Episodes
How Fractional Shares Changed Investing For Everyone
We explore how fractional shares democratized equity ownership, starting with Amazon’s split history and modern broker practices. Lucas and Luna break down the mechanics of buying partial pieces of expensive stocks like Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares or high-priced tech names. We discuss the psychological shift from whole-share thinking to dollar-based investing, the risks of platform dependency, and how this feature has fundamentally altered retail investor behavior in the current market…
How to Read Your First Prospectus
Most new investors skip the fine print, but the prospectus is where the real risks live. Lucas and Luna break down how to read a registration statement for a direct listing, using Spotify’s 2018 debut as the anchor case. They explain what lock-up periods mean, why insider selling matters more than hype, and how to spot red flags in the risk factors section before you click buy. #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Finance #InvestingForBeginners #Prospectus #DirectListing #Spotify #RiskFactors…
Why Your First Investment Should Be a Dividend Aristocrat
On this episode of Investing for Beginners, Lucas and Luna explore a compelling alternative to index funds: dividend aristocrats — companies that have raised their payouts for 25 consecutive years. They dig into the real-world example of Coca-Cola, which has paid and increased its dividend for over 60 years, and explain why a single aristocrat can serve as a gentle introduction to stock investing. Lucas walks through how to identify these steady payers using free screening tools, what to look…
How a Tiny Monthly Investment Beats Timing the Market
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore why a small, consistent monthly investment can outperform trying to time the market. They break down the math of dollar-cost averaging using a concrete example: investing $100 a month into an S&P 500 index fund over ten years versus a lump sum timed perfectly. They discuss the psychological benefits of automation, the risk of missing the market's best days, and how to start with a tiny amount. Listeners will walk away with a clear, actionable strategy for…
How to Read Your First 1099 and Handle Investment Taxes
In this episode of Investing for Beginners with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna tackle the season's least glamorous but most important task: deciphering your first 1099 tax form. If you've ever stared at a 1099-DIV or 1099-B and wondered what those boxes mean, this is for you. Lucas uses a concrete example—a $1,000 investment in a total market index fund—to walk through the numbers you'll actually see: ordinary dividends, qualified dividends, capital gains distributions, and how cost basis affects your…
How to Read Your First Proxy Statement
In this episode of Investing for Beginners with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna break down the proxy statement — the document every public company sends shareholders before the annual vote. You'll learn what's inside, why it matters for your portfolio, and how to use it to spot red flags like excessive CEO pay or weak board independence. Using a recent example from a well-known company, they walk through the key sections: executive compensation, board nominees, and shareholder proposals. By the end…
How a Tiny Monthly Investment Beats Timing the Market
In this episode of Investing for Beginners with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore why a small, consistent monthly investment can outperform the most successful market timers over the long run. They break down the numbers behind dollar-cost averaging, using the example of an investor who put $100 a month into an S&P 500 index fund for 20 years versus someone who tried to buy low and sell high. They also discuss the psychological benefits of automation and how to set up a simple monthly investment…
How to Open Your First Brokerage Account Without Overthinking It
In this episode of Investing for Beginners, Lucas and Luna walk through the practical steps of opening your first brokerage account—what forms you'll fill out, what questions you'll answer, and what fees to look out for. They focus on the real decisions: choosing between a robo-advisor and a self-directed account, understanding settlement dates, and avoiding the common mistake of over-optimizing for the wrong things. Using a concrete example of a first-time investor named Maya, they break down…
How to Read Your First 401k Statement
In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the anatomy of a 401k statement, using a fictional but typical example: a 28-year-old marketing coordinator with a $38,000 balance. They walk through each line item—employee contributions, employer match, investment gains, fees, and vesting schedules—and explain what to actually look for, like whether your contributions are hitting the match threshold, how to read the fund performance table, and why the fee percentage matters more than the dollar…
How to Rebalance Your First Portfolio
In Investing for Beginners with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna guide first-time investors through the process of rebalancing a portfolio for the first time. Using the example of a hypothetical investor named Maya who started with a simple three-fund portfolio a year ago, they explain what rebalancing is, why it matters, and how to do it without overcomplicating things. The episode covers the 5 percent rule of thumb, the difference between rebalancing and market timing, and how to handle rebalancing in…
How to Automate Your First Investments
In this episode of Investing for Beginners, Lucas and Luna explore the power of automating your first investments. They break down the 'pay yourself first' strategy, showing how setting up automatic transfers from your paycheck can turn saving into a habit that works even when you're busy. Using a real example of someone investing $200 a month, they calculate how automation can grow a portfolio to over $158,000 in 30 years, assuming a conservative 7 percent annual return. They also discuss…
How to Choose Your First Brokerage Account
Choosing your first brokerage account can feel like picking a stranger to trust with your money. In this episode, Lucas and Luna break down the key factors every first-time investor should consider: account types, fees, minimums, and the difference between robo-advisors and self-directed platforms. They use real examples, like how a $100 monthly investment can be eaten by fees over decades, and explain why features like fractional shares and educational resources matter more than flashy…
How to Read Your First Brokerage Statement
In this episode of Investing for Beginners, Lucas and Luna walk you through the anatomy of a brokerage statement, breaking down each section from account summary to trade confirmations and tax documents. They use a concrete example of a fictional investor, Maria, to illustrate how to interpret numbers like market value, cost basis, and unrealized gains. The hosts explain the difference between realized and unrealized gains, the importance of the cost basis, and how to spot fees that can eat…
Why Your First Investment Should Be an Index Fund
In this episode of Investing for Beginners with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna break down why a total stock market index fund is the ideal first investment for most beginners. They explain what an index fund is, how it provides instant diversification, and why its low costs and simplicity beat picking individual stocks. Using the example of a hypothetical $1,000 investment, they walk through the power of compounding and the importance of staying the course. They also address common fears like market…
How to Handle Your First Investment Loss
Episode 160 of Investing for Beginners is about the first loss. Lucas and Luna walk through a realistic scenario: you buy a total market index fund, the market drops 15 percent, and you panic. They explain why losses are structurally guaranteed in investing, how to think about a 20 percent drawdown, and why selling at the bottom locks in the loss. They touch on the 2022 bear market as a recent reference point and offer a practical framework for deciding whether to hold, sell, or buy more. The…
How to Read Your First Dividend Notice
In this episode of Investing for Beginners with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna break down your first dividend notice. What looks like a tiny, confusing line item on your brokerage statement is actually a window into how companies return value to shareholders. They walk through a $37.28 dividend from a real-world example, explain the three key dates you need to know — the ex-dividend date, record date, and payment date — and clarify the difference between a cash dividend and a dividend reinvestment…
How Your First Investment Grows in a Taxable Account
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the basics of investing in a taxable brokerage account, a topic many first-time investors overlook. They break down how capital gains taxes work, the difference between short-term and long-term gains, and why holding investments for over a year can significantly reduce your tax bill. Using a concrete example of a $5,000 investment in a total market index fund, they show how taxes apply only when you sell, and how dividend taxes work along the way. They…
How a Tiny Monthly Investment Beats Timing the Market
In episode 157 of Investing for Beginners, Lucas and Luna explore why starting small matters more than starting perfectly. With August 2026 markets near record highs, many first-time investors feel they missed the boat. But the hosts break down the math behind a consistent $50 monthly investment versus trying to time a dip, using real historical examples like the 2008 crash and the 2020 pandemic sell-off. They also discuss a behavioral trick called 'pay yourself first' that makes saving…
How to Diversify Your First Investment Outside Stocks
In episode 156, Lucas and Luna help first-time investors understand why bonds deserve a place in a starter portfolio, even when stocks are exciting. They explain the basics of bond investing without the jargon: what a bond actually is, how bond prices move when interest rates change, and why a simple bond index fund can smooth out stock market swings. Using a concrete example from August 2026, they unpack a recent Treasury yield move and what it means for beginners. They also answer a listener…
Why Your First Investment Should Be an Emergency Fund
You've heard you should invest early and often. But what if your first 'investment' shouldn't be a stock or a fund at all? Lucas and Luna unpack the case for building a cash emergency fund before you buy your first ETF. They walk through the math: how a 5 percent market drop can turn a $10,000 emergency into a $5,000 loss when you're forced to sell. They discuss the three-to-six-month rule of thumb, how to size your fund based on your personal risk factors, and where to park the cash so it…
How to Invest Your First Bonus Without Blowing It
That year-end bonus is finally in your account. Before you upgrade your phone or treat yourself to a vacation, Lucas and Luna walk through the smartest way to invest your first bonus — without feeling like you're missing out on fun. They break down the 50/30/20 framework, explain why paying off high-interest debt beats investing, and show how automating a monthly transfer from your bonus can turn one windfall into a lifelong habit. Along the way, they tackle the psychology of windfalls — why we…
Investing Your First $500 for Maximum Growth
In this episode of Investing for Beginners, Lucas and Luna break down a specific question every new investor faces: what should you do with your first $500? They walk through the trade-offs between a lump-sum investment in a low-cost index fund versus a dollar-cost-averaging plan, using a simple real-world example. They also cover the hidden costs of trading apps, like payment for order flow, and why keeping your first investment boring can be the smartest move. With practical tips on setting…
Why Your First Investment Should Be a Total Market Index Fund
In episode 152 of Investing for Beginners, Lucas and Luna break down why a total market index fund is the ideal first investment for most beginners. They dig into the practical differences between total market, S&P 500, and target date funds, using concrete numbers and real-world examples. You'll learn what 'owning the whole market' really means, how to find the right fund for you, and why simplicity often beats optimization when you're just starting out. No jargon, no hype – just clear…
How to Avoid Your First Investment Mistakes
In this episode of Investing for Beginners with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna talk about the most common mistakes first-time investors make—and how to avoid them. They focus on three practical traps: chasing past performance, letting emotions drive decisions, and ignoring fees beyond the expense ratio. Using relatable examples like buying last year's hot fund and panic-selling during a dip, they explain why a simple, automated approach often beats trying to time the market. They also share a simple…
Why Your First Investment Should Be Dollar Cost Averaging
In this milestone 150th episode of Investing for Beginners, Lucas and Luna break down dollar-cost averaging — the simple strategy of investing a fixed amount at regular intervals — and why it's the perfect first move for new investors. They walk through a concrete example: investing $200 every month into an S&P 500 index fund over five years, showing how this approach smooths out market volatility and removes the stress of trying to time the market. The hosts also discuss the psychological…
Why Your First Investment Should Be a Roth IRA
In this episode of Investing for Beginners, Lucas and Luna explain why a Roth IRA is often the ideal first investment for new savers. They break down how the tax treatment works, who qualifies, and how to get started with small amounts. Using a clear example, they compare a Roth IRA with a traditional IRA and a taxable account, showing the long-term impact of tax-free growth. They also address common misconceptions, like income limits and withdrawal rules, and offer practical advice for opening…
How to Read Your First Brokerage Statement
Lucas and Luna break down the anatomy of your first brokerage statement—what every line means, from trade confirmations to cost basis to unrealized gains, and how to know if your investments are actually on track. They walk through a real-world example, explain the hidden fees that can eat returns, and offer a simple monthly review routine that takes just ten minutes. If you've ever opened your brokerage app and felt overwhelmed by numbers, this episode gives you the confidence to understand…
How to Start Investing With a Small Amount Each Month
In this episode of Investing for Beginners with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna tackle a common question: how to start investing when you don't have a lump sum. They dive into the power of dollar-cost averaging, using the example of a $50 monthly contribution into an S&P 500 index fund. They explain how consistent small investments can grow over time, the importance of automating contributions, and why starting early beats waiting for a bigger paycheck. They also discuss practical steps like setting up…
How to Make Your First Investment Without a Paycheck
In this episode, Lucas and Luna tackle a question many first-time investors face: how to start investing when your income is irregular. Using the example of a freelance graphic designer, they break down the mechanics of investing with variable cash flow—how to set up a recurring investment plan that flexes with your earnings, the role of a dedicated brokerage account, and the surprising power of 'sweep the change' strategies. They also discuss the mental shift from saving to investing, and how…
How to Make Your First Investment in an IRA
In this episode, Lucas and Luna walk first-time investors through the mechanics of making their first investment inside an IRA, from picking a brokerage to choosing a target date fund. They break down the key steps: opening an account, funding it, and placing that first trade, with a focus on avoiding common beginner mistakes like overthinking asset allocation or getting stuck on contribution limits. They also discuss how an IRA differs from a taxable brokerage account, the power of…
How to Make Your First Investment When You Have Credit Card Debt
In this episode of Investing for Beginners, Lucas and Luna tackle a dilemma many first-timers face: should you invest while carrying credit card debt? They dig into a real example—a listener with a $3,000 balance on a card charging 24 percent APR—and walk through the math that makes paying it off the equivalent of a guaranteed 24 percent return. They explore the psychological side, why the order of operations matters, and how to build an emergency fund while chipping away at debt. Lucas…
How to Know When to Sell Your First Investment
Lucas and Luna tackle a question every new investor eventually faces: when should you sell? While most beginner advice focuses on buying, knowing when to exit is just as important. In this episode, they break down the difference between selling because of a change in your life, a change in the investment, or a change in the market. They walk through a concrete example from a fictional company, MapleTech, to illustrate how to evaluate whether the original thesis still holds. They also cover the…
Why Your First Investment Should Be an Auto-Invest Plan
Episode 142 of Investing for Beginners: Lucas and Luna tackle the biggest hurdle for first-time investors—not picking the asset, but building the habit. They walk through the mechanics of auto-investing, from dollar-cost averaging to the psychological benefits of removing emotion from the equation. The episode centers on a concrete example: a 25-year-old who sets up a weekly $25 auto-invest into a broad index fund, and what that compounds to by retirement. They also compare brokerages that…
How to Make Your First Investment in a Target Date Fund
Episode 141 of Investing for Beginners demystifies target-date funds—the simplest one-fund portfolio for new investors. Lucas and Luna explain how these funds automatically adjust stock and bond allocations as you near retirement, using real examples from Vanguard and Fidelity. You'll learn what's inside them, their low expense ratios, and exactly how to buy one with as little as fifty dollars. The episode also covers common pitfalls like mismatched retirement ages and multiple accounts.…
How Expense Ratios Affect Your First Investment
In Episode 140 of Investing for Beginners, Lucas and Luna break down expense ratios — the small annual fees charged by funds that can silently erode your returns. Using a concrete example of a $500 initial investment in a low-cost index fund versus a higher-fee actively managed fund, they show how a difference of just 0.5 percent can cost you thousands over 30 years. They also discuss how to find expense ratios on brokerage platforms, why index funds tend to have lower fees, and why this number…
Why Your First Investment Should Be an Index Fund
In this episode of Investing for Beginners, Lucas and Luna break down why an index fund is the smartest first investment for most people. They use Vanguard's S&P 500 ETF (VOO) as a concrete example, showing how a 0.03% expense ratio and instant diversification beats picking individual stocks. Lucas shares data on how over 80% of active fund managers underperform the index over ten years, and Luna asks the practical question: how do you actually buy your first index fund? They walk through the…
How to Make Your First Bond Investment
New to investing and confused about bonds? Lucas and Luna break down your first bond investment in a way that makes sense. We look at why bonds are relevant in mid-2026 after the Fed's rate cuts, how to buy a 10-year Treasury note directly for as little as $100, and when a bond ETF like BND is the simpler choice. Plus, the case for a tiny bond allocation even for young investors — not for yield, but for learning. No jargon, just a clear starting point. #Bonds #InvestingForBeginners…
How to Choose Your First Brokerage Account
If you're ready to make your first investment but don't know which brokerage to choose, we break down the key features to look for: fees, account minimums, investment options, and ease of use. Using the example of a listener with $500 to start, we compare the best brokerages for beginners, explain the difference between a Roth IRA and a taxable account, and highlight robo-advisors as an alternative. By the end, you'll know exactly what to look for to get started confidently. #BrokerageAccount…
Your First Investment in a Taxable Brokerage Account
Episode 136 of Investing for Beginners with Fexingo tackles a gap many savers face: what to do after maxing out retirement accounts. Lucas and Luna break down the key differences between taxable and tax-advantaged accounts, focusing on tax-efficient fund choices. They recommend a total stock market ETF as a first taxable investment, explain why target date funds and bonds can be less favorable in taxable accounts, and offer practical steps to open a brokerage account. A concrete guide for…
How to Choose Your First Dividend Stock
In this episode of Investing for Beginners with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna walk through the process of selecting a first dividend stock. They focus on a concrete example: Procter & Gamble, a dividend aristocrat with over 65 years of consecutive dividend increases. Lucas explains the key metrics — dividend yield, payout ratio, and dividend growth history — while Luna asks practical questions about DRIPs, taxes, and the difference between individual stocks and dividend ETFs. The episode includes an…
How to Make Your First Investment When You Are a Single Parent
Almost one in four families with kids in the US is headed by a single parent. For single moms and dads, the first investment isn't a stock—it's a cash reserve. Lucas and Luna walk through the emergency fund first, then how to layer in a low-cost index fund, a 529 plan for the kids, and a custodial account. They also tackle the emotional guilt of investing for yourself versus saving for your child's future. Practical steps for anyone raising kids on one income and trying to build wealth.…
Your First Investment as a Stay-at-Home Parent
Many stay-at-home parents think they can't invest because they don't have a personal paycheck. This episode explains how the spousal IRA rule lets non-working spouses contribute to a Roth or traditional IRA based on household income. We walk through eligibility requirements for 2026 (married filing jointly, joint compensation), choosing a brokerage like Fidelity or Vanguard, and picking a first investment—like a target date fund or a total stock market index fund. You'll learn one concrete rule…
How to Start Investing with One Hundred Dollars
Lucas and Luna tackle a universal first-investor fear: 'I don't have enough money to start.' They break down why $100 per month into an S&P 500 index fund like VOO is enough to build the habit that matters most. Using concrete math—$100 monthly for 30 years at 7% equals over $120,000—and a real conversation about dollar-cost averaging vs. market timing, they show that the first investment is purely a down payment on a lifelong practice. No stock-picking required. No stomach for volatility…
Your First Investment as a College Student
In this episode of Investing for Beginners, Lucas and Luna tackle the unique challenges of starting to invest while in college. They walk through a real scenario: a student with $3,000 from a summer internship wants to open a brokerage account. Together, they break down account types (custodial vs. regular vs. Roth IRA), brokerages that welcome small balances, fractional shares, and the case for a low-cost target date fund or S&P 500 index fund. They also touch on the importance of building the…
How to Make Your First Investment With a Side Hustle
Episode 130 of Fexingo's Investing for Beginners tackles the specific challenge of investing when your income comes from a side hustle — not a steady paycheck. Lucas and Luna walk through the real-world numbers of a freelance graphic designer earning $12,000 a year from gigs, and how that irregular cash flow affects everything from broker choice to tax strategy. They compare Fidelity and Charles Schwab for small-dollar investors, explain why a SEP IRA might actually hurt more than help at this…
How to Make Your First Investment When You Have No Savings
Many people believe you need a cash cushion before you can start investing. Lucas and Luna challenge that assumption by walking through a real scenario: a listener named Rachel who has $0 in savings but wants to invest $25 a month. They explore micro-investing apps that round up purchases, fractional shares, and no-minimum brokers like M1 Finance and SoFi Invest. Lucas explains the concept of opportunity cost — how waiting six months to save a $500 emergency fund before investing could cost…
Your First Investment After Moving to a New Country
Moving to a new country brings financial complexity—different banking systems, unfamiliar tax rules, and a whole new set of investment options. In this episode, Lucas and Luna walk through the practical steps a first-time investor should take when settling abroad. They discuss how to choose a brokerage that works across borders, the importance of understanding tax treaties and foreign account reporting, and why a simple global index fund might be the smartest starting point. Lucas shares the…
How to Make Your First Investment When You Have Student Loans
Episode 127 of Investing for Beginners tackles a dilemma many new investors face: should you invest or pay down student loans first? Lucas and Luna break down the math using a concrete example — a borrower with $28,000 in federal loans at 4.5% and a $5,000 investment starting point. They compare after-tax return of paying debt vs. expected market returns, discuss the power of employer match, and walk through the '50/50 rule' for splitting extra cash. Specific numbers, two real-world scenarios…
How to Make Your First Investment With an HSA
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how a Health Savings Account can double as an investment vehicle for first-time investors. They walk through the numbers: if you max out your HSA and invest the balance in a low-cost S&P 500 index fund, the tax benefits are even better than a 401(k) or Roth IRA. They use the example of a 30-year-old who contributes $4,150 annually for 35 years and compare the after-tax value. The hosts also discuss the triple tax advantage—pre-tax contributions, tax-free…
Your First Investment When You Live Paycheck to Paycheck
Episode 125 of Investing for Beginners tackles the toughest first-investment scenario: living paycheck to paycheck. Lucas and Luna break down the real numbers — how $20 a week in a low-cost S&P 500 index fund compounds over 30 years versus keeping it in a checking account. They discuss emergency funds first, then micro-investing strategies like round-up apps and fractional shares. The hosts address the psychological barrier of feeling too broke to invest, using concrete examples from Vanguard's…
Showing the latest 50 episodes. The full archive of 174 is on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and every major podcast app — or via the RSS feed above.