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

Episode Title: Make Your Money Make More Money
Release Date: January 5, 2025
Host: Suze Orman
Description: In this episode, Suze Orman delves into strategies for enhancing your financial security by making your money work harder for you. She shares updates on financial products, introduces a groundbreaking investment program, and provides insightful projections for various markets in 2025.

1. Introduction and Personal Updates

Suze Orman opens the episode by expressing her relief that the holiday season has concluded, allowing her to refocus on financial planning for the year ahead. She shares a personal update about her family, highlighting the visit of Annie, her son Colo's wife, emphasizing the joy and harmony within her household.

Notable Quote:

"Annie is perfect. The two of them are perfect together. And now, I feel like we have a daughter-in-law because we loved her so much."
[00:50]

2. Continual Theme Song Choice

Orman discusses the continuation of "Unstoppable" by Sia as the podcast's theme song. Initially intended for two years, Sia graciously extended the permission indefinitely, reinforcing the empowering message the song embodies.

Notable Quote:

"If you listen to the words of it, it's how you empower yourself. You don't let anything stop you."
[02:10]

3. Financial Product Updates

Alliant Credit Union CD Rates: Orman updates listeners on the increased interest rates for Alliant Credit Union's Certificates of Deposit (CDs):

• 6-Month CD: Raised from 4.00% to 4.10%
• 12-Month CD: Increased from 4.10% to 4.25%
• 12-Month Jumbo CD (≥$75,000): Boosted from 4.15% to 4.30%

She encourages listeners to consider these competitive rates for their savings.

Long-Term Care Insurance Calculator: Available on the Women & Money App, this tool estimates premiums, aiding listeners in financial planning for future care needs.

4. Introduction of "My Value Path" Investment Program

Orman introduces a new program developed by Keith Fitzgerald called "My Value Path," which employs a method known as value cost averaging—a superior alternative to traditional dollar cost averaging. This program is designed to optimize investment strategies by providing personalized monthly investment recommendations based on individual financial situations.

Key Features:

• Personalized Investment Roadmap: Tailored stock selections (10-12) to complement existing portfolios.
• Monthly Guidance: Emails detailing how much to buy or sell each stock to maintain the investment path.
• Cost: Approximately $175 to $250 annually, renewing every five years to ensure continuous guidance.

Notable Quote:

"Value cost averaging is going to give you a smoother ride than just buying and holding."
[15:30]

5. 2025 Investment Theme: "Make Your Money Make More Money"

Inspired by a New Year’s message to "make your time worth your time," Orman adapts the theme to focus on financial growth: "Make Your Money Make More Money." She emphasizes the importance of active investment over passive saving to achieve significant financial growth.

Notable Quote:

"For your money to make more money, you have to be doing something with it. You can't just let it sit and do nothing."
[20:15]

6. Market Projections for 2025

Stock Market: Orman anticipates volatility, with the market experiencing ups and downs. She advises taking advantage of market dips to invest more and underscores the long-term growth potential.

Notable Quote:

"When the markets go down and certain stocks that have been skyrocketing go down, you have the ability to put more money into those stocks if you wish to do so."
[22:40]

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): She recommends specific ETFs for inclusion in portfolios:

• Symbols: IWM, SPY, VTI, QQQ, XLF, INDA, SCHD
• These ETFs are selected for their stability and growth potential, suitable for incremental investments during market fluctuations.

Individual Stocks: Orman lists several high-performing stocks that listeners should consider holding or investing in:

• Symbols: AAPL, WH, R, M, SFT, CTRE, NVDA, WMT, I, O, N, Q, A, V, G, O, P, L, T, R, TSLA, PFE, EQT, GEV

Bitcoin: She expresses a preference for Bitcoin ETFs (e.g., iBIT) over direct Bitcoin purchases due to security concerns, such as the risk of theft and lack of insurance. Orman provides a technical analysis of Bitcoin's potential price movements, highlighting support levels at $84,500 and $73,800.

Real Estate: Orman predicts that mortgage rates will stabilize around 6% and remain high, making real estate purchases challenging. However, she remains optimistic about the long-term prospects of the real estate market.

Bonds: She advises focusing on short-term bonds (6-month to 12-month CDs) given the unpredictable nature of interest rates, rather than committing to long-term bonds.

Gold: Orman recommends maintaining a modest allocation in gold ETFs (e.g., GLD) to diversify portfolios.

7. Final Investment Advice and Conclusion

Orman reiterates her central theme: "Make Your Money Make More Money." She advocates for patient, informed investing, emphasizing the importance of staying invested through market fluctuations and maximizing growth through strategic investment choices. Additionally, she encourages listeners to open and fully fund Roth IRAs in January to take advantage of long-term tax-free growth.

Notable Quote:

"Make your money make more money by being involved, investing it little by little."
[28:10]

Orman concludes with a motivational note, reinforcing the idea that disciplined investing leads to financial empowerment and an unstoppable financial future.

Closing Remarks:

This episode of Suze Orman's Women & Money podcast provides a comprehensive guide for listeners aiming to enhance their financial well-being in 2025. From updating on lucrative savings options to introducing innovative investment strategies, Orman equips her audience with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed financial decisions and achieve lasting financial security.

Useful Resources Mentioned:

• Alliant Credit Union: myalliant.com
• Women & Money App: Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play