Finance In A Flash

 In this episode of Finance in a Flash: Plain Talk, we wrap up our three-part series on unemployment data by zooming out to the bigger picture—what the jobs report really tells us about the economy. Using the latest data from early 2026, we break down the relationship between employment and GDP, explain why job growth can lag behind economic growth, and explore how trends like artificial intellige...

In this episode of Finance in a Flash: Plain Talk, we continue our mini-series on unemployment data by diving into the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Using February 2026 data, we break down what the unemployment rate actually measures, why headline job numbers can be misleading, and how key factors like labor force participation and population growth shape the broader economic...

On this episode of Finance in a Flash – Plain Talk,  John and Dave kick off a three-part series breaking down one of the most talked-about economic topics: Unemployment.  They start the series off discussing ADP Employment Report, explaining what it is, how it differs from government data, and why it often tells a slightly different story than the headlines you see on Friday mornings. 

On this episode of Finance In A Flash,  John interviews Beacon's newest team member, Isaac Elsasser . We really hope you enjoy this episode and get to know more about Isaac as he talks about his personal life, how he got into financial planning, and his time here at Beacon so far! 

 Inflation has been a hot topic in financial news over the past few years, but what does it really mean for consumers and investors? In this episode of Finance in a Flash , John and Dave take a step back to break down inflation—what it is, why it matters, and how it can impact your purchasing power and investment strategy.  

On this episode of Finance in a Flash, John sits down with Beacon’s newest team member, Dave Trettel. Tune in to learn more about Dave as he shares insights into his personal life, his professional journey in financial planning, and his experiences since joining the Beacon team.  We hope you enjoy getting to know Dave! 

Portfolio rebalancing is an integral part of the investment management process. On this episode of Finance In A Flash, Chip and John sit down to talk about the concept of rebalancing and discuss the benefits of implementing a portfolio rebalancing strategy.  

On this episode of Finance in a Flash we welcome a special guest to the podcast. Stephanie Murray,  Stephanie is Beacon’s Planning and Operations Manager. Stephanie is an Enrolled Agent—a federally licensed tax practitioner as well as a Certified Financial Planner™.  John and Stephanie sit down and discuss important tax forms, the tax preparation process, and much more! 

On this episode of Finance in a Flash, Chip and John explore why we prefer mutual funds and ETFs versus individual stocks! 

On this episode of Finance In A Flash,  John interviews Beacon's Client Services Representative, Patrick Lamprey. We really hope you enjoy this episode and get to know more about Patrick as he talks about his personal life, how he got into financial planning, and his time here at Beacon so far! 

Getting married is one of the biggest decisions of any persons life. On this episode of Finance in a Flash, Chip interviews John to discuss making financial decision as newly weds.  

For better or worse, the financial decisions that young adults make have an ongoing impact on their lives.  On this episode of Finance in a Flash, Chip and John give some advice to recent graduates on how to build a solid financial foundation.  

Making the decision to retire is a difficult one.  On this episode of Finance in a Flash Chip and John discuss the moving parts, many unknowns and variables that are at play that can impact the outcome and ultimately the probability of a successful retirement.  

On this episode of Finance in a Flash, Chip and John discuss a few situations that might warrant  selling an investment, and some rules of thumb to consider when deciding on whether to sell an investment!

Is it best to contribute to your company sponsored 401k plan, a Roth IRA, or a personal brokerage account? The answer depends on many factors. Chip and John hash out some of those factors on this episode of Finance in a Flash!

When it comes to taking account distributions, which account is best - IRAs, Roth IRAs, Brokerage accounts or 401k plans? Chip and John discuss tax strategies and other considerations to take into account when deciding which account to take a distribution from! 

On this episode of Finance in a Flash Chip and John sit down to discuss, tax-efficient investing and the importance of “Asset Location.”  Chip and John talk about which types of investments should be held in which accounts and why that may vary based on your stage in life.  

On this episode of Finance in a Flash, Chip and John give an update on the economy and financial markets. Chip and John talk about the Federal Reserve, inflation, the market, and much more! 

On this episode of Finance In A Flash,  Chip and John discus Money Markets! We dive into what a Money Market is, FDIC limits, what role Money Market accounts play, and so much more!  

On this episode of Finance In A Flash, we wrap up our series on Estate Planning by discussing common types of trusts. Chip and John briefly discuss several common types of trusts, their objectives, pros and cons, and tax and estate implications!

On this episode of Finance In A Flash, we continue our series on Estate Planning by discussing Revocable Living Trusts. Chip and John discuss key components of a Revocable Living Trust including:  the primary purposes, how they are handled from a tax perspective, and other reasons to consider this estate planning tool!

On this episode of Finance In A Flash, we continue our series on Estate Planning by discussing Wills.  Chip and John discuss what the purpose of a will, how they are used and the important decisions that need to be made when determining the provisions within a will.

On this episode of Finance In A Flash, we continue our series on Estate Planning by discussing Probate. Chip and John discuss what probate actually means, the assets included in the probate process, what assets are NOT included in the probate process, and so much more! 

On this episode of Finance in a Flash, Chip and John kick off our series on Estate Planning. We discuss asset titling and the importance of understanding how different  assets are titled!

In this episode of Finance in Flash Chip and John give an update on the Economy and Financial Markets. Chip and John talk performance, inflation, planning opportunities, and much more!