The Personal Finance Project

In this thought-provoking episode of The Personal Finance Project , Scott and Greg sit down with Richard Ashcroft to unpack a lifetime of wisdom—both financial and personal. Known internally as the "RA Principles" and affectionately called the "Pop Principles" by his family, these timeless insights reflect decades of leadership, investing experience, and life philosophy. Richard shares the maxims...

In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , Scott and Greg sit down with Richard Ashcroft—Managing Director at Baird and one of the firm's top-ranked financial advisors—for a deep conversation on building lasting wealth through sound financial planning principles rather than short-term market predictions. Richard shares timeless lessons from over four decades in wealth management, emphasizi...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, we continue our series exploring Christine Benz's book  How to Retire  by focusing on her conversation with Jamie Hopkins. Their conversation delves into the complexities of retirement planning, emphasizing the need for adaptabulity as circumstances change. We cover: The psychological challenges of transitioning from saving to spending The role of g...

In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , Greg and Scott return with another installment of  Financial Mythbusters , breaking down a viral "FinTok" video where a 33-year-old offers early retirement advice—including dividend ETFs, REITs, and so-called passive income strategies. They analyze each of her six investment tips and explain where the logic holds up—and where it falls apart. Along...

What actually drives mortgage rates—and why doesn't the Fed have as much control as people think? In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , Scott and Greg break down one of the most misunderstood topics in personal finance: how mortgage rates are really set. From the role of the 10-year Treasury to the impact of mortgage-backed securities, they unpack the mechanics behind your rate—and why...

In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , Scott, Greg, and returning guest Moe Allain tackle an essential—but often overlooked—topic: what parents should discuss with their adult children before they pass away. This candid conversation moves beyond technical estate planning and dives into the heart of family wealth discussions, covering practical strategies, emotional considerations, and...

In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , Scott, Greg, and special guest Justin Nichols—financial advisor with 27 years of industry experience—sit down for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of financial advice, the lessons learned from market cycles, and the enduring value of staying the course. From the days of "stock pickers" and mutual fund sales to modern portfo...

Episode Description: Are 529 college savings plans still the best way to fund education? In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , financial advisor Matt Leatherwood, CFP®, CPWA®, joins hosts Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft to take a critical look at the benefits—and potential drawbacks—of 529 plans. Together, they serve Chevron employees and retirees through personalized financial planni...

In this deep-dive episode of  The Personal Finance Project , Scott and Greg tackle one of the most complex—and misunderstood—topics in economics: global trade. From tariffs and trade deficits to the surprising value of the Panama Canal and the curious case of America's largest trade surplus (hint: it's not with Canada), they unpack what trade really means for the U.S. economy and your investment p...

As the 2025 estate tax exemption sunset approaches, estate planners and high-net-worth families are preparing for potential changes. In this episode, Greg and Scott welcome Darrian Hornedo, Vice President and Estate Planner at Baird, to break down one of the most talked-about estate planning strategies today—the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT). Darrian explains how SLATs work, when and why to...

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, we continue our series exploring Christine Benz's book How to Retire by focusing on her conversation with Mike Piper, CPA and author of the Oblivious Investor blog. Known for making complex financial topics simple and practical, Mike shares critical insights on how to approach tax planning before and throughout retirement. We cover: Why life...

In this episode of The Baird Retirement Management Show , we continue our series on Christine Benz's book How to Retire —this time focusing on her interview with renowned financial author and thinker William Bernstein. Bernstein is well-known for his foundational books like The Four Pillars of Investing and The Intelligent Asset Allocator , and in this chapter, he outlines a methodical, conservati...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, Greg and Scott, dive into the financial challenges faced by young adults, particularly in their 20s. The guys discuss the importance of establishing a solid financial foundation, avoiding common pitfalls, and the significance of budgeting and emergency funds.   Key takeaways: It's harder to achieve retirement goals while in debt Investing in yoursel...

In this episode of the Personal Finance Project, Greg, Scott, and guest Moe Allain, a seasoned advisor with 25 years of experience, discuss the complexities of long-term care, emphasizing the importance of understanding individual needs, the evolution of insurance policies, and the financial implications of long-term care planning. Together, they explore: The challenges of underwriting The benefit...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, Greg and Scott delve into the complexities of credit card usage, exploring the polarizing views surround the cons, behavioral impacts, consumer protections, and the importance of financial discipline. They also address common myths about credit card debt and emphasize the potential benefits of responsible credit card use, including building credit h...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , we continue our book club series exploring How to Retire by Christine Benz. This week, we unpack her interview with renowned retirement researcher David Blanchett—diving into what real-world data tells us about how retirees actually spend their money, and how that differs from common assumptions. We discuss the "retirement income smile," why most r...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , we continue our "Things You Pretend to Know" series by breaking down the key differences between two of the most common investment vehicles: mutual funds and ETFs. Greg and Scott dig into the structure, taxation, and practical use cases of each, helping you understand not just how they work—but when and where to use them. From tax efficiency and ca...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft return for another round of financial mythbusting — this time tackling the age-old (pun intended) investing rule: Subtract your age from 100 to determine how much of your portfolio should be in stocks. Is it simple wisdom… or dangerously outdated advice? Scott and Greg break down why this rule might be directionally...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , we dive into the world of tariffs—what they are, why they exist, and the real-world impact they have on industries, consumers, and the broader economy. Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft from the Ashcroft Pesek Bartosh Group join us to break down the first-order and second-order effects of tariffs, exploring everything from steel and sugar to national...

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, we're joined once again by Greg Ashcroft and Scott Bartosh to tackle the questions and concerns many people have before their first meeting with a financial advisor. We explore the process of transitioning into retirement, from understanding your timeline and must-haves to sharing sensitive financial details with your advisor. Greg and Scott...

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management podcast, we dive into the first lesson from Christine Benz's insightful book, How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement . This chapter, featuring Michael Fink, PhD, a professor of wealth management, focuses on the often-overlooked but critical process of visualizing and operationalizing your in-retirement lifestyle....

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Show, hosts Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft dive into one of the most pressing financial topics for retirees: managing debt in retirement. From the age-old question of whether to pay off your mortgage to navigating car loans and high-interest credit card debt, this episode is packed with practical advice and empathetic insights. Scott and Greg dis...

In this episode of Baird Retirement Management , Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft explore how retirees can prepare for inflation in an uncertain economic environment. With recent interest rate hikes, strong jobs reports, and shifting market dynamics, they discuss strategies for safeguarding your financial future. Key topics include: Diversifying investments beyond the traditional 60/40 portfolio. T...

In this episode of Baird Retirement Management , Scott Bartosh and Greg Ashcroft tackle the burning question: Is the 60/40 portfolio dead? Together, they dive into the history, evolution, and current relevance of this iconic investment strategy. From its academic origins in mean-variance optimization to its behavioral appeal for investors, the team explores why the 60/40 portfolio remains a reliab...

In this episode of the Baird Retirement Management Podcast , we dive into The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons. This fascinating book reveals how six cognitive illusions influence the way we perceive, remember, and navigate the world around us. We explore the famous "gorilla experiment" that demonstrates the illusion of attention, the surpri...