The Important Part: Investing with Liz Thomas

Markets have remained resilient in 2026. But beneath the headline strength, some signals are getting harder to ignore. In this episode of The Important Part: Investing with Liz Thomas, Neil Dutta, Head of Economic Research at Renaissance Macro, joins Liz to break down how he is reading the current market and economic backdrop. While recession is not his base case, Dutta explains why he believes certain risks may not be fully reflected in current market expectations. The conversation explores the labor market, inflation, market cycles, and the disconnect between areas of the economy that continue to hold up and areas that may be showing signs of weakness. Dutta shares the signals he is watching and why this moment may be more complicated than the headlines suggest. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by SoFi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow Liz on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LizThomasStrat⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Additional resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Investing 101 Center⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wealth Investing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SoFi.com/Legal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ©2026 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

What separates billion-dollar bets from billion-dollar disasters? Wall Street Journal columnist and author Tim Higgins has spent two decades covering the world's boldest CEOs: from Elon Musk betting his entire fortune on electric cars, to Mark Zuckerberg wagering Meta's future to escape Apple's “perfect mousetrap.” In this episode, Tim reveals the patterns behind high-stakes tech decisions, explains why OpenAI might already be too big to fail, and shares why every innovation cycle – from Detroit's Model T to today's ChatGPT – starts the same way (spoiler: it always looks frivolous at first). You'll learn how to spot transformative technology before it transforms and why “insane” decisions often work. Whether you're trying to separate hype from reality or are simply fascinated by how power players think, this conversation will change how you see today's AI arms race, and what comes next. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at ⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠ by SoFi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow Liz on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@LizThomasStrat⁠⁠⁠⁠. Additional resources: ⁠⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠⁠: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Investing 101 Center⁠⁠⁠⁠: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Wealth Investing Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www.⁠⁠⁠⁠ SoFi.com/Legal⁠⁠⁠⁠. ©2025 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Beth Pinsker thought she was ready for anything. As a certified financial planner, MarketWatch columnist, and retirement expert, she understands what it means to plan for the future. Then her mom got sick — and suddenly, everything she thought she knew went out the window. In this powerful episode, Beth opens up about the painful choices she faced, the moment she nearly crossed a line, and the three legal documents that could have spared her family months of stress. For anyone who might one day care for a parent — or be cared for themselves — this may be the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at ⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠ by SoFi⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and follow Liz on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠@LizThomasStrat⁠⁠⁠. Additional resources: ⁠⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠⁠: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. ⁠⁠⁠Investing 101 Center⁠⁠⁠: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. ⁠⁠⁠Wealth Investing Guide⁠⁠⁠: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www.⁠⁠⁠ SoFi.com/Legal⁠⁠⁠. ©2025 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

This episode originally aired on September 12, 2024. So you’ve graduated college and landed your first job. But along the way, no one told you about what a 401k is, or how to make a large home goods purchase, or even how to start making your money work for you. To make sure you don’t fumble, SoFi’s Head of Investment Strategy and Host Liz Thomas welcomes back Brandon Copeland, retired NFL player, founder, and now author of the new book, ‘Your Money Playbook: How to Earn More, Build Wealth and Win At Life.’ Brandon discusses his goals in writing a book on personal finance, and his passion for financial education that is accessible to all. The two also talk about the saving and spending habits Brandon developed while in the NFL, the unique syllabus for his University of Pennsylvania Life 101 course, and the importance of having financial accountability buddies in your life. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at ⁠⁠On The Money⁠⁠ by SoFi, and follow Liz on Twitter ⁠⁠@LizThomasStrat⁠⁠. Notable mentions in the episode: (00:41) Introduction to The Important Part (02:18) Why Brandon wrote his book (08:28) The value of having a financial advisor (12:14) Investing as the most important thing to get right (14:30) The appetite for risk for young investors (17:29) What Brandon learned about personal finance in the NFL (22:01) Personal finance lessons best learned early (28:57) How Brandon managed his money in the NFL (32:31) Key resources for learning about personal finances (37:55) Life 101: The syllabus (42:52) Brandon’s transition from football player to CEO/Founder (45:35) When Brandon decided to educate others on personal finance (49:02) Key takeaways and conclusion Recommended reading: ⁠How to Manage Your 401(k): Tips for All Investors⁠ ⁠Risk Tolerance Quiz: How Much Risk Are You Willing to Take⁠ ⁠How to Choose a Financial Advisor⁠ Additional resources: ⁠SoFi Daily Podcast⁠: 5-minute daily episodes covering the latest business, economic, and stock market news you need to start your day. The SoFi Daily Pod is available on Apple and Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. ⁠SoFi Daily Newsletter⁠: Sign up for the SoFi Daily to receive the latest financial news in your inbox every day. ⁠Investing 101 Center⁠: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. ⁠Wealth Investing Guide⁠: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. ⁠SoFi.com/Legal⁠. ©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

How does one start a career in investment strategy? For that matter, what IS an investment strategist? In this special episode, host Liz Thomas gets on the other side of the mic in conversation with Brian Walsh, a.k.a. “Dr. Money,” Head of Advice and Planning at SoFi. Brian and Liz discuss her career evolution, from early career pivots, to what she does as an investment strategist, to how to communicate ideas in finance effectively. Liz Thomas is the Head of Investment Strategy at SoFi. Prior to SoFi, Liz was the Director of Market Strategy at BNY Mellon Investment Management. As an analyst, she worked at both BMO Global Asset Management as well as Baird. Liz earned her BBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and her MBA from Marquette University. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the On The Money newsletter, and follow Liz @LizThomasStrat. Notable mentions in the episode: 00:00 Introduction 02:10 Growing up in Wisconsin 03:32 Money lessons and values 06:10 Finding finance in college 07:42 Early career 10:27 Pivotal career moments 19:10 What is an investment strategist? 24:31 Career advice 28:07 Career at SoFi 31:55 Experience as a female in a male-dominated industry 35:18 Liz’s financial information diet 40:50 Keeping a level head through market volatility 44:28 Investment role models 48:01 Communicating ideas in finance 51:44 Closing Thoughts Additional resources: On The Money: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal. ©2025 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Benjamin Franklin once wrote that “nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” And with tax season’s arrival, being certain about what you owe and planning ahead will save you both frustration and funds. In this episode, we discuss all things taxes with Brian Walsh, a.k.a. “Dr. Money,” Head of Advice and Planning at SoFi. Brian talks about tips for preparing for tax season, how to be strategic with taxes surrounding investments, as well as how best to balance short and long-term goal planning to optimize your financial well being. Brian Walsh is a Certified Financial Planner, and holds a PhD from the Personal Financial Planning program at Kansas State University. Prior to joining SoFi, he worked for a number of years in senior roles in financial planning at TIAA. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the On The Money newsletter, and follow Liz @LizThomasStrat. Notable mentions in the episode: 00:00 Introduction 01:26 Emotions around tax planning 02:55 Why you should care about taxes 04:58 Advice for preparing for tax season 08:35 Underrated tax preparation tips 10:20 Deciding to use an accountant 15:41 Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA 19:17 Being strategic with capital gains and losses 25:54 Financial planning philosophy 28:33 Budgeting 30:20 Sticking to a savings plan 33:16 Balancing short-term and long-term goals 42:11 Closing Thoughts Additional resources: On The Money: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal. ©2025 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Conventional wisdom claims that mixing emotions with financial decisions can lead to poor, even impulsive decisions. But what if we instead viewed emotions as super powers that we can harness to not only make wiser, but more meaningful choices for ourselves and our financial goals? In this episode, we sit down with Brian Portnoy, author and founder of the financial advisor coaching and e-learning platform Shaping Wealth. The lessons on Shaping Wealth apply wisdom from psychology, behavioral science, as well as emotional intelligence to coach financial advisors to be better partners for their clients’ financial journeys. In addition to Shaping Wealth, Brian is the author of three books—The Investor’s Paradox, The Geometry of Wealth, and How I Invest My Money. Brian also worked as the Director of Investment Education at Virtus Investment Partners, and was Head of Education at Magnetar Capital. Brian holds a PhD from the University of Chicago, as well as a bachelor’s from the University of Michigan. For more, read Liz’s column every Thursday at On The Money by SoFi, sign up for the On The Money newsletter, and follow Liz @LizThomasStrat. Notable mentions in the episode: 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Money and Emotions 04:44 Using Emotions to Make Better Financial Decisions 07:16 Emotions vs. Emotional Intelligence 09:19 Setting Expectations with Your Finances 13:58 Managing Emotions Through Market Volatility 17:22 Rich vs. Wealthy 21:15 Money and Happiness 25:13 Budgeting and Setting Goals 35:25 Getting Healthier About Our Financial Well-Being 38:55 AI and Financial Advising 47:51 Closing Thoughts Additional resources: On The Money: Sign up for SoFi's newsletter for intel, insights, and inspo to help you get your money right. Investing 101 Center: At SoFi, we believe investing is for everyone — which is why we’ve created a hub with info for beginners and experts alike. Start exploring to get investment education, advice, resources, and more. Wealth Investing Guide: Information you need to know to make your money work harder for you. This podcast should be used for informational purposes only and not deemed as a recommendation. Our Automated investing is via SoFi Wealth LLC, and is a registered investment advisor. Our Active investing is via SoFi securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest® platforms, please visit www. SoFi.com/Legal. ©2024 Social Finance, Inc. All Rights Reserved.