WEALTHTRACK

Richard Silla, economics professor emeritus and Hamilton scholar, explores how Alexander Hamilton built America’s financial foundations. He traces the transformation from a broken postwar system to national debt funding, a central bank, stable currency, and corporate growth. Short, vivid takes on banking, markets, and why those early choices mattered for the nation’s rise.

Christine Benz, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning, offers 'good enough' approaches to portfolios and plans. She contrasts optimizers and satisficers. She explains why benign neglect often beats tinkering. She recommends simple building blocks like low-cost index funds, target-date options, tax diversification with Roths and taxable accounts, and practical policy statements.

Christine Benz, Morningstar director of personal finance and retirement planning, offers her 2026 must-do financial checklist. She covers de-risking for new retirees and a bucket withdrawal strategy. She recommends rebalancing, adding non-U.S. exposure and small-cap value, diversifying fixed income, auditing fees, and steps to prevent fraud and find fee-only planners.

Rob Arnott, founder of Research Affiliates and creator of Fundamental Indexes, explains adding growth to a value-oriented indexing approach. He discusses why Apple and NVIDIA qualify for the new mix while Amazon and Microsoft do not. Conversations cover market froth, bubbles, reallocating toward small caps and internationals, and a new RAFI Growth method that weights firms by their contribution to aggregate growth.

Investment consultant and author Charles Ellis dives into the foundations that have shaped America, highlighting monumental investments like Social Security and the Louisiana Purchase. He shares insights on Frances Perkins' pivotal role in establishing Social Security, and discusses the impact of philanthropic giants like Carnegie. Ellis also explores the groundbreaking work of the NIH in health research and ponders if modern equivalents of these great investments are possible today. He offers practical investment advice, advocating for index funds and local philanthropy.

Jonathan Clements, a renowned personal finance journalist and founder of HumbleDollar.com, shares profound insights while navigating terminal cancer. He discusses the importance of organizing finances for loved ones and reflects on the unpredictable nature of health risks. Clements emphasizes the security provided by frugality, the liberation of discussing death, and the sources of happiness he's found despite his diagnosis. He advocates for honest family conversations about estate planning and highlights the importance of defining money's true meaning.

Ed Yardeni, Ph.D., a leading economist and investment strategist known for his insights on the 'Roaring 2020s', shares his perspectives on key megatrends shaping the economy and markets. He discusses how tech visionaries like Musk and Bezos spark a productivity surge. AI's rapid evolution and its limits are also explored. Yardeni emphasizes the continued demand for data and the significant impact of baby boomers on the economy. He advises on diversifying investments and highlights the shifting landscape of global supply chains and emerging markets.

In 2020, influential strategist Ed Yardeni predicted the economy & markets were entering a “Roaring 2020s” decade. So far, he’s proven the naysayers wrong. He explains why the economy should continue to expand and the markets to advance in 2026 and beyond. WEALTHTRACK episode 2224, broadcast Dec. 12, 2025

Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise Asset Management and a pioneer in crypto ETFs, dives deep into the crypto revolution. He highlights how spot Bitcoin ETFs, regulatory support, and institutional backing have skyrocketed crypto's mainstream acceptance. Matt likens blockchain technology to the internet, emphasizing its role in global finance. He also contrasts Bitcoin and Ethereum's uses, discusses Wall Street's growing acceptance, and predicts a surge in crypto innovations like ETFs and stablecoins. His strategy? Opt for diverse crypto index funds to stay ahead.

In this engaging conversation, François Rochon, founder of Giverny Capital and a long-term value investing guru, shares insights from his unique investing philosophy. He draws parallels between investing and art collection, explaining his meticulous screening process for high-quality companies. Rochon emphasizes key traits like humility and patience as vital to his success. He also discusses the merits of investing in durable companies such as Visa and Berkshire Hathaway, along with reflections on past mistakes and the importance of quick decisions in the market.