Student of Money is a community of like-minded individuals who's goal is to build wealth and financial freedom through entrepreneurship, investing, and professional development.
Episode 55: What Really Sets Mortgage Rates? Not the Fed. Not the 10-Year Treasury.
Everyone hears the same thing: “The Fed lowered rates, so mortgage rates should come down.”
But that’s not really how mortgage pricing works.
In this episode of Student of Money, I break down what actually influences the mortgage rate you see from a bank or credit union.
The Federal Reserve matters. The 10-Year Treasury matters.
But neither one directly sets your 30-year mortgage rate.
We’ll look at the real factors behind mortgage pricing, including:
Market rates
Cost of funds
Borrowing costs
Competition
Interest-rate and credit risk
Lender margins
Why the 10-Year Treasury is used as a benchmark
Why mortgage rates can stay high even when the Fed cuts rates
I also explain why a 30-year mortgage often behaves more like an intermediate-term asset from a lender’s perspective, because most mortgages are sold, refinanced, or paid off long before 30 years.
If you want to understand what is happening behind the rate quote—not just the headline—this episode is for you!
15 Jun 2026
Episode 54: Why I Still Prefer Real Estate After a 30% SpaceX IPO Gain
In this episode of the Student of Money podcast, I share why I decided to record my first new episode in over a year after participating in the SpaceX IPO through E*TRADE. Back in 1999, I was actively investing in IPOs during the dot-com era, when online brokerage accounts were still new and retail access to IPOs was rare. After seeing a 30% gain in less than two days on the SpaceX IPO, it reminded me of those early internet investing days. But this episode is not just about a stock trade. It is about the difference between fast gains and long-term wealth creation. With stocks, you typically have to sell to realize your gain. With real estate, the wealth-building model is different. You can benefit from appreciation, cash flow, leverage, depreciation, and the ability to refinance without selling the asset. I break down why quick stock market wins can be exciting, but why I still believe real estate remains one of the best vehicles for building durable, long-term wealth.
18 Feb 2025
Episode 53: Mindset is Everything with Matt Henick
Matt Henick discusses how a success mindset helped him transition from a corporate job to building a real estate business, in this interview with the Student of Money podcast.
Who has been a guest on Student of Money
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Matt Henick
Justin Sloan
Omar Khan
Luke Golla
Bud Evans
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 39 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
65
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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Host and Student of Money host the show. Published by Jeff Niemeier.
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