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Does Your Money Have Meaning? How to Understand the “Why” Behind Your Wealth Goals with Marla Sofer

Release Date: 02/12/2025

Greenland, China, Market Rotation and What Actually Matters for Your Money

Off The Wall

Some weeks call for rain boots because the conversation is going somewhere most people would rather avoid. This episode steps into charged territory on purpose: geopolitics, tariffs, China and Taiwan, Greenland, and the policy decisions shaping today’s headlines. There’s no posturing here and no outrage bait, just a willingness to talk through complex questions instead of skirting around them. From there, the focus shifts to what actually matters for investors: how markets tend to react when policy dominates the news cycle, why short-term volatility shows up, and how data and discipline...

What Last Year Taught Us About Staying Invested

Off The Wall

A new year always brings fresh predictions, louder headlines, and plenty of pressure. In the first Off the Wall episode of the year, Nate W. Tonsager, CIPM and David B. Armstrong, CFA take a step back and anchor the conversation in the reality of what happened in 2025, and why that context is essential as we head into 2026. They reflect on the surprises that shaped last year and connected those lessons to the environment ahead. Key topics: Global markets and why international equities outpaced U.S. stocks in 2025 Volatility, drawdowns, and what last year revealed about investor behavior ...

What Investors Asked: Predictions, Bitcoin, and Gold

Off The Wall

In this Ask Monument Anything episode, we’re answering real questions from listeners of the show. From a question about Michael Burry’s bold predictions and why they continue to draw attention, to a discussion of Bitcoin’s unusual performance in 2025 and the renewed curiosity around gold as a potential safe-haven asset, the conversation then shifts to private credit’s emerging role inside 401(k) target-date funds. Key takeaways: • The patterns that show up again and again when attention-grabbing forecasts circulate • Forces that pushed Bitcoin into an unexpected...

The Guide to Less Stressful Holiday Giving

Off The Wall

The holidays come fast and somehow the shopping and gifting part always seems to catch us by surprise. In this episode of Off The Wall, host David B. Armstrong, CFA is joined by Cathleen Phelps and Cecelia Gilliam from our Client Experience team as they sit down in full holiday mode to share ideas that make gifting feel fun again. From opening Roth IRAs for teens, funding 529 plans for nieces and nephews, and introducing kids to charitable giving, to practical strategies like shared family experiences, subscriptions, organizing spreadsheets, and even planning for parents who “don’t need...

The Biggest Questions Shaping Portfolios Right Now

Off The Wall

Markets feel noisy right now, and investors are asking sharper questions than usual. In this episode of Off The Wall, Nate W. Tonsager, CIPM® and David B. Armstrong, CFA open with the surge in tech valuations and the unusual weight a handful of companies now hold inside the S&P 500. We’ll hear about what that concentration means for volatility, why some portfolios feel out of sync with the index, and how listeners can think about risk when the market feels lopsided. Next, they talk about the current labor environment, which is a mix of hiring freezes and productivity changes, and what...

3 Trends in Charitable Giving that May Change How You Give This Year

Off The Wall

2025 has been a rough year for charities. Economic uncertainty, decreased federal funding, political polarization – in many ways, nonprofits are facing a lot of the same challenges they did during Covid, as well as a few new ones. Charitable organizations need your donations now more than ever. In this episode, we’re joined by former OFF THE WALL co-host and Partner at Monument, Jessica Gibbs, CFP® as she highlights three current trends in charitable giving and how you can adjust your giving strategy to help make a bigger impact. If you’re currently looking at end-of-year giving...

Q3 Market Recap: Alternatives, Gold, and the Bull Market Debate

Off The Wall

It’s the start of a new quarter, which means it’s time for a market recap and our special “Ask Monument Anything” segment. David Armstrong, CFA, gets back together with Erin Hay, CFA, CMT, and Nate Tonsager, CIPM, to walk through the latest market moves, where momentum is showing up, and what investors should be paying attention to. This quarter, they dig into alternatives, gold’s surprising surge, and whether today’s bull market has more room to run. They also share candid thoughts on cash, dividends, and why being intentional with your portfolio matters more than chasing the...

5 Years Until Your Last Day: How to Handle the Shift from Career to Retirement

Off The Wall

When you hit 60, there’s a mental shift that begins to occur. After spending 30+ years earning and saving, you are suddenly just a few years away from beginning to spend your retirement income. It’s a challenge every retiree faces: How do you step away from regular paychecks to drawing down your savings every month? In this episode, we discuss how to create an option-rich life in retirement, where your money will come from, how to handle taxes, how to stay flexible, and much more! Tune in to hear the whole conversation. 0:00 – Disclosure 0:48 – Kicking off the 75th episode...

Dow Jones, S&P, NASDAQ: What’s the Difference (and Which Should You Use to Track Your Own Portfolio)?

Off The Wall

For many investors, the Dow Jones or S&P 500 or NASDAQ might as well be the same thing, but that’s not true at all. In today’s episode, Dave, Nate, and Erin dive into the differences between the big three indices and whether you should look to them as indicators of how your own portfolio is doing (spoiler alert: no, you shouldn’t). So what should you be tracking to get the best picture of your performance? And how can you avoid the most common mistakes people make when trying to track their portfolio on their own? Tune in to find out! Please see important...

Should You Wait to Invest? The Q2 Market Review

Off The Wall

In this special Q2 Market Review episode of Off the Wall, we’re introducing a new segment: Ask Monument Anything (AMA). Dave, Nate, and Erin answer questions from clients and listeners, and also cover what went down in the markets during the second quarter of 2025. They cover everything from interest rates and inflation to timing your investment strategy and understanding international diversification. If you are wondering how to approach market timing, if cash is still king, or if international stocks should fit into your portfolio, this episode is for you! Dedicated email address for...

More Episodes

The most common question advisors get is, “What should I do with my money?” The most common answer? “It depends.” Today, we explore the “why” behind that question and dive deeper into how it connects to your evolving life goals.

In this episode of Off the Wall, hosts Jessica Gibbs, CFP®, and David B. Armstrong, CFA®, are joined by Marla Sofer, founder of the fintech startup, Knomee.

We discuss the journey to self-actualization, how understanding your purpose influences financial decisions, and why clarity on your goals makes money management easier. But how do you define your purpose and communicate it effectively to your advisor? Tune in to find out!

“You might be an expert, but it doesn’t mean you’re making the right decisions for yourself.”

Please see important podcast disclosure information at https://monumentwealthmanagement.com/

Episode Timeline/Key Highlights:

0:00 Introduction & Important Disclosure

1:33 Knomee and Aligning Wealth With Personal Values

12:00 Self-Actualization or Vocational Independence?

16:25 Financial Goals and Retaining an Advisor

24:00 Work as a Purposeful Choice Within Purposeful Wealth

27:40 Should you “DIY” Your Investing and Wealth Planning?

31:43 What to Look For in an Advisor

33:30 Matchmaking, Relationships, and Your Financial Advisor

37:39 The Knomee Journey

43:05 LinkedIn Influencing

46:26 Concluding Thoughts

About Marla Sofer:

Marla Sofer, Founder and CEO of Knomee, is reshaping the way individuals—and their financial advisors—approach wealth and financial confidence. With leadership experience at BlackRock, Microsoft, and JP Morgan, she saw firsthand how the financial industry prioritizes products over solutions. Frustrated by the lack of meaningful personalization, she built Knomee to change that.

Knomee introduces the concept of Financial Identity™, helping individuals uncover their values, clarify their financial priorities, and align their money with what truly matters. It’s a tool for self-discovery, financial empowerment, and stronger connections—whether with existing advisors or finding the right one.

For wealth advisors, Knomee serves as a breakthrough discovery platform—helping them engage clients on a deeper level, strengthen relationships, and ensure their advice aligns with evolving life goals.

Marla is a recognized thought leader with 13,000+ LinkedIn followers, recently named an executive woman to know by Wednesday Women. Whether you’re an individual seeking clarity or an advisor looking to differentiate, Marla’s insights and Knomee’s approach are transforming the future of financial advice.

Connect with Marla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlasofer/

Learn more about Knomee: https://www.knomee.com/ and https://www.knomee.com/advisor

Connect with Knomee on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KnomeeApp

Connect with Knomee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knomeeapp/

Connect with Knomee Knomee on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KnomeeApp/

Connect with Monument Wealth Management:

Visit our website: https://bit.ly/monumentwealthwebsite

Connect on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/MonumentWealthLI

Connect on Facebook: https://bit.ly/MonumentWealthFB

Connect on YouTube: https://bit.ly/YouTubeMWMFit

Subscribe to Monument #Unfiltered: https://bit.ly/monumentunfiltered

About “Off the Wall”:

OFF THE WALL is a podcast for business professionals and high-net-worth investors who want to build wealth with purpose. A little bit Wall Street, a little bit off-the-wall; it's your go-to for straightforward, unfiltered wealth advice on topics that founders, business owners, and executives care about.

Learn more about our hosts, Dave and Jessica on our website at https://monumentwealthmanagement.com.

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