Podcast Summary: Money Guy Show – "How Does Your Generation Think About Money?"
Hosts: Brian Preston & Bo Hanson
Date: December 17, 2025
Overview
This episode explores how different generations view building wealth, especially in a rapidly changing world marked by technological advancements and economic uncertainty. Brian and Bo dive into fresh research—mainly a YouGov survey—revealing surprising optimism among Gen Z, contrast generational mindsets, break down the best ways to build generational wealth, and address practical listener questions about money management across all life stages.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Generational Perspectives on Wealth-Building
[01:09 – 06:04]
- Brian (A "proud Gen Xer") reflects on the traditional American dream: "We want our kids to be more successful than we were, want them to have a better opportunity than we had." (01:26)
- Contrast in Optimism:
- General Population: 49% believe it's now harder to build generational wealth.
- Gen Z: 55% say it’s as possible or more possible today.
- Bo: "A whopping 30% of Gen Zers said it is much more possible." (03:55)
- Why the optimism?
- Brian points to the transformative power of technology: "They feel like they're at the beginning of something... when you're on the front row seat... you feel like you might be able to turn this into a benefit." (05:36)
2. Paths to Building Generational Wealth
[06:04 – 14:37]
-
Top Survey Responses:
- Starting your own business
- Investing in real estate
- Investing in the financial markets
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Entrepreneurship:
- Bo: "Much smaller levels of exposure can lead to much greater success... You don't have to be Disney; you could create something." (07:49)
- Brian: "Most businesses fail... because people just don't prepare... don't realize that it's going to take three years to likely catch traction." (14:09)
-
Real Estate:
- Brian cautions on post-inflation market: "It's harder to make money in real estate right now with interest rates and where we just came through." (08:43)
- Bo: "Gen Z only knows super elevated real estate prices and very high interest rates." (08:51)
-
Financial Markets:
- Bo: "Investing in the stock market... is easier than ever. And... available to everyone now." (09:52)
- Brian: "The boundaries or barriers to entry are completely diminished at this point." (10:39)
Notable Illustration: Compounding Returns Across Ages
[10:39 – 12:40]
- If you save 10% of an $84,000 median household income into a 401k at 8% annual return:
- Start at age 40: ~$663k at retirement
- Start at 30: ~$1.6 million
- Start at 20: ~$3.6 million
- Bo: "If you get to retirement and have a portfolio... that is three and a half million dollars, you certainly are now crossing into that precipice... generational wealth." (12:24)
3. Cautions—Mirages vs. Reality
[14:37 – 16:52]
-
Becoming an influencer or gambling were listed as paths by some survey respondents.
- Bo: "Those are not the ways that people build wealth... They're the exceptions, not the rules." (15:12)
-
Practical Tools:
- Brian: "Go to moneyguy.com/resources... so you don't have to be like a 22 year old version of myself... 'Now what?'" (16:02)
4. Listener Q&A – Practical Money Management
Various Segments [17:24 – 63:05]
How to Hold a Net Worth Review with Your Spouse
- Bo: Make it a celebration—brunch, hiking, show the wins, plan for the worst (insurance, documentation), and daydream together about travel and experiences.
- "We'll sit down... start daydreaming... we kind of build out our bucket list for the year." (19:57)
- Brian: "Talking about money with your spouse can be romantic... even if you have student loans... it's kind of fun." (20:28)
Emergency Fund vs. Paying Off Car Loan
- Bo: With a $7k/month burn rate and $28k in savings, avoid using the emergency fund to pay off a $10k, 7% car loan, especially if the emergency fund doesn’t cover 6 months' expenses.
- Brian: "Come up with a creative plan as a couple to pay the car off aggressively—without raiding your reserves." (30:51)
Roth Conversion & 401k Advice
-
Roth vs. IRA:
- Bo: "Just because I can do something doesn't mean I should... incurring more of a tax liability doesn't always make sense." (38:23)
- Brian: "If your marginal rate is below 25%, the Roth is your friend." (39:37)
-
Rolling Over a Previous Employer's 401k:
- Bo: "Where should I house my dollars? Use our flowchart for old 401ks... Roth conversions usually make more sense post-working years." (61:51)
Mortgage Payoff vs. Investing Proceeds from Home Sale
- Brian: "If you're behind on retirement savings, invest the equity; if you're ahead, pay down the mortgage. Financial planning is personal and situational." (43:54)
Maintaining a Cash Emergency Fund Despite a Large Brokerage Account
- Brian: "Cash is like the oxygen we breathe—taken for granted until you have none." (50:52)
- Bo: "Having cash available is a superpower for opportunistic investing and avoiding emotional mistakes." (51:47)
Active vs. Passive Investing in 401k Plans
- Bo: "Over 15 years, 87% of active managers underperform their indices. I think it's a fool's errand." (54:32)
- Brian: "Index funds are great—the more you try to beat the market, the more likely you are to underperform." (55:06)
Rapid Fire Q&A (Experiment)
- The hosts attempt shorter, punchier answers to cover more questions, noting the tension between brevity and delivering full value.
5. Generational & Cultural Asides
- Brian's perspective: "I am actually a proud Gen Xer... the last generation that had one foot into analog and then got to watch this transition into digital." (01:26)
- Lighthearted stories about childhood, family, and firm culture foster inclusivity and relatability.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- Brian: "There's an American promise, and I think this is an American concept, is that we want our kids to be more successful than we were..." (02:03)
- Bo: "One of the things we care about is creating memories... and... in that review... we kind of build out our bucket list for the year." (19:57)
- Brian: "Cash is like the oxygen we breathe. It is taken for granted until you have none." (50:52)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 01:09 – Generational money mindsets
- 03:55 – Gen Z optimism about building wealth
- 06:04 – Survey: best paths to generational wealth
- 10:39 – Compound interest: Saving at different ages
- 14:37 – Caution against 'mirages' like gambling/influencer culture
- 17:24 – How to structure a family net worth review
- 29:44 – Should you use an emergency fund to pay down debt?
- 36:39 – Roth IRA vs. 401k conversions
- 43:28 – Should you invest equity from a home sale or pay down your mortgage?
- 50:52 – Why keep a cash emergency fund even with a large brokerage account?
- 54:32 – Passive vs. active investment strategies in 401ks
- 57:01 – Reflections on rapid fire Q&A versus deeper answers
Tone & Style
Brian and Bo keep a friendly, anecdotal, and encouraging tone—peppered with generational humor, relatable family stories, and candid guidance. Both balance technical advice with big-picture thinking, ensuring listeners of any age or asset level gain actionable insight.
Summary
This episode provides a nuanced look at how younger generations—especially Gen Z—perceive wealth-building and the actual paths that can lead to financial security (and which to avoid). The hosts emphasize the timeless power of discipline, long-term investing, and practical preparation while acknowledging that new technology and optimism can be real assets for younger savers. In the Q&A, they apply their "money guy" framework to questions spanning debt, investing, real estate, and family finance dynamics, offering both tactical and psychological advice.
Resources Mentioned:
- moneyguy.com/resources for templates & tools
- Money Guy Net Worth Review Template
- "Millionaire Mission" book by Brian Preston
- Know Your Number tool/course
- SPIVA research on active/passive management
For listeners of any age, this episode reaffirms: the best time to start is now, optimism is an asset, and getting the basics right—spending less than you earn, investing early and often, and communicating as a family—is the surest path to generational wealth.