The Importance of Working With A High-Quality Advisor with Plancorp’s Ranie Verby (EP.243)
Release Date: 02/11/2026
The Importance of Working With A High-Quality Advisor with Plancorp’s Ranie Verby (EP.243)
The Long Term Investor
Your finances have layers—investments, taxes, planning for the future. If you want a second set of eyes, Peter opened up a few spots for a quick, no-obligation call. . ----- If you ever hire help, how do you tell whether you’re getting a high-quality advisor? Ranie Verby, Plancorp’s Director of Practice Management, joins the show to explain what “financial advisor” can really mean, how to spot a true fiduciary at an RIA, and why the best advice shows up when life gets messy, not when markets are calm. Listen now and learn: ► The quickest screening questions that reveal...
info_outline
How to Think About Investing in AI (EP.242)
The Long Term Investor
You don’t have time to sift through endless financial content. That’s why I do it for you. Get my top 5 must-read articles every week in a quick, easy-to-digest email. . ----- AI is turning into a real capital cycle, with trillions of dollars of infrastructure and investment flowing into the buildout. That economic story matters, but it doesn’t automatically translate into easy stock-market winners. In this episode, I walk through a simple way to think about AI exposure inside a long-term portfolio without letting a powerful narrative push you into a concentrated bet. Listen now...
info_outline
Vanguard’s Return Forecasts Explained: What the Percentiles Really Mean with Kevin DiCiurcio (EP.241)
The Long Term Investor
You don’t have time to sift through endless financial content. That’s why I do it for you. Get my top 5 must-read articles every week in a quick, easy-to-digest email. . ----- In this episode, Peter sits down with Vanguard’s Kevin DiCiurcio to unpack how Vanguard thinks about long-term return forecasts—and why the percentiles in those tables are the part most investors misunderstand. They go behind the scenes of the Vanguard Capital Markets Model (VCMM), and translate what it’s really saying into practical guidance for planning and portfolio decisions. Listen now and learn: ...
info_outline
Inside the Engine: The Assumptions Behind Your Monte Carlo Retirement Plan (EP.240)
The Long Term Investor
You don’t have time to sift through endless financial content. That’s why I do it for you. Get my top 5 must-read articles every week in a quick, easy-to-digest email. . ----- Ever wondered where your retirement plan’s “probability of success” really comes from? In this episode, Peter pulls back the curtain on the assumptions inside Monte Carlo analysis—and explains why Plancorp anchors its projections to long-term base rates instead of short-term forecasts. Listen now and learn: ► The three numbers that quietly drive most Monte Carlo projections ► The four common...
info_outline
The 2026 Market Outlook: Earnings, the Fed, the Magnificent Seven, and Long-Term Investing with Liz Ann Sonders (EP.239)
The Long Term Investor
Get an inside look at what’s shaping my thinking. Bi-weekly, I share the top 5 investing and financial planning articles I’m reading—straight to your inbox. . ----- Liz Ann Sonders, Chief Investment Strategist at Charles Schwab, joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about what actually matters for long-term investors heading into 2026. We get past the headline forecasts and into how a seasoned strategist interprets markets in real time—without falling into the traps that trip up most investors. Listen now and learn: ► Why “forecasts” can be useful even when you’re not...
info_outline
Talking Shop with Rubin Miller (EP.238)
The Long Term Investor
You don’t have time to sift through endless financial content. That’s why I do it for you. Get my top 5 must-read articles every week in a quick, easy-to-digest email. . ----- In this Talking Shop episode, I sit down with Rubin Miller for an unscripted conversation about why market forecasts fail, how advisors actually set return assumptions, and where investors most often misunderstand risk. We move freely from prediction season and capital market assumptions to investor behavior, bonds, and cash—focusing less on what markets will do next and more on how to build a plan you can...
info_outline
Talking Shop with Ashby Daniels (EP.237)
The Long Term Investor
You don’t have time to sift through endless financial content. That’s why I do it for you. Get my top 5 must-read articles every week in a quick, easy-to-digest email. . ----- In this Talking Shop episode, I sit down with Ashby Daniels for an unscripted, behind-the-scenes conversation about investing, markets, and the behavioral mistakes that quietly derail long-term results. We move freely—from why simplicity keeps winning, to how investors misread risk, to what actually matters when markets feel noisy—without a single hot take in sight. If you’ve ever wondered how two...
info_outline
How to Choose Your Stock/Bond Mix (and Stick With It When Markets Get Ugly) (EP.236)
The Long Term Investor
Get updates for my new book: ----- Most people think “risk” means volatility. In this episode, I define risk the way long-term investors actually experience it: the risk of failing to fund your life. Then we turn that definition into a practical plan–choosing a stock/bond mix you can live with, deciding what goes in each sleeve, and rebalancing with rules instead of gut feel. Listen now and learn: ► A clearer way to think about risk before you pick an allocation ► The two-part test that determines your stock/bond mix ► How cash fits (and where it doesn’t) when...
info_outline
Why Your Bond Questions Are Really About Cash (EP.235)
The Long Term Investor
Get updates for my new book: ----- Bond ladders, bond funds, money markets—if those words have you second‑guessing your plan, this episode will clear the fog. Inspired by questions from my Perfect Portfolio book‑updates list, I explain why many “bond” debates are actually cash management problems in disguise—and how to build a simple system that helps you stay disciplined when markets get ugly. Listen now and learn: ► How to tell—quickly—whether you’re making a portfolio decision or a cash decision ► The “comfort trade” most investors accept with bond...
info_outline
Index vs Factor Investing (EP.234)
The Long Term Investor
Get updates for my new book: ----- Index funds are often pitched as the no-brainer choice for long-term investors—but are they the only rules worth following? In this episode, I use one of my favorite analogies to explain how indexing and factor investing evolved, how they differ, and how to decide which mix fits your goals and behavior. Listen now and learn: ► Why indexing became the “radar gun” of investing—and what it actually guarantees you ► The key trade-offs baked into market-cap-weighted index funds that most investors never think about ► What “factors”...
info_outlineYour finances have layers—investments, taxes, planning for the future. If you want a second set of eyes, Peter opened up a few spots for a quick, no-obligation call. Grab yours now.
-----
If you ever hire help, how do you tell whether you’re getting a high-quality advisor? Ranie Verby, Plancorp’s Director of Practice Management, joins the show to explain what “financial advisor” can really mean, how to spot a true fiduciary at an RIA, and why the best advice shows up when life gets messy, not when markets are calm.
Listen now and learn:
► The quickest screening questions that reveal whether an advisor is transparent, fiduciary, and actually aligned with you
► The firm-structure red flags that signal thin service, weak continuity, and no real succession plan
► Why “owned outcomes” matter more than portfolio picks when you hit a major life event
► How Plancorp uses behavioral finance and AI to improve the client experience without burning out advisors
Visit www.TheLongTermInvestor.com for show notes, free resources, and a place to submit questions.
(01:30) How to choose a high-quality financial advisor: fiduciary duty and RIA screening
(04:51) Signs of a great advisor: trust, continuity, and why a team matters
(08:26) Behavioral finance in financial planning: tough conversations, estate planning, and family decisions
(13:44) DIY investing vs hiring an advisor: accountability, decision support, and owned outcomes
(16:29) How Plancorp uses AI in financial planning to save advisor time and improve meetings
(21:49) Advisor burnout and capacity: why it affects client experience and continuity
(26:23) Financial advisor red flags and green flags: team size, succession plan, and relationship fit
(29:08) Integrated financial planning under one roof: investing, taxes, and estate coordination
(32:22) For advisors: how to evaluate your firm and build a sustainable advisory career
(36:20) Choosing a financial advisor: fiduciary in writing and meet the full team
(37:08) Where to follow Ranie Verby
Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com)
Disclosure: This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment.
The commentary in this “post” (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Plancorp LLC employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Plancorp LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Plancorp LLC or performance returns of any Plancorp LLC client.
References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others.
Please see disclosures here.