02.03.2026 Ask An Advisor With Wes Moss

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

• The Format: Casual Q&A radio/podcast show with host banter, market updates, listener questions, and expert advice segments.
• The Key Players:
  • Krista Debiaz: Energetic co-host who tees up topics and questions with enthusiasm.
  • Wes Moss: Main financial advisor expert, delivering calm, data-driven insights; great chemistry with Krista through light-hearted banter on moods and holidays.
• The Vibe: Educational and reassuring—optimistic amid market fears, focused on practical empowerment rather than alarm.

🗝️ Key Themes & Topics

The episode blends timely market context with retirement planning, emphasizing stability in a strong economy while addressing common worries like outliving savings.

• Topic 1: Dollar Weakness, Gold/Silver Surge, and Economic Strength. Wes downplays a ~1% dollar drop (back to 2022 levels) as normal range-bound trading, highlights positives for exports, and rates the economy highly via his CHIME checklist (Consumer spending, Housing, Inflation, Manufacturing/Employment, Earnings)—all B+ to A grades despite minor layoffs.
• Topic 2: Retirement Withdrawal Strategies (4% Rule and Dry Powder). Debates safe spending rates (2.8%-8% extremes vs. flexible 4%+), when to tap cash reserves (10-20% market drops), and avoiding rigid FIRE rules for simplicity.
• **Topic 3: Biggest Retireme