Money on Your Mind

Money carries a lot more emotional baggage than numbers can show. It’s deeply personal—and any perceived failures might drive your behavior for decades. Financial planner Mark Cano knows personally that even the most educated people need help to find perspective on their personal history with money, and what they want to do with it next. It’s all about feeling like you’re in control.     Listen to...

At the end of every conversation, we ask financial planners, “What’s the biggest mistake people are making with their money?” This week’s episode is a special compilation of their best insights. And if you recognize yourself in these examples, give yourself some grace. We’re all human, and the first step to fixing a problem is identifying it.

 We’ll be back next week with a new financial plannerc...

Naming beneficiaries may feel like simple paperwork, but it’s actually the beginning of a complex process that financial planners wish you knew more about. In this episode, Director of Estate Planning Rodney Weaver is in the studio talking with host Michael Liersch about what can happen if you don’t stay on top of this task as your life evolves. Learn more about what a beneficiary designation mean...

Life insurance can be a sensitive, confusing conversation in financial planning. But for financial planner Lakeisha Hill, it is simply too important to put off. In this episode, Lakeisha shares her personal experiences with life insurance and the heartbreaking challenges she’s seen families face due to lack of coverage. She also gives an overview of term life and the expenses it can cover for bene...

“Diversification” comes up in virtually every financial planning discussion. But what does it look like, really? To financial planner Brian Leslie, diversification without intention is just fragmentation. In this episode, Brian and host Michael Liersch discuss the ramifications of not reviewing your wealth holistically. Because if you’re trying to reduce risk by keeping money in several different...

If your financial strategy includes charitable giving, you may have more flexibility for giving than you realize. Financial planner Haley Stinson is on a mission to help people understand their options for—and the advantages of—charitable giving. Together, she and host Michael Liersch talk about the appeal of donor-advised funds (DAF), eligible non-profit organizations, and how to shift your minds...

Business owners have enough to manage without taking on their own financial planning, too. In this episode, financial planner Elliot Herman shares guidance he gives his business owning clients—many of whom he has supported from launch through growth and success. He and host Michael Lierschdiscuss the importance of assembling a team of professionals to spot issues early and support you to, one day,...

If you’re a woman who doesn’t feel confident making financial decisions, you’re far from alone. According to financial planner Ashley Decker, women often underestimate what they know about money, even if it’s as much as their male counterparts. Ashley wants to help women find their confidence to ask questions and make informed decisions for the future. Because as her real-life examples show, too m...

Taking a realistic look at your spending can be hard for anyone. But it’s especially important for those in retirement. And for some people who are already retired, those dream post-working years are costing more than expected. So, what can you do about it? Financial planner Bruce Smith talks to host Michael Liersch about balancing wants versus needs in retirement and how making hard decisions tod...

Many investors are feeling a disconnect between positive economic headlines and their own financial reality. In this episode, host Michael Liersch talks with financial planner John McCafferty about why today's economic news feels “off” to so many people, given that markets remain strong and unemployment data appears favorable. John explains how economic statistics, media narratives, and social...

As AI transforms industries, many people are asking how to plan for a future that includes new risks – and new opportunities. Listen as host Michael Liersch talks with financial planner Aamina Siddiqui about the AI questions herclients are asking, like what happens if AI or offshoring affects your role. She has tips for how to think about your emergency savings in this climate and avoiding having...

More families are strategizing how they can give money thoughtfully during life rather than waiting to pass assets on later. Listen as host Michael Liersch talks with financial planner Daniela Erman about why parents and grandparents are considering gifting money for major milestones like education, a first home or even starting a business. Inspired by conversations she has with her own clients, D...

If your child has special needs, you can shape your financial plan to help ensure their future care is covered. In this episode, financial planner and father of two Keith Truex draws on firsthand experience to share what he discusses with families in similar situations. Keith and host Michael Liersch talk about the difficult calculations families face, from understanding theireligibility for progr...

Ask ten people how the economy is doing in 2026, and you’ll get ten different answers. We’ve hit the halfway point of 2026, and the past six months have given us a lot to unpack. In this episode, Chief Investment Strategist Katie Klingensmith and host Michael Liersch toss around why people are feeling restless against a backdrop of resilient markets and economic growth.     Katie and Michael discu...

While parenting styles have changed over the years, one thing hasn’t: We’re still not talking enough about money with our kids. Financial planner Kelli Smith wants you to feel empowered to kick off those conversations now. From paying for college to making a large purchase and giving an allowance, Kelli has tips for parents and caregivers to meet kids where they are with financial lessons for the...

Hard truth: Elder fraud is sadly common. And your aging loved one’s financial decisions might reveal the first signs of cognitive decline. Do you know how to help protect them in a world of evolving, sophisticated schemes? In this episode of Money On Your Mind, host Michael Liersch is joined by EFE financial planner Paul Jordan, who brings almost 20 years of experience to his clients and their car...

If most of your Medicare education comes from daytime TV ads, you’re missing some important details. Our Head of Insurance, Rob Bain, wants to change that. Because if retirement is within arm’s reach, you’ll need to make alot of Medicare decisions soon. In this episode of Money On Your Mind, host Michael Liersch talks with Rob about the different parts of Medicare and who can provide you with unbi...

When you hear “investor,” what comes to mind? For many people, it’s someone wealthy or financially savvy, and that can make you think investing’s not for you. But financial planner Kay Russell says that’s totally wrong – investing is for everyone, and she’s seen the proof over and over. The firststep is overcoming your imposter syndrome.   In this episode of Money On Your Mind, host Michael Liersc...

For all the technology and financial playbooks available today, the fundamentals of building a nest egg haven’t changed: work, save, establish your lifestyle and enjoy it into retirement. And the way EFE Financial Planner and author Bill Schultheis sees it, the real challenge isn’t knowing WHAT to do, it’s knowing HOW to make decisions. Especially as retirement gets closer. In this episode of Mone...

Believe it or not, your HSA could be a valuable part ofyour financial plan – if you know how to really use it. According to EFE Financial Planner Christy Martinich, the real power of an HSA is paying medical expenses out of pocket and investing the HSA funds long term. In this episode of Money on Your Mind, host Michael Liersch and planner Christy Martinich break down why HSAs are so appealing to...

Many of us start retirement planning by thinking big – maybe too big. According to EFE financial planner Kelli Smith, new clients often want to start by considering how markets and world events may shape their retirement. But outside influences are only part of the story. You need to take an honest look at your spending, too.  In this episode of Money on Your Mind, host Michael Liersch and financi...

You’ve spent decades saving for retirement, but what happens once the paycheck stops For many retirees, the hardest part isn’t building wealth, it’s understanding the nuts and bolts of living off it. Which accounts should cover expenses? How do taxes get paid? What happens to health care once your employer is no longer handling it? In this episode of Money on Your Mind, host Michael Leirsch sits d...

Believe it or not, most of us still make financial decisions based on perceptions of money that began forming back in our piggy bank days. Even as kids, we observed how money was handled by those around us, shaping our sense of “the right way” to manage it. You may not even realize how influential those beliefs are...until they clash with your romantic partner’s. In this episode of Money On Your M...

While things feel volatile right now, history shows us that uncertainty in midterm election years isn’t unusual – it can actually bring new opportunities. As financial planner Aaron Kirkland tells his clients, it’s all about shifting your mindset. Just like a downhill mountain biker learns not to slam the brakes and wipe out, you can train yourself to approach a down market with control and foresi...

A special compilation episode featuring words of wisdom from Edelman Financial Engines financial planners. Forget detailed analysis and hypotheticals – here are your action items to consider right now. From kicking off your estate planning, to actually feeling confident in your retirement plans and reaching out for a trusted opinion, these are the tasks our financial planners wish you’d put at the...