Five Minute Finance

Thinking of stepping away from work for a few months—or even a year? You’re not alone. In this episode of Five Minute Finance , Mike Morton and Matt Robison break down the rising trend of sabbaticals and gap years among mid-career professionals. They explore how to financially and emotionally prepare for extended time off, covering everything from sabbatical funds and health care planning to takin...

In this episode of Five Minute Finance , Matt Robison and Mike Morton explore how parents can raise financially capable kids without micromanaging their every money move. From debit cards and budgeting to writing checks and spending psychology, they share stories, humor, and actionable tips—plus a great reminder that the best lessons often come from letting kids fail safely. Whether your child is...

In this episode of Five Minute Finance , Matt Robison and Mike Morton unpack the alluring world of alternative investments. Hedge funds, private equity, non-traded REITs…while these options promise high returns and exclusivity, many of them might be better left to the pros. From flashy marketing to hidden fees and illiquidity traps, Mike breaks it all down in plain English, sharing real-world exam...

What do Enron, Lehman Brothers, and GE have in common? They were once Wall Street darlings, until they weren’t. In this episode of Five Minute Finance , Mike Morton and Matt Robison unpack the hidden danger lurking in many portfolios: single-stock concentration. It feels great to ride a stock like Apple or Amazon to new highs, but if more than 10% of your wealth is tied to one company, especially...

In this episode of Five Minute Finance , Matt Robison and Mike Morton tackle one of the most dreaded yet essential topics for families: how much college really costs—and how to avoid the full sticker price. With humor, real-life examples, and expert guidance, they break down the myths around the $90,000+ tuition price tags and show how most families actually pay far less. Learn how to leverage mer...

In this episode of Five Minute Finance , Matt Robison and Mike Morton tackle the age-old question: how much should you have in bonds? Spoiler: The old rules of thumb, like “your age in bonds” or “the 60/40 portfolio,” might be doing more harm than good. Mike lays out a smarter, more personalized approach using the “bucket strategy,” aligning your investments with short, medium, and long-term spend...

When the stock market is anything but calm, it’s tempting to panic, but this week, we explain why you should panic methodically instead. Drawing inspiration from WSJ columnist Jason Zweig, Matt Robison and I explore how to keep your cool when market volatility, political drama, and economic uncertainty are everywhere. Don’t confuse the world’s chaos with your long-term investing plan. Use market d...

This week on Five Minute Finance , Matt Robison and I break down a simple, stress-reducing, four-part framework for choosing your investments. Yes, we still love low-cost index funds—but smart investing is more than just picking one and hoping for the best. We explore how to think about asset allocation, minimize costs, rebalance your portfolio, and stay aware of market trends without falling into...

Join Mike Morton and Matt Robison this week as they break down the income tax funnel, helping you understand how your earnings flow from total income to taxable income and, ultimately, to what you owe the IRS. They dive into key tax deductions, credits, and how different income types are taxed, all through the lens of a jaw-dropping $500,000 tax return mistake. Whether you're looking to maximize d...

Are you saving enough for retirement? How much should you set aside for college? And can you enjoy your money now without sabotaging your future? In this week’s episode, we put co-host Matt Robison in the hot seat to tackle these real-life financial questions. From retirement benchmarks to college savings strategies and optimizing investments, we break down the numbers, share key rules of thumb, a...

In this episode, Matt Robison and Mike Morton dive into the complexities of inheriting money—from the emotional weight to the financial logistics. They discuss key strategies for handling an inheritance, avoiding common pitfalls, and maximizing its value. Whether you're navigating an inheritance now or planning for one in the future, they cover everything from tax implications to smart investment...

In this episode, career coach Jennifer Fink and Certified Financial Planner Mike Morton discuss how to invest your time and energy intentionally to create a fulfilling career. They explore the two types of career clarity—internal and external—and how finding both can guide your next career move. Jennifer shares practical strategies for overcoming the career change dilemma, balancing passion with f...

​​Discover why it’s not just okay—but essential—to spend your money with intention! In this episode, Certified Financial Planner Mike Morton shares how to break free from the save-every-penny mindset and embrace spending as a tool for joy, connection, and meaningful investment. From saving for special occasions to creating lifelong family memories and making retirement dreams a reality, explore th...

Open enrollment season often raises the critical question of whether to choose pre-tax (traditional) or Roth contributions for your 401(k). In this week’s episode, Matt Robison and certified financial planner Mike Morton break down this common dilemma, offering simple rules of thumb to help you make the right choice in minutes. They’ll explain the key differences—traditional contributions reduce y...

Curious about what the stock market will do next?  In this episode, Mike Morton and Matt Robison dive into the unpredictable nature of the stock market and why even experts struggle to forecast its future. With Wall Street projecting below-average returns for the next decade due to high valuations, learn why market timing is a risky game and why staying invested is often the best approach. Ge...

Check out Mike’s Year-End Financial Checklist , a simple tool to help you wrap up 2024 stress-free and set yourself up for a successful 2025. They discuss five key items to tackle: Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for retirement accounts, Roth conversions to maximize tax-free growth, strategic charitable giving, Q4 estimated tax payments, and the best timing for year-end bonuses. With practic...

In this episode of Practical Finance for Parents , Mike Morton and Matt Robison explore how grandparents can effectively save for their grandchild’s college education using 529 plans. They break down the best strategies, including whether grandparents should contribute to an existing parent-owned 529 or open their own account. With recent FAFSA changes, grandparent-owned 529 plans now offer even g...

In this episode, Mike Morton and Matt Robison dive into a commonly overlooked step in managing rollover and inherited IRAs: making sure your funds are invested and not just sitting in cash. They share practical tips on how to avoid leaving money idle, like setting a yearly reminder to check your accounts, opting for simple investment choices, and keeping track of dividends. They’ll show you how a...

Make the most of your employee benefits and unlock “free money” that could add up to thousands yearly! In this episode, we break down essential perks, from maximizing retirement savings with 401(k) matching to the tax advantages of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). We also explore the value of education and tuition benefits, affordable insurance options, wellnes...

As Halloween approaches, it's not just ghosts and ghouls that can be scary—financial planning can have its own terrifying elements. Join Mike Morton and Matt Robison as they demystify the top five fears in managing money. The risk of running out of funds in retirement, the uncomfortable reality of planning for death and inheritance, the rising costs of healthcare in old age, the trap of debt and p...

"How are you going to pay for college?" “How much should you save now?” Matt and Mike break down the current costs of higher education, from public in-state schools to high-end private institutions, and offer strategies for saving. Whether you're just getting started or have significant resources to allocate, you’ll get actionable advice on how to plan effectively. They cover the benefits of 529 p...

In this episode, Mike Morton and Matt Robison dive into the often-overlooked topic of homeowners insurance and why spending just five minutes reviewing your policy could save you thousands of dollars. They explain the importance of ensuring your coverage is adequate, especially with rising costs of rebuilding due to inflation and natural disasters. They walk through key elements to check, such as...

Join Matt Robison and Mike Morton this week as they teach you how to help boost your teenager's credit score. Learn the proactive steps you can take early on, such as adding your child as an authorized user on a credit card. This allows teens to start building credit history without the responsibility of managing payments themselves, and you remain in control of the account. It’s important to educ...

Join Matt Robison and Mike Morton in this week’s episode to explore the common myth that election outcomes can predict stock market performance. They discuss real-life examples, such as the 2016 Trump election and the 2008 Obama election, highlighting how initial market reactions often mislead investors. They emphasize the importance of not overreacting to short-term volatility, noting that global...

Join Matt Robison and me for this week’s episode in which we tackle the age-old question: actively managed funds or low-cost index funds? Brokers often promise better returns with active management through expert stock picking, but the data tells a different story. We’ll break down the numbers, starting with the SPIVA report, which compares active funds to their benchmarks and reveals that a stagg...