The 9Innings Podcast

In this episode of the 9innings Podcast: GDP is growing, yet September added just 29,000 jobs, and households are spending more even as real disposable income stays roughly flat. In this Econ 101 episode, Kevin looks beneath the headline numbers to trace how lower savings and rising consumer credit may be helping sustain spending, and why that could become a strain if incomes don’t catch up. He also considers the brighter explanation: businesses may be producing more with the same workforce as technology boosts productivity. The takeaway isn’t a recession call, but a closer look at the gap between economic output and household financial health, and the four figures that could show whether that gap is widening. Employment Growth and Labor-Force Participation (00:01:04) GDP Growth and Productivity (00:03:33) Savings, Credit, and Household Finances (00:09:02) How Credit Can Shift Future Consumption (00:10:21) Productivity as a Positive Explanation (00:13:03) A Mixed Picture of Economic Health (00:14:15) Four Indicators to Watch (00:15:36) Conclusion: Look Beneath the Headline Numbers (00:17:05) NEWSLETTER (WHAT NOW): https://substack.com/@9icapital?r=2eig6s&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Follow Us: youtube: / @9icap Linkedin: / kevin-thompson-ricp%c2%ae-cfp%c2%ae-74964428 facebook: / mlb2cfp Buy MLB2CFP Here: https://www.amazon.com/MLB-CFP%C2%AE-90-Feet-Counting-ebook/dp/B0BLJPYNS4 Website: http://www.9icapitalgroup.com Hit the subscribe button to get new content notifications. Corrections: Editing by http://SwoleNerdProductions.com Disclosure: https://sites.google.com/view/9idisclosure/disclosure

In this episode of Facts of Our Feelings, Kevin Thompson expands on five topics he was recently quoted on in major publications. He explores why loosening credit standards won't solve housing affordability, how declining insurer competition is reshaping Medicare Advantage plans, and why Social Security COLA increases aren't necessarily good news given rising retiree costs. He also explains how ultra-wealthy families use private placement life insurance for tax-efficient investing, and why financial advisors need solid succession plans to protect clients. His key takeaway: always look beyond the headlines for the real story. Housing Affordability Challenges (00:01:10) Changes in Medicare Advantage (00:03:48) Social Security COLA Isn't Always Good News (00:05:10) How the Ultra-Wealthy Use Life Insurance (00:07:49) Your Financial Advisor's Succession Plan (00:10:02) Conclusion: Look Past the Headlines (00:13:36) NEWSLETTER (WHAT NOW): https://substack.com/@9icapital?r=2eig6s&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Follow Us: youtube: / @9icap Linkedin: / kevin-thompson-ricp%c2%ae-cfp%c2%ae-74964428 facebook: / mlb2cfp Buy MLB2CFP Here: https://www.amazon.com/MLB-CFP%C2%AE-90-Feet-Counting-ebook/dp/B0BLJPYNS4 Website: http://www.9icapitalgroup.com Hit the subscribe button to get new content notifications. Corrections: Editing by http://SwoleNerdProductions.com Disclosure: https://sites.google.com/view/9idisclosure/disclosure

In this episode of Econ 101, I break down the Federal Reserve’s latest 25-basis-point rate hike, bringing the federal funds target range to 3.75%–4.00%, and what higher interest rates actually mean for you. From credit cards and car loans to mortgages and business investment, higher rates are designed to slow spending and cool the economy. But there’s another side to the story: massive investment in AI and technology continues to help drive economic growth. What happens if the Fed keeps hitting the brakes while the sector helping keep the economy moving starts to slow? Let’s talk about it. 00:00 - The Fed Is Hitting the Brakes 03:56 - How Higher Rates Hit Your Wallet0 8:54 - How Rate Hikes Slow the Economy 11:06 —-AI Investment, Circular Financing & the Domino Risk NEWSLETTER (WHAT NOW): https://substack.com/@9icapital?r=2eig6s&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Follow Us: youtube: / @9icap Linkedin: / kevin-thompson-ricp%c2%ae-cfp%c2%ae-74964428 facebook: / mlb2cfp Buy MLB2CFP Here: https://www.amazon.com/MLB-CFP%C2%AE-90-Feet-Counting-ebook/dp/B0BLJPYNS4 Website: http://www.9icapitalgroup.com Hit the subscribe button to get new content notifications. Corrections: Editing by http://SwoleNerdProductions.com Disclosure: https://sites.google.com/view/9idisclosure/disclosure

In this episode of Facts Over Feelings, I tackle an overlooked retirement challenge: dying with too much money. After spending 30 or 40 years saving and investing, flipping the switch from saver to spender can be harder than it sounds. I explore the psychology behind that transition and ask a simple question: What was all that money actually for? Whether your goal is enjoying retirement, maintaining financial security, leaving a legacy, or some combination of all three, defining that purpose matters. I discuss why retirees should quantify their inheritance goals, give themselves permission to spend, and consider whether helping children and grandchildren today may be more meaningful than leaving everything behind later. I also discuss the importance of enjoying the early, healthier years of retirement—when you hopefully have the money, time, and health to actually do the things you've spent decades planning for. Ultimately, retirement isn't about dying with the largest account balance. It's about using your money intentionally and living the life you worked so hard to build. 00:00 — The Retirement Conundrum: Dying With Too Much Money 03:26 — Why It’s So Hard to Go From Saver to Spender 05:24 — How Much Do You Really Want to Leave Your Kids? 08:42 — The Risk of Dying With Too Much Money 11:59 — The Go-Go Years Don’t Last Forever NEWSLETTER (WHAT NOW): https://substack.com/@9icapital?r=2eig6s&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Follow Us: youtube: / @9icap Linkedin: / kevin-thompson-ricp%c2%ae-cfp%c2%ae-74964428 facebook: / mlb2cfp Buy MLB2CFP Here: https://www.amazon.com/MLB-CFP%C2%AE-90-Feet-Counting-ebook/dp/B0BLJPYNS4 Website: http://www.9icapitalgroup.com Hit the subscribe button to get new content notifications. Corrections: Editing by http://SwoleNerdProductions.com Disclosure: https://sites.google.com/view/9idisclosure/disclosure

In this episode, host Kevin Thompson sits down with Ryan Luckey, an adjunct professor at TCU specializing in NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) in college sports. They discuss how NIL has transformed college athletics, giving athletes the ability to profit from their personal brands while also opening the door to direct compensation from schools. The conversation explores the growing financial divide between large and small programs, the disruptive impact of the transfer portal, the potential role of government regulation, and the evolving definition of the “student-athlete.” Ryan offers a cautiously optimistic view of NIL’s future, emphasizing the need for better governance, greater standardization, and clearer rules across college athletics. At the heart of the discussion is a fundamental question: How do we build a sustainable system while ensuring athletes finally receive their fair share of the value they help create? 00:01:37 — The NIL Revolution in College Sports 00:04:26 — How College Athletes Actually Get Paid 00:08:12 — Is NIL Widening the Gap Between Schools? 00:10:43 — NIL, the Transfer Portal & College Free Agency 00:17:04 — Should the Government Regulate NIL? 00:27:07 — Will NIL Save or Destroy College Sports? NEWSLETTER (WHAT NOW): https://substack.com/@9icapital?r=2eig6s&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page Follow Us: youtube: / @9icap Linkedin: / kevin-thompson-ricp%c2%ae-cfp%c2%ae-74964428 facebook: / mlb2cfp Buy MLB2CFP Here: https://www.amazon.com/MLB-CFP%C2%AE-90-Feet-Counting-ebook/dp/B0BLJPYNS4 Website: http://www.9icapitalgroup.com Hit the subscribe button to get new content notifications. Corrections: Editing by http://SwoleNerdProductions.com Disclosure: https://sites.google.com/view/9idisclosure/disclosure