di Tim & Carmela
Money problems aren’t just about math—they’re about mindset. In this episode, we explore the hidden side of personal finance: financial trauma, money scripts, and the emotional patterns that quietly sabotage your wealth. We cover: How financial trauma shows up in your body and relationships. Why scarcity budgeting creates “whiplash” overspending. The cultural money myths keeping Americans broke. Practical rewiring tools: automation, emotional triggers, spending rituals, and account structures. The two levers that truly shift wealth psychology: decoupling money from status and rewiring habits around emotion, not logic. If you’ve ever felt like your money habits make no sense—or that strategies never “stick”—this episode will change how you see wealth. Money Scripts to help with identifying Financial Traumas Questions? Email Tim at debrine9@gmail.com Want FREE weekly market updates, Tim's top 10 dividend picks, and our portfolio updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to our email list. Stay connected. Follow us on social! **DISCLAIMER**Ticker metrics change as markets and companies change, so always do your own research. The content in this podcast is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes, not financial advice. See full disclaimer here. Episode music was created using Loudly.
The Van Life Portfolio is where things get wild. Unlike our conservative retirement account, this high-yield setup is built for cash flow, not capital preservation. In this episode, we break down Q3 2025 dividend results, compare them to last quarter, and show how we’re managing volatility while keeping the income steady. 📊 Key Highlights Dividend haul: $5,562 this quarter (~18–19% yield) Monthly payouts: $1,575 (June), $1,777 (July), $2,210 (August—one of our best yet) Biggest movers: USLY, AIPI, FEPI, HTGC, and NVDW crushed it Problem children: FIAT, QVCGP, NPW, and IEP—still paying, but pain everywhere else Tactical pivots: DRIP off on risky YieldMaxes, capital recycled into undervalued plays, and double-dipping strategies around ex-dividend dates 🚐 The bigger vision: this isn’t just a portfolio—it’s a cashflow engine for freedom. Every dividend check pays for life on the road: food, gas, insurance, adventures. >> Q3 Monthly Dividends Spreadsheet >> Portfolio Overvalued and Undervalued Buy Up To Spreadsheet Questions? Email Tim at debrine9@gmail.com Want FREE weekly market updates, Tim's top 10 dividend picks, and our portfolio updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to our email list. Stay connected. Follow us on social! **DISCLAIMER**Ticker metrics change as markets and companies change, so always do your own research. The content in this podcast is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes, not financial advice. See full disclaimer here. Episode music was created using Loudly.
We’re reporting what our conservative, retirement-style portfolio actually paid in dividends this quarter, how it compares to last quarter, and the pivots we made to keep income on track—without sacrificing principal. What’s inside: Quarter vs. Quarter: Q2 dividends vs Q3 dividends (with timing fixes).Headline: Q2 $4,346 → Q3 $3,952, but adjusted for timing/cuts Q3 would’ve been $4,414. Discrepancies explained: Suspensions (QVCGP), cuts (OGN), and weekly/monthly timing shifts that made the raw numbers look worse than the true run-rate. Income-first pivots: DRIP off on overvalued cash cows to recoup basis, DRIP on where yields + valuation make sense. Reallocated into defensive dividend growers and select REIT/BDC names with coverage + margin. Capital preservation lens: Trimmed risk, avoided chasing yield, and kept position sizes tight to protect principal. Playbook for Q4: Cash buffer ready, buy-zones set, and a watchlist for quality dividend growers to scale on dips. Why watch: If you manage a retirement or “sleep-at-night” account, this is the blueprint: stable cash flow now, principal intact later. Next week we cover the high-yield Van Life portfolio and how it complements this one. >> Q3 Monthly Dividends Spreadsheet *sum missed a line, so totals are different than in podcast. >> Portfolio Overvalued and Undervalued Buy Up To Spreadsheet Questions? Email Tim at debrine9@gmail.com Want FREE weekly market updates, Tim's top 10 dividend picks, and our portfolio updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to our email list. Stay connected. Follow us on social! **DISCLAIMER**Ticker metrics change as markets and companies change, so always do your own research. The content in this podcast is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes, not financial advice. See full disclaimer here. Episode music was created using Loudly.
It’s time for a ticker parade. In this episode, we reveal what’s really in the bag—our current retirement and van-life portfolio holdings. This is your backstage pass to everything we’re holding right now, from classic dividend machines to the growth stocks we rarely talk about. Here’s what you’ll hear: 📊 Dividend growers like OZK, PEP, and UPS quietly compounding 💸 High-yield income plays like HTGC, TRIN, and ARLP 🏠 REITs like LTC and STWD positioned for long-term demographic trends ⚡ Weekly payers (YieldMax vs Roundhill) and which ones are delivering vs imploding 🚀 Growth stocks we rarely mention—including NVDA, CMG, and ASTS This episode sets the stage for next week’s earnings breakdown by showing you the full portfolio context—what we’re holding, why we’re holding it, and where the biggest opportunities are. We didn't have time to cover 75+ tickers, but have the full list --> HERE Questions? Email Tim at debrine9@gmail.com Want FREE weekly market updates, Tim's top 10 dividend picks, and our portfolio updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to our email list. Stay connected. Follow us on social! **DISCLAIMER**Ticker metrics change as markets and companies change, so always do your own research. The content in this podcast is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes, not financial advice. See full disclaimer here. Episode music was created using Loudly.
Q2 2025 earnings season looks like a win on paper—81% of S&P 500 companies beat expectations—but don’t be fooled. The market’s strength is overly reliant on FAANG stocks (GOOG, META, AMZN, AAPL, MSFT) pulling the averages higher, while tariffs and lowered guidance have made “surprises” look better than they really are. In this episode, we cut through the noise: 📊 Why Tech & Communications are carrying the market 🩺 Healthcare & Financials show quiet resilience 🛢️ Energy & Materials are dragging—and why it matters ⚠️ How tariffs, experts, and news distort earnings expectations and market psychology 🧭 What the data is really signaling about Q3 and how to tweak portfolios now If you’re building an income-driven strategy or just trying to see where the next cracks—or opportunities—might show up, this is a must-listen. We’re not waiting for the headlines to tell us the story. Questions? Email Tim at debrine9@gmail.com Want FREE weekly market updates, Tim's top 10 dividend picks, and our portfolio updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to our email list. Stay connected. Follow us on social! **DISCLAIMER**Ticker metrics change as markets and companies change, so always do your own research. The content in this podcast is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes, not financial advice. See full disclaimer here. Episode music was created using Loudly.
Some stocks in our portfolio just made major moves after earnings—dividend cuts, dividend hikes, and some eyebrow-raising guidance changes. In this episode, we break down which positions we’re holding, which we’re buying on dips, and where we’re turning off DRIP to lock in cash. We cover high-yield BDCs, dividend growth machines, and deep-value plays—all through the lens of this quarter’s earnings results. Plus, we talk about the macro forces shaping these moves—energy prices, tariffs, market psychology—and how we’re positioning ahead of next week’s big-picture portfolio strategy episode. This isn’t just a stock update—it’s the blueprint we’re using to compound income and build financial sovereignty.Dividend Cutters: ABR BSM ARLP Dividend Growers: IIPR MO PEP OZK VZ BTI BMY BKH ES EPD ADM UPS LYB Other Notables: HTGC SPMC TRIN AB Questions? Email Tim at debrine9@gmail.com Want FREE weekly market updates, Tim's top 10 dividend picks, and our portfolio updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to our email list. Stay connected. Follow us on social! **DISCLAIMER**Ticker metrics change as markets and companies change, so always do your own research. The content in this podcast is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes, not financial advice. See full disclaimer here. Episode music was created using Loudly.
Most people stop climbing the ladder of personal growth once they feel “safe and stable.” But what if you could use money—not just to survive—but to ascend? In this episode, we dive into financial self-actualization—where your income fuels freedom, purpose, and personal evolution. You’ll learn how to reframe Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs through the lens of financial independence and how income investing can accelerate your journey from surviving to self-actualized. We explore Maslow’s 16 traits of self-actualized individuals, the blind spots that keep most people stuck, and how dividend cash flow—used wisely—can unlock creative and spiritual sovereignty. If you're tired of the hustle hamster wheel and want money to work for your mission (not your ego), this is a must-listen. Questions? Email Tim at debrine9@gmail.com Want FREE weekly market updates, Tim's top 10 dividend picks, and our portfolio updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to our email list. Stay connected. Follow us on social! **DISCLAIMER**Ticker metrics change as markets and companies change, so always do your own research. The content in this podcast is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes, not financial advice. See full disclaimer here. Episode music was created using Loudly.
🚨 The weekly dividend revolution just leveled up—again. In this episode, we break down 19 brand-new weekly dividend ETFs that just hit the market. These aren’t your grandma’s income plays. Some use swaps, others use synthetic positions, leverage, and trade options for massive yields. We walk through the performance so far, explain the structure behind each fund, and share how to strategically use them to generate cash, fund your high-quality dividend positions, and retire early without frugality fatigue. Whether you’re looking for a smarter yield strategy or just trying to escape paycheck-to-paycheck living, this episode gives you the tools to build your income engine now—not 30 years from now. 📈 Learn how to de-risk, reinvest, and create a compounding cash flow machine—without falling for hype traps. ETFs Covered: TSYY TQQY* YSPY XBTY NVYY GLDY MST TSII HOOW COII MMKT* MSII NVII BCCC* BLOX* METW* AMZW* NFLW* BRKW* (*worth putting on your watchlist) Questions? Email Tim at debrine9@gmail.com Want FREE weekly market updates, Tim's top 10 dividend picks, and our portfolio updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to our email list. Stay connected. Follow us on social! **DISCLAIMER**Ticker metrics change as markets and companies change, so always do your own research. The content in this podcast is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes, not financial advice. See full disclaimer here. Episode music was created using Loudly.
The macroeconomic landscape just changed—again—and most investors are still trading like it’s 2024. In this episode, we break down the real trends driving markets for the rest of 2025, from inflation pressure to slowing job growth, tariff-driven stagflation risks, and why the Fed’s rate cut dreams may be dead. But we’re not just here to rant about bad policy—we’re here to capitalize. We’ll walk through undervalued sectors, contrarian dividend plays, and overlooked global trends (hello, India & blockchain) that could deliver big gains when the rest of the market is distracted. If our past calls on nuclear, utilities, and AI were any indication—these next bets are worth paying attention to. Ticker List --> SCAN HERE iTrust Capital --> Open a Crypto IRA There's a Horse In The Hospital | John Mulaney --> WATCH HERE Questions? Email Tim at debrine9@gmail.com Want FREE weekly market updates, Tim's top 10 dividend picks, and our portfolio updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to our email list. Stay connected. Follow us on social! **DISCLAIMER**Ticker metrics change as markets and companies change, so always do your own research. The content in this podcast is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes, not financial advice. See full disclaimer here. Episode music was created using Loudly.
Why do so many people make more money… and still feel broke? This episode breaks down lifestyle creep—the silent killer of financial independence. We explore how your spending habits inflate with your income, why it’s so hard to notice until it’s too late, and what you can do to stop it before it wrecks your ability to save, invest, or retire. 📈 From goldfish metaphors to paycheck-to-paycheck stats, we unpack: What lifestyle creep looks like in real life Why raises don’t always make you richer How social pressure + FOMO fuel overspending Simple strategies to avoid the creep Emergency fund vs. Fun fund—yes, you need both If you’ve ever thought “I should have more to show for what I make”… this one’s for you. 🔐 Learn how to take back control of your money—and actually feel financially free. Questions? Email Tim at debrine9@gmail.com Want FREE weekly market updates, Tim's top 10 dividend picks, and our portfolio updates delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to our email list. Stay connected. Follow us on social! **DISCLAIMER**Ticker metrics change as markets and companies change, so always do your own research. The content in this podcast is based on personal experience and is for educational purposes, not financial advice. See full disclaimer here. Episode music was created using Loudly.