The Audible Advisor with Spiros Vassilakos

Behavioral finance plays a crucial role in the financial planning we do at the Athenian Private Client Group and it’s part of the Human Element Program we roll out for clients. Today we want to explore the psychology of finance, explain our approach, and look at the role it plays in investing.   Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 0:00 – Intro  0:35 – Psychology of finance 2:27 – The questionn...

When we think of retirement, we often imagine a life free of stress, full of leisure and relaxation. However, the truth is that retirement can be one of the most stressful events in a person's life. In this episode, we’ll look at the ways to proactively deal with the stress surrounding the retirement process. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 0:00 – Intro 1:31 – Adjusting to a new lifes...

Each generation is currently navigating a unique part of the retirement planning experience. Right ​now, ​the ​baby ​boomers ​are ​retiring ​every ​day ​at ​record ​numbers. ​This major life event comes with a handful of financial planning questions that every baby boomer should be asking, and today we’ll do our best to provide some answers. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 0:00 – Intro   1...

Are you planning for your retirement with the confidence that you're making all the right moves? In today's episode, we'll unveil the crucial income planning mistakes that could jeopardize your retirement and show you how to craft a financial plan that's built to last decades, not just years.  One of the most challenging aspects of retirement is transitioning from a regular pay...

Have you ever wondered what questions to ask your financial advisor, or why those questions are crucial? In today’s episode, we’re tackling exactly that. We're discussing the vital questions that bring transparency and depth to your financial advisory relationship.  It's about getting clarity on how advisors work, what they specialize in, and how they align with your financial goals. The...

Sometimes it’s hard to make financial sacrifices when the reward might not be seen until several years in the future. Today we’ll talk about some of the situations where you might be inclined to take the immediate benefit, when you should really consider the delayed rewards.   Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 0:00 – Intro   2:00 – 401k match 3:28 – Tax-deferred accounts 5:17 – Emergency fun...

Every generation likes to talk about how much harder things used to be when they were kids. Like all of the people who used to have to walk five miles to school, in the snow, uphill both ways. But they had at least one thing that was EASIER…and that was retirement planning. Let’s talk about why on today’s episode. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 0:00 – Intro   2:01 – Job and company loyalt...

Market volatility became the norm in 2022. Are we in for more of the same in 2023? We’ll talk about the market outlook for the next 12 months, plus share tips on how you can best prepare for potential future volatility. Here’s a little of what you’ll learn on this episode: Mergers & Acquisitions says “signs point to more market volatility in 2023”. Here are our thoughts.  (2:32) Should you hav...

Most of us will have made a financial mistake or two in our lifetime, some small, and some big. It’s much easier to make a big mistake when major life changes occur and emotions are at a high. Let’s explore some of the things you should be thinking about to make smart financial decisions when you encounter some of the most significant events in your life. Here’s a little of what you’ll learn on th...

Sometimes you need to find a new financial advisor. Other times, you might think you need a new advisor, but really, you’re just guilty of thinking that the grass is greener on the other side. Today we’re sharing some common scenarios and whether they’re legitimate reasons for leaving your advisor. We’ll share some hypothetical scenarios and see if any of these apply to you.   Here’s a little of w...

Just like the lights on your dashboard can indicate if something is wrong with your car (like low tire pressure or leaking oil), there are indicators in your financial life that might point out that you have a problem that needs to be addressed.  On this episode, we’re going to give you five different warning signs that should drive you to meet with a financial professional. It might end up that y...

At this time of year, you can find football on TV almost every night of the week. Many of our clients are cheering on the Bucs each week along with the entire city as we hope for another championship season.  You might not realize it but football can teach us quite a bit about financial planning. So, let’s take some concepts from the game of football and apply them to our retirement. You might wat...

Being a good advisor isn’t about winning a popularity contest or just saying the same things that everyone else in the industry says. It’s about giving the best advice that you can for each individual situation. On today’s show, we’re going to peel back the curtain to discuss some areas where a good financial advisor’s opinions might go against the grain with mainstream ideas in the industry. Join...

Want to know the secrets to experiencing satisfaction in retirement? We’ve discovered five key situations to which your financial plan needs to lead you. If you can key in on these five points, you’ll have a high chance to achieve retirement satisfaction. Having satisfaction in retirement could mean many things. What it really boils down to is needing to take the proper steps to prepare yourself,...

When questions come into our office or the show, we love to dive into each scenario and work to find a solution or strategy that fits the individual’s needs.   On this episode, we’re going to tackle a number of questions that we’ve received recently. From using commission payments for retirement saving to tax planning to retirement savings allocations, we’ll hit on a wide variety of topics. Hopefu...

On any given day, we can address any number of questions and concerns from clients but we always get a few topics that come up more than the others. That’s why we’ve decided to compile a list of the things we’ve been talking about with clients recently and spend some time on each of them. These are some common questions, but they’re also important for retirement and ensuring that you know what you...

Most people are a bit concerned about the current bear market we are facing. Whether this lasts for a few months or years are yet to be seen, but there is plenty of opinions going around in the media.  If you’ve never handled a bear market or if you are closer to retirement, who should you be listening to when it comes to protecting your portfolio? On today’s episode, we’ll break down a few of the...

Going through a divorce at any age is difficult, but doing it near or in retirement adds all sorts of additional complications. On this episode, we’ll talk about some of the financial mistakes we see people make in the midst of a divorce. Here are some of the things you’ll learn on this episode:  Why choosing the house over other financial assets might not be the best result over the long-term. Th...

Let’s see if your tolerance for risk matches your financial plan. What should you do if that balance is out of whack? What if you’re a natural risk-taker, but you really shouldn’t be when it comes to your finances? We’ll explore all of these angles as we break down the role of risk in your financial and retirement plan. Here are some of the things you’ll learn on this episode: How often do people...

In today’s economy and the possibility of a long-term market downturn, a lot of people are searching for a financial advisor. What differentiates an advisor who does the bare minimum versus those who will go above and beyond?  An advisor that works with every type of client probably has less time to dedicate to you. If they are only telling you good news, you may want to be wary. On today’s episod...

We usually talk about the steps people need to take to have financial success, but oftentimes retirement is more about what you don't do. Let’s face it, we’re all human and mistakes are part of life, but we have to be aware of where the pitfalls often are. Today we’ll explore the common ways that people make mistakes with their money and help explain what you can do to avoid these missteps. ...

We are opening up the mailbag today to answer some of our listener’s questions about various financial and retirement topics. Kenneth’s daughter wants to go to a private college, can he justify the large tuition bill? You need to consider the fees, rent, and books you’ll also have to pay for but there are a few options out there you can consider.  Tracy wrote in wondering how an advisor like Spiro...

Birthdays start to lose a lot of the excitement they had when we were younger, but that doesn’t mean certain ages aren’t worth celebrating a little more than others as we get older. That’s especially true as it relates to retirement planning because there are a handful of birthdays that will present you with new opportunities.  As we take you through the most important birthdays in retirement plan...

If you aren’t working with an advisor you could end up guessing a lot when it comes to planning for retirement. On today’s episode, we are going to break down some of retirement’s most important questions and what can go wrong if you end up guessing at them.  Do you know how much income you’ll need in retirement? You need enough to last throughout retirement and reach your goals, but you probably...

When it comes to your money, you might have several different voices in your head— maybe the voice of greed, or the voice of fear, and sometimes the voice of wisdom. On today’s show, we are going to discuss how we can recognize the voice of greed, how it may impact our retirement planning journey and some of the ways we can prevent ourselves from making greedy decisions.  When the market is doing...