Audio

Jennifer Li is a certified financial planner, a licensed enrolled agent, and a chartered advisor of philanthropy. She's the Director of Financial Planning at EP Wealth, where she leads a team of over 30 financial planners as they work with individuals and families to navigate the goals and complexities of their unique financial situation. In this episode, I talk with Jennifer about the transformative power of financial literacy. Jennifer shares her journey from a scarcity mindset to financial co...

Lorraine Besser, PhD, is a professor of philosophy at Middlebury College, who specializes in the philosophy and psychology of the good life and teaches popular courses for undergraduates on happiness, well-being, and ethics. She is the author of two academic books, The Philosophy of Happiness: An Interdisciplinary Introduction, and Eudaimonic Ethics: The Philosophy and Psychology of Living Well, and dozens of professional journal articles on moral psychology. In this episode, I talk with Lorrain...

In this episode of Mindful Money, we break down the emotional reactions to elections and why we should separate politics from our portfolios. As election-driven fear and speculation rise, it’s important to understand why making investment decisions based on political headlines is a mistake. Markets react to policies, not personalities, and long-term financial success requires discipline, diversification, and patience. In this episode, we’ll explore both potential risks—like tariffs, inflation, a...

Tim “Jai” Baker is the CEO of Luminous Wealth and a veteran of the financial advice industry. His mission is to guide his clients toward their deepest desires and true fulfillment by fostering a healthy, stress-free environment where financial and personal well-being are seamlessly integrated. He believes that wealth management should not occur in isolation, but rather as part of a holistic approach that considers the whole person. In this episode, I talk with Tim about the deep psychological an...

What makes a truly excellent financial advisor? In this episode of Mindful Money, we explore 12 key qualities that set the best advisors apart—from asking the right questions and providing clear, honest fee structures to offering proactive solutions and helping you stay on track during turbulent times. We also discuss why trust, emotional intelligence, and long-term planning matter more than flashy investment strategies. If you’ve ever wondered whether your advisor is truly working in your best ...

Christine Benz is director of personal finance and retirement planning for Morningstar and senior columnist for Morningstar.com. In that role, she focuses on retirement and portfolio planning for individual investors. She also co-hosts a podcast for Morningstar, The Long View, which features in-depth interviews with thought leaders in investing and personal finance. She is a frequent public speaker and is widely quoted in the media, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s...

Maggie Jackson is an award-winning author and journalist with a global reach. Her new book, Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure, explores why we should seek not-knowing in an era of angst and flux. In this episode, I talk with Maggie about the transformative power of uncertainty, challenging cultural assumptions about certainty and success. Maggie explains how embracing uncertainty fosters creativity, resilience, and well-being. Drawing from neuroscience and personal insights, we di...

Jessica Calarco is a Sociologist and Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is an award-winning teacher, a leading expert on inequalities in family life and education, and the author of Holding it Together: How Women Became America’s Safety Net. In this episode, I talk with Jessica about how the U.S. relies on women as an unofficial safety net, burdening them with unpaid and underpaid caregiving roles. We discuss the myths of meritocracy, societal inequalities, and the structural ...

Vicky Reynal is the first financial psychotherapist in the UK, where she has pioneered an approach that applies psychodynamic psychotherapy principles to working with client’s complex relationship with money. Her award-winning book “Money on Your Mind: The Psychology Behind Your Financial Habits” is being translated in 8 languages. In this episode, I talk with Vicky about the emotional dynamics behind our relationship with money. Vicky discusses the deep emotional connections behind money habits...

Jason Schappert is a serial entrepreneur and financial technology visionary dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve financial freedom. He is the co-founder of Moola, an AI-driven investment platform that simplifies complex financial concepts and provides personalized insights and recommendations to help users make informed investment decisions. Jason’s journey from aviation to fintech highlights his passion for teaching and empowering individuals to achieve financial freedom. We explore t...

In this episode of Mindful Money, we’ll explore how to choose the right financial planning approach—DIY, digital advisors, or human advisors—based on your needs, goals, and preferences. We’ll highlight key questions to ask, common risks, and the value of consistency and mindfulness in navigating your financial journey with confidence. In this episode: (00:00) - Intro (01:09) - Changes coming in 2025 (04:33) - Honoring my brother’s legacy (08:12) - Deciding if you need a financial advisor (08:59)...

Jordan Grumet found the spark to become a doctor after a deeply personal event reshaped his life's trajectory. The unexpected loss of his father, an oncologist, ignited a passion within him to practice medicine and instilled a unique vantage point that later melded seamlessly with his financial expertise. This convergence of roles has spurred him to explore profound notions like wealth, abundance, and financial independence with a thoughtful and critical lens. In this episode, I talk with Jordan...

Brian Herriot writes and speaks about the power of time freedom. As a financial coach and founder of Choosy Consultant, he helps mid-career professionals escape the corporate grind. His frameworks for personal growth and financial success all start with taking back control of our one truly limited resource: time. In this episode, I talk with Brian about finding freedom and balance in your career. Brian shares insights from his journey as a consultant and founder of Choosy Consultant, where he he...

In this final episode of our Modular Financial Planning series, we’ll explore “portfolio optimizers”—strategies that add a bit of extra return potential to a well-diversified portfolio. These steps, like managing taxes, flexible trading, and securities lending, can enhance outcomes but aren’t essential if you’ve followed our previous nine steps. If you’re already saving, investing, and rebalancing consistently, you’ve done enough. For those seeking a little boost, these optimizers may be worth e...

In this episode of Mindful Money, we break down the essentials of mindful investing within the larger modular financial planning framework. We’ll focus on three foundational practices: asset allocation, diversification, and rebalancing. These simple yet powerful steps can guide you to a successful long-term portfolio without succumbing to market predictions or emotional reactions. We’ll also discuss mindfulness exercises, like box breathing and body scans, to help manage the impulses of fear and...

In this episode of Mindful Money, we explore the choice between paying off low-interest debt and building taxable savings. While paying down high-interest debt is crucial, once that’s done, the focus should shift toward maximizing retirement savings and investing in taxable accounts. We'll discuss how the power of compounding can make investing more beneficial than paying off low-interest debt. We'll also touch on the flexibility that taxable accounts provide, especially in retirement, where the...

In this episode of Mindful Money, we explore strategies for retirement planning. We’ll dive into the critical topics of saving, investing, retirement income, retirement age, Social Security, living arrangements, and more. We’ll also discuss investment strategies like maintaining a low withdrawal rate, diversification, and having a balanced portfolio, as well as practical advice on retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs, and asset allocation. The goal is to help you make mindful financial deci...

In this episode of Mindful Money, we talk about the critical step of eliminating high-interest debt, a common financial burden that hinders progress toward financial freedom. We’ll discuss the importance of identifying high-interest debt, the impact it has on your finances and health, and strategies for tackling it effectively through debt snowball and debt avalanche methods. We’ll also discuss the balance between debt repayment and investing, and the benefits of handling debts wisely to achieve...

In this episode of Mindful Money, we dive into the importance of building an emergency fund as the foundation of a successful financial plan. The purpose of an emergency fund is to cover unexpected expenses and provide peace of mind. We'll discuss guidelines on how much to save based on different life stages, from young adults to retirees, and explore practical steps for calculating and building your emergency savings. An emergency fund is a crucial safety net to protect against financial setbac...

In this episode of Mindful Money, we’re discussing the critical step of adopting a savings habit. Spending less than you earn, establishing healthy financial habits early, and taking advantage of compounding interest are crucial. Create a vision for your ideal life and align your financial priorities with that vision. These steps, along with automating your savings and making mindful spending choices, will help you build financial security, eventually leading to a comfortable retirement. In this...

In this episode of Mindful Money, we dive into step two of the modular financial planning process—developing a clear vision of your ideal life. It’s critical to think through each step in creating this vision, such as identifying personal values, declaring a meaningful purpose, envisioning your perfect life, writing a professional mission statement, and setting actionable personal goals. Following these steps will help you create a written financial plan that reflects your deepest values and asp...

In this episode of Mindful Money, we'll talk about the first step in the modular financial planning process. Contrary to common advice, financial planning should begin with understanding what is worth seeking in life. It's important to go through a process of self-discovery and introspection before setting financial goals. We'll explore the eight pillars of happiness and how they form the foundation for lasting happiness and effective financial planning. Join me as we learn how to align our fina...

In this episode of Mindful Money, I'm introducing a new nine-part series about modular financial planning, and why I think it's the best approach for getting started. Specifically, we'll discuss the importance of having a financial plan, comparing the in-depth and all-encompassing nature of comprehensive plans to the simplified and focused approach of modular plans. A financial plan acts as a roadmap, helping to achieve long-term goals, optimize investments, manage debt, and even provide psychol...

Matt Wilkerson is the CEO and co-founder of Extern, a company on a mission to help anyone discover and launch their career through real professional experiences. Extern has created externships for leading companies such as AT&T, HSBC, Meta, PwC, Home Depot, and National Geographic, serving more than 35,000 students and career switchers. In this episode, I talk with Matt about the externship model and its impact. Matt shares his journey from growing up in Atlanta, to attending MIT, and eventually...