On this episode, John and Bob discuss the melting pot of the financial world. From the high cost of living, whether or not inflation is finally slowing down, to what it takes to be a possible successful investor. We cover the gamut of the financial world. 2 Dudes Talk Money and Music is a weekly podcast series inspired and hosted by John Adams of M…

On this episode of 2 Dudes Talk Money and Music, John and Bob discuss precious metals, and whether or not they're a good investment. Metals such as Platinum, Gold, Silver, and even Paladium. John and Bob chat about navigating those sometimes choppy waters, when is the right time to buy (or sell), and which precious metal is better than another. Spe…

Ken Festa is a man who literally wears many hats, many of them at the same time. He’s a business entrepreneur. A real estate specialist, a maker of fine Italian style men’s suits. And last but not least, a musical legend that specializes in the standards of American music. As a singer growing up in New York listening to some of the greatest Jazz vo…

Artificial Intelligence. It's the hot button topic these days. Whether you like the concept, or you believe its an invasion of one's privacy, along with so many yet unanswered questions, it's going to affect you one way or another. Artificial Intelligence (commonly referred to as AI) is not only planting a firm footprint in the music industry, but …

What in the world is a “Self Directed Brokerage Account”, and what exactly does it do? John Adams takes us down this road, deciphering what exactly an SDBA is, and how it works for the investor, along with the individual who is planning their financial future (retirement), and how to go about setting one up. John and Bob also talk about record reis…

As we begin our journey into 2024, John Adams and Bob Bender take a look back at what 2023 had to offer the investment community... and what it didn't have to offer. Inflation is still higher than folks (and the government) want it to be, along with the day to day cost of living. Will 2024 bring us better news? We'll have to wait and see. John and …

Your finances look good on paper. Your sense of financial security is comforting. But are you prepared if something happens that you hadn't planned for? Meet Kyle Hackney, who is part of the Money Concepts financial planning team. Kyle shares on how to get your estate in order, plan for the future, and have a consistent game plan for the next stage…

Time for another episode of "2 Dudes Talk Money and Music". This time around, we discuss chasing the dream, what it takes to find the right financial planner, and making the right decisions in your goals when it comes to investing. We also listen to some war stories from Bob, as he shares what it was like to tour with some artists, and life on the …

On this episode, John and Bob talk numbers, or in another words, statistics and analytics. Its one of the best and most unigue ways to understand the stock market, and the investment world as a whole. We also talk about numbers that are intertwined in music. Believe it or not, there's more than we thought! 2 Dudes Talk Money and Music is a weekly p…

We laugh, we cry, we sometimes deal with anger, and hopefully more often than not, we laugh. All of those are emotions. But is it smart to plan your investment strategy based on your emotions? John and Bob talk about whether it makes sense to plan financially based on common sense, anaylitics, and research, or does it make sense to plan your financ…

In the music business, its no different than the rest of the business world, with the exception of that many of the workers in the industry are independent contractors. In many cases, it can be feast or famine when it comes to their income, and with that comes a struggle to keep their family budget in check. Enter Rachael Bronstein, who is the foun…

Summer is just about over. Labor Day weekend is right around the corner, and its time to pack away the white pants until next year. But its still warm enough outside to wear shorts for another few weeks. With that being said, John and Bob talk about shorts. Not the kind you wear, but when it comes to financial planning, we're talking about "Short S…

Joining us on this week’s episode is Sonny Puni, who is the Director of Operations within the retail sales industry, along with being the host of two (2) podcast shows; “Growin’ Up Rock”, along with “Podcast Rock City”. What is your demographics for your brand? Do you actually know who your core audience is? How do you grow your market share withou…

There’s an old saying that Summer is a time for investors to lay low. Families are on vacation, kids are playing little league baseball, and it's typically considered a time to get away from the office for some R&R. However this year (2023) seems to be different. The S&P is up, and folks are still buying, trading, and selling stocks as much as they…

On this episode, John and Bob continue the conversation regarding catching up on things during the summer.... or as we like to say, "Ketchup On Summer" (Part Two). We talk about how resilient the Stock Market continues to be, along with the increase of interest rates, how the real estate market is looking these days (spoiler alert... it fluctuates …

John and Bob spend some time on this episode ketching up (ketchup.... get it) on Summer, by discussing what's happened, what's happening, and what could be by the end of summer when it comes to finances and investing. They also share some of their favorite summer time songs in the process. 2 Dudes Talk Money and Music is a weekly podcast series ins…

We continue our ongoing “Music Business 101” series with this episode, aptly titled Part Two. We chat with Martin Motnik, who is the bassist for the internationally known rock group “Accept”. Motnik was born in Ludwigshafen, Germany on 10 November 1972. At the age of six, he started playing the flute but was not particularly interested in it. His p…

As a touring guitarist, Donovan White knows road life all too well. He once traveled 43 hours – each way – for a gig with the Alternative Rock Band “Vertical Horizon”, playing a festival gig in Shillong, India. But White isn’t complaining. He’s living the dream that he has had since playing air guitar along with KISS albums as a child growing up in…

Sleep. It's the most important thing a human can do to their body. We need it. We want it. We desire it. But sometimes it can be elusive. The tossing and turning. The pills (both over the counter, and prescriptive) that we take to help us fall into slumber is only a temporary solution. So what do we do? Dr William Lloyd (or as we now refer to him a…

In the studio with us today, is the Host of Decibel Geek Podcast, and the orrganizer of ROCKNPOD Expo, Chris Czynszak. Chris talks with John and Bob, discussing how he turned his podcast show into an internationally attended annual event, featuring fellow podcasters, rock stars, and entertainment celebrities. 2 Dudes Talk Money and Music is a weekl…

Calling entrepreneur Vince King ambitious would be an understatement. His vision of creating a multi-purpose media production facility is nothing short of amazing to say the least. He, along with his associates Music Industry legend Trey Bruce, and logistics expert Stacy Hart, they have come up with "The Hanger", where their motto is "Where Creativ…

Meet Jake Johnson. Originally from Utah, he worked on a ranch growing up, learning hard work at a young age. When his parents divorced, it took its toll on him, and he sought refuge and comfort in music. Enter into the picture his new step dad, Hugh McDonald, who just happened to be the bassist for rock legend Jon Bon Jovi, who showed his stepson a…

In the world of finances, there's one thing that affects everyone, and that's your credit score. Those scores can be anywhere from 300 to 850, although anything above 700 is considered good by the three credit reporting bureaus. In America, the average credit score is around 710. John and Bob discuss credit scores, how they work, and how you can im…

Silicon Valley Bank. We've all seen it on the news, or at the very least, read about it. On this episode, John and Bob dive down into that rabbit hole to discuss what took place, and how things wound up like they did for SVB. And since they're talking about SVB (Silicon Valley Bank), they also discuss bands with initials or acronyms, and their true…

Dr. William Lloyd joins John and Bob once again, this time discussing acheiving living a longer life, and how to go about doing so, and at the same time, keeping your health costs under control so to have a quality of life in the process. 2 Dudes Talk Money and Music is a weekly podcast series inspired and hosted by John Adams of Money Concepts, al…

We survived Rock N Pod Fest to come back with another episode of 2 Dudes Talk Money and Music (although Covid made an entrance a few days later). On this episode, we share some quotes that we feel have made an impact on the economy, finances, and even society, especially during this time when we all feel a little bit exhausted. We also share some q…

We hear the expression a lot. The "Bubble" burst. Whether its real estate, the stock market, or the economy in general, the term "Bubble" has a specific meaning. John and Bob talk about this, and what to look for. We also fit in the conversation Don Ho's "Tiny Bubbles", and find a way to even mention Tiny Tim in the conversation. 2 Dudes Talk Money…

In this episode, we take a step back and discuss Crypto Currency. Sort of a Prequel to episode #20 titled "Wrapping Your Head Around Blockchain and BitCoin". We also touch base briefly on the ongoing FTX mess, and how that's affecting the Crypto Currency world. Last but not least, we discuss our mutual favorite topic of conversation... music. In th…

Social Security. We all pay into it if we're gainfully employed. But is it the ultimate retirement plan for us? How can we supplement it? Is it going to be around in another 20 years? These are the questions we ask on this episode. 2 Dudes Talk Money and Music is a weekly podcast series inspired and hosted by John Adams of Money Concepts, along wit…

The Federal Reserve. We read or hear about it on almost a daily basis in the news. But what exactly is the Federal Reserve? Is it a private entity or a Government Agency? How many banks across the nation are involved with the operation of the reserve? Any why do we need it? We also talk about some really cool subjects regarding music... because tha…

In the financial world, there’s a saying called “Flight To Safety”. Also known as “Flight To Quality”, its when investors shift their assets away from riskier investments, such as stocks, into more conservative securities like bonds. John and Bob talk about this, discussing what are considered safe investments, and when is a good time to make such …

A current topic of conversation these days seems to be the price of eggs. It's a hot button for a lot of folks, and we don't see the price dropping anytime in the foreseable future. The bigger question is, does it make sense to have all of your eggs in one basket? Should you spread them around for safekeeping? John and Bob have a conversation as to…

John Adams and Bob Bender continue their conversation regarding that all things that happen, shall potentially pass again, along with several other topics of what the forecast of 2023 will bring. They also share some more of their favorite musical tidbits. We even explain where the saying "Peat & Repeat" came from (you'll be surprised). 2 Dudes Tal…

2022 was an interesting year for investors. What does 2023 bring to the table? Will the stock market stabilize? Will it be a Bear Market? A Bull Market? What about Bitcoin? Will it finally be regulated? John Adams and Bob Bender discuss this, along with several other topics of what they think 2023 will bring. They also share some more of their favo…

Cancer. It's a word we all dread hearing, especially when it affects us or a loved one. Sometimes known as "The Big C", the research and treatment have improved so extensively over the past few decades, that the survival rate has improved significantly. But its financial impact on one's pocketbook (even with insurance) can be devastating in its own…

What exactly is the role of the Business Manager, especially when it comes to representing clients in the entertainment field? How is this different than say an Artist Manager, or an Accountant? John and Bob have a conversation with industry expert Chuck Thompson, who has been in the business for nearly 40 years. Chuck shares his insight in to what…

2022. It was a crazy year. From Sam Bankman Fried, the escalating war in The Ukraine, layoffs we're now seeing in the financial sector, to the volatile stock market, it was a year unlike so many others. On this year in review episode, John Adams and Bob Bender cover the highlights of some of the first 30 episodes of "2 Dudes Talk Money and Music", …

Regulations. We all have to follow them, or at least should. The world of financial planning is no different. There's a plethera of Government agencies, which oversee, provide direction, and ensure that everyone plays by the same rules out there. Such entities as the Securities Exchange Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and so …

We've all read about it in the news, and seen the stories on TV. Now get John and Bob's take on Sam Bankman-Fried and what happened to FTX. 2 Dudes Talk Money and Music is a weekly podcast series inspired and hosted by John Adams of Money Concepts, along with Bob Bender from The Business Side of Music podcast (www,businesssideofmusic.com), as they …

Many of us have seen movies such as “Wall Street”, “Margin Call”, “The Big Short”, and “The Wolf of Wall Street”. All dramatizations supposedly of what goes on in the Stock Market. But what actually takes place? What is all the alphabet soup we keep hearing about like, NASDAQ, SEC, and such. John Adams helps break this all down for us, simplifying …

On this episode, John and Bob discuss “A Day In The Life”.... of Elon Musk and his acquisition of Twitter and how that is going to impact social media (does anyone actually know?), the latest increase of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve to try and keep inflation in check (and what is that actual inflation number that gets passed around?),…

In this episode, John Adams and Bob Bender talk with Dr. William Lloyd regarding the elephant in the room, and that’s what so many families have to deal with over time… Dementia. Dr. Lloyd takes us on a journey of how it happens, what the signs are to look for, and how to prepare not only your loved one, but the family in general when it comes to h…

Sometimes, investing can seem like gambling. What if I don't make the right moves? What if I don't understand what I'm getting into? What can I do to protect my investment portfolio? On this episode, John and Bob discuss "hedging your bets" when it comes to investing, including what it takes to make the right moves, and learning to become a savvy i…

On this episode, John and Bob go over some of the topics of discussion from a few of the previous episodes because..... well because things are always changing, and its always good to go back and refresh the conversation! And of course, we talk about music too! 2 Dudes Talk Money and Music is a weekly podcast series inspired and hosted by John Adam…

On this episode, John and Bob discuss relationships. Whether it’s with a loved one, a friend, a business associate, or with your financial planner, a good relationship is always important. Especially when it comes to money, and your financial future. 2 Dudes Talk Money and Music is a weekly podcast series inspired and hosted by John Adams of Money …

cer*tain*ty. - noun Firm conviction taht something is the case un*cer*tain*ty. - noun The State of being uncertain On this episode, John Adams and Bob Bender discuss the current economic market, and what is absolutely certain about it.... That is that there is no certainty to it at the moment. Investing always has risk, and no one can guarantee the…

When is it too soon to start planning for retirement? When is it too late? How much should I need, and will Social Security be enough? An experienced clinician and award winning medical educator, Dr. Lloyd adds a powerful new dimension toWealth+HealthSM, Transamerica's innovative thought leadership initiative. He shares his insights to audiences na…

It's a whole new world out there. We've all heard about it. BitCoin and Blockchain. But What exactly does it mean, and is it a good investment for your portfolio. Jay McDougal joins the show to discuss what it is, and how it works. 2 Dudes Talk Money and Music is a weekly podcast series inspired and hosted by John Adams of Money Concepts, along wit…

On this episode, we chat with recording artist Larry Groce, about how fame can be fleeting, but investing your earnings should never be overlooked. Larry Groce is an American singer-songwriter and radio host. From 1983 until 2021, Groce served as the host and artistic director of Mountain Stage, a two-hour live music radio program produced by West …

If you follow the news lately, you might know that we're in a recession. Or, we're not. It depends on who you ask. There are so many acroynms being thrown around (an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word e.g. ASCII, NASA) by both the Government and the private financial sector, that its difficult to na…