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Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement

When considering retirement, do you wonder what financial opportunities you may be missing? Busy lives take over and years pass without taking advantage. In this retirement podcast, the Financial Symmetry advisors unveil financial opportunities, to help you balance enjoying today so you are ready to retire later. By day, they are fiduciary fee-only financial advisors who answer questions about tax savings, investment decisions, and how to save more. If you’ve been putting off your financial to-do list or are just not sure what you’ve been missing, subscribe to the show and learn more at www.financialsymmetry.com. Financial Symmetry is a Raleigh Financial Advisor. Proudly serving clients in the Triangle of North Carolina for over 20 years.
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Now displaying: Category: general
Jul 16, 2018

Do you ever feel financial advisors speaks a different language? Many clients feel their advisors throw around financial terminology that creates more confusion than clarity. Financial planners use mnemonics and acronyms since they are a great way to remember things. But the shorthand can be confusing to those that are unfamiliar with them. According to Investopedia, there are around 1900 financial acronyms, and more being created daily. Join us on this episode as we decode 10 of the most common to give you a head start in the next meeting with your advisor.

Do you let FOMO direct your investment decisions?

FAANG and FOMO go hand in hand. FAANG refers to the hot tech stocks like Apple, Netflix, and Google. This acronym is reminiscent of the late 90's tech stock boom when there were only 5 or 6 tech stocks that were sustaining the entire market. FOMO (the fear of missing out) leaves you feeling like you are getting left behind if a decent portion of your portfolio is not invested in these stocks. This is where it's important to recognize how your emotions are influencing your investing decisions. History shows us the slippery slope letting your emotions drive your investing can be.

How BPS is just as important as GPS

BPS is how a mutual fund expense ratio or financial advisor's fee is often quoted. BPS simply stands for Basis Points, the number of decimals after a whole number. For example, 50 BPS is 0.50%. Understanding the total annual cost of your investing strategies can help you more accurately compare the value you are getting from your investment strategy or financial planning relationship.

In the third slot is the CAPE ratio. This is an acronym for the Cyclically Adjusted Price Earnings ratio, a popular measure to help judge whether the stock market is cheap or expensive according to historical averages. A highly correlated long-term indicator of future returns, the CAPE ratio continues to be a good measure for understanding the stage of the market cycle.

Are you part of the FIRE generation?

FIRE is a newer movement, developing more over the last 10-15 years. It stands for Financially Independent, Retire Early. Many people are looking for the flexibility to work less or retire earlier in life. Folks that attempt to drastically limit spending or save considerably may be trying to achieve FIRE. Given the gravity of these decisions and the length of low to little expected income, it's most important to understand the risks. This is where evaluating your full financial picture with annual cash flow comparisons and tax planning opportunities can add extra benefits at the margins.

Should you do a QCD from your RMD or use your DAF?

Does your financial advisor speak like this? Do you just nod your head and play along? Understanding these terms could shave your tax burden considerably if used correctly. QCD, DAF, and RMD are important acronyms for the charitably inclined which can also lower your annual tax burdens. RMD is the Required Minimum Distribution that you are required to take at age 70 ½ each year. QCD is the Qualified Charitable Distribution if you are over the age of 70 ½ which sends a percentage of the RMD directly to charity, therefore, reducing your taxable income.

Listen to this episode to hear all 10 financial acronyms decoded (plus a few bonus ones) to be fully engaged at the next meeting with your financial advisor.

Outline of This Episode

  • [1:27] Acronyms are a great way to remember things
  • [5:17] FAANG
  • [6:21] FOMO
  • [7:40] CAPE
  • [8:51] BPS
  • [9:56] FIRE
  • [12:10] RMD
  • [13:58] QCD
  • [14:38] DAF
  • [15:52] NAPFA
  • [17:48] ACH
  • [19:39] REIT
  • [20:44] ETF

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect With Chad and Mike

Subscribe To This Podcast

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Jul 2, 2018

You have been hearing about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for the past few years now. Nothing attracts the attention of the public like the possibility of missing out on the latest craze. The fear of missing out or “FOMO” can be extremely powerful. So you may be wondering whether Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency might be worthwhile to invest in. Like anything money related, it is important to understand what you are getting yourself and your money invested in. Listen to this episode to learn more about what Bitcoin is, the risks involved, and how cryptocurrencies work.

What is Bitcoin and how do cryptocurrencies work?

Bitcoin is a worldwide cryptocurrency and digital payment system. It was invented in 2009 by a person or group of people named Satoshi Nakamoto, and it is still unknown who exactly the founder was. There are now more than 1500 cryptocurrencies in the virtual world today. Cryptocurrencies are different than regular currency because there is no bank or government backing them. Cryptocurrencies are created by mining. Like gold, cryptocurrencies have a limited supply which is where their value comes from. Listen to this episode to learn more about Bitcoin and how cryptocurrencies work.

What are the risks of Bitcoin?

There are many risks to buying Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies including, regulatory, security, insurance, fraud, security, and market risks. The government can essentially outlaw cryptocurrencies if it so chooses. There is a security risk in protecting your purse or online wallet. Someone can hack into your wallet and steal your coins. Your money at the bank is insured by the FDIC, but cryptocurrencies are not. So if someone does steal your coins you will not be insured. How do you know that you are buying real Bitcoin? The risk of fraud when buying cryptocurrencies is real. The price has see-sawed up and down dramatically over the past 8 years so along with all the other risks, there are substantial market risks. Listen to this episode to become informed on all the risks associated with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies

Is Bitcoin an investment or a speculation?

Investments are something you can estimate the expected returns of by reading up on the background of the stock or bond. By researching the growth rate and fundamental value of an investment you can get an idea of what you may think the future return will be. The value of Bitcoin is dependent upon what someone else is willing to pay you and the history of it is all over the map. For this reason, we feel that cryptocurrencies are a speculation rather than an investment. Listen to this episode to hear why we feel that cryptocurrencies are not something you should invest a significant amount of money in and why you should not try to use Bitcoin to fund your retirement.

What is blockchain and why is it important?

Although cryptocurrencies are tumultuous and it can be difficult to see what their future may bring, blockchain technology may have a big role to play in the future. Bitcoin is distributed by a blockchain which is a publicly distributed ledger. The technology of blockchain may completely change over time. The future of blockchain may include payment processing, money transfers, digital voting, and real estate or title transactions. Cryptocurrencies may not be the best investment but they have opened a new frontier in digital money and accounting. Listen to this episode to hear why blockchain technology could be so important to the future of money.

Outline of This Episode

  • [0:27] Why you need to know about Bitcoin and cryptocurrency
  • [4:17] What is cryptocurrency?
  • [8:07] What are the risks of Bitcoin?
  • [13:40] What are the tax implications?
  • [14:20] Is Bitcoin an investment or a speculation?
  • [16:11] What is blockchain?

Resources Mentioned

Connect With Chad and Mike

Subscribe To This Podcast

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Jun 18, 2018

Next to the weather, vacation questions are in the small talk hall of fame. Each year, as summer approaches, more time is spent thinking, talking and planning for the perfect summer getaway. For most of us, the joy of some relaxation can make us all daydream. After all, most people choose to spend more time planning their vacations than their finances.

This makes sense because the greatest amount of happiness around vacations, peaks in the anticipation period. Looking forward to your travels boosts the pleasure factor positioning you for the highest return on that vacation.

With summer now in full swing, we love hearing about the tricks and tactics of how people are planning their vacations. In this episode, we've compiled 5 steps that draw parallels between your vacations and your financial planning. Taking these steps should deliver more enjoyable vacations.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

  • Examples of research strategies for planning vacations and financial planning.
  • Why paying for vacation in advance can add more enjoyment and make it more memorable.
  • Identifying goals and objectives makes for more successful vacations and financial planning.
  • How and when a professional can be helpful and actually save cost and free up time.
  • What's the all-in-cost? Considering what you may be missing can help identify blind spots.
  • Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of those planning a family trip are expected to hit the roads this year.

Links Mentioned In the Show

Jun 4, 2018

Did you know that your natural human behavior could be affecting your finances in a negative way? Behaviors may seem like small decisions but they build up over time. Human behavior makes a big difference in whether you are able to reach your financial goals. On this episode, Mike and I explore how human behavior impacts your financial choices. We have discovered 5 secrets to improve the way you go about making financial decisions. Are you looking for new ways to improve your finances? If so, then listen to this episode to hear 5 ways to improve your financial decisions.

Automate your financial systems

According to the book Thinking Fast and Slow, your brain has two systems. One system is automated, and the other is for deeper thought. What does this have to do with your finances, you ask? If you have ever tried to make a financial choice you could get to the point of analysis paralysis with all the options. One way to make decisions easier is by limiting choices. You can get overloaded by having too many choices. If you set things up to automatically happen, like an automatic withdrawal to savings or an IRA this can really help ease your financial decisions. Listen to this episode to hear five great tips to modify your behavior to positively impact your finances.

Be aware of where your money is going

This seems so easy. Of course, you are aware of how you spend your money. But are you really? Studies have shown that simply having an expense tracking app on your phone makes you more conscious of the way that you spend money. Whether you compare your receipts to your budget each month, track your spending with an app, or simply take a moment to process what you just spent on that ice cream, take time to be aware of your financial choices. To hear all five tips on how you can change your behavior to improve your financial decisions listen to episode sixty of Financial Symmetry.

Small wins do matter

The power of momentum can get you over big financial hurdles. It can seem that some financial goals are completely unattainable when you are just starting out. This can feel incredibly frustrating and make some people give up hope of attaining their goals. Rather than focusing on the big picture, focus your energy on achieving small goals. If you can get some small wins under your belt this can help you achieve the momentum you need to achieve your financial goals. Listen to his episode to hear how you can improve your behaviors to make better financial decisions.

Accountability works wonders

There is power in accountability. This may be the most powerful tool that we mention on this episode. It is important to have a human accountability partner rather than a technological one. If you rely on an app to try and help you with accountability, you could simply turn it off. A human is harder to ignore. Having a friend or financial counselor can help you achieve your goals. When you have an accountability partner to help you with your financial decisions this could be the most effective way to reach your goals. Listen to this episode to hear how having an accountability partner could help you with your financial decisions.

Outline of This Episode

  • [3:07] The human behavior decisions are actually the most interesting side of financial planning
  • [6:45] Choice architecture
  • [10:45] Saliency and self-correcting behaviors
  • [15:02] Follow through by writing things down
  • [17:56] Small wins matter
  • [22:05] The power of accountability

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect With Chad and Mike

Subscribe To This Podcast

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May 21, 2018

Charitable giving fills a need in our society and betters it as a whole. And until recently, donating to nonprofits helped people receive attractive deductions on their tax bills. With the recent tax law change, it’s important to understand how your charitable contributions will affect your next tax return. We want to make sure that you continue to get the biggest tax benefit possible when giving to your favorite charities. So in this episode, we discuss a strategy to help you find the best tax solutions for your charitable gifting going forward.

How charitable giving has been reshaped

The newest update to the tax law could limit charitable giving due to the increase in the standard deduction. For many, it may be challenging to find ways receive a similar tax benefits for giving they were already doing. But there are solutions out there. The first is to do nothing. With the 2018 tax law changes, most will no longer receive the same benefit for giving to their favorite non-profits. Your second option is to give the same amount to your favorite charities and lump your contributions so that you give a larger amount every other year rather than annually. This will allow a bigger tax benefit biannually this way. The downside to gifting directly to the charity is the disruption in annual cash flow for their regular operations. Nonprofits often rely on yearly contributions to stay afloat and this strategy could lead to financial problems for the charity.

What is a donor-advised fund?

A donor-advised fund may be one of the best tax solutions for the newest tax law changes. You can set up a donor-advised fund with Fidelity, Vanguard, or Charles Schwab. This is an account where you can contribute the same amount that you usually do each year and realize the biggest tax savings over a period of time. This way the charity can still receive the same amount that you would normally give within the same timeframe. You can then distribute smaller amounts throughout the year to smooth your charitable contributions, so operations of the charity are not affected. A Donor-Advised fund can receive many kinds of capital and turn your investment into cash for your favorite nonprofits to use.

What are the best strategies for giving to a donor-advised fund?

It is best to start planning your tax year in November. With a donor-advised fund, you can give to your favorite nonprofit in many different ways, whether it be stocks, private equity, hedge fund interest, real estate, or cash. Your donor-advised fund will then give your favorite charity cash that they can use. You are able to set up your charitable donation to be gifted whenever you choose, whether it is weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly. Using a donor-advised fund is a great long-term tax strategy to use as part of the changing laws’ tax solutions.

Outline of This Episode

  • [0:27] Changes in the new tax law
  • [3:33] The new standard deduction for charitable giving has changed
  • [5:30] What are your options?
  • [6:45] What is a donor-advised fund?
  • [10:48] How can you plan your estate with a donor-advised fund?
  • [13:10] What are the best strategies for giving to a donor-advised fund?

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect With Chad and Mike

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May 7, 2018

Heather Gudac and Haley Modlin join Mike and me on this episode of the Financial Symmetry podcast to discuss how to become a financially successful millennial. We have had targeted advice toward other age groups in the past, and now we’re excited to find ways to help out the younger generation. Heather and Haley have worked hard to put together a fantastic list of five money tips for millennials to help them become financially savvy. Be sure to listen to this episode to hear excellent ideas to get you or your favorite millennial on the road to financial success!

Create and update a financial plan that reflects your goals

This is perhaps the most important of the money tips for millennials. It is so important to come up with a plan, not just for now but for the future as well. Planning can help you discover how to pay off student loans, how and where to save money, and how to make a budget. The sooner you can start making smart financial decisions the better off you will be later on in life. Remember you don’t have to have money to have a plan. Having a financial plan will help you to save efficiently. As you take on more responsibilities in your career and in your life, be sure to periodically adjust your financial plan to stay on track. To hear more about creating a financial plan to help you succeed financially, listen to episode 58 of Financial Symmetry.

Take any financial advice you receive with a grain of salt

When you are just starting out in life all kinds of people want to give you financial advice. This is usually well-meaning advice from people that care, but it may not be the best advice for your life. Some things to consider are: have they done this themselves, and are they people you really want to be taking advice from. Sometimes people may give you advice that was applicable twenty years ago but may no longer apply today. Listen to this episode of Financial Symmetry to hear important money tips for millennials to get a head start on a strong financial future.

When you get married should you join your bank accounts?

Joint bank accounts can be a touchy issue for some people, especially millennials. The most important thing to remember when you are getting married or embarking on a serious relationship is not to keep financial secrets. Many relationships fail due to finances, so money should be an ongoing conversation. Whether or not you have equal incomes your money is a joint effort and what you do with it now affects both of you and your future. We discuss many of the available options when joining money, so be sure to listen to this episode to hear fantastic money tips for millennials.

How do you spend your money?

What are your financial values? Millennials think differently and spend their money differently than previous generations. Studies have shown that 75% of millennials would prefer to have a great experience rather than buy goods. Knowing how you prefer to spend your money will help you plan your budget. Make sure that you are getting the most from your dollars by planning how you spend them. Use this episode to help you learn how to plan your budget, listen to Heather and Haley as they give us the top money tips for millennials.

Outline of This Episode

  • [2:27] What is a millennial?
  • [4:04] Have a plan and keep it updated
  • [8:36] Take into consideration the advice you get
  • [13:20] Whether or not to join your money
  • [17:38] How you spend your money is important
  • [22:11] How does the fear of missing out affect your plans

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Haley Modlin and Heather Gudac

Connect With Chad and Mike

Subscribe To This Podcast

Apr 23, 2018

Do you know what the number one most avoided financial subject is? On this episode of The Financial Symmetry Podcast, we are diving deep into estate planning where you'll learn why it is so avoided and why you really shouldn't avoid it. Cameron Hendricks joins us on the show today to help us navigate this touchy subject. Estate planning is easy to forget to do and so many people end up putting it off so that it is actually the most avoided subject when it comes to financial planning. If you don’t have a proper estate plan you need to be sure to listen to this episode as Cameron lays out many of the possibilities that could happen if you have no will in place.

Why have an estate plan?

What is the purpose of an estate plan? The purpose is to look out for your family and loved ones. You want to make sure that the people you want to receive your inheritance actually receive it. This also simplifies matters for your beneficiaries. It reduces family conflicts and confusion during an already emotional time. Because of this emotional roller coaster, planning your estate can be very challenging, but it's arguably one of the most expensive financial mistakes you can make.

What happens to your estate if you have no will in place?

Cameron Hendricks joins us to walk us through different scenarios so that we can understand what happens to our estates if we don't even have a simple will in place. You may be at a time of life where you don’t have any dependents and so you may think that it doesn’t matter if you have a will in place. Would you like to leave your money to the state? If so, then there’s no need to do anything, but if you want to have any say in where you’re money will go when you are gone then you need to have proper beneficiaries named. Listen to this episode to hear what could happen to your money after you are gone.

When is the most important time in life to have a will in place?

Many people that have families still avoid proper planning of their estate. The reasons are usually emotional. No one wants to think about what will happen to their children when they pass. If you are a stepparent, you probably haven’t thought about what might happen to your estate regarding your stepchildren if you haven't planned your estate properly. You’ll definitely need to hear this episode if you are the parent of a blended family. Make sure you don’t miss this episode on estate planning so that you can understand all the ramifications of improper estate planning.

Family conflicts are the biggest threat to estate planning

No one wants to think about what life will be like after they are gone. Making decisions about what happens after your passing is emotional and not much fun. Estate planning is one of those difficult tasks that we just have to get done for the sake of our families. After a loved one’s passing many families experience rough times. Family relationships are already challenging enough. Don’t let your lack of estate planning make them worse. Listen to this episode to hear how important it is to properly plan your estate no matter what stage of life you’re in.

Outline of This Episode

  • [3:18] Estate planning is usually the number one thing that people haven’t done yet
  • [4:19] Why have an estate plan?
  • [9:00] Unmarried individual with no children
  • [12:25] Married couple with no children
  • [15:45] Married couple with children
  • [21:11] Blended families
  • [24:06] No spouse, no children, no parents

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect With Chad and Mike

Subscribe To This Podcast

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Apr 9, 2018

Allison Berger and Grace Kvantas are stepping in for Mike on this episode. They join us to talk about how to navigate through a life crisis, specifically financial considerations after the death of a spouse. It’s hard to think financially after such a terrible emotional blow, but proper financial planning can help ensure that you will have less to worry about in the years to come. Listen to this episode to hear our top 5 financial planning opportunities to think about after the death of a spouse.

How to prepare your taxes after the death of a spouse

There are so many financial questions after the death of a spouse. This is an overwhelming time and it can be scary to move forward on your own. Having a checklist of things that need to be done is a fantastic idea. One area of confusion for widows and widowers is how to file your taxes. In the year of the death of a spouse, it is important to continue to file married filing jointly to take advantage of the lower taxable income rate. If you are interested in hearing about how to save money on your taxes for two more years after the death of a spouse then listen to this episode of Financial Symmetry.

This exemption often goes overlooked

Many people don’t even realize that they should file for portability of the deceased spousal exemption, but even if you’re not a millionaire you should still file. This exemption doubles the rate that your heirs will be taxed so that when you pass they have a larger amount of tax-free inheritance. You may not have this kind of money now, but you never know what the future may bring. It’s always a good idea to be on the safe side and file this exemption while you have the opportunity. Listen to this episode to hear all the details why and how you should file for this exemption.

What should you do with life insurance proceeds?

It can be tempting to pay off all your bills and even the house with the proceeds of life insurance. But before you do this, you should look at some alternatives. What kind of savings do you have set up for your future? Would the proceeds be more beneficial to you by maxing out your 401k contributions or even a put into a 403b? This is a good time to build your net worth as tax-free as possible. If you have surviving minor children ensure that there is a trust provision in place for them so that they don’t receive a large sum at the still so young age of 18. If you are wondering what you should do with life insurance proceeds, then listen to this episode of Financial Symmetry to get some ideas.

How much are you eligible to receive through social security?

You can never assume that the social security administration is giving you the right amount of money so it is important that you ensure that you are receiving the correct amount of spousal social security benefits. If you have surviving children many widows and widowers feel the need to save this money for when they are older. But the social security administration would actually prefer that you use the money to care for your children’s needs right now. If you have any questions about social security, this episode of Financial Symmetry may provide the answer. Make sure you listen in to hear all about social security as well as 4 other important financial concerns to consider after the death of a spouse.

Outline of This Episode

  • [1:27] What are the top 5 planning opportunities for widows
  • [3:40] How to file your taxes
  • [5:48] File for portability
  • [9:48] Life insurance proceeds
  • [14:29] Survivor benefits for social security
  • [18:49] To pay off the house or not?

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect With Chad and Mike

Subscribe To This Podcast

Apple Podcasts <> Stitcher <> Google Play

Mar 26, 2018

On this episode of Financial Symmetry, we’re getting you ready for tax time! We've been helping clients check their taxes for many years and we know that there are two types of people that file their tax returns. The optimists try and get their taxes done as quickly as possible and probably have already filed their taxes. Those of you that are pessimists are waiting until the last minute and probably haven’t filed yet. If you fall into the latter category then you will definitely want to listen to this episode before you file your taxes. On this episode, we cover the top ten tax return filing mistakes. Remember, the IRS will never send you money that you missed on your tax return. Make sure you listen to this episode to avoid these common tax return mistakes.

What can you do to become more organized in your tax returns?

Many times people make tax return mistakes simply because they are disorganized. They misplace paperwork and often do not have all the data at hand to complete their 1040 correctly. One thing you can do to avoid making costly mistakes on your tax return is to keep a file handy where you can put all of your tax documents for the coming year. That way as you receive documents throughout the year you can just place them into the file and have them ready when it is time to prepare your taxes. Getting your tax documents organized is one way to avoid tax return mistakes. Listen to this episode to hear other ways to avoid making mistakes on your taxes this year.

Do you have a checklist to keep track of new tax rules and help to avoid tax return mistakes?

Having a checklist can help you become organized and avoid costly tax return mistakes. This can help you not to overlook anything. Without a checklist, you may forget to enter correct data or follow up on new tax rules. Some capital gains rules have changed and the custodian of your accounts does not have to keep track of all of the costs. These new changes could lead to costly mistakes. Listen to this episode to hear how these changes could affect you and your tax return. If you are looking to avoid costly tax return mistakes you will want to hear the best ways to avoid them!

What should small business owners be doing to avoid tax return mistakes?

Are you a small business owner? Do you do any side work that involves a 1099? If so, that means you are! When you begin your small business or even if you simply have a couple of side gigs to bring in extra income then you need to pay attention to all the rules for filing your 1099 so that you can complete your tax return correctly and save money. Knowing what is taxable income and what isn’t is important and can save you thousands of dollars on your tax return. Listen to this episode of Financial Symmetry to hear about all the ways you can save money by avoiding these tax return mistakes.

Did you know that credits are more important than deductions?

Many people think that finding deductions is the best way to save money on their tax returns, but that is not the case. Finding relevant tax credits is actually more important than finding deductions. You need to understand all the credits that apply to you and your family to make the most out of your tax return. If you have a college student you may be making a big mistake when filing your tax return. On this episode of Financial Symmetry, we discuss the top ten most common tax return mistakes that we see on our clients’ taxes. If you want to get the most out of your tax return, you’ll want to listen in.

Outline of This Episode

  • [1:11] What are the two types of people that file tax returns?
  • [3:44] What can you do to become more organized?
  • [5:00] Do you have new dependents this tax year?
  • [6:58] Capital gains rules have changed!
  • [9:31] Your 1099R may not be taxable, here’s why
  • [11:32] Why is it so important to keep good records?
  • [14:55] What should small business owners be doing?
  • [16:30] What can you be doing for your non-working spouse?
  • [19:05] So many people miss this credit!

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect With Chad and Mike

Subscribe To This Podcast

Apple Podcasts <> Stitcher <> Google Play

Mar 12, 2018

We’re jumping into the March Madness spirit by seeding our top 8 big financial life decisions. We have weeded through all the challenging financial decisions that you will come across in your life and ranked the top 8. By carefully choosing how you decide these 8 factors you could change the trajectory of your potential to build wealth over your lifetime. These decisions can make differences in the millions of dollars! Problem is, you don’t get a lot of practice at many of these decisions, making most of them only a few times over your life. So listen in, to hear a few ideas on many of these decisions that you’ve already, are currently or plan to make.

These 2 big financial decisions may surprise you!

Number eight on the list affects everyone differently since the type of car you drive can say a lot about the type of person you are. With the average cost of a car at $31,400, this is often the second largest purchase that most people make. What does the type of car you drive say about you? Spend some time carefully deciding what to drive, how often to replace your vehicle and whether to lease or buy. Number 7 is a costly choice, but it is a gamble that can bring the ultimate return on investment. You’ll want to listen in to hear how to bring about the best return on this important family investment.

How and why you borrow money is always an important financial decision

How much and how you borrow money over your lifetime will have a lasting effect on your ability to create wealth. How you get a loan, how much can you afford, and what the overall cost of the loan are all critical factors when borrowing money. You’ll also want to be able to decipher between what is good and bad debt? How much debt to take on is an important factor when trying to build wealth over a lifetime. Everyone has a different opinion about debt, listen to this episode to hear ours and to learn how debt can affect your financial stability.

Have you considered all the factors when thinking of purchasing a home?

Buying a home is laden with emotional influences that can hijack your rational decision making. When you buy a home, you’re not just purchasing a house so what are all the factors you should consider? What part of the country you live in can drastically affect how much you may spend on a home. Even further, choosing a neighborhood will have a larger impact than you may initially think. Choosing some neighborhoods could leave you feeling he pressure to keep up with the Jones. This is where it’s important to remember that the less house you buy, the more disposable income you will have to spend on your hobbies, your family, and your savings. Listen to this episode to hear all the considerations that you need to think about when purchasing a home.

How do you save your money?

The fourth item in our top eight ranking is how you choose to save your money. Many of today’s headlines are ripe with reasons to not invest in stocks, nine years in to a bull market. But investing in stocks is an important way to build wealth over a lifetime. Having a diversified portfolio increases the cumulative returns that you will see over time.  So why do so many struggle to maintain an appropriate allocation to stocks? Many understand that investing early in your life can more than double your investment returns over a lifetime.  But our emotions often have different plans when tough times surface. Listen to this episode to hear how important stock returns are to your wealth accumulation. I’m sure you’re wondering what our top 3 picks are, but you’ll have to listen in to find out!

Outline of This Episode

  • [0:27] It’s March Madness! Here are our top 8 financial life decisions
  • [3:39] What kind of car you drive
  • [6:26] How many children will you have?
  • [8:38] How much and how you borrow money over your lifetime
  • [12:07] The home purchase
  • [15:26] The average allocation to stocks that you have
  • [20:48] Having a compatible spouse
  • [24:00] Your savings rate
  • [27:47] Your human capital

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect With Chad and Mike

Subscribe To This Podcast

Apple Podcasts <> Stitcher <> Google Play

Feb 26, 2018

On this episode, we’re jumping into the March Madness spirit by seeding some of your biggest financial life decisions. We have weeded through all the challenging financial decisions that you will come across in life and ranked the top 8. By carefully choosing how you decide these 8 factors you could change the trajectory of your potential to build wealth over your lifetime. These decisions can make differences in the millions of dollars! Problem is, you don’t get a lot of practice at many of these decisions, making most of them only a few times over your life. So listen in, to hear a few ideas on many of these decisions that you’ve already, are currently or plan to make.

These 2 big financial decisions may surprise you!

Number eight on the list affects everyone differently since the type of car you drive says a lot about the type of person you are. With the average cost of a car at $31,000, this is the second largest purchase that most people make. What does the type of car you drive say about you? Spend some time carefully deciding what to drive, how often to replace your vehicle and whether to lease or buy. Number 7 is a costly choice, but it is a gamble that can bring the ultimate return on investment. You’ll want to listen in to hear how to bring about the best return on this important family investment.

How and why you borrow money is always an important financial decision

How much and how you borrow money over your lifetime will have a lasting effect on your ability to create wealth. How you get a loan, how much can you afford, and what the overall cost of the loan are all critical factors when borrowing money. You’ll also want to be able to decipher between what is good and bad debt? How much debt to take on is an important factor when trying to build wealth over a lifetime. Everyone has a different opinion about debt, listen to this episode to hear ours and to learn how debt can affect your financial stability.

Have you considered all the factors when thinking of purchasing a home?

Buying a home is laden with emotional influences that can hijack your rational decision making. When you buy a home, you’re not just purchasing a house so what are all the factors you should consider? What part of the country you live in can drastically affect how much you may spend on a home. Even further, choosing a neighborhood will have a larger impact than you may initially think. Choosing some neighborhoods could leave you feeling he pressure to keep up with the Joneses. This is where it’s important to remember that the less house you buy, the more disposable income you will have to spend on your hobbies, your family, and your savings. Listen to this episode to hear all the considerations that you need to think about when purchasing a home.

How do you save your money?

The fourth item in our top eight ranking is how you choose to save your money. Many of today’s headlines are ripe with reasons to not invest in stocks, nine years in to a bull market. But investing in stocks is an important way to build wealth over a lifetime. Having a diversified portfolio increases the cumulative returns that you will see over time.  So why do so many struggle to maintain an appropriate allocation to stocks? Many understand that investing early in your life can more than double your investment returns over a lifetime.  But our emotions often have different plans when tough times surface. Listen to this episode to hear how important stock returns are to your wealth accumulation. I’m sure you’re wondering what our top 3 picks are, but you’ll have to listen in to find out!

Outline of This Episode

  • [0:27] It’s March Madness! Here are our top 8 financial life decisions
  • [3:39] What kind of car you drive
  • [6:26] How many children will you have?
  • [8:38] How much and how you borrow money over your lifetime
  • [12:07] The home purchase
  • [15:26] The average allocation to stocks that you have
  • [20:48] Having a compatible spouse
  • [24:00] Your savings rate
  • [27:47] Your human capital

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect With Chad and Mike

Subscribe To This Podcast

Apple Podcasts <> Stitcher <> Google Play

Nov 20, 2017

Near tax time each year, do you find yourself wondering what other tax strategies you may be missing? Many people have a goal of paying less in taxes but are missing opportunities to be as tax efficient as possible with their entire financial picture. Fact is, there are things you can do between now and the end of the year that could be a nice benefit when filing your tax return this year.

Join us this week, as we are interviewing a seasoned CPA expert on tax strategies people miss. Will Holt has spent 25 years preparing, reviewing and revising tax returns for clients. It was fun picking his brain to tease out seven tips for people to better position their tax situation next year.

What You'll Learn In This Episode

  • How important decisions during open enrollment could be for next year.
  • The impact of missing out of employer contributions in your 401(k) or HSA.
  • Why contributing to an account for your non-working spouse can be a better move.
  • The ins and outs of gifting the right type of asset
  • Understand the difference between taxable income and AGI as it relates to tax brackets
  • Don't let the tax tail wag the investment dog.
  • Education credits are powerful if used correctly
Nov 6, 2017

What if you knew the secret to building wealth? For many, asking that question alone is part of the problem. That's because it's less of a secret, and more of a discipline of small habits and behaviors we are programmed to ignore. Whether it's how easy we get distracted or our propensity to keep up with the Joneses, understanding our thought patterns around these topics is informative and can lead to trans-formative long-term behavior change. Join us for this episode, as we discuss the specific researched backed factors it takes for each of us to build wealth. The mindsets, habits and predispositions we all experience that set us up to build (or not build) our wealth. You'll also hear Chad and Mike's surprise, as they reveal each others results to a Building Wealth assessment they took.

Find out more and discover links mentioned in the show here: http://bit.ly/2lWyxn5

Oct 23, 2017

Did you realize that we are hardwired to make irrational financial choices? The incentives to spend now vs. save are difficult to overcome on our own. 

On this episode, we break down six key behavioral biases we all share at some point around our finances. The good news is that human accountability and automated savings programs can go a long way to fight against these instinctual biases.

So join us as we celebrate the recognition of Dr. Richard Thaler winning the Nobel Prize in Economics for his Behavioral Economics research and what it means to your financial situation.

Find out more and discover links mentioned in the show here: http://bit.ly/2zvzyVe

Oct 9, 2017

Interest remains high of how to protect yourself after the Equifax Credit scandal. The good news is there are steps to take to mitigate your risks to guard your credit reputation. The bad news is that similar breaches have happened before and will happen again.

Listen this week as Chad and Mike discuss ways thieves will try and take advantage and the details on steps you can take to decrease your risk of having your credit compromised.

Sep 11, 2017

Picking out a small business retirement plan can be daunting. This is why we see many small business owners, or those with side hustles, not taking advantage of a retirement plan for them or their employees. This is often because they are overwhelmed by the number of plan options, plan administration requirements, fiduciary responsibilities or they think they are too expensive. On this episode we share some insights to potential options that are not as complicated or as expensive as you might think. Making this decision could put you on the fast track to significant tax savings while also saving more for your retirement goals.

You can find show notes and more information here: http://bit.ly/2xqX7kR

Aug 27, 2017

Once you hit your 40s, it becomes more important than ever to evaluate your financial plan and fill in any gaps in your future. Many of the planning tasks can be tedious or seem unimportant now, but you will thank yourself later when you look back on your conscious and careful financial decisions. Life throws a lot of curveballs and it’s easy to get busy and forget to keep your plan up to date. But taking time to get your ducks in a row will save you a lot of stress later on.

You can find show notes and more information here: http://bit.ly/2vdPDBd 

Aug 13, 2017

It doesn’t get much more stressful than preparing your child for college. From the testing and forms to the outrageous tuition prices, the process can truly be a nightmare without the right strategy. Cozy Whittman from College Inside Track joins us on the show today to share some really valuable information that could save your family tens of thousands of dollars over the course of the college process.

You can find show notes and more information here: http://bit.ly/2wMLyAp 

Jul 30, 2017

You know those things you know you should do - eat healthy, work out every day, sleep eight hours - but struggle to get done? We all do it, and skipping over financially healthy habits is another common way to cut corners.

Overlooking seemingly small aspects of your financial life now is just like skipping floss or skimping on sleep - they don't have a huge impact immediately, but can really affect you down the road. Tuning up your financial habits is a good way to keep yourself in good shape for the long run.

On another note, we'd love to see and hear how you're listening to the podcast. Walking the dog? On your commute? Let us know!

You can find show notes and more information here: http://bit.ly/2vekwVO 

Jul 16, 2017

There’s always more to learn when it comes to the world of finance. A great way to squeeze in some extra know-how this summer is through reading. So on this episode, we have a list of 13 great titles that you may want to add to your reading list, no matter where you are financially or what interests you have.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2ukGIgu 

Jul 2, 2017

When was the last time you asked yourself: what purchases have I made in the last month that really made me happy? It might sound like a silly question, but as we'll reveal in this episode, the answer is key to making sure you spend money in a way that supports short- and long-term happiness.

In this episode, we're switching it up a bit and giving you a rundown of one of our favorite books: Happy Money: The Science of Happier SpendingHappy Money gives you the tools to spend in ways that can help you build and sustain happiness over a lifetime. And to make it even more fun, we're talking about popular movies that align with each of the book's five principles. 

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2tOcm2r 

Jun 18, 2017

How you take your retirement pension can be a more consequential decision than many people realize. The debate over whether to take your pension as a lump sum or as monthly payments can be tricky. 

On this episode, Chad and Michael share 5 things you should keep in mind when making decisions about your retirement pension. They cover some of the key terms you should know, and point out the importance of finding what age is the breakeven point in your calculations. Inflation is also key to factor into your decision, as well as how your pension will affect your spouse.  

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2sBJw8f 

Jun 4, 2017

We are so excited to welcome back Cameron Hendricks to the Financial Symmetry Podcast! He is back to discuss the journey of writing a book about financial decisions and how they affect your family dynamics. We chart his growth in thinking about financial planning and helping people achieve their financial goals.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2rfNp0z

 

May 21, 2017

As with any financial decision, investing in real estate requires a lot of thought and planning. We've pulled together five of the most important things you should consider before you buy any time of investment property, be it residential or commercial.

You should also consider whether you're passionate enough about maintaining property to dedicate significant time and money to the endeavor. Real estate is no small undertaking, but can be fulfilling if you enjoy the process.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2q5NC5T 

May 4, 2017

Everyone has a unique road to financial literacy. One common trait we all share is that we hope to pass our wisdom on to the next generation, and that they will learn valuable lessons while they are young. In today’s episode, Chad and Mike share their best tips and tricks for educating your children about money.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2oTSL1K

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