Creative Success = Financial Balance with Flexible Budget Plans As a creative individual, dealing with irregular income can be daunting. In this episode of From "Creative Passion To Profit", titled "How Creatives Can Budget for Regular Income," I, Mahmood, tackle one of the biggest challenges faced by those in the arts and creative world—budgeting. Have you ever felt the high of being fully booked and having commissions flying off the shelves, only to be met with silence and income droughts the following month? You're not alone. But here's the good news: with a little planning, you can smooth out those financial ups and downs. In this episode, I'll share three simple steps to help you build a budgeting system that fits your lifestyle and supports your creative ambitions. You'll learn how to determine your essential baseline expenses, create a financial buffer for quiet months, and implement a flexible yet simple budgeting method that allows you to thrive creatively and financially. You'll also have some homework tasks... Timestamped Summary: [00:00:00] Introduction to challenges of budgeting with erratic income. [00:00:58] Step 1: Determine your baseline expenses. [00:02:12] Step 2: Build a financial buffer for quieter months. [00:03:46] Step 3: Apply a simple, discipline-based budget system. [00:04:58] Homework: Calculate baseline expenses and track income. Mentioned in this episode: Training Training Training Find out more about Budgetwhizz Find out more about Budgetwhizz Budgetwhizz…
What moves markets and stocks? Big money. Jason Bodner and Lucas Downey, co-founders of MAPsignals, spent their Wall Street careers learning how the big players do it. The best stocks out there see big money activity. We've learned a lot over the years and are sharing it with you! In this AI generated podcast from our Big Money Insights blog, explores historical studies, macro themes, and all kinds of powerful evidence-based research to help you become a better investor. There's always a hid ...
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Ep. 29 - Powerful Inflows into Small-Cap Health Care Stocks
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15:11When you follow money flows, you don’t need headlines to generate alpha. The supply and demand picture reveals the outliers. Today we’ll cover the powerful inflows into small-cap health care stocks. Let’s take a step back. In early December, we made the call that 2025 is shaping up to be a stock pickers market. Thus far I’d say it’s true. We’ve see…
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Ep. 28 - 3 Big Reasons to Buy Dividend Growth Stocks Now
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12:28Volatility is back on the front burner. Jitters range from the economic and inflationary impact of tariffs, to rising 10-year Treasury yields, to what DeepSeek means for the future of AI. All these narratives affect interest rates. And that bodes well for one patch of the income spectrum: Dividends. We’ll offer 3 big reasons to buy dividend growth …
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The 2025 tape bombs are in full effect. First there was DeepSeek. Then came the tariffs. Just don’t lose sight of the money flow January effect. Let’s face it, it’s easy to get blindsided by out of the blue market-moving headlines. Last week, I told you how the DeepSeek worries revealed the weak hands. From our data standpoint, that call is working…
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The DeepSeek surprise proved how quickly equity prices can rerate. Some of the biggest winning stocks flopped at a magnitude rarely seen. Ultimately, DeepSeek fears revealed the Weak Hands. We’ve described weak hands before, back in 2020. It’s the new investors who lack conviction in their trades. Possibly they bought into the A.I. trade in Decembe…
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Ep. 25 - High Interest Rates Won’t Kill the Equity Rally
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21:11The market’s latest top macro worry is rising long-term interest rates. We’ve seen this movie before. 10-year Treasury yields recently hit 4.8%, their highest since peaking at 5% back in October 2023. Back then, we told you to Disregard the Rate Scare and Buy Stocks Now. The S&P 500 is up 40% to 6100 since we published that report on October 9, 202…
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Ep. 24 - Money is Chasing High-Quality Tech Stocks
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11:47There’s a lot of excitement in the air. The Trump administration released the Stargate project, underscoring a commitment for the US to lead the A.I. revolution. It should come as no surprise that money is chasing high-quality Tech stocks. Disclosure: This recap uses AI to better explore our post here: https://mapsignals.com/map-blog/money-is-chasi…
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Ep. 23 - When the Big Money Index Plummets, Go Buy Stocks
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15:58Stocks are washed out. If our data could talk, it’d yell the following: When the Big Money Index plummets, go buy stocks. Let’s face it. It’s been a lonely road keeping a bullish outlook. Bearish worries about elevated interest rates, a strong dollar, and a potential reignition of inflation have ruled the media headlines. How can I possibly be cons…
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Ep. 22 - Stock Valuations Are High and That’s Perfectly Fine
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15:32The S&P 500 just posted a total return of at least 25% for the second year in a row. That hasn’t happened since 1998. Not too shabby. The downside of this epic rally is that howling about excessive valuations is everywhere. Everyone seems to agree stocks are too rich. Here’s the deal: Stock valuations are elevated and that’s perfectly fine. If you’…
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Ep. 21 - Top 3 Accumulated Stocks in 2024 APO PLTR ANET
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16:58Now that 2024 is in the books, let’s review the top brass in our research. It was an epic year. Here were the top 3 accumulated stocks in 2024. Many believe the only game in town is the Mag 7. Without question, betting on hyper scalers has been a profitable venture. But the reality is that each year, a handful of discrete equities attract mega-inst…
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Ep. 20 - 3 Reasons to Buy Stocks in January 2025
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23:31A new year offers a new start… …and big opportunities. Here are 3 reasons to buy stocks in January 2025. The S&P 500 just put up a back-to-back crowd-stunning performance with 2023 jumping 24% and 2024 vaulting 23%. Being long equities has been the winning ticket. If you’re considering cashing out simply because this rally is getting long in the to…
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Ep. 19 - Dow Jones Industrial Average Falls 9 Days in a Row
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19:21Many investors gave up on stocks earlier this month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) recorded a drought… falling 9 days consecutively. As scary as it sounds, this ultra rare oversold signal is undefeated. Disclosure: This recap uses AI to better explore our post here: https://mapsignals.com/map-blog/this-ultra-rare-oversold-signal-is-undefe…
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Ep. 18 - Rare Capitulation Signals Big Gains Ahead for Equities
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12:25Stocks were sold with abandon. Be thankful. Rare capitulation signals big gains ahead. Volatile markets are never fun. Yesterday’s Fed presser sent shockwaves across equity markets. Nothing was spared. Correlation approached 1. The S&P Small Cap 600 fell 4%. The S&P Mid Cap 400 fell 3.84%. The mighty large cap S&P 500 collapsed 2.95%. That’s forced…
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Ep. 17 - Another Bullish Omen is Flaring for the NASDAQ
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10:03The crowd-stunning rally keeps going. Don’t be shocked if growth stocks keep working. Another bullish omen is flaring for the NASDAQ. Equities remain in a firm uptrend. Small, Mid, and growthier pockets of the market are under healthy accumulation. Our bias towards owning SMID caps is still in place. Afterall, plenty of capital has been reappraisin…
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Ep. 16 - 2025 Outlook: Look Outside S&P 500 to Unlock Big Gains
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22:532024 stunned just about everyone. In rare fashion, the S&P 500 is set to post a total return of over 25% for the second year in a row. But before we discuss the future, it’s important to step back. Two years ago, we were bold to suggest stocks can be a good bet in 2023. Recession fears dominated the tape. We didn’t buy into that narrative. One year…
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When all hope is lost, we yell to buy stocks. When all hope is found, we enjoy the ride. 2025 is set to be a stock picker’s market. One of my all-time favorite investor quotes came from The Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett. Beware the investment activity that produces applause; the great moves are usually greeted by yawns. This is so true. How often…
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Ep. 14 - Top MAPsignals Market Calls from 2024
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15:14It’s been a wonderful year. If you’re sitting around the table with healthy friends and family, that’s all that matters. If your portfolio is at highs, even better. Here are 5 thankful MAPsignals calls in 2024. I love to look back and see what transpired throughout the year. It helps us reflect on where we came from, and what our message was at cer…
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Every now and then, a stat jumps off the screen. While major indices climb to new highs, certain areas are being liquidated. One group in particular triggered extreme outflows. The great news is this oversold signal is undefeated. Disclosure: This recap uses AI to better explore our post here: https://mapsignals.com/map-blog/this-oversold-signal-is…
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Ep. 12 - Trump 2.0 Macro-Outlook Favors Small & Mid-Caps
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18:56The GOP’s surprise sweep has pushed an already epic market rally into overdrive. The S&P 500 is up a scorching 24% YTD. That’s on top of last year’s impressive 24.2% ramp. Should investors blindly buy all stocks? Not particularly. The Trump 2.0 macro-outlook favors small- and mid-caps. Disclosure: This recap uses AI to better explore our post here:…
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Ep. 11 - Trump 2.0 Rally is Only Just Beginning
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14:17The equity seas are shifting. A new wave of leadership has gripped the market. The Trump 2.0 rally is only just starting. Most would agree, it’s an exciting time to be an investor. Forgotten sleeper stocks, like PayPal (PYPL), Shopify (SHOP), Carvana (CVNA) and Palantir (PLTR) have suddenly sprung to life recently (Disclosure: I own PYPL). These on…
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Ep. 10 - Post-Election Playbook
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14:36The verdict is in. The GOP won across the board. Here’s your 2024 post-election playbook. Heading into the election, our data signaled volatility risk into and after the vote. This was based on historical studies grounded in data. We now believe a less cautious stance is warranted. And 2 long-standing areas of focus for us are getting an upgrade: S…
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Ep. 9 - Caution Ahead and Buy Any Election Dip
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16:16Savor this moment. Markets don’t get much better than this. Add up Fed easing, low inflation, steady growth, rising earnings and plump profit margins, and you’ve got the recipe for the big-time gains we’re seeing. But with the S&P 500 up a crowd-stunning 38% in the past year, our data-focused stance suggests investors use caution ahead and buy any …
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Ep. 8 - Election Volatility Risk
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13:32Want to divide a room? Ask a group who they’re voting for. Want to inform a room? Arm the crowd with an election volatility risk playbook. 2 data-driven reasons suggest election volatility risk could be coming for your portfolio. Disclosure: This recap uses AI to better explore our post here: https://mapsignals.com/map-blog/election-volatility-risk…
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Ep. 7 - Big Money Index Signals Pullback Ahead
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15:24Equities saw their worst daily pullback in weeks. Our Big Money Index signals pullback ahead. Yesterday was a reminder that volatility can strike out of nowhere. The S&P 500 declined .92%. Even more jarring, the NASDAQ 100 fell 1.55%, its single worst performance in 6 weeks. This pullback came just as the Big Money Index fell out of overbought terr…
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Ep. 6 - Big Momentum is a Buy Signal
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10:49
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10:49Here are a few tidbits about the stock market. The S&P 500 has hit 46 all-time highs this year. It’s up 22% YTD and a whopping 63% since this bull market began two years ago. Don’t let that juicy performance scare you. Big momentum is a buy signal. Disclosure: This recap uses AI to better explore our post here:https://mapsignals.com/map-blog/big-mo…
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Today’s message signals a shift in tone. We’ll try and decipher what investors can expect going forward. More importantly, when it’s a good idea to take some profits off the table. Please NOTE: Our long-term bullish stance is not changing. However, overbought conditions will not last forever and eventually a healthy pullback will begin. We’ll cover…
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Today’s write-up offers 2 evidence-rich studies pointing to healthy gains ahead for the NASDAQ. The lagging group is getting an upgrade today. If you’re like me and are hunting for positives in a sea of uncertainty, we’ve got you covered. On August 5th, we logged 142 ETFs sold. This is one of the largest outflow days in recent years I’ve updated th…
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Indices keep climbing. After posting a 26% total return last year, the S&P 500 is up another 20% YTD. As this bull market has blossomed, leadership has really broadened out. We know it’s tempting to think that there’s nothing left to buy. All the good news must already be priced in by now, right? Judging from Wall Street’s latest worry list, you’d …
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Let’s discuss the huge money-elephant in the room. Millions of investors hiding in money market funds are about to see their income fall in a big way. With the Fed finally cutting rates, yield hungry investors will have to work harder to generate income. Today, we’ll show you why now’s the time to buy dividend growth stocks as the Fed cuts interest…
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The term October surprise dates back to the 19th century as presidential elections routinely experienced unexpected events heading into November. Recent notable October surprises include: 1968 Humphrey’s Halloween Peace 1972 Kissinger’s Peace is at hand press conference 1980 Reagan’s American hostages held in Iran 2000 Bush’s drunk driving report 2…
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Recessions, Earnings, and the 2023 Stock Market Rally
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31:27Investors are concerned about recessions, earnings, and the 2023 stock market rally. We break it all down with history and data. Insights post: https://mapsignals.com/map-blog/The media loves to harp on recessions. But history shows how stocks fall more prior to a recession than in one. Also, after a recession stocks rally most.Earnings season is h…
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