Financial Advisors React to Wild Money Advice

Summary

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Money Guy Show – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Financial Advisors React to Wild Money Advice
Hosts: Brian Preston & Bo Hanson
Guest: Aaron (Aaron Talks Money)
Release Date: June 29, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Brian, Bo, and guest Aaron react to viral online financial advice, giving their takes on the best and worst money strategies seen across social media. The hosts break down the truth (and myths) behind internet soundbites, emphasizing sensible, proven paths to wealth. The episode is filled with humor, candid opinions, and practical guidance aimed at helping listeners cut through noisy trends and adopt sound money habits.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Classic Wealth-Building Advice – Save and Invest Early

[01:18–02:04]

• Aaron describes the money lessons he always gives to his kids:
  • "Don't spend it, save it, invest it. Let it compound. Market gives you 8 to 10%. Take 15% of every paycheck."
  • Attribution: Aaron, 01:18
• Bo echoes this sentiment, noting that building wealth is simple:
  • "Don't buy stuff you don't need to impress people whose opinions do not [matter]. Everything that comes in. Save a little bit of that. Put it to work, invest it."
  • Attribution: Bo, 01:51
• Aaron adds:
  • "If you think other people are thinking about you, they're not. They're thinking about themselves and their stuff and what they're doing with their money."
  • Attribution: Aaron, 02:04

2. The Hazards of Using Home Equity for Investments

[02:44–04:18]

• Reaction to advice promoting leveraging a HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) to invest:
  • Bo questions the wisdom:
    • "Was he suggesting... borrow as much money as you can and put that money to work to maximize your wealth building potential?"
    • Attribution: Bo, 03:10
  • Brian warns:
    • "Using your HELOC to build your wealth means you're jeopardizing your shelter. Let's not go lever that up to your eyeballs."
    • Attribution: Brian, 03:21
  • Aaron relates his dad’s mistakes:
    • "He's done this... pull out money to invest in the stock market... did well sometimes, but also invested in an IPO and it went kaput. So I don't recommend it. I wouldn't jeopardize my shelter."
    • Attribution: Aaron, 03:58
  • Bo distills the risk:
    • "Is the reward... worth the risk that you’re taking on? I would argue risking losing your home... is not worth it."
    • Attribution: Bo, 04:18

3. “You Can’t Get Rich Investing—It’s All About Earning”

[05:00–06:48]

• Responding to a viral video claiming investing only makes banks rich, not individuals:
  • Financial Commentator:
    • "You are crazy if you think that the way you are going to get rich is from making the money that you have right now and just investing it in the stock market. That's insane."
    • Attribution: Financial Commentator, 04:53
• Bo picks apart the argument:
  • "...if all you're doing is parking your money in a bank... the bank then goes and lends that money out, takes on risk... But that's not the way investing works. She's way off."
  • Attribution: Bo, 06:15
• Brian agrees that you initially have to earn, but investing is eventually key:
  • "If you live on less than you make, you can turn that into wealth over the long term... you capitalize off of all this great innovation that we see around us."
  • Attribution: Brian, 06:19
• Aaron concludes:
  • "Growing your income... is the best thing you can do. But put it in the market. Let investment compounding take over because otherwise you're never going to be able to retire. That's how 99% of people make it."
    • Attribution: Aaron, 06:48

4. Does Your College Major Actually Matter Financially?

[07:55–10:41]

• Policy Expert claims:
  • "What you study doesn't matter... Study something that you are willing to be excited about... so that you can taste mastery."
    • Attribution: Policy Expert, 07:55
• Brian reacts:
  • "He told us everything we all want to hear. Hey, it's not your fault, it's the government's fault... I'm also here to tell you that we are living the greatest time to build wealth right now."
    • Attribution: Brian, 09:38
• Bo warns:
  • "If all you do is follow your passion, you're going to find yourself in the same affordability crisis... got this degree... couldn't pay me what would justify the degree."
    • Attribution: Bo, 10:06
• Aaron offers a practical solution:
  • "You should find what you love about the job you have."
    • Attribution: Aaron, 10:35
• Bo quips:
  • "Go into engineering, finance or accounting."
    • Attribution: Bo, 10:38

5. Should You Feel Guilty About Spending Money?

[10:42–11:48]

• Viral advice says "it's your money, spend it guilt-free."
  • Notable quote: "You spend money on other people all the time, so why not spend a little bit of moolah on yourself, eh? You deserve it."
    • Spender Advocate, 11:00
• Bo agrees—but with a caveat:
  • "Everything he said after you save 25% of your gross income for your future self... Go spend, do all the things. You deserve it."
    • Bo, 11:24
• Aaron reflects on consumerism:
  • "Most of us are buying way more stuff than we need. And I just. I hate clutter."
    • Aaron, 11:37

6. The "PowerPoint Party" Phenomenon

[11:48–12:20]

• The hosts express skepticism about viral reports of young adults gathering to socialize with PowerPoint presentations:
  • Brian & Bo debate if it’s a real trend—consensus: "not a thing."

7. The Right Way to Start Investing

[12:29–13:36]

• Cartoon scenario: "You work at Taco Bell and have extra cash. Don’t stock-pick, use index funds."
  • Aaron: "That was great. I love it."
    • Aaron, 12:58
  • Bo: "Most young people screw this up... if you'll just do it [index funds] the way he described, it's almost inevitable to build wealth that way."
    • Bo, 13:11
  • Brian: "Be the market. Don't try to beat the market. I like the index funds."
    • Brian, 13:32

8. The Importance of Starting to Save Early

[13:36–14:51]

• Aaron references a Business Insider video challenging early retirement:
  • "Take a portion of every single PayCheck... set it aside, put it in investments and let it grow for your future."
    • Aaron, 13:36
• Bo advocates "pay yourself first":
  • "If you practice [saving what's left after spending], then you’re never going to have anything to save. Pay yourself first, save first, put the money in first, then spend what’s left over."
    • Bo, 14:31

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Let investment compounding take over because otherwise you’re never going to be able to retire. That is how 99% of the people make it.” – Aaron (06:48)
• “Is the reward that you might potentially receive worth the risk that you’re taking on? ...Risking losing your home... is not worth it." – Bo (04:18)
• “If all you do is follow your passion, you’re going to find yourself in the same affordability crisis.” – Bo (10:06)
• “Be the market. Don’t try to beat the market. I like the index funds.” – Brian (13:32)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:18]: Aaron’s foundational investing advice for kids
• [03:21]: Hosts react to leveraging home equity to invest
• [05:00]: Viral takedown of “investing is for suckers” argument
• [07:55]: Policy vs. personal choice in college and careers
• [10:42]: Discussion on guilt-free spending and saving priorities
• [12:29]: Taco Bell scenario: Index funds for beginners
• [13:36]: Compounding, paying yourself first, and why to save early

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Tone & Dynamics

The tone is upbeat, straightforward, and filled with banter. The hosts are candid but encouraging, calling out nonsense while consistently highlighting practical, time-tested financial wisdom. They often use humor to underscore their points and relate to listeners’ real-world challenges with relatable stories and friendly jabs at each other (and at viral financial personalities).

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Episode Takeaways

• Building wealth comes down to living below your means, investing for the long term, and avoiding risky shortcuts like leveraging your home or speculative stock picking.
• Earn more, but also be smart with how you save and invest—index funds and compounding make a bigger difference than timing the market.
• What you study matters less than you think, unless you’re at the top echelons of elite fields.
• Enjoy your money—but only after taking care of your future self and not buying into overconsumption.
• Start saving and investing early. “Common sense isn’t always common practice”—make sure it’s your practice.

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For more actionable resources and the full Money Guy playbook, check out moneyguy.com/resources.

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Podcast episode summarized by Money Guy Show Summarizer – bringing confidence to your wealth-building journey.

Transcript

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[Brian]

got some wild and crazy clips and as you can see, Aaron talks money.

[Aaron]

Hey guys, thanks for having me back.

[Bo]

I am so excited that you are here. Aaron and I can't wait to see what the Internet has in store for us this morning.

[Aaron]

What's the first piece of advice I give my kids about money and the last piece of advice and the advice I always give them? Don't spend it, save it, invest it. Let it compound. Market gives you 8 to 10%. Take 15% of every paycheck. I don't care how big it is or any gift granny gives you or anything. You get on a side hustle and invest it. And then by the time you're 65, ichihua caramba, you'll have millions in the bank. Even if you only have a salary of $65,000, the average salary. This is what the market gives you. Just don't buy crap you don't need 100%.

All of it.

[Bo]

Don't buy stuff you don't need to impress people whose opinions do not everything that comes in. Save a little bit of that. Put it to work, invest it. And building wealth is not all that complicated.

[Aaron]

If you think other people are thinking about you, they're not. They're thinking about themselves and their stuff and what they're doing with their money. And also Mr. Wonderful. Kudos. Like he has the best marketing. Who else can call themselves Mr. Wonderful?

[Bo]

I think it's great.

[Brian]

I just appreciate you put on pants for this video.

[Aaron]

I don't wear pants anymore. I don't have any pants on right now. I have no pants on ever. And so because I look spectacular with this tie and jacket on, he's like

[Brian]

the, the mullet of his attire and the fact that he's business up top, but then he's all party down below with no, I have not seen these guys.

[Aaron]

That's how I film.

[Bo]

Are you serious?

[Aaron]

Yes, I'm, I'm dressed up from the waist up. And that is sweatpants, bare feet.

[Financial Expert]

A heloc, when used for things that create more income and wealth, can really produce far more profits for you, which you can then use down the road on who needs shelter items. The best rule of thumb when building wealth as quickly as possible is really to conserve your funds and availability of capital and delay gratification on lifestyle purchase.

[Financial Commentator]

Okay, that was a solid part, that party close education.

[Bo]

Was he suggesting that the strategy ought to be to like, lever up as much as possible, borrow as much money as you can and put that money to work in order to maximize your wealth building potential? Was that the thing he was laying out?

[Indeed Advertiser]

Yes.

[Brian]

Okay, yeah, I heard. Heloc to jump right into using your HELOC to build your wealth means you're jeopardizing your shelter, your house that you live in. And that's assuming you even have a house. If you have a low interest rate and you got in pre2020, then you've already kind of won a lot of the housing parts of it. Let's not go lever that up to the, to your eyeballs so that you can then get yourself and jeopardize this great opportunity or thing that you have.

[Aaron]

I want a place where I sleep. But I can also say my dad has made every financial mistake under the sun. He's done this.

[Bo]

He pulled out money from his money

[Aaron]

to go invest, put it in the stock market. I mean, he had sometimes where it was in early 2020, so it did well. Or early 2000s. Let's get our decade right. But I mean, he also did it once to invest in an IPO and it went kaput. So I don't recommend it. I wouldn't jeopardize my shelter.

[Bo]

It's all about risk. How much risk do you really want to take? And is the reward that you might potentially rece worth the risk that you're taking on? And I would argue that risking losing your home, losing your shelter just is not worth it.

[Brian]

Hey, I'm in a good mood though. Can. Let's just celebrate that he wasn't talking about buying a car with your home equity.

[Bo]

That's true. He was at least investing it. You look happier. Thanks. I've been spending beyond my means.

[Aaron]

I think people are still living on this with their credit cards. But no, don't. Don't do that. Just go boost your income.

[Financial Commentator]

You are crazy if you think that the way you are going to get rich is from making the money that you have right now and just investing it in the stock market. That's insane. Why? Because what you are actually doing is you're just letting other people get rich.

[Brian]

Who gets what you sell?

[Financial Commentator]

The asset managers who manage your money? The banks that hold your capital? Why do they get rich instead of you? Because what do they do? They take your money and they do something with it proactively. So they take your money and they take real risk with it. And I think unless you take risk with your money, but also with yourself, you're never going to get wealthy. And so you and I could go very viral on the Internet every single day. If we talked about how to invest your first $10,000 to get to $100,000 you could make, you could get a lot of views on that, except it's totally pointless. And if what we really want to do is elevate people to real wealth, where they have enough money for all the things that they want in life, it's not done through investing. It is done through earning. That is the only way you make real money. Once you make real money, you can make more of it through investing. But in the beginning, you got to earn. That's it.

[Bo]

Okay. There were glimmers of truth in the things that she said, but, man, she was kind of wandering around in the woods. I want to say the very first thing what she said is, if you are investing money, you're not making money. Someone else is making money. That's true. If all you're doing is parking your money in a bank, and we do see people do that. They put money in a savings account, in a checking account. Well, the bank then goes and lends that money out, takes on risk, gets a rate of return.

[Narrator]

That's true.

[Bo]

But that's not the way that investing works. She's way off on the way investing actually works.

[Brian]

Yeah, if you're broke as a joke, she's right. You have to sell your time for wages or earnings or go start a business or something. And then hopefully, if you live on less than you make, you can turn that into wealth over the long term. But more than likely, you're going to want to invest the money so it can start working harder than you do with Your brain and your hands. And I like index investment funds. I mean, because then you're instead trying to beat the market. You are the market. And all this great innovation that we see around us, you capitalize off of

[Aaron]

that, making your money, growing your income. That's going to be the best thing you can do. But put it in the market. Let investment compounding take over because otherwise you're never going to be able to retire. That is how 99% of the people make it. So good. So good, so good.

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[Policy Expert]

People ask me all the time whether should study in college. Now we can go back to this. What they're asking is how do they make a lot of money? Because they are terrified about the impending affordability crisis. And I feel like I now have to just remind everyone that like the reason we're at an affordability crisis is not that we can't do things inexpensively, it's that we choose not to. It's not a technolog. We have prohibitively expensive housing, prohibitively expensive healthcare, prohibitively expensive education. It's a policy failure and we need to put incredible pressure on policymakers to fix that. But when I tell kids that, then I say I also have bad news, which is what you study doesn't matter. There is a very low likelihood that your major will define your economic outcome unless you study math at Harvard or Stanford. And if you're going to go to a random college, pick a place on the map, then you're going to study anything. Study something you love. Study something that you are willing to be excited about. Not because that thing will get you a good job, but because that thing is intrinsically exciting to you so that you can taste mastery. Which is not something we ever challenge high schoolers to experience. Or not often. I should say only if you're an elite athlete or only if you're an elite student. Do you really taste what it is like to work very, very hard in pursuit of getting better?

[Brian]

I disliked about everything they said.

[Bo]

Oh, I was on a roller coaster. I was with him and then I was not with him. And then I was with him and then I was not with him.

[Aaron]

I'm gonna be generous here because I am in a career field that did not exist when I was in high school, when I was in college and I didn't know where I was gonna end up. So I've been out of high school 21 years now. So I don't think you're defined by the major you get. Granted, I went to school for business and then ultimately finance, but I do think it's important you like what you do. So you do kind of approach it with a passion. But with that said, like liberal arts versus engineering or liberal arts versus nursing. There's a big difference.

[Brian]

He started this thing as he basically wanted to empower the mob. He told us everything we all want to hear. Hey, it's not your fault, it's the government's fault. And that's the stuff that is going to put you in a situation where you don't feel like you have control in this world we live in. Yeah, there are things like housing and cost of education for sure that are way more expensive than they should be. But I'm also here to tell you that we are living the greatest time to build wealth right now.

[Bo]

Yeah, I think if all you do is follow your passion, you're going to find yourself in the same affordability crisis. He's talking about where, holy cow, I went and got this degree. I racked up tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of debt for a job that I couldn't find, that couldn't pay me what I thought I was going to earn or what would justify the degree that I got. And now because I'm in this passionate, low pay job now, I can't afford a house either. And so it's this vicious cycle that is going to repeat itself if you carry out his advice exactly the way that he said.

[Aaron]

I have a flip for that. You should find what you love about the job you have.

[Bo]

There you go. And go into engineering, finance or accounting.

[Aaron]

Yes.

[Spender Advocate]

Reasons you shouldn't feel guilty about spending money. It's your money, isn't it? That's the first reason. And I, I would say that that means that you can spend that how you want to without guilt.

[Brian]

What does your future self think, Tina. Where's Mr. Money?

[Aaron]

That's it.

[Spender Advocate]

There are loads of things to buy, aren't there? You spend money on other people all the time, so why not spend a little bit of moolah on yourself, eh? You deserve it. And that's why the next slide says you deserve it. Cause you do. You do. We know you do. Come on.

[Brian]

Was that really the video?

[Bo]

I agree 100%. I agree with this.

[Narrator]

Full stop.

[Bo]

Everything he said after you save 25% of your gross income for your future self. Once you do that. Agreed, totally. Go spend, do all the things you deserve.

[Financial Expert]

It.

[Bo]

You put in the hard work. After you save a little bit of day for tomorrow.

[Aaron]

I would make one comment on the slide. There's loads of stuff to buy. Most of us are buying way more stuff than we need. And I just. I hate clutter. We don't need as much stuff as we have.

[Brian]

So I'm sitting here. Look, I'm the old guy sitting amongst you younger folks. We agree. Yeah, I hear that this is new phenomenon where people get adult beverages and then make PowerPoint presentations for their friends. And, like, is that what I just witnessed? If that was presented at a content meeting, I'd be like, how did this guy make it through the hiring phase?

[Aaron]

I don't think this is a thing.

[Bo]

What young people are you hanging out with?

[Brian]

Well, this is a thing. Are you so old you don't know this stuff either?

[Bo]

I'm just saying I don't think it's a thing.

[Aaron]

I don't think the younger generation is using PowerPoint.

[Bo]

Look, I can see she's saying it's a thing. This is not a thing. I. I hang out with people all the time. I've not seen one PowerPoint. Socially, it's not a social thing that we do.

[Financial Advisor]

You work at Taco Bell and have some extra cash lying around. Here's what not to do. Your friend tracks the stocks of different companies and tries to find the perfect time to invest. He sometimes makes money, he sometimes loses money, but in the long run, he goes broke because it's impossible to time the market. But you make a smarter choice. You take your extra money and put some into a high yield savings account and the rest into index funds. These funds split your money across tons of different stocks, which gives you diversification and lower risk. You stop your friend's nonsense and make them follow.

[Narrator]

Go hard.

[Aaron]

That was great. I love it.

[Brian]

I mean, I want to see the setup. I wish there was, like a third camera that kind of showed you all the props and how he kind of did that. Have you ever seen those kind of setup videos? I love that stuff.

[Aaron]

Matt de Velia does this.

[Bo]

I have no notes. And I think most young people screw this up. They start trying to either pick stocks or do sports betting or go participate in Calsh or whatever the thing may be to try to get some edge, to go try to beat the market when, if you will, just do it the way that he described. It's almost inevitable to build wealth that way.

[Brian]

Be the market. Don't try to beat the market. I like the index funds.

[Aaron]

Recently, Business Insider did a video boldly titled Don't Retire Early. I recognize as no surprise with the most common advice that we tend to hear is that you need to start saving for your future when you're younger. Start as early as possible. And I know in the financial space, maybe it sounds like we're beating a dead horse when we repeatedly say take a portion of every single PayCheck, whether it's $50 or 10% of your pay or 20% of your pay, and just set it aside, put it in investments and let it grow for your future. But we have to say it, because common sense isn't always common practice. And a lot of times young people have the attitude of I'll just get to it. Eventually I'll say save when I make more. I don't have room in my budget right now. But so often we end up putting things off too long and then someday comes way quicker than we ever imagined. She's great. I love her.

[Bo]

It was, it was great. Again, I have, I have no notes because I think far too often people want to save what's left over after they've spent. And if you practice that, then you're never going to have anything to save. That's why we want people to pay yourself first, save first, put the money in first, and then spend what's left over if find yourself in a much better position.

[Brian]

Aaron, that B roll, is that you or did you find that B roll of stuffing in the.

[Aaron]

Oh, that's me. That's what I'm doing. Hanging out in the kitchen.

[Brian]

Because, I mean, we've all been there where we're trying, we have so many dollar bills that we're trying to stuff in and the zipper gets in the way. That was really. That was. We love your content. I think you can tell if people want to know more about what you create, including that video. Where can you, where can they go? Check you out?

[Aaron]

I'm here on YouTube. Aaron talks money. That's the only place I am. I'm not on Facebook or Instagram. Don't go there.

[Brian]

We believe there's a better way to do money and that's why we always load you up if you want to go check it out. MoneyGuy.com resources go ahead and start this journey. We'll give you as much free stuff as we can and build your great big beautiful tomorrow. I'm your host Brian joined by Bo joined by Aaron Money Guy out.

[Narrator]

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