Our economy is in a recession. But with stocks going up, you can be sure to hear from so-called financial “experts” plying their advice. The last thing you want is to make really bad financial decisions that could ruin your investment portfolio. So how do you recognize these “experts”?Beware of these 4 financial scam artists that Bob and I expose today. It’s time to keep vigilant and make sure you’re making moves that will allow you to reach your financial goals.For our spotlight segment, we have Certified Financial Planner™, Courtney Dominguez to give us a rundown of how she helped a couple retiring early to achieve a boost in their income.Don’t miss out on making your money work for you. Make better decisions with us here on the No Payne, No Gain podcast! Financial Propaganda of the Week Just as we’ve predicted, the news has continued to get worse. Yet, the market keeps going higher. The media is in disbelief. We think it’s important that you listen to investors and not financial propaganda.[04:45] – When there isn’t clarity, there’s a huge opportunity. This is how investing works. [05:45] – The market is forward looking. Don’t wait for the calamity that the media is predicting.[06:42] – Dividends on a diversified stock portfolio  have grown at an average annual rate of 5% per year. Considering that cost of living goes up by 3% yearly, the income in your portfolio has grown faster than what you’re going to need in the future.[07:31] – What’s happening is not like the last recession. We experienced a government-induced shut down. Jobs weren’t lost. They were furloughed.[08:51] – Your purchasing power in the next 20 years is going to be cut in half. Don’t wait on the sidelines hoping that things are going to get better. [09:22] – You need to have an inflation hedge built in so that your money is growing net of inflation.  Avoid Mistakes From the PastMany people are still making the same mistakes they made in past recessions and stock market downturns. The media back then talked about a double dip recession. But it didn’t happen. Are you going to make the same decisions you made back then?[11:36] – During the Great Recession, you may have kept your cash because the news was bad.[13:11] – The interest rates now are the lowest we’ve had. You’re losing cash sitting on your money. [13:37] – The other mistake you may have made is taking more risk than you need. [14:21] – Don’t have an investment forget strategy. While you shouldn’t panic when the markets go down, you have to rebalance as the market goes up. It’s a cycle of pain. [15:42] – It’s critical to make an all-weather portfolio that makes sense with your goals.[16:21] – Have an income plan because your income comes in regardless of a recession or if the markets are up or down. Financial CharlatansTake care not to listen to what is preached to you by these “experts”. They could cost you your financial health. Only bad decisions come up from following the same message they’ve been broadcasting. Know who they are so you can avoid them.[17:48] – The perma bears are at it again. Always negative. Always seeing the glass half empty. They think they’re smarter than you. But here’s the thing, we’ve never met a rich pessimist.[19:19 ] – The negative naysayers are never called out for being wrong 9 out of 10 years. As they say, even a broken clock is right twice a day.[19:38] – Don’t take advice from a perma bear, especially one that’s an economist. They say their evidence is backed by data. But data is backwards looking, which the market is not.[19:57] – The opposite of the perma bear is the perma bull. For them, everything is going to be great forever. [20:16] – Don’t believe that things will always be rosy. Make sure you have protection in your portfolio.[20:46] – Be wary of the dangerous annuity salesman. This product pusher will promise to protect your income, but it’s going to be a bad deal.[21:55] – If your financial advisor is getting compensated for selling you something, then