To kick off 2025, SoFi’s Head of Investment Strategy Liz Thomas dives into listeners’ biggest questions about the year ahead, such as: what happens if liquidity coming out of markets decreases? How will the Fed respond if inflation rates remain high? Is buying gold a good investment in 2025? Get thoughtful insight on all of these questions and more in this special bonus episode.

For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.

Notable mentions in the episode:

00:00 Introduction

01:25 Liquidity of Markets

03:57 Strength of the US Dollar

07:17 Gold and Gold Mining Stocks

11:33 Are Elevated S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 Values Sustainable?

16:35 Mag 7 Performance in 2025

19:56 Small Caps in 2025

24:06 Interest Rates and Inflation

26:54 Chinese Equities

29:27 Sectors to Overweight in Your Portfolio

33:22 Closing Thoughts

Additional resources:

SoFi Daily Podcast: 5-minute daily episodes covering the latest business, economic, and stock market news you need to start your day. The SoFi Daily Pod is available on Apple and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

SoFi Daily Newsletter: Sign up for the SoFi Daily to receive the latest financial news in your inbox every day. 

Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more.

Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you.

This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.

©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Consumer spending is the heart of the US economy—more specifically, spending by high-income, or luxury, consumers. These luxury consumers are optimistic about the economic landscape, and how and what they spend their money on reflects this attitude. But while not everyone can spend like a luxury consumer, can their attitudes provide economic insight for the rest of us?

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, this episode we talk with Emily Essner, the Chief Marketing Officer for Saks Fifth Avenue. Saks is a well-established luxury department store chain, operating its brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce platform as separate entities.

Emily started at Saks Fifth Avenue in 2011, holding multiple roles before ultimately becoming the CMO for Saks, the standalone e-commerce platform of the brand. Prior to Saks, Emily was an investment banking analyst at Morgan Stanley, as well as a senior associate at McKinsey & Company. She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree from Mount Holyoke College.

For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.

Notable mentions in the episode:

00:00 Introduction

01:55 Luxury Consumer Insights

06:10 Durability of Luxury Industry and Trends

09:56 The Entry Point for Luxury Goods

12:08 The Emerging Luxury Consumer

19:31 Using Personalization in Marketing Strategies

21:39 The Role of Brand Loyalty

26:18 Sak’s Philosophy of Resource Allocation

29:13 Promotions During the Holiday Season

33:43 Closing Thoughts

Additional resources:

• SoFi Daily Podcast: 5-minute daily episodes covering the latest business, economic, and stock market news you need to start your day. The SoFi Daily Pod is available on Apple and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
• SoFi Daily Newsletter: Sign up for the SoFi Daily to receive the latest financial news in your inbox every day. 
• Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more.
• Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you.

This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.

©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

AI, BioTech, Robotics – these are technologies that will change the world. But how and where do the opportunities live within these sectors? Where are investors taking their big bets? This episode, we’ll hear from Cathie Wood, Founder, CEO, and CIO at ARK Investment Management, LLC. Ark’s funds are known for taking big bets on “disruptive innovation,” meaning tech companies at the forefront of innovation.

Cathie founded Ark back in 2014. She started her career at The Capital Group, and has spent time at Jennison Associates LLC and AllianceBernstein. She also previously co-founded the hedge fund Tupelo Capital Management.

If you enjoyed Cathie’s insights, you may also like this episode where Liz talks with Steve Young about his career transition and investing insights.

For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.

Notable mentions in the episode:

00:00 Introduction

01:26 Defining Innovation at ARK

05:51 Economic Insights and Investment Philosophy

15:35 The Role of AI in Innovation

25:42 Future of Transportation and Healthcare

29:31 Navigating Market Turmoil and Long-Term Investing

34:25 Venture Capital and Democratizing Investment

47:06 Closing Thoughts

Additional resources:

• SoFi Daily Podcast: 5-minute daily episodes covering the latest business, economic, and stock market news you need to start your day. The SoFi Daily Pod is available on Apple and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
• SoFi Daily Newsletter: Sign up for the SoFi Daily to receive the latest financial news in your inbox every day. 
• Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more.
• Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you.

This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.

©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The market may go up, down, or even sideways, but one thing remains constant—Brian Belski is the Biggest Bull on Wall Street. Brian joins SoFi’s Head of Investment Strategy and Host Liz Thomas to talk about what’s making him confident in the resiliency of the current bull market. Brian is famous for his positive view on markets and is a frequent commentator on CNBC, Fox Business, and Bloomberg. He is Chief Investment Strategist at BMO Capital Markets and leads the Investment Strategy Group with his 35 years of experience. Liz asks Brian for practical insights on how to navigate this landscape and how to stay confident and focused despite short-term market fluctuations.

For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.

Notable mentions in the episode:

(00:00) Introduction to The Important Part

(01:22) Brian’s bold prediction for the S&P 500

(07:12) Why Brian changed his price target for 2024

(09:29) Strategist vs. economist

(13:20) The bull market of the 1990s vs. today

(17:12) The new consumer staples

(19:16) Consumer staples as percentage of a portfolio

(20:52) AI in consumer staples companies

(23:04) Why the current market is a “stock picker’s paradise”

(27:04) The sweet spot of small and mid-cap companies  

(33:50) Brian’s market forecast in one word

(34:13) When Brian realized warning of a recession wasn’t the right call

(35:31) Brian’s worst trade

(36:57) Brian’s biggest call was his most bearish

(39:30) Key takeaways and conclusion

Additional resources:

• SoFi Daily Podcast: 5-minute daily episodes covering the latest business, economic, and stock market news you need to start your day. The SoFi Daily Pod is available on Apple and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
• SoFi Daily Newsletter: Sign up for the SoFi Daily to receive the latest financial news in your inbox every day. 
• Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more.
• Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you.

This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.

©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

For many, their wedding day is the day they’ve dreamt of since childhood. What people haven’t dreamt of is the cost of making that dream a reality, let alone how to pay for it. In this episode, SoFi’s Head of Investment Strategy and Host of The Important Part Liz Thomas talks with Tim Chi, CEO of The Knot Worldwide. Tim shares insights about financial planning for weddings from his extensive background in the industry, how the pandemic changed wedding planning, and balancing financial and emotional considerations in the process. The two also discuss Liz’s recent personal experience in planning her own wedding, how to prioritize expenses with professional vendors, and how social media and AI have shaped modern wedding planning.

For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.

Notable mentions in the episode:

(00:00) Introduction to The Important Part

(02:25) Tim Chi’s background in the wedding industry

(04:12) How the wedding planning industry has changed 

(05:32) 2022 as the “Super Bowl” of wedding years

(07:49) “Revenge” wedding spending

(10:01) The ROI of your wedding

(12:50) How wedding traditions and priorities have changed

(15:57) The impact of inflation on weddings

(19:21) Social media’s impact on wedding planning

(22:10) Has AI influenced the wedding industry?

(25:18) How much planning for a wedding should you DIY?

(30:24) Tim’s favorite tools to offer couples

(31:10) One word to sum up the cost of wedding planning

(31:35) Combining The Knot and WeddingWire

(32:49) Tim’s investing mantra

(35:12) Key takeaways and conclusion

Additional resources:

• SoFi Daily Podcast: 5-minute daily episodes covering the latest business, economic, and stock market news you need to start your day. The SoFi Daily Pod is available on Apple and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
• SoFi Daily Newsletter: Sign up for the SoFi Daily to receive the latest financial news in your inbox every day. 
• Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more.
• Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you.

This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.

©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

So you’ve graduated college and landed your first job. But along the way, no one told you about what a 401k is, or how to make a large home goods purchase, or even how to start making your money work for you. To make sure you don’t fumble, SoFi’s Head of Investment Strategy and Host Liz Thomas welcomes back Brandon Copeland, retired NFL player, founder, and now author of the new book, ‘Your Money Playbook: How to Earn More, Build Wealth and Win At Life.’ Brandon discusses his goals in writing a book on personal finance, and his passion for financial education that is accessible to all. The two also talk about the saving and spending habits Brandon developed while in the NFL, the unique syllabus for his University of Pennsylvania Life 101 course, and the importance of having financial accountability buddies in your life.

For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.

Notable mentions in the episode:

(00:00) Introduction to The Important Part

(01:37) Why Brandon wrote his book

(07:47) The value of having a financial advisor

(11:33) Investing as the most important thing to get right

(13:49) The appetite for risk for young investors

(16:48) What Brandon learned about personal finance in the NFL

(21:20) Personal finance lessons best learned early

(28:16) How Brandon managed his money in the NFL

(31:50) Key resources for learning about personal finances

(37:14) Life 101: The syllabus

(42:11) Brandon’s transition from football player to CEO/Founder

(44:54) When Brandon decided to educate others on personal finance

(48:21) Key takeaways and conclusion

Recommended reading:

• How to Manage Your 401(k): Tips for All Investors
• Risk Tolerance Quiz: How Much Risk Are You Willing to Take
• How to Choose a Financial Advisor

Additional resources:

• SoFi Daily Podcast: 5-minute daily episodes covering the latest business, economic, and stock market news you need to start your day. The SoFi Daily Pod is available on Apple and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
• SoFi Daily Newsletter: Sign up for the SoFi Daily to receive the latest financial news in your inbox every day. 
• Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more.
• Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you.

This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.

©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

How can individual investors learn to navigate all the resources and information available? Is real estate still a worthwhile investment in a volatile market? What role can social media play in informing your investment choices? This episode, we’ll hear from Ben Carlson, Director of Institutional Asset Management at Ritholtz Wealth Management. Author of four books and the blog A Wealth of Common Sense, Ben Carlson has a gift for whittling down market complexities into simple solutions. He and Liz discuss the importance of not getting swept up in market fads, establishing a set of rules for your portfolio, and what it looks like to weather market extremes. 

For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.

Notable mentions in the episode:

(02:58) The market’s problems are complex, but the answers can be simple

(07:32) Investor psychology - how can individual investors manage their emotions?

(15:50) Reliable resources for individual investors

(20:50) One of the most common mistakes individual investors make

(23:19) The status of real estate investing

(31:09) How to weather a bear market storm

(34:41) Liz’ takeaways from the interview 

Recommended reading:

• How to Trade ETFs: A Guide for Retail Investors
• 10 Tips for Investing Long Term
• Investing for beginners: Considerations and Ways to Get Started

Additional resources:

• The SoFi Daily Podcast: 5-minute daily episodes covering the latest business, economic, and stock market news you need to start your day. The SoFi Daily Pod is available on Apple and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
• The SoFi Daily Newsletter: Sign up for the SoFi Daily to receive the latest financial news in your inbox every day. 
• Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more.
• Wealth Investing Guide: The information you need to know to make your money work harder for you.

This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.

©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Should you buy or rent? When will home prices go down? Where is housing most affordable? To get insight on these questions, SoFi’s Head of Investment Strategy and Host Liz Thomas welcomes back Dr. Skylar Olsen, the Chief Economist at Zillow. Dr. Olsen discusses how supply shortages, high mortgage rates, and changing demographics are affecting not just home prices, but rental markets, and how the housing market is evolving in the post-pandemic years. The two talk regional variations, the impact of short-term rentals, and where things go from here.

For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.

Notable mentions in the episode:

(00:00) Introduction to The Important Part

(00:31) Diving into the Housing Market

(01:34) Interview with Dr. Skylar Olsen

(02:22) Current Housing Market Trends

(05:45) Impact of Mortgage Rates

(19:22) Regional Housing Market Insights

(24:26) The Role of Short-Term Rentals

(28:10) Zillow's Market Heat Index and Zestimate

(33:00) Lightning Round 

(35:42) Key Takeaways and Conclusion

Recommended reading:

• Local Housing Market Trends By Location
• First-Time Homebuyer Guide
• Your 2024 Guide to All Things Home

Additional resources:

• SoFi Daily Podcast: 5-minute daily episodes covering the latest business, economic, and stock market news you need to start your day. The SoFi Daily Pod is available on Apple and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
• SoFi Daily Newsletter: Sign up for the SoFi Daily to receive the latest financial news in your inbox every day. 
• Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more.
• Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you.

This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.

©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

With the first half of 2024 behind us, host and SoFi’s Head of Investment Strategy Liz Thomas lays out what she expects to see in the second half. This episode, Liz addresses listener questions, covering themes like: what isn’t getting the attention it should, how historical trends are getting disrupted this cycle, and the market sectors that could be poised to do well.

For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.

Notable mentions in the episode:

(00:00) Intro

(05:05) Biggest surprise so far, this year?

(08:04) Is the market bucking the trends of history?

(11:29) What would make Liz more bullish?

(13:03) Investment ideas for the second half of 2024

(16:28) Liz’s biggest contrarian pick

(18:47) Does the 60/40 still work? 

(22:18) How much should you allocate in one spot?

(25:55) How to handle short time horizon in a recession

(28:05) How does the election factor in?

(30:36) Liz’s Takeaways

Recommended reading:

• Liz’s Mid-Year Outlook: Aging Gracefully

Additional resources:

• SoFi Daily Podcast: 5-minute daily episodes covering the latest business, economic, and stock market news you need to start your day. The SoFi Daily Pod is available on Apple and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
• SoFi Daily Newsletter: Sign up for the SoFi Daily to receive the latest financial news in your inbox every day. 
• Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more.
• Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you.

This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.

©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Early retirement. Financial freedom. For many, these are goals that can feel aspirational and unattainable. But are they really out of reach? SoFi’s Head of Investment Strategy Liz Thomas sat down with entrepreneur and Personal Finance Club founder Jeremy Schneider to talk about what it takes to build wealth at any level. According to Jeremy, accumulating wealth is more straightforward than you may think. In this episode, he shares actionable steps that anyone can take to help accelerate their journey towards financial freedom.

For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.

Notable mentions in the episode:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:18) Getting a new company off the ground straight out of college

(05:10) A great business needs more than a great idea

(12:57) Transitioning to investing with a large lump sum

(16:37) How to get a jumpstart on financial freedom

(20:45) The story behind the Personal Finance Club

(23:28) Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good

(28:08) Is retirement the wrong thing to focus on in the near-term?

(32:14) First steps towards living below your means

(35:43) The Word

(36:29) The Investor’s Bookshelf

(37:34) The “Aha” Moment

(38:40) The Important Part

Additional resources:

• SoFi Daily Podcast: 5-minute daily episodes covering the latest business, economic, and stock market news you need to start your day. The SoFi Daily Pod is available on Apple and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
• SoFi Daily Newsletter: Sign up for the SoFi Daily to receive the latest financial news in your inbox every day. 
• Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more.
• Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you.

Recommended reading:

• A Beginner’s Guide to Investing in Index Funds
• ETFs vs Index Funds
• 10 Steps for Starting a Small Business

This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.

©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

By 2030, it’s expected two-thirds of the wealth in the United States will be controlled by women. So why is investing currently such a male-dominated industry? What do women new to investing need in order to feel confident entering the market? SoFi’s Head of Investment Strategy Liz Thomas sits down with Cary Carbonaro, bestselling author and Senior Vice President and Director of Women and Wealth with ACM Wealth, to uncover the most important things women need to know about investing, what it takes to get started, and unique traits that give women investors their edge.

For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the SoFi Daily Newsletter, and follow Liz on Twitter @LizThomasStrat.

Notable mentions in the episode:

(00:00) Introduction

(04:03) Why do men feel more confident about investing?

(07:02) By 2030, women will control two thirds of the nation’s wealth. How is the industry adapting?

(11:47) Over the long-term, markets are always up and to the right.

(13:21) Cracking the code on building confidence

(22:43) Getting beyond the ABCs of investing

(26:18) Today’s investing landscape is new to everyone

(29:12) What resources can you trust?

(30:24) 3 things to avoid when investing

(31:35) There’s money in my account - now what?

(34:35) The Investor’s Bookshelf

(36:46) Women of Wall Street

(37:50) The Word

(39:08) The Important Part

Additional resources:

• SoFi Daily Podcast: 5-minute daily episodes covering the latest business, economic, and stock market news you need to start your day. The SoFi Daily Pod is available on Apple and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
• SoFi Daily Newsletter: Sign up for the SoFi Daily to receive the latest financial news in your inbox every day. 
• Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more.
• Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you.

Recommended reading:

• Women and Investing in 2024: Breaking Down the Barriers

This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal.

©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.