Five Minute Finance

This week, Matt Robison and I discuss the concept of being aggressive in your investment strategy, especially when you have time on your side.  Over a 40-year period, historical data shows that investing $10,000 in the U.S. stock market could grow to an impressive $650,000, assuming an average annual return of 11%. Even in the worst-case scenario over the past century, where returns were just...

Inflation has a way of eroding the purchasing power of our money over time, making it essential to plan smartly to ensure financial security. In this episode, Matt Robison and I delve into the intricacies of managing finances in the face of rising inflation. Most notably, we talk about the importance of aligning investment strategies with specific timeframes to make the most of your assets. What d...

In this week’s episode, Matt Robison and I dive into an often-overlooked aspect of job selection: logistics. While most people prioritize salary and job responsibilities, we emphasize the significance of considering the logistical details that contribute to job satisfaction and work-life balance. What are Job Logistics? The term "logistics" here encompasses various aspects of a job beyond the actu...

Ever wonder what’s in your index fund? Similar to reading labels in a grocery store, you are likely to find things that you either don’t recognize (erythorbic acid in your frozen blueberries??) or are surprised to find (cane sugar in jarred pasta sauce??). It would serve you well to delve deeper into the components of your investment vehicles, particularly index funds, to avoid potential pitfalls...

Join Matt Robison and I this week as we explore the idea that our individual lives may not hold significant meaning in the grand scheme of things. Don’t get disheartened, embracing the notion that your life doesn’t matter can actually be a fulfilling and liberating approach to life.  By acknowledging that our actions have minimal impact on the universe, we can prioritize our personal passions...

Rich vs. Wealthy: Do you know the difference? In today's world, the terms "rich" and "wealthy" are often used interchangeably. However, it's important to understand that there is a significant difference between the two. While being rich may imply a high salary, luxurious lifestyle, and expensive possessions, being wealthy goes beyond material abundance. In this podcast, Matt and I will explore th...

In this podcast episode, we delve into the complexities of estate planning and provide valuable insights to help you make informed decisions when it comes to choosing a trustee. Whether you're considering a friend, family member, or professional as your trustee, learn how to navigate the process and ensure the smooth administration of your assets. When deciding upon a trustee to oversee the manage...

Managing your finances can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to making sound investment decisions and navigating the complexities of taxes. In this podcast, Matt Robison and I tackle some common financial misunderstandings and provide insights into how you can avoid them.  1) Accounts and Investments are not one in the same You might have a backpack for hiking, but it's what’s i...

1) How can you beat the stock market? Low-cost index funds can help you beat the stock market by providing diversification and low fees. Index funds are designed to replicate the performance of a particular index, such as the S&P 500, by investing in all the stocks in that index. This means you get exposure to the market as a whole, which can help reduce risk and increase returns over the long...

I’ve talked about Health Savings Accounts (HSA’s) in the past but it was time for Matt Robison and I to revisit one of my favorite retirement accounts. You read that correctly, HSA’s are great vehicles for retirement savings. Here’s the four W’s: What: What is a Health Savings account? It is an employee benefit intended to offset health care costs of high deductible insurance plans. Once opened, e...

You don’t need a ninja suit and a broom to sneak through this clean back door and “steal” an extra $10k.  Many of my clients see the income limit for contributing to a Roth IRA ($150k/year single; $228k/year married) and give up on this wholly beneficial retirement account.  This year, the contribution limit is $6,500 for an individual. Since a Roth IRA grows tax free and is 100% yours,...

This podcast might not be a one-size-fits-all, but it is worth a listen in terms of understanding estates and how good financial planning can help ensure that beneficiaries suffer the fewest tax consequences. Matt and I discuss how parents trying to lower estate taxes can take advantage of the rules and start giving money to their adult children and even grandchildren. The benefit of doling out so...

Want to set your kids up for financial success? Well, you should have started 20 years ago. Before you start sputtering and scrambling, know that the next best time to do this is right now. When time is on your side, you can afford to take on the risk of market volatility in order to reap large rewards (in the form of compounding interest) in the future. Want to know how? It's as easy as 1,2,3… Op...

This week we are celebrating the 100th podcast by bringing you the top five most downloaded episodes. Join Matt Robison and I as we countdown the topics most listeners found helpful: 5. Health Savings Accounts - How you can enjoy triple tax benefits by using my favorite all-time account 4. ETF vs. Mutual Funds - This was a hot topic last year when many people were hit with an unexpected capital ga...

A smart man learns from his mistakes, a wise man learns from the mistakes of others. Many of my clients are in the tech space and thus affected (at least emotionally) by SVB’s failure in early March. On this week’s podcast I will give you the wisdom gleaned from the downfall of the bank that was not too big to fail.  I break it down into three parts: What does the collapse of SVB mean for me?...

Many parents want to set their kids up for success and support them on their life journey. With the memory of establishing 529’s at the forefront, the thought of IRA’s and Roths can be overwhelming. Don’t get caught in the weeds. Join Matt and I this week to learn how you can take the 5-minute approach to giving a small, but meaningful, boost to your kids. The bottom line is: don’t over-complicate...

Financing a new or used car is almost as frustrating as the salesperson trying to sell you that cherry red, tinted window ladies/gents magnet Prius on the lot. 🚗 Car dealers may be able to entice you with lower rate financing options than you could get at your bank of choice, but when looking at 4%-7% interest over five to seven years, it makes sense to evaluate other options. Join Matt Robison a...

Congress’ passing of the Secure 2.0 Act at the end of 2022 provides savvy planners with many new ways to benefit from retirement savings. Join Matt Robison and I this week as I walk through some of the changes and sprint through others to give you an overview of how this monumental piece of legislation impacts your bottom line. Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) age changes - If you were born aft...

January’s over and I’d be willing to bet that if you bothered to make a resolution, you probably already broke it , am I right? Resolving to make some significant change in your life can feel overwhelming, not to mention is often unsustainable. Planning to lose weight by cutting out sugar? How long did that last? Vowing to save more money but then your power went out for days, pipes froze and you...

People make financial decisions for a plethora of reasons. While we may understand that it makes more sense, financially, to invest extra cash in the market, sometimes pulling the trigger on a lump sum can lead to anxiety and regret. So how can you feel better about making that investment? Using a strategy called dollar cost averaging (DCA). Let’s say you have $10k in cash and want to invest but y...

Find out what you should be focusing on in your end of year portfolio!

While college tuition is a common financial planning line item amongst my clients, I also find myself having more and more conversations about private elementary and secondary education. Tune in this week as Matt Robison and I discuss what goes into choosing a private school vs public education. Spoiler alert: it’s not just a budget analysis! Public vs. Private  Location: Where you live is li...

The Fed raised the interest rates for the sixth time in nine months prompting many of my clients and listeners to ask “what does this mean for me?” Matt Robison and I sit down to talk about the ramifications of the doubled federal interest rate on this week’s podcast. In a nutshell, the rate increases impact your financial planning in a few negative and positive ways: Mortgage Rates - Now is not t...

Last week we opened up a dialogue to help parents talk to their kids about money. Join Matt and I this week as we dive in a little deeper and explore: Enabling failure (say what?) Chores and Allowances Apps - making life easier or harder? Investing, Saving and Giving The common thread between this week and last week, and all the topics we covered in both, is conversation. If you don’t talk to your...

“Dad, how much money do you make?” “How much did our car cost?” “What did you pay for our house?” Kids rarely have filters. As uncomfortable as it can be to answer questions about human sexuality, we also feel a degree of that discomfort when it comes to answering their questions about money. This week, Matt Robison and I tackle this discussion in part I of a two part series on talking to kids abo...