Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
230 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 45 ratingsWhen considering retirement, do you wonder what financial opportunities you may be missing? Busy lives take over and years pass without taking advantage. In this retirement podcast, Chad Smith and Mike Eklund unveil financial opportunities, to help you balance enjoying today so you are ready to retire later. By day, they are fiduciary fee-only financial advisors who answer questions about tax savings, investment decisions, and how to save more. If you’ve been putting off your financial to-do list or are just not sure what you’ve been missing, subscribe to the show and learn more at www.financialsymmetry.com. Financial Symmetry is a Raleigh Financial Advisor, proudly serving clients in the Triangle of North Carolina for over 20 years.
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Episodes
Episode 24 – What Should You Do With Your Year-End Bonus?
November 29, 2016 05:00 - 21 minutes - 30.1 MBMany people don't have a great idea of what do do with their bonus at the end of the year. Should you spend it? Invest it all immediately? Invest it over the coming year? In this week's podcast, Chad and Mike explore your options and help you decide how to end your year. Music this week: Celebration (Single Version) – Kool & The Gang from the Album Celebrate! (1980) Don't Stop Believin' – Journey from the Album Greatest Hits (1988) Used under Fair Use.
Are You Procrastinating on Your Retirement Planning?, Ep #23
November 08, 2016 21:32 - 22 minutes - 30.9 MBTwo-thirds of people admit to procrastinating when it comes to their retirement planning. In fact, the average person spends more time planning a vacation then than do planning for retirement. Non-urgent financial tasks love to find cracks in our to-do list, falling to the bottom fast. Mark Twain humorized this concept well with his quote, “Why do today what you can put off till tomorrow?” Jason Zweig captured these problems in his book Your Money and Your Brain. He wrote “Unpleasant ta...
Episode 23 – Are You Procrastinating on Your Retirement Planning?
November 08, 2016 21:32 - 22 minutes - 30.9 MBTwo-thirds of people admit to procrastinating when it comes to their retirement planning. In fact, the average person spends more time planning a vacation then than do planning for retirement. In this episode, Chad and Mike discuss why retirement planning is so hard to do on your own, and offer some advice to help you get back on track.
Episode 22 – Don't Fail In Retirement!
October 25, 2016 13:00 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBOne of the biggest dangers of retirement is to have an unexpected event send you back to work, or not having enough intention in your retirement plan. In this week's episode, Chad and Mike take a look at what it means to retire with confidence.
Don't Fail In Retirement!, Ep #22
October 25, 2016 13:00 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBCan you really fail in retirement? For most people, retirement is that time on the horizon when you get to do what you want, when you want. But surprisingly, it's not all that uncommon for people to retire only to go back to work or face other unexpected negative events that occur which people are not prepared for. You spend a boatload of time planning the financial side of retirement (at least we hope you did). But how much time do you spend planning how you'll spend your time. In thi...
Episode 21 - 401k, for Employeers
October 11, 2016 13:00 - 19 minutes - 27.2 MBNew regulations for 401k regulations are putting even more responsibility on the employer. Understanding these new laws can be a complex, and time-consuming task. Join Chad and Mike as they walk through the basics of what employers need to know to ensure they are ready for the changes.
Episode 20 – Your 401k, Revisited
September 27, 2016 16:00 - 23 minutes - 32 MBIn this episode, Chad and Mike take another look at the 401k, and how important it is to your retirement plan.
Episode 19 – Do You Know Your Financial Fitness?
September 13, 2016 16:00 - 24 minutes - 33.7 MBMuch is made about keeping our physical fitness in good shape. But what about your financial fitness? In this episode, Chad and Mike discuss why its important to regularly take a survey of your financial fitness, and how you can improve it once you do.
Episode 18 – How to Send a Kid to College Part 2: Just Before Sendoff
August 30, 2016 16:00 - 27 minutes - 37.7 MBThis week, we're back up with the conclusion of our college planning episode! Mike takes a look at financial strategies for the final few years before your child goes to school, and what you can do to maximize your funding during this time.
Episode 17 – How to Send a Kid to College Part 1: Early Years
August 23, 2016 16:00 - 19 minutes - 27 MBThis week, we're covering one of Mike's favorite topics: college planning. Learn what to do during the early years of your child's life to ensure you have the resources you need to support their education.
Episode 16 – FPA NexGen Recap: Why We Go to Conferences
July 19, 2016 16:00 - 22 minutes - 30.9 MBThis week, Chad brings on special guest Cameron Hendricks, CFP® to discuss his recent experience at the FPA NexGen conference, and why it is important for your financial advisors to attend conferences in general.
Episode 15 – What Do You Do When the Market Panics?
July 12, 2016 16:00 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBOne thing is certain, there are always going to be panics in the market. Political turmoil, natural disasters and other factors will cause markets to move, and can make you wonder: should I sell all my investments and hope that it gets better? Chad and Mike discuss these issues to discover how you can avoid making common investment mistakes with uncertainty in the markets.
Episode 14 – Making the Most of Your 401K
June 28, 2016 16:00 - 24 minutes - 33.8 MBIn this episode Chad and Mike discuss managing your 401k, and how to avoid common mistakes when saving in your retirement account.
Episode 13 – The Usual Suspects
June 14, 2016 16:00 - 30 minutes - 41.3 MBIn this episode Chad and Mike discuss the top 5 questions they hear from their prospects, with special guest Allison Berger, CFP®.
Episode 12 – It's the Little Things
May 24, 2016 16:00 - 19 minutes - 26.8 MBIn this episode, Chad and Mike do a "Top 10 Ode to David Letterman" of little things you can do immediately to get your finances back on track.
Episode 11 – What Happens to Prince's Estate?
May 10, 2016 16:00 - 24 minutes - 34.1 MBIn this episode, Chad and Mike discuss Prince's lack of estate documents, and offer advice for listeners who may not yet have considered the importance of preparing a will. You can read a text version of this post on Nasdaq.com.
Episode 10 – Financial Gifts for Grads
April 26, 2016 16:00 - 18 minutes - 25 MBThis week, Mike and Chad take a look at the best financial gifts you can give a graduating high school or college student.
Don't Be an Average Investor, Ep #9
April 13, 2016 16:00 - 18 minutes - 25.8 MBThink about the last time you felt something surprised you. If it was a pleasant surprise, the event likely exceeded expectations. Then there’s the surprises that catch us off guard. A great example occurs around tax time each year as many people are surprised when they owe a large tax bill. It’s tough to find anyone that would describe that as a positive feeling. If it stops at feelings, bad outcomes are generally avoided. It’s when events fall short of our expectations where our patien...
Episode 09 – Don't Be an Average Investor
April 13, 2016 16:00 - 18 minutes - 25.8 MBChad and Mike take a look at "average investors" and how you can avoid their bad habits and mistakes.
Episode 08 – Should You Work With a Young Advisor
March 29, 2016 16:00 - 10 minutes - 13.9 MBLearn the benefits of working with a younger financial advisor with Cameron Hendricks and Grace Kvantas.
Benefit of Working With a Young Financial Advisor, Ep #8
March 29, 2016 16:00 - 10 minutes - 13.9 MBYoung advisors often have more passion, technical knowledge and a longer runway than older financial advisors. If we look like we could be your son or daughter, then you are likely on the right track to finding a financial advisor to form a relationship with. While we may look young, that doesn’t mean we are inexperienced or harder to relate to. Let me explain: We entered the financial planning profession during the age of the rise of the comprehensive financial planner and we’ve had the...
Episode 07 – Are You Missing Tax Opportunities?
March 15, 2016 16:00 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBChad and Mike take a look at tax tips, and how you can make the most out of tax season. It's less boring than you think!
Are You Missing Tax Opportunities?, Ep #7
March 15, 2016 16:00 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBI’m not sure about you, but we haven’t met many people that wouldn’t love to lower their tax payments. As we move in to the heart of tax season, do you find yourself wondering every year around this time, what other opportunities you may be missing? Millions of people who file their tax return themselves overlook tax opportunities each year that could save them extra money in April but they hesitate to pay to have a professional prepare them. The hidden secret is that tax planning shoul...
Do I Really Need a Financial Plan?
March 01, 2016 17:00 - 20 minutes - 28.8 MBDo you have a mapped-out plan for your future? Do you know the best steps to take to achieve your goals? In a world in which 75% of America is winging it when it comes to their financial future, a holistic financial plan will set you ahead of the crowd. Having a dynamic and workable financial plan helps you look at all aspects of your finances and project what things will look like on your current trajectory and if you make improvements. With the help of a fee-only, fiduciary Certified ...
How to Enjoy Life and Save Money, Ep #5
February 17, 2016 17:00 - 30 minutes - 41.6 MBWhat if you could save an additional $1,500 each year? After 30 years you would have $119,000, assuming the money was invested and you got a 6% return. That $1,500 each year — just $125 a month — can add up to quite a bit of money. Of course, to save more money each month you likely need to cut your spending. But if you are like most people, you probably don’t want to drastically change your lifestyle. Fortunately, there are smart and simple steps you can take to trim spending without a ma...
Episode 05 – How to Enjoy Life and Save Money
February 17, 2016 17:00 - 30 minutes - 41.6 MBJoin advisors Mike Eklund, CFP® and Chad Smith, CFP® as they explore how to save money everyday, without sacrificing your lifestyle or the things you love.
Why Monitoring Goals Matters Most, Ep #4
February 03, 2016 17:00 - 18 minutes - 25.4 MBSo many of us get charged up and rattle off an impressive list of goals but then struggle to follow through. The disconnect between creating and accomplishing is where life change gets stuck. Months pass and we realize our lives are no different. Where did progress stop (or never begin)? Often, it's when life's curveballs throw us off our game. Even though we know the surprises will come, we're not prepared when they show up. I thought about this recently on a Saturday morning, when ...
The Top 10 Economic Stories of 2015, Ep #3
January 19, 2016 17:00 - 29 minutes - 39.9 MBAs we've done in years past, we compiled our view of the top 10 economic stories from 2015, and what these stories may mean for 2016. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://wp.me/p6NrVS-2uI
What's an Advisor Worth?, Ep #2
January 05, 2016 17:00 - 6 minutes - 9.01 MBIs paying a fee for a financial advisor worth it? According to Vanguard, the leader in do-it-yourself (DIY) investing, they believe a financial advisor can add approximately three percentage points to a client’s investment returns per year. The study (link here) found five separate ways (below) advisors add value (alpha) in working with their clients. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://wp.me/p6NrVS-20z
Am I Saving Enough?, Ep #1
December 14, 2015 17:00 - 5 minutes - 6.92 MBIt's the question we hear most often: "Am I saving enough for retirement?" “How do you think we’re doing for people our age? These are good questions. People want to know how they measure up. They hope to hear, they are doing better than most. In their minds, this means things are moving in the right direction. But “keeping up with the Joneses” has never been a bankable strategy. So we need to dig deeper to determine what the question is really about. What many people are really askin...