For years, the internet's favorite investing advice was simple: buy VTSAX and chill. But it's long overdue for a reality check. We'll talk about the downsides of a one-fund portfolio and why recent international and small-cap value outperformance should give you pause.

You'll learn how diversification, smart portfolio rebalancing, and practical investment management can protect your goals (and your peace of mind) far better than going it alone or chasing past returns. I'll walk you through the evidence, the behavioral traps, and how to align your investments with your real life, not just the latest forum trend.

Key moments:

(01:51) Why international and small-cap value beat the US large-cap lately

(07:49) How outperformance cycles should shape your portfolio, not your emotions

(13:01) The dangers of chasing performance versus committing to a long-term allocation

(21:13) Why portfolio complexity means tax and rebalancing headaches — and when to get help

There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free!

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

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Going from DINKWAD (Dual Income, No Kids, With A Dog) to new parent is a wild ride. I'm sharing exactly what I did to financially prepare for birth and the first two weeks postpartum — from simplifying bills and meal planning to hospital supply hacks, Amazon returns, and freeing up mental space for the emotional ups and downs of new parenthood. If you're in the newborn stage (or almost there), this is your financial survival guide.

Key moments:

(02:10) What I did pre-birth so I could focus on my newborn, not my bills
(11:30) How (and why) to maximize hospital resources covered by your insurance
(14:40) Week 1 postpartum: What I bought, didn't use, and returned
(20:11) Week 2 postpartum: medical bills, rewards program, and subscription services to reclaim time

Resources mentioned:

The Doctors Bjorkman
Hello Fresh
Similac Rewards
Pampers Rewards
College savings plan

There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free!

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

What would you do if you were sliding backward down an icy mountain at 11 p.m. with your kids in the car? We walk through a terrifying near-miss and the powerful financial lessons that came from it: overconfidence bias, underinsuring your life and disability, and why preparedness isn't fear-based — it's freedom-based. You'll also hear why reflecting on your mortality might actually help you live (and spend) more intentionally. If you've ever found yourself on a slippery slope — literally or financially — this episode is for you.

Key moments:

(03:20) Why spending on safety, like snow tires or insurance, isn't optional

(06:37) No one should live in fear, but we should be better about being prepared

(08:39) Overconfidence bias and dangerous financial blind spots

(12:52) Balancing long-term savings with living fully in the present

There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free!

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Parent PLUS loans have always been complicated, and recent rule changes have made them even more confusing. Learn what's changed, what still works, and where parents need to take action now. You'll hear real-life experience from a Parent PLUS borrower, clear explanations of new deadlines, and practical strategies for families still paying for college — or getting ready to.

Key moments:

(05:20) How double consolidation worked, and why it's now obsolete

(10:05) The June 30, 2026, deadline that locks you out of income-driven repayment

(13:31) How new rules impact PSLF for parents still borrowing

(29:26) Tax strategies, IRMAA, and when married filing separately helps

There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free!

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

What if your tax return could quietly point out investing mistakes that are costing you real money? In this episode, we walk through the three most easily spotted investing blunders we find over and over. Learn why missing out on tax-loss harvesting, donating cash instead of appreciated stock to charity, and not maximizing backdoor Roth IRAs can slow your financial progress. If you've been DIY-ing your investments or feel a little lost during tax season, this is the episode you didn't know you needed.

Key moments:

(01:20) Tax loss harvesting and the problem with having brokerage accounts at different places

(04:20) Your Schedule A and charity donations

(05:44) Why actively managing your portfolio's cost basis is potentially genius

(06:47) Check your Form 1040 if you did a backdoor Roth IRA

(09:28) Even really smart, capable people make investing mistakes

There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free!

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Most people aren't doing anything wrong with their taxes, they're just missing a few key details that quietly add up. In this episode, I'm joined by Sim Terwilliger, CFP®, CSLP®, our chief tax planner at SLP Wealth, to break down the most common (and totally normal) tax mistakes we see that can cost people thousands. From backdoor Roth errors and brokerage account missteps to missed deductions and underpayment penalties, we cover what actually matters, what's fixable, and how to be more proactive heading into a new tax year.

Key moments:

(03:15) Why backdoor Roth mistakes trigger unexpected taxes

(15:27) How brokerage account defaults quietly increase your tax bill

(29:06) Underpayment penalties and how to avoid IRS interest

(43:37) Why SALT deduction changes matter more than you think

Resources mentioned:

• Monarch Money
• Daffy (donor-advised fund)
• IRS estimated tax payments

There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free!

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Why are colleges telling students to borrow less… while writing nine-figure checks for football coaches? In this episode, Travis Hornsby, CEO of SLP Wealth, joins me to pull back the curtain on the business of higher education through the lens of college football. We talk NIL money, massive TV contracts, coaching buyouts, and what all of this says about how universities actually operate.

We also connect the dots to student loan caps, ROI on degrees, and why it's more important than ever to approach college decisions with eyes wide open.

Key moments:

(06:20) How TV deals turned football into a cash machine

(09:08) What $100M+ coaching contracts teach us about leverage and negotiation

(17:01) Contract terms, non-competes, and exit options might matter more than salary

(22:43) Why loan caps could change which schools are actually worth attending

There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free!

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

What you don't do with your money matters just as much as what you do. In this episode, I break down what's officially out in personal finance for 2026 — from late fees and unnecessary taxes to money shame and silent stress — and what we're intentionally replacing it with. We're focusing on habits, systems, and decisions that make money feel easier, calmer, and more aligned with real life.

If you want 2026 to be the year your finances feel calmer, clearer, and more aligned with your real life, this episode sets the foundation.

Key moments:

(05:58) Late fees and credit card interest: non-negotiables for 2026

(11:30) Avoiding unnecessary taxes and common planning mistakes

(20:23) Why estate planning, life insurance, and disability coverage matter

(38:21) What's in: automation, goal tracking, and values-based spending

There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free!

Like the show? There are several ways you can help!

• Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music
• Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts