Posts Tagged ‘Financial Planning’
Who Really Needs a Financial Advisor?
Ever wondered who truly needs a financial advisor, and who might be fine doing it alone? Eric looks at the different ways people approach retirement planning and how professional guidance can fit alongside a hands-on investing style.
Read MoreMailbag: Hiring an Advisor, Market Crashes & Tax-Smart Giving
In this mailbag episode, Eric addresses whether do-it-yourself investors need professional guidance, how to respond to predictions of a market crash, and when a donor-advised fund may make sense.
Read MoreRetirement Lessons from Betty White
Betty White may never have officially retired, but her humor and outlook offer several valuable lessons for anyone planning the next stage of life.
Read MoreLaid Off Near Retirement? What to Do Next
A layoff close to retirement can feel like a financial emergency, but it may not be as damaging as it first appears. Eric explains why layoffs are happening and walks through the key financial decisions that follow. He also shares a practical checklist for evaluating whether returning to work is necessary, or whether retirement may already be possible.
Read MoreEasy Ways to Ruin Retirement
Retirement can be exciting, but it can also come with new challenges. In this episode, Eric discusses some of the most common ways people can accidentally ruin retirement.
Read MoreMovie Quotes That Reveal the Truth About Retirement
Can classic movie quotes actually teach valuable retirement lessons? In this episode, Eric takes memorable lines from films like The Terminator, When Harry Met Sally, and The Wizard of Oz and uses them to explain key retirement-planning concepts. From preparing for inevitable market downturns to understanding why every retirement plan should be personalized, these famous quotes provide surprisingly practical financial insights.
Read MoreMailbag: Simplify Your Retirement Accounts
Sometimes, the most valuable retirement lessons come from the questions people are asking every day. In this mailbag episode, Eric tackles listener questions covering investment organization, diversification, and pursuing new opportunities later in life.
Read MoreMailbag: Working Forever, Safety Nets, and Target Date Funds
A lot of people think they’ll work forever, until life changes the plan. In this special mailbag episode, Eric answers listener questions about retirement timing, backup planning, target date funds, and how to think about risk as retirement gets closer.
Read MoreGood Intentions, Bad Advice: Well-Meaning Advice Can Cost You
Not all bad financial advice comes from bad sources. Sometimes it comes from the people you trust the most. Eric breaks down how well-meaning input from family, friends, professionals, and even the media can lead to the wrong decisions.
Read MoreChallenging What You “Know for Sure” About Retirement
Mark Twain once said, “It’s not what you don’t know that gets you into trouble, it’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” How can this wisdom apply to retirement planning?
Read MoreWhy Most Of Your Financial Goals Fail
Many people talk about setting financial goals, but far fewer people know how to set the right ones, or how to turn them into something that actually works in real life. Eric walks through how to create financial goals that are both meaningful and achievable. It’s easy to aim high, but if your plan isn’t realistic, those goals often fall apart before they ever gain traction.
Read MoreWhat Snow Days Teach Us About Money
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.
Read MoreControversial Financial Takes: Are Kiyosaki, Orman, Sethi & Ramsey Right?
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.
Read MoreRetiree’s First Christmas: The First Holiday Season After You Retire
We’ve all seen those Christmas ornaments that say things like “Baby’s First Christmas.” It’s a milestone moment worth commemorating. But what about a retiree’s first Christmas? You may not have a specialty ornament to hang on the tree for this one, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a milestone.
Read MorePeriodic Reviews: Tailoring Financial Advice to your Personality
Ever wondered if your financial review truly reflects who you are and what matters most to you?
Read MoreMailbag: Life Insurance, Housing Decisions & Handling Extra Income
When it comes to retirement, every financial decision counts- but some are more complicated than others. In this episode, Eric tackles listener questions about three real-life retirement scenarios.
Read MoreWhat Golf Teaches Us About Retirement
Golf and retirement may seem worlds apart, but the lessons from the course fit perfectly into financial planning.
Read MoreNot All Advisors Are Created Equal
The financial world is crowded with titles- advisor, broker, planner- and it isn’t always clear what those labels mean for your retirement. In this episode, Eric breaks down the critical differences between brokers and fiduciary advisors, using simple analogies to show how each approach your money in very different ways.
Read MoreToo Much Financial Info? How to Filter the Good from the Bad
Retirement isn’t just about financial spreadsheets, it’s about preparing your whole life for a new chapter
Read MoreMailbag – Roth IRA, Emergency Funds & Tax-Deferred vs. Tax-Free
Making more money is great, but what happens when it becomes a roadblock for contributing to a Roth IRA? And how can you make your emergency fund work smarter for you? In today’s episode, we pull from the mailbag and answer a mix of listener questions. Eric addresses concerns that reflect the real-life hurdles many face on the road to retirement.
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