The 9Innings Podcast

The 9Innings Podcast

por Kevin Thompson, RICP®, CFP®
EmprendimientoSuperación personal

Econ 101: 📊 The Economic Numbers Just Dropped, What Is the Jobs Data Telling Us?

In this episode of the 9innings Podcast: GDP is growing, yet September added just 29,000 jobs, and households are spending more even as real disposable income stays roughly flat. In this Econ 101 episode, Kevin looks beneath the headline numbers to trace how lower savings and rising consumer credit may be helping sustain spending, and why that could become a strain if incomes don’t catch up. He also considers the brighter explanation: businesses may be producing more with the same workforce as technology boosts productivity. The takeaway isn’t a recession call, but a closer look at the gap between economic output and household financial health, and the four figures that could show whether that gap is widening. Employment Growth and Labor-Force Participation (00:01:04) GDP Growth and Productivity (00:03:33) Savings, Credit, and Household Finances (00:09:02) How Credit Can Shift Future Consumption (00:10:21) Productivity as a Positive Explanation (00:13:03) A Mixed Picture of Economic Health (00:14:15) Four Indicators to Watch (00:15:36) Conclusion: Look Beneath the Headline Numbers (00:17:05) NEWSLETTER (WHAT NOW): https://substack.com/@9icapital?r=2eig6s&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Follow Us: youtube: / @9icap Linkedin: / kevin-thompson-ricp%c2%ae-cfp%c2%ae-74964428 facebook: / mlb2cfp Buy MLB2CFP Here: https://www.amazon.com/MLB-CFP%C2%AE-90-Feet-Counting-ebook/dp/B0BLJPYNS4 Website: http://www.9icapitalgroup.com Hit the subscribe button to get new content notifications. Corrections: Editing by http://SwoleNerdProductions.com Disclosure: https://sites.google.com/view/9idisclosure/disclosure
6 oct 2026
19:23

FoF: 🔥 Behind the Headlines: What the Financial News Isn’t Telling You.

In this episode of Facts of Our Feelings, Kevin Thompson expands on five topics he was recently quoted on in major publications. He explores why loosening credit standards won't solve housing affordability, how declining insurer competition is reshaping Medicare Advantage plans, and why Social Security COLA increases aren't necessarily good news given rising retiree costs. He also explains how ultra-wealthy families use private placement life insurance for tax-efficient investing, and why financial advisors need solid succession plans to protect clients. His key takeaway: always look beyond the headlines for the real story. Housing Affordability Challenges (00:01:10) Changes in Medicare Advantage (00:03:48) Social Security COLA Isn't Always Good News (00:05:10) How the Ultra-Wealthy Use Life Insurance (00:07:49) Your Financial Advisor's Succession Plan (00:10:02) Conclusion: Look Past the Headlines (00:13:36) NEWSLETTER (WHAT NOW): https://substack.com/@9icapital?r=2eig6s&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Follow Us: youtube: / @9icap Linkedin: / kevin-thompson-ricp%c2%ae-cfp%c2%ae-74964428 facebook: / mlb2cfp Buy MLB2CFP Here: https://www.amazon.com/MLB-CFP%C2%AE-90-Feet-Counting-ebook/dp/B0BLJPYNS4 Website: http://www.9icapitalgroup.com Hit the subscribe button to get new content notifications. Corrections: Editing by http://SwoleNerdProductions.com Disclosure: https://sites.google.com/view/9idisclosure/disclosure
29 sept 2026
15:23

Econ 101: 🔥 The Fed Is Hitting the Brakes...Here’s What It Means for You

In this episode of Econ 101, I break down the Federal Reserve’s latest 25-basis-point rate hike, bringing the federal funds target range to 3.75%–4.00%, and what higher interest rates actually mean for you. From credit cards and car loans to mortgages and business investment, higher rates are designed to slow spending and cool the economy. But there’s another side to the story: massive investment in AI and technology continues to help drive economic growth. What happens if the Fed keeps hitting the brakes while the sector helping keep the economy moving starts to slow? Let’s talk about it. 00:00 - The Fed Is Hitting the Brakes 03:56 - How Higher Rates Hit Your Wallet0 8:54 - How Rate Hikes Slow the Economy 11:06 —-AI Investment, Circular Financing & the Domino Risk NEWSLETTER (WHAT NOW): https://substack.com/@9icapital?r=2eig6s&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Follow Us: youtube: / @9icap Linkedin: / kevin-thompson-ricp%c2%ae-cfp%c2%ae-74964428 facebook: / mlb2cfp Buy MLB2CFP Here: https://www.amazon.com/MLB-CFP%C2%AE-90-Feet-Counting-ebook/dp/B0BLJPYNS4 Website: http://www.9icapitalgroup.com Hit the subscribe button to get new content notifications. Corrections: Editing by http://SwoleNerdProductions.com Disclosure: https://sites.google.com/view/9idisclosure/disclosure
22 sept 2026
17:26

FoF: 🔥 Why Dying With Too Much Money Might Be Your Biggest Retirement Problem

In this episode of Facts Over Feelings, I tackle an overlooked retirement challenge: dying with too much money. After spending 30 or 40 years saving and investing, flipping the switch from saver to spender can be harder than it sounds. I explore the psychology behind that transition and ask a simple question: What was all that money actually for? Whether your goal is enjoying retirement, maintaining financial security, leaving a legacy, or some combination of all three, defining that purpose matters. I discuss why retirees should quantify their inheritance goals, give themselves permission to spend, and consider whether helping children and grandchildren today may be more meaningful than leaving everything behind later. I also discuss the importance of enjoying the early, healthier years of retirement—when you hopefully have the money, time, and health to actually do the things you've spent decades planning for. Ultimately, retirement isn't about dying with the largest account balance. It's about using your money intentionally and living the life you worked so hard to build. 00:00 — The Retirement Conundrum: Dying With Too Much Money 03:26 — Why It’s So Hard to Go From Saver to Spender 05:24 — How Much Do You Really Want to Leave Your Kids? 08:42 — The Risk of Dying With Too Much Money 11:59 — The Go-Go Years Don’t Last Forever NEWSLETTER (WHAT NOW): https://substack.com/@9icapital?r=2eig6s&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Follow Us: youtube: / @9icap Linkedin: / kevin-thompson-ricp%c2%ae-cfp%c2%ae-74964428 facebook: / mlb2cfp Buy MLB2CFP Here: https://www.amazon.com/MLB-CFP%C2%AE-90-Feet-Counting-ebook/dp/B0BLJPYNS4 Website: http://www.9icapitalgroup.com Hit the subscribe button to get new content notifications. Corrections: Editing by http://SwoleNerdProductions.com Disclosure: https://sites.google.com/view/9idisclosure/disclosure
15 sept 2026
17:39

🔥NIL and the Transfer Portal: Redefining Loyalty and Opportunity in College Athletics w/Ryan Luckey

In this episode, host Kevin Thompson sits down with Ryan Luckey, an adjunct professor at TCU specializing in NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) in college sports. They discuss how NIL has transformed college athletics, giving athletes the ability to profit from their personal brands while also opening the door to direct compensation from schools. The conversation explores the growing financial divide between large and small programs, the disruptive impact of the transfer portal, the potential role of government regulation, and the evolving definition of the “student-athlete.” Ryan offers a cautiously optimistic view of NIL’s future, emphasizing the need for better governance, greater standardization, and clearer rules across college athletics. At the heart of the discussion is a fundamental question: How do we build a sustainable system while ensuring athletes finally receive their fair share of the value they help create? 00:01:37 — The NIL Revolution in College Sports 00:04:26 — How College Athletes Actually Get Paid 00:08:12 — Is NIL Widening the Gap Between Schools? 00:10:43 — NIL, the Transfer Portal & College Free Agency 00:17:04 — Should the Government Regulate NIL? 00:27:07 — Will NIL Save or Destroy College Sports? NEWSLETTER (WHAT NOW): https://substack.com/@9icapital?r=2eig6s&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Follow Us: youtube: / @9icap Linkedin: / kevin-thompson-ricp%c2%ae-cfp%c2%ae-74964428 facebook: / mlb2cfp Buy MLB2CFP Here: https://www.amazon.com/MLB-CFP%C2%AE-90-Feet-Counting-ebook/dp/B0BLJPYNS4 Website: http://www.9icapitalgroup.com Hit the subscribe button to get new content notifications. Corrections: Editing by http://SwoleNerdProductions.com Disclosure: https://sites.google.com/view/9idisclosure/disclosure
E173
8 sept 2026
34:45

Econ 101: 🔥 No Free Lunch: The Economics of the Subscription Economy

In this episode of the 9Innings Podcast’s Econ 101 segment, the host explores the subscription economy and why businesses and investors increasingly favor recurring revenue over one-time purchases. The episode examines the shift from ownership to access across software, music, entertainment, apps, and other services and why predictable recurring revenue has become such an attractive business model. But what’s good for businesses can become costly for consumers. The host breaks down “subscription creep,” challenges the idea that many services are truly “free,” and explains how companies ultimately find ways to monetize our participation. Listeners will learn three ways to regain control: annualize subscription costs, understand the difference between ownership and access, and regularly ask whether each subscription still provides enough value to justify the expense. Because in the subscription economy, one economic principle still holds true: there is no free lunch. 00:00:02 — There Is No Free Lunch 00:02:54 — Why Businesses & Wall Street Love Subscriptions 00:07:51 — From Habit to Access 00:10:16 — Fighting Subscription Creep NEWSLETTER (WHAT NOW): https://substack.com/@9icapital?r=2eig6s&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Follow Us: youtube: / @9icap Linkedin: / kevin-thompson-ricp%c2%ae-cfp%c2%ae-74964428 facebook: / mlb2cfp Buy MLB2CFP Here: https://www.amazon.com/MLB-CFP%C2%AE-90-Feet-Counting-ebook/dp/B0BLJPYNS4 Website: http://www.9icapitalgroup.com Hit the subscribe button to get new content notifications. Corrections: Editing by http://SwoleNerdProductions.com Disclosure: https://sites.google.com/view/9idisclosure/disclosure
1 sept 2026
14:43

Econ 101: 🔥 The Payment Economy: When Everything Becomes a Monthly Bill

In this Econ 101 segment on the 9innings Podcast, we explore America’s growing “payment economy,” where consumers increasingly focus on the monthly payment rather than the total price. From longer-term financing and Buy Now, Pay Later services to the ever-growing subscription economy, we examine how breaking purchases into smaller payments can create the illusion of affordability without actually reducing the cost. We also look at how credit-driven consumption can mask vulnerabilities in the economy, keep demand, and potentially prices elevated, while putting additional pressure on household finances. The takeaway is simple: Stop asking whether you can afford the payment and start asking what the purchase actually costs. Because true affordability isn’t about making the monthly payment, it’s about understanding the total cost. 00:00 — Welcome to the Payment Economy 05:30 — The Illusion of Affordability 09:16 — The Trillion-Dollar Credit Economy NEWSLETTER (WHAT NOW): https://substack.com/@9icapital?r=2ei... Follow Us: youtube: / @9icap Linkedin: / kevin-thompson-ricp%c2%ae-cfp%c2%ae-74964428 facebook: / mlb2cfp Buy MLB2CFP Here: https://www.amazon.com/MLB-CFP%C2%AE-... Website: http://www.9icapitalgroup.com Hit the subscribe button to get new content notifications. Corrections: Editing by http://SwoleNerdProductions.com Disclosure: https://sites.google.com/view/9idiscl...
25 ago 2026
13:54

FoF: 🔥 Tax Titans: Decoding CPAs, EAs, and PTIN Preparers Like a Pro

Welcome to the 9Innings Podcast where we Educate, Empower and Engage. In this episode of Facts of Our Feelings, tKevin breaks down key differences between tax professionals-CPAs, Enrolled Agents (EAs), and PTIN holders. We clarify that not all CPAs specialize in taxes, while EAs are federally authorized specifically for taxation and IRS representation. PTIN holders can prepare returns but lack equivalent credentials or representation rights. The episode also distinguishes tax preparation (backward-looking) from tax planning (forward-looking), emphasizing that many preparers don't offer proactive planning. Listeners are encouraged to ask the right questions when hiring a tax professional based on their individual financial complexity. Understanding the CPA (Certified Public Accountant)- (00:01:39) The Enrolled Agent (EA) Designation- (00:04:37) Representation Rights of CPAs and EAs- (00:06:09) The PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number) Holder (00:07:41) Tax Planning vs. Tax Preparation (00:09:05) Who Should You Hire? (00:10:17) Key Questions to Ask Your Tax Professional (00:11:33) NEWSLETTER (WHAT NOW): https://substack.com/@9icapital?r=2eig6s&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Follow Us: youtube: / @9icap Linkedin: / kevin-thompson-ricp%c2%ae-cfp%c2%ae-74964428 facebook: / mlb2cfp Buy MLB2CFP Here: https://www.amazon.com/MLB-CFP%C2%AE-90-Feet-Counting-ebook/dp/B0BLJPYNS4 Website: http://www.9icapitalgroup.com Hit the subscribe button to get new content notifications. Corrections: Editing by http://SwoleNerdProductions.com Disclosure: https://sites.google.com/view/9idisclosure/disclosure
18 ago 2026
14:50

Econ 101: 🔥 Trapped in the Gen X Sandwich: Kids, Aging Parents & Your Own Future

In this episode of Econ 101, we explore the “Gen X Sandwich”—the financial and emotional squeeze many Gen Xers face while simultaneously supporting their children and caring for aging parents. Drawing from personal experience, we discuss why simply having a trust or power of attorney may not be enough. We cover the importance of understanding your parents’ financial accounts, establishing the proper authority and access, organizing passwords and digital assets, and having difficult conversations about healthcare, funeral arrangements, and end-of-life wishes before a crisis occurs. The biggest takeaway: don’t wait until something happens to start planning. Know where the accounts are. Know who has authority. Know where the passwords and important documents are. Know what your parents actually want. And as you help your parents prepare, don’t repeat the same family mistake. Make sure your own spouse and children have that same information about you. (00:01:52) — When the Parent-Child Roles Suddenly Reverse (00:05:21) — Trust vs. Power of Attorney: What Happens at Death? (00:09:24) — The Digital Estate: Passwords, Accounts & Access (00:12:16) — The Conversation Every Family Avoids Until It’s Too Late (00:17:00) — Don’t Repeat the Same Family Mistake NEWSLETTER (WHAT NOW): https://substack.com/@9icapital?r=2eig6s&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Follow Us: youtube: / @9icap Linkedin: / kevin-thompson-ricp%c2%ae-cfp%c2%ae-74964428 facebook: / mlb2cfp Buy MLB2CFP Here: https://www.amazon.com/MLB-CFP%C2%AE-90-Feet-Counting-ebook/dp/B0BLJPYNS4 Website: http://www.9icapitalgroup.com Hit the subscribe button to get new content notifications. Corrections: Editing by http://SwoleNerdProductions.com Disclosure: https://sites.google.com/view/9idisclosure/disclosure
11 ago 2026
21:10

FOF: ⚡ The Economics of Convenience: Why You're Paying More to Do More Yourself

Welcome to the 9Innings Podcast where we Educate, Empower and Engage. ON THIS WEEKS PODCAST: In this episode of "Facts of Our Feelings" Kevin explores the economics of convenience in modern consumer culture. He explains how technology has shifted labor costs from businesses to consumers, with examples like self-checkout, food delivery apps, and online banking. While companies reduce expenses and boost profits, consumers pay premium prices while performing tasks previously handled by employees. Kevin also highlights the hidden cost of lost human interaction, noting that efficiency-driven business models often sacrifice personal connection. Ultimately, he challenges listeners to question who truly benefits when technology is marketed as making life cheaper and easier. (00:00:02) – The Economics of Convenience (00:02:40) - Convenience Has Become the Product (00:05:58) – When the Customer Becomes the Employee ( 00:11:11) – The Hidden Price of Convenience NEWSLETTER (WHAT NOW): https://substack.com/@9icapital?r=2eig6s&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Follow Us: youtube: / @9icap Linkedin: / kevin-thompson-ricp%c2%ae-cfp%c2%ae-74964428 facebook: / mlb2cfp Buy MLB2CFP Here: https://www.amazon.com/MLB-CFP%C2%AE-90-Feet-Counting-ebook/dp/B0BLJPYNS4 Website: http://www.9icapitalgroup.com Hit the subscribe button to get new content notifications. Corrections: Editing by http://SwoleNerdProductions.com Disclosure: https://sites.google.com/view/9idisclosure/disclosure
4 ago 2026
13:32
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