Upticks: A Financial Planning & Investment Podcast
Episodes
Why We Built Falcon Wealth Advisors (And What Makes Us Different)
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Why would two advisors walk away from big firms, turn down large offers, and start over from scratch? In this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory share ...
Performance Mindset Under Pressure with Jon McGraw
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
High performers don't break under pressure—they adapt. In this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory sit down with former NFL athlete Jon McGraw to unpa...
The Stock Market Feels Great—Many Americans Feel Broke
07 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The stock market is near all‑time highs—but consumer confidence is near historic lows. So, what's really going on? In this episode of Upticks, Jak...
Will Your Retirement Paycheck Last…?
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if one of your biggest retirement risks isn't the market… but how you take income from your portfolio? In this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cor...
What Can Happen When You Delay Retirement?
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most people focus on retiring as soon as possible — but what if waiting could improve your life and your financial plan? In this episode of Upticks,...
How to Buy Bitcoin, Gold, and Silver
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Bitcoin has crashed. Gold and silver are surging. Headlines are loud—but what actually matters for long-term investors? Jake and Cory break down wha...
Beyond Hot Tips—The Rules We Use to Invest Your Money
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We believe hot tips fade, but rules can endure. In this episode, Jake and Cory share principles that can actually drive results: how our analysts read...
Mortgage Rates Aren't the Problem—Indecision Is
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most people in today's housing market are asking the wrong question and it could be costing them thousands. Jake and Cory break down the real math beh...
Is Gen Z Giving Up on Money?
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Jake and Cory discuss the concept of financial nihilism, particularly among Gen Z, who feel disillusioned with traditional economic s...
5 Important Tax Changes for 2025/2026 with Todd Laytham
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Discover the 5 major tax changes hitting in 2025/2026—and what they could mean for your money. Todd Laytham, CPA joins us to break down new deductio...
7 Habits of the Quietly Wealthy Retiree
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Discover the 7 habits that quietly wealthy retirees use to help build lasting financial confidence—without flashy spending or stress. Jake and Cory ...
Is Inflation Cooling? The Data, Caveats and Next Moves
24 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Explore this inflation debate with Jake and Cory as they break down CPI, personal cost-of-living realities, Fed policy, and market consolidation. Disc...
5 Year Retirement Runway
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ready for retirement in five years? Jake and Cory break down the essential steps for your "5 Year Retirement Runway"—from choosing the right advisor...
Organize Your Retirement in 30 Days—Actionable Steps
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Unlock a step-by-step plan to organize your retirement in just 30 days! Jake and Cory reveal actionable strategies for gathering documents, building y...
Retire Without Losing Your Social Life
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Discover tips to retire without losing your social life! Jake and Cory cover strategies to maintain purpose, connection, and community after leaving t...
Sports and Money with Chase Hanna
29 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered how the business side of pro golf works? Explore honest financial realities, career transitions, and personal insights from a t...
The Net Worth Reality: Where Do 50–60‑Year‑Olds Stand?
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What are the real net worth benchmarks for Americans in their 50s and 60s? Learn why averages can be misleading, how lifestyle impacts financial healt...
5 Retirement Myths That Could Be Costing You Clarity
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Discover the truth behind five common retirement myths with Jake and Cory. Learn why Social Security, Medicare, taxes, investment strategies, and esta...
Charitable Giving Tax Changes in 2026 (And Things To Do Before Year-End)
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Explore the 2026 charitable giving changes with Jake and Cory: the new 0.5% AGI floor, the 35% deduction cap, the universal deduction for non itemizer...
Scared to Retire Next Year? Watch This
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Discover actionable retirement planning strategies and learn ways to overcome retirement fears with Jake and Cory from Falcon Wealth Advisors. They un...
9 Financial Accounts Every Adult Should Master
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mastering your finances starts with understanding the key accounts that help support your financial health. In this video, Jake breaks down 9 financia...
How This Wealth Advisor Invests His Own Money
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered how a wealth advisor invests their own money? In this episode, Jake Falcon pulls back the curtain on his personal investment strategies—...
Ways the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) Impacts Retirement, Taxes and Estate Planning
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Check out the latest insights on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and its impact on retirement planning, taxes, estate strategies, and market tr...
Big Moves in Government, Real Estate, and Tech—Are You Ready?
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jake and Cory break down surging home sales, Disney's streaming price hike, the $100K H-1B visa debate, Amazon's FTC battle, Pfizer's obesity drug dea...
Fed Cuts Rates Again: What Could Be Next for Your Money?
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Explore the latest financial headlines with Jake and Cory as they break down Fed rate cuts, a mortgage refinancing boom, resilient retail sales, TikTo...
Mortgage Rates Drop and Tariff Turmoil: What You Should Know
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mortgage rate drops, the widening gender wage gap, a $50B mining merger, labor market surprises, tariff turmoil, and a major tech whistleblower case. ...
Job Market Jitters and Corporate Shakeups—Are You Prepared?
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Explore the latest financial headlines with Jake and Cory as they unpack job market jitters, Google's antitrust ruling, Kraft Heinz's brand breakup, r...
Tariffs, Tech Trouble and The Great Stay – What You Should Know
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Explore how tariffs, tech volatility, and shifting job trends are reshaping financial plans. Jake and Cory break down the Magnificent Seven's momentum...
Rate Rumble, Ozempic's Price Plunge, & Retail Rift: What It Means for Your Money
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fed tensions, Ozempic's price drop, and Target's retail shakeup—what do they mean for your money? Jake and Cory unpack the latest headlines, includi...
This Week in Finance: Debt Surge, Rate Cut Rumors and Streaming Shakeups
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Explore the latest financial headlines with Jake and Cory as they break down the U.S. debt surge, inflation trends, potential Fed rate cuts, and major...
Reasons to Retire in Your 50s (Before It's Too Late)
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thinking about retiring in your 50s? Jake and Cory break down ways it could be the best decision for you. From burnout and health risks to purpose-dri...
5 Things to Sell Before You Retire
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What should you sell before you retire—and why does it matter? From employer stock and rental properties to unused vehicles and old 401(k)s, Jake an...
What Should You Do with Your 401k When You Retire?
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What should you do with your 401(k) when you retire—and what should you avoid? From tax traps and Roth conversions to income planning and investment...
Maximize Your Roth IRA: When Should You Spend Your Roth Money in Retirement?
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When should you tap into your Roth IRA—and when should you not? Jake and Cory discuss one of retirement's most misunderstood questions: Roth IRA tim...
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act: What it Could Mean for Your Money and Future
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A sweeping new tax law is here—and it's packed with changes that could reshape your financial plan. Jake and Cory break down the most impactful upda...
4 Things to Know If You're Retiring with a Pension
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Think pensions are simple? Think again. Jake and Cory break down four important things to know before making your pension decision. They cover payout ...
What Your Wealth Might Say About You
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What can you learn from your wealth? Jake and Cory reveal how your financial decisions reflect your values, fears, and ambitions—and ways to help ma...
What to Know About the Retirement Tax "Time Bomb"
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Think your taxes will drop in retirement? Not always. Jake and Cory reveal how Required Minimum Distributions, taxes on Social Security, and IRMAA can...
RSUs, ESPPs & Options: Keep, Sell, or Convert?
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sitting on a pile of company stock and not sure what to do with it? Jake and Cory unpack the four biggest pitfalls employees face with RSUs, ESPPs, an...
4 Signs You're Saving Too Much for Retirement
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you saving too much for retirement? Jake and Cory break down four signs that your financial habits might be costing you more than you think. From ...
Ways to Optimize Your 401(k)
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Your 401(k) might be working—but is it working for you? Jake and Cory explore five thoughtful strategies to help you get more out of your 401(k). Th...
6 Retirement Surprises After 6 Months
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Retirement might be the goal—but what happens after you get there? Jake and Cory unpack six surprising truths that often surface in the first six mo...
Powerful Tax-Free Retirement Tools
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Think tax-free retirement sounds too good to be true? Think again. Jake and Cory break down the most powerful tools that could help you keep more of y...
5 Things to Buy Before You Retire… Or Do You?
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
They aren't what you think. Well, at least some of them aren't. Have you considered buying your health? You can't really do that directly, but it's im...
Calculating the Age to Claim Social Security
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When should you turn on Social Security? There may be more variables at play than you think. Jake and Cory discuss the complexities of Social Security...
Reasons Retirement Plans Fail and Ways to Avoid Them
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered why some retirement plans just don't work out? Jake and Cory are here to break down some reasons behind these failures. From underestima...
4 Retirement Income Strategies
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In our experience, it takes some retirees over a year to get comfortable spending their retirement savings. These four retirement income strategies ca...
Tariffs…What They Could Mean for Your Retirement
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tariffs have seemingly taken over every headline imaginable. Let's take a step forward and try to understand the bigger picture of our emotional conne...
Ready or Not It's Time to Retire
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You endlessly think your way out of retirement. You don't want to regret your decision. You don't want to run out of money. Sound about right? Retirin...
Can You Retire with $1,000,000?
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can you retire with a million dollars? Yes! Kind of… While $1,000,000 isn't what it used to be, it's important to understand what it means to you. J...
Good News! Retired Living Can Be Cheaper
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Retirement goals change over time, and so does spending. Jake and Cory dive into the go-go, slow-go, and no-go years, revealing how spending evolves t...
Simple Ways to Invest Your Money After You Retire
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After retirement, investing may seem daunting. Especially if your account values start decreasing after years of increase. Jake and Cory explore simpl...
Time to Get Bearish?
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before you sell, watch this. Bearish and bullish investing are not strategies. Market downturns often trigger panic among investors. But if we know th...
Is Looking Poor Important?
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Looking poor may be as bad as looking rich. Jake argues that both behaviors stem from a desire to impress others or avoid judgment. Jake and Cory tal...
Why Retirement Planning is NOT One-Size-Fits-All
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you tired of cookie-cutter retirement advice that doesn't fit your life? Us too! Jake and Cory share real client stories to illustrate why retirem...
Can You Really Retire at 50?
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jake and Cory say it's possible to retire at 50. Like most things, you'll need to plan for it. What are you going to do every day? Are your savings en...
Retirement in 5 Years? How to Prepare
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 335 of Upticks, Jake and Cory discuss engaging with a fiduciary wealth advisor, planning for health insurance, accurately estimating your f...
4 Common Mistakes That Could Derail Your Retirement
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 334 of Upticks, Jake and Cory discuss four common mistakes that could derail your retirement plans. They discuss the importance of adapting...
Chiefs' Playoff Hopes, Wall Street Myths, Portfolio Alternatives, and Budgeting Tips (Ep. 333)
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory cover a range of topics, from the Kansas City Chiefs' playoff prospects to the introduction of a new team me...
Spending Cleanse, Annuity Pitfalls, High-Yield Savings, and Inflation Insights (Ep. 332)
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory introduce the concept of a "spending cleanse" to promote financial mindfulness. They share a cautionary tale...
Stock Market Addiction, Retirement's Untold Truths, and Perfect Credit Scores (Ep. 331)
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory share listener suggestions on avoiding porch pirates and discuss Warren Buffett's biography, "Snowball." The...
Lessons from Warren Buffett, Rising Homeownership Costs, and the U.S. Retirement Crisis (Ep. 330)
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory look into lessons from young Warren Buffett's early investments, discuss the rising costs of homeownership d...
Roth Strategy, Happy Retirement, Inflation Protection, Charitable Giving (Ep. 329)
26 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory discuss a potential powerful Roth strategy for savers, share four insights to a happy retirement, and explor...
Planning for Elder Care, AI in Daily Life, Maximizing HSA Benefits, and Portfolio Rebalancing (Ep. 328)
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory address a recent client question about planning for elder care, emphasizing the importance of communication ...
Taxing Retirement, Senior Work Trends, Gen Z Salary Goals, and Withdrawal Frequency (Ep. 327)
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory explore the complexities of managing finances in retirement, highlighting the importance of tax strategies a...
Porch Pirates, Retirement Purpose, Roth IRA Moves, and Sports Gambling Risks (Ep. 326)
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory discuss the Kansas City Chiefs' recent performance and share a personal story about a recent encounter with ...
Thanksgiving Reflections, Estate Planning, Tax Tips, and Modern Retirement Rules (Ep. 325)
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory share their Thanksgiving reflections and favorite dishes before diving into the rest of the show. They discu...
Charitable Giving, Retirement Conversations, Buying Used Cars, and Home Equity Insights (Ep. 324)
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory discuss the benefits and potential pitfalls of charitable giving, including the concept of a "helper's high....
Medicare Changes, Retirement Spending, Amish Lessons, and 401(k) Super Catch-Up (Ep. 323)
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory discuss Vanguard's nearing settlement in a target-date fund case and what it means for investors. They also ...
Million Dollar Mistake, I Bonds, Lottery Thoughts, Mood Stocks, and Cutting 2024 Taxes (Ep. 322)
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory discuss the Kansas City Chiefs' potential for an undefeated season and share a cautionary tale about a mill...
2025 Tax Brackets, Lending to Loved Ones, Savers and Interest Rates, and Smart Money Moves (Ep. 321)
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory share their Halloween plans and discuss a listener's suggestion about the "Terminator Roth". They recap Jake...
Guilty Spending, Know Your Fees, Retirement Side Hustle, and Risk Taker Tendencies (Ep. 320)
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory begin by addressing a listener's question about feeling guilty when spending money in retirement. They discu...
Money Buys Happiness, Income Inequality, Social Security Raise, and Cost of Insurance Kickbacks (Ep. 319)
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory take a new perspective on money and happiness. Do you think money can buy happiness? They discuss income ine...
No Plan B, The Boring Millionaire, Rural Retirement, and Are You Spending Too Much (Ep. 318)
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory engage in a discussion about not having a Plan B, challenging listeners to consider: if you do have one, why...
Greed Inflation, Freedom vs. Security, Unrealized Gains, and Charting a Path Forward (Ep. 317)
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory engage in meaningful conversation about politics, patriotism, and the state of the country. What is 'greed...
Market Crash Worries, Car Buying vs. Leasing, Retirement Needs, and the State of America's Wallet (Ep. 316)
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory spend time discussing listener suggestions on laughter yoga and buying or leasing your next car. Should yo...
Monte Carlo Analysis, Stock Investing, Retirement Raises, Saving Tips and Macro Outlook (Ep. 315)
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, Jake and Cory dive into a range of financial planning topics, from investment strategies and retirement planning to broade...
65: Young-Old Adult, Evolving Beliefs, Worried Money, and Political Spending Blame (Ep. 314)
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, tune in as Jake and Cory discuss the new term 'young-old' adult, how your beliefs could evolve as you age, and what to do with y...
The American Dream, Chiefs Predictions, Hucksters, and Healthy Retirement (Ep. 313)
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, tune in as Jake and Cory discuss the American dream, Kansas City Chiefs season predictions, healthy retirement, and more. Jake a...
10 Credit Cards, Pet Inheritance, Social Security Raise Shrinking (Ep. 312)
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, tune in as Jake and Cory discuss credit cards, pets in estate planning, and what paying bi-weekly on your mortgage looks like. H...
Helping People, Real Estate Commissions, and Say No to Products (Ep. 311)
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, Jake and Cory are open and honest about investment products. One of Falcon Wealth Advisors' foundational elements is not believi...
Retiring a 401(k), IRS Ghosting, and Target Date Funds (Ep. 310)
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory for discussions on tax planning, 401(k) management, and more. If you call the IRS, you might get ghosted. Whe...
Drug Costs, Hot Bonds, and Olympic Gold (Ep. 309)
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory as they start by discussing a listener's question about prescription drug costs and the Inflation Reduction A...
Worthless Cash, Financial Peril, Don't Be Fooled (Ep. 308)
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory for a transparent discussion on our business and our industry. Don't be fooled by someone promising returns, ...
Financial Literacy Dilemma, Self-Inflated Returns, and Luxury Fast Food (Ep. 307)
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory as they get candid with financial literacy and spreading awareness of it. Do you know the interest your bank ...
Investing Boom, Cash Traps, and Backdoor Roths (Ep. 306)
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory as they discuss an investor boom, diving into the details of private placements as well as backdoor Roth tact...
Buyer Beware, Boomer Candy, and Retirement Crisis (Ep. 305)
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory as they discuss 'boomer candy', a so-called retirement crisis, and how past performance doesn't even indicate...
Buying Happiness, Top 6% Get Richer, and Unfair 401(k) Plans (Ep. 304)
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory as they go deep into relationships with money and the importance of understanding your values. Is your 401(k)...
Annuity Opinions, 401(k) Loans, and Streaming Bundles (Ep. 303)
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory as they discuss updates to our team structure, using 401(k) loans, and the good, bad, and ugly about annuitie...
Retire with Purpose, Roth Rules, Good Medicare News! (Ep. 302)
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory for an information-packed episode! Jake and Cory discuss good social security and Medicare news, new Roth rul...
Navigating Capital Gains, Investment Behavior, and America's Tax Showdown (Ep. 301)
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, Join hosts Jake and Cory as they explore capital gains, discuss long-term investments, and the battle over tax reform. ...
Personal Inflation, Buyer's Remorse, and No-Show Fees (Ep. 300)
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's our 300th episode! Thank you for supporting us on our financial literacy adventure. We work to continue improving our shows every week and we ap...
Gold Boom, Financial Mistakes, Keep Your Car? (Ep. 299)
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory as they discuss Jake's new book, Retiring Right, our ensemble practice, and how to go about considering gold ...
Election Impacts, Index Opinions, and Your Mortgage Rate (Ep. 298)
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory as they discuss things to think about financially during an election year. Should you judge someone for how ...
Financial Tune-Up, Retire at 62, and Advice from Your Brother-in-Law (Ep. 297)
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory as they discuss some insightful listener suggestions that could change the way you think about financial advi...
Index Fund Fumbles, Worrying about Money, and Investor Mental Health (Ep. 296)
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Upticks, join Jake and Cory as they discuss being overconfident in the market, spending too much time worrying about money, and a c...
Rethink Your Refund, Social Security Gamble, and Throwing Away Money (Ep. 295)
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory as they discuss what an ensemble practice is as well as address a listener's suggestion about how to get star...
Advisor Schemes, Homeownership Costs, and Using Your Tax Refund (Ep. 294)
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory as they discuss earning 5% on your cash, the hidden and sometimes overlooked costs of homeownership, and more...
Investment Products, Magic Retirement Number, and Tax Refund Status (Ep. 293)
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory as they discuss what sets Falcon Wealth Advisors apart, a so-called 'Magic Retirement Number', and more. Tun...
Don't Set and Forget, Home Buying Puzzle, Financial Health Day (Ep. 292)
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Upticks, join Jake and Cory as they discuss assessing tax returns, using charitable donations to offset your income taxes, and more. Tun...