A Wiser Retirement®

Your credit card earns points every month, but are they getting you anywhere? A growing rewards balance can feel valuable until you try to turn it into a trip you actually want to take. The opportunity lies in matching your everyday spending with the right rewards, then knowing when a redemption is worth the points, fees, and effort. In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast , we discuss how...

You know how many years remain until your final flight. But do you know whether your savings can support what comes next? For airline pilots approaching 40, 50, or 60, a bigger paycheck or a growing 401(k) balance tells only part of the story. Your retirement target depends on what you plan to spend, the income available to cover it, and whether your plan leaves room for flying to end earlier than...

“Leave everything equally to the kids” sounds straightforward until the inheritance includes a vacation home nobody agrees on, retirement accounts with tax consequences, or years of financial help that one sibling receives and another does not. The dollar amounts are only part of the decision. How assets pass, who manages them, and what beneficiaries understand can matter just as much. In this epi...

ChatGPT can explain what is in a portfolio, spot funds that overlap, and help you ask better questions about investment costs. But what happens when you ask it specifically about what to do with your retirement savings? In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast , Casey Smith and Financial Advisor William Medcalf, CFP®, CBDA discuss how ChatGPT handles an investment question, what changes when...

Retirement does not always happen on the same timeline for both spouses. One person may feel burned out and ready to leave a demanding career, while the other still enjoys working. That difference affects more than a retirement date, it can reshape household cash flow, healthcare coverage, taxes, Social Security decisions, and the way a couple imagines life together. In this episode of A Wiser Ret...

Estate planning for a blended family is rarely as simple as deciding who receives each asset. The harder questions involve timing, control, changing relationships, and what happens after one spouse dies. A plan may look complete on paper while leaving room for outcomes no one intended. In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast , Senior Financial Advisor Shawna Theriault, CFP®, CPA, CDFA®, and...

Crypto regulation in the United States has been caught in a gray area for years. The industry continues to grow, financial institutions are showing more interest, and blockchain technology is finding new uses, but companies still face basic questions about who regulates what and which rules apply. The CLARITY Act is designed to address some of those uncertainties, but its failure would not necessa...

Long-term care can shift from a distant concern to an immediate financial decision faster than many families expect. It can begin with a few hours of help at home and progress to assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, or around-the-clock support. Each stage brings different costs, care needs, and family decisions. In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast , Casey Smith and Grace Pavel...

Debt tends to get treated as either a financial tool or a financial trap. The reality is more complicated. Borrowing can help someone buy a home, expand a business, or acquire an income-producing asset, but the same leverage can become a burden when the payment strains cash flow. The important distinction is not simply whether debt exists. It is whether the debt improves your financial position wi...

Making more money does not automatically mean keeping more of it. For high-income couples, taxes often become more complicated as compensation rises, investment income grows, employer benefits expand, and multiple tax rules begin interacting at the same time. The challenge is not finding a loophole that makes taxes disappear. It is understanding which planning decisions are available and how those...

A 30% stock market decline gets attention quickly. Account balances fall, headlines become more alarming, and investors may feel pressure to make an immediate change. But a market downturn does not automatically mean your long-term financial strategy needs to change. In many cases, the more important question is whether anything about your personal financial situation has changed. In this episode...

Reaching a retirement portfolio of $2 million or $3 million may feel like crossing a definitive finish line. However, an account balance alone does not determine whether someone is financially prepared to retire. In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast , we discuss how two households can enter retirement with the same amount of savings and experience very different outcomes. Retirement age,...

The word “budget” often brings to mind complicated spreadsheets, spending guilt, and tracking every coffee purchase. While that level of detail can be helpful for some households, it may become unnecessary once saving, debt management, and cash flow are consistently under control. In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast , we discuss how to determine whether a traditional budget still serves...

Giving money to your children can be an incredibly meaningful way to support them while you are still here to see the impact. You may want to help with a home purchase, pay for college, support a growing family, or begin transferring wealth before it eventually passes through your estate. However, the biggest risk is not always giving too much. Problems often arise when parents give the wrong asse...

Many people dream of becoming an airline pilot, while many pilots eventually dream of retiring early. Retiring at 55 offers more time for family, travel, hobbies, or a new chapter outside aviation, but it is not simply an age decision. It is a financial and lifestyle decision. In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast , we discuss what pilots need to consider before leaving the cockpit 10 yea...

Over the next two decades, an estimated $124 trillion is expected to pass from one generation to the next. For many people, receiving an inheritance can feel overwhelming. The first challenge usually is not deciding how to invest the money. It is knowing what to do next. In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast , we discuss the first steps to take after receiving an inheritance, the common m...

When people hear the phrase “generational wealth,” they often picture trust funds, family empires, and names like Rockefeller or Kennedy. Real generational wealth is not just about leaving behind a large account balance. It is about passing down values, habits, opportunities, work ethic, and a clear understanding of how money can support a meaningful life. In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Po...

Most people track their spending, monitor their investments, and think carefully about where their money goes. But how often do they apply the same level of attention to their time? In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast , Casey Smith sits down with time management expert Megan Sumrell, Founder and CEO of The Pink Bee , to discuss why so many people feel overwhelmed and what they can do to...

For an estate plan to work in real life, your legal documents, account titles, beneficiary designations, tax strategy, and broader financial plan all need to align. That is why coordination between your estate planning attorney, CPA, and financial advisor matters. In this episode of the A Wiser Retirement® Podcast , Senior Financial Advisor Shawna Theriault, CFP®, CPA, CDFA® sits down with Estate...

You weren't worried about your portfolio at breakfast. Then you check your phone and see recession warnings, tariff headlines, Federal Reserve predictions, and market experts declaring that "this time is different." In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast , we discuss why reacting to headlines can lead investors away from their long-term financial goals. Drawing on decades of...

Crypto is often associated with speculation, volatility, and investors trying to pick the next big token. However, the digital asset space continues to evolve beyond that narrative. In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast , Casey Smith speaks with Robert Swarthout, owner and founder of Teton Crypto Capital , about how blockchain technology, digital assets, and crypto-related companies are b...

Earning a high income can create opportunities, but it does not automatically translate into long-term wealth. Many professionals, executives, and business owners fall into financial habits that quietly limit their ability to build lasting financial independence.  In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast , we discuss five common investment pitfalls high earners should avoid and how intention...

Confidence is often viewed as a strength, especially when it comes to building a career, running a business, or making investment decisions. But when it comes to retirement planning and long-term wealth management, overconfidence can create blind spots that lead to costly financial mistakes. In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast , we explore the mindset traps that often affect high earner...

Losing a loved one is emotional enough without having to navigate legal paperwork, financial accounts, and estate settlement decisions at the same time. Yet for many families, those responsibilities begin almost immediately after a death occurs, often without clear guidance or preparation. In this episode of the A Wiser Retirement® Podcast ,  Shawna Theriault, CFP®, CPA, CDFA®, and Estate Planning...

Celebrating 25 years in business offers a rare perspective, one shaped by market booms, financial crises, industry shifts, and, most importantly, real client experiences. In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast , founder Casey Smith reflects on the journey from a startup firm to a comprehensive financial planning team, sharing the lessons learned and what the future holds. Related Podcast E...