Our 2 Cents
Business & Finance
About
"Building wealth for life" with the team at SGL Financial. Join hosts Gabriel & Steve Lewit for all the latest in financial news, trends, strategies & more!
Episodes
- Episode 254: Can AI Build A Confident Portfolio?
On this episode of Our 2 Cents, hosts Steve and Gabriel Lewit explore the concept of wealthy birth months and an experiment involving an AI-managed stock portfolio. They also discuss the feasibility of consistently outperforming the market.
- Episode 253: Are Money Scripts Sabotaging Your Finances?
This episode of Our 2 Cents discusses how childhood money scripts can influence financial decisions, particularly in retirement planning. It also covers five common healthcare expenses that retirees should be aware of as they are not fully…
- Episode 252: What This Tax Season Taught Us
Our 2 Cents episode 252 discusses takeaways from the tax filing season, the rewarding role of volunteering in retirement, and addresses listener questions regarding financial advisors, spousal financial engagement, and gifting inherited fu…
- Episode 251: Where to Park Your Cash
This episode of Our 2 Cents discusses how to identify Social Security scams, highlights an exercise shown to reduce disease risk, and explores effective short-term cash investment options. It also includes a brief stock market update notin…
- Episode 250: From Gas Prices to AI: What It Means for Your Money
This episode of Our 2 Cents covers the reasons behind rising gas prices and offers tips for fuel efficiency. It also provides financial organization advice for April and explores the potential impact of AI on employment, emphasizing prepar…
- Episode 249: The Retirement Risk Most People Overlook
In episode 249, Steve and Gabriel explore an overlooked retirement risk. The discussion includes market impacts of the Iran war, the Artemis II mission, Easter spending trends, and financial inspiration from Oprah Winfrey.
- Episode 248: Derisky Business
This episode of Our 2 Cents discusses where retirees are moving in 2026, strategies for derisking investment portfolios, and financial lessons drawn from the Oscars.
- Episode 247: The State of Your Estate: Planning Basics (Part 2)
This episode continues the series on estate tax planning, focusing on strategies for Illinois residents. It also reviews March financial planning topics, including maximizing tax-advantaged accounts, and presents data on St. Patrick's Day…
- Episode 246: The State of Your Estate: Planning Basics (Part 1)
In episode 246 of Our 2 Cents, hosts Steve and Gabriel discuss the realities of retiring overseas and begin a series on estate tax planning. They differentiate between federal and state estate taxes and touch on strategies for minimizing I…
- Episode 245: Financial Celebrity Hot Takes
In this episode of Our 2 Cents, hosts discuss February financial tips covering investment review and tax readiness. They also analyze the Supreme Court's ruling on tariffs, the 2026 economic forecast, and weigh in on celebrity financial ad…
- Episode 244: Gold Medal Retirement Planning
In "Episode 244: Gold Medal Retirement Planning," hosts Steve and Gabriel utilize Olympic metaphors to explore retirement planning. They discuss financial strategies, optimization, and preparation, drawing parallels between athletic traini…
- Episode 243: Super Bowl Financial Predictions
In "Episode 243: Super Bowl Financial Predictions," the Our 2 Cents hosts analyze February headlines, including the Super Bowl Indicator for market insights and the Winter Olympics. They also address listener questions about funding a Roth…
- Episode 242: Your Financial Calendar
In episode 242, Our 2 Cents covers financial wellness and provides a year-long financial planning calendar. The episode also includes a Federal Reserve update.
- Episode 241: Orbiting the Economy
In this episode of Our 2 Cents, hosts Steve and Gabriel discuss current market trends, the economic outlook for 2026, the effect of inflation on grocery prices, and the notable performance of gold and silver.
- Episode 240: Financial Snow Day
Episode 240 of Our 2 Cents covers financial New Year's resolutions and explores money lessons that can be drawn from experiencing a snow day.
- Episode 239: How to Think About Your Money in 2026
In this episode, hosts Steve and Gabriel share updates for retirees and pre-retirees regarding money in 2026. They also recap surprising market events from 2025 and include quotes about money and simplicity.
- Episode 238: Retirement, Reflection, and the Close of 2025
In the final episode of 2025, hosts Steve and Gabriel discuss the transition into retirement, sharing tips for a meaningful holiday season. They also provide a year-in-review of financial headlines from 2025 and their potential impact on f…
- Episode 237: Gifts That Keep on Giving (and Saving)
Episode 237 of Our 2 Cents covers financial gifting ideas, including alternatives to toys for grandkids, and end-of-year tax strategies aimed at reducing the 2025 tax liability.
- Episode 236: Shiny Object Syndrome
This episode of Our 2 Cents covers Gabriel's Quick Hits on a handbag's retirement potential, Christmas tree tariffs, and the Dell Foundation's pledge. It also delves into the concept of "shiny object syndrome" and warns against financial g…
- Episode 235: Financial Thankfulness
On the 'Financial Thankfulness' episode of Our 2 Cents, the Lewits discuss gratitude and how Thanksgiving traditions can inform our financial mindset regarding saving and spending.
- Episode 234: Money Pearls: Practical Reflections for Financial Clarity
This episode of Our 2 Cents covers financial topics including the discontinuation of the penny, potential Thanksgiving expenses, and mortgage rate influences. It also shares five financial lessons from a noted columnist.
- Episode 233: Keep Your Mind Sharp and Your Money Safer
In Our 2 Cents Episode 233, the Lewits discuss seven morning habits for longevity and provide advice on avoiding holiday shopping scams. The episode also addresses listener questions regarding TQQQ investments, tariffs, and working with fi…
- Episode 232: The Golden Number: What’s Truly Life-Changing?
In episode 232 of Our 2 Cents, the hosts discuss
- Episode 231: Your Halloween Costume’s Financial Personality
In this episode of Our 2 Cents, hosts Steve and Gabriel discuss the connection between Halloween costume choices and financial personalities. They also analyze the current AI boom, debating whether it represents genuine innovation or infla…
- Episode 230: How Smart Planning Beats Bad Luck
In episode 230 of Our 2 Cents, The Lewits discuss Financial Planning Month with practical tips for fall finances and explore international money superstitions.
- Episode 229: Spiders, Stocks & Shutdowns — Oh My!
This episode of Our 2 Cents covers the recent government shutdown and its implications for investors, alongside October market trends and record Halloween spending. The hosts also discuss the growing interest in jumping spiders as pets and…
- Episode 228: The Silent Surcharge Retirees Forget About
This episode of Our 2 Cents focuses on the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), a Medicare surcharge that can affect retirees. The hosts discuss what IRMAA is and provide tips on how to potentially lower this cost.
- Episode 227: Is Downsizing in Retirement the Right Move?
In episode 227 of Our 2 Cents, the hosts discuss gold prices and investment considerations. They also examine the concept of downsizing in retirement, testing common beliefs to help listeners evaluate if it's the right choice.
- Episode 226: What Gas Station Sushi Can Teach Us About Retirement
This episode of Our 2 Cents discusses retirement planning through the metaphor of gas station sushi and the risks of blind trust. It also touches on Powerball odds and five crucial mistakes Americans should stop making.
- Episode 225: Fuzzy Market Math
In this episode of Our 2 Cents, hosts Steve and Gabriel Lewit explore "fuzzy market math" in retirement planning, address common Social Security myths, and share personal anecdotes.
- Episode 224: Health and Wealth Lessons for Retirement
In this episode of Our 2 Cents, hosts discuss preparing for unexpected healthcare expenses in retirement, share life tips including an exercise that may boost lifespan, and provide an inflation update to inform listeners' financial plannin…
- Episode 223: Are You Top of the Class in Retirement Planning?
Our 2 Cents returns with a pop quiz on retirement planning. The episode addresses a listener's question about converting $1.4 million to a Roth IRA within 2-3 years and includes insights from a new estate planning report.
- Episode 222: Wimbledon Winnings & Wealth Wisdom
This episode of Our 2 Cents draws parallels between Wimbledon's strategies and retirement planning. It also discusses a food that may increase happiness, provides an economic update focusing on confidence and spending, and outlines recent…
- Episode 221: Bonds, Crypto, & Beyond
This episode of Our 2 Cents continues the bond series, detailing different bond types, rating systems, and notable bond funds. Hosts Steve and Gabriel also examine the recent GENIUS Act, the first major U.S. crypto law, and its implication…
- Episode 220: Bonds 101: Understanding the Basics
This episode of Our 2 Cents discusses home values and the psychology of wealth. It introduces a two-part series on bonds, explaining their function, the process of purchasing one, and their significance for financial well-being.
- Episode 219: Inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
In this episode of Our 2 Cents, the hosts break down tax provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, discuss new tariffs impacting various countries, and address a listener's question about purchasing a second home.
- Episode 218: Can You Pass This Financial Literacy Test?
In this episode of Our 2 Cents, the hosts discuss retirement readiness and target-date funds. They include a quiz on retirement planning knowledge and break down the advantages and disadvantages of target-date funds.
- Episode 217: Spoiler Alert: That Advice Might Be Bad
This episode of Our 2 Cents focuses on identifying and avoiding untrustworthy financial advice found online. It also includes a guide to proper condiment storage and answers listener questions about 401(k) rollovers and IRA diversification.
- Episode 216: The Mind Behind the Money
In Episode 216 of Our 2 Cents, the hosts discuss the increasing price of fast food and delve into the psychological aspects of money management, including how past experiences shape financial habits and the potential downsides of saving to…
- Episode 215: Private Equity in 401(k)s: A New Era or a Red Flag?
Our 2 Cents episode 215 covers private equity potentially entering 401(k)s, examining the associated risks and rewards. The episode also includes segments on "penny stocks" and travel destinations where the US dollar has high purchasing po…
- Episode 214: Grads, Goals, and Government Bills
In this episode of Our 2 Cents, hosts Steve and Gabriel offer financial tips for recent graduates, cover post-tax season strategies, and discuss the potential financial impacts of new government legislation referred to as the "Big, Beautif…
- Episode 213: Money Lessons for Young Minds
In this episode of Our 2 Cents, Steve and Gabriel discuss how to financially support children, including savings benchmarks, retirement planning insights, and five tips for fostering lifelong financial success in young people.
- Episode 212: Behavior, Budgets, and the World’s Oldest Human
This episode of Our 2 Cents discusses behavioral economics, including reasons young adults live with parents and retiree savings habits. It also covers the world's oldest living person.
- Episode 211: Jedi Economics
In "Jedi Economics," Steve and Gabriel discuss the economic implications of rising frozen pizza sales and the gold-buying trend. They also extract financial wisdom from Yoda and address REAL ID panic.
- Episode 210: Tidying Up Your Finances
In this episode of Our 2 Cents, hosts Steve and Gabriel draw parallels between spring cleaning and financial organization. They discuss coffee brewing techniques and apply principles from professional organizer Marie Kondo to declutter exp…
- Episode 209: A Gentle Guide Through Market Moves
Our 2 Cents episode 209 discusses navigating stock market volatility and identifying opportunities. It also covers the Burj Khalifa Penthouse and Universal Orlando Resort's new theme park.
- Episode 208: Tariffs, Tumbles, & Timing Your Retirement
In this episode of Our 2 Cents, Steve and Gabriel discuss the impact of tariffs, Social Security changes, and market volatility on retirement plans. They cover market reactions to tariffs, important Social Security updates, and strategies…
- Episode 207: IRS-istibly Happy
In "Episode 207: IRS-istibly Happy," Steve and Gabriel Lewit of Our 2 Cents examine insights from 1099 forms and present 10 habits associated with happiness and fulfillment. The episode also includes Gabriel
- Episode 206: Stock Picks and Slam Dunks
In episode 206 of Our 2 Cents, the Lewits discuss stock market news including tariff impacts and offer investment advice. They also draw parallels between March Madness and stock picking, and briefly mention research on woolly mice.
- Episode 205: The Grandparent's Guide to Asset Gifting
In this episode of Our 2 Cents, hosts Steve and Gabriel Lewit address a listener's question about financing a vacation home and explore asset gifting strategies for grandchildren. The discussion also touches on current tariffs and a new ta…