When people think of what could haunt their retirement, they often imagine running out of money, facing unexpected expenses, or living too long. But as we discuss in this episode, there’s a more insidious villain: sequence of return risk.
Sequence of return risk refers to the threat of poor investment returns occurring early in your retirement years, just when you start withdrawing funds. Even if the average returns over your retirement are sufficient, early losses can irreparably damage your nest egg and dramatically increase the odds of running out of money.
To bring these concepts to life (with a Halloween twist), we walk through a scenario featuring Jamie Lee Curtis’s iconic character, Laurie Strode, imagining her retirement through 25 years of market ups and downs. The outcome all depends on her initial withdrawal strategy and, crucially, how her portfolio is allocated.
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Planning for your child’s college education can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with skyrocketing tuition costs and countless savings options. This week on the show, we’re discussing the question of exactly how much you should save in a 529 college savings plan.
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Recently, an executive order has set the stage for 401 (k) providers to potentially start offering investments like private equity, private real estate, digital assets (think bitcoin), commodities, and more—options typically reserved for pension funds and institutional investors. But what does this really mean for everyday savers?
We break down the differences between traditional 401k offerings and these new alternatives, discuss the risks and potential rewards, and share questions you should ask yourself before making any changes to your investment lineup.
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Are you taking advantage of all your Roth opportunities? We break down the differences between the Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), or the Mego Backdoor Roth 401(k). by comparing your choices with another favorite summer treat - ice cream.
We break down the basics, benefits, and ideal life stages for each account type—whether you’re just scooping your first vanilla cone with a Roth IRA, adding some flavor with a Roth 401(k), or going all-out Neapolitan with the Mega Backdoor Roth.
We also share smart tips on tax brackets, income planning, and how to maximize your options for a sweeter financial future. If you’re looking to optimize your retirement savings and want more flexibility, this episode is the perfect treat.
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Tax season may feel far off, but with sweeping legislative changes just passed, proactive financial planning starts now. In this episode, we’re sharing our accessible, in-depth breakdown of the new Big Beautiful Bill, highlighting ten key tax provisions that every taxpayer should understand.
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When is enough, enough? Many investors have recently found solace in growing their cash reserves, whether in their checking accounts, savings accounts, or certificates of deposit (CDs). With attractive yields and recent market turbulence still fresh in mind, it’s easy to assume that loading up on cash is a safe strategy.
But there’s a hidden cost to keeping more money than you need. Not only does excessive cash limit your growth potential, but it can erode your long-term wealth, all because of a mix of emotional biases, historical events, and overlooked risks.
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At Financial Symmetry, our internship program has become a core pillar of our growth, innovation, and client experience.
Over time, our program grew from simply filling resource gaps to a foundational development engine, helping to shape the services Financial Symmetry offers and the team culture itself.
What has emerged from these iterations is the recognition that our best chance of success comes from integrating interns directly into the firm’s core wealth management processes. This hands-on approach creates a feedback loop where interns don’t just complete busywork; they contribute valuable perspectives and even shape workflows that staff rely upon to this day.
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Claiming Social Security as soon as you become eligible at age 62 is a common choice for Americans. While understandable, this decision can have significant, and often underappreciated, long-term consequences. For many, the urge to claim early may stem from financial necessity, lack of other income sources, or simply a desire to “get what you’ve paid for.” However, claiming early can reduce your benefit by as much as 30% compared to waiting until your full retirement age (typically around 67).
If you are in the fortunate position of having other income sources, such as a pension, 401(k), brokerage accounts, or IRAs, delaying Social Security becomes a viable strategy. This moves the decision away from immediate need and toward maximizing lifetime income, building multigenerational wealth, and supporting charitable or legacy goals.
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Chad and Mike break down the major moves in US and international markets from the past quarter, revealing why diversification works unexpectedly. They chat through the impact of recent tariff news, what those headlines might mean for the economy and your portfolio, and share evidence-based strategies for taking action (or not!) when markets get rocky.
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Market volatility is never comfortable, but with the right mindset and a thoughtful plan, you can face downturns not as a victim, but as an opportunist. On this episode of the Financial Symmetry Show, we’re sharing our advice on managing your finances amid turbulent markets and giving you a helpful checklist to guide your decision-making when headlines make your stomach flip.
[0:00] We discuss the importance of planning, reviewing its steps, and controlling expectations during unforeseen events.
[4:29] Evaluate income, expenses, job security, income sources, and potential risks in financial planning.
[7:14] Consider delaying major purchases or expenses if income is uncertain. Assess whether postponing could increase costs or cause issues.
[12:53] Prepare for significant financial events that may impact your portfolio, like downsizing a home or receiving a large sum.
[14:17] Evaluate your portfolio by considering your stock choices.
[17:32] Avoid panic selling stocks, which often leads to long-term financial regret.
[22:50] Take informed action for peace of mind; mindset and planning are key.
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Tax planning might not top everyone's list of leisure activities, but in the middle of tax season there’s a hidden opportunity. What if, instead of seeing it as a mere logistic hurdle, we embraced it as a moment to refine our financial strategy?
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We're spotlighting women's wealth in honor of International Women's Day and Women's History Month. Join us as we dig into some of the stats surrounding women's financial empowerment. From the rising number of women controlling wealth as they outlive their spouses to tackling stereotypes that hinder women's earning potential, this episode addresses the systemic barriers that impact women's financial journeys.
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Four categories are recognized under current regulations to qualify as an Eligible Designated Beneficiary (EDB). These include the surviving spouse, minor children of the decedent, a disabled or chronically ill individual as assessed at the time of the decedent's passing, and other individuals who are no more than ten years younger than the deceased account owner. If you fall into one of these categories, you'll be afforded more time and flexibility than Non-Eligible Designated Beneficiaries. This is due to recent regulatory changes, underscored by The Secure Act, altering the landscape of inherited IRAs.
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Investing can often feel like riding a rollercoaster of exciting highs and daunting lows. This week, we’re digging into the intricacies of the financial planning process, focusing particularly on the importance of understanding market trends and the role diversification plays in safeguarding your wealth.
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Retirement, often portrayed as a glorious era of freedom and relaxation, has its own set of challenges beyond the financial arena. This week, we’re exploring the psychology behind retirement and discussing the four phases retirees go through.
The excitement of retirement can last about a year. The dreamy honeymoon phase is great, but when reality sets in, it can be tough. The transition takes time and usually involves emotional highs and lows as retirees grapple with their newfound freedom while trying to preserve their sense of identity, purpose, and routine.
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As the holiday season approaches, many of us find ourselves thinking about gifts. While gifts can come in many forms, monetary gifts often cause the most confusion. In this episode of Financial Symmetry, hosts Chad Smith and Grayson Blaszak discuss the intricacies of financial gifting.
Financial gifting generally involves transferring assets, such as cash or securities, from one individual to another without expecting anything in return. This process can have several benefits, including seeing your loved ones enjoy the fruits of your generosity during your lifetime.
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Early retirement has unique financial planning challenges, particularly regarding health insurance and tax strategies. For people who retire before age 65, the challenge of finding affordable and adequate health insurance adds another layer of complexity to their financial plans.
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An inherited IRA is essentially an IRA received by a beneficiary after the original owner passes away. Whether it's a spouse, child, or another loved one, the key characteristic of an inherited IRA is that it transitions ownership upon death.
As Grayson Blaszek explains, the funds are transferred intact, but the way you handle and withdraw these funds comes with specific rules and timelines. Grayson and Matthew dig into the new rules in this episode.
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Reaching your financial goals builds confidence and peace of mind, which are essential for making informed decisions that benefit your entire family.
In this episode, we’re following a fictional pop culture couple from newlywed to pre-retirement, to demonstrate how their thought process around an emergency fund could evolve with their changing circumstances.
Join us as we lay out a case study of planning that helps them balance their accessible wealth with a healthy emergency fund.
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Retirement, a phase many of us anticipate for a long time, comes with its own set of financial intricacies. Specifically, how do you effectively withdraw funds from your savings to ensure a comfortable, sustainable, and tax-efficient lifestyle?
A well-crafted retirement blueprint is essential. This plan should outline your long-term goals and the steps needed to achieve them. More importantly, your financial plan should be flexible enough to accommodate life's unexpected expenses, such as healthcare costs or home repairs. Revisiting and updating your blueprint annually—or when significant life changes occur—can help ensure you stay on track.
In this episode, we’re sharing the essential steps to develop a retirement withdrawal plan that caters to your needs. We dig into which accounts to draw from, how to minimize taxes, and how to manage unexpected expenses. You'll also learn about advanced strategies like Roth conversions, tax-loss harvesting, and the benefits of Qualified Charitable Distributions and Donor-Advised Funds.
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Retirement planning is a delicate process, and you need to carefully consider your various income streams, including Social Security benefits. For those of us who plan to continue working while claiming Social Security, it’s important to understand how this decision can impact the monthly benefits you receive.
In this episode, we’re sharing how to avoid financial shocks in retirement. We discuss the essentials of earned income, the reduction in benefits due to excess earnings, and specific scenarios such as spousal and ex-spouse benefits.
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We all have visions of our ideal retirement. However, our financial plans can quickly veer off course if we haven't appropriately managed our risks.
On this episode of Financial Symmetry, Greg Suggs from Greg Suggs Insurance joins me to discuss how to manage common risks that could negatively affect your wealth. You won’t want to miss out on these easy-to-implement pieces to your insurance puzzle that could save your assets.
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How do you begin to save for your children to go to college? With the rising costs of college education, is it worth the monetary commitment?
Including tuition & fees, room & board, books & supplies, etc. the average cost of college is anywhere from $27,000 for an in-state public school up to $80,000–$90,000 a year for an Ivy League School.
How you pay for your student’s college is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll ever make. In this episode, we cover the three phases of saving for college and what you need to pay attention to in each phase.
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Some problems are easily solved with a bit of reasoning, logic, or by using a bit of math. Other problems go beyond quantitative thinking.
The most thought-provoking issues aren’t numbers-based. Many decisions surrounding retirement require much deeper consideration and often cause you to reevaluate your thinking of what you had originally imagined retirement to be.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to identify “wild problems” people face when retiring and develop a framework for working through them.
What if you had a magic app that told you how much of your net worth you never got to spend at the end of your retirement?
The trouble with planning for retirement is all the uncertainty, however, proper planning can help. In this episode, Cameron Hendricks joins me to discuss how you can learn to spend more in retirement.