Brian Feroldi | Why the Stock Market Goes Up (and Why You Should Care)

Welcome back to Season 3 of MONEYO2!

If the stock market feels noisy or intimidating, this episode is for you. Today’s guest, Brian Feroldi—financial educator, longtime Motley Fool contributor, and author of Why Does the Stock Market Go Up?—has spent years translating Wall Street jargon into plain English. His message: investing can be simple, calm, and effective when you focus on a few core principles.

In this conversation, Brian gets real about what’s happening behind the scenes—what actually makes markets rise over time, how to separate speculation from true investing, and why a long-term, behavior-first approach beats hot takes and headline-chasing. He shares practical first steps to build a plan, stay the course through volatility, and let compounding do the heavy lifting—without needing to be “on” the market every day.

If you’re new to investing, coach clients, or just want a clearer lens for making money decisions amid the noise, this episode will help you respond with clarity and calm.

As always, I’d love to hear what you think! DM me on Instagram @erinkuhnbhansali and follow us @moneyo2pod or email erin.kuhn@qnityinc.com.

To learn more or get resources, visit brianferoldi.com (and check out his Long-Term Mindset newsletter, YouTube, and X: @BrianFeroldi).

Ready to demystify investing? Listen to the full episode here.