Where to Put Money When the Market Feels Risky with Dave and Friends

Where to Put Money When the Market Feels Risky with Dave and Friends

Author: By Andrew Sather, Stephen Morris, and Evan Raidt | Stock Market Guide to Buying Stocks January 12, 2026 Duration: 1:12:03
Want to help us make the Investing for Beginners Podcast even better? Take our quick listener survey at https://einvestingforbeginners.com/podsurvey and you’ll be entered to win a $500 Amazon gift card next month. Bonus: the first 100 respondents also get free IFB swag. In this episode, the Pitch Team (Tyler, Brandon, and Constantin) gets into a practical conversation about what to do when your portfolio feels “too hot” and you’re worried about a downturn. The group talks through how risk tolerance, time horizon, and having an actual exit plan matter more than trying to time the market. They also dig into what “defensive” really means in real life—comparing sectors like real estate, healthcare, utilities, energy, insurance, and banks—and why even “safe” areas can still drop when the overall market sells off. Key Topics Covered Reducing concentration risk and thinking in portfolio allocation terms “Don’t fiddle” vs making smart adjustments as your timeline shortens Defensive sectors Dividend thinking Comparing “defensive” companies Timestamps: 00:00:58 – Retirement portfolio feels overexposed 00:03:01 – “Climbing the wall of worry” 00:04:51 – The real question: if you sell and the market keeps going up, how will you feel? 00:05:10 – Brandon trims QQQM and reallocates 00:10:36 – “Have an exit plan” 00:14:00 – Conservative mindset & Buffett rules (“don’t lose money”) 00:15:04 – Time horizon matters 00:16:28 – “Don’t fiddle” 00:19:08 – Defensive sectors 00:23:34 – Real estate & REIT framing 00:26:52 – Walmart vs Amazon as “defensive” plays 00:30:31 – Costco enters the debate 00:36:21 – PayPal as a dividend payer 00:38:35 – Regulation risk  00:41:18 – DRIP vs conviction 00:44:01 – UnitedHealth: “too big to fail?” 00:47:05 – Are banks defensive? Exposure matters! 00:53:04 – PayPal vs Nubank 01:03:29 – “Bet the house” Resources Mentioned The Value Spotlight Newsletter: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/value-spotlight-newsletter/ Have questions or want your story featured? Email the show at equity@einvestingforbeginners.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or comment below. Your feedback shapes the podcast! Remember, invest with a margin of safety—emphasis on the safety. Have a great week, and we’ll talk to you next time. Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Today’s show is sponsored by: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SHOPIFY.COM/beginners⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to start selling with Shopify today. ⁠⁠⁠https://www.shopify.com/beginners⁠⁠⁠ Download the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Plynk app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ today to start building your investing confidence: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://plynkinvest.app.link/IFB⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠auraframes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code BEGINNERS at checkout to get $35 off ⁠⁠⁠https://auraframes.com/⁠⁠⁠ Get your free quote and see how much you could save at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SelectQuote.com/beginners⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Interested in how your company sponsor the show? Reach us at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠equity@einvestingforbeginners.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tunein Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Navigating the stock market can feel like deciphering a foreign language, but it doesn't have to. The Investing for Beginners Podcast-Your Path to Financial Freedom, hosted by Andrew Sather, Stephen Morris, and Evan Raidt, exists to translate that complexity into clear, actionable understanding. This isn't about get-rich-quick schemes; it's a practical guide built on foundational principles. Each episode breaks down how successful, long-term strategies actually work, focusing on core approaches like value investing and dividend growth investing. You'll also hear how elements of growth investing and trend following can fit into a thoughtful plan. The hosts delve into the psychological side of the market, discussing how to recognize and potentially benefit from the emotional swings that drive prices, rather than being driven by them. Tuning into this podcast provides a structured education in buying stocks with confidence, moving from uncertainty to a place where you can make your own informed decisions. It’s a steady resource for anyone building their financial literacy from the ground up, aiming to turn the intimidating world of investing into a manageable part of their journey toward greater independence.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Investing for Beginners Podcast - Your Path to Financial Freedom
Podcast Episodes
AAR43 - Your 401k Might Be Holding You Back [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:40
In this episode of At Any Rate, Evan and Andrew tackle the sacred cow of personal finance: the 401K. While everyone knows about the amazing tax benefits and the undeniable power of an employer match , the duo discusses h…
Is the CEO Lying? How to Read a Cash Flow Statement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:48
In this episode of the Investing for Beginners podcast, Stephen and Andrew look beyond the income statement to uncover how healthy a company truly is by diving into the cash flow statement. Along with addressing some hil…
Ferrari's Pricing Power Personified & The Chutzpah of Scarcity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:57
In this episode of the Investing for Beginners podcast, Stephen and Andrew dive into the fascinating business model of Ferrari, arguing that it operates more like a luxury lifestyle conglomerate than a traditional automa…
AAR42 - College Scholarships 101 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:36
In this episode of At Any Rate, Evan Raidt and Andrew Sather dive into college financial aid. They cover the crucial differences between scholarships, grants, and fellowships—highlighting that they offer tax-advantaged m…
How the Crisis in Iran Could Spark the Next Financial Revolution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:21
In this episode of the Investing for Beginners podcast, Andrew and Stephen tackle the massive macroeconomic shifts happening right now due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. With the Strait of Hormuz blocked, the global fl…
The Traits of Elite Investors with Lee Freeman-Shor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:27
What separates the world’s greatest investors from the rest? In this episode of the Investing for Beginners podcast, Andrew sits down with Lee Freeman-Shor, former fund manager and author of The Art of Execution and the…
AAR41 - Listener Q&A: DIY Investing vs. Wealth Managers? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:48
In this episode of At Any Rate, Evan Raidt and Andrew Sather dive into a fantastic listener question from Joey. Joey asks a common but critical question: if a standard market ETF averages 10% a year, but a wealth manager…
Listener Q&A: Should You Adjust Your WACC for Inflation? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:13
In this episode, Andrew and Stephen get into the financial weeds to answer a great listener question from passaro94 about how inflation actually impacts a company's value. We break down the macroeconomic side of investin…
The New Cola Wars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:02
If you watched the Super Bowl, you probably saw the commercial where the Coca-Cola polar bear did a blind taste test, picked Pepsi, and had to go to therapy. It was hilarious, but what a lot of people don't realize is th…
AAR40 - From Navigating Debt to Long-Term Wealth with Stephen Morris [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:15
In this episode, Evan Raidt welcomes Stephen Morris, the new co-host of the Investing for Beginners podcast. Stephen opens up about his unique personal finance journey, from experiencing early financial trauma. They disc…