The Investor Coaching Show with Paul Winkler

Cash, Bonds, and Stocks: What's in Your Portfolio and Why? (Part 1)

A diversified portfolio contains a mixture of cash, bonds, and stock investments. Not knowing how these assets work together leads to some of the most common and harmful investing traps. Today, Paul invites Arlene Brown onto the show to explain how cash holdings, bonds, and stocks can work together to limit your risk of short-term market fluctuations and long-term inflation. Listen along as these advisors go into detail about the strengths and pitfalls of having investments in each category. 

 

Want to cut through the myths about retirement income and learn evidence-based strategies backed by over a century of data? Download our free Retirement Income Guide now at paulwinkler.com/relax and take the stress out of planning your retirement.

 

This material is for general educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Nothing here is an offer, solicitation, or recommendation for any security or strategy. All financial decisions involve risk, and you should consult qualified professionals before acting on this information.

Advisory services offered through Paul Winkler, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser.

Cathie Wood Got It Wrong in 2025, but What Does She Think About 2026?

Paul shares a clip this morning that shows just how low the standard is for what financial media views as “credible” investing information. Listen along to hear an interview with Cathie Wood, CEO of Ark Invest, where she discusses the mistakes she learned from in 2025, which cost investors millions, and tries to get airtime to spin the 35% drop in Bitcoin as a victory in this market. Then, Paul addresses a listener who works a very physically demanding job and is in a tricky position, where long-term disability insurance is very expensive, and it’s possible that they won’t remain employed until retirement age. Paul shares some options for supplementing your income if you are not yet at the normal Social Security age.

 

Want to cut through the myths about retirement income and learn evidence-based strategies backed by over a century of data? Download our free Retirement Income Guide now at paulwinkler.com/relax and take the stress out of planning your retirement.

 

This material is for general educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Nothing here is an offer, solicitation, or recommendation for any security or strategy. All financial decisions involve risk, and you should consult qualified professionals before acting on this information.

Advisory services offered through Paul Winkler, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser.

The Average Car Payment Is $780/month. Is That a Problem With the Market or With Human Behavior?

When most people buy a car, they take on a substantial car payment. But how long does the high of having a nice new ride really last? Today, Paul discusses why government intervention in making cars easier to buy has historically led to chaotic markets and other economic issues. Listen along as Paul explains why it’s difficult to really meaningfully change your level of happiness through things like new car purchases and how you can start to chart a course forward where the things in your life support your sense of purpose, instead of you spending your time and money working off things that don't bring you joy. Later in the episode, Paul addresses a listener who is curious about when you should start building up assets in a non-qualified account instead of a pre-tax account.

 

Want to cut through the myths about retirement income and learn evidence-based strategies backed by over a century of data? Download our free Retirement Income Guide now at paulwinkler.com/relax and take the stress out of planning your retirement.

 

This material is for general educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Nothing here is an offer, solicitation, or recommendation for any security or strategy. All financial decisions involve risk, and you should consult qualified professionals before acting on this information.

Advisory services offered through Paul Winkler, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser.

What Happens if the Dollar Drops? Understanding the Cause and Effect of a Weaker Dollar

Today, Paul brings in a WSJ article that provides a list of potential events this year that could weaken the dollar against other world currencies. Paul wants confident investors to remember that you shouldn’t change your plan based on what may or may not happen in the future. Then, Paul explains why a weaker dollar isn’t always a bad thing for the U.S. economy, and why investors who follow the industry are more likely to be hurt by a weakening dollar. Later in the episode, would it be helpful for people to tap their 401(k) for a down payment on a home? Paul covers an article about a Trump administration plan to borrow from yourself to buy a house, and discusses the unseen risks of removing money that is making compound interest for something you need now.

 

Want to cut through the myths about retirement income and learn evidence-based strategies backed by over a century of data? Download our free Retirement Income Guide now at paulwinkler.com/relax and take the stress out of planning your retirement.

 

This material is for general educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Nothing here is an offer, solicitation, or recommendation for any security or strategy. All financial decisions involve risk, and you should consult qualified professionals before acting on this information.

Advisory services offered through Paul Winkler, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser.

When Paul Says "Capturing Market Returns,” Is That Just Code for Indexing Everything?

When Paul first started this show, indexing and target-date funds were not very popular at all, as the world experienced a decade where large U.S. companies struggled to generate any returns for investors. Fast forward another decade, and indexing and target date funds are now all the rage as investors believe that “indexing” is synonymous with great returns, low fees, and wealth in retirement. Indexing may sound like diversification, but Paul explains what really happens when millions of investors choose this path for their portfolios. Later in the episode, Paul shares where fund companies make the biggest mistakes with indexing and provides a blueprint for capturing market returns that won’t leave you overweight in a few companies.

 

Want to cut through the myths about retirement income and learn evidence-based strategies backed by over a century of data? Download our free Retirement Income Guide now at paulwinkler.com/relax and take the stress out of planning your retirement.

 

This material is for general educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Nothing here is an offer, solicitation, or recommendation for any security or strategy. All financial decisions involve risk, and you should consult qualified professionals before acting on this information.

Advisory services offered through Paul Winkler, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser.

Annuity Sales Are Dangerous. Here Is the Proof.

Paul runs into an annuity salesperson on Facebook who reveals that he made $300,000 in income in his first month and wasn’t remotely interested in helping people, but in showing off his skills to his peers. So, where does caring for clients fit into most of these sales? Paul shares the four steps people use to sell these products that you can look out for, and why it’s just not possible to trust high-commission products salespeople to look out for you when their companies are pushing them to produce sales.

 

Want to cut through the myths about retirement income and learn evidence-based strategies backed by over a century of data? Download our free Retirement Income Guide now at paulwinkler.com/relax and take the stress out of planning your retirement.

 

This material is for general educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Nothing here is an offer, solicitation, or recommendation for any security or strategy. All financial decisions involve risk, and you should consult qualified professionals before acting on this information.

Advisory services offered through Paul Winkler, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser.

We All Have an Expiration Date. How Can You Live With Purpose?

Evan talks about a celebration of life service he attended earlier in the day and reflects on how you never know how long life will be and how having a strong sense of purpose changes your perspective about money. Listen along as these two advisors describe why investing just to be good at investing and have a lot of wealth is what sucks you into get-rich-quick schemes and marketing trends. 

 

Want to cut through the myths about retirement income and learn evidence-based strategies backed by over a century of data? Download our free Retirement Income Guide now at paulwinkler.com/relax and take the stress out of planning your retirement.

 

This material is for general educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Nothing here is an offer, solicitation, or recommendation for any security or strategy. All financial decisions involve risk, and you should consult qualified professionals before acting on this information.

Advisory services offered through Paul Winkler, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser.

Your Home or Your Portfolio: Where Should Your Investment Money Go?

Paul and Evan get into a conversation about a common question for homeowners: Is it a better investment to put extra money in my house or in my portfolio? Paul talks about why you shouldn’t view your home as an investment unless you plan on selling it and moving into a tent. Listen along as these two advisors explain the importance of paying off or improving your home without viewing it as an investing decision. Later in the episode, Paul discusses how Trump is cracking down on corporate ownership of residential housing.  

 

Want to cut through the myths about retirement income and learn evidence-based strategies backed by over a century of data? Download our free Retirement Income Guide now at paulwinkler.com/relax and take the stress out of planning your retirement.

 

This material is for general educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Nothing here is an offer, solicitation, or recommendation for any security or strategy. All financial decisions involve risk, and you should consult qualified professionals before acting on this information.

Advisory services offered through Paul Winkler, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser.

Jim Cramer’s Investing Club Leads To Stock Picking, Not Confidence in Investing

We often discuss being a confident investor on the show, but confidence is only helpful if it’s combined with a disciplined, evidence-based approach rather than behaviors such as market timing or individual stock selection. Today, Paul shares an ad for Jim Cramer’s investing club that he saw on CNBC, where a client claims she is confident and finally “in control” of her investments. The ad reveals that Jim teaches people to “win at investing” through market timing and stock picking. Paul and Evan explain why you shouldn’t follow someone who offers club memberships and provides stock-picking advice. Later in the episode, Paul and Evan answer a listener's question about the number of publicly traded companies in the stock market and how a diversified portfolio can be constructed.

Want to cut through the myths about retirement income and learn evidence-based strategies backed by over a century of data? Download our free Retirement Income Guide now at paulwinkler.com/relax and take the stress out of planning your retirement.

 

This material is for general educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, financial, tax, or legal advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Nothing here is an offer, solicitation, or recommendation for any security or strategy. All financial decisions involve risk, and you should consult qualified professionals before acting on this information.

Advisory services offered through Paul Winkler, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser.

Pundit Gives “13 Funds To Own in 2025.” How Did He Do?

Paul and Jim talk about a pundit who told investors which funds to own in 2025, and those funds had a return of over 14%. Paul admits that most investors who saw this increase in their portfolio would probably think they did pretty well last year. The problem is that without benchmarking, they wouldn’t realize that the funds did worse than the S&P 500 and underperformed the market's leading sector by 35%. Listen along as these advisors break down what is wrong with these investments and why benchmarking is the only way to know how your investments are doing. 

 

Want to cut through the myths about retirement income and learn evidence-based strategies backed by over a century of data? Download our free Retirement Income Guide now at paulwinkler.com/relax and take the stress out of planning your retirement.