Financial video library

Homeowners Insurance Disaster Takeaways • Home values often rise faster than policy updates, creating hidden coverage gaps. • Guaranteed replacement cost (or 100% replacement cost) should be reviewed with your insurance professional. • Most homeowners cannot cover a...

Mortgage Math: Why You Pay So Much in Interest Up Front Mortgage Math: Why You Pay So Much Interest Up Front. Why does mortgage math feel so expensive? Why does it take so long to build equity? In this video, we break down mortgage math, amortization, and the real...

$1 Trillion in Credit Card Debt. Is the US Consumer OK? Is the US Consumer OK?   Five key points: 1. Large-bank consumer credit card balances are approaching $1 trillion, but delinquency rates remain within long-term historical ranges. 2. Minimum-payment behavior has...

Transfer 529 to Roth IRA? Is this even possible?  This is so new, it took over a year for the IRS to translate what this means. While the ink is not even dry (always subject to IRS changes), this could be a useful tool - for some! Key points: Up to $35,000 can be...

Invert - Always Invert! Key points: Invert your thinking: Look backward to identify risks and potential problems in your financial plan. Case study exposes gaps: High earners may lack essentials like life insurance, disability coverage, emergency funds. Avoid big...

2 Rules About Emergency Funds Are you trying to "maximize" your emergency funds? Why? In this video, we explain why a high-yield savings account is still one of the best places to keep your emergency savings — even as interest rates fluctuate in 2025.  Short-term...

The Representative Payee and Social Security Why Social Security Won’t Accept Your Power of Attorney Key take-aways: Use the SSA-4547 form to designate a Representative Payee for Social Security benefits. The Social Security Administration does not recognize...

The Illiquid Millionaire: Retirement Reality in New Jersey How Can You Be Rich - But Still Broke In 2025? Takeaways: 1. Significant appreciation in New Jersey property values has created the illiquid millionaire. It's not very easy to turn into cash. 2. Likewise, 401k...

Is the S&P 500 in a bubble? Key Takeaways: The very same top 8 mega-cap tech stocks dominate both NASDAQ 100 and S&P 500 Market concentration is high - but not unprecedented, or necessarily a bubble Sector leadership shifts over time: industrials, energy,...

Optimal Social Security Claiming Strategy Key takeaways from the video: 1.  An optimal Social Security Claiming Strategy depends on balancing breakeven analysis, longevity risk, and lifestyle goals. 2.  Claiming Social Security at 62 vs 70 has major implications for...

Timing the Market, or time IN the markets? Key Takeaways from Timing the Market: 1. Missing just one day off the bottom can reduce returns by nearly 10% 2. Sharp market recoveries are more common than most investors think 3. Active managers often tend to underperform...

You Can Outlive Your Money Key take-aways: Planning the first few years of retirement might be easy. What will the last five years (or ten years) look like? You CAN outlive your money - the risk is real.  Today, retirees may live into their 90s or even 100, increasing...

Avoid This Costly Retirement Account Mistake Key Take-aways from Avoid This Costly Retirement Account Mistake: Pre-tax savings help more when in higher tax brackets. Withdrawing early can cost dearly in penalties and taxes.  Try to avoid this costly retirement account...

Trump Savings Account Key take-aways: No tax deduction for contributions Cash only (no appreciated stock deposits) Contributions: before age 18: only parents, guardians, or employers can contribute (up to $5,000/year) Contributions: after 18 ? only the account owner...

Trump Accounts Are Coming.  Now What? Key take-aways: Ownership Structure: Trump Accounts are owned by the child, similar to a 529 college savings plan, emphasizing that they are primarily for retirement, not for college or home purchases. Account Features: These...

Savings Rate vs Rate of Return Key takeaways: Why savings rate matters more when choosing between savings rate vs rate of return How compound interest and contributions work together over decades Why you shouldn’t count on your investments to “bail you out” if you...

Reinvest Dividends or Take the Cash? Takeaways: Total return beats price return by factoring in dividends, which can meaningfully boost long-term gains. S&P 500 vs. NASDAQ: Over the past 5 years (up to August 2025), dividends helped the S&P 500 slightly...

Transfer on Death Accounts Transfer on Death (TOD) and Payable on Death (POD) accounts can unintentionally change inheritance plans. Life changes, such as selling a home, can shift large assets into TOD/POD accounts. Unequal distribution from TOD accounts can cause...

Preparing For Retirement - What Most People Forget About Retirement Takeaways: Retirement success depends on more than just the math.  Your physical and mental well-being matter. Nearly 30% of adults over 70 struggle with basic mobility.  Don’t let poor health limit...

Peace of Mind - working with an advisor: Vanguard Key Takeaways from the "Peace of Mind" video: Vanguard: 88% of advised investors working with an advisor feel more peace of mind vs. do-it-yourself. Working with a financial advisor saves an average of 2.2 hours/week...