Engineered Wealth

Is a high deductible health plan (HDHP) worth it? For our household, the total yearly cost of an HDHP came out about the same as our old traditional plan, two years in a row. The difference: the HDHP gave us access to a Health Savings Account (HSA), which is pre-tax going in, grows tax-free, and comes out tax-free for qualified medical expenses.

In this episode, I walk through how we compared plans, who is eligible for an HSA, the 2027 contribution limits, and the strategy most people miss: paying medical bills out of pocket, saving receipts, and letting the HSA keep growing. I also cover what changes at age 65 and what happens to an HSA when you die.

Open enrollment is happening now for many employers, and the Federal Benefits Open Season runs November 9 to December 14, 2026.

QUICK ANSWERS

- 2027 HSA contribution limits: $4,500 self-only / $9,000 family, plus a $1,000 catch-up at age 55+. Employer or plan contributions count toward the limit.

- 2027 HDHP minimum deductible: $1,750 self-only / $3,500 family. Out-of-pocket maximum: $8,700 / $17,400.

- You can't contribute if you're enrolled in Medicare, covered by a spouse's general-purpose health FSA, or claimed as someone else's dependent.

- Before 65, non-medical withdrawals are taxed as income plus a 20% penalty. After 65, the penalty goes away and non-medical withdrawals are taxed like a traditional 401(k). Qualified medical withdrawals stay tax-free at any age.

- At death, a spouse beneficiary inherits the HSA as their own. A named non-spouse beneficiary receives it directly (not through probate), but the full balance becomes their taxable income in the year of death.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Why HSAs matter during open enrollment

0:56 We ran the numbers: HDHP vs. our old plan

1:41 Who is eligible for an HSA

2:01 How the high deductible works

2:43 The triple tax advantage

3:02 2027 HSA contribution limits

3:44 When an HDHP isn't the right fit

4:10 Pre-tax payroll contributions

5:04 The HSA mistake most people make

5:57 Our receipt-tracking system

7:00 Withdrawals before vs. after age 65

7:48 What happens to an HSA when you die

8:49 What our family does

9:27 Open enrollment reminder

10:10 Disclosures

RESOURCES

How much emergency fund you actually need: https://engineeredwealthmanagement.com/how-much-emergency-fund-do-you-need/

Is your health an investment?: https://engineeredwealthmanagement.com/is-your-health-an-investment/

CONNECT

Website: https://engineeredwealthmanagement.com/

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/engineeredwealthmanagement/

DISCLOSURES

This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Every situation is different; consult your own qualified financial, tax, or legal professional before making decisions. Invested HSA funds are subject to market risk, including possible loss of principal. HSA tax treatment varies by state; California and New Jersey tax HSAs at the state level. Engineered Wealth Management LLC is a fee-only registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

Disclosures: https://engineeredwealthmanagement.com/privacy-policy/

Form ADV: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/338494

Is your health a financial asset? In this episode, Lucas Marsh of Engineered Wealth Management argues that it is — and that most financial plans quietly ignore it.

The short answer: for most of your life, your largest asset isn't your retirement account. It's your human capital — your future earning potential. And unlike your investments, human capital declines as you age. That reframes what being sick actually costs you: not just a day of work, but income you can't recover and leave credits that would have counted toward retirement later.

IN THIS EPISODE

- What human capital is, and why it's the biggest asset most people own

- Why being sick costs more than a sick day

- The assumption buried in every retirement plan — that you'll be healthy enough to enjoy it

- Why effort isn't linear with health, and what that means for where you spend your time

- How one two-income household with two kids actually blocks time for fitness, and what it cost

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why health belongs in a financial conversation

01:04 Human capital: your biggest asset

01:25 What being sick actually costs

02:09 The assumption behind every retirement plan

02:41 Finding the balance

03:22 Effort isn't linear with health

04:12 What we do in our household

04:49 Making the time non-negotiable

05:46 What it cost us

06:12 Disclosures

RESOURCES

Website: https://engineeredwealthmanagement.com/

Services and fees: https://engineeredwealthmanagement.com/services/

Schedule an introductory call: https://engineeredwealthmanagement.com/schedule/

Blog: https://engineeredwealthmanagement.com/blog/

Video version: https://www.youtube.com/@EngineeredWealthManagement

DISCLOSURES

Engineered Wealth Management LLC is a fee-only registered

"Save 3 to 6 months of expenses."

It's the most repeated advice in personal finance — and almost nobody finishes the sentence. Three to six months of what, exactly?

In this episode, Lucas Marsh at Engineered Wealth Management walks through the financial foundation: the emergency fund, the insurance layer that sits alongside it, and where that cash should actually live so inflation isn't quietly shrinking it.

This is the final episode in our series on how our household actually runs its finances.

WHAT YOU WILL HEAR

→ Why the 3-6 month rule is based on your fixed obligations, not your total spending — and why that makes the number far smaller than most people assume

→ The six factors that determine whether your target should be 3 months, 6 months, or 12

→ How correlated incomes create concentration risk most couples never think about

→ What actually counts as an emergency, and why Christmas doesn't

→ How Lynn and I sized our own fund, and the short-term disability connection that drove the decision

→ Why disability insurance is the most overlooked coverage in the country

→ The tax detail almost nobody knows: if your employer pays your disability premium, your benefit is generally taxable

→ Term vs. permanent life insurance — renting coverage versus owning it

→ The tradeoff triangle: access speed, yield, and tax treatment, and why you only get two of the three

→ Four places to hold short-term cash, and the difference between FDIC and SIPC coverage

→ The two things that disqualify an account from holding your emergency fund

One thing I say directly in this episode: I do not sell insurance, I am not licensed to sell insurance, and I receive no compensation if you or anyone else buys an insurance product. That is what fee-only means.

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WATCH THE FULL VIDEO

youtube.com/@EngineeredWealthManagement

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CATCH UP ON THE SERIES

This episode closes our transparent look at how our household manages its finances:

Our Monthly Family Meeting:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4rMy5CikoFOPM8xN1sb7D5

How We Split Household Expenses:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6GAM7W4PFa4xaLJljhppb3

Is Your Household Cash Flow Positive?:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/30alrobARSbFW8WWPLTlh1

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CONNECT WITH LUCAS

Website: engineeredwealthmanagement.com

Services & Fees: engineeredwealthmanagement.com/services

Schedule a complimentary intro call: engineeredwealthmanagement.com/schedule

Contact: engineeredwealthmanagement.com/contact

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DISCLOSURE

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Every person's financial situation is different, and you should consult with your own qualified financial, tax, or legal professional before making decisions based on what you hear in this episode.

I do not sell insurance, I am not licensed to sell insurance, and I receive no compensation if you or anyone else purchases an insurance product. No specific product, fund, or financial institution is being recommended in this episode.

Engineered Wealth Management LLC is a fee-only registered investment adviser based in Avondale Estates, Georgia. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Our services, fees, conflicts of interest, and Form ADV are available at engineeredwealthmanagement.com and through the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site at adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/338494

Once you know your household cash flow number, the next question is: how do you actually manage it month to month?

In this episode — part 2 of our cash flow series — Lucas Marsh walks through why a tracking tool matters, two different budgeting philosophies, several specific tools and apps (free and paid), two real "guardrail" methods that go beyond tracking, and a transparent look at the actual spreadsheet system used at home.

What you'll hear:→ Why you can't manage what you don't measure — and how awareness alone changes spending behavior→ Two budgeting methods: the "rear view mirror" approach vs. zero-based budgeting→ Specific tools and apps mentioned: free brokerage tools (Fidelity, Empower), Monarch Money, Quicken Simplifi, YNAB (You Need A Budget), and manual options like Google Sheets or the envelope method→ Two real guardrails that go beyond tracking: a separate discretionary checking account, and using Venmo or Cash App as a spending limit tool→ A transparent walkthrough of the actual spreadsheet system used to track transactions, categories, and the 50/30/20 framework (needs, wants, savings)

A note on the tools mentioned: these are shared for informational purposes only — not a recommendation or endorsement of any specific platform. Test a few, find what fits how you think, and stick with the one you'll actually use consistently.

Next episode: once you have a cash flow surplus, what should you actually do with it? We're covering emergency funds and short-term savings options.

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CATCH UP ON THE SERIES

This episode builds on our ongoing transparent look at how our household manages its finances:

Our Monthly Family Meeting: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4rMy5CikoFOPM8xN1sb7D5?si=xCUaXse6QXmsWyA03l-6qQ

How We Split Household Expenses: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6GAM7W4PFa4xaLJljhppb3?si=w9VL08f3Q-SAvEOoVjVGyg

Is Your Household Cash Flow Positive?: https://open.spotify.com/episode/30alrobARSbFW8WWPLTlh1?si=xhGuh5grR1asIhuMn0n5EQ——————————————————CONNECT WITH LUCAS

Website: engineeredwealthmanagement.comServices & Fees: engineeredwealthmanagement.com/servicesSchedule a complimentary intro call: engineeredwealthmanagement.com/scheduleContact: engineeredwealthmanagement.com/contact

——————————————————WATCH THE FULL VIDEOFull video with the spreadsheet walkthrough available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mduLcAj85kwyoutube.com/@EngineeredWealthManagement

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DISCLOSUREThis podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Every person's financial situation is different — please consult with your own qualified financial, tax, or legal professional before making decisions based on what you hear in this episode.

Engineered Wealth Management LLC is a fee-only registered investment adviser based in Avondale Estates, Georgia. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. To learn more about our services, fees, conflicts of interest, and Form ADV, visit engineeredwealthmanagement.com.

Do you know if your household is cash flow positive right now? Most people only have a feeling — and a feeling is not the same as knowing.In this episode, Lucas Marsh at Engineered Wealth Management breaks down what household cash flow actually means, why it is the single most important number in your financial life, and how to find yours.What you will hear:→ The difference between a surplus and a shortfall — and why it matters→ Why high earners are not automatically cash flow positive→ How lifestyle creep and credit quietly erode your financial foundation→ The simple cash flow calculation: take-home income minus fixed minus variable→ Where the leaks actually hide — subscriptions, convenience spending, and lifestyle creep→ What to do once you know your numberYour surplus is your raw resource — the fuel for every financial goal you have. Without it, there is nothing to invest, no debt to pay off, no emergency fund to build. Fix the foundation first. Everything else comes after.Next episode: the budgeting and spend plan tools we use at home to direct that surplus intentionally.——————————————————CONNECT WITH LUCASWebsite: engineeredwealthmanagement.comServices & Fees: engineeredwealthmanagement.com/servicesSchedule a complimentary intro call: engineeredwealthmanagement.com/scheduleContact: engineeredwealthmanagement.com/contact——————————————————WATCH THE FULL VIDEOFull video with visuals available on YouTube:youtube.com/@EngineeredWealthManagement——————————————————DISCLOSUREThis podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Every person's financial situation is unique — please consult with your own qualified financial, tax, or legal professional before making any decisions based on what you hear in this episode.Engineered Wealth Management LLC is a fee-only registered investment adviser based in Avondale Estates, Georgia. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. To learn more about our services, fees, conflicts of interest, and Form ADV, visit engineeredwealthmanagement.com.

Most couples handle shared finances one of two ways — everything in one pot, or a straight 50/50 split. In this episode, Lucas Marsh, CFP® and founder of Engineered Wealth Management, makes the case for a third option: proportional expense splitting based on income.

Lucas shares the exact system he and his wife have used for 10 years, including a walkthrough of the household expense spreadsheet they use every month. You'll hear why equal contributions don't always mean equal sacrifice — and how the right system can take money fights off the table entirely.

In this episode:

• Why the one-pot and 50/50 methods often breed resentment
• The five reasons proportional splitting works better
• How the spreadsheet works — fairness, transparency, autonomy, adaptability, and scalability
• Why this system runs on autopilot, no monthly money arguments required
• A teaser on backdoor Roth contributions for high earners

📊 Free Spreadsheet TemplateGrab the household expense-splitting spreadsheet mentioned in this episode:👉 https://engineeredwealthmanagement.com/monthly-family-contributions/

🎥 Related ContentWe reference our Monthly Family Meeting episode in this one — worth a listen if you haven't heard it yet. Find all episodes at:👉 open.spotify.com/show/5UC3D8XIOWnPZy2ujGiRYZ

📬 Stay ConnectedSubscribe to The Blueprint by EWM, our free newsletter:👉 engineeredwealthmanagement.com

YouTube: youtube.com/@EngineeredWealthManagementFacebook: facebook.com/EngineeredWealthManagement

📅 Work With UsEngineered Wealth Management is a fee-only, fiduciary financial planning firm serving clients virtually nationwide. If you'd like to explore working together:👉 engineeredwealthmanagement.com/schedule

⚠️ Note: This episode includes a spreadsheet walkthrough that was originally recorded as video. The template is available free at engineeredwealthmanagement.com so you can follow along.

This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Engineered Wealth Management is a fee-only registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Please review our Form ADV and important disclosures at engineeredwealthmanagement.com.

In this episode I'm sharing the most impactful thing my wife and I have implemented as a family — the Monthly Family Meeting. Before we started doing this, our household felt reactive. Finances were chaotic, kids' activities slipped through the cracks, and important conversations kept getting pushed to the worst possible moments.

One structured monthly meeting changed all of that.

I walk through the exact agenda we use every month — covering finances, the family calendar, goal setting, open items, and more. It takes about as long as a Netflix episode and has genuinely strengthened both our household and our relationship as a couple.

If you're a busy professional or parent trying to get more aligned with your partner and get ahead of the chaos, this one's for you.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Engineered Wealth Management: https://engineeredwealthmanagement.com
• Schedule a free intro call: https://engineeredwealthmanagement.com/schedule
• Traction by Gino Wickman
• Mike Kotsis — EOS for Families: https://mikekotsis.com

This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Every person's financial situation is different and you should consult with your own qualified financial, tax, or legal professional before making decisions. Engineered Wealth Management is a fee-only registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. For more information including our services, fees, and important disclosures, please visit engineeredwealthmanagement.com or review our Form ADV.

In this first episode of Engineered Wealth, I explain why this podcast exists, who it’s built for, and how I think about money and life decisions differently than most financial content you’ll find online.

This show is for professionals and families who earn well but want more clarity, margin, and confidence in how their money, time, and priorities fit together. Rather than chasing optimization, hot takes, or one-size-fits-all advice, I approach financial decisions the way an engineer would: clear inputs, thoughtful tradeoffs, and systems that hold up over time.