Make Your Money Last Forever, and the E-Shaped Economy

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The Motley Fool

Business, Investing

4.3 • 3.1K Ratings

🗓️ 14 March 2026

⏱️ 18 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A survey from Allianz found that 64% of Americans worry more about running out of money than death. Host Robert Brokamp offers eight suggestions for making your portfolio last forever or until you die, whichever comes first. Also in this episode:-The K-shaped economy is starting to look more like an E as middle-income Americans tread water and are showing signs of strain.-Oil prices are skyrocketing, exceeding the so-called Hamilton Trigger – the point when an oil shock becomes a drag on the economy.-Over the past 125 years, U.S. equities have grown from 15% to 62% of the global stock market, despite the fact that 80% of the U.S. stock market in 1900 was in industries that are small or extinct today.-Download your Social Security statement to see how much you’re projected to receive at various claiming ages – just make sure you know how to interpret the projections. Host: Robert Brokamp, CFP®Engineer: Bart Shannon Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement.We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	How to make your money last as long as you do, and are we now in an e-shaped economy?
0:09.8	That and more on this Saturday personal finance edition of Motley Full Money.
0:26.2	I'm Robert Brokamp, this week I provide eight ways to increase the odds you won't run out of money in retirement.
0:30.8	But first, let's get to some headlines from last week. You've likely heard that some experts have described the current economy as case-shaped, in which financial conditions are heading upward for
0:35.4	higher-income Americans, but trending downward for lower- income Americans. By financial conditions, I mean spending, wealth, and income
0:42.4	growth, and that last one is particularly notable. For years before, during, and after the
0:47.5	pandemic, the lowest quartile of wage earners actually saw the fastest pace of income growth,
0:52.9	but now it's the slowest, according to the
0:54.9	Federal Reserve. What about people in the middle? Well, a recent CNBC article by Cameron McNair
1:00.0	quotes Heather Long, the chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, as saying we're actually
1:05.1	in an e-shaped economy, with middle-income households treading water in showing signs of strain.
1:10.4	The top tier is doing well and spending a lot.
1:12.8	The highest 20% of earners account for nearly 60% of all U.S. consumer spending,
1:16.8	according to Moody's analytics.
1:18.7	Middle earners' spending growth was close to those of higher earners until the end of 2025,
1:23.9	according to Bank of America.
1:25.4	These folks are now in what long calls the Costco economy,
1:28.8	increasingly looking for better deals at places like Costco and Walmart. As for the lower tier,
1:33.6	they're getting by with a little help from their debt. They're more likely to carry a credit
1:37.6	card balance from month to month and use buy now pay later services. According to a lending tree
1:43.1	survey, a quarter of buy now pay later users reported According to a lending tree survey, a quarter of buy now pay
1:45.1	later users reported using the loans to buy groceries in 2025, up from 14% in 2024. The
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