Podcast Summary: Suze Orman's Women & Money (And Everyone Smart Enough to Listen)

Episode: Don’t Get On The Financial Roller Coaster
Date: November 23, 2025
Host: Suze Orman

Episode Overview

In this episode, Suze Orman draws on her 40+ years of financial expertise to address emotional investing, navigating volatile markets, and making confident, long-term financial decisions. Orman challenges listeners to get off the “financial roller coaster”—moving from reactive to intentional investing. She provides guidance on market downturns, year-end tax strategies, “free trade” investing tactics, and the importance of knowing—and acting according to—your personal circumstances and risk tolerance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stock Market Volatility: The Emotional Roller Coaster

[01:10–03:20]

• Suze shares her decades-long perspective: markets go up and down, but investors with quality holdings, diversification, and a long timeline do well.

• Quote:

  “If you are invested in good quality stocks... and you have a plan and you’re diversified enough... over time, you will make a significant amount of money.” —Suze Orman [01:45]

• Reiterates that investing in the market should only be considered if you don’t need the money for at least five years.

2. Recent Stock Performance Examples

[03:30–06:30]

• Cites recent dramatic fluctuations in stocks like Palantir and IonQ.
• Emphasizes the “law of money”: “Look at what you have, not at what you had.”
• Warns against the regret trap:

  “The biggest mistake you will ever make in life when it comes to investing is, is when you say to yourself, if only I had...” —Suze Orman [05:15]

3. Actionable Investing Advice: Dollar-Cost Averaging and Staying Invested

[06:35–08:50]

• Dollar-cost averaging allows you to buy more when prices go down and benefit when they recover.
• Advices to stick with good stocks unless fundamentals change. If out of new money, stay the course.

4. Portfolio Diversification and Index Funds

[09:00–10:15]

• For those lacking diversification, Suze recommends S&P 500 index funds as core holdings.

5. Clarifying ‘Free Trade’ Strategy

[10:20–15:15]

• Explains the “free trade” tactic: sell half after a 100% gain to take your initial investment off the table.

• Admits she doesn’t typically use this herself (prefers to let investments ride unless personal situation dictates).

• Quote:

  “If you are a nervous investor... you should absolutely do a free trade—at least once.” —Suze Orman [12:30]

• Highlights importance of considering tax implications of selling, especially in taxable (non-retirement) accounts.

6. Taxes and Selling Strategy

[15:30–17:55]

• Distinguishes between taxable and retirement accounts regarding sales and taxation.
• If you sell before a year in a taxable account, you may move into a higher tax bracket and pay ordinary income tax.

7. Knowing Your Risk Profile and Portfolio Composition

[18:00–20:15]

• Urges listeners not to view their portfolios as individual stocks, but holistically.
• Emphasizes building “cushions”—diversification ensures some stability when one sector dips.

8. When Markets and Assets Drop: Mistakes to Avoid

[20:30–22:10]

• Warns against panic selling during downturns.

• Quote:

  “If you have years till you need this money, you are and will be making one of the biggest mistakes ever [if you sell now].” —Suze Orman [21:25]

• Shares her view: market downturns are often prolonged to push fearful investors to sell, after which markets rebound.

9. End-of-Year Tax Strategies

[22:10–24:30]

• Shares her plan to sell losing positions to offset gains, then repurchase appreciated shares (like Palantir) to increase cost basis and reduce future taxes.
• Quote:

  “If I have a $10,000 loss, I will sell enough shares of Palantir where I have a $10,000 gain... then I will immediately turn around and buy those shares of Palantir back.” —Suze Orman [23:35]

• Notes the 30-day “wash sale” rule applies to losses.

10. Investing According to Your Personality and Timeline

[24:30–25:30]

• Stresses the importance of understanding your own timeline, personality, and cost basis.
• Advises building a plan, knowing your numbers, and sticking to your approach.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You have to do what’s right for you. You have to have enough knowledge in what you are doing...” —Suze Orman [15:00]
• “This is not a financial roller coaster for you to want to ride on. This is where you stand on the sidelines...you look at the roller coaster...take joy in knowing that you are invested properly.” —Suze Orman [22:30]
• “The goal of money is for you to be secure. The biggest mistakes are made when you are not secure, when you are afraid.” —Suze Orman [21:05]
• Emphasis on “People first, then money, then things”—her signature closing.

Practical Tips & Takeaways

• Know Your Cost Basis: Always track your average purchase price to understand gains/losses. [24:50]
• Diversify: Avoid concentrating your portfolio in just a few stocks.
• Match Investments to Timeline: Only invest money in the stock market if you don’t need it for at least five years.
• Don’t Panic Sell: Market dips are normal; stick to your plan if your timeline is long.
• Year-End Tax Loss Harvesting: Consider selling losing positions to offset taxable gains.
• Dollar-Cost Average: Continue investing at regular intervals, especially during downturns if possible.
• Invest for Security: If volatility makes you nervous, stick to safer investments like Treasuries, CDs, or bonds.

Key Segment Timestamps

• Suze's school intro & long-term market view: [01:10–02:30]
• Discussing volatile stocks Palantir & IonQ: [03:30–05:30]
• Law of money: focus on what you have: [05:15]
• Dollar-cost averaging & staying invested: [06:35–08:50]
• Clarifying the “free trade” concept: [10:20–15:15]
• Tax considerations for selling: [15:30–17:55]
• Portfolio diversification advice: [18:00–20:15]
• Avoiding panic and market timing: [20:30–22:20]
• Year-end tax strategy/play-by-play: [22:10–24:30]
• Final practical investing steps & wrap-up: [24:30–25:30]

Final Message & Tone

Suze closes by urging listeners to:

• Stay informed and in control of their investments.
• Match their financial strategy to their needs and stability.
• Keep focused on people and well-being before money.

Signature Closing:

“People first, then money, then things. Now you stay safe. Bye bye.” —Suze Orman [25:32]

This episode is rich in practical wisdom for weathering market ups and downs—reminding listeners to invest bravely, thoughtfully, and with their personal needs front and center.