The Personal Finance Project

Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) can turn decades of company-stock growth inside a 401(k) into long-term capital gains outside the plan—often at lower tax rates and without the 10% early-withdrawal penalty. Greg and Scott break down how NUA works, who qualifies, the "final liquidating distribution" rule, hybrid holding periods, the NIIT carve-out, IRD/step-up considerations, and why ExxonMobil re...

Scott and Greg wade into the shadowy corner of TikTok known as  FinTok  to separate confident-but-wrong money takes from durable, real-world planning. They react to three viral clips—"Three Things Women Need to Know About Money," "Retire in 5 Years with Amazon Dropshipping," and an "income for life" annuity pitch—then close with a listener question on the best place to keep an emergency fund. What...

What happens when speculation collides with investing? In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , Scott Bartosch takes a solo dive into the world of Reddit's infamous  WallStreetBets  community. From the GameStop frenzy to zero-day call options and viral market memes, Scott reacts to some of the internet's spiciest takes on trading. But beyond the laughs and satire, this episode highlights...

Today's Book Club installment explores Maria Bruno's lesson from Christine Benz's How to Retire :  focus on what you can control . We translate that into a concrete retirement playbook—how to define your lifestyle and purpose, set realistic spending, and use tax and withdrawal strategy to your advantage. We discuss what to ignore (short-term market moves, election cycles, interest-rate guessing, s...

Many people believe their primary residence is their best investment—but is that really true? In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , we challenge common assumptions about homeownership and financial returns. Scott and Greg break down: How most homeowners calculate their "return" incorrectly Why annualized returns matter more than big round numbers The hidden costs of owning a home—maint...

If you're preparing to retire from ExxonMobil, you've probably heard about  segment rates —and how they directly impact the  value of your pension lump sum . In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , our team at Baird Retirement Management breaks down: How the  ExxonMobil pension plan  (defined benefit plan) works What  segment rates  are and how they affect lump sum vs. annuity options W...

Thinking about buying a business with no money down? Wondering if leveraged crypto trading is safe? Curious whether AI art or TikTok "get rich quick" strategies really work? In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , we react to viral FinTok videos that promise fast millions but leave out the real risks. We cover: The truth about seller-financed business deals Why leveraging debt to invest...

In Part 6 of our  How to Retire  series, we unpack Christine Benz's popular "bucket strategy" for retirement income planning. Drawing from her book  How to Retire , we explore how cash, bonds, and stocks can be organized into purpose-driven "buckets" to help retirees weather market volatility without sacrificing peace of mind. We break down: Why relying solely on portfolio income can be risky How...

In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , financial advisors Scott and Greg break down some of the most viral personal finance advice circulating on TikTok. From using high-yield investments to cover your streaming subscriptions to the true cost of leasing vs. buying a car, and whether owning a laundromat is a smart passive income strategy—nothing is off the table. What You'll Learn in Th...

In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , Scott and Greg sit down with Andrew Atkinson, Financial Advisor and Branch Manager of Baird's Houston Memorial City office, to unpack one of the most underutilized tools in financial planning: the Health Savings Account (HSA). Andrew, a Certified Private Wealth Advisor® and Retirement Management Advisor®, explains why the HSA is often referred to...

In this special tax planning edition of  The Personal Finance Project , Scott and Greg break down the most important takeaways from the newly passed "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"—and how it could reshape your retirement income strategy, charitable giving, and Roth conversions in 2025 and beyond. Whether you're nearing retirement, already drawing from IRAs or Social Security, or just curious about h...

In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , Scott and Greg sit down with Michael  Antonelli —Managing Director, Market Strategist at Baird, and author of the  Bull and Baird  blog—for a wide-ranging conversation on what it really takes to be a successful investor. From presidential politics and market overreactions to behavioral finance, financial influencers, and the temptation to "do some...

In this thought-provoking episode of The Personal Finance Project , Scott and Greg sit down with Richard Ashcroft to unpack a lifetime of wisdom—both financial and personal. Known internally as the "RA Principles" and affectionately called the "Pop Principles" by his family, these timeless insights reflect decades of leadership, investing experience, and life philosophy. Richard shares the maxims...

In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , Scott and Greg sit down with Richard Ashcroft—Managing Director at Baird and one of the firm's top-ranked financial advisors—for a deep conversation on building lasting wealth through sound financial planning principles rather than short-term market predictions. Richard shares timeless lessons from over four decades in wealth management, emphasizi...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, we continue our series exploring Christine Benz's book  How to Retire  by focusing on her conversation with Jamie Hopkins. Their conversation delves into the complexities of retirement planning, emphasizing the need for adaptabulity as circumstances change. We cover: The psychological challenges of transitioning from saving to spending The role of g...

In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , Greg and Scott return with another installment of  Financial Mythbusters , breaking down a viral "FinTok" video where a 33-year-old offers early retirement advice—including dividend ETFs, REITs, and so-called passive income strategies. They analyze each of her six investment tips and explain where the logic holds up—and where it falls apart. Along...

What actually drives mortgage rates—and why doesn't the Fed have as much control as people think? In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , Scott and Greg break down one of the most misunderstood topics in personal finance: how mortgage rates are really set. From the role of the 10-year Treasury to the impact of mortgage-backed securities, they unpack the mechanics behind your rate—and why...

In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , Scott, Greg, and returning guest Moe Allain tackle an essential—but often overlooked—topic: what parents should discuss with their adult children before they pass away. This candid conversation moves beyond technical estate planning and dives into the heart of family wealth discussions, covering practical strategies, emotional considerations, and...

In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , Scott, Greg, and special guest Justin Nichols—financial advisor with 27 years of industry experience—sit down for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of financial advice, the lessons learned from market cycles, and the enduring value of staying the course. From the days of "stock pickers" and mutual fund sales to modern portfo...

Episode Description: Are 529 college savings plans still the best way to fund education? In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , financial advisor Matt Leatherwood, CFP®, CPWA®, joins hosts Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft to take a critical look at the benefits—and potential drawbacks—of 529 plans. Together, they serve Chevron employees and retirees through personalized financial planni...

In this deep-dive episode of  The Personal Finance Project , Scott and Greg tackle one of the most complex—and misunderstood—topics in economics: global trade. From tariffs and trade deficits to the surprising value of the Panama Canal and the curious case of America's largest trade surplus (hint: it's not with Canada), they unpack what trade really means for the U.S. economy and your investment p...

As the 2025 estate tax exemption sunset approaches, estate planners and high-net-worth families are preparing for potential changes. In this episode, Greg and Scott welcome Darrian Hornedo, Vice President and Estate Planner at Baird, to break down one of the most talked-about estate planning strategies today—the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT). Darrian explains how SLATs work, when and why to...

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, we continue our series exploring Christine Benz's book How to Retire by focusing on her conversation with Mike Piper, CPA and author of the Oblivious Investor blog. Known for making complex financial topics simple and practical, Mike shares critical insights on how to approach tax planning before and throughout retirement. We cover: Why life...

In this episode of The Baird Retirement Management Show , we continue our series on Christine Benz's book How to Retire —this time focusing on her interview with renowned financial author and thinker William Bernstein. Bernstein is well-known for his foundational books like The Four Pillars of Investing and The Intelligent Asset Allocator , and in this chapter, he outlines a methodical, conservati...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, Greg and Scott, dive into the financial challenges faced by young adults, particularly in their 20s. The guys discuss the importance of establishing a solid financial foundation, avoiding common pitfalls, and the significance of budgeting and emergency funds.   Key takeaways: It's harder to achieve retirement goals while in debt Investing in yoursel...