COSTLY MISTAKES

with Sandy Hornor | CEPS

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About This Episode

Year-end bonuses can provide a big financial boost, but without a plan, extra income often disappears quickly. In this episode, BWFA’s Sandy Hornor, Jr. and Tyler Kluge explain why “blowing your bonus” is a costly mistake—and how to turn windfalls into long-term opportunity.

Full Description

Receiving a bonus feels rewarding. It can be tempting to celebrate with a big purchase, upgrade, or vacation. But when bonuses are spent too quickly, they fail to create lasting financial impact. Instead of building wealth, they disappear into short-term lifestyle choices.

In this episode of Healthy, Wealthy & Wise, BWFA’s Sandy Hornor, Jr. and Tyler Kluge discuss the common mistake of “blowing your bonus.” They explain how treating bonuses like “found money” often leads to spending that doesn’t align with long-term goals. The conversation highlights how extra income, when used wisely, can accelerate savings, pay down debt, or strengthen retirement plans.

Listeners will hear practical strategies for putting bonuses to work. Sandy and Tyler share how dividing bonuses into buckets—such as savings, debt reduction, and enjoyment—creates balance between financial progress and personal reward. They also discuss how ignoring tax implications can lead to surprises, and why planning ahead ensures that a bonus creates lasting value.

The key takeaway: bonuses are opportunities, not guarantees. By planning in advance, individuals can avoid the costly mistake of spending without intention. Even small steps—like contributing to retirement accounts, funding emergency savings, or investing for growth—can have an outsized impact when applied consistently.

At BWFA, we help clients integrate windfalls like bonuses into their broader financial plans. This episode shows how a thoughtful approach can turn extra income into meaningful progress toward long-term goals.

For more insights, visit BWFA’s Financial Planning Services.