The Personal Wealth Coach

Weekly Market Insights August 25 - 29, 2025

This week on The Personal Wealth Coach, Jake McClure connects the dots between markets, policy, and the people shaping both. He unpacks the S&P 500’s record-setting highs, the tug-of-war in mid-cap value stocks, and what Treasury yields and oil prices are really signaling beneath the headlines. From there, he turns to the big economic story in Washington: the nomination of EJ Antoni to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the uncertain future of Fed Governor Lisa Cook, and how both highlight the uneasy mix of politics and economics. With sharp humor and a historian’s eye, Jake explores the value of intellectual property, the long-running debate over flat vs. progressive taxation, and why economics might be better understood as anthropology measured in money. Whether you tune in for clarity on the markets, thoughtful takes on leadership at the Fed, or just to hear why yachts and toilets both matter in tax policy, this episode delivers insight with wit and perspective you won’t find anywhere else.
This episode was recorded on August 29th, 2025.
If you would like to contact us, please send an email to us at Jeff@tpwc.com or Jake@tpwc.com. We are happy to address any of your questions about Economics and Finance.
If you are ready and would like to book an appointment either in office or over the phone, you can also send a message to us through the contact form on our website TPWC.com.
** The information provided in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. We are “The Personal Wealth Coach,” which is also the name of an SEC-registered investment advisory firm. However, being registered with the SEC does not authorize us to provide investment advice. Investment advice should be personalized, offered in a private setting, and be in the best interests of the individual as a fiduciary. If we make any fraudulent statements, you should report them to the SEC. The information presented in this educational episode has been obtained from sources that we deem to be reliable, but we make no warranty or guarantee as to the completeness or accuracy of said information.

Weekly Market Insights August 18 - 22, 2025

Ever wondered why taxes have been around for 5,000 years—and why they still manage to confuse, infuriate, and sometimes even build civilizations? In this episode of The Personal Wealth Coach, Jake McClure takes us on a sweeping journey from the grain stores of ancient Egypt and Sumerian beer tributes to Rome’s sales taxes, China’s early income taxes, and the sparks that lit the American Revolution. Along the way, we explore how governments have used (and abused) taxation, why the power to tax is the power to destroy, and what makes a “good” tax versus a “bad” one.
But it’s not just history—we connect those lessons to today’s economy. You’ll hear about this week’s market movements, from the S&P 500’s careful tiptoe upward to a stronger surge in value stocks, softer bond yields after the Fed’s latest comments, and oil’s unexpected rebound. We’ll also dig into the modern debate over tariffs, export taxes, and the uncertainty they create for businesses and investors alike.
This episode blends market updates, economic insight, and fascinating stories from the long history of taxation—reminding us that while no one loves paying taxes, they’ve shaped the very fabric of our economies and freedoms. If you’ve ever asked, “Why do we do it this way?” or “What happens when we change the rules?”, this is the conversation you don’t want to miss.
This episode was recorded on August 22nd, 2025.
If you would like to contact us, please send an email to us at Jeff@tpwc.com or Jake@tpwc.com. We are happy to address any of your questions about Economics and Finance.
If you are ready and would like to book an appointment either in office or over the phone, you can also send a message to us through the contact form on our website TPWC.com.
** The information provided in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. We are “The Personal Wealth Coach,” which is also the name of an SEC-registered investment advisory firm. However, being registered with the SEC does not authorize us to provide investment advice. Investment advice should be personalized, offered in a private setting, and be in the best interests of the individual as a fiduciary. If we make any fraudulent statements, you should report them to the SEC. The information presented in this educational episode has been obtained from sources that we deem to be reliable, but we make no warranty or guarantee as to the completeness or accuracy of said information.

Weekly Market Insights August 11 - 15, 2025

From the shifting tides of the S&P 500 to the salt flats of ancient Phoenicia, Jake McClure of The Personal Wealth Coach blends fresh market insights with a deep dive into the economic forces that have shaped civilizations. This week, you’ll get the latest on stocks, bonds, oil, and inflation—plus why a single spike in the Producer Price Index has the Federal Reserve thinking twice about rate cuts. But that’s just the opening act.
Jake takes you on an unexpectedly entertaining tour of the history of salt as currency, a weapon, and a driver of trade—from Roman legions demanding their rations, to fashionable goiters among the elite, to the Phoenicians building empires around salt production. Along the way, he draws sharp parallels to modern economics, showing how the same forces that moved salt across continents still drive markets today. Expect keen analysis, memorable stories, and a dry wit that somehow makes tariffs, taxes, and inflation feel as engaging as any epic saga.
This episode was recorded on August 15th, 2025.
If you would like to contact us, please send an email to us at Jeff@tpwc.com or Jake@tpwc.com. We are happy to address any of your questions about Economics and Finance.
If you are ready and would like to book an appointment either in office or over the phone, you can also send a message to us through the contact form on our website TPWC.com.
** The information provided in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. We are “The Personal Wealth Coach,” which is also the name of an SEC-registered investment advisory firm. However, being registered with the SEC does not authorize us to provide investment advice. Investment advice should be personalized, offered in a private setting, and be in the best interests of the individual as a fiduciary. If we make any fraudulent statements, you should report them to the SEC. The information presented in this educational episode has been obtained from sources that we deem to be reliable, but we make no warranty or guarantee as to the completeness or accuracy of said information.

Weekly Market Insights August 4 - 8, 2025

Markets are inching toward record highs, oil is taking a nosedive, and in D.C., the heads are rolling—statistically speaking. Flying solo this week, Jake dissects a 2.43% jump in the S&P 500, a head-scratching presidential firing of the Labor Department’s top statistician, and the unpredictable tariff merry-go-round that has businesses scrambling to plan for next week, let alone next quarter. From the firing of IRS commissioners to India’s potential 50% tariff hike, Jake explains why the real threat isn’t the tax itself, but the chaos of constantly changing rules.
Along the way, he takes us on a tour of economic history—revisiting Adam Smith, Revolutionary War tea taxes, and the famous Laffer Curve—to show how past lessons still shape today’s policy blunders. Expect sharp takes on free trade, a warning against “shooting the messenger,” and a deep dive into how uncertainty can stall growth from Wall Street to Main Street. It’s economics with context, politics without the partisanship, and just enough humor to make you forget you’re listening to a show about tariffs.
This episode was recorded on August 8th, 2025.
If you would like to contact us, please send an email to us at Jeff@tpwc.com or Jake@tpwc.com. We are happy to address any of your questions about Economics and Finance.
If you are ready and would like to book an appointment either in office or over the phone, you can also send a message to us through the contact form on our website TPWC.com.
** The information provided in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. We are “The Personal Wealth Coach,” which is also the name of an SEC-registered investment advisory firm. However, being registered with the SEC does not authorize us to provide investment advice. Investment advice should be personalized, offered in a private setting, and be in the best interests of the individual as a fiduciary. If we make any fraudulent statements, you should report them to the SEC. The information presented in this educational episode has been obtained from sources that we deem to be reliable, but we make no warranty or guarantee as to the completeness or accuracy of said information.

Weekly Market Insights July 25 - August 1, 2025

On this week’s episode of The Personal Wealth Coach, Jake flies solo while Jeff journeys home from North Carolina, and the markets take a similar solo dive. With the S&P 500 and bond yields sliding and oil prices rising, Jake unpacks a week that feels more like a financial soap opera than an economy in motion.
We’re talking GDP surprises, sticky inflation, a labor market that’s losing steam, and a Federal Reserve stuck between fighting inflation and preserving jobs. Add in confusing tariff news, stalling housing starts, and a disposable income boost driven mostly by government checks, and you’ve got a recipe for uncertainty.
Jake also explores the upside of a generation of unemployed grads, why autonomous trucks might be the future of logistics, and how tomato prices could reshape American agriculture. It's part market update, part economic philosophy, and part stand-up routine for finance nerds.
If you like your data with a side of humor and actual insight, you’re in the right place.
This episode was recorded on August 1st, 2025.
If you would like to contact us, please send an email to us at Jeff@tpwc.com or Jake@tpwc.com. We are happy to address any of your questions about Economics and Finance.
If you are ready and would like to book an appointment either in office or over the phone, you can also send a message to us through the contact form on our website TPWC.com.
** The information provided in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. We are “The Personal Wealth Coach,” which is also the name of an SEC-registered investment advisory firm. However, being registered with the SEC does not authorize us to provide investment advice. Investment advice should be personalized, offered in a private setting, and be in the best interests of the individual as a fiduciary. If we make any fraudulent statements, you should report them to the SEC. The information presented in this educational episode has been obtained from sources that we deem to be reliable, but we make no warranty or guarantee as to the completeness or accuracy of said information.

Weekly Market Insights July 21 - 25, 2025

This week on The Personal Wealth Coach, Jake flies solo while Jeff soaks up the 70-degree glory of North Carolina. Meanwhile, back in the Texas heat, Jake unpacks the cooler but far more volatile world of markets, memes, and mergers. From meme stocks to durable goods orders, from a record-breaking S&P 500 to a plummeting oil price, this episode peels back the layers (and metaphors) to reveal what’s really going on beneath the economic headlines.
And then there’s the juicy stuff—like why CBS may have axed Colbert’s show and what a $16 million lawsuit has to do with a $5 billion merger. Is it political? Is it corporate bean-counting? Is it both? Jake breaks it down, biases and all. Throw in some behavioral economics, frothy AI speculation, and the long tail of internet infrastructure, and you’ve got yourself a whirlwind tour of money, power, and why uncertainty might be the only thing that’s certain right now.
This episode was recorded on July 25th, 2025.
If you would like to contact us, please send an email to us at Jeff@tpwc.com or Jake@tpwc.com. We are happy to address any of your questions about Economics and Finance.
If you are ready and would like to book an appointment either in office or over the phone, you can also send a message to us through the contact form on our website TPWC.com.
** The information provided in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. We are “The Personal Wealth Coach,” which is also the name of an SEC-registered investment advisory firm. However, being registered with the SEC does not authorize us to provide investment advice. Investment advice should be personalized, offered in a private setting, and be in the best interests of the individual as a fiduciary. If we make any fraudulent statements, you should report them to the SEC. The information presented in this educational episode has been obtained from sources that we deem to be reliable, but we make no warranty or guarantee as to the completeness or accuracy of said information.

Weekly Market Insights July 14 - 18, 2025

Jake and Jeff are back in sync—despite a thousand miles of separation—to make sense of the week ending July 18th, 2025. The S&P managed a modest climb, bonds are still dragging their heels, and the Federal Reserve is somehow both everywhere and completely misunderstood. They pull back the curtain on how interest rate decisions are actually made (hint: it’s not just Jerome Powell flipping switches), and why political spin rarely matches economic reality.
Then it’s on to the shiny, confusing world of stablecoins. Congress has passed the “Genius Act”—an oddly nameless bill that promises to regulate digital currency while raising more questions than it answers. What’s backing these coins? Who’s issuing them? And should Visa and Mastercard be nervous that Walmart’s about to become your new bank?
Throw in a few well-placed warnings about private investments and some musings on global financial instability, and you’ve got an episode that’s both informative and refreshingly candid.
This episode was recorded on July 18th, 2025.
If you would like to contact us, please send an email to us at Jeff@tpwc.com or Jake@tpwc.com. We are happy to address any of your questions about Economics and Finance.
If you are ready and would like to book an appointment either in office or over the phone, you can also send a message to us through the contact form on our website TPWC.com.
** The information provided in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. We are “The Personal Wealth Coach,” which is also the name of an SEC-registered investment advisory firm. However, being registered with the SEC does not authorize us to provide investment advice. Investment advice should be personalized, offered in a private setting, and be in the best interests of the individual as a fiduciary. If we make any fraudulent statements, you should report them to the SEC. The information presented in this educational episode has been obtained from sources that we deem to be reliable, but we make no warranty or guarantee as to the completeness or accuracy of said information.

Weekly Market Insights July 7 - 11, 2025

Buckle up as Jake McClure flies solo—Jeff’s off enjoying the mountains, while Jake dives headfirst into the murky waters of national debt, trade deficits, and the difference between good and bad borrowing (spoiler: financing a yacht with a credit card is still a no). With a wry sense of humor and a dash of Shakespeare, Jake unpacks why balance of trade isn’t necessarily bad, how infrastructure spending might actually be the grown-up in the room, and why the U.S. is spending more on interest payments than defense.
From Adam Smith to awkwardly named legislation (“Inflation Protection Act,” anyone?), this episode unpacks decades of fiscal habits with clarity and candor. If you’ve ever wondered whether government borrowing is more like investing in bridges or just bingeing on late-night infomercials, this one's for you. Also: drones, Roth strategies, and why bipartisan budget logic might just be the unicorn of economics.
This episode was recorded on July 11th, 2025.
If you would like to contact us, please send an email to us at Jeff@tpwc.com or Jake@tpwc.com. We are happy to address any of your questions about Economics and Finance.
If you are ready and would like to book an appointment either in office or over the phone, you can also send a message to us through the contact form on our website TPWC.com.
** The information provided in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. We are “The Personal Wealth Coach,” which is also the name of an SEC-registered investment advisory firm. However, being registered with the SEC does not authorize us to provide investment advice. Investment advice should be personalized, offered in a private setting, and be in the best interests of the individual as a fiduciary. If we make any fraudulent statements, you should report them to the SEC. The information presented in this educational episode has been obtained from sources that we deem to be reliable, but we make no warranty or guarantee as to the completeness or accuracy of said information.

Weekly Market Insights June 30 - July 3, 2025

This week on The Personal Wealth Coach, Jake takes a deep dive into the mysterious, sometimes maddening world of artificial intelligence—from its noisy origins in 1950s sound-cancellation algorithms to modern-day machine learning missteps (like inventing Venmo accounts and promising deliveries in blazers). Along the way, you'll get a quick market update, a nod to the elusive “Big Beautiful Bill Act,” and a crash course on how AI really thinks—or rather, mimics thinking.
With humor, history, and a healthy dose of skepticism, Jake demystifies AI’s not-so-generative answers, explains why your phone’s text predictions might be smarter than your investment chatbot, and reveals why scuttled German warships are vital to clean scientific research. If you've ever wondered whether AI is the future or just confidently wrong, this episode is for you.
This episode was recorded on July 3rd, 2025.
If you would like to contact us, please send an email to us at Jeff@tpwc.com or Jake@tpwc.com. We are happy to address any of your questions about Economics and Finance.
If you are ready and would like to book an appointment either in office or over the phone, you can also send a message to us through the contact form on our website TPWC.com.
** The information provided in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. We are “The Personal Wealth Coach,” which is also the name of an SEC-registered investment advisory firm. However, being registered with the SEC does not authorize us to provide investment advice. Investment advice should be personalized, offered in a private setting, and be in the best interests of the individual as a fiduciary. If we make any fraudulent statements, you should report them to the SEC. The information presented in this educational episode has been obtained from sources that we deem to be reliable, but we make no warranty or guarantee as to the completeness or accuracy of said information.

Weekly Market Insights June 23 - 27, 2025

Jake flies solo this week while Jeff escapes the Texas heat, but that doesn’t stop the markets—or the commentary—from heating up. The S&P 500 hit new all-time highs despite a cascade of bad news, including shrinking GDP, falling consumer spending, and a housing market in a 2008-style funk. Jake untangles this economic knot with his usual mix of insight and dry wit.
Also on deck: the mysterious “Rio Reset,” BRICS nations plotting dollar workarounds, and why gold might be the new global handshake. Plus, a reminder that recessions, like exhaling, aren’t the end of the world—just part of the cycle.
Along the way, Jake explores why confidence matters more than numbers, how the bond market seems to be ignoring the Fed, and why housing data may be the canary in the coal mine. This episode is part education, part economic therapy, and 100% The Personal Wealth Coach.
This episode was recorded on June 27th, 2025.
If you would like to contact us, please send an email to us at Jeff@tpwc.com or Jake@tpwc.com. We are happy to address any of your questions about Economics and Finance.
If you are ready and would like to book an appointment either in office or over the phone, you can also send a message to us through the contact form on our website TPWC.com.
** The information provided in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. We are “The Personal Wealth Coach,” which is also the name of an SEC-registered investment advisory firm. However, being registered with the SEC does not authorize us to provide investment advice. Investment advice should be personalized, offered in a private setting, and be in the best interests of the individual as a fiduciary. If we make any fraudulent statements, you should report them to the SEC. The information presented in this educational episode has been obtained from sources that we deem to be reliable, but we make no warranty or guarantee as to the completeness or accuracy of said information.