On this mailbag edition of the podcast, we'll talk about whether it's a good idea to invest in bonds or REITs, what services you should expect from your financial advisor, and whether or not you should pay off your mortgage. We'll also get Phil's take on the current state of student loan debt and whether or not colleges should be held accountable. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/...
Aug 06, 2020•29 min•Ep. 49
So, we’ve all experienced what a market crash feels like in recent memory. If you had forgotten what it felt like in 2008, then 2020 should have been a sobering reminder of what it’s like to experience that sudden market drop. Now, we don’t know when the next market crash will come. Will rising virus cases now or a resurgence in the fall cause another one? Will the lead up to, or result of, the election cause turbulence? We just don’t know what factor is going to come along and serve as the cata...
Jul 16, 2020•26 min•Ep. 48
On today's show, we answer questions that have come in the mailbag. We discuss if it's worth paying a penalty fee on a variable annuity, letting your children know about their inheritance, how to budget for travel, and if incorporating a trust in your plan is a good strategy. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/...
Jul 02, 2020•24 min•Ep. 47
There is no question that the COVID-19 pandemic caused major turmoil in the stock market, but it seems that the stock market has continued to go up since the big dip that initially happened. Some people are skeptical of this trend and do not think that the market will recover quickly, while others remain optimistic. Barbara and Phil will explain why this trend has been happening and where they think the economy is headed. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.c...
Jun 18, 2020•23 min•Ep. 46
Dave Ramsey has earned a lot of respect among savers and investors over the years as evidenced by his enormously popular radio show, books and sold out performance venues when he speaks. But is all of his advice worth following? Is it possible that some of the things he professes will actually hurt you financially? Let’s take a look at some of Dave’s most popular advice and see if and when it makes sense for retirees and pre-retirees to disagree. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: ht...
Jun 04, 2020•30 min•Ep. 45
We've had a lot of great listener questions come in, so we decided to make them the focus of this episode. Beverly asks if she is properly diversified given the large number of mutual funds in her portfolio. Amber is curious if she is on track to retire with the amount of money she has saved at age 55. Barbara and Phil tackle these questions and much more. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/...
May 21, 2020•26 min•Ep. 44
Barbara and Phil will provide an update on conversations they've had with clients about the Coronavirus and then move into a discussion on where you're getting financial advice from. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/
May 07, 2020•20 min•Ep. 43
Congress recently passed the CARES Act to try and help alleviate some of the financial impacts that the Coronavirus has had on the country. Barbara and Phil will run down the main points of this bill and discuss their overall thoughts of this new piece of legislation. We will also answer a few mailbag questions in the second half of the show. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/...
Apr 16, 2020•24 min•Ep. 42
A lot of things in the financial landscape have an “it depends” resolution. It can be frustrating when things are so fluid and vary person to person. So, let’s discuss some financial truths that we can state with confidence and see what we can learn from them. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/...
Apr 02, 2020•25 min•Ep. 41
The Coronavirus and other economic forces have caused the stock market to crater and experience some wild ups and downs the past few weeks. It has a lot of investors feeling emotional and worried about their retirement plans. Barbara and Phil will give their opinions on the down market and the advice they are currently giving their clients. We will also break down what a backdoor Roth IRA is and discuss the differences between active and passive management styles. Important Links: Pathfinder Wea...
Mar 19, 2020•23 min•Ep. 40
We talk all the time about how people need to give their dollars purpose or set goals for their retirement and even specifically for certain investments. But let’s dive deeper into what different goals look like for various folks approaching retirement. How do you determine if a goal is realistic or out of reach? We’ll tackle that conversation with plenty of examples on this episode. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory....
Mar 05, 2020•20 min•Ep. 39
We dedicate another episode to answering your questions that have come in from the mailbag. Today we discuss 401 (k) contribution limits, having multiple advisors, and socially responsible investing. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/
Feb 20, 2020•20 min•Ep. 38
It’s always good to keep yourself up to date with what’s going on in the financial world. But it’s also important to understand that the information you get from the media isn’t completely unbiased. Let’s talk about some of the problems with the financial media. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/...
Feb 06, 2020•21 min•Ep. 37
The new year brought big changes to retirement accounts with the SECURE Act so let's talk about the areas you need to pay attention to. Plus, we'll open up the mailbag to cover cash, stock, and retirement planning. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/
Jan 16, 2020•24 min•Ep. 36
Sometimes people say they don’t want to retire…and sometimes they really mean it. Other times it’s just a defense mechanism to compensate for the fact that they feel like they can’t retire. So let’s explore some of the possible meanings behind the statement, “I don’t want to retire.” Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/...
Jan 02, 2020•27 min•Ep. 35
Today's show is another mailbag edition. This time around we will answer how much risk is appropriate in retirement, consolidating multiple accounts, and more. Important Links: VA's Website: https://www.va.gov/pension/ Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/...
Dec 19, 2019•22 min•Ep. 34
Not everything goes smoothly in your financial life. We’ll look at some negative circumstances that many retirees and pre-retirees face and help you find the silver lining in the midst of tough situations. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/
Dec 05, 2019•18 min•Ep. 33
There are some people who don’t care at all about leaving a financial legacy, but for those who do, it’s important to eliminate some of the common estate planning mistakes. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/
Nov 21, 2019•22 min•Ep. 32
With all of the things in the financial world that you can’t control, why would you sabotage your own retirement by messing up the things you can control? Let’s discuss some ways that people sabotage their own financial health. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/
Nov 07, 2019•21 min•Ep. 31
We dip into the listener mailbag to answer questions on rental properties, 401(k) rollovers, how much money you need in retirement, and how a business owner can invest their profits. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/ Phone: (815) 399-9806
Oct 31, 2019•20 min•Ep. 30
The last decade of your working life is a very important one from a retirement planning perspective. Let's talk about some of the things you want to be sure you address during that 10-year period. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/ Phone: (815) 399-9806
Oct 03, 2019•23 min•Ep. 29
Some people think we're on the cusp of the next stock market crash. Others predict that we're just due for a minor correction. But let's talk about what the next market crash might look like, even if we don't know when it will come. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/ Phone: (815) 399-9806...
Sep 19, 2019•21 min•Ep. 28
Today’s episode is simple. We’ll look at some of the most widely believed financial myths and try to bust them wide open. The scary thing is that a lot of people base their financial plans on some of these myths. Don’t be like that. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/ Phone: (815) 399-9806...
Sep 05, 2019•18 min•Ep. 28
As we get into the 2nd half of 2019, there are several planning items you might want to run a quick checkup on, especially if you’re a retiree or pre-retiree, to make sure you’re still on the right financial track. Are you focusing on the right things? Listen to today’s podcast to find out. Important Links: Pathfinder Wealth Management: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/ Contact: http://pathfinderadvisory.com/contact/ Phone: (815) 399-9806...
Aug 15, 2019•25 min•Ep. 27
Some people (in fact, probably most people) find it easy to procrastinate when it comes to financial planning issues. But let’s talk about some scenarios that might cause people to have a bit more sense of urgency…
Aug 01, 2019•24 min•Ep. 26
Are you too nervous to spend your money in retirement? Are you assuming you'll be in a lower tax bracket in retirement? Is 57 too early to retire? We'll answer all of those listener questions on today's show and explore why it's a good idea to get professional help with your financial plan.
Jul 18, 2019•23 min•Ep. 25
Buying a new car with retirement savings, switching one annuity for another, and overloading your portfolio in your company's stock. We'll cover all of those intriguing questions and more on today's mailbag edition of the podcast.
Jul 03, 2019•22 min•Ep. 24
On today's show, Barbara and Phil will share with us stories about a time they recommended something to a client that they almost never recommend to anyone else. Why did it make sense in these particular cases? We'll learn a lot from these stories on today's episode.
Jun 20, 2019•14 min•Ep. 23
Some of retirement planning’s most important questions seem so simple at first. They can be asked in just 4-5 words and give the impression the answers are a simple “yes” or “no”. But it’s tricky because many of these questions can become overwhelming to answer. Let’s cover some of the important retirement questions that are harder to answer than you might think.
Jun 06, 2019•22 min•Ep. 22
You asked some great questions this week. We're going to talk about the complications of retiring early, what to do with an inherited rental property, the possible elimination of the Stretch IRA strategy, and how to position yourself for a potential down market in the future.
May 23, 2019•22 min•Ep. 21
