Bonds are often seen as the “safe” side of an investment portfolio. But are they really safe—especially over the long term? In this episode of the LawyerFI Podcast, Adam B. Cordover breaks down one of the most misunderstood topics in investing: bonds.

We’ll explore:
✅ Why bonds are considered safer than stocks in the short term
✅ The hidden long-term risk of inflation
✅ What’s inside a Total Bond Market Index Fund
✅ When bonds make sense depending on your age, goals, and risk tolerance
✅ How experts like J.L. Collins and Paul Merriman approach stock/bond allocation

Whether you’re early in your career or planning your retirement withdrawals, this episode will help you decide how bonds fit into your path to financial independence.

Mentioned in This Episode

Total Bond Market Index Fund Ticker Symbols

Vanguard Mutual Fund (VBTLX) — 0.04%

Vanguard ETF (BND) — 0.03%

Fidelity (FXNAX) — 0.025%

Charles Schwab (SWAGX) — 0.04%

Key References

Stocks for the Long Run by Jeremy Siegel: http://bit.ly/4goBgxp

J.L. Collins’ The Simple Path to Wealth: http://bit.ly/3VNRaYo

Vanguard Target Retirement Funds: http://bit.ly/47G7ou0

Paul Merriman on Stock/Bond Allocation: • Stock vs Bond Allocation According to Pau...

J.L. Collins on Asset Allocation: http://bit.ly/42sCO3k

Listen & Subscribe

If you found this episode helpful, please like, comment, and subscribe—and share it with another lawyer or professional who wants to take control of their money.

🔗 More resources at LawyerFI.com

This episode is brought to you by Florida-based Collaborative Family Law Attorney Adam B. Cordover. Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, serving professionals across Florida with dignity and privacy in divorce. Learn more at familydiplomacy.com or call 813-443-0615.

We accept clients in every county in Florida and have offices by appointment in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota. Contact us to schedule a confidential virtual planning meeting.

If you found this episode helpful, please like, subscribe, and share with a colleague who could use a simpler, smarter path to financial independence.

Wouldn’t a little simplicity in your financial life be nice? Imagine one ticker symbol that gives you ownership of nearly every publicly traded company in the U.S. That’s the power of a Total Stock Market Index Fund — and today we’re breaking down why it may be the most dependable core for your investment strategy.

I’m Adam B. Cordover, collaborative family law attorney and host of LawyerFI, the podcast that helps lawyers and other high earners build lasting wealth and reclaim their time.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- A quick history of index investing and how Jack Bogle’s “folly” became the default retirement option
- The key differences between the S&P 500 and Total Stock Market funds
- JL Collins’ “VTSAX and Chill” philosophy and why it works
- A head-to-head comparison of Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab ticker symbols
- One-fund, two-fund, and three-fund “meal” portfolios you can actually use
- How to automate your investing, avoid sneaky fees, and keep your costs microscopic

By the end, you’ll understand how to run a streamlined, low-cost portfolio that doesn’t require a financial advisor or endless tinkering — just a smart, steady plan.

Resources & Links Mentioned

SPIVA Scorecard (latest U.S. data): http://bit.ly/4mG7Ywm

Fama & French research (1993): https://bit.ly/4mNdJIF

Paul Merriman Fine-Tuning Asset Allocation (2024 update): https://bit.ly/3JNIgHN

Bogleheads Investing Wiki: https://bit.ly/45PqOvd

Fund Fact Sheets

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)
Vanguard Total Stock Market Mutual Fund (VTSAX)
Fidelity Total Market Index Fund (FSKAX)
Fidelity’s Zero Total Market Index Fund (FZROX)
Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund (SWTSX)

Automation & Fractional Shares

Vanguard ETF & Mutual Fund automation

Fidelity Recurring Investments & Stocks-by-the-Slice

Schwab Automatic Investing & Stock Slices

This episode is brought to you by Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, serving professionals across Florida with dignity and privacy in divorce. Learn more at familydiplomacy.com or call 813-443-0615.

We accept clients in every county in Florida and have offices by appointment in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota. Contact us to schedule a confidential virtual planning meeting.

If you found this episode helpful, please like, subscribe, and share with a colleague who could use a simpler, smarter path to financial independence.

Debt can feel like handcuffs holding you back from true financial freedom—even for high-income professionals like lawyers, doctors, and business owners. In this episode of the LawyerFi Podcast, Florida Collaborative Divorce Lawyer Adam B. Cordover dives into practical and psychological strategies to break free from debt and build lasting wealth.

You’ll learn:
Why paying off debt is about freedom—not just numbers
How compound interest can work for or against you
The Debt Snowball Method (momentum & early wins)
The Debt Avalanche Method (efficiency & interest savings)
How to choose the approach that fits YOUR personality—checklist people vs. spreadsheet people
Hybrid strategies Adam used in his own journey to financial independence
The systems, mindset shifts, and habits that keep you on track for the long run
Whether you’re buried in student loans, credit card debt, or car payments, this episode will help you create a sustainable plan, avoid burnout, and stay motivated until you’re debt-free.

Resources and Links Mentioned:
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel: http://bit.ly/3VvjTkA
The Simple Path to Wealth by J.L. Collins: https://bit.ly/4gnUmDT
Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://bit.ly/4p3qZdD
The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy: http://bit.ly/47tW6ZP
Debt Repayment Calculator: https://bit.ly/3HYV4dG
American Bar Association Student Loan Debt Statistics: https://bit.ly/4lXphrF

Subscribe to the LawyerFi Podcast for more episodes on financial independence for professionals.

Like, comment, and share this episode with a colleague or friend who’s ready to take control of their money.

Sponsored by Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm:
If you’re a professional in Florida seeking a private, respectful divorce process, visit FamilyDiplomacy.com
or call 813-443-0615.

What would your life look like if you never had to work another billable hour? Would you finally take that long-overdue sabbatical? Pivot to a passion project you’ve been putting off? Keep what you are currently doing and just pad your bank account or build generational wealth? Or maybe just scale back and enjoy more time with the people who matter most—without financial stress hanging over you? These are the types of options that the freedom of financial independence provides. And today, we’re going to talk about one of the simplest yet most powerful tools to help you get there: the 4% Rule. You’ll learn what it is, how it works, and how to calculate your own FI number so you can start building your freedom—one decision at a time.

Resources:
Original Trinity Study (1998) - https://bit.ly/45BebUr
Florida’s Supreme Court Long-Form Financial Affidavit - http://bit.ly/4myq1UV
Simple Path To Wealth: http://bit.ly/47ODgfP
Wade Pfau - https://www.wadepfau.com/
Michael Kitces - https://www.kitces.com/
Early Retirement Now - https://earlyretirementnow.com/
Empower - https://bit.ly/45QKi1b
Atticus Law Firm Coaching - https://atticusadvantage.com/

Welcome to the LawyerFi Podcast, where attorney and entrepreneur Adam B. Cordover, Esq. empowers legal professionals to achieve financial freedom while building values-based, client-centered practices.

Whether you're a new lawyer navigating your career or a seasoned professional looking to align your practice with your purpose, this podcast offers practical strategies, inspiring interviews, and real-world insights to help you thrive both personally and professionally.

Subscribe now to join a growing community of lawyers who are rethinking success, ditching burnout, and taking control of their financial future.