Podcast Summary: CAFÉ EN MANO - Ep. 721

"Reglas simples pa’ arrancar 2026 sin deudas con CAF Investments"
Host: Don Juan Del Campo
Guest: Carlos Feliciano (CAF Investments)
Date: January 16, 2026

🎙️ Overview

This episode of Café en Mano focuses on practical advice for the Latino community to enter 2026 with stronger finances and less debt. Don Juan del Campo and fan-favorite financial advisor Carlos Feliciano (CAF Investments) dive deep into investment misconceptions, market recaps for 2025, and simple strategies for debt elimination and wealth-building in the new year. The conversation is candid, direct, and filled with both wisdom and relatable humor—always with a cup of coffee in hand.

🔑 Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Community Engagement and Podcast Purpose

• Appreciation for loyal listeners and their growing questions and feedback.
• Notable chemistry and banter between Don Juan and Carlos, including how dealing with criticism is part of gaining a larger following.

  "El que se mete, ve tu vídeo 20 veces, te escribe y lo comparte. Ese es el mejor. Gracias."
  — Carlos (00:46)

2. Disclaimer: Educational, Not Financial Advice

• All content shared is for educational purposes and not meant as personal financial advice.

  "Todo lo que se diga aquí en este podcast no es asesoría financiera. Es completamente educativo y mi opinión en su totalidad."
  — Carlos (01:51)

3. Investment Tools & Misconceptions (Especially the 401(k)) [03:00]

• The 401(k) (el “K mano”) is consistently misunderstood. It remains the best vehicle for the average worker, especially when an employer does not offer this benefit.

• Social media "financial experts" often sow confusion to sell alternative products—be wary.

• Historical note: Employer pensions are now rare; the 401(k) replaced them as the main retirement savings tool.

  "...cuando yo estoy aquí en Café en Mano, yo le estoy hablando al ciudadano común, no al multimillonario de 10 millones de patrimonio ni nada de eso."
  — Carlos (04:05)

4. Social Media ‘Hacks’ vs. Long-Term Financial Thinking [05:00]

• The myth of quick riches is pervasive online; sustainable wealth is built over time.

• “Long game” investing reliably outperforms speculative, short-term plays.

  "El long game, o las inversiones a largo plazo, es el que efectivamente te va a dar fruto..."
  — Carlos (05:47)

5. The Powerball & Lottery Mentality [06:32 – 11:53]

• Lottery tickets are not true financial solutions. Those with lower incomes often spend more on them.

• If one wins, priority should be preserving wealth—opt for lump sum, engage professionals (trust lawyer, CPA), invest conservatively (US treasury bonds, dividends).

• Memorable Quote:

  "Tú no tienes que pensar en hacer dinero. Tú lo que tienes que pensar es cómo preservar ese dinero..."
  — Carlos (09:04)

• The promotion of the “billions” in lottery is marketing; actual payout is far less when taken in cash due to future value and taxes.

6. 2025 Market Recap & "Las Siete Magníficas" [12:34 – 16:30]

• 2025 was volatile: presidential changes stirred the markets; consumer spending and inflation down; interest rates began dropping by year-end.

• The S&P500 returned 16%, led by “las siete magníficas”: Amazon, Google, Meta, Nvidia, Tesla, Apple, Microsoft.

  • Only some outperformed the index—especially those in AI.

• Lesson: S&P500 is weighted by company size—real diversification is more nuanced.

• For the first time in years, international markets outperformed the US (see VXUS, 20% vs. S&P’s 16%), due to policies that devalued the USD.

  "...el dinero se está moviendo a small caps, compañías pequeñas...infraestructura, industriales, otro tipo de industria..."
  — Carlos (16:30)

7. Personal Account Performance: 401(k) Benchmarking [17:57]

• Compare your investment returns to market indices (like SPY) to assess performance relative to your personal risk profile and time horizon.

  "Compáralo con el índice principal, úsalo de estándar..."
  — Carlos (19:19)

8. Looking Ahead to 2026: Rotaciones, Commodities & Política [19:58 – 24:22]

• Strong “rotation” anticipated; money moving out of tech into other industries.
• Gold (+67%) and silver (+132%) surged—signaling hedging against volatility.
• The Trump administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill” and direct payments (e.g., $1,000 to newborns, military bonuses) may stimulate consumer activity and stock markets.

9. Habits & Mentality: Key to Debt Elimination [25:04 – 31:10]

• Warning against consumer debt: especially store credit cards and buy-now-pay-later schemes.

• Eliminate “deudas de consumo” (credit cards, car loans, personal/student loans—unless good ROI).

• Strategy: Focus extra payments on credit cards and car loans above 6.7% interest. Only mortgage is “acceptable debt.”

  "Si tú tienes que hacer una compra de 200 pesos y no tienes los 200 pesos encima y no es una emergencia, no es el momento de comprarte eso."
  — Carlos (28:23)

• The hardest but most effective tip: Learn to say “no” to peer pressure and unnecessary spending.

  "Aprender a decir no. Eso te puede salvar el 90% de tus problemas."
  — Carlos (30:22)

10. Advice for Starting Fresh in Your 30s [31:45 – 35:30]

• Address debt, invest in skills for career growth, and abandon any “victim mindset”—take deliberate control over your destiny.

• Small, consistent wins and celebrating progress matter more than perfection.

  "Tus consecuencias no son al azar, hay que quererlas, hay que intencionarlas tus decisiones."
  — Carlos (32:41)

• Host Don Juan shares his personal journey overcoming self-limiting beliefs and stresses the value of therapeutic, structured change.

11. Quick Financial FAQs

• IRA contributions:
  You have until April 15 to fund for the previous year (38:09).

• Debt vs. IRA investing:
  Always pay off high-interest credit card debt before funding IRA (38:40).

• Housing Market (Puerto Rico):
  Housing is critically scarce; only luxury homes have real inventory. Real estate ≠ passive income.

  "En Puerto Rico no hay casa ahora mismo. Es un nicho bien grande."
  — Carlos (39:09)

• What to do with savings?
  Consult a professional; don't assume property is automatically best. Consider liquidity and time commitment (40:52).

📝 Notable Quotes

• On financial myths:
  "No escuche a aquel experto que te está diciendo que te puede vender un mejor producto, es un producto muy bien diseñado..." — Carlos (04:51)

• On debt & consumption:
  "Mientras la mayoría de las personas están peladas, están endeudados hasta arriba, por encima de la deuda va su apariencia hacia el exterior." — Carlos (25:36)

• On celebrating small wins:
  "Celebre el bendito proceso, Pónganse metas reales y alcanzables y celebra cada una de ellas." — Carlos (37:03)

⏰ Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:46] — Carlos on dealing with audience feedback
• [01:51] — Financial disclaimer
• [03:00] — 401(k) myths and reality
• [05:47] — Short-term hacks vs. long-term investing
• [09:04] — Winning the Powerball: What to do
• [12:34–16:30] — 2025 markets & “siete magníficas”
• [17:57] — How to benchmark your own 401(k)
• [19:58] — 2026 market forecast, commodities surge
• [25:36] — Consumer debt habits and store credit traps
• [30:22] — The power of “no”
• [31:45–35:30] — Financial advice for your 30s
• [38:09] — IRA deadlines
• [39:09] — Puerto Rico housing crisis

🗣️ Tone and Culture

The discussion is frank, approachable, slightly irreverent, and filled with “calle” wisdom—no preaching, just real talk for the everyday listener. Both hosts blend humor, humility, and relatable anecdotes to connect with an audience navigating the economic realities of Puerto Rico and the US Latino community.

👉 Main Takeaways

• Don’t get distracted by financial “hacks” or lottery fantasies; real wealth takes planning and discipline.
• Benchmark your investments, but prioritize debt payoff (especially high-interest).
• Build self-control and the courage to say “no” to unnecessary consumption.
• Invest in yourself—via education and upskilling—for long-term earnings.
• Seek out advice, but filter out noise from social media “experts.”
• Celebrate even your smallest financial victories!

For more: Consult CAF Investments via Instagram or visit their offices in Guaynabo. Book consultations online—appointments are required!

CAFÉ EN MANO podcast drops every Wednesday. Stay tuned for more practical, community-driven money talk en español con café en mano.