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Best In Wealth Podcast

Best In Wealth Podcast

By: Scott Wellens
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 This is the best in Wealth podcast – A show for successful family stewards who want real answers about Retirement and investing so we can feel secure about our family’s future. Scott's mission is simple: to help other family stewards build and maintain their family fortress. A family steward is someone that feels family is the most important thing. You go to your job every day for your family. You watch over your family, you make sacrifices for your family, you protect your family. I work with family stewards because I am one; I have become an expert in the unique wealth challenges family stewards face. Scott Wellens is the founder of Fortress Planning Group - an independent, fee-only, registered investment advisory firm. Fortress Planning Group is dedicated to coaching clients toward a holistic view of wealth and family stewardship. Scott is a certified financial planner, a fiduciary and has been quoted in the industry’s leading websites including Forbes, Business Insider and Yahoo Finance. Scott is also a Dave Ramsey Smartvestor Pro in the greater Milwaukee and Madison areas.Copyright 2026 Scott Wellens Economics Parenting & Families Personal Finance Relationships
Episodes
  • Should You Stay the Course? War, Oil, and Your Investments, Ep #268

    Should You Stay the Course? War, Oil, and Your Investments, Ep #268
    Apr 17 2026
    Watching the news recently has been an uneasy experience for investors and retirees. War headlines dominate the airwaves, oil prices have surged to new highs, and portfolio balances may not look as reassuring as they did months ago. For family stewards looking to safeguard their financial futures, the temptation to react to these global shocks is powerful. But it’s crucial not to make emotional financial decisions. Understanding the CrisisIn March 2026, military strikes in the Middle East led to severe disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz—a global oil supply chokepoint through which 20% of the world’s daily oil supply flows. Although the U.S. itself is less directly dependent on Middle Eastern oil, oil’s status as a globally priced commodity means any disruption impacts global prices and, by extension, markets everywhere. Brent crude prices quickly soared, spiking 10–15% in a day and peaking at $120 per barrel, amid fears it could rise further.Unsurprisingly, the financial markets responded with a bout of volatility. The VIX index—a gauge of investor fear—jumped from 19 to 25. Though jarring, Speaker A reminds us that these numbers pale compared to the shock during the COVID crisis when the VIX broke 80 (07:02). Recognizing this scale is the first step toward a measured response.Oil Prices and the Stock Market: It’s ComplicatedMany assume a direct, simple link: oil prices soar, stocks tumble. While sometimes true in the short term, history tells a more nuanced story. The real variable is the duration of the oil shock, not the shock itself. In the 1973 Arab oil embargo, prices quadrupled, sustained for months, and the S&P 500 lost 37% in real terms, and recovery took six years.In the 1990 Gulf War, oil prices rose 75% in two months, but once the conflict was resolved, markets rebounded in just 28 days. In 2003, fears about Iraq pushed prices up, yet the S&P 500 delivered a 25% return the following year as disruptions were short-lived. In general, short, contained shocks resolve quickly with strong recoveries. Prolonged crises cause lasting damage.Building a Rock Solid PortfolioWithstanding economic storms starts with thoughtful preparation, and ideally, we want to create a “fortress portfolio”—not a flimsy wall, but a robust structure capable of weathering attacks. This involves deep diversification:U.S. small-cap and value stocksInternational and emerging marketsReal estate investment trustsShort-term and inflation-protected bondsDiversification means that even when panic causes correlations to rise temporarily, the portfolio is designed for resilience, not prediction. Selling during a crisis, by contrast, locks in losses and exposes investors to the impossible challenge of timing the market's rebound—a decision research shows most people get wrong.Lasting Wealth Is Built Through Hard TimesWar and oil shocks always ignite fear, but history and evidence are clear that those who stay disciplined, trust a well-built portfolio, and avoid emotional, short-term decisions are the ones who preserve and grow wealth. It isn’t easy to hold the line, but it is the surest path to security and freedom for your family’s future.Outline of This Episode[00:00] Retirement planning during uncertain times[01:09] Don’t make emotional financial decisions[07:02] Understanding the VIX Index[08:57] The nuanced story of oil prices and your portfolio[14:08] Impact of oil on investments[18:13] Why timing the market is hard[23:26] Staying disciplined during volatilityResources MentionedVIX Volatility Products | Cboe Connect With Scott WellensSchedule a discovery call with ScottSend a message to ScottVisit Fortress Planning GroupConnect with Scott on LinkedInFollow Scott on TwitterFortress Planning Group on FacebookSubscribe to Best In WealthAudio Production and Show Notes byPODCAST FAST TRACKhttps://www.podcastfasttrack.comPodcast Disclaimer:The Best In Wealth Podcast is hosted by Scott Wellens. Scott Wellens is the principal at Fortress Planning Group. Fortress Planning Group is a registered investment advisory firm regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance and compliance with securities laws and regulations. Fortress Planning Group does not render or offer to render personalized investment or tax advice through the Best In Wealth Podcast. The information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, investment, or legal advice.
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    26 mins
  • How Data, Discipline, and Human Ingenuity Shape Long-Term Wealth, Ep #267

    How Data, Discipline, and Human Ingenuity Shape Long-Term Wealth, Ep #267
    Mar 13 2026
    In a world where gut instinct once ruled the day—from football coaches making pivotal fourth-down decisions to investors choosing their next stock pick—a revolution has reshaped the landscape: reliable data and analytics. Drawing inspiration from the principles behind the film Moneyball and a recent article by David Booth on 3 Lessons from Investing’s Moneyball Moment in Fortune magazine, I break down what a century of US stock market history reveals for everyday investors. Lesson 1. Insiders Aren’t Smarter Than Outsiders One of the key insights unearthed from this century’s worth of data is simple but profound: experts, or “insiders,” don’t consistently outperform the market. Early research using the University of Chicago’s Center for Research on Security Prices (CRSP) data found that, on average, mutual funds and clever stock pickers failed to beat the simple strategy of buying and holding a diversified market portfolio. This led to the explosion of index funds, notably pioneered by Vanguard and enabled by firms like Dimensional. Now, anyone, not just Wall Street professionals, can own broad, low-cost portfolios and harness the long-term growth of the entire market rather than trying (and in most cases, failing) to outsmart it. Lesson 2. Bet on Human Ingenuity Human creativity and progress power the market’s reliable returns over the decades. Companies go public to raise money, which they funnel into improving their products and expanding their reach. Every day, millions of people at thousands of companies are seeking better ways to serve their customers and grow profits. When you invest in the stock market, you’re ultimately betting on people’s ability to innovate and adapt to a changing world. This century-long experiment in collective growth has consistently delivered average returns of around 10% per year, a number that’s survived wars, recessions, inflation spikes, and bubbles. Lesson 3. Investor Behavior Is Key If reams of data tell us anything, it’s this: reliable, long-term returns belong to disciplined investors. The journey is never smooth—market downturns feel chaotic and alarming in the moment. Yet, $1,000 invested in 1926 would have grown to over $17 million by 2025, despite wars, crashes, and global crises. Most investors who stuck with the market over any 10- or 20-year span came out ahead. Stay disciplined, trust the data, and know that while the challenges may look different, the power of long-term, patient investing is timeless. Outline of This Episode [00:00] 100 years of market insights[03:14] Football transformed by data analytics[07:32] Moneyball, markets, and data[11:06] Insiders vs. outsiders on stocks[16:17] Human ingenuity in investing[17:26] Investing discipline drives long-term success Resources Mentioned Moneyball Synopsis 3 lessons from investing’s moneyball moment in Fortune University of Chicago’s Center for Research on Security Prices (CRSP) Connect With Scott Wellens Schedule a discovery call with ScottSend a message to ScottVisit Fortress Planning GroupConnect with Scott on LinkedInFollow Scott on TwitterFortress Planning Group on Facebook Subscribe to Best In Wealth Audio Production and Show Notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com Podcast Disclaimer: The Best In Wealth Podcast is hosted by Scott Wellens. Scott Wellens is the principal at Fortress Planning Group. Fortress Planning Group is a registered investment advisory firm regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance and compliance with securities laws and regulations. Fortress Planning Group does not render or offer to render personalized investment or tax advice through the Best In Wealth Podcast. The information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, investment or legal advice.
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    23 mins
  • Are We in an AI Bubble? And What That Means for Investors, Ep #266

    Are We in an AI Bubble? And What That Means for Investors, Ep #266
    Feb 13 2026
    Investors have short memories—until the talk of a “bubble” resurfaces. We take investors on a quick trip down memory lane, discussing the infamous dot-com bubble of the late ‘90s and early 2000s, as well as the housing bubbled that appeared a few years later. These bubbles were fueled by sky-high optimism and wild speculation about transformative technologies. In the dot-com era, investors rushed into any company with a “.com” at the end of its name, confident the internet would change the world. But not all of these companies survived. The lesson is that when a game-changing technology, or a new technology appears, you still have to do your due diligence to come out on top. [bctt tweet="AI stocks are the new #investing gold rush…but are you panning for gold or about to hit a bust? I break down the REAL risks of betting big on #tech giants—and why most #investors miss what matters in a bubble" username="wellensscott"] The Age of AI: Bubble or Breakthrough? The “Magnificent Seven” (Google, Meta/Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Nvidia, Tesla, and Microsoft) are pouring billions into AI. Their 2025 returns, as catalogued by Scott Wellens, were impressive, with the group averaging over 20%, outperforming the S&P 500. Yet, such meteoric rises echo the euphoria of past bubbles. But excitement alone does not make a bubble—overvaluation does. Valuation: How Expensive is Too Expensive? A key measure is the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, a classic way to judge if a company’s stock price is justified by its profits. Take Tesla, for example: at the end of 2025, it traded at roughly $450 per share but earned only $1.50 per share, putting its P/E near 304. Compared to Toyota’s P/E of about 10, that is nosebleed territory. The S&P 500’s long-term average P/E sits around 20—a point of reference emphasizing just how stretched AI-heavy stocks may be. The Magnificent Seven’s average P/E now hovers around 68, more than triple the broader market’s historic average and well above the S&P’s “other 493” companies. While high valuations do not guarantee a crash, they signal that expectations are sky-high and that disappointment could be costly. Picking Winners, Dodging Losers You cannot invest in AI itself; you invest in companies riding the AI wave. History shows many will not make it. That is why betting everything on a few horses is extremely risky, even if their role in AI seems promising today. Over-concentration lurks as a hidden threat. If you own a standard S&P 500 index fund, 35% of your portfolio sits in the Magnificent Seven. For tech-heavy indices like the Nasdaq, that figure climbs to 54%. A stumble for these stars—already started in early 2025—can spell big trouble for portfolios tied too closely to their fortunes. [bctt tweet="No one has a crystal ball for the next #AI bubble—but family stewards can stack the odds. I reveal three ways to build #wealth using AI safely—and why a diversified #portfolio is your family’s best hope for lasting wealth" username="wellensscott"] The Case for Global Diversification So how can investors harness AI’s upside without exposing themselves to catastrophic risk? In a portfolio spanning thousands of companies worldwide across different sectors and asset classes, your exposure to the Magnificent Seven (and thus to AI) drops to about 20%. This cushions your wealth from the fallout if today’s leaders falter and gives you a stake in the next wave of winners, wherever they arise.
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    23 mins
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