How to Better Manage Bonus Money and Other Lump Sum Payments
Money for Life with Eric Roberge, CFP
Release Date: 03/24/2023
Money for Life with Eric Roberge, CFP
Think there's a secret financial strategy only the ultra-wealthy know about? It might not be that deep. In this episode, Kali and Eric break down why the best path to financial success isn't complicated. The truth is, it's just simple strategies done consistently. If there’s any trick, it’s this: simple doesn’t mean easy, and the reason more people aren’t rich is because it’s incredibly hard to actually execute these habits, frameworks, and systems year after year after year. But if you want to make a meaningful impact to your finances, then you don’t want to miss these five...
info_outlineMoney for Life with Eric Roberge, CFP
Join us as we dive deep into college planning, including how to pick your perfect college, reduce how much it costs, and maximize the financial aid available to you with college planning expert Jack Wang. Uncover the insider strategies that can dramatically reduce what you pay for your child's college education with Jack’s unique insights from his meetings with college admissions and financial aid directors across the country. Jack explains how and why every institution approaches aid differently -- and how knowing that can help your family gain more leverage over the college selection and...
info_outlineMoney for Life with Eric Roberge, CFP
Pull back the curtain on a financial advisor’s personal quarterly financial planning process. In this episode, Eric and Kali share the exact order of operations they use to manage their own money and how that translates to the advice they give their wealth management clients. This is a proven process to steal and use for yourself if you want a systematic way to stay on track with both short-term spending and long-term wealth building. Tune in and discover: How everything stems from what your savings rate looks like, and why it’s a non-negotiable (this is how you put that advice to “pay...
info_outlineMoney for Life with Eric Roberge, CFP
Estate planning isn't just for the ultra-wealthy or elderly or “other people who need it but not me.” It's a critical financial planning step for anyone who is trying to build their wealth who also wants to protect their loved ones - particularly children who are minors. Eric Roberge, CFP sits down with estate planning attorney Michael Broderick to demystify the estate planning process and reveal what mid-career professionals really need to know about having an estate plan, including: The biggest misconception people have about estate planning Why this kind of protection planning so...
info_outlineMoney for Life with Eric Roberge, CFP
There’s often a big disconnect between what investors expect from the market… and the reality of what good, long-term, properly risk-adjusted investing looks and feels like. Today, we’re tackling that divide to bridge the gap. This conversation provides the education and insights you need to set reasonable expectations and start making better investment decisions. Expect to hear: Why chasing returns often backfires for average investors How volatility is a normal part of a healthy market What you should actually expect things to look and feel like when your sound investment strategy is...
info_outlineMoney for Life with Eric Roberge, CFP
What's your first money memory? How much are you ACTUALLY saving each year? Where do you have a hard time using your money? These kinds of financial questions rarely come up in conversation, but they are critical to ask, consider, and consider what your answers mean for your money. Discover how your earliest money memories (often from ages 3-7) are still running your financial decision-making today, why most people can't answer how much they're really saving, and how to build a money management system that works with your emotions instead of against them. Eric and Kali also share their own...
info_outlineMoney for Life with Eric Roberge, CFP
Whether you're worried about losing your job, concerned about your investments, or just feeling uncertain about the economy, this episode gives you a clear action plan to turn anxiety into productive financial decisions. “How do I navigate the current economic uncertainty?” This was the most-requested topic at a recent conference we attended. If you’re wondering the same, you’re clearly not alone. Instead of worrying, get a strategy in place so you know you can ride out any uncertain times that may lie ahead. We’re explaining what recessions actually are (versus what people often...
info_outlineMoney for Life with Eric Roberge, CFP
Are you constantly running on empty, juggling work, family, and endless household tasks? Then you may need to take advantage of an often-underutilized strategy for high-earning professionals: use your money to buy back your time. No, you should NOT do everything yourself, and we don’t believe outsourcing is some kind of sign of moral failing or judgment on your inability to successfully manage things on your own. The truth is, using your money to buy back time is a strategic investment in what matters most. Discover how to create a "shed column" to identify which tasks are draining your time...
info_outlineMoney for Life with Eric Roberge, CFP
Everyone says "invest for the long term" and "stay the course"—but what does that actually mean? When the market drops 12% within a few weeks, is your 10-year timeline really "long-term enough"? In this episode, Eric and Kali cut through the vague advice and give you specific numbers: how many years you actually need, what returns to expect, and why being a long-term investor is one of the hardest things you'll do with your money. Through real market data spanning 30 years, plus examples from the tariff-induced volatility of 2025, Eric and Kali explain why staying invested through full...
info_outlineMoney for Life with Eric Roberge, CFP
Thinking about buying a car? “Should I buy a car now, or wait?” has been an extremely popular question among our financial planning clients this year. So today, we’re discussing the reality of car prices in 2025, how we think prices are likely to evolve (or not) over the coming months, and the planning considerations to take into account if you decide to buy now. We’re also sharing our own real-world, personal experiences with buying two new cars in 2025 for fair market prices given the specific make and trim models of each, along with what we learned through the process and what...
info_outlineDo you earn bonuses, commissions, grants of equity comp, or other types of variable income? Then you better know not just how to manage it, but also how to optimize these lump sum cash inflows to help you achieve your goals and grow your wealth.
In this episode, we'll explain how to do it. Join us as we discuss:
- What counts as "variable income," or what lump sums of money you may receive over time
- The number-one thing to do if you receive a lump sum of cash, from any source
- Two main methods to manage cash flow for solid but unpredictable income streams
- The mistakes to avoid when you receive any kind of lump sum payment
- Why you have to invest some of these cash inflows
For our financial planning clients, managing lump sum cash inflows is a constant conversation. Getting this right becomes especially important when we're talking about total incomes of $500,000 or more, when half or more of that sum will hit quarterly, semi-annually, or even once a year.
Managing big lump sums like that is a skill; cash flow management can get complex not just due to the size of these cash infusions, but due to timing. This episode will help you strategize and plan around your variable income so you can achieve your most important financial goals.