The Personal Finance Project

Inflation may have cooled from its 2022 highs, but for many Americans, life still feels expensive. In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , Scott and Chris unpack the so-called "affordability crisis" and explore why rising costs continue to dominate conversations about personal finance. The discussion covers the pandemic-era economic response, inflation, housing affordability, mortgage ra...

A high-profile connection may have brought attention to the Swift Ark case, but the lessons extend far beyond professional athletes and celebrity investors. In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , we examine the timeline of the Swift Ark investment scheme, how an allegedly diversified fund became heavily concentrated in a single thinly traded security, and how new investor money was used...

Winning $1 million on Survivor should have been a life-changing financial opportunity. Instead, Richard Hatch's decision not to properly report his prize money and other income led to tax-evasion convictions, multiple prison sentences, and a federal tax judgment of approximately $3.3 million.  In the first installment of "What Are You Doing at Tax Court?" , we examine how the case unfolded and exp...

How much of the financial advice you see online is actually true? In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, two financial advisors react to viral claims about an S&P 500 warning signal, the CAPE ratio, billionaire estate-planning strategies, irrevocable trusts, popular budgeting rules, retirement withdrawals, and whether most people really need a financial advisor. Along the way, they separ...

Welcome to a brand-new segment of The Personal Finance Project : Buy or Sell . In this episode, Hannah puts Greg and Scott on the spot to weigh in on some of the biggest topics shaping today's financial landscape. Will inflation remain a persistent challenge through 2027? Are higher interest rates here to stay? Should investors worry about the infamous September stock market slump? And how much do...

In this solo episode of The Personal Finance Project, Greg dives into one of the most misunderstood aspects of retirement planning: how to pay your taxes after leaving the workforce. Many retirees transition from automatic payroll withholding to managing taxes on their own, often leading to confusion about estimated tax payments, withholding strategies, IRS safe harbor rules, and avoiding underpay...

Distressing headlines can make even long-term investors wonder whether they should change course. In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , Greg Ashcroft and Scott Bartosh discuss how to think about portfolio decisions when markets have performed well but the news remains unsettling. They explore the difference between proactive rebalancing and market timing, why strong recent returns can...

The latest IRS minimum present value segment rates are out — and they may have important implications for ExxonMobil employees and former employees considering a lump sum pension. In this solo episode, Scott Bartosh walks through the latest third-quarter rates, the early signals for fourth-quarter rates, and why rising interest rates can affect the value of a lump sum pension election. He also exp...

  What happens when you inherit an IRA—and how can you make smart decisions before the 10-year clock runs out? In this episode, Greg and Scott break down the rules surrounding inherited IRAs, including the differences between eligible designated beneficiaries, non-eligible designated beneficiaries, and non-designated beneficiaries. They explain when the 10-year rule applies, why annual required di...

Some money myths are easy to dismiss. Others survive because they contain just enough truth to sound convincing. In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , Hannah puts Greg and Scott on the spot with five popular claims about taxes, investing, insurance, and wealth—no preparation, no scripted answers. They tackle questions like: Do the rich really avoid paying taxes? Should you wait for the...

A large inheritance can help the next generation—but timing may matter just as much as the amount. In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , Scott and Greg explore the psychology and planning questions behind the Great Wealth Transfer. They discuss why many retirees are accumulating larger estates than previous generations, why younger adults may feel financially behind, and whether waitin...

The first half of 2026 reminded investors of an important lesson: markets don't always move the way headlines suggest. In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , Greg and Scott break down the first six months of the year, discussing why equities posted solid returns despite geopolitical uncertainty, what drove performance beyond the biggest technology companies, and why today's bond market...

In this solo episode of The Personal Finance Project , Greg Ashcroft tackles one of the most popular—and often misunderstood—topics in personal finance: Roth accounts. From Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s to Roth conversions, conventional wisdom often treats Roth strategies as the obvious choice. Greg argues that the reality is far more nuanced. Drawing on real-world retirement planning experience, Gre...

In this episode, we introduce the concept of "financial escape velocity"—a practical middle ground between traditional retirement and the extreme version of the FIRE movement. We discuss how to recognize when your investments begin doing the heavy lifting, reducing the need for continued high levels of saving, and what that inflection point can mean for your lifestyle decisions. We explore key ind...

Trump Accounts are generating a lot of interest—but how do they actually work, and where do they fit within a broader financial plan? In this episode, we walk through: Who qualifies and how contributions work Tax treatment and key differences vs. Roth IRAs and 529 plans Potential long-term growth implications Strategic considerations at key decision points Common risks, including tax complexity an...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, Greg Ashcroft and Scott Bartosh provide an update on ExxonMobil pension segment rates and what recent interest rate movements could mean for employees and retirees evaluating their pension options. The discussion covers how IRS segment rates are calculated, why geopolitical events and inflation expectations can influence pension lump sums, and what...

Are capital gains really the "tax nightmare" retirees fear? Or are they actually one of the most tax-efficient sources of retirement income available? In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , Greg Ashcroft and Scott Bartosh break down the myths, misunderstandings, and planning opportunities surrounding capital gains in retirement. The guys explain the critical differences between short-te...

After a five-month hiatus, The Personal Finance Project is back — and a lot has changed. In this episode, Greg and Scott finally answer the question listeners have been asking: "Where have you guys been?" The last several months brought major life changes for the team, including Hannah welcoming her first child, Scott moving into a new home with his wife Kasyn, and Greg's family navigating a devas...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , Greg Ashcroft and Scott Bartosh break down the essential year-end tax moves for 2025—and the big changes coming in 2026. They cover: • How to handle your first RMD at age 73 • Using year-end IRA withholding instead of quarterly estimates • Safe harbor rules and avoiding penalties • Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) and why they can lower yo...

In this episode of  The Personal Finance Project , Greg and Scott sit down with  Joe Hodes , Director of Research on Baird's  Specialized Asset Management (SAM) team. With a decade of experience as a research analyst and his CFA designation, Joe brings a deep and practical perspective on how portfolios are built, how companies are evaluated, and what investors should understand about today's marke...

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , Scott and Greg welcome back Justin Nichols , a nearly 30-year industry veteran, for a timely and expansive discussion on the economy, AI, and the future of financial advice. We begin with today's economic backdrop—from tariffs and inflation to interest-rate strategy and the growing importance of U.S. energy. Justin explains why tariff revenues are...

What if you could retire right now ? In this episode of The Personal Finance Project , Scott Bartosh and Hannah Gowdy dive into the fascinating world of  FIRE — Financial Independence, Retire Early — and unpack what it takes to make early retirement work (and when it doesn't). From "lean FIRE" minimalism to "barista FIRE" side gigs, Scott and Hannah explore how people are redefining work, wealth,...

We turn tax complexity into action: marginal vs. effective rates, bucket logic, IRMAA and the widow(er)'s penalty, inherited IRA rules, and when Roth conversions actually make sense. Plus, asset location (Roth/traditional/taxable) and the early-retirement access rules most people get wrong.

In this Book Club installment of The Personal Finance Project , we dive into Christine Benz's How to Retire —specifically her interview with retirement researcher Wade Pfau . We translate the theory into plain-English decisions: how to turn your portfolio into reliable income you'll actually feel comfortable spending. We break down Pfau's framework across two key preferences— Safety-First vs. Prob...

Gold has fans, critics, and a whole lot of marketing. In this Financial Mythbusters-style episode, we unpack when (and if) gold earns a seat in a long-term portfolio. We cover how gold really behaves across market cycles, why "true believer" doomsday cases fall apart in practice, the overlooked tax trap on ETFs and bullion (hello, 28% collectible rate), and the messy realities of storage, insuranc...