Your Money Guide on the Side

Ep 17 - How I Would Invest $1,000,000 - 3 Approaches, 3 Stories, and 1 Question to Simplify Your Life


Listen Later

You've hit the million-dollar mark—now what?

In this episode of Your Money Guide on the Side, we tackle the deceptively simple question: how should you invest a million dollars? This isn’t about theoretical asset allocation or textbook strategies. It’s about real lives, real goals, and real risk tolerance.

We meet three investors—Chad, Nina, and Marge—each at very different life stages, each with a radically different approach to putting their wealth to work:

  • Chad Slater, the thrill-seeking ex-startup bro who wants asymmetry, optionality, and upside. His portfolio is bold, volatile, and aggressive—global equities, venture capital, and yes, crypto.
  • Nina Ellington, the grounded creative director turned Pilates instructor who wants growth without chaos. Her diversified, resilient mix of stocks, bonds, real estate, and alternatives prioritizes balance and autonomy over adrenaline.
  • Marge Buttersworth, the sharp, independent retiree who wants reliability and peace of mind. Her income-focused portfolio features bond ladders, dividend stocks, and high-yield cash vehicles—designed to pay her, not stress her.

These are not just asset allocations. They are reflections of who these people are, what they value, and what they need their money to do for them.

💡 Along the way, we explore key questions:

  • How soon will you need the money?
  • How much risk can you stomach?
  • Are you trying to grow, preserve, or withdraw from your portfolio?

And if you stick around until the end, I share exactly how I invest my own money—no hype, no secrets—just a simple, transparent walk through my personal allocation and why I chose it.

📌 In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • 3 distinct investing strategies for $1M portfolios
  • How risk tolerance, time horizon, and goals shape allocation
  • The truth about fees, diversification, and asset class correlation
  • Why your neighbor’s portfolio has nothing to do with yours
  • How to evaluate your definition of enough

📬 Bonus: If this episode resonates, subscribe to my free weekly newsletter for deeper dives and personal stories at tylergardner.com 

🎙️ Disclaimer: I’m not your financial advisor—I’m your guide on the side. Everything here is for educational purposes only. Always do your own research and consider working with a fiduciary advisor who understands your unique circumstances.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Your Money Guide on the SideBy Tyler Gardner

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

581 ratings


More shows like Your Money Guide on the Side

View all
Money Guy Show by Brian Preston and Bo Hanson

Money Guy Show

3,170 Listeners

Sound Retirement Radio by Jason Parker

Sound Retirement Radio

436 Listeners

Your Money, Your Wealth by Joe Anderson, CFP® & Alan Clopine, CPA of Pure Financial Advisors

Your Money, Your Wealth

778 Listeners

The Stacking Benjamins Show by StackingBenjamins.com | Cumulus Podcast Network

The Stacking Benjamins Show

1,981 Listeners

Retirement Answer Man by Roger Whitney, CFP®, CIMA®, RMA, CPWA®

Retirement Answer Man

1,290 Listeners

Retirement Starts Today by Benjamin Brandt CFP®, RICP®

Retirement Starts Today

510 Listeners

ChooseFI by ChooseFI

ChooseFI

5,088 Listeners

Stay Wealthy Retirement Podcast by Taylor Schulte, CFP®

Stay Wealthy Retirement Podcast

600 Listeners

BiggerPockets Money Podcast by BiggerPockets

BiggerPockets Money Podcast

3,054 Listeners

Retire With Purpose - The Retirement Podcast by Casey Weade

Retire With Purpose - The Retirement Podcast

560 Listeners

Ready For Retirement by James Conole, CFP®

Ready For Retirement

792 Listeners

Early Retirement - Financial Freedom (Investing, Tax Planning, Retirement Strategy, Personal Finance) by Ari Taublieb, CFP®, MBA

Early Retirement - Financial Freedom (Investing, Tax Planning, Retirement Strategy, Personal Finance)

36 Listeners

Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors - The Best Interest by Jesse Cramer

Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors - The Best Interest

113 Listeners

Retirement Planning Education, with Andy Panko by Andy Panko

Retirement Planning Education, with Andy Panko

735 Listeners

Market MakeHer Podcast by Jessica Inskip and Jessie DeNuit

Market MakeHer Podcast

157 Listeners