The Phil Ferguson Show

A few listeners have emailed to let me know that I was NOT clear on the changes to the asset allocations presented in episode 544.  This is a special restatment.  I hope this is more clear.

Interview with Author Erin Louis.  Her new book is "There's No Grave Like Home".  

You can order her new book now!
https://a.co/d/0cIHhuva


Link to Erin's website.  Get information about all of her books here....
https://www.erinlouis.com/

Also in this episode
2026 Market adjustment discussion - listen to hear what is changing.The 4 books you should read about investingIdeas on allocating assets in different account types

A walk through on how to rebalance your portfolioHow to check on fund performance - Price change vs. returnsReview of a concert from SynthonyHome Remodel - where should you get the money?

Discussion on the Pros and cons of ROTH Conversions
Vanguard has a new tool that may help but, it has llimitations.

It is a good time to think about re-balancing your portfolio.

Why you might want to pay some extra taxes on realized LT Gains

Why are houses so expensive and why it might get worse.

Investing Skeptically:
Gold ETF.  Should you invest in gold?2025 Market performance DataShould you do a ROTH conversion?

Conversation with Jasmin Faulk.  
Her book is "The Last Sandstorn: A Memoir".  She talks about how she escaped from $audi Arabia.

Investing Skeptically:
Crypto UpdateHealth Insurance Costs

Lots of good stuff in this episode
New investment opportunity if notesWills, Power of Attorney, Trusts, beneficiariesHow to lose $40k on solar panelsShow reviews on Apple Podcast

Trump Updates
EV sales after the end of the $7,500 tax credit
tax rates 2025 vs 2026
Health Insurance costs for 2026
Is a 50 year mortgage a good idea?

How to remove funds from an Inherited IRA
Should you get Long Term Care Insurance
What are Qualified Dividends
New Rules for 401k (catch-up only in ROTH starting in 2026)
Ronald Reagan on free Trade

Thought on a recent vacation to Italy.
Market data,  Year to date and one year data on performance for different parts of the market.
S&P 500 Inverse note

I ask Chat GPT a question and then review the response.Information on RMDs (Required Minimum Distributions.Discussion on transfering funds.

Interview with Thom Hartmann


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thom_Hartmann

Also...
Information on how to drive/Charge an EV

Interview with Kevin Bolling.  He is the Executive Director of the SSA (Secular Student Alliance)

Investing Skeptically"
Using historical data to make financial choices.Employee Stock Purchase program

Discussion of the Wash Sale rule.  Selling stock at a loss can reduce your tax bill if you do not violate the Wash Sale Rule.

Passive Investing:  I review and provide commentary on a report that warns of potential problems with the increasing use of Passive / index investing.

Personal rant about T-Mobile and getting an eSIM for travel.

Interview with Fish Stark. He is the executive director of AHA (American Humanist Association).

Church Money - review of a church budget and discussion on how little money (if any) goes to helping those in need.

Interview with:Alicia Johnson

National Organizer and Student Network Manager

We discuss AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

Investing Skeptically:
The FED, Bond rates, Mortgage rates and bond markets
Vanguard index funds and the overlap between Large Cap and Mid Cap index funds.

Discussion on:
Private EquitySuper Shitty monopoly fundTrip to Tennessee 

Interview with Ben Pauluhn of Optimus Energy Solutions

They install home / business solar, floating solar, EV charging equipment.

https://optimusenergysolutions.com/

Discussion on my process of shopping for an additional EV.  Did I buy used or new?  How about a lease!

BaHaCon - Interview with Jeff Brooks and Robert Barnes.  We discuss the date and many of the cool parts of this years convention.

https://bahacon.com/

Some spaces are still available.

Correction on the Tesla charging network.

Can atheism hurt your business?

Some of today's topics...
Snarky review of 5 Broadway showsFuckerySuper shitty alternatives fundEV charging locations update.

Interview with David Gerard.  We discuss Crypto/Bitcoin and Ai.

I also briefly discuss our recent trip to Italy.

Life Ins (return of premium) - Pay extra but, you get everything you paid back - or do you?

4 books you should read to learn more about investing

Interval fund - a mutual fund that only allows you to get your money out 4 times per year.

REIT losses - another example of big losses with reits.

Long Term gains - Pay now or later.

EV information - 500 mile drive

Trump Tariffs.

Interview with Katherine Stewart.  She is the author of the new book "Money, Lies and God".  Here previous works are "The Power Worshippers" and "The Good News Club".

Investing Skeptically Segment on Tariffs, taxes, economics, inflation etc.

Interview with the Godless Engineer.  We discuss Jesus Mythicism, Creationism, Flat Earth and much more.

Investing Skeptically - What percentage of money can you safely remove from your portfolio per year.

Interview with Seth Andrews.  He runs "The Thinking Atheist" YouTube, website and Podcast.  We discuss current events and solve all of the worlds problems.

Special Market Adjustment.  Check with your tax professional and/ or advisor before taking any action.  This is not specific investment advice.

Interview with Abbie Smith.  She explains how the government helps fund research.  We also discuss how the federal government may now stop funding important research.

Annuity - Details on how an annuity work (or doesn't).

The general outline of the Polaris Plan has been slightly changed.  This episode discusses those adjustments and why they were made.

Also discussed - DeepSeek

Information on Trusts
Should you do a ROTH conversion?

Should you get a trust.  I go over some of the benefits of setting up a trust.ROTH conversion.  Discussion on the tax implications of converting IRA money into a ROTH IRA.Update on my opinion of Crypto currencies.news on upcoming conventionsTravel plansmore detail on how a convenience store makes money for EV drivers.

- Review of performance numbers for several indexes.
- Getting a loan vs investing in the Stock Market
- Review of EV charging infrastructure on I-57 in Illinois.  Now vs. 3 years ago.

FIRE - Financial independence - retire early. discussion on this philosophy and the idea of 4% withdrawal rate from your portfolio.
NEVI - National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure. More EV chargers and some math on how they make money.
NightShares - Another idea based on Cherry picking data. Does it work?
Sicily - Our one week vacation in this part of Italy.

Interview with Karin Kirk.

Karin Kirk is a geologist, science writer, and professional ski instructor from Bozeman, Montana. Her writing spans topics from Earth science to EVs and often is centered around data-rich visualizations – always with the goal of bringing clear and relatable explanations to confusing topics.In addition to writing for Yale Climate Connections, Karin is a science writer for NASA, where she writes about climate science and current events that shape the planet, such as wildfires, volcanic eruptions, sea ice, and weather events. She uses satellite imagery to track current Earth happenings and describe their significance to...

Investing Skeptically topices
What if your company out sources your pension to an Insursance Company?You have a big purchase soon.  Where should you put your money?  Cash, Savings.CD, Money Market, Ultra short bonds, etc....EV drive from Orlando to Allentown PA.  Range info, charging, preconditioning in cold weather.

Intervieew with Sarah Ray.  She is with the American Humanist Association.


https://thehumanist.com/contributor/sarah-ray/

Investing Skeptically:
Required Minimum distributionsStock Volatility vs time

Interview with Mickey Dollens.  He is a representative in Oklahoma.

Investing Skeptically:
An Example of how to use the Cushion.


https://www.okhouse.gov/representatives/mickey-dollens

Brief review of CSIcon in Las Vegas.
Total Stock Market performance
The Polaris Plan Part 6.5 (7?) Reit Fund
Church members steal $1.2 Million

Interview with Kate Cohen.  She is the author of "We of Little Faith - Why I stopped Pretending to Believe (And Maybe You Should Too).

Investing Skeptically:  Re-balancing and diversification