The Personal Finance Project

In this episode of the Personal Finance Project, Greg, Scott, and guest Moe Allain, a seasoned advisor with 25 years of experience, discuss the complexities of long-term care, emphasizing the importance of understanding individual needs, the evolution of insurance policies, and the financial implications of long-term care planning. Together, they explore: The challenges of underwriting The benefit...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, Greg and Scott delve into the complexities of credit card usage, exploring the polarizing views surround the cons, behavioral impacts, consumer protections, and the importance of financial discipline. They also address common myths about credit card debt and emphasize the potential benefits of responsible credit card use, including building credit h...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , we continue our book club series exploring How to Retire by Christine Benz. This week, we unpack her interview with renowned retirement researcher David Blanchett—diving into what real-world data tells us about how retirees actually spend their money, and how that differs from common assumptions. We discuss the "retirement income smile," why most r...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , we continue our "Things You Pretend to Know" series by breaking down the key differences between two of the most common investment vehicles: mutual funds and ETFs. Greg and Scott dig into the structure, taxation, and practical use cases of each, helping you understand not just how they work—but when and where to use them. From tax efficiency and ca...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft return for another round of financial mythbusting — this time tackling the age-old (pun intended) investing rule: Subtract your age from 100 to determine how much of your portfolio should be in stocks. Is it simple wisdom… or dangerously outdated advice? Scott and Greg break down why this rule might be directionally...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , we dive into the world of tariffs—what they are, why they exist, and the real-world impact they have on industries, consumers, and the broader economy. Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft from the Ashcroft Pesek Bartosh Group join us to break down the first-order and second-order effects of tariffs, exploring everything from steel and sugar to national...

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, we're joined once again by Greg Ashcroft and Scott Bartosh to tackle the questions and concerns many people have before their first meeting with a financial advisor. We explore the process of transitioning into retirement, from understanding your timeline and must-haves to sharing sensitive financial details with your advisor. Greg and Scott...

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management podcast, we dive into the first lesson from Christine Benz's insightful book, How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement . This chapter, featuring Michael Fink, PhD, a professor of wealth management, focuses on the often-overlooked but critical process of visualizing and operationalizing your in-retirement lifestyle....

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, hosts Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft dive into one of the most pressing financial topics for retirees: managing debt in retirement. From the age-old question of whether to pay off your mortgage to navigating car loans and high-interest credit card debt, this episode is packed with practical advice and empathetic insights. Scott and Greg dis...

In this episode of Baird Retirement Management , Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft explore how retirees can prepare for inflation in an uncertain economic environment. With recent interest rate hikes, strong jobs reports, and shifting market dynamics, they discuss strategies for safeguarding your financial future. Key topics include: Diversifying investments beyond the traditional 60/40 portfolio. T...

In this episode of Baird Retirement Management , Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft tackle the burning question: Is the 60/40 portfolio dead? Together, they dive into the history, evolution, and current relevance of this iconic investment strategy. From its academic origins in mean-variance optimization to its behavioral appeal for investors, the team explores why the 60/40 portfolio remains a reliab...

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Podcast , we dive into The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons. This fascinating book reveals how six cognitive illusions influence the way we perceive, remember, and navigate the world around us. We explore the famous "gorilla experiment" that demonstrates the illusion of attention, the surpri...

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft unravel the complexities surrounding inherited IRAs in the wake of the SECURE Act. Together, they explore how the new rules impact beneficiaries, from spouses to adult children, and what it means for your estate plan. Tune in as they discuss: Key changes introduced by the SECURE Act, including the elimination...

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show , Greg Ashcroft dives into the flashy world of social media influencers claiming tax write-offs for private jets, luxury vacations, and extravagant dinners. Are these claims legit, or just a recipe for an IRS audit? Join us as we uncover: What a tax write-off really means (hint: it's not free). The critical differences between hobbies and leg...

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, hosts Greg Ashcroft and Scott Bartosh dive into the market and economic implications following the 2024 presidential election. With the dust settling, they discuss how sectors like banking, small caps, and tech initially reacted and why caution is still warranted. Key topics include the Federal Reserve's handling of inflation, the outlook on...

This week, Greg explores a book that's changing the way people think about money and life: Bill Perkins' "Die With Zero." This isn't your typical personal finance guide; it's a philosophical exploration of how to maximize life satisfaction by strategically allocating your resources. We break down the book's core principles, including: Optimizing Your Life: Balancing time, health, and money for max...

Retirement isn't just a financial milestone—it's a complete life transition. In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show , Greg, Scott, and guest Moe Allain, a seasoned advisor with 25 years of experience, dive into the complexities of shifting from the accumulation phase to the distribution phase in retirement. Together, they explore: The mindset shift required to move from saving mod...

In this episode of the  Baird Retirement Management Show , we're diving into another round of financial myth-busting! Greg, Scott, and the team tackle a popular piece of advice circulating in the personal finance world: the idea that you should claim Social Security benefits at age 62 and invest them to outpace the 8% annual increase you'd receive by waiting. Join us as we explore why this strateg...

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, Greg Ashcroft kicks off the new book club series with Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending by Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton. Join Greg as he explores five key principles for spending money in ways that maximize happiness. From prioritizing experiences over things to buying back time and investing in others, Greg breaks down actio...

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, hosts Greg Ashcroft and Scott Bartosh dive into the world of individual stock selection, sharing personal stories of wins and losses in the market. From the promise of companies like Coupang and Palantir to speculative stocks, Greg and Scott reveal the valuable lessons they've learned along the way. Tune in to hear how their experiences – an...

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show , hosts Greg Ashcroft and Scott Bartosh dive into charitable giving strategies for retirees. They discuss everything from the personal motivations behind charitable contributions to the best ways to maximize tax benefits. Starting with a focus on the purpose and alignment of giving, they examine cash gifts, donor-advised funds, and the increa...

Get to Know Scott Bartosh: Life Beyond Financial Planning In this special episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, we continue our "Get to Know Your Advisor" series with Scott Bartosh, a Certified Financial Planner and Director with the Ashcroft Pesek Bartosh Group. Scott shares insights into his life beyond financial advising, from his passion for sports and his favorite classic books and...

In this special episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, we sit down with financial advisor Greg Ashcroft of the Ashcroft Pesek Bartosh Group to learn more about the man behind the expertise. Greg shares personal stories about family life, raising seven children, and how he balances his demanding career with the joy and chaos of fatherhood. He also dives into his passion for lifelong learn...

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, we are joined once again by Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft from the Ashcroft Pesek Bartosh Group to explore some of the biggest worries that clients have as they approach or navigate retirement. Scott, a Certified Financial Planner with over a decade of experience, and Greg, a Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Planner with...

In this episode of the  Baird Retirement Management Show , hosts are joined again by Scott Bartosh, CFP®, and Greg Ashcroft, CFA®, CFP®, from the Ashcroft Pesek Bartosh Group to discuss the potential impact of the upcoming 2025 tax code sunset. With the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set to expire at the end of 2025, Scott and Greg provide insight into what could happen if tax laws revert to the pre-2017 s...