10 Myths That Exist Around Women's Wealth, Ep #235
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
Release Date: 03/12/2025
How Your Money Scripts Impact Your Path to Financial Freedom, Ep #256
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
Financial independence isn't just about hitting a certain net worth or reaching a magic retirement number, it's a personal journey shaped by your habits, values, and the emotional baggage that money can carry. In this episode of the Financial Symmetry Show, we dig into Morgan Housel's "The Art of Spending Money," exploring the spectrum from financial dependence to independence. The Financial Independence Spectrum The path to financial independence isnāt a straight line, nor is it solely defined by the size of your bank account. You could have a net worth of $10 million, $20 million,...
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How Caregiving Affects Womenās Financial Health with Hayley Modlin, Niamh Douglas, and Darian Billingsley, Ep #255
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
As women are living longer than menāon average, 5 to 7 years moreāthe later decades of life promise opportunities to cherish freedom and fulfillment. Yet, as this International Womenās Day episode of the Financial Symmetry Show reveals, these extra years often come with both unique financial challenges and disproportionate caregiving responsibilities. Allison Berger bring together Haley Modlin, Niamh Douglas, and Darian Billingsley to spotlight how the āGive to Gainā theme resonates deeply with women navigating retirement and caring for loved ones. We discuss: The Economic Impacts...
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Planning for an Unexpected Inheritance in Retirement, Ep #254
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
Receiving an unexpected inheritance while already in retirement can spark a mixture of emotionsāgratitude, uncertainty, and even a bit of overwhelm. In this episode, we dig into the practical and emotional aspects of managing an inheritance, answer common questions, and guide listeners toward making wise and meaningful decisions. With over $105 trillion expected to change hands in the coming decades, the need to understand how best to handle inherited wealth has never been more important. We discuss: Assessing Your Inheritance: What Did You Actually Receive? Understanding Tax Implications...
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Is Do-It-Yourself Investing Enough? The Hidden Value of a Financial Advisor, Ep #253
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
Many people begin their financial lives confidently handling everything on their own. They set up retirement accounts, save diligently, and make decisions that feel reasonable at the time. But as life evolves, that confidence can quietly erode. In this episode, we speak directly to the do-it-yourself investor who has started to wonder whether going it alone still makes sense. We unpack the most common reasons people resist working with an advisor, from concerns about fees and loss of control to confusion about what financial advisors actually do. We also share what typically triggers the shift...
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Maximize Generosity and Minimize Tax Surprises, Ep #252
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
The holiday season inspires generosity, but smart gifting can go far beyond festive moments and gifts under the tree. On the show this week, weāre digging into the world of gifting strategies, just in time for the end of 2025. Whether youāre navigating last-minute holiday shopping, planning gifts for loved ones, or looking to maximize your charitable donations, this episode is packed with practical advice and fresh ideas. We break down everything from tax implications of gifting cash, stocks, and even real estate, to making the most of donor-advised funds and qualified charitable...
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Stress Test Your Retirement Plan With Real Life What If Scenarios, Ep #251
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
We talk with hundreds of individuals and families every year, and many of the questions they ask come back to one core concern. Can my retirement plan really survive the messy, unpredictable situations that happen in real life. Instead of only looking at straight line projections or average returns, Chad and Allison walk through how to āstress testā your plan with real world what if scenarios so you can build confidence before a crisis hits. In this episode, you will hear three of the biggest what if questions clients have been asking over the past year. What happens if there is a...
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Retirement Ravaging Risks That Could Slash Your Nest Egg, Ep #250
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
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, thereās 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...
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Seven Essential Stages of Tax Planning with Grayson Blazek, Ep #249
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
Tax planning often slips to the bottom of our financial to-do listsāuntil a surprise bill or missed opportunity crops up. But behind the scenes, the right process for an ongoing tax strategy can put you leagues ahead, reducing uncertainty and helping you capitalize on changes. On the show this week, weāll walk through the seven stages of tax planning, highlighting key insights and practical actions you can take. Outline of This Episode 00:00 Holistic Tax Planning Overview 01:56 Understanding clientsā overall current situation and future goals [03:11] Importance of staying up-to-date for...
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Use Non-Obvious Thinking to Improve Your Retirement Readiness, Ep #248
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
Planning for retirement isn't just about hitting your savings targets and hoping for the best. It's about getting creative, asking new questions, and challenging your own assumptions. We follow the retirement planning journey of a fictional couple, Dwight and Angela, who are three to five years from retirement, using the SIFT framework shared by Rohit Bhargava and Ben duPont in their book āNon-Obvious Thinkingā, to shed light on hidden financial opportunities. Outline of This Episode [00:00] Broadening perspectives on retirement strategies. [03:11] Making time to reflect to get better...
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Smart Strategies for Funding Your Childās College Education with a 529 Plan, Ep #247
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
Planning for your childās college education can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with skyrocketing tuition costs and countless savings options. This week on the show, weāre discussing the question of exactly how much you should save in a 529 college savings plan. Outline of This Episode [00:00] Decide your college funding goal before saving in a 529 account. [02:06] An overview of college costs. {02:35] Advantages of the 529 Plan. [03:54] Weighing college savings vs. retirement savings. [05:31] What happens if I save too much? [07:35] Expanded legislation as part of the...
info_outlineWe'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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