep Dive, Part 4: The Price of a Political Fed and the Volcker Wake-Up Call
13 Jun 2025
00:36:57
This is the era where the Fed found its backbone...and yeah, it was messy.
We start with how the Fed pegged interest rates during World War II to keep government borrowing cheap, which meant it couldn’t raise rates, even as inflation hit 20% in 1947. Yeah… not ideal. That moment of tension led to the 1951 Treasury-Fed Accord, where the Fed basically said, “We need boundaries.” And just like that, monetary policy and politics went on a much-needed break.
But the real story relevant to today? The 1970s. Enter: stagflation... a nightmare mix of high inflation and high unemployment. And then comes Paul Volcker, the Fed Chair who didn’t just adjust rates, he detonated them. He ditched the traditional playbook and targeted the money supply instead of interest rates, sending borrowing costs through the roof to crush inflation expectations. Two back-to-back recessions followed… but inflation finally came down. And the Fed? It got its credibility back.
It was controversial, painful, and totally necessary. And now, with inflation heating up again, you can see why Papa Powell idolizes Volcker, because price stability isn’t just one goal. It’s the foundation for everything else.
So if you’ve ever wondered why the Fed is allergic to political pressure, why it fights inflation so hard, or why mortgage rates are making you cry, this episode explains exactly how we got here.
The big takeaway?
✨ The Fed learned that price stability is the foundation of everything else: jobs, growth, and economic confidence.
✨ And history shows us what happens when the Fed’s priorities get steered by politics instead of policy.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
92. Fed Deep Dive, Part 3: The Fed’s Origin Story—from Reaction to Responsibility
06 Jun 2025
00:38:20
Before the Fed existed, J.P. Morgan literally had to bail out the banking system. That’s when the U.S. realized depending on wealthy individuals to prevent financial collapse wasn’t sustainable—and the Federal Reserve was born.
In this episode, I (Jessie!) try to wrap my head around how the Fed went from an emergency backstop in 1913 to one of the most powerful institutions in the world. Jess helps me trace the Fed’s messy glow-up: from freezing during the Great Depression to gaining real tools and some independence after World War II.
Here’s what we learned:
The Fed wasn’t created to run the economy—it was just supposed to stop bank panics.
It failed hard in the 1930s, so Congress gave it more power and structure.
During WWII, it worked closely with the Treasury, but inflation forced a breakup in 1951.
That split gave us the independent Fed we have today—aka the one that’s not supposed to take political orders.
It turns out, Fed independence isn’t just some finance nerd hill to die on—it’s what helps protect the entire economy from political chaos.
If you’re like me and thought, “Wait, the Fed didn’t always manage the economy?”—this episode is for you. And yes, we’ve got more Fed deep dives coming. Because wow… there’s a lot more to unpack.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
91. Listener Q&A: The Taco Trade, Stock Analysis, and Money Market Funds
30 May 2025
00:24:28
In this episode of Market MakeHer, we’re answering your questions and breaking them down in a way that actually makes sense. Questions we answered:
What the Taco Trade is (yes, it involves tariffs, chicken, and market moves)
How to figure out if a stock is “good”, including forward P/E ratios, earnings growth expectations, and analyst reports
The difference between High-Yield Savings Accounts and Money Market Funds, and how rising or falling interest rates impact both
And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter—we’re packing it with more consistent, helpful, and easy-to-understand investing content to help you stay fin-fluent.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
90. How To Choose A Brokerage Firm and Open An Account
23 May 2025
00:47:58
Choosing the best brokerage firm for your investing needs might seem overwhelming, but we're here to help! Most brokerage firms now offer $0 account minimums and commission-free trades. They compete in their tools, features, and support. That’s where your needs come into play.
Your life will change. Maybe you’ll buy a home, get divorced, get married, start a business, have a baby, switch careers, or start planning for a big goal like retirement or a dream vacation. Your brokerage should grow with you.
To find the right brokerage firm, ask yourself:
Do I want to learn as I go? Look for platforms with strong educational tools that explain the “why” behind each decision.
Is it easy to use, or just easy to look at? A clean interface is great, but it should also save you time and help you take action.
Do I prefer to manage money on my phone? If mobile is your main device, the app experience really matters.
What kinds of investments do I want access to? Beyond stocks and ETFs, consider if you’ll want funds, bonds, or retirement accounts like a Roth IRA.
How much research do I need to feel confident? If you like digging into details, look for screeners, data, and expert insights.
How much money am I starting with? If it’s a smaller amount, fractional investing will help you buy into big-name stocks without needing big money.
How involved do I want to be? If you’re short on time, you might prefer a platform that offers automated investing or robo-advisors.
Read the best brokerage guides I’ve already put together: 👇
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
89. Replay: The Fed Talks, the Market Decides—How Rates Really Get Set
16 May 2025
00:31:49
If you have debt or you have money, you’re impacted by the credit market, whether you realize it or not. It’s the largest market in the world, and it impacts everything from your mortgage and auto loan to the savings account you earn interest on. Understanding how it works can help you make smarter decisions about when to refinance, borrow, or invest.
Think the Fed controls your mortgage or car loan rate? Not exactly. In this replay, we unpack the real power player...the credit market. From the shape of the yield curve to trillions in government debt rolling over this July, the market ultimately calls the shots.
Your mortgage rate? It’s tied to the 10-year Treasury yield. Credit card and car loan rates? They follow the curve, too. We break down how the yield curve, built on U.S. government debt, sets the tone for borrowing and saving across the economy. While the Fed influences short-term rates, the market takes over from there, pricing long-term risk, setting interest rates, and moving your money.
So why does the government care? Because they’re rolling over a mountain of debt in July, and every tick higher on the 10-year makes that debt more expensive. Even top investors like Scott Bessent, a former Soros Fund CIO, are sounding the alarm on the U.S. government’s growing interest bill, keeping all eyes on the 10-year Treasury.
There’s never been a better time to understand how the credit market really works.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
88. Replay: The Stock Market’s 11 Sectors and When They Shine (or Struggle)
10 May 2025
00:33:02
Let’s break down how sector investing works—because sometimes, the easiest way to give your money a job is by starting with an entire sector instead of picking just one company.
In this episode, we explain the 11 sectors of the stock market using something called GICS—the Global Industry Classification Standard (sounds fancy, but we’ll make it make sense). You’ll learn the difference between cyclical sectors that thrive when the economy is booming (think financials, tech, consumer discretionary) and defensive sectors that hold strong even when times get tough (like healthcare, utilities, and consumer staples).
Money flows from one sector to the next as the economy moves through the business cycle. From early recovery to late-stage expansion to recession—every stage favors different sectors. We’ll show you how to spot the rotation, understand sector tailwinds and headwinds, and use that insight to build smarter investing ideas.
By the end, you’ll be able to answer: Am I playing offense or defense with my portfolio? And is it time to switch?
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
87. What Is P/E Ratio? Learn how to valuate a stock (Replay)
02 May 2025
00:33:01
How do you know if a stock is "on sale" or overpriced? It's time for a math refresher! In this replay of Market MakeHer podcast episode 59, we learn all about stock valuation and how to look at the price-to-earnings (p/e) ratio to make informed investing decisions. (We mentioned some stocks and referred to how they were performing back in October 2024 - FYI!)
🔮 P/E Ratio Demystified
"P/E ratio is just the price divided by earnings."
We teach you the math and give you real examples to make it make sense, but feel free to ask us a question!
🧟♀️🧠 Takeaways
Price alone does not determine if a stock is expensive.
Understanding PE ratios is crucial for stock picking.
P/E ratio is calculated by dividing the price by earnings.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
103: Fed Deep Dive Pt. 5: The Calm Before the Crisis
05 Mar 2026
00:33:12
Yes, we’re back down “The Fed” rabbit hole, err um, history lesson that we can learn from as self-directed investors. Okay, so this one surprised me. There was actually a time when the U.S. economy was… chill? From the mid-’80s to the mid-2000s, inflation stayed low, growth was steady, and recessions barely made a dent. Jess Inskip calls it The Great Moderation — basically the Fed’s calm era, when they learned that communication and credibility could stabilize the economy just as much as interest rates.
In this episode, we dig into how Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke helped turn “don’t panic” into policy, from the first-ever Fed statements to the now-famous dot plot. But (you knew there was a “but”)… that long stretch of calm also created a little too much confidence, setting the stage for what came next: the Great Financial Crisis.
So grab your coffee — we’re talking about the era when the Fed made it look easy… right before it got really hard.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
86. From Transitory to Tightening & Tariffs - Oh My! (Fed Deep Dive Pt. 2)
25 Apr 2025
00:29:33
In Part 2 of our mini-series on “The Federal Reserve aka The Fed,” we break down how the Fed responded to inflation, why they waited so long, and how their decisions affected everything—from interest rates and mortgage costs to job markets and financial markets. This was one of the fastest rate hike cycles in history! It was the result of a tricky balancing act between fighting inflation and protecting the recovering economy. By the way, Fed Powell referred to Tariffs as transitory again recently, and this has actually happened before - that’s why the Fed chooses his words very wisely, diction is one of the FOMC’s tools in their toolbox.
What You’ll Learn:
What the Fed thought was happening in 2021 (spoiler: they called it “transitory”)
How inflation kept rising—and why the Fed had to play catch-up
What aggressive rate hikes are actually supposed to do
And what we’ve learned (the hard way) about responding to supply-driven inflation
If you’ve been trying to understand how we got from 0% interest rates to 5.5% in under two years, this episode connects the dots. Because once you understand “the why” behind the Fed’s moves, the headlines make a lot more sense.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
85. Q2 Market Outlook & Goal Setting with the S-M-I-L-E Framework
18 Apr 2025
00:37:45
🎯 Grab the free bingo card link here and play along with us!
We're hitting pause to reflect, reset, and re-energize for the new quarter — both in the stock market and in our personal growth.
We revisit the goals we set with our signature S-M-I-L-E bingo card (yes, “Embrace the Chaos” really delivered last quarter), then break down what actually happened in the markets, including how tariff talk, falling confidence, and a shift in market leadership are shaping Q2.
We discuss:
What the market’s cautious tone means for investors
Why the Magnificent 7 stocks are losing steam
How smaller companies and international stocks are surprising everyone
What falling Treasury yields and wider credit spreads are telling us
And how to set fresh goals using the S-M-I-L-E framework: Skill Up, Monetize It, Invest Wisely, Level Up Relationships, and Embrace the Chaos
Join us as we close out one quarter and plan for the next — with intention, insight, and a little bit of market madness.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
84. Remix: When Yields Speak Louder Than Headlines
11 Apr 2025
00:32:49
Lately, the market’s been moving over 1,000 points a day. We call this volatility fueled by uncertainty. We’ve been talking about falling yields, rising rates, and now tariffs are back in the headlines… but what if the real story is in the credit market?
In this episode, we’re replaying one of our favorite breakdowns: bond vigilantes — who they are, how they got their name, and the role they’ve played in shaping market history. And with everything happening right now, it’s more relevant than ever.
We walk through what’s going on with the 10-year Treasury yield, why a major hedge fund’s exit triggered a wave of selling, and how a “buyer’s strike” in the bond market could turn into something even bigger. Jess shares why she thinks this yield surge might be what actually caught Trump’s attention, and what that means for the rally that followed.
We also tie in the basis trade and why volatility in the bond market can be a warning sign for the economy.
This episode brings historical context to today’s chaos — because once you understand the credit market, you start to see how it quietly drives everything else.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
83. How Tariffs Actually Impact the Markets
04 Apr 2025
00:37:30
You voted, we delivered — and barely slept. The market is TARIFF-IED! 🙃
In this episode, we interrupt our regularly scheduled Fed deep dive to break down the 2025 Trump tariffs shock and what it means for your portfolio. It's a tug-of-trade-war and self-directed investors shouldn't try to time the markets, but should be informed, prepared, and diversified.
You’ll learn what tariffs are, how these sweeping new tariffs are fueling inflation and shaking up the job market while putting the Fed in an impossible bind. We’ll walk you through the ripple effects on the U.S. dollar, Treasury yields, and how investors are rethinking their strategy in real time. Plus, we dig into what history teaches us about past trade wars — from the Smoot-Hawley Depression era to the 2018 showdown with China — and how those lessons apply now. History is echoing...
Check out these related episodes: 18. Understand the Yield Curve, Treasury Bonds... 47. The Recipe for Market Selloff: Carry Trade, Sahm Rule, Recession Fear 55. How did the stock market perform under Biden vs. Trump? 56. How to construct & Manage an Investment Portfolio 63. Elephant in the Stock Market: Trump Tariffs... 79. Investing Basics: Dollar Cost Averaging
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
82. Wait…That’s What Caused Inflation? The Fed Pt. 1
28 Mar 2025
00:35:26
If you’ve been hearing about inflation but aren’t totally sure what it means—or why everything suddenly got more expensive after the pandemic—this episode is for you.
We break down what inflation actually is and explain the real reasons prices went up: broken supply chains, government stimulus checks, rising wages, and energy shocks. It wasn’t just one thing—it was everything, all at once.
But here’s why this matters now: Fed Chair Jerome Powell is bringing back the word “transitory” to describe inflation again—this time because of tariffs. We explain what that word means, why it caused so much confusion the first time, and why using it again could be a big deal.
This is the first episode in our Fed Deep Dive series—where we connect the dots between the past, present, and what the Fed might do next.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
81. Corrections, Bear Markets & the Sentiment Disconnect: Are We Headed for a Lost Decade?
21 Mar 2025
00:33:32
In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most important (and misunderstood) topics in the stock market: what happens when things start to go south. We break down corrections, bear markets, and recessions—and how to tell the difference between them—while also exploring whether we could be on the verge of another "lost decade" for investors.
We also take a closer look at the current disconnect between how people feel about the economy (sentiment) and what the numbers are actually showing. From cautious consumers and rising savings rates to record-high household debt and steady earnings growth, the story is more nuanced than headlines suggest.
If you're feeling uncertain about where the market is headed or what it all means for your portfolio, we’ve got you. We walk through smart investing strategies, explain the importance of asset allocation (especially as you approach retirement), and share how to stay focused when the noise gets loud.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
80. What A Recession Is and How the Business Cycle Informs Us
14 Mar 2025
00:29:25
🚨 Recession Watch: What’s Happening in the Markets? 🚨
Major banks are raising red flags about a potential recession, pointing to uncertainty around trade, tariffs, and inflation. If there’s one thing the market hates, it’s uncertainty—it fuels volatility.
As of March 13, 2025, the S&P 500 has officially entered correction territory, meaning it has dropped 10% from its recent highs. Corrections like this are a normal part of market cycles.
🔍 Looking Back: This episode was recorded on September 6, 2024. Back then, the S&P 500 was at the same levels we saw in late August/early September, driven by recession fears and a spike in unemployment—concerns that led the Fed to cut rates by 0.50% for the first time.
📅 Looking Ahead: Fast forward to today, and guess what? The next Federal Reserve rate decision is coming up on March 19, 2025, at 2 PM ET.
So let’s stay calm, collected, and calculated as we break down: ✅ What a recession is ✅ How it’s officially declared ✅ How it fits into today’s market landscape
📉 Sector FYI: Consumer discretionary stocks are taking the hardest hit this year, down 13.4% year-to-date, with Tesla (TSLA) leading the decline as the sector’s biggest component.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
79. Investing Basics: Compound Interest, Dollar Cost Averaging, Money Mindset
07 Mar 2025
00:28:25
We're getting back to basics with some Investing 101 and money psychology. We'll discuss what first-time self-directed investors need to know to get started on your investing journey and good concepts for all investors to think about in their investing strategy...and we'll go over some important jargony terms to easily understand, so that you don't get overwhelmed.
Investing involves risk, but that doesn't mean you should be afraid to learn how to make your money make money! We can all do it. Your knowledge compounds just like your money can and so many barriers to entry have already been broken!
Things to remember:
*Time in the market is better than timing the market.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
78. Lessons from Warren Buffett’s Annual Letter to Shareholders
01 Mar 2025
00:30:29
We are diving into Warren Buffett’s latest shareholder letter for 2024—so you don’t have to! We’ll break down his biggest takeaways in plain English for you: why Berkshire Hathaway is sitting on a mountain of cash, what Buffett’s recent stock moves say about the market, and how his long-term investing mindset has helped him beat Wall Street for decades.
Plus, we’ll talk about his bets on Japan, why he openly admits to making mistakes (unlike most CEOs), and what Berkshire’s future looks like as Greg Abel gets ready to take the reins. If you’ve ever wanted to invest like the Oracle of Omaha, this episode is packed with insights you can actually use.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
77. Margin Trading & Investing Explained
21 Feb 2025
00:43:49
This is an advanced episode, but also a very important episode to help you understand market mechanics and put another piece together in the stock market puzzle we are conquering - with education! We gave you a few replay episodes before this one to help you prepare for a heavy dose of knowledge, so buckle up, because we’re about to math real hard.
What is Margin Trading or Investing?
When you buy a stock on margin, you create the ability to borrow against those stocks. You are required to own a certain percentage of those stocks. Any equity or surplus owned in excess of those percentage requirements, you can create a loan and buy more stocks. A great analogy is a home equity line of credit, or HELOC. But a bit more complicated, because stocks are priced every milisecond, which means requirements change every day, and there are requirements on what you buy with that loan.
Risk Tolerance: High
Margin is extremely risky, it provides leverage which means you can make more than you deposit, but you can also lose more. It magnifies gains and losses. You can easily lose a lot of money with this type of investing, so you really gotta know what you’re getting yourself into with this type of account!
Shorting Stocks Is Extremely Risky
We’ll also discuss the trends on social media around shorting Meta stocks and others and how easily you can lose money quickly when attempting those kinds of trades.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
102. New to Investing? Start Here!
25 Feb 2026
00:34:16
This week’s episode is for our newbies, our beginner investors, and those who might need a little refresher check-in on their basic personal finance goals. Welcome to your investing education
If you feel completely in the dark when it comes to investing, or you're just getting started in your investing journey, this episode will illuminate you! ✨✨✨ We’ll give you “the why,” “the how,” and “what to do first.”
We start with why investing matters (prices rise over time, so your dollars lose buying power if they just sit). Then we zoom out to what the market actually does, more up years than down, and why the long-run average (~10.65%) only works for you if you stick around (remember that “time in the market is better than timing the market” thing).
You’ll see how compounding interest and dollar-cost averaging can turn into real progress over 5, 10, 15, and 20 years. We finish with the prerequisites: crushing credit-card debt (because you can’t out-invest it), building an emergency fund, and steps you can take to set yourself up for success.
By the end, you’ll have a simple, confidence-building checklist you can start today – you’ve got this!
If you want extra learning goodies, like a glossary of terms, or Jess and Jessie’s extra thoughts for the week: Sign up for our Newsletter!
Related Episodes: 12. How to Invest in the Stock Market (a step-by-step guide)
2. Understanding the Stock Market
24. Pay Yourself First
56. How to Construct and Manage an Investment Portfolio
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
76. Replay: AI Power Grid Pressure: The Price/Energy Ratio
14 Feb 2025
00:28:20
We are revisiting Episode 42, originally aired July 26, 2024, where we look at how AI Power Grid Pressure can also be a headwind to consider in your long-term AI investing strategy. Start with our AI Portfolio and Investment Thesis discussed in Episode 21 to understand the full AI investing picture. According to our very own Jess Inskip, "The real ‘P/E Risk’ isn't overhyped price to earnings. The risk is price to energy." (Get it? That's a P/E Ratio joke 👻) Most of us are invested in AI, whether we know it or not because the S&P 500 is mainly technology.
How Much Electricity Does Generative AI Use? Nvidia (NVDA) valuations are justified as the hyperscalers are top customers and we are seeing real earnings at incredible profit margins. The earnings potential makes sense. However, the energy consumption and subsequent pressure represent the real risk. Each Blackwell AI GPU sold by Nvidia consumes up to 1200 watts of power, so 3.5mn of them would consume 1.8GW of power in the US alone. (Consensus estimates 3.5b in GPU sales by 2027).
Validate Your Investment Thesis (What you eat, eats.) Look at the root of the problem with all of this AI grid pressure and see where the solutions might be (as in which companies are coming up with solutions for this bigger issue). "Sustainable AI" is still in it's infancy, but maybe there are some companies out there that are using AI for good and to help come up with solutions to some of these issues? Do your homework. 😉
AI Opportunities (but do your homework) The grid pressure is a longer-term risk, it does not mean the AI story has peaked yet: Opportunities still exist benefiting NVDA, AVGO, MRVL, AMD, and MU.
**Remember personal finance is personal, this is not advice. We educate you on how to do your own research to make the right wise investing decisions for yourself.**
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
75. $NVDA and the race to AGI: Your AI Investing Update
07 Feb 2025
00:38:12
Y’all asked us for it, here’s your AI update! Yes, we’re talking current landscape of AI investments, AI agents and AGI, of course Nvidia (beyond chips), CapEx Surges, the critical game race, disruption (yes deepseek), earnings, headwinds and more! We always want you to stay informed and help make sure you’re doing your “homework” as we say. Remember, diversification mitigates risk. ;)
✨ AI Question to Ponder: The big players in the Artificial Intelligence game are spending money to buy shovels to dig gold…who is selling the shovels?
🔮 As always, we’ll define the jargon and demystify it all for you. But if you are still left with questions, please feel free to submit them and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!
🌟 Watch Jess on Bloomberg A clip from Jess’ Bloomberg appearance that we discussed: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFvGZjdunpm/?hl=en
🛍 Funny Finance T-Shirts & Hats! Check out our new Market MakeHer Merch Shop! We’ll keep adding new, fun designs as we come up with them. When you purchase something from our shop, you help us continue our mission of providing REAL investing education for everyone, because everyone should have access to financial literacy! If you have any issues with an order, please email us and we will do our best to resolve them.
Our Other AI episodes:
21. Investing In AI | Building the Investment Thesis
37. Finding AI Stock Investing Ideas…
39. What is a stock split? (the NVDA stock split)
42. AI Under Power Grid Pressure: Price to Energy Ratio
50: SMU: NVDA Earnings, Fed Update…
57. Stock Market Update made with AI from our newsletter
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
74. Replay: Demystifying Stock Order Types in Trading
31 Jan 2025
00:35:52
This episode was first released on June 24, 2024. We’re replaying it for you for a reason! Think of it as a review of some of last year’s material before we get into all the investing topics we’re going to cover this year. 👩🏼🏫👩🏻🏫 We share our screen and actually show you how to place different order types at a brokerage firm - you can watch on Spotify or YouTube!
There are so many different ways to buy and sell securities in your brokerage account. What does Bid and Ask mean? What is Stop and Limit Order? What are market orders? How many different Order Types are there and what is the difference? This is your ‘set it and forget it” overview of order types for trading securities through your brokerage firm.
Remember These Things: Take taxable events into account (capital gains, losses, selling before holding for 1 year, etc.). Don’t try to time the market. This is education, not advice. 😉
Limit Order vs Market Order:
Limit Order guarantees price not execution. Market Order guarantees execution.
We’ve already gone over Bid and Ask prices and how those market mechanics work in Episode 16 (on Dark Pools, PFOF, Market Makers). You might also like Episode 10 (how to read a stock quote) and Episode 14 (how to analyze a stock for beginners). 😉✨
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
73. Remix: Understanding Your Risk Tolerance with the Risk Pyramid
24 Jan 2025
00:29:02
*previously recorded on 03/15/24, but still relevant* Last week we talked about creating quarterly financial goals with a fun activity, and we thought it would be a good time to also revisit your risk tolerance with this past episode.
At the time of recording, The Fed still didn’t cut interest rates, but projected they would 3 times, so it was a great time to lock in the higher rates that we saw in fixed income securities (bonds, etc) in the months that followed until rates were finally cut several times the last half of 2024. Did you notice your HYSA interest rate has come down since then? We did prepare you for that, so if you’re not able to stay updated on everything going on in the markets and with The Federal Reserve, you might want to subscribe to the podcast. 😉 ——————————————
• What's your investment risk tolerance? (check out the risk pyramid below) • How are you diversifying your investments in your portfolio? • Are the interest rates on our high yield savings account coming down? •What should we do with our cash to make sure it's out-pacing inflation?
Figure Out Your Risk Tolerance
There are lots of quizzes you can do at your brokerage firm or even government sites that help you figure out your risk tolerance for your personal situation.
The higher the risk the higher the reward, BUT, remember that also means there's a higher risk to lose your money. Diversifying is key. 😉
Risk Pyramid
High Risk - On Top
Medium Risk - Middle
Low Risk - On the Bottom
------------------------------
High Risk Investments = Alternative Assets (Options, Futures, and Crypto is the most risky thing you can do with your money)
Medium Risk Investments = Fixed Income (government debt, corporate debt, real estate, blue chip stocks, growth stocks, etc.)
Low Risk Investments = Cash, Cash Equivalents (T-Notes, HYSA, Bonds, Money Markets, etc.) and you can get ETFs or Mutual Funds that have bonds and low-risk securities in them.
Figure out your risk tolerance and let’s see how that might change any of your Q2 goals when we do our Quarterly Financial Check-In! (Check out episode 72 to do your Q1 Financial Planning).
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
72. S.M.I.L.E. Your Way Through Personal Financial Planning - Gamified!
17 Jan 2025
00:33:20
It's the beginning of the year, which means it's time to reset those financial goals, but we're making it more attainable (and fun!) by breaking it all down into a quarterly game. If you happen to have ADHD like us, your brain will thank us. 🧠
This isn’t your typical budget/save/invest talk. In this episode, we kick off our brand-new quarterly financial planning series (name pending, suggestions welcome) with a SMILE—literally. 😁
You’ll learn why quarterly planning is a game-changer for your finances, how to use our gamified SMILE Bingo Card to set goals and stay on track, and why budgeting isn’t a boring word—it’s your financial foundation (we're building knowledge and breaking barriers, remember?).
✨Think of it as creating a Vision Board for your finances. ✨
📈 We’ll also give you a quick market update, including retail sales, earnings season expectations, and the ever-important inflation watch.
By the end of this episode, you’ll have the tools (and the bingo card!) to make real progress on your financial goals. Trust us—future you will thank you for this one.
Free Download 🔽
🎯 Don’t forget to download the free SMILE Bingo Card and tag us (@marketmakeHER on TikTok or @marketmakeHERpodcast on Instagram) with your progress, if you feel inclined to share.
🥐 Make it a group activity with your accountabili-buddies or send to a friend. We'll also be checking back each quarter to see how we're all doing.
🌞 Let’s SMILE our way to financial success in 2025! We'll be checking in with you in Q2! 🌚
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
71. TikTok Ban Implications on the Creator Economy and the Stock Market
10 Jan 2025
00:23:49
👋 Have you ever thought about what would happen if TikTok got banned in the U.S. to the stock market or even the impact on the labor market? It’s a hot topic right now as the TikTok ban case is in front of the Supreme Court. In this episode of Market MakeHer, Jess and I are breaking it all down—from the impact on creators like us (and maybe you!) to the ripple effects on small businesses, the gig economy, the labor market and even the stock market. 📉
Here’s what we’re diving into: ✨ How TikTok accelerated "side-hustles" for creators, small businesses, and advertisers ✨ What a ban could mean for stocks like Meta, Google, Shopify, and Snap ✨ The impact of the creator economy across the labor market and if a disruption might lead to something possibly bigger, like a recession
We’re not just reading the headlines; we’re discussing real-life impacts—on your side hustle, your investments, and the economy as a whole. Jess even shares her favorite stocks to watch (not financial advice, of course 😉) and what investors can do to prepare for all this uncertainty.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
This week, we’re diving into the key market themes of 2025—what’s shaping up to be a monumental year for self-directed investors. We’ll unpack the trends driving infrastructure investment, tariffs with a twist, deregulation fueling innovation, and the evolution of retail trading.
This episode is packed with actionable insights to help you navigate 2025’s most important stock market predictions. From infrastructure to innovation, you’ll learn how these themes could shape your portfolio—and discover the questions you should ask as you plan your next investment moves.
Jessica Inskip breaks it all down with her 15 years of expertise, while Jessie DeNuit asks the questions you might be wondering yourself. We also drop hints about what’s ahead this season on Market MakeHer! So, if you’re ready to start the year informed and empowered, hit play now.
Jessie’s Questions:
What does “modernizing infrastructure” really mean?
If you already have S&P 500 index funds in your portfolio, are you investing in this trend?
What other stocks or sectors should you research to diversify?
Didn’t tariffs tank the market in 2018?
How is 2025 different, and what’s a “dovish Fed”?
Can tariffs actually work in the market’s favor this time?
Does deregulation mean rolling back rules for companies? Could that hurt consumers?
How does deregulation tie into the AI boom?
What’s the difference between capital expenditures (CapEx) and operating expenses (OpEx)?
How might deregulation benefit businesses while balancing innovation and oversight?
What exactly is retail trading?
Does 24-hour stock trading mean you can trade anything, anytime?
Why would anyone trade options at 3 a.m.?
Is 24-hour trading really a game-changer for investors like you?
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
69. Markets Wrapped: 2024 Stock Market Review
27 Dec 2024
00:18:47
Can you believe it’s already the end of 2024? What a year it’s been! In this episode of Market MakeHer, Jess and I look back at all the major events that shaped the stock market this year. From the AI led rally to the Fed finally cutting rates, we’re breaking it all down.
Looking for unbiased, curated financial insights delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe to the 1440 Business & Finance Newsletter, our trusted sponsor, and elevate your financial literacy—it's free and bi-weekly!
This ad is sponsored by 1440 Business and Finance.
Here’s what we’re covering:
How interest rates, inflation, and unemployment shaped the economy.
The AI narrative and why big tech couldn’t carry the market alone.
The best- and worst-performing sectors of the year (spoiler: Energy did not have its moment).
Why Fed policy was behind most of the year’s biggest market moves.
This is your ultimate highlight reel of 2024—perfect for anyone who wants to feel smarter about the market and ready to tackle 2025. Whether you’re a beginner like me or a market pro like Jess, we’ve got you covered.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
68. Remix: What Is the PCE Index & Why Does It Matter to Us?
20 Dec 2024
00:19:28
*This content was taken from Episode 35, which was originally recorded in May 2024, but has been edited to mainly focus on the important terms PCE, PPI & CPI to help put into context the new data we are seeing now in December 2024 and how it affects us as consumers, workers, and investors.*
What Is PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures)? The PCE price index is considered The Fed’s preferred index. It’s kinda like how we use the S&P 500 indice to measure the stock market, but it’s a price index that measures specific goods and services and it’s regionalized. Basically, it's a guage on what Americans are spending and helps track inflation. It’s currently +2.8% YOY (October 2024), which is up from +2.7% in September 2024 - not what we want to see, we’d like to see it go down.
What is the difference between the CPI and the PCE Index? The CPI measures the change in the out-of-pocket expenditures of all urban households and PCE measures the change in goods and services consumed by all households, and nonprofit institutions serving households.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
67. Year-End Personal Finance Tips: Investing and Tax Deadlines, Reminders, and Planning
13 Dec 2024
00:28:17
In this episode, Jess Inskip and Jessie DeNuit discuss essential year-end financial strategies, focusing on retirement account deadlines, tax optimization moves, charitable contributions, and even personal finance tips - for all ages and income levels.
Be proactive with your financial planning to avoid penalties and maximize tax benefits. You’ll learn various year-end financial strategies, including:
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
101. Irrational Exuberance: The Rise of the Dot-Com Bubble (Part 1)
18 Feb 2026
00:37:20
We're back! And since everyone keeps comparing the AI boom to the dot-com era (and asking if we're in a similar bubble) we decided to kick off Season 3 by taking us all down another rabbit hole to see what really happened.
In this episode, Jess and I take you back to the 1990s — when optimism was sky-high, money was cheap, music was great, and anything with “.com” in its name could send Wall Street into a frenzy. We unpack the perfect economic storm that built the dot-com bubble, the wild timeline of events that burst it, and the investor psychology that led even the smartest people to think "this time was different."
Why Does This Matter To Me? As we said in Episode 100, sometimes history haunts us, but there are lessons to learn from the past. As we release this episode heading into "Eclipse Season," we're reminded that time is cyclical, spiraled, and layered.
What can we learn as self-directed investors from the Dot-Com Bubble? We explain the details of this week's lesson and how it parallels the AI Boom of today in our Free Newsletter! ;)
Key Takeaways:
The 1990s were the perfect setup for a bubble: Low inflation, low interest rates, and a booming economy gave investors confidence (and cheap money) to chase risk. The Internet fueled the fire. Interesting timing as we ride into the year of the Fire Horse!
Technology changed everything - and everyone wanted in: The fast rise of Internet companies made it feel like endless growth was guaranteed. IPOs exploded, valuations skyrocketed, and nobody was looking at profits - sound familiar?
FOMO and vibes replaced fundamentals. “Irrational exuberance” described the collective hive-mind that pushed prices higher simply because they were already rising. Everyone was hyped up on optimism and greed, leading to risky investing, and proving that markets run on emotion as much as data.
The media amplified the mania: Financial news networks turned investing into entertainment. Analysts became influencers before social media existed, and market updates sounded more like sports commentary than financial analysis.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
66. Insider Trading: Lessons from Martha (Stewart)
06 Dec 2024
00:31:45
What is insider trading and what can we learn from the highly-politicized Martha Stewart case regarding illegal insider trading? Find out on this episode of Market MakeHer. 😉
Illegal Insider Trading vs Legal Insider Trading
Legal Insider Trading is when company insiders (e.g., executives, employees or majority shareholders) trade their company's stock while following rules and regulations. They must report their trades to the Securities and Exchange Commission (you can search the EDGAR database) to ensure transparency and fairness (we talk about conspiracy theories regarding how people like Jeff Bezos sell off a lot of their shares, but it’s totally legal because they have to report it and it’s all public information that anyone can look up).
Illegal Insider Trading is when someone trades based on non-public, material information that gives them an unfair advantage. This includes tips from employees, confidential sources, or any form of access to proprietary information not available to the public. Like a secret that the public doesn’t know yet that would potentially affect stock prices. Illegal insider trading undermines market fairness and investor trust. This is why finance is so regulated.
👑 Icon and Legend Martha Stewart
Martha was convicted of obstruction of justice, not insider trading itself. Her case serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of transparency and honesty. She did her prison time, made the most of it, and completely rebuilt her brand after her reputation was tarnished. We talk about how she was made as an example and why it’s bad to lie. 😅
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
65. Bond Vigilantes Are So Back
29 Nov 2024
00:30:34
What is a bond vigilante? The Batman of the bond market? Kinda. In the last episode, we learned the bond market is the most powerful and influential market. Bond vigilantes are big-time bond investors who can use the power of selling bonds to influence the market and protest against fiscal and monetary policy (basically, they try to put restraints on the government from over-spending and over-borrowing, especially when inflation is high).
What do bond vigilantes do? When bond vigilantes sell significant amounts of their bonds, they drive bond prices down and yields up, making it more expensive for debt issuers (companies or governments) to borrow money. They do this to get someone’s attention when they don’t agree with fiscal or monetary policy.
Pre-Requisites (these episodes are other pieces of the puzzle you need to know):
* A treasury is a “fixed-income product” commonly known as bonds. * Companies can issue debt in the form of bonds. * Governments also issue debt from the Treasury, which funds our large country deficit (or debt, kinda like credit card debt). And that’s how the government can get more money for fiscal policy. * Bonds and Yields (interest) move opposite of each other. * Rising bond yields = higher borrowing costs = higher mortgage rates, credit card rates, and borrowing costs for all of us.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
64. How The Credit Market Influences Your Loan Interest Rates
22 Nov 2024
00:31:49
What is the credit market and how does it determine our loan interest rates? It’s actually the same thing as the bond market, and we consumers all participate in it. Join us as we delve into the intricacies of the credit market and how it influences interest rates across various financial products, including credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages.
We will also discuss the yield curve, the role of the Federal Reserve (aka The Fed), and how understanding these concepts can empower consumers to make informed financial decisions. The financial system is interconnected like a giant puzzle. We’re here to help you put all the pieces together and learn how to make the system and your money work for you!
Takeaways ✨Interest rates on loans are influenced by the yield curve.
✨The credit market determines interest rates for various loans.
✨The Federal Reserve impacts short-term rates directly.
✨Understanding the yield curve helps in making financial decisions.
✨Consumers can influence the stock market through their spending.
✨Credit card rates are tied to the prime rate, which is influenced by the Fed.
✨Auto loans are typically tied to the middle of the yield curve.
✨Mortgages are related to the 10-year treasury yields.
Episodes mentioned: 18. Understanding the Yield Curve 52. Intro to Bonds
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
63. Elephant in the Stock Market: Trump Tariffs, Tax Cuts, & Immigration Policy Implications
15 Nov 2024
00:35:57
Now that the U.S. election results are in, we’re discussing the “elephant in the room” - that is, the implications of potential Trump administration policies on the stock market. We’re focusing on tariffs, immigration, tax cuts, deregulation, and the Fed’s role. How will these factors influence market dynamics, inflation, and economic growth? What does it all mean for self-directed investors?
We’ll also define what all these terms mean to help you stay aware of false claims you see on social media (so many videos about tariffs that are getting it wrong). And we’ll discuss the risks of stagflation (new vocab term!) and the historical resilience of the S&P 500. As we all know by now, time in the market is your best strategy and we always encourage our listeners to stay informed and invested for long-term success.
Talk to a financial advisor or at least do a little more investigating before making any rash decisions with your portfolio. We’re always here to educate** and make you fin-fluent, not fin-fluenced.
<3 It's also important for us to say that we are very sympathetic to how these policies can potentially impact human beings and the environment. Our goal in this discussion is to help you be an informed investor so that you can best take care of future you and make your own educated decisions on what you want to do with your money. <3
**Education, not advice. Jess Inskip is no longer licensed (but was for 10 years) and Jessie DeNuit has never been licensed and is learning all this stuff with you.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
62. Demystifying Retirement Accounts: Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Rollover IRA and SEP IRA
08 Nov 2024
00:40:19
Today we’re learning allllll about IRAs (individual retirement arrangements/accounts) including Roth IRAs, Traditional IRAs, Rollover IRAs and SEP IRAs. You’ll understand contribution limits, tax implications, and eligibility requirements for each account. As always, we aim to empower you with all the knowledge you need to make informed decisions for future you. This is not advice.
✨Roth IRAs are best for you if you are in a lower income tax bracket and do not need a tax break, because you are taxed upfront, not later.
✨Traditional IRAs are best for you if you do not qualify for a Roth, or if you need a tax break… if you qualify for the deduction. The benefits are before tax dollars, offering you a tax break if you are eligible bc you are in a higher tax bracket.
✨Rollover IRAs you rollover an employer sponsored plan, like a 401k in the plan you want to keep them separate so you can roll it back into a new 401k plan at a new employer.
✨SEP IRAs are best for small business owners who do not want the complexities of 401ks. There are higher contribution limits, and all contributions are made by the employer.
Contribution Limits You have to have taxable compensation and your modified AGI. Beginning in 2024, the IRA contribution limit increased to $7,000 ($8,000 for individuals age 50 or older) from $6,500 ($7,500 for individuals age 50 or older). This stayed the same for 2025.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
61. Stock Market MakeHER Update: (11.04.24 AI Series)
In this episode of Market MakeHer, we're trying something different. We've taken our weekly SMU email and given it to AI to create a separate podcast series. That's right, the email newsletter is also a podcast read by Artificial Intelligence.
The hosts discuss key insights from the latest stock market trends, focusing on earnings season, economic indicators, and the contrasting performances of major companies like Amazon and Apple. They emphasize the importance of understanding market dynamics and the implications of Federal Reserve decisions on interest rates. The conversation highlights the need for self-directed investors to stay informed and consider broader economic contexts when making investment decisions.
Takeaways
The S&P 500 has seen its fifth straight quarter of growth, but fewer companies are exceeding earnings estimates.
Analysts are forecasting earnings growth through 2025, despite current market caution.
The upcoming election is creating uncertainty, leading businesses to hold back on major decisions.
The jobs report showed a significant miss in job growth, attributed to external factors like hurricanes and strikes.
Investors are anticipating a 0.25 percent rate cut from the Federal Reserve, despite weaker job numbers.
Amazon's positive holiday forecast led to a surge in stock price, while Apple's subdued outlook tempered enthusiasm.
Guidance from companies is crucial and can significantly impact investor confidence.
Economic indicators like consumer confidence and jobless claims are vital for understanding market health.
The Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions have a ripple effect on the economy.
Investing requires a deep understanding of company strategies and market dynamics.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
60. Replay: Order Routing, Market Makers, PFOF and Dark Pools Explained
01 Nov 2024
00:27:06
Since we recently learned about Stock Lending, Short Selling, P/E Ratio, and Stock Valuation in the last 2 episodes, we figured it's a good time to revisit our episode on Dark Pools, PFOF, Order Routing, and Market Makers (not to be confused with Market MakeHERS 😉). This also happens to be a Halloween episode from last year, so enjoy our costumes if you're watching the video podcast. 🎃🎃🎃
🔮 Replay of Episode 16
In this episode, Jess Inskip & Jessie DeNuit delve into the complexities of the stock market, focusing on key concepts such as market makers, the bid-ask spread, and dark pools. They explain how orders are processed, the role of market makers in ensuring price equality, and the implications of payment for order flow. The discussion also highlights the importance of understanding these mechanisms to navigate the market effectively and avoid potential pitfalls.
✨Takeaways
Understanding the National Bid and Best Offer (NBBO) is crucial for investors.
Market makers play a vital role in maintaining market liquidity and price equality.
The spread between bid and ask prices is where market makers earn their profit.
Payment for order flow is a common practice among brokerage firms.
Dark pools are designed to prevent market manipulation by concealing large orders.
Investors should be aware of the complexities of order execution and market mechanics.
Regulations exist to ensure transparency in trading practices.
Retail trading refers to individual investors participating in the market.
The stock market is highly regulated, often more so than other industries.
Financial literacy is essential for navigating the stock market effectively.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.
59. What is P/E Ratio and Stock Valuation?
25 Oct 2024
00:33:01
How do you know if a stock is "on sale" or expensive to buy right now? In this Market MakeHer podcast episode, we're going to learn all about stock valuation and how to look at the Price to Earnings Ratio to make informed investing decisions.
We discuss how to determine if a stock is overpriced or underpriced, the significance of earnings potential, and the role of analysts in shaping market perceptions.
🔮 P/E Ratio Demystified "P/E ratio is just the price divided by earnings." We teach you the math and give you examples to make it make sense, but feel free to ask us a question!
🧟♀️🧠 Takeaways
Price alone does not determine if a stock is expensive.
Understanding PE ratios is crucial for stock picking.
PE ratio is calculated by dividing price by earnings.
About Us 🌚🌞 Market MakeHer is an investing education podcast taught by a 15-year finance expert to her friend, a beginner investor. Our mission is to demystify the stock market and make financial literacy accessible to all self-directed investors! We teach complex investing topics in a different way - from "Her" perspective. Important Disclosures: Investing involves risk. There is always potential to lose money when investing in securities. Market MakeHer LLC provides educational content and resources for informational purposes only. We are not registered financial advisors & do not provide personalized investment advice. Consult with a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.