Joe DeLisi Financial

Joe is on X more than he'd like to be. Not for the professionals. He goes there to take the temperature of everyday investors, and right now, he says, people are "freaking out."

So he asks the question his industry rarely says out loud: should you even be in the stock market? He starts with a thought experiment. Imagine knowing back in January that this year would bring a war with Iran, a closed Strait of Hormuz and oil up more than 50%. What would you have predicted for stocks? Joe suspects most people would have gotten it "...

Time in the market beats timing the market. Joe calls that investing 101, and this episode isn't 101.

Joe walks through how the portfolios he builds are actually put together, and why the answer to "why A and not B" can't be a hunch. "You don't want Joe out there saying, I just have a gut feeling," he says. The thinking goes back to the academics he studied when he first got licensed, about 30 years ago: Eugene Fama, Ken French and Harry Markowitz. "It's not my philosophy," Joe says. "It's one I've adopted from people much smarter than me."<...

The emails and phone calls started with the same question: "Joe, is this time different?"Joe recorded this one on Thursday 24 September, with the screen red across the board. Treasury yields are high compared with the last decade, it's a midterm election year, and the headlines are doing what headlines do. Joe doesn't wave any of it away, including the national debt. He says plainly that he isn't "rubber stamping" anybody's fiscal policy.What he does instead is go back. Six times since 1966, a midterm election arrived while Treasury yields were rising. Joe takes them one at a time, from...

What if one of the biggest mistakes high-income people are making with their money isn’t about investing at all, but taxes?

Joe DeLisi explains why there’s a big difference between avoiding taxes and simply deferring them. While tax deferral can have real benefits, continually pushing taxes into the future can create a significant tax burden later, especially for high-income executives, business owners, and W-2 earners approaching retirement.

Joe looks at what can happen when too much wealth accumulates in tax-deferred accounts like 401(k)s and discusses alternatives that may provide more flex...

There are two questions buried inside this one, and they have opposite answers.

Can AI invest better than a human? Yes. Easily. It has no emotion, and emotion is where
most of the damage gets done. But there's a catch, and it's bigger than people realize.

Can AI beat the market? No. And that has nothing to do with how good the technology gets.

In this episode I walk through both answers. Why the weak link in investing has always
been the human, not the market. What you'd actually have to...

Almost nobody lies awake at night thinking about their rate of return. They lie awake asking one question: am I going to be okay?

I've heard that question from clients for almost thirty years. Neal Brincefield RICP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CExP™ has spent his career building the answer to it.

Neal is one of the people behind The Living Balance Sheet, the planning system my clients know well. He helped take it from a simple account aggregation tool into what it is now, and most of the calculators inside it came through him, including the cash flow...

Your financial advisor should welcome tough questions. In this episode, Joe DeLisi shares the conversations every investor should have with their advisor—and explains why the answers matter more than many people realize.

Beyond investment returns, a strong financial relationship should include thoughtful guidance on taxes, cash flow, insurance, estate planning, retirement income, and the many decisions that shape long-term financial success. Joe discusses why emotions often lead investors astray, how to evaluate whether your advisor's philosophy aligns with your own, and why understanding the reasoning behind recommendations is just as important as the recommendations themselves.

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In a world where financial headlines change by the hour, it's easy to believe someone knows what's coming next. But what if they don't?

In this episode, Joe DeLisi looks back at some of the biggest market predictions from the past year, including reactions to tariffs, market volatility, and major investment themes, to see what actually happened. Rather than focusing on who's right or wrong, Joe explains why markets often move faster than the news and why long-term investors should be cautious about making decisions based on short-term predictions.

By revisiting real events with the...

The biggest names in tech have fueled the market for years, but what happens when those stocks start falling? In this episode, Joe DeLisi examines whether recent declines in major technology companies are a warning sign or simply another reminder of why diversification matters.

Joe walks through current market performance, compares large-cap tech with small-cap and value investments, and explains why chasing the hottest sector has historically been a risky strategy. You'll also hear why long-term investors shouldn't base their financial plan on predictions about where technology stocks are headed next.

If you've been wondering...

The biggest names in tech have fueled the market for years, but what happens when those stocks start falling? In this episode, Joe DeLisi examines whether recent declines in major technology companies are a warning sign or simply another reminder of why diversification matters.

Joe walks through current market performance, compares large-cap tech with small-cap and value investments, and explains why chasing the hottest sector has historically been a risky strategy. You'll also hear why long-term investors shouldn't base their financial plan on predictions about where technology stocks are headed next.

If you've been wondering...

Did you miss the boat on SpaceX?

After one of the most talked-about IPOs in recent memory, many investors are wondering whether they missed out on the next great opportunity. In this episode, Joe DeLisi explains why fear of missing out can be one of the biggest threats to long-term wealth.

Rather than chasing headlines, Joe discusses what actually builds wealth over decades, why most investors don't need to own the latest hot stock, and how a disciplined investment strategy is designed to support a financial plan—not win a popularity contest.

If yo...

Many investors spend their time worrying about the next market move. The more important question is whether they have a sound investment strategy in place.

In this episode, Joe DeLisi shares the foundational principles that have guided his approach to wealth management for nearly three decades. Drawing from years of experience helping business owners, executives, physicians, and high-net-worth families, Joe explains why successful investing is less about predicting the future and more about following a disciplined process.

You'll learn why diversification remains one of the most powerful tools available to investors, how emotional decision-making can...

After nearly 30 years in the financial industry, Joe DeLisi reflects on the long path that shaped the way he invests client money today. In this episode, Joe shares how he entered the business with no finance background, the lessons he learned early in his career, and why his philosophy eventually shifted toward evidence-based investing.

This is a look at experience, mistakes, mentorship, and the process of building conviction over decades in the industry. He also explains why younger advisors increasingly ask where this philosophy comes from and why so few people truly practice investing this way.

In this special episode of the Joe DeLisi Financial Podcast, host Joe DeLisi sits down with Nash Subotic, founder and CEO of Westpac Wealth. From humble beginnings in a small Hawaii office in 2008 to a national firm with 220 advisors, nearly 400 team members, 30+ offices across 11 states, and over $5 billion in assets under management, Nash shares the remarkable growth story and unwavering investment philosophy that built it all.

Nash and Joe discuss:

War in Iran, Strait of Hormuz Disruptions, and What It Means for Your Portfolio

In this episode, Joe DeLisi discusses recent geopolitical events involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz and how markets have reacted so far. He shares year-to-date performance data (as of early April) showing the S&P 500 down approximately 1%, while certain small cap value strategies have performed stronger.

Joe reviews how diversified, allocation-based portfolios, with significant exposure to small and value stocks, have held up during this period of uncertainty. He emphasizes that past performance does not guarantee future results...

Part 2 of the Next Generation series focuses on the financial decisions young adults are making right now, and the ones that matter most long term.

Joe breaks down the habits, mindset, and common mistakes that can either set you up early… or quietly hold you back for years.

If you're in your 20s or 30s (or a parent trying to guide your kids well), this episode brings clarity to what actually matters—without hype, speculation, or complicated strategies.

Topics include:

In this episode, Joe DeLisi revisits one of his most talked-about conversations, “The Worst Decision a Client Has Ever Made”—and addresses the surprising takeaway many listeners walked away with.

If you’ve ever thought holding a few individual stocks is the same as “owning a business,” this episode is for you.

Joe breaks down the dangerous misunderstanding behind that belief and explains why treating your portfolio like a collection of handpicked bets can quietly derail long-term success. Using simple, real-world analogies, he challenges the way most people think about investing—and shows you a more discipline...

Over the past several years, I’ve noticed something happening with many of my long-time clients.

Their kids are growing up.

The same families I’ve worked with for 20+ years now have sons and daughters in their early 20s—thinking about college, careers, and starting their financial lives. And more and more, parents ask me the same question:

“Would you talk to my son or daughter about money?”

That’s what this episode is about.

In this conversation, I explain how the advice I give someone at the top of their car...

Tensions between the United States and Iran have resurfaced, and headlines are once again stirring uncertainty in global markets.

In this episode, Joe breaks down what’s actually happening, what history tells us about geopolitical conflicts and market reactions, and—most importantly—how long-term investors should think during moments like this.

You’ll hear:

For a quick...

Is buying the cheapest index fund really the smartest move?

It sounds logical. Low cost. Broad diversification. Simple.
But investing isn’t just about cost, it’s about understanding where returns actually come from.

In this episode, Joe breaks down why “cheap indexing” alone may not be a complete strategy. He walks through expected returns, risk premiums, and how academic theory gets misapplied in real-world portfolios. More importantly, he explains the gap between understanding the math and building a disciplined strategy that holds up over time.

If you’ve ever wondered w...

Business owners don’t need the same financial plan as employees, and pretending they do can cost you flexibility, taxes, and options down the road.

In this episode, Joe DeLisi explains why traditional financial planning often fails entrepreneurs, even when it looks “smart” on paper. Drawing from real-world experience as a business owner, Joe breaks down how taxes, exit planning, and long-term strategy should work together without locking you into decisions that limit your future.

This episode is for business owners who feel boxed in by their current plan, unsure about exit timing, or frustrated by str...

Every election cycle, I hear the same question:
“Should I be worried about my investments because of what’s happening in politics?”

In this episode, I walk through what actually matters, and what doesn’t, when it comes to politics and the stock market. We look at real historical data across different administrations and election cycles and talk honestly about how markets have behaved over time.

If the news has you feeling uneasy about your portfolio, this episode will help you reset your thinking and focus on what actually drives long-term wealth.

For a qu...

What do billionaires actually worry about?

It’s not what most people think.

In this episode of the Joe DeLisi Financial Podcast, Joe breaks down the real concerns he sees among ultra-high-net-worth individuals—the issues that keep wealthy families up at night long after money is no longer the problem.

From protecting wealth across generations to avoiding catastrophic mistakes, losing control, or becoming the cautionary tale, this conversation reveals the unseen side of financial success. Joe explains why accumulating money is often the easiest part—and why staying wealthy, purposeful, and free from regret...

In this episode, Joe walks through one of the biggest financial mistakes he’s ever seen a client make, a decision that looked harmless in the moment but carried massive long-term consequences. He breaks down what went wrong, why smart people make avoidable money mistakes, and how you can sidestep the same trap in your own planning.

It’s a direct, practical conversation about risk, human behavior, and the subtle ways people sabotage their financial futures without realizing it. Joe also shares the framework he uses with clients to pressure-test decisions before they become permanent mistakes.

A...

Every year the “experts” scream crash, recession, empty shelves, and market meltdown, and every year they eat their words.
What actually happened in 2025 after all the 50% plunge calls and tariff-doomsday headlines?
Spoiler: the exact opposite.

Now the same voices are back with brand-new 2026 horror stories.
In this episode we pull the receipts on the biggest missed calls of the past 12 months, expose the scary 2026 forecasts that are already rolling in, and show you the one simple, boring strategy that keeps beating the loudest prophets on Wall Street, year after year.

If you’re tir...

In this episode, Joe breaks down why U.S. banks are holding hundreds of billions in unrealized losses and why almost no one is talking about it. We cover what “unrealized losses” actually mean, how they happen, why interest rate moves matter, and what this could signal for investors going into 2025.

This isn’t fear-mongering. It’s a look under the hood so you understand the real risks, the potential ripple effects, and how to think about your money when the headlines aren’t telling the full story.

If you’ve ever wondered how secure th...

Everyone thinks the “super smart” people win in the market, until history shows they don’t. In this episode, Joe DeLisi reveals how Isaac Newton and Nobel Prize–winning economists fell for the same traps everyday investors face. If some of the brightest minds in history couldn’t outsmart a bubble, what makes this moment any different? This episode might change the way you think about your next financial move.

For a quick assessment of your current financial life go to:

Livingbalancesheet.com/lbsvision/lite/joedelisi

At the end of the assessment you can reques...

Joe DeLisi reflects on 30 years in the investment world and the patterns that keep resurfacing — from the dot-com bubble to crypto and today’s AI hype. After attending a recent conference where “new” products sounded all too familiar, Joe breaks down Wall Street’s habit of repackaging old ideas with shiny new labels. He walks through past market manias, what they taught us, and how to recognize the signs when history starts rhyming again. If you’ve ever wondered whether “this time is different,” this episode will convince you otherwise and show why sticking to science over speculation is still the smarte...

The headlines talk about a government shutdown, but the real issue is much bigger. Joe DeLisi breaks down what $37 trillion in U.S. debt actually means for your taxes, Social Security, and retirement plan.

In this episode, Joe explains how rising interest payments and unsustainable spending could lead to higher taxes in the years ahead and what smart investors can do now to prepare.

A must-listen for anyone thinking about long-term planning, retirement income, or future tax strategy.

For a quick assessment of your current financial life go to:

Livingbalancesheet.com...

In this episode of the Joe DeLisi Financial Advisor Podcast, Joe discusses the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in finance, addressing common fears and misconceptions. He explores the political perspectives surrounding AI, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding rather than extreme views. Joe highlights the gradual transformation of AI in industries, drawing parallels to historical tech advancements, and reassures listeners about job security and market adaptation. He concludes with insights on investment strategies in the evolving landscape of AI.

For a quick assessment of your current financial life go to:

Livingbalancesheet.com/lbsvision/lite...

Is the “Magnificent Seven” still… magnificent? Joe explains why 2025’s market has looked more like a “Terrific Two,” how cap-weighted indexes can hide concentration risk, and why he sticks with globally diversified, factor-tilted portfolios to fund real-life plans.

For a quick assessment of your current financial life go to:

Livingbalancesheet.com/lbsvision/lite/joedelisi

At the end of the assessment you can request a meeting with me to review the results.

joedelisi.com

Join us as we explore the fascinating world of investment risk premiums. This episode promises to unravel the mysteries behind these financial concepts, offering insights that could reshape your approach to investing. Tune in to discover the hidden factors that drive market dynamics and learn how to leverage them for potential gains. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your investment acumen!

For a quick assessment of your current financial life go to:

Livingbalancesheet.com/lbsvision/lite/joedelisi

At the end of the assessment you can request a meeting with me to...

Joe breaks down the investor mind traps—recency bias, performance chasing, hindsight envy—and uses Nvidia’s decade to show why process beats prediction. Practical takeaways on portfolio design, rebalancing, and sticking to a math-and-science plan. 

For a quick assessment of your current financial life go to:

Livingbalancesheet.com/lbsvision/lite/joedelisi

At the end of the assessment you can request a meeting with me to review the results.

joedelisi.com

In this episode, Joe DeLisi discusses the sale of the Los Angeles Lakers and compares the investment returns of owning the team versus investing in the S&P 500. He highlights the historical context of both investments, explores alternative asset categories, and emphasizes the importance of diversification in building a financial portfolio. The conversation also touches on the New York Yankees as a case study for investment returns, ultimately advocating for a well-rounded investment strategy rather than focusing solely on popular assets.

For a quick assessment of your current financial life go to:

Livingbalancesheet.com/lbsvision...

In today’s episode, Joe DeLisi dives deep into the world of investment fees—unpacking the difference between price and cost, and why the cheapest option isn’t always the best. After receiving a common question from a client, Joe breaks down why some of the advice you see on TikTok or Instagram could be missing key data. With real-world examples, he explores how seemingly small decisions about fees and portfolio choices can impact your wealth over the long haul. If you’ve ever wondered about the true cost of “low-cost” investing—or if you’ve been curious about how fees actuall...

In this episode of the Joe DeLisi Financial Advisor podcast, Joe discusses the implications of the current tax bill moving through Congress, emphasizing the importance of long-term tax planning. He highlights the historical context of tax rates, the potential for future tax increases due to national debt, and strategies for maintaining tax efficiency in investment portfolios. Joe stresses the need for proactive planning to ensure high net after-tax income, regardless of future tax changes.

For a quick assessment of your current financial life go to:

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At the end...

In this episode of the Joe DeLisi Financial Advisor podcast, Joe discusses the concept of betting on your financial future, using Tesla's stock movement as a case study. He emphasizes the difference between speculation and investment, highlighting the risks associated with short-term trading and the importance of having a well-structured investment portfolio that aligns with one's financial goals.

For a quick assessment of your current financial life go to:

Livingbalancesheet.com/lbsvision/lite/joedelisi

At the end of the assessment you can request a meeting with me to review the results.

...

In this episode of the Joe DeLisi Financial Advisor Podcast, Joe discusses the recent economic speculation surrounding shipping issues and the potential for an economic collapse. He reflects on the reality of the current market situation, emphasizing the importance of steady investment strategies over fear-driven decisions. Joe highlights the significance of diversification and asset allocation in achieving long-term financial goals, reassuring listeners that the market is recovering and that a calm approach to investing is essential.

For a quick assessment of your current financial life go to:

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At...

In this episode of the Joe DeLisi Financial Advisor podcast, Joe discusses the recurring theme of market crashes that never materialize, emphasizing the importance of understanding market corrections and the role of diversification in investment strategies. He highlights historical data showing that most market fears are short-lived and often exaggerated by media narratives. Joe advocates for a long-term investment approach, reassuring listeners that despite short-term volatility, wealth can be created over time through sound portfolio management.

For a quick assessment of your current financial life go to:

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At...

In this episode, Joe DeLisi discusses Warren Buffett's retirement and reflects on his investment philosophy. He emphasizes the importance of investor temperament and the scientific approach to building resilient portfolios. Joe shares insights from Buffett's quotes, highlighting the significance of understanding market fluctuations and the need for a disciplined investment strategy. The conversation serves as a tribute to Buffett's legacy and the lessons learned from his decades of success in the investment world.

For a quick assessment of your current financial life go to:

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At the end of...