Money on Your Mind

Ask ten people how the economy is doing in 2026, and you’ll get ten different answers. We’ve hit the halfway point of 2026, and the past six months have given us a lot to unpack. In this episode, Chief Investment Strategist Katie Klingensmith and host Michael Liersch toss around why people are feeling restless against a backdrop of resilient markets and economic growth.     Katie and Michael discu...

While parenting styles have changed over the years, one thing hasn’t: We’re still not talking enough about money with our kids. Financial planner Kelli Smith wants you to feel empowered to kick off those conversations now. From paying for college to making a large purchase and giving an allowance, Kelli has tips for parents and caregivers to meet kids where they are with financial lessons for the...

Hard truth: Elder fraud is sadly common. And your aging loved one’s financial decisions might reveal the first signs of cognitive decline. Do you know how to help protect them in a world of evolving, sophisticated schemes? In this episode of Money On Your Mind, host Michael Liersch is joined by EFE financial planner Paul Jordan, who brings almost 20 years of experience to his clients and their car...

If most of your Medicare education comes from daytime TV ads, you’re missing some important details. Our Head of Insurance, Rob Bain, wants to change that. Because if retirement is within arm’s reach, you’ll need to make alot of Medicare decisions soon. In this episode of Money On Your Mind, host Michael Liersch talks with Rob about the different parts of Medicare and who can provide you with unbi...

When you hear “investor,” what comes to mind? For many people, it’s someone wealthy or financially savvy, and that can make you think investing’s not for you. But financial planner Kay Russell says that’s totally wrong – investing is for everyone, and she’s seen the proof over and over. The firststep is overcoming your imposter syndrome.   In this episode of Money On Your Mind, host Michael Liersc...

For all the technology and financial playbooks available today, the fundamentals of building a nest egg haven’t changed: work, save, establish your lifestyle and enjoy it into retirement. And the way EFE Financial Planner and author Bill Schultheis sees it, the real challenge isn’t knowing WHAT to do, it’s knowing HOW to make decisions. Especially as retirement gets closer. In this episode of Mone...

Believe it or not, your HSA could be a valuable part ofyour financial plan – if you know how to really use it. According to EFE Financial Planner Christy Martinich, the real power of an HSA is paying medical expenses out of pocket and investing the HSA funds long term. In this episode of Money on Your Mind, host Michael Liersch and planner Christy Martinich break down why HSAs are so appealing to...

Many of us start retirement planning by thinking big – maybe too big. According to EFE financial planner Kelli Smith, new clients often want to start by considering how markets and world events may shape their retirement. But outside influences are only part of the story. You need to take an honest look at your spending, too.  In this episode of Money on Your Mind, host Michael Liersch and financi...

You’ve spent decades saving for retirement, but what happens once the paycheck stops For many retirees, the hardest part isn’t building wealth, it’s understanding the nuts and bolts of living off it. Which accounts should cover expenses? How do taxes get paid? What happens to health care once your employer is no longer handling it? In this episode of Money on Your Mind, host Michael Leirsch sits d...

Believe it or not, most of us still make financial decisions based on perceptions of money that began forming back in our piggy bank days. Even as kids, we observed how money was handled by those around us, shaping our sense of “the right way” to manage it. You may not even realize how influential those beliefs are...until they clash with your romantic partner’s. In this episode of Money On Your M...

While things feel volatile right now, history shows us that uncertainty in midterm election years isn’t unusual – it can actually bring new opportunities. As financial planner Aaron Kirkland tells his clients, it’s all about shifting your mindset. Just like a downhill mountain biker learns not to slam the brakes and wipe out, you can train yourself to approach a down market with control and foresi...

A special compilation episode featuring words of wisdom from Edelman Financial Engines financial planners. Forget detailed analysis and hypotheticals – here are your action items to consider right now. From kicking off your estate planning, to actually feeling confident in your retirement plans and reaching out for a trusted opinion, these are the tasks our financial planners wish you’d put at the...

If estate planning is filed in your brain somewhere under “Stuff I should probably do” or “Things I’ll deal with later,” you need to hear this. Michael Liersch is joined by financial planner Ted Borowiak for an honest conversation about why estate planning is so easy to put off, what’s often missing when people finally get started and how to move forward without feeling ashamed or overwhelmed. Tog...

Will the delicate Iran ceasefire hold? When geopolitical tensions dominate the headlines, it’s hard not to wonder what it means for the future you’ve been planning. In this special episode, host Michael Liersch is joined by Edelman Financial Engines Chief Investment Officer Neil Gilfedder to help make sense of what’s happening and how it connects to the bigger picture. Together, they explore how m...

If you’ve ever looked back at a financial decision and thought, “ Why did I do that?”  — this episode is for you. Even smart, successful people make money moves they later question, and the reason has less to do with intelligence and more to do with being human. In this solo episode, host Michael Liersch breaks down five powerful behavioral finance concepts that quietly shape how we save, invest a...

If you have a second home or rental property you’re ready to sell, listen to this first. Too often, people head into a sale focused on the payoff – only to get blindsided by the fine print later on. Financial planner Heather Vavra joins host Michael Liersch to unpack the “hidden gotchas” in this situation, including a tricky surcharge called the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount that could ...

Want to keep more of your money every year? Pay attention to how taxes impact your finances, especially if you’re within 10 years of retirement. Too many people treat tax planning as a once-a-year event every April, but it’s a year-round task. In this episode, Dr. Michael Liersch talks with financial planner Doug Ulrich to clear up this common misconception and explain why tax planning is so impor...

An explosion in the availability of financial information has changed the way people are planning. Access to financial news and advice has made everyone more curious and engaged, but what are you supposed to do next? In this episode, Dr. Michael Liersch welcomes financial planner Kaliko Veiseh, who has decades of experience helping clients understand the first steps to developing their financial p...

Are you one or two years out from retirement? This episode is for you. You’ve operated with a savings mindset for decades, but for many, approaching retirement means facing an entirely new world of financial and emotional challenges. And entering this next chapter with a positive attitude could be the difference between enjoying the rewards of your hard work – or worrying your way through it. In t...

We’re monitoring developments in Iran and the Middle East closely through market data and geopolitical reporting. In the meantime, our Chief Investment Officer Neil Gilfedder and Chief Investment Strategist Katie Klingensmith are addressing your concerns about what this headline event could mean for your plan, your portfolio and your personal economy. In this special episode, we’re covering how we...

Between headlines about tariffs, Bitcoin and gold – there’s a lot to digest right now. So, we’re trying something a little different this week. In this episode, Dr. Michael Liersch is joined by our Chief Investment Strategist, Katie Klingensmith, for her take on the topics making a lot of investors reconsider their plans. Here's Katie’s expert breakdown of what tariffs are, why you’re hearing...

You’ve seen the email: benefits deadline approaching, action required. Between meetings and family commitments, how are you supposed to know what to do – especially when stock is vesting, bonuses are coming and tax forms are piling up? In this episode, Dr. Michael Liersch talks with financial planner Ryan Cahill about the quiet overwhelm a lot of us are facing when it comes to this personal admin...

Part two of our conversation with EFE Financial Planner, Laela Erickson. It’s tempting to become financially conservative in uncertain times – but you have other options, too. Laela shares the practical strategies she uses with her own clients, including the "bucketing approach" that matches your money to your timeline and helps you think of your finances as a tool, not a source of anxie...

Ever find yourself awake at 3 a.m., wondering what yourfinances really look like? Many of us carry the weight of financial stress in our heads, without ever putting the full picture on paper. In part one of this two-part episode, Dr. Michael Liersch, Chief Planning Officer at Edelman Financial Engines, sits down with EFE financial planner Laela Erickson toexplore how to break the cycle of “mental...

Clients are wondering how, in their financial planning, they can chart a path forward when the road ahead is foggy. In this episode, Dr. Michael Liersch, Chief Planning Officer at Edelman Financial Engines, sits down with EFE financial planner and Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor™ Matt Hickes to address that unstable feeling – and how revisiting your tax strategy may be the way to better peace of m...