On this episode of Porch Beers, Dr. Trogdon walks us through his economic advice to President Biden and Vice-President Harris for the first 100 days of their administration as well as four to eight year plans.  The specific damage to the economy caused by the COVID-19 virus, as well as the previous administration's selective economic policy choices that supported only a small percent of the population have left a lot of work to be done to restore the economic health of our country.  The conversation veers off of the COVID related impact to the economy mid-way through the episode to the subject of the wealth gap in the USA and areas where thoughtful economic policy could help narrow distance between the wealthy and poorer communities. Porch Beers is a series of casual episodes, where Brett asks Trog a question or two cold, that he hasn't heard prior to the conversation.  Like most conversations they have over a beer, Trog doesn't know what will be asked of him at the time.  His vast expertise of finance is put to the test when he's asked for advice or clarity on the topics discussed.  In today's episode we stick to one (heavier) topic, and slowly walk through understanding the some of the challenges our fellow citizens face economically, and what could lead to a brighter future for all of the population. Thank you for listening!  Please subscribe, share the episode with a friend and, leave a review to let us know what you think! Have a wonderful day!

**As we start out 2021 with a fresh perspective and a new economy, it's a great time to setup or edit your monthly personal budget.  This is a replay of  the Season 1 episode where Trog explains his monthly and annual approach to personal budgeting.  You can download an excel template of the budget on Trogonomics.com** // Trog walks Brett through his monthly financial plan and review that he uses with his family.  He discusses how he and his family came up with their collective goals, how they manage each and every expense, and how they review the info each month. After listening to this episode, you can use the data and spreadsheet on Trogonomics.com to start your own monthly financial planning.  Enjoy the episode! Thanks for listening - have a great day!! **Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review to let us know what you think of the episode!**

On this episode of Porch Beers, Dr. Trogdon walks us through the current state of the economy, and the impact and changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Beginning as early as March of 2020, the velocity of money within the economic system started to slow and stall at unprecedented rates.  Unemployment dramatically increased, and certain industries were changed for ever.  Trog takes his time explaining the various changes the economy incurred, as well as what the impact means for the future.  He then looks forward to the coming months in 2021 to share his thoughts on what economic recovery and rehabilitation means for the world.  Finally, in an expected turn, Brett starts talking about the changes to retail and what the future may look like for restaurants, events, and specialty retail in the future. Porch Beers is a series of casual episodes, where Brett asks Trog a question or two cold, that he hasn't heard prior to the conversation.  Like most conversations they have over a beer, Trog doesn't know what will be asked of him at the time.  His vast expertise of finance is put to the test when he's asked for advice or clarity on the topics we discuss.  In today's episode we stick to one (tough) topic, and slowly walk through understanding the larger impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy. Thanks for listening!  Please subscribe, share the episode with a friend and, leave a review to let us know what you think! Have a wonderful day!

On this episode of Porch Beers, Dr. Trogdon walks us through his thoughts and action plan when taking in a new family member.  Taking in and caring for an elderly parent or a child whose parents have passed away brings up several questions and financial forks in the road, and Trog helps us understand how he would traverse this new normal.  What is step one?  What is step two?  What if you make all of the financial edits that you can, and it still isn't enough to cover your financial plan within your timeline?  What are all the things that you'll need to do to support all of the members of your family? Porch Beers is a series of casual episodes, where Brett asks Trog a question or two cold, that he hasn't heard prior to the conversation.  Like most conversations they have over a beer, Trog doesn't know what will be asked of him at the time.  His vast expertise of finance is put to the test when he's asked for advice or clarity on the topics we discuss.  In today's episode we stick to one (tough) question, and slowly walk through welcoming a new member of the family, helping them settle in, and planning for everyone's financial future. Thanks for listening!  Please subscribe, share the episode with a friend and, leave a review to let us know what you think! Have a wonderful day!

On this episode of Porch Beers, Dr. Trogdon discusses how you should think about selecting your financial mentors more like a board of directors.  He guides us to think deeply about what we want financially in life and how to read between the lines when seeking out others for advice.  He'll also talk about some of the economic policy decisions of late that he likes and doesn't like, when taking into consideration the health of the entire economy and population.  Do the positives outweigh the negatives when it comes to free trade and the Affordable Care Act? Porch Beers is a series of casual episodes, where Brett asks Trog questions cold, that he hasn't heard prior to the conversation.  Like most conversations they have over a beer, Trog doesn't know what will be asked of him at the time.  His vast expertise of the economy is put to the test when he's asked for advice or clarity on the various topics we discuss. Thanks for listening!  Please subscribe, leave a review and let us know what you think! Have a wonderful day!

On this episode of Porch Beers, Dr. Trogdon shares his favorite sources of new information about money and personal finance.  What podcasts or blogs does he like to follow to keep up to date with modern money and personal planning.  Then the conversation shifts to Capital Gains Taxes.  Brett ask for a breakdown, and Trog responds with What, Why, When, and How Much related to paying these taxes.  Trog also points out that it's not a bad thing to have to pay taxes, you just have to be prepared. Porch Beers is a series of casual episodes, where Brett asks Trog questions cold, that he hasn't heard prior to the conversation.  Like most conversations they have over a beer, Trog doesn't know what will be asked of him at the time.  His vast expertise of the economy is put to the test when he's asked for advice or clarity on the various topics we discuss. Thanks for listening!  Please subscribe, leave a review and let us know what you think! Have a wonderful day!

On this episode of Porch Beers, Dr. Trogdon answers questions about healthcare.  When he is presented with his annual renewal, how does he make his selection, what is important to him at a given time, and what does he wish he had a choice on that he doesn't?  Trog talks about how complicated the annual renewal process is that it can be easy to make poor financial decisions.  He also talks about how easy it is to get 'sticky' with your plan and not change often enough as your personal healthcare needs may be evolving. Then the questions turns to the bigger healthcare picture, in the macro sense.  How is the healthcare industry unique to other industries?  Is the healthcare market, really a market?  And what do other countries get right and wrong about their healthcare markets that would and wouldn't work in the United States? Porch Beers is a series of casual episodes, where Brett asks Trog questions cold, that he hasn't heard prior to the conversation.  Like most conversations we have over a beer, Trog doesn't know what I'll ask him at the time.  His vast expertise of the economy is put to the test when he's asked for advice or clarity on the various topics we discuss. Thanks for listening!  Please subscribe, leave a review and let us know what you think! Have a wonderful day!

On this episode of Porch Beers, Dr. Trogdon answers all of Brett's questions about currency.  Why is a dollar worth a dollar?  What variables impact the value of money and the variances with other countries' currencies?  Would the concept of the Euro work in other regions?  And where did all that gold go anyway?!?! Finally, Trog counsels Brett as he navigates buying a coffee in a Bosnian truck stop, and a few other adventures. Porch Beers is a series of casual episodes, where Brett asks Trog questions cold, that he hasn't heard prior to the conversation.  Like most conversations we have over a beer, Trog doesn't know what I'll ask him at the time.  His vast expertise of the economy is put to the test when he's asked for advice or clarity on the various topics we discuss. Thanks for listening!  Please subscribe, leave a review and let us know what you think! Have a wonderful day!

Dr. Trogdon and Brett sit down to discuss calculating the expected value of chasing your dreams.  The emotional relationship that we all have with our most personal goals can be hard to navigate.  Whether trying to make it as a professional athlete at the highest level, a successful artist, or skillfully climbing the corporate ladder towards your dream job, it can be hard to review your progress over time without laying out your plan at the beginning.   Trog discusses examples from formal economic studies to help tailor your goal setting, progress review, and even goal reassessment while you are on your path to success.  Brett also shares examples from his and his peers lives chasing their dreams and navigating second careers on the other side of the dreams.   Enjoy the episode! Thanks for listening - have a great day!!     **Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review to let us know what you think of the episode!**

On this episode of Porch Beers, Trog turns the tables and asks questions about the consumer experience in retail stores; how are brick and mortar stores set up and why, how do companies identify different consumer archetypes and how do they interact differently with each one.  He also asks about the franchise business model, who it is good for, what do you get, and does it make financial sense in the long run. Porch Beers is a series of casual episodes, where Brett and Trog ask each other questions that they haven't heard prior to the conversation.  Like most conversations they have over a beer, conversations are informal but focused on their respective areas of expertise.   Thanks for listening, please leave a review and let us know what you think! Have a wonderful day!