Mailbag: Should I Move my Mom’s Money into Investments?

Today’s Prep:

Where’s the best place for your money to go? Several people are considering where their money should be, so Eric answers three questions from the mailbag for today’s show.

Equipping Points:

William in Waukee is 62 and his wife is 58, married with no kids. They wonder why they keep working but don’t feel like they are wanting to retire. Eric says you might have a preconceived notion about what retirement is. Maybe you should consider a work-optional lifestyle. What would it look like to enjoy yourselves and this time? That doesn’t mean you have to stop working, but maybe you work doing what you want to do it. With an age difference, you may have to be strategic about what accounts to draw from, but meeting with a financial advisor can help you discover what your options are.

Sophie in Altoona says her 401(k) has dropped a lot in the last few months, but she’s eligible for a rollover on a portion of that money. Should she consider the rollover to stop the losses? Eric says the reason to rollover is to get something your 401(k) doesn’t have. Remember, it takes awhile to process the rollover and you won’t know the exact date it changes. The timing is something you’ll want to talk through.

Philip in Des Moines says his 87-year-old mom keeps an embarrassing amount of money in the bank. With close to $300,000 in the bank, he is considering asking her for a loan to invest it and do something more with it. Keep in mind, you are viewing that money in a different lens than she has. It’s not your money yet, so be sure to understand her goals with what she’s doing with it.

Listen to the entire episode or skip ahead to a particular question from the mailbag.

[spp-timestamp time=”0:46″] – What if I don’t know if I’m wanting to retire?

[spp-timestamp time=”5:33″] – Should I do a rollover to stop the market losses?

[spp-timestamp time=”7:50″] – Should I move my mom’s money into investments?

 

Today’s Takeaway:

“There’s a difference between saving and investing. “

-Eric Peterson

Related Resources:

Building a Plan for the Long Haul

Playing the Retirement Game Show

Understanding Financial Feelings

More From Eric:

The host: Eric Peterson - Contact - Call: (515) 226-1500

Subscribe To The Podcast:

Apple Podcasts  -  Google Podcasts  -  Spotify  -  Stitcher  -  iHeartRadio  -  TuneIn

Check out some other recent episodes

The Hidden Costs of Mutual Funds in Retirement

March 12, 2026

Retirement decisions aren’t made in spreadsheets alone. They’re shaped by mood, headlines, memories, and personal experiences, often more than we realize. Eric focuses on the emotional side of financial planning and why awareness matters just as much as strategy.

Retirement & Emotions: How Feelings Can Derail (or Improve) Your Plan

March 5, 2026

Retirement decisions aren’t made in spreadsheets alone. They’re shaped by mood, headlines, memories, and personal experiences, often more than we realize. Eric focuses on the emotional side of financial planning and why awareness matters just as much as strategy.

Why Retirees Struggle to Spend Their Money

February 26, 2026

You’ve saved diligently for retirement, but now it’s time to spend. For many retirees, that transition is harder than expected. In this episode, Eric breaks down one of the most overlooked challenges in retirement: actually enjoying the money you worked so hard to build.

Mailbag: Inherited Farmland, AI Planning, and Retirement Readiness

February 19, 2026

What do you do when financial decisions aren’t just about the numbers? Today, Eric pulls from the mailbag and takes on high-stakes decisions: what to do with family farmland, how much to save, and whether AI belongs in your financial life.

How Advisors Get Paid

February 12, 2026

In this episode, Eric explains the primary ways financial advisors earn compensation, including commission-based and fee-based models, how those structures work in practice, and what they mean for clients.

What Snow Days Teach Us About Money

February 5, 2026

There’s something special about a snow day. They’re somewhat unexpected, memorable, and a break from the routine. Eric borrows a few classic snow-day moments and uses them as metaphors for building a strong financial life.

Controversial Financial Takes: Are Kiyosaki, Orman, Sethi & Ramsey Right?

January 29, 2026

Some of the loudest voices in personal finance aren’t shy about strong opinions, but are those opinions actually helpful? Eric reacts to controversial advice from some of the most recognizable names in money and retirement conversations. The discussion focuses on why one-size-fits-all guidance often misses the mark and how real planning differs from financial entertainment. Just because advice sounds confident doesn’t mean it fits your situation.

Start the Year Right: A Smarter Financial Checklist

January 22, 2026

A new year is the perfect time to make sure your financial plan is still working the way it should. In this episode, Eric walks through a simple (yet impactful) checklist to help you reset, refocus, and avoid common mistakes that can sneak up over the course of the year. Miss these now, and they can quietly cost you later.

Financial Truths Hidden in Famous Songs

January 15, 2026

Money shows up in our favorite songs for a reason. It captures the emotions, tensions, and tradeoffs we all feel when it comes to finances. In this episode, Eric has some fun pulling financial lessons from iconic lyrics and exploring what they reveal about real-life money decisions. You might never hear these songs the same way again.

Are You Falling for Financial “Shiny Objects?”

January 8, 2026

In a world full of flashy promises and polished marketing, how do you know what actually matters when choosing a financial professional? In this episode, Eric tackles “shiny object syndrome” in retirement planning- the glossy brochures, impressive projections, testimonials, awards, and alphabet soup of credentials that can distract investors from what really counts. Eric breaks down which tools can be helpful, which deserve skepticism, and why trust, process, and real-world experience ultimately outweigh hype.

Leave a Comment