Wealth and Wisdom: Week of October 13, 2025
- Mike Brown
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
There have always been two “stock markets” – and there always will be. One can make you wealthy; the other can drive you insane. And guess which one gets all the attention?
The day-to-day market is dominated by the latest statistics, predictions, rumors, guesses, fears, and greed. It’s tens of millions of schizophrenic institutional investors, nervous speculators, and amateurs day-trading their 401(k) accounts – all casting daily votes on whether tomorrow will bring economic feast or famine.
The daily market grabs all the headlines. It’s what keeps CNBC on the air. But the truth is, most of the information you’re bombarded with each day can be safely ignored, just like yesterday’s weather forecast.
The other market is quietly focused on longer-term concerns, such as the growth and profitability of great companies, the future viability of life-changing technological innovations, and the financial solvency of the governments behind the world’s largest economies. This is where wealth is made.
Legendary investor Benjamin Graham – whose early student Warren Buffett went on to master the second market – probably said it best, in a quote that you’ll find below.
As an investor – someone trying to build wealth, live off it, or pass it along to the next generation – you have a choice to make. Will you cast a vote each day on which way the wind of stock prices will shift next? Or will you weigh your investment decisions by what will likely benefit you most in the long-run?
Hint: The odds of your success are much greater in the market no one’s talking about.
It’s all about Artificial Intelligence (AI) these days – and if that brings back painful memories of what happened after other market manias, you are not alone. (Reading time: 4 minutes)
Beyond the day-to-day schizophrenia, stock prices have historically reflected how much companies make in profits over time. (Reading time: 2 minutes)
Retiring when the market is high does present a challenge – which makes careful planning and portfolio design all the more important. (Reading time: 3 minutes)
It’s natural to second-guess your decisions when you retire. Understand what today’s retirees fear most – and then master the strategies you’ll need to overcome them. (Reading time: 7 minutes)
Excessive debt takes away some of your lifestyle options in retirement – and the best time to fix the problem is while you’re still working. (Reading time: 2 minutes)
We all know that spending less than you earn is the key to building wealth – but successfully transitioning into retirement requires strategy. (Reading time: 7 minutes)
Financial planning and successful investing are vital ingredients for enjoying retirement – but true happiness involves more than your money. (Reading time: 4 minutes)
And no, social media, cable news, and obsessing about politics do not qualify. (Reading time: 4 minutes)
New tax legislation has created some opportunities – some of which you’ll need to take advantage of before December 31. (Reading time: 3 minutes)
Moving into a smaller home can make retirement simpler and easier – but it won’t always save you money. (Reading time: 4 minutes)
Words to the Wise
“In the short run, the market is a voting machine. In the long run, it is a weighing machine.”
– Benjamin Graham
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