Don Sowa's MoneyTalk

When we plan for retirement, we tend to spend the majority of our time thinking about money, but research shows that there is much more to a happy retirement than dollars and cents. Nathan interviews Morningstar columnist Christine Benz, author of “How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful and Wealthy Retirement”, to discuss perspectives from thought leaders on what contributes to a truly successful retirement. Host: Nathan Beauvais, CFP®, CIMA®; Special Guest: Christine Benz, Morningstar; Air Date: 10/17/2025; Original Air Date: 11/1/2024. Have a question for the hosts? Leave a message on the MoneyTalk Hotline at (401) 587-SOWA and have your voice heard live on the air!

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While index funds have their benefits, customization has never been one of them, that is - until now. Donna and Nathan discuss how the technology behind direct indexing is allowing investors to design their own specialized portfolio to benchmark an index, while using sophisticated tax efficiency strategies unavailable with traditional index funds. Also on MoneyTalk, getting your ducks in a row before retirement, and Stock Trivia: Battle of the Sowas. Hosts: Donna Sowa Allard, CFP®, AIF® & Nathan Beauvais CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®, CPWA®; Air Date: 10/16/2025. Have a question for the hosts? Leave a message on the MoneyTalk Hotline at (401) 587-SOWA and have your voice heard live on the air!

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For over a century, gold wasn’t just a symbol of wealth—it was the backbone of the U.S. dollar. From the discovery of gold in California to the creation of the Federal Reserve and the dramatic shift under President Nixon, the gold standard shaped not only how America did business, but how it saw itself on the global stage. On this edition of our MoneyTalk Moment in Financial History, Nathan and Daniel uncover the myths, the politics, and the economics behind one of the most influential—and controversial—chapters in monetary history: The U.S. Gold Standard. Host: Nathan Beauvais, CFP®, CIMA®; Special Guest: Daniel Sowa; Air Date: 10/15/2025; Original Air Date: 7/2/2025. Have a question for the hosts? Leave a message on the MoneyTalk Hotline at (401) 587-SOWA and have your voice heard live on the air!

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Being mortgage free is the dream for most homeowners, but even if you have the available cash to pay off your house, it may be a tough decision in a high savings rate environment. Donna and Nathan answer a MoneyTalk hotline question from a listener who is grappling with this very decision. Also on MoneyTalk, deciding whether to rent or buy, and Stock Trivia: Battle of the Sowas. Hosts: Donna Sowa Allard, CFP®, AIF® & Nathan Beauvais CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®; Air Date: 10/14/2025. Have a question for the hosts? Leave a message on the MoneyTalk Hotline at (401) 587-SOWA and have your voice heard live on the air!

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Estate Planning can sound a bit grandiose, but when broken down into its parts, it is simply a series of measures intended to protect your assets for the future, and some of the more important estate planning tools at your disposal are surprisingly simple. Donna goes through various steps that people with young families can take to begin building out their estate plan. Host: Donna Sowa Allard, CFP®, AIF®; Air Date: 10/13/2025; Original Air Date: 11/20/2023. Have a question for the hosts? Leave a message on the MoneyTalk Hotline at (401) 587-SOWA and have your voice heard live on the air!

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Growth in life is largely about learning from your mistakes, but at a certain point in our journey we will no longer have the benefit of time to recover from those mistakes, so having a plan is essential. Nathan discusses some common mistakes to be mindful of as we prepare for retirement, including: outliving your assets, favoring accumulation over distribution, failing to account for inflation, and much more. Also on MoneyTalk, valuable takeaways from Hans Rosling’s book, “Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World-and Why Things Are Better Than You Think.” Host: Nathan Beauvais, CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®; Special Guest: Daniel Sowa; Air Date: 10/10/2025; Original Air Date: 6/12/2023. Have a question for the hosts? Leave a message on the MoneyTalk Hotline at (401) 587-SOWA and have your voice heard live on the air!

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If you receive 100% of your income from your salary, the manner in which you are taxed is relatively straightforward, but a growing number of Americans today receive income from multiple sources, each of which may be taxes a little differently. Donna and Nathan discuss how your tax liability is calculated on different types of income, including: social security, pensions, dividends and interest, capital gains, retirement accounts, life insurance proceeds, annuities, and real estate sales. Also on MoneyTalk, a social security refresher. Hosts: Donna Sowa Allard, CFP®, AIF® & Nathan Beauvais CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®; Air Date: 10/9/2025; Original Air Dates: 4/9/2024 & 9/23/2025. Have a question for the hosts? Leave a message on the MoneyTalk Hotline at (401) 587-SOWA and have your voice heard live on the air!

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The Health Savings Account is a uniquely designed product combining some of the key tax benefits of both tax deductible and tax deferred accounts, so if your employer offers an HSA as part of your benefits package, you should strongly consider taking advantage if you qualify. Donna and Nathan discuss how to use the HSA to its full benefit. Also, on our MoneyTalk Moment in Financial History, Nathan and Daniel explain how FDR used the aftermath of the Great Depression to pass the most progressive and influential package of political and social reforms in our nation’s history: the New Deal. Host: Nathan Beauvais, CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®; Special Guest: Daniel Sowa; Air Date: 10/8/2025; Original Air Dates: 4/5/2023 & 4/11/2025. Have a question for the hosts? Leave a message on the MoneyTalk Hotline at (401) 587-SOWA and have your voice heard live on the air!

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We can all agree that we are in the midst of a challenging housing market, but it may surprise you to learn that the cost of a median priced home in ounces of gold today is the same as it was back in 2008. Donna and Nathan discuss how looking at the big economic picture can reframe our understanding of the real condition of a particular financial market. Also on MoneyTalk, how restricted stock units work, and Stock Trivia: Battle of the Sowas. Hosts: Donna Sowa Allard, CFP®, AIF® & Nathan Beauvais CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®; Air Date: 10/7/2025. Have a question for the hosts? Leave a message on the MoneyTalk Hotline at (401) 587-SOWA and have your voice heard live on the air!

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For early baby boomers, the transfer of wealth to the next generation typically took place at death, but today we are seeing far more retirees beginning to transfer their wealth while still living, which can require a more complex level of estate planning. Donna discusses estate planning considerations for those looking to begin the wealth transfer process early. Also on MoneyTalk, the benefits of a trust in estate planning, and mistakes investors make when times are good. Host: Donna Sowa Allard, CFP®, AIF®; Air Date: 10/6/2025; Original Air Dates: 7/10/2023, 4/22/2024 & 8/4/2025. Have a question for the hosts? Leave a message on the MoneyTalk Hotline at (401) 587-SOWA and have your voice heard live on the air!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.