About this episode

Wes Moss discusses the decline in retirement confidence and the importance of choosing the right financial advisor.

Why Retirement Confidence Is Plunging & Fiduciary vs. Financial Advisor Wes Moss breaks down a troubling shift in the American economy: the rapid decline of retirement confidence. Drawing on three decades of data from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), Wes highlights a staggering trend where worker confidence has dropped in 2026. This pessimistic outlook is mirrored by the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment index, which has hit an all-time historical low. Wes identifies the primary culprit. Also, Wes tackles the crucial question of who you should trust to manage your money during these uncertain times. He demystifies the industry by comparing financial advisors to peppers in a grocery store: while they may look identical on the outside, their "heat" levels vary wildly. Wes discusses why transparency is key and provides actionable advice on how to check your advisor's contract to ensure your investments are working for you, not for your advisor's bottom line. Mentioned on the show: WSJ - America’s Most Tortured Retirement Regulation Is Struck Down (Again) How To Find and Choose a Financial Advisor Best Financial Advisors in 2026 - Clark Howard What Is a…

People in this episode

Host: Clark Howard

Guest: Wes Moss

Topics covered

• retirement confidence
• financial advisors
• fiduciary
• economic trends
• consumer sentiment
• investment management

Keywords

• retirement
• financial advisor
• fiduciary
• consumer sentiment
• investment
• confidence
• economic trends

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Employee Benefit Research Institute, University of Michigan, WSJ

Books & works: Best Financial Advisors in 2026 - Clark Howard, What Is a Fiduciary Financial Advisor and Do I Need One?, What Is an HSA Account and How Does It Work? - Clark Howard

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