Business Casual

You finally paid off your debt. So why doesn’t it feel like you have more money? When monthly payments disappear, that freed-up cash flow needs a purpose before everyday spending absorbs it. In this episode of Business Casual, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma discuss what comes after debt payoff, from rebuilding accessible savings to planning for future goals and investing. FREE DEBT PAYOFF WEBINAR Re...

Are you paying off your debt in the wrong order? Getting out of debt isn't just about making bigger payments. It's about understanding which debts to prioritize, protecting your savings, and building a strategy you can actually stick to. FREE DEBT PAYOFF WEBINAR Ready to tackle your debt? Join Keith and Shane for a free live webinar exploring debt payoff strategies and ways to improve cash...

Think a good credit score is all you need to get approved for a loan? Think again. Banks look at more than your credit score when deciding whether to lend you money. Your debt-to-income ratio, payment history, available assets, and even the type of loan you're applying for can all influence their decision. FREE DEBT PAYOFF WEBINAR Ready to tackle your debt? Join Keith and Shane for a free live...

How well do you actually know money? In this episode of Business Casual, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma put their financial knowledge to the test with two games: Higher or Lower and Financial Red Flag, Yellow Flag, or Green Flag. They tackle surprising financial statistics and debate everyday money decisions involving emergency savings, credit cards, car loans, debt, investing, retirement contributi...

What if the reason your budget keeps failing has less to do with discipline and more to do with the system behind it? Download the Cash Flow & Expenditures Analysis Worksheet: https://www.afgfl.com/business-casual-podcast?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast_description&utm_campaign=cash_flow_worksheet&utm_content=ep52 Use the worksheet from this episode to take a closer look at y...

You’ve spent decades building your retirement savings, but what happens once it’s finally time to start using it? In this episode of our Life Stages Series, Keith and Shane discuss how financial planning changes once you enter retirement. Instead of focusing primarily on accumulating assets, the conversation shifts toward generating income, managing taxes, protecting what you’ve built, and decidin...

You’ve spent decades saving for retirement, but does that mean you’re actually ready to stop working? In this episode of our Life Stages Series, Keith and Shane break down five major questions to consider as retirement gets closer. From creating retirement income and deciding when to claim Social Security to healthcare costs, taxes, estate planning, and protecting the assets you’ve spent years bui...

Ages 45–54 can feel like financial crunch time. You may be earning more than ever, but you could also be managing higher expenses, supporting children, helping aging parents, paying down debt, and realizing that retirement is no longer far away. In this episode of the Business Casual Podcast’s Life Stages Series, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma discuss the financial decisions that become increasingly...

Your mid-career years can be some of your most important asset-building years, but earning more does not automatically mean you are building wealth. In this episode of the Business Casual Podcast, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma discuss the financial priorities individuals between the ages of 35 and 44 should be focusing on. From managing debt and strengthening your emergency fund to protecting your...

The first 10 years of your career can shape your finances for decades. Many young professionals begin their careers with student loans, credit card balances and car payments before receiving their first full-time paycheck. At the same time, they may be preparing to buy a home, get married, start a family and save for retirement. In this episode of Business Casual, Shane Stelma and Keith Smith disc...

College prepares you for a career, but does it prepare you to manage your money? In this episode of the Business Casual Podcast, Shane and Keith answer some of the biggest financial and career questions facing college students and young professionals. They discuss how to build credit without falling into the debt trap, why closing an old credit card may hurt your credit history, and what to consid...

Why do so many budgets fail? In this episode of the Business Casual Podcast, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma explain why traditional budgeting often falls apart—and what actually works if you want to build long-term wealth. Using real client scenarios, they break down how cash flow, spending habits, lifestyle creep, and unexpected expenses quietly prevent people from getting ahead, even when they're...

Are you keeping too much money in your savings account? Should you pay off debt first or invest? How much cash should you actually have available? In this episode of the Business Casual Podcast, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma break down one of the most overlooked parts of financial planning: how your assets and liabilities should work together. They explain why different types of accounts exist, how...

What happens if you're sued, become disabled, or pass away unexpectedly? Most people assume their employer benefits and basic insurance policies are enough—but they often aren't. In this episode of the Business Casual Podcast, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma break down one of the most overlooked parts of financial planning: protection. Using real-world examples, they explain how lawsuits, disabilitie...

Most people know how much money they have in one account... but very few know what their complete financial picture actually looks like. In this episode of the Business Casual Podcast, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma introduce the Living Balance Sheet, a financial planning system designed to organize your entire financial life in one secure location. Learn how your protection strategies, investments,...

Most people believe the key to investing is earning a strong average return. The reality is far more complicated. In this episode of the Business Casual Podcast, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma explain why the order of your investment returns can have a bigger impact on your retirement than the average return itself. Using real-world examples, they demonstrate how two investors earning the exact same...

Most people assume life insurance is something they can buy later. The reality is that many healthy young adults become uninsurable after an unexpected illness or medical event. By then, the opportunity may already be gone. In this episode, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma explain what term life insurance is, why it's one of the foundations of a financial plan, and why waiting can become one of th...

Are you saving for retirement the right way? In this episode of the Business Casual Podcast, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma break down retirement accounts in simple terms. They explain the differences between Traditional and Roth 401(k)s, Traditional and Roth IRAs, employer matching, contribution limits, and the common mistakes that can cost you thousands over time. You'll also learn why taxes p...

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make, but is a 15-year mortgage really the smartest choice? In this episode of the Business Casual Podcast, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma break down the real numbers behind homeownership. Using a $300,000 home as an example, they compare a 15-year mortgage and a 30-year mortgage, discuss the impact of PMI, explain how mortgage amor...

What does your financial life actually look like today? In this episode of Business Casual, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma break down one of the most important yet overlooked financial tools: your personal balance sheet. They discuss how assets, liabilities, cash flow, and net worth work together to create a snapshot of your financial health. You'll learn what counts as an asset, how debt impacts yo...

Most people think building wealth starts with earning more money. In reality, it often comes down to what you do with the money you already make. In this episode of Business Casual, Shane Stelma and Keith Smith break down how small changes in spending habits, automated savings, and cash flow management can create significant long-term wealth. Through real-world examples, they show how a young prof...

Most people are told the same thing about retirement: “Save aggressively, shift conservative, and live off 4%.” But what if that strategy is actually limiting your retirement income? In this episode of Business Casual, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma break down the traditional “safe withdrawal rate” strategy and explain why many retirees may unknowingly leave money, flexibility, and tax efficiency on...

What would happen to your finances if your paycheck suddenly stopped? In this episode of Business Casual, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma break down why disability insurance may be one of the most overlooked parts of a financial plan. They explain the real risks of becoming disabled before retirement, why group coverage often isn’t enough, and how the wrong policy can leave families financially expos...

Most young professionals are told to “save more” and invest in a 401(k) — but few actually understand how financial planning works together. In this episode of Business Casual, Keith Smith and Shane Stelma break down the biggest financial mistakes younger professionals make and how to build a stronger financial foundation early in life. They discuss: • Why protection planning matters before invest...

Most people don’t have an income problem. They have a cash flow problem. In this episode of Business Casual, Keith Smith and Shane Stoma break down why so many high earners still live paycheck to paycheck and how small changes in your financial systems can completely change your future. From emergency funds and debt management to retirement planning and lifestyle creep, this conversation explains...