Podcast Summary

Podcast: Suze Orman's Women & Money (And Everyone Smart Enough To Listen)
Episode: Winning Money Moves During Uncertain Times
Host: Suze Orman
Guest: Keith “Fitzy” Fitzgerald
Date: March 8, 2026
Theme: Smart, resilient financial strategies for turbulent global times—how to keep your head and make winning money moves.

Episode Overview

On International Women’s Day, Suze Orman brings back Keith Fitzgerald (“Fitzy”) to help listeners navigate current financial market turbulence marked by war, skyrocketing oil prices, and uncertainty in tech. The discussion focuses on emotional resilience, historical perspective, specific stock recommendations, and practical ways to safeguard your financial future despite the unsettling headlines. The episode is packed with actionable advice, historical analysis, and signature Suze-style reminders to take charge of your finances.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Emotional Management in Times of Crisis

[02:15–05:58]

• Historical Perspective: Keith stresses that market uncertainty during war or crisis is not new, and emotions—not just economics—drive individual money mistakes.
  • “Even the fiercest fighting eventually stops. The real problem right now with the markets is your emotions and the person looking out at you in the mirror.” – Keith, [02:31]
• War & Market Recovery: Looking at wars and major crises (Gulf War, 9/11, Iraq Invasion, Soleimani strike), Keith demonstrates that while markets initially plunge, they rebound—even sharply—soon after.
  • “Every investor who sells out now is making an emotional decision under the guise of being rational, when being rational is really what you want to do.” – Keith, [04:27]
  • Key data: After 9/11, the market recovered 21.2% in 10 weeks; after the 2003 Iraq invasion, 27% in a year.

2. Stock Selection in Volatile Sectors

[06:40–12:49]

• Oil/Energy:
  • Pick Great Companies, Not Commodities: Rather than chasing oil’s price, focus on companies able to weather volatility, like Chevron.
    • “A company like Chevron can make money at $30 a barrel and it can make money at $100 a barrel.” – Keith, [07:22]
    • “Great dividend, great stability. We’re going to need dinosaur juice for a long time to come.” – Keith, [08:53]
• How To Analyze Stocks:
  • Keith urges listeners to read company annual reports (found in the investor relations section online) to check diversification, debt levels, and management quality.
    • “Annual reports will give you an instant snapshot of where the company is. You will know in 10 minutes…” – Keith, [11:27]
    • Suze reassures: “Can you just try doing it… it’s not as scary as you think!” – Suze, [12:49]
  • On AI for Research: AI can help but is no substitute for firsthand analysis.

3. Tech and Defense: Sell, Hold, or Buy?

[13:57–18:32]

• On switching from tech to defense: Don’t. Many defense and tech companies overlap, and both sectors are critical for the long term.
• Top Picks:
  • Tech:
    • “Today? It’s going to be Microsoft.” – Keith, [15:59]
    • Apple is also cited as a sleeper powerhouse: “The company is most dangerous when it’s quietest… Apple’s getting ready to release something significant.” – Keith, [17:32]
  • Defense:
    • “My favorite, bar none, is going to be Lockheed Martin because of the way the company operates…they make exactly the kind of technology that we need to defend this country.” – Keith, [18:36]

4. Investment Advice for Retirees/Seniors

[19:08–22:43]

• Stay Invested Longer: Life expectancy is increasing; don’t automatically reduce stock exposure with age.
  • “You may live a lot longer than you think you will, which means you need to stay in the game longer.” – Keith, [19:53]
• Old Rules No Longer Apply: The “100 minus your age” rule for stock allocation is outdated.
  • “That doesn’t hold anymore…things don’t work the way they used to.” – Suze, [20:57]
• Stocks vs. Bonds: Bonds can be riskier than advertised. Focus on strong CEOs and stable, dividend-generating stocks.

5. Broader Financial Well-being: More Than Just Stocks

[24:44–26:09]

• The Big Picture:
  • Beyond picking stocks, secure your long-term health and legacy: buy in a Roth IRA, have a trust/will, aim for a paid-off home by retirement.
    • “You can do everything great with the stock market, but if you don’t have everything in place, all of a sudden you go into a nursing home, there goes all your money…” – Suze, [25:23]

6. College Costs & Trade Careers

[23:40–24:44]

• On College: Keith now favors trade careers and practical skills over expensive college degrees, given tuition costs and rapid job evolution due to tech and AI.
  • “If I had a do over right now…I’d encourage my children…learn a trade…because that’s the stuff that is really worth bank.” – Keith, [23:52]

7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 02:31 | “Even the fiercest fighting eventually stops. The real problem…is your emotions and the person looking out at you in the mirror.” | Keith Fitzgerald | | 04:27 | “Every investor who sells out now is making an emotional decision under the guise of being rational.” | Keith Fitzgerald | | 07:22 | “A company like Chevron can make money at $30 a barrel and it can make money at $100 a barrel.” | Keith Fitzgerald | | 12:49 | “Can you just try doing it…reading a little bit about it? It’s not as scary as you think.” | Suze Orman | | 15:59 | “Today? It’s going to be Microsoft.” | Keith Fitzgerald | | 17:32 | “Apple is most dangerous when it’s quietest…because they redefine the customer experience.” | Keith Fitzgerald | | 19:53 | “You may live a lot longer than you think you will, which means you just need to stay in the game longer than you think you will.” | Keith Fitzgerald | | 20:57 | “That doesn’t hold anymore…things don’t work the way they used to.” | Suze Orman | | 23:52 | “If I had a do over right now…I’d encourage my children…learn a trade…because that’s the stuff that is really worth bank.” | Keith Fitzgerald | | 25:23 | “You can do everything great with the stock market, but if you don’t have everything in place… there goes all your money…” | Suze Orman |

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [02:15] Emotional Impact of Crisis on Money Decisions
• [03:04] How Markets React After War and Conflict
• [06:40] Should You Buy/Sell Oil Stocks Right Now?
• [09:22] How to Evaluate Dividend Safety & Company Diversification
• [11:03] How to Find and Read Annual Reports
• [13:57] Should You Switch from Tech to Defense?
• [15:59] Best Stock Picks: Energy, Tech, and Defense Sectors
• [19:08] Investment Guidance for Those in Their 70s
• [20:57] Why Traditional Allocation Rules Don’t Work Anymore
• [23:40] Is College Worth It Anymore?
• [24:44] The Total Financial Picture: More Than Just Investments

Actionable Takeaways & Tone

• Stay Calm and Rational: Historically, panic selling during moments of crisis leads to regret, not relief.
• Pick Resilient Companies: Focus on firms with proven stability, strong dividends, and international diversification (Chevron for energy, Microsoft and Apple for tech, Lockheed Martin for defense).
• Take Ownership of Research: Don’t outsource your knowledge—read annual reports, don’t just rely on AI.
• Age Doesn't Mean Exit: With longer lives and faster recoveries, staying in stocks is often safer than retreating to bonds.
• Expand Beyond Stocks: Ensure your financial world includes proper retirement accounts, estate planning, and debt reduction.
• Question the College Hype: Consider practical skills and trade jobs.
• Personal Empowerment: “People first, then money, then things.” (Suze’s mantra, [26:30])

Memorable Closing

“Change is always an opportunity. It’s scary, but when you really look at history, change produces innovation. Innovation produces profits...believe it or not, improves our lives over time.”
— Keith Fitzgerald, [26:18]

“People first, then money, then things. Now you stay safe. Bye bye everybody.”
— Suze Orman, [26:30]

This episode is brimming with practical reassurance and specifics on how to keep cool—while actively protecting and growing your wealth—no matter how chaotic the headlines.