What 2025 taught us about money and momentum

Warrior Money - Episode 60: 2025 Recap & 2026 Projections

Key Concepts:

• Purpose-Driven Life: Finding meaning and direction in work and life, often through service to others.
• Network is Net Worth: The value of one’s professional and personal connections as a key driver of financial success.
• Build, Advise, Invest: A three-pronged approach to wealth creation involving entrepreneurship, mentorship, and strategic investment.
• Attitude of Gratitude: The psychological benefits of gratitude, including improved decision-making and team building.
• Net Worth Calculation: A method for tracking financial progress and planning for the future.
• AI & Technological Disruption: The impact of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies on the economy and career paths.
• Reshoring & National Security: The importance of rebuilding domestic capabilities in critical industries.
• Flywheel Effect: A concept where continuous improvement and reinvestment create accelerating growth.

I. Episode Overview & Reflections on 2025

This 60th episode of Warrior Money, recorded December 30th, serves as a recap of 2025 and a projection for 2026. Hosts Patrick Murphy and Dan Coons reflect on the past year, highlighting key themes and lessons learned from their guests. Dan emphasizes that 2026 will be a “breaking open” year for him due to the potential returns from private investments made previously. The episode emphasizes the importance of finding purpose, building community, and embracing struggle as part of the growth process. Both hosts agree that a consistent theme across all guests was the journey of finding one’s purpose and then relentlessly pursuing it.

II. Favorite Guests & Recurring Themes

• Maurice Filigen (Mo): Dan identifies Mo as his favorite guest, describing him as a “sage” and “guiding light.” He maintains regular contact with Mo via WhatsApp, valuing his perspective on aligning work with personal freedom and independence.
• Admiral William McRaven: Patrick highlights Admiral McRaven’s appearance, noting his humility despite leading the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. McRaven’s story of transitioning from Navy SEAL to finance at Lazard Bank underscored the need for continuous learning and adaptability. The discussion emphasizes McRaven’s ability to plan for contingencies, even in high-stakes situations (the helicopter loss during the raid).
• Common Themes: Both hosts agree that guests consistently emphasized the importance of finding purpose, embracing struggle, and building a strong network. Patrick notes that it’s “allowed to struggle” and that struggle is “actually kind of good.”

III. Guest Spotlight: Jay Long & Attachment 214

The episode features a discussion of Jay Long, a West Point graduate and 1001st Airborne Division veteran, who now leads Attachment 214 within the Department of War.

• Attachment 214’s Mission: This newly formed attachment is tasked with bridging the gap between the military and leading technology companies (Meta, Palantir, Andrew, and others). Long is the first leader of this organization, signifying a high level of trust and a commitment to innovation.
• Long’s Leadership: His military background brings legitimacy, discipline, and respect to the effort, facilitating collaboration between the military and commercial innovators.
• Veteran Entrepreneurship: The hosts highlight the success of veterans like Long and Alex Mloud (Parlay Finance), emphasizing the potential for veterans to thrive in entrepreneurship. They note the increasing visibility of veteran-owned businesses, with Parlay Finance recently featured on cable television.

IV. Personal Growth & The Power of Gratitude

Dan shares his personal growth over the past year, attributing it to consistent communication through writing and hosting the show. He emphasizes the importance of a “growth mindset” and gratitude, citing research showing that gratitude shifts brain activity from fear-based responses to strategic thinking.

• Neuroscience of Gratitude: Patrick references research indicating that gratitude activates the prefrontal cortex, enhancing strategy, long-term thinking, and sound judgment.
• Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Quote: Patrick quotes Johnson’s philosophy of choosing happiness and success over despair.
• Dan’s Morning Routine: Dan describes his enthusiastic morning routine, even in cold weather, as a manifestation of his gratitude for simple pleasures.
• Shifting Priorities: Dan notes a shift in his focus from solely pursuing money to prioritizing work that solves problems he cares about, aligning financial goals with purpose.

V. The “Build, Advise, Invest” Framework & Financial Planning

The hosts discuss a framework for wealth creation based on building businesses, advising growing companies, and investing strategically.

• The Three Apps (Dan’s Framework): Faith, Family, Finances.
• Build, Advise, Invest (Emmy Splinsky’s Framework): A three-pronged approach to wealth creation.
• Net Worth Calculation: Dan details his method for tracking net worth over the past 10 years using a Google Sheet, emphasizing the importance of consistent monitoring and analysis. He describes a progression from simple to complex and back to simple as his financial situation evolved.
• 2026 Projections: Dan anticipates exceeding a significant net worth threshold in 2026, driven by the performance of his private investments.
• Emmy Splinsky’s Influence: Both hosts acknowledge the value of advice from financial experts like Emmy Splinsky, author of "$100 Million Career" and "$100 Million Network".

VI. Economic Outlook & Emerging Trends

The episode touches on several economic indicators and emerging trends:

• AI Race: The hosts identify the AI race between Nvidia and Google as the “fourth revolution” in the American economy, urging listeners to engage with the technology.
• Data Centers: They highlight the growing demand for data centers, describing it as a “new gold rush.”
• Reshoring & National Security: The importance of rebuilding domestic capabilities in critical industries is emphasized.
• Energy Investment: The recent $80 billion investment in nuclear energy by the Trump administration is noted as a positive development.
• Economic Indicators: The hosts mention a loss of 1.17 million jobs, an unemployment rate of 4.6%, and a national debt of $38 trillion, emphasizing the need for careful financial planning.

VII. Actionable Takeaways & Conclusion

The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to plan for 2026, learn from past experiences, and embrace opportunities in emerging fields like AI. The hosts reiterate the importance of building a strong network, pursuing a purpose-driven life, and cultivating an attitude of gratitude. The key takeaway is that success requires consistent effort, strategic planning, and a willingness to adapt to a rapidly changing world. The hosts emphasize that the lessons learned from their guests – veterans and leaders from diverse backgrounds – are applicable to anyone seeking to achieve financial independence and fulfillment.