Stacking Up

Host Chris Harris breaks down advanced estate planning and wealth transfer techniques every family should consider, from trusts and gifting strategies to business succession and charitable planning.The episode covers three essential questions—what assets transfer, who receives them, and when transfers should occur—plus practical tools like GRATs, CRTs, family limited partnerships, and dynasty trusts, and why plans must be reviewed as laws and life change.

This episode explains who new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh is, his policy leanings, and why his leadership matters for monetary policy and market expectations.It also breaks down the importance of the 10-year Treasury, recent yield moves, inflation drivers like the Iran conflict, and what investors should watch next.

Chris Harris breaks down why markets keep hitting record highs despite inflation, geopolitical tensions with Iran, shifting tariff policies, and rising oil prices. He explains the growing dominance of macroeconomic forces, the evolving role of OPEC, and how behavioral finance, diversification, and long-term discipline help investors navigate short-term volatility.

This episode examines popular seasonal investing ideas—like "sell in May," the January effect, and the Santa Claus rally—and asks whether these patterns are real or just noise.Using historical data and behavioral finance insights, the host explains why calendar-based timing often fails, how markets evolve, and why long-term fundamentals, diversification, and staying invested usually matter more than trying to time the market.

Chris Harris breaks down April’s surprising market rebound, explaining how stocks surged despite geopolitical tensions, higher oil prices, and uncertainty around the Federal Reserve.Key data covered: S&P 500 up ~10%, NASDAQ and small caps posted larger gains, volatility fell, and oil and inflation risks remain elevated.Takeaways: markets can recover quickly in uncertain times, avoid market timing, prioritize diversification and a long-term financial plan, and keep an eye on oil, inflation, and Fed policy.

Chris Harris explains why recent headlines make markets feel fragile but that this uncertainty is normal during bull markets.He walks through the rise since late 2022, why markets follow earnings and expectations, and why trying to time short-term moves often harms long-term returns.Key takeaways: expect volatility, stay diversified, watch oil, labor, and AI risks, and keep your portfolio aligned to a clear financial plan.

Chris Harris breaks down current housing market data—rising 30-year mortgage rates, scarce existing-home supply as owners stay locked into low rates, and mixed signals from builders and price indices. He explains how affordability, new construction, and the wealth effect interact and what that means for the broader economy and individual financial plans.This episode gives a concise look at what buyers, sellers, and planners should watch: mortgage costs, lending standards, household debt service, and how supply and demand dynamics may shift prices and opportunities in the months ahead.

In this episode, Chris Harris walks through Medicare basics and dives into IRMAA surcharges—one of the most overlooked costs in retirement planning. Learn how income impacts your premiums and strategies to help keep more of your money working for you.

In this episode, Chris Harris covers how the U.S.–Iran conflict is impacting markets, primarily through rising energy prices. While higher oil prices have pushed inflation up, core inflation remains stable—suggesting the impact may be temporary if conditions improve.
The job market is slowing, with weaker job growth and lower workforce participation, though unemployment remains steady.
Despite this, corporate earnings remain strong, supporting markets during uncertainty.
The key takeaway: short-term volatility is normal, but long-term investors benefit from staying disciplined and focused on fundamentals.

Chris Harris breaks down Q1 market and economic highlights, covering the impact of the Middle East conflict on oil prices, quarterly returns for major indexes, inflation and interest-rate snapshots, and shifts in the labor market.He discusses how energy-driven supply shocks, trade policy changes, and upcoming Fed and political events could influence the rest of the year, and stresses the value of staying invested and maintaining a long-term financial plan.