The Capital Stewards Podcast

Hosted by Brian Seay, CFA Investment Pro, Business Leader, Financial Advisor

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Sep 2026

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Description: Are you a business or government leader who wants straightforward, trustworthy financial guidance that you can act on? Do you find yourself asking: -> How do I invest? -> How do I reduce taxes? -> What financial information can I trust? -> I have a ton of education… so why is managing my money still SO confusing? …or maybe even the biggest question of them all: Am I making smart financial decisions today? Are there things I should be doing with my money that I’m not doing? [insert cringing emoji] We get it! Knowing how to manage your money during your highest-earning years is HARD. It can feel like you need to go back to school and get a degree in personal finance in addition to everything else on your plate. If this is you, then you’re in the right place. Whether you’re a business leader, government leader or an engineer or developer, this is the show for you. On this podcast, we’re going to cover the three things you need know to make smart financial decisions: 1) Financial acumen (think of this as the 101 AND the 102 course on your money) 2) The right money mindset, which leads to smarter decisions 3) Current financial and market news you need to know and act on Hi, I’m Brian and helping you make smart financial decisions is my passion. I started my career more than a decade ago serving wealthy families and non-profits at one of the largest asset managers in the world. Along the way, I earned an MBA from Emory University, earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and became an investor myself. I started Capital Stewards to help professionals become successful investors and live life fully. Most importantly, I’m still married to my college sweetheart and we have three amazing kids. I want you to know that you CAN make smart financial decisions without spending every minute of your free time researching on the internet. You might even just find that your drive to work (or your daily walk around the neighborhood) got more valuable while you listen. We’re here for you. Links: Want to Talk Live? -＞https://www.thecapitalstewards.com/contact Learn More About Us -＞ https://www.thecapitalstewards.com/aboutus Still Reading Old School Blogs -> https://www.thecapitalstewards.com/learn

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September 10, 202621 min

Investing is NEVER Passive

"S&P and chill" answers one investment question and quietly skips five others. I'm Brian Seay, CFA, founding partner of Capital Stewards, a fee-only fiduciary firm in Huntsville, Alabama. In this episode I make the case that indexing is a good idea — I use index funds for most client assets — but that it is not the same thing as an investment strategy. There are six decisions that determine what your portfolio does over time and the active-versus-passive question is only one. We cover: ▪️ The six decisions that actually drive long-term outcomes ▪️ What Ibbotson and Kaplan really found about asset allocation (the 90% stat is misquoted constantly) ▪️ Why Norway's trillion-dollar sovereign wealth fund indexes its holdings but staffs its asset allocation decisions ▪️ How concentrated the S&P 500 has become, and what a lost decade would mean if you're near retirement ▪️ What an S&P-only portfolio leaves out: international, small- and mid-cap, real assets, and fixed income ▪️ The dozen active decisions required even if you index every dollar ▪️ The strongest argument against diversification — and why the benchmark you compare against decides the verdict ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 — "S&P and chill": the default assumption 01:32 — Why this isn't an anti-index argument 02:17 — The six decisions, in the right order 02:34 — What asset allocation really explains 06:02 — What Norway does with a trillion dollars 07:11 — What you actually own in the S&P 500 00:00 — The lost-decade problem near retirement 09:31 — What an S&P-only portfolio leaves out 12:45 — Why index investing still requires active decisions 18:52 — Three questions to ask about your portfolio 🔗 LINKS Read the full article: https://www.thecapitalstewards.com/learn/investing-is-never-passive Schedule a conversation: https://www.thecapitalstewards.com/startaconversation Website: https://thecapitalstewards.com 📌 ABOUT CAPITAL STEWARDS Capital Stewards is a fee-only fiduciary registered investment adviser based in Huntsville, Alabama, working with engineers, defense professionals, business owners, and retirees across North Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Flat-fee pricing. No commissions. No product sales. ⚠️ DISCLOSURE This video is for educational purposes only and is not investment, tax, or legal advice, nor a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against loss. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Indices referenced are unmanaged and cannot be invested in directly. Capital Stewards is a registered investment adviser; registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. #PassiveInvesting #IndexFunds #AssetAllocation #SP500 #RetirementPlanning #FeeOnly #Fiduciary #HuntsvilleAL ##PortfolioManagement

July 20, 202628 min

Mid-Year Investment Outlook: Narrow Straits

2026 Mid-Year Outlook: AI Bubble? Inflation, the New Fed Chair & Where to Invest Now Markets are higher but volatile — a nearly 20% round trip in the first half of 2026. In this mid-year outlook, Brian Seay, CFA, walks through the biggest questions clients are asking this summer: Is the AI rally a bubble? Are you too concentrated in tech? Where is inflation headed as oil retreats? And what does new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh mean for your portfolio? Brian lays out the economic backdrop — slow, narrow, AI-driven growth — then talks through positioning across U.S. stocks, small caps, international and emerging markets, bonds, gold, and EM debt, closing with practical steps for the second half. 📊 There are a lot of charts in this one — watch here rather than listen so you can follow along. Capital Stewards is a fee-only fiduciary registered investment adviser in Huntsville, Alabama, serving entrepreneurs, engineers, defense contractors, and retirees across North Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. 🌐 Learn more: https://www.thecapitalstewards.com 🔔 Subscribe for quarterly outlooks and market commentary. This video is for informational and educational purposes only and is not investment, tax, or legal advice. Views are as of the recording date and subject to change. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. #MidYearOutlook #MarketOutlook2026 #Investing #AIStocks #EmergingMarkets #Inflation #FederalReserve #GoldInvesting #FinancialPlanning #Huntsville

June 9, 202621 min

IPO Summer: What Investors Need to Know

SpaceX is set to begin trading this Friday. OpenAI formally kicked off its IPO process this week. Anthropic filed its S-1 just days ago. The summer of 2026 may be the most consequential IPO season in a generation — and it's happening right now. In this episode, Brian Seay breaks down what every investor should know before buying a share in any of these three companies. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 📌 WHAT WE COVER ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ▶ How IPOs actually work — including why most retail investors never get shares at the price they see in the headlines ▶ SpaceX: $1.77 trillion valuation, $4.9 billion net loss — is it worth it? (We do the math) ▶ OpenAI: $20B in revenue, projecting $74B in losses by 2028 — what does the path to profitability look like? ▶ Anthropic: The enterprise AI bet with the clearest path to cash flow ▶ What history teaches us — from Amazon's "Amazon.bomb" years to Meta's catastrophic IPO day ▶ The five questions every investor should answer before putting money to work ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 📄 Read the full article: https://www.thecapitalstewards.com/learn/spacex-openai-and-anthropic-are-going-publicheres-what-every-investor-should-know-before-buying-a-share 📅 Schedule a conversation: thecapitalstewards.com ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 📬 STAY CONNECTED ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Subscribe for regular updates on investing, retirement planning, and wealth management — built around the principle that good stewardship means being intentional with every financial decision. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ⚠️ DISCLOSURE ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ This video is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please consult your financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

May 28, 202627 min

Stewards, Not Recipients: Raising the Next Generation & Transferring Wealth

You've spent years building something meaningful. The real question is: who's going to carry it forward? In Part 2 of our multigenerational wealth series, Capital Stewards founder Brian Seay tackles the two questions that keep wealth-building families up at night — how do you raise children who are prepared to steward what you've built, and how do you actually transfer it without leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table? This episode goes deep on both the human side and the technical side of generational wealth transfer. In this episode: Why the families who "spoil" their kids are the ones who never talked about money What the research actually says about the next generation's attitude toward family wealth Three ways to actively engage your kids in real financial decisions — starting earlier than you think Why charitable giving is one of the most powerful antidotes to entitlement When (and how) to open the books with your heirs 529 plans as a wealth transfer tool — including the new Roth IRA rollover rules Annual exclusion gifting: why consistency turns a modest strategy into a million-dollar transfer The step-up in cost basis explained — and why it could save your family hundreds of thousands in taxes Donor Advised Funds: how to give like a family foundation without running one Why multigenerational families should invest like an endowment, not like a retiree 📖 Read the full blog series at thecapitalstewards.com 📅 Ready to have a real conversation about your family's financial future? Schedule a call at thecapitalstewards.com Capital Stewards is a fiduciary wealth management firm serving families in Huntsville, Alabama and across Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice.

May 14, 202619 min

Building Multigenerational Wealth: Where to Start

Most people spend their entire careers optimizing for income. The families building generational wealth are doing something fundamentally different. Part 1 of our series on multigenerational wealth breaks down the six foundational principles behind building wealth that actually lasts — not the version you see on social media, but the version that quietly plays out over decades in real families. In this episode: - Why high income rarely becomes generational wealth — and what to do instead - Building the Wedge: the savings mindset shift that changes everything - How Warren Buffett uses debt strategically (and what families can learn from it) - Business vs. real estate: which asset to target first, and why you might buy rather than start - When to concentrate your risk — and when to start diversifying - The role of patience in wealth building (and why the timeline is longer than you think) 📖 Read the full blog series at thecapitalstewards.com 📅 Ready to talk about your family's wealth journey? Schedule a conversation at thecapitalstewards.com Capital Stewards is a fiduciary wealth management firm serving families in Huntsville, Alabama and across Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. Timestamps 00:00 — Intro: Private Jets & Social Media 01:08 — What multigenerational wealth actually means 03:52 — Principle 1: Assets over income 05:22 — Principle 2: Building the Wedge 08:14 — Principle 3: Debt as a strategic tool 10:32 — Principle 4: Businesses and real estate 15:14 — Principle 5: Diversifying over time 15:22 — Principle 6: The role of patience 16:36 — Series recap + tease for Part 2

April 9, 202624 min

Q2 2026 Economic & Investment Outlook | Iran War, Oil Prices, Market Outlook & Portfolio Strategy

In this episode, we break down the complex economic landscape of Q2 2026, navigating the aftermath of the conflict in Iran and the resulting impact on global markets. While a recent ceasefire has brought some stability, investors are left with critical questions regarding oil prices, the "Mag Seven" tech stocks, and a labor market that may be showing signs of fatigue.We explore whether the recent uptick in economic data is a sustainable recovery or a "data mirage" driven by inventory rebuilding and backlogs. Whether you are a long-term investor or looking for specific insights into gold, bonds, or international markets, this comprehensive guide provides the data-driven perspective you need to stay anchored in an uncertain environment. 📊 Want to see the data? This episode features numerous charts detailing GDP, ISM surveys, and asset performance. Consider watching the full video to follow along with the visual analysis 00:00 – Intro & What's Ahead 02:16 — Market Recap: S&P 500, International Stocks, Bonds & Gold 03:18 — Long-Term Returns: Why History Favors Patient Investors 05:29 — U.S. Economic Update: GDP, ISM Manufacturing & Services Data 07:39 — The K-Shaped Economy: Consumer Spending, Wages & Savings 09:29 — Labor Market: Job Creation, Wage Growth & Warning Signs 12:05 — Iran War & Ceasefire: Oil Prices, Strait of Hormuz & What's Next 14:29 — Inflation Outlook: PCE, Tariffs, Housing & Services 15:50 — Stock Market Outlook: Why Global Diversification Still Matters 17:28 — Diversification & Income Outlook : Gold, Bonds & Fixed Income 19:21 — Private Credit: Risks & Reality Check 20:47 — Real Estate Opportunities in 2026 21:35 — Practical Steps for Investors Right Now 🔗 Learn more about Capital Stewards: Website: https://www.thecapitalstewards.com Start a Conversation: https://www.thecapitalstewards.com/startconversation Capital Stewards is a fee-only fiduciary financial advisory firm based in Huntsville, Alabama, helping clients with retirement planning, investment management and tax strategies. This content is for general information and educational purposes only and should not be construed as specific investment, tax, or legal advice. Past performance is no assurance of future results.

March 5, 202617 min

Navigating Healthcare Expenses in Retirement: Medicare, TRICARE, & the "Insurance Bridge"

Is healthcare your retirement "blind spot"? In 2026, the landscape of retirement healthcare has fundamentally changed. With Medicare Part B premiums crossing $200 for the first time and new legislative shifts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), failing to plan is planning to overpay. In this episode of the Capital Stewards Podcast, we break down the exact strategies you need to protect your portfolio from rising medical costs and "stealth taxes". 💡 What You’ll Learn: - The 24-Month Window - The ACA "Cost Cliff" - The Federal Government Employee & Military Strategy - Long-Term Care Realities - Income Engineering About Capital Stewards: We are a fee-only fiduciary advisor based in Huntsville, AL, dedicated to helping families navigate complex financial transitions with transparency and expertise. Have Questions? Start a Conversation with Us Here: https://www.thecapitalstewards.com/startconversation #retirementplanning #Medicare2026 #HealthcareCosts #FinancialAdvisorHuntsville #CapitalStewards #TRICARE #FEHB #LongTermCare Any commentary is provided for general information and educational purposes only and should not be construed as specific investment, tax or legal advice. Instead, readers should make an independent assessment of the information and determine if any content mentioned is appropriate for their personal situation. Past performance of market results is no assurance of future performance. This information has been obtained from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.

February 12, 202621 min

2026 Tax Strategy Guide | New OBBBA Rules for Huntsville

The Super Bowl is over, which means it’s officially tax season on the Capital Stewards Podcast. In this annual tax guide episode, we move beyond the "annual hunt for deductions" to discuss how you can create significant tax reduction over the long term. With the passage of the OBBBA last summer, the tax landscape has changed for 2025 filings and 2026 planning. Whether you are a business owner, a high-earner, or planning for retirement, this episode covers the strategic moves that actually "move the needle". 🕒 Key Chapters in This Episode: 0:00 – Unofficial Super Bowl Ad "O-Meter" (Anthropic, Budweiser, & more) 3:15 – The "Deduction Hunt" is Dead: The Power of Long-Term Planning 5:30 – New 2025 Standard Deductions & the Enhanced Senior Deduction 8:45 – The OBBBA "Big Three": No Tax on Tips, Overtime, and Car Loan Interest 12:10 – SALT Cap Changes & HSA "Trifecta" Benefits 15:40 – Retirement Account Strategies: ROTH vs. Traditional 18:20 – Trump Accounts for Children: What You Need to Know 21:05 – Local Tax Updates: Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee 💡 What You’ll Learn: The "Big Three" OBBBA Deductions: How to qualify for tax-free tips and overtime pay, and how to write off interest on U.S.-assembled vehicles. Enhanced Senior Benefits: How to unlock up to $12,000 in extra deductions if you are over 65. Strategic HSAs: Why 2026 is the year to start using your HSA for concierge or subscription-based primary care. Real Estate & Business: Utilizing 100% bonus depreciation and the permanent QBI deduction to lower your effective rate. Taxes are a long-term game. Don’t just file your return—structure your life and business for maximum efficiency. Connect with Capital Stewards: If you have questions about integrating your tax planning with your investment portfolio, reach out to us today: https://www.thecapitalstewards.com/startconversation #TaxPlanning #OBBBA #2026Taxes #FinancialPlanning #CapitalStewards #RetirementPlanning #taxdeductions Any commentary is provided for general information and educational purposes only and should not be construed as specific investment, tax or legal advice. Instead, readers should make an independent assessment of the information and determine if any content mentioned is appropriate for their personal situation. Past performance of market results is no assurance of future performance. This information has been obtained from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.

February 5, 202612 min

Is Your Investment Portfolio Really Diversified?

This episode of the Capital Stewards Podcast challenges everything you thought you knew about a balanced portfolio. Many investors believe they are diversified simply because they own multiple funds, but in reality, they are just "collectors" of the same underlying risks. As the "easy" era of zero-interest rates ends, we explore why the old playbook of just buying stocks and bonds is no longer a guaranteed shield. We dive into the math of systematic risk and duration, explaining why high-flying AI tech stocks and long-term bonds can often be the exact same bet. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The Collector’s Myth: Why owning five different tech-heavy funds actually equals one giant bet on U.S. large-cap growth. Systematic vs. Company-Specific Risk: Why you can’t diversify away a market crash by simply buying more of the same stocks. The New Reality: How inflation and rising interest rates cause stocks and bonds to fall at the same time. Real Diversification Strategies: How to incorporate low-correlation assets like gold, commodities, and international markets to build resilience. The Return of Bond Income: Why shortening your duration and focusing on yield is the key to a modern fixed-income strategy. Stop counting line items and start measuring correlation. If everything in your portfolio turns red on the same day, you aren't diversified—you’re leveraged. Join us as we discuss how to build a portfolio that zags when the market zigs. Connect with Us: If you have questions about your specific portfolio or want to discuss how these strategies apply to your situation, please reach out anytime. https://www.thecapitalstewards.com/startconversation #Investing #PortfolioManagement #Diversification #StockMarket #Bonds #Gold #AI #FinancialPlanning Any commentary is provided for general information and educational purposes only and should not be construed as specific investment, tax or legal advice. Instead, readers should make an independent assessment of the information and determine if any content mentioned is appropriate for their personal situation. Past performance of market results is no assurance of future performance. This information has been obtained from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.

January 6, 202637 min

2026 Economic & Investment Outlook: Physics 101

Are we currently in a stock market bubble? In the 2026 Outlook from Capital Stewards, Brian Seay explores the "K-shaped" dichotomy of the current economy: a booming AI sector contrasted with a cooling labor market and stagnating "Main Street" growth. We break down the data on inflation, the impact of 2025 tariffs, and whether the Fed's expected rate cuts will be enough to spur a rebound. Whether you are a Huntsville tech professional or planning for retirement, this episode provides the data-driven roadmap you need for your 2026 investment strategy. Key Topics Covered: The 2025 Market Recap: Why Gold (+60%) and International Stocks (+30%) outpaced the U.S Stock market. AI "Bubble Watch": Analyzing the actual cash flows of Nvidia, Microsoft, and Google. The Labor Market: Why unemployment is rising despite low layoffs. Inflation & Tariffs: What to expect for your Social Security COLA and real income. Asset Allocation: Why diversification into Bonds, Real Estate, and Gold is critical in 2026. 0:00 - Introduction: The Big Questions for 2026 2:05 - 2025 Performance Review: Stocks, Gold, and Bonds 3:00 - The Power of Sticking to the Long-Term Plan 5:03 - The AI Boom vs. Main Street: The K-Shaped Economy 7:05 - Labor Market Deep Dive: Why Unemployment is Rising 13:05 - Inflation, Tariffs, and Your Social Security COLA 18:20 - Bubble Watch: Is it 1999 All Over Again? 23:14 - Global Opportunities: Emerging Markets & AI 25:03 - Gold: The Strategic Hedge for 2026 27:24 - Fixed Income: Earning the Coupon in a New Era 31:42 - Real Estate Outlook: Residential vs. Industrial 35:02 - Summary: How to Build a Resilient 2026 Portfolio Start A Conversation with Us: https://www.thecapitalstewards.com/startconversation Any commentary is provided for general information and educational purposes only and should not be construed as specific investment, tax or legal advice. Instead, readers should make an independent assessment of the information and determine if any content mentioned is appropriate for their personal situation. Past performance of market results is no assurance of future performance. This information has been obtained from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.