BLUE MONEY PODCAST
A finance podcast for cops, by cops. Based in Flourtown, PA. Hosted by retired Lt. Jim Donnelly with co-host Kevin McGarry. Sponsored by Valley Financial Group. Episodes are filled with tips and advice for maximizing your income to grow into wealth. Listen for finance advice tailored to law enforcement employees who want to look forward to a comfortable retirement.
Episode 38 – Don’t Let Market Volatility Scare You: Tips for a Stronger Portfolio
In this episode Jim and Kevin dive into the financial outlook for 2025, offering insights tailored for law enforcement personnel. They discuss key economic indicators like inflation, employment rates, and stock market performance.
Episode 37 – Stay Calm and Invest On: Insights to Thriving During Election Season
In this episode, Jim & Kevin dive into the financial landscape, focusing on the stock market’s performance in the third quarter.
Episode 36 – Are You Financially Prepared for Retirement as a Law Enforcement Officer?
This episode is interview Joe Abruzzese, a retired law enforcement officer with over 46 years of service as a detective for the Philadelphia Police Department and the University of Pennsylvania.
Episode 35 – How to Navigate Market Uncertainty During Elections
In this episode of the Blue Money podcast, hosts Jim Donnelly and Kevin McGarry discuss the midyear market trends for 2024.
Episode 34 – Understanding Private Equity Investments
In this episode of the Blue Money podcast, hosts Jim Donnelly and Kevin McGarry discuss the midyear market trends for 2024.
Episode 33 – Midyear Report: Inflation, Interest Rates, and Housing Market Impact
In this episode of the Blue Money podcast, hosts Jim Donnelly and Kevin McGarry discuss the midyear market trends for 2024.
Episode 32 – Essential Tips for Understanding College Financial Aid
In this episode of the Blue Money Podcast, hosts Jim Donnelly and Kevin McGarry discuss the intricacies and risks of buying individual stocks.
Episode 31 – Navigating Summer Stock Market Trends
In this episode of the Blue Money Podcast, hosts Jim Donnelly and Kevin McGarry discuss the intricacies and risks of buying individual stocks.
Episode 30 – Uncovering the Truth: A Retired Detective’s Quest
In this episode of the Blue Money Podcast, hosts Jim Donnelly and Kevin McGarry discuss the intricacies and risks of buying individual stocks.
Episode 29 – Stock Buying: A Rollercoaster Ride or a Smooth Sailing?
In this episode of the Blue Money Podcast, hosts Jim Donnelly and Kevin McGarry discuss the intricacies and risks of buying individual stocks.
Episode 28 – Digital Currency
In this episode of Blue Money, Jim and Kevin are talking about pivoting and making changes even when life doesn’t always go as planned. Jim, one of the cohosts of Blue Money podcast, recently had some major life changes occur, resulting in accelerating a timeline he had had outlined for himself. So Jim is speaking from first-hand experience in this episode.
Episode 27 – When Life Throws You Curveballs
In this episode of Blue Money, Jim and Kevin are talking about pivoting and making changes even when life doesn’t always go as planned. Jim, one of the cohosts of Blue Money podcast, recently had some major life changes occur, resulting in accelerating a timeline he had had outlined for himself. So Jim is speaking from first-hand experience in this episode.
Episode 26 – Mortgage Talk with Paul Zgalich from Guaranteed Rate
Episode 26 – Mortgage Talk with Paul Zgalich from Guaranteed Rate In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are sitting down with Paul from Guaranteed Rate to discuss mortgages. If you’re thinking about buying a home, or refinancing your home loan, you’ll want to listen to this podcast episode. Jim & Kevin are
Episode 25 – Discussion on Interest Rates
Episode 25 – Discussion on Interest Rates In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim have an in-depth discussion about interest rates. Kevin starts off by explaining how inflation and interest rates are related, and he explains the reasoning behind it. Jimmy explains what “The Fed” is. The guys discuss how interest rates affect
Episode 24 – Third Quarter Review
Episode 24 – Third Quarter Review In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim are helping you prepare for the last quarter of 2023. They start off giving a thorough review of the market during the third quarter of 2023. Listen to find out which month is historically the year’s lowest performing month every
Episode 23 – Being Smart About Saving for Education
Episode 23 – Being Smart About Saving for Education In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are discussing education planning. Kevin keeps it real and is honest about the cost of financing higher education. Jim gives us the Rule of One-Third concept. Kevin goes over the different investing options for educational savings funds
Episode 22 – Facts Out on the Max Out
Episode 22 – Facts Out on the Max Out In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are talking more about retirement accounts. This time the guys are focusing on maxing out your retirement accounts. Kevin gives a great rule-of-thumb metric for calculating an estimate of what you’ll need for retirement. Jim & Kevin
Episode 21 – All About DROP
Episode 21 – All About DROP In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim discuss the ins and outs of DROP. If you don’t know what DROP is, don’t worry, the guys are breaking it down for you and making it easy to understand. Not only are they explaining what DROP is, but they
Episode 20 – Best Practices for Investing in Stocks
Episode 20 – Best Practices for Investing in Stocks In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim tackle the hot topic of stocks. Kevin starts off by giving a quick current market analysis. The guys speak to the dangers of following the crowd when it comes to investing in stocks. They stress the importance
Episode 19 – Mid-Year Check-In
Episode 19 – Mid-Year Check-In In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim are looking at the first half of the year and preparing for the second half of the year. They’re giving suggestions on what to look at when it comes to your income, bills, savings, investments & debts. The guys are making
Episode 18 – Maximize Your Tax Refund
Episode 18 – Maximize Your Tax Refund In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin invited Bruce Goldstein, Certified Public Accountant, to come on the show to help our law enforcement agents get the most of their tax filing this tax season. The filing deadline for this year is April 18 so it’s quickly
Episode 17 – Estate Planning
Episode 17 – Estate Planning In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim invite David J. Balcer, attorney at law, to have an in depth conversation about wills and estate planning. It’s a conversation many people don’t like to have, but it is a necessary one. Listen to find out all the reasons why
Episode 16 – Year-End Checklist
Episode 16 – Year-End Checklist In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are discussing 2022 in review. They’re also providing a checklist for you to use at the end of this year, to make sure you’re in the best financial standing you can be going into the new year. Kevin has a great
Episode 15 – Why You Need A Financial Advisor
Episode 15 – Why You Need A Financial Advisor In this episode of Blue Money, the guys are breaking down all the reasons why a person should have a financial advisor. These aren’t just Kevin & Jim’s opinions – they have the numbers to back it up. You may be surprised to hear the difference
Episode 14 – Midterm Elections & the Economy
Episode 14 – Midterm Elections & the Economy In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim discuss the effect on the economy that the midterm elections have historically. Kevin offers an explanation for why we see the trends we do around election time. Jim explains the current situation and what’s at stake, then goes
Episode 13 – Medicare Breakdown with Special Guest Matt Boyle
Episode 13 – Medicare Breakdown with Special Guest Matt Boyle In this episode of Blue Money, Jim and Kevin are talking with Matt Boyle, the Vice President of Life and Health Solutions with Incenter Insurance Solutions. Continuing the theme from the last episode, the guys are discussing post-retirement benefits and how to access them. Kevin
Episode 12 – Answering Questions about Social Security
Episode 12 – Answering Questions about Social Security In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin and Jim are discussing all things involved in the social security benefits of being a police officer. They start off by explaining how officers qualify and what “credits” means, in regards to social security. Then they jump into answering the
Episode 11 – Portfolio Review
Episode 11 – Portfolio Review In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim are doing a mid-year check-in. They are reviewing their portfolios and the market performance so far this year. The guys discuss the US economic climate, touching on cryptocurrency, the stock market, bonds, and commodities. They also talk about global economics, looking
Episode 10 – What you need to know about Credit Cards
Episode 10 – What you need to know about Credit Cards In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are discussing all things credit cards. Jim starts off the conversation with a personal story, like so many others, about his own experience getting in credit card debt at a young age. They go into
Episode 9 – Interview with Christine Nelson, Fuel the Force
Episode 9 – Interview with Christine Nelson, Fuel the Force In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are speaking with Christine Nelson, founder of Fuel the Force. Christina explains how she came up with the idea for Fuel the Force, and how the name came to be. They discuss the current status of
Episode 8 – Market update
Episode 8 – Market update In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are giving an update on the current market. Listen to find out what a “bear market” is and what it means to be in a bear market. Kevin is offering up relevant historical data to give context to the current market
Episode 7 – What are bonds
Episode 7 – What are bonds In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are going over everything you need to know about bonds. They start off the show by explaining exactly what a bond is. Listen to find out why Valley Financial suggests using bonds in your investment portfolio. This first half of
Episode 6 – All about inflation
Episode 6 – All about inflation In this episode of Blue Money, Jim and Kevin are discussing everything about inflation. They start off by giving a basic definition of inflation, so we know exactly what we’re talking about. They then segue into how the inflation rate is calculated. Taking it a step further, the guys
Episode 5 – The importance of Life Insurance
Episode 5 – The importance of Life Insurance In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are discussing why it’s important for law enforcement officers to have an adequate life insurance policy in place. Even if you already have a life insurance policy, this episode is a valuable listen. The guys explain why the
Episode 4 – Info about your 457 (b)
Episode 4 – Info about your 457 (b) In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are helping law enforcement employees understand what their 457(b) is. They start by explaining the difference between a 457(b) versus a 401(k). Then they move right into the pros and cons of a 457(b). They dive into discussing
Episode 3 – Buying and selling on emotion
Episode 3 – Buying and selling on emotion In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are talking us through these turbulent times. The guys at Valley Financial understand that during times like these, people tend to stress more about their finances. Kevin starts off by sharing some historical market numbers to give us
Episode 2 – You Can Start Investing Now
Episode 2 – You Can Start Investing Now In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are helping officers set personal savings and investing goals. Their goal is to get cops saving 50% of their income each year. That may sound impossible to you right now, but listen to this episode to find out
Episode 1 – Law Enforcement Officers Wait Too Long to Invest
Episode 1 – Law Enforcement Officers Wait Too Long to Invest In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are kicking off their podcast series with a discussion on the most common mistake they see people making when it comes to investing. They’re here to take the stigma out of discussing money issues, and
Episode 38 – Don’t Let Market Volatility Scare You: Tips for a Stronger Portfolio
In this episode Jim and Kevin dive into the financial outlook for 2025, offering insights tailored for law enforcement personnel. They discuss key economic indicators like inflation, employment rates, and stock market performance.
Episode 37 – Stay Calm and Invest On: Insights to Thriving During Election Season
In this episode, Jim & Kevin dive into the financial landscape, focusing on the stock market’s performance in the third quarter.
Episode 36 – Are You Financially Prepared for Retirement as a Law Enforcement Officer?
This episode is interview Joe Abruzzese, a retired law enforcement officer with over 46 years of service as a detective for the Philadelphia Police Department and the University of Pennsylvania.
Episode 35 – How to Navigate Market Uncertainty During Elections
In this episode of the Blue Money podcast, hosts Jim Donnelly and Kevin McGarry discuss the midyear market trends for 2024.
Episode 34 – Understanding Private Equity Investments
In this episode of the Blue Money podcast, hosts Jim Donnelly and Kevin McGarry discuss the midyear market trends for 2024.
Episode 33 – Midyear Report: Inflation, Interest Rates, and Housing Market Impact
In this episode of the Blue Money podcast, hosts Jim Donnelly and Kevin McGarry discuss the midyear market trends for 2024.
Episode 32 – Essential Tips for Understanding College Financial Aid
In this episode of the Blue Money Podcast, hosts Jim Donnelly and Kevin McGarry discuss the intricacies and risks of buying individual stocks.
Episode 31 – Navigating Summer Stock Market Trends
In this episode of the Blue Money Podcast, hosts Jim Donnelly and Kevin McGarry discuss the intricacies and risks of buying individual stocks.
Episode 30 – Uncovering the Truth: A Retired Detective’s Quest
In this episode of the Blue Money Podcast, hosts Jim Donnelly and Kevin McGarry discuss the intricacies and risks of buying individual stocks.
Episode 29 – Stock Buying: A Rollercoaster Ride or a Smooth Sailing?
In this episode of the Blue Money Podcast, hosts Jim Donnelly and Kevin McGarry discuss the intricacies and risks of buying individual stocks.
Episode 28 – Digital Currency
In this episode of Blue Money, Jim and Kevin are talking about pivoting and making changes even when life doesn’t always go as planned. Jim, one of the cohosts of Blue Money podcast, recently had some major life changes occur, resulting in accelerating a timeline he had had outlined for himself. So Jim is speaking from first-hand experience in this episode.
Episode 27 – When Life Throws You Curveballs
In this episode of Blue Money, Jim and Kevin are talking about pivoting and making changes even when life doesn’t always go as planned. Jim, one of the cohosts of Blue Money podcast, recently had some major life changes occur, resulting in accelerating a timeline he had had outlined for himself. So Jim is speaking from first-hand experience in this episode.
Episode 26 – Mortgage Talk with Paul Zgalich from Guaranteed Rate
Episode 26 – Mortgage Talk with Paul Zgalich from Guaranteed Rate In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are sitting down with Paul from Guaranteed Rate to discuss mortgages. If you’re thinking about buying a home, or refinancing your home loan, you’ll want to listen to this podcast episode. Jim & Kevin are
Episode 25 – Discussion on Interest Rates
Episode 25 – Discussion on Interest Rates In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim have an in-depth discussion about interest rates. Kevin starts off by explaining how inflation and interest rates are related, and he explains the reasoning behind it. Jimmy explains what “The Fed” is. The guys discuss how interest rates affect
Episode 24 – Third Quarter Review
Episode 24 – Third Quarter Review In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim are helping you prepare for the last quarter of 2023. They start off giving a thorough review of the market during the third quarter of 2023. Listen to find out which month is historically the year’s lowest performing month every
Episode 23 – Being Smart About Saving for Education
Episode 23 – Being Smart About Saving for Education In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are discussing education planning. Kevin keeps it real and is honest about the cost of financing higher education. Jim gives us the Rule of One-Third concept. Kevin goes over the different investing options for educational savings funds
Episode 22 – Facts Out on the Max Out
Episode 22 – Facts Out on the Max Out In this episode of Blue Money, Jim & Kevin are talking more about retirement accounts. This time the guys are focusing on maxing out your retirement accounts. Kevin gives a great rule-of-thumb metric for calculating an estimate of what you’ll need for retirement. Jim & Kevin
Episode 21 – All About DROP
Episode 21 – All About DROP In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim discuss the ins and outs of DROP. If you don’t know what DROP is, don’t worry, the guys are breaking it down for you and making it easy to understand. Not only are they explaining what DROP is, but they
Episode 20 – Best Practices for Investing in Stocks
Episode 20 – Best Practices for Investing in Stocks In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim tackle the hot topic of stocks. Kevin starts off by giving a quick current market analysis. The guys speak to the dangers of following the crowd when it comes to investing in stocks. They stress the importance
Episode 19 – Mid-Year Check-In
Episode 19 – Mid-Year Check-In In this episode of Blue Money, Kevin & Jim are looking at the first half of the year and preparing for the second half of the year. They’re giving suggestions on what to look at when it comes to your income, bills, savings, investments & debts. The guys are making