More for Your Money

Episode 13: Investment Accounts for Children and Grandchildren - 03/22/2025

March 22nd, 2025  |  52 mins 54 secs

budgeting, cfp, economic insights, finance, financial advice, financial planning, investing, investment strategy, john berkley, money, personal finance, podcast, portfolio management, radio show, retirement, retirement planning, sheena hanson, uncommon cents investing, wclo, wealth management

Join John Berkley of Uncommon Cents Investing as they share practical financial insights and strategies to help you get more for your money.

Episode 6: Tariffs, Gold, and the Debt: What History Might Teach Us About the Road Ahead - 2/1/25

February 1st, 2025  |  52 mins 54 secs

bond market, deflation, economic history, economic theory, gold prices, government spending, inflation, interest rates, janesville wi, lacy hunt, long-term investing, market cycles, national debt, personal finance, reaganomics, roth ira conversions, stock market, tariffs, uncommon cents investing, value vs growth

In this week’s episode of More for Your Money, John Berkley is joined by the Uncommon Cents Investing committee—Greg, Todd, and Carson—for a wide-ranging, fast-paced discussion on market trends, inflation, gold, government debt, and the evolving role of tariffs in economic strategy.

Drawing on insights from respected economist Lacy Hunt, the team explores whether deflation might be the next curveball for investors and how today’s policies echo some surprising historical parallels—like the Reagan era’s early pain and long-term gain. Along the way, they unpack the gold market, discuss the hidden cost of inflation on the middle class, and debate whether tariffs can be both a financial and geopolitical tool.

If you’re looking to connect the dots between interest rates, debt, inflation, and long-term investing, this one’s for you.

Episode 5: Roth IRA Conversions: The Why, the Why Not, and the Rest of the Story - 01/25/2025

January 25th, 2025  |  52 mins 54 secs

estate planning, irmaa, janesville wi, john berkley, market timing, medical deductions, personal finance, qualified charitable distributions, retirement planning, roth conversion, roth ira, roth vs traditional ira, savers credit, tax strategies, uncommon sense investing

This week on More for Your Money, John Berkley and Kit Carson dive deep into a topic that generates more questions than answers: Roth IRA conversions. Should you convert? When does it make sense—and when does it not? With John's decades of experience and Carson's sharp curiosity, the duo takes listeners through a thoughtful, nuanced look at one of the most misunderstood moves in retirement planning.

Using the classic Paul Harvey style—“the rest of the story”—John highlights the lesser-known risks and hidden pitfalls of converting, like the impact of future tax law changes, state residency, IRMAA brackets, medical expense deductions, charitable giving strategies, and even market timing. And yes, he also shares smart, strategic situations where a Roth conversion does make good sense.

Episode 4: The Debt, Inflation, and Your Future: How to Stay Grounded in a Shaky Economy - 1/18/25

January 18th, 2025  |  52 mins 54 secs

debt-to-gdp, economic policy, federal reserve, financial literacy, inflation, inflation history, investing in inflation, janesville wi, john berkley, kit carson, market performance, monetizing debt, national debt, personal finance, u.s. deficits, uncommon sense investing

In this week’s More for Your Money, John Berkley and Kit Carson tackle a topic that’s often in the headlines—but rarely explained in a way that makes sense: national debt and inflation. With warmth, wisdom, and a little Wisconsin winter humor, John breaks down what 36+ trillion dollars of federal debt actually means for us as investors, taxpayers, and future retirees.

They walk through the history of U.S. debt levels—from post-WWII to today—and how inflation, interest rates, and government spending have played a role in shaping the economy. What does this mean for your money? How should individuals prepare in a world of structural inflation, slow-moving tax reform, and the possibility of higher interest rates?

John gets practical with a key takeaway: We can’t fix the national debt ourselves, but we can make smart decisions to protect our own finances.

Episode 2: Navigating Trusts, Special Needs Planning, and Estate Considerations with Atty Robb Leach - 11/02/24

November 11th, 2024  |  53 mins 4 secs

budgeting, cfp, economic insights, finance, financial advice, financial planning, investing, investment strategy, john berkley, money, personal finance, podcast, portfolio management, radio show, retirement, retirement planning, sheena hanson, uncommon cents investing, wclo, wealth management

Join John Berkley and Sheena Hanson of Uncommon Cents Investing as they share practical financial insights and strategies to help you get more for your money.

Episode 1: Navigating Your Medicare Choices: A Discussion on Supplements and Advantage Plans - 09/28/24

September 28th, 2024  |  53 mins 4 secs

budgeting, cfp, economic insights, finance, financial advice, financial planning, investing, investment strategy, john berkley, money, personal finance, podcast, portfolio management, radio show, retirement, retirement planning, sheena hanson, uncommon cents investing, wclo, wealth management

Join John Berkley and Sheena Hanson of Uncommon Cents Investing as they share practical financial insights and strategies to help you get more for your money.