Is “small cap value” the secret sauce to higher long-term returns — or just unnecessary complexity? In this episode of the LawyerFI Podcast, host Adam B. Cordover breaks down one of the most debated topics in investing.

You’ll hear the case for and against small cap value funds from some of the biggest names in finance:

Paul Merriman, who champions tilting your portfolio toward small and cheap companies for potential long-term rewards

Rick Ferri, who says simplicity and low cost are the only strategies that stand the test of time

J.L. Collins, who reminds investors to keep it simple with a total market approach

We’ll unpack what small cap value investing actually means, how it fits into a lawyer’s or high earner’s financial plan, and whether the potential premium is worth the patience it demands.

Topics covered:
What “small cap value” really is
Merriman’s “Two Funds for Life” approach
Ferri’s case for simplicity and cost control
Historical evidence vs. behavioral challenges
Practical fund options (VBR, AVUV, DFSV, and more)
How to decide if small cap value belongs in your portfolio

Whether you’re aiming for higher returns or peace of mind, this episode helps you think critically about how to invest smarter on your path to financial independence.

Subscribe to the LawyerFI Podcast for weekly insights on investing, law, and financial independence for professionals.

Resources mentioned:
Paul Merriman Financial Education Foundation – https://www.paulmerriman.com/
Rick Ferri – https://rickferri.com/
J.L. Collins, The Simple Path to Wealth – https://jlcollinsnh.com/
Avantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF (AVUV)
Vanguard Small Cap Value ETF (VBR)
DFA U.S. Small Cap Value ETF (DFSV)

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If you found this episode helpful, please like, comment, and subscribe—and share it with another lawyer or professional who wants to take control of their money.

More resources at  https://www.lawyerfi.com/

This episode is brought to you by Florida-based Collaborative Family Law Attorney Adam B. Cordover. Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, serving professionals across Florida with dignity and privacy in divorce. Learn more at http://www.familydiplomacy.com/ or call 813-443-0615.

We accept clients in every county in Florida and have offices by appointment in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota.  Contact us to schedule a confidential virtual planning meeting.

In this episode of LawyerFI, host Adam B. Cordover talks with Matt Lundy, a lawyer who specializes in creating Qualified Domestic Relations Orders and is licensed in Florida, Georgia, and New Jersey. Together, they explore how envy—often fueled by comparison and lifestyle pressures—can quietly undermine the path to true financial freedom.

You’ll hear:
Why envy can be a hidden obstacle for high earners
How comparing your success to others can lead to financial mistakes
Practical ways to stay focused on your own goals and definition of independence

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing well but still not “keeping up,” this episode offers a refreshing perspective on breaking free from comparison and building lasting wealth on your own terms.

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If you found this episode helpful, please like, comment, and subscribe—and share it with another lawyer or professional who wants to take control of their money.

More resources at  https://www.lawyerfi.com/

More information about Matt Lundy: https://www.mlundylaw.com/

This episode is brought to you by Florida-based Collaborative Family Law Attorney Adam B. Cordover. Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, serving professionals across Florida with dignity and privacy in divorce. Learn more at http://www.familydiplomacy.com/ or call 813-443-0615.

We accept clients in every county in Florida and have offices by appointment in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota.  Contact us to schedule a confidential virtual planning meeting.

Should you invest outside the United States—or keep everything in American companies? In this episode, Adam B. Cordover explores total international stock index funds: what they are, why they matter, and whether adding them to your portfolio makes sense.

You’ll hear insights from investing legends and financial independence voices like Jack Bogle, JL Collins, Rick Ferri, Jim Dahle, and Paul Merriman, as we unpack the great debate over global diversification. Adam also shares a powerful lesson from Japan’s “Lost Decades” and breaks down different allocation approaches—from 100% U.S. to blended or global portfolios.

Plus:

The pros and cons of Total World Funds (like Vanguard’s VT)
Tax considerations for international funds
How to build a simple, globally diversified portfolio using the Bogleheads Three-Fund Portfolio

Whether you’re an experienced investor or just starting to build toward financial independence, this episode will help you make a more informed, disciplined decision about your global allocation.

Show Notes & Resources

Jack Bogle on investing internationally – Business Insider
JL Collins, The Simple Path to Wealth
Rick Ferri on diversification – ETF.com
Jim Dahle, The White Coat Investor
Paul Merriman – Four Fund Strategy
Japan’s market history – Reuters
Fund pages for Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab total international options
IRS Pub. 514 – Foreign Tax Credit
Bogleheads Wiki – The Three-Fund Portfolio

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If you found this episode helpful, please like, comment, and subscribe—and share it with another lawyer or professional who wants to take control of their money.

More resources at  https://www.lawyerfi.com/

This episode is brought to you by Florida-based Collaborative Family Law Attorney Adam B. Cordover. Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, serving professionals across Florida with dignity and privacy in divorce. Learn more at http://www.familydiplomacy.com/ or call 813-443-0615.

We accept clients in every county in Florida and have offices by appointment in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota.  Contact us to schedule a confidential virtual planning meeting.

Are you ready to build lasting wealth with low-cost, simple investing? 💰📈 In this special episode of the LawyerFi Podcast, host Adam B. Cordover welcomes the show’s first-ever guest—Dr. Alan, a retired anesthesiologist and Tampa Bay Bogleheads chapter coordinator—who shares his journey from student debt to financial independence through index investing.

Dr. Alan reveals:
✅ The costly mistakes of paying 1%+ advisor fees (and why they matter)
✅ How he discovered the power of Boglehead investing and low-fee index funds
✅ Practical tips for lawyers, doctors, and high earners to invest smarter and retire earlier
✅ Plus much more

Whether you’re a lawyer, professional, or anyone seeking financial freedom, this episode is packed with actionable advice on cutting costs, avoiding hidden fees, and growing wealth the Boglehead way.

Topics Covered:
• What is index investing & why it outperforms most active funds
• The “tyranny of compounding fees” and how to escape it
• The importance of delayed gratification in building financial independence
• Resources to learn more: Bogleheads Forum, Wiki & annual conferences

Listen now to learn how to stop chasing stock-picking “needles” and start buying the whole haystack. Your future self will thank you.

Resources & Links:
Bogleheads Wiki: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Main_Page

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If you found this episode helpful, please like, comment, and subscribe—and share it with another lawyer or professional who wants to take control of their money.

More resources at  https://www.lawyerfi.com/

This episode is brought to you by Florida-based Collaborative Family Law Attorney Adam B. Cordover. Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, serving professionals across Florida with dignity and privacy in divorce. Learn more at http://www.familydiplomacy.com/ or call 813-443-0615.

We accept clients in every county in Florida and have offices by appointment in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota.  Contact us to schedule a confidential virtual planning meeting.

Are you making the most of your IRA? 💰 In this episode of the LawyerFi Podcast, Adam B. Cordover breaks down everything you need to know about Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and the Backdoor Roth IRA strategy for high earners. Learn how to maximize contributions, avoid common pitfalls, and compare IRAs to 401(k) plans so you can build wealth and achieve financial independence.

Whether you’re just starting your career or approaching retirement, this episode offers practical tips to grow your money tax-efficiently and set yourself up for long-term success.

🔑 What You’ll Learn:
✅ How Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs differ (taxes now vs. taxes later)
✅ The backdoor Roth IRA strategy for high-income earners
✅ Strategies to maximize contributions and automate savings
✅ How IRAs compare to 401(k)s and which is best for you
✅ Key rules to avoid penalties and keep your money compounding

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If you found this episode helpful, please like, comment, and subscribe—and share it with another lawyer or professional who wants to take control of their money.

More resources at www.LawyerFI.com

This episode is brought to you by Florida-based Collaborative Family Law Attorney Adam B. Cordover. Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, serving professionals across Florida with dignity and privacy in divorce. Learn more at www.familydiplomacy.com or call 813-443-0615.

We accept clients in every county in Florida and have offices by appointment in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota.  Contact us to schedule a confidential virtual planning meeting.

What about you? Do you keep an emergency fund — or do you rely on credit cards, investments, or other resources? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Last year, Hurricane Helene flooded my home and office. Floors, kitchen, furniture — everything was destroyed. Insurance was slow, FEMA was no help, and for months I had to live hours away while rebuilding. The only reason I wasn’t financially ruined? I had an emergency fund.

In this episode of the LawyerFI Podcast, we dig into what an emergency fund really is, how much you should save, where to keep it, and whether you even need one at all.

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why an emergency fund matters — and how it saved me after a natural disaster

What actually counts as a financial emergency (and what doesn’t)

How much you should save: $1,000? Three months? A year?

Strategies to build your emergency fund faster

The best (and safest) places to keep your money

Whether credit cards, investments, or lines of credit can replace an emergency fund

📚 Resources Mentioned:

Empower App (Budget & Cash Flow Tool): http://bit.ly/4gwPdZU

Florida Family Law Financial Affidavit: http://bit.ly/3W0PfzT

Dave Ramsey: The 7 Baby Steps: http://bit.ly/3Vr9BlN

Ramit Sethi, I Will Teach You to Be Rich: http://bit.ly/3IdUMQy

Clark Howard: Best High-Yield Savings Accounts: http://bit.ly/4nNiH8C

Vanguard Cash Plus Account: http://bit.ly/4nENbt5

Fidelity Cash Management Account: http://bit.ly/4pvYPbL

Big Ern (Early Retirement Now): The Emergency Fund Debate: http://bit.ly/3KffRL1

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If you found this episode helpful, please like, comment, and subscribe—and share it with another lawyer or professional who wants to take control of their money.

More resources at www.LawyerFI.com

This episode is brought to you by Florida-based Collaborative Family Law Attorney Adam B. Cordover. Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, serving professionals across Florida with dignity and privacy in divorce. Learn more at www.familydiplomacy.com or call 813-443-0615.

We accept clients in every county in Florida and have offices by appointment in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota.  Contact us to schedule a confidential virtual planning meeting.

What about you? Do you keep an emergency fund — or do you rely on credit cards, investments, or other resources? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Bonds are often seen as the “safe” side of an investment portfolio. But are they really safe—especially over the long term? In this episode of the LawyerFI Podcast, Adam B. Cordover breaks down one of the most misunderstood topics in investing: bonds.

We’ll explore:
✅ Why bonds are considered safer than stocks in the short term
✅ The hidden long-term risk of inflation
✅ What’s inside a Total Bond Market Index Fund
✅ When bonds make sense depending on your age, goals, and risk tolerance
✅ How experts like J.L. Collins and Paul Merriman approach stock/bond allocation

Whether you’re early in your career or planning your retirement withdrawals, this episode will help you decide how bonds fit into your path to financial independence.

Mentioned in This Episode

Total Bond Market Index Fund Ticker Symbols

Vanguard Mutual Fund (VBTLX) — 0.04%

Vanguard ETF (BND) — 0.03%

Fidelity (FXNAX) — 0.025%

Charles Schwab (SWAGX) — 0.04%

Key References

Stocks for the Long Run by Jeremy Siegel: http://bit.ly/4goBgxp

J.L. Collins’ The Simple Path to Wealth: http://bit.ly/3VNRaYo

Vanguard Target Retirement Funds: http://bit.ly/47G7ou0

Paul Merriman on Stock/Bond Allocation:    • Stock vs Bond Allocation According to  Pau... 

J.L. Collins on Asset Allocation: http://bit.ly/42sCO3k

Listen & Subscribe

If you found this episode helpful, please like, comment, and subscribe—and share it with another lawyer or professional who wants to take control of their money.

🔗 More resources at LawyerFI.com

This episode is brought to you by Florida-based Collaborative Family Law Attorney Adam B. Cordover. Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, serving professionals across Florida with dignity and privacy in divorce. Learn more at familydiplomacy.com or call 813-443-0615.

We accept clients in every county in Florida and have offices by appointment in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota.  Contact us to schedule a confidential virtual planning meeting.

If you found this episode helpful, please like, subscribe, and share with a colleague who could use a simpler, smarter path to financial independence.

Wouldn’t a little simplicity in your financial life be nice? Imagine one ticker symbol that gives you ownership of nearly every publicly traded company in the U.S. That’s the power of a Total Stock Market Index Fund — and today we’re breaking down why it may be the most dependable core for your investment strategy.

I’m Adam B. Cordover, collaborative family law attorney and host of LawyerFI, the podcast that helps lawyers and other high earners build lasting wealth and reclaim their time.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- A quick history of index investing and how Jack Bogle’s “folly” became the default retirement option
- The key differences between the S&P 500 and Total Stock Market funds
- JL Collins’ “VTSAX and Chill” philosophy and why it works
- A head-to-head comparison of Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab ticker symbols
- One-fund, two-fund, and three-fund “meal” portfolios you can actually use
- How to automate your investing, avoid sneaky fees, and keep your costs microscopic

By the end, you’ll understand how to run a streamlined, low-cost portfolio that doesn’t require a financial advisor or endless tinkering — just a smart, steady plan.

Resources & Links Mentioned

SPIVA Scorecard (latest U.S. data): http://bit.ly/4mG7Ywm

Fama & French research (1993): https://bit.ly/4mNdJIF

Paul Merriman Fine-Tuning Asset Allocation (2024 update): https://bit.ly/3JNIgHN

Bogleheads Investing Wiki: https://bit.ly/45PqOvd

Fund Fact Sheets

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)
Vanguard Total Stock Market Mutual Fund (VTSAX)
Fidelity Total Market Index Fund (FSKAX)
Fidelity’s Zero Total Market Index Fund (FZROX)
Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund (SWTSX)

Automation & Fractional Shares

Vanguard ETF & Mutual Fund automation

Fidelity Recurring Investments & Stocks-by-the-Slice

Schwab Automatic Investing & Stock Slices

This episode is brought to you by Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, serving professionals across Florida with dignity and privacy in divorce. Learn more at familydiplomacy.com or call 813-443-0615. 

We accept clients in every county in Florida and have offices by appointment in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota.  Contact us to schedule a confidential virtual planning meeting.

If you found this episode helpful, please like, subscribe, and share with a colleague who could use a simpler, smarter path to financial independence.

Debt can feel like handcuffs holding you back from true financial freedom—even for high-income professionals like lawyers, doctors, and business owners. In this episode of the LawyerFi Podcast, Florida Collaborative Divorce Lawyer Adam B. Cordover dives into practical and psychological strategies to break free from debt and build lasting wealth.

You’ll learn:
Why paying off debt is about freedom—not just numbers
How compound interest can work for or against you
The Debt Snowball Method (momentum & early wins)
The Debt Avalanche Method (efficiency & interest savings)
How to choose the approach that fits YOUR personality—checklist people vs. spreadsheet people
Hybrid strategies Adam used in his own journey to financial independence
The systems, mindset shifts, and habits that keep you on track for the long run
Whether you’re buried in student loans, credit card debt, or car payments, this episode will help you create a sustainable plan, avoid burnout, and stay motivated until you’re debt-free.

Resources and Links Mentioned:
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel: http://bit.ly/3VvjTkA
The Simple Path to Wealth by J.L. Collins: https://bit.ly/4gnUmDT
Atomic Habits by James Clear: https://bit.ly/4p3qZdD
The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy: http://bit.ly/47tW6ZP
Debt Repayment Calculator: https://bit.ly/3HYV4dG
American Bar Association Student Loan Debt Statistics: https://bit.ly/4lXphrF

Subscribe to the LawyerFi Podcast for more episodes on financial independence for professionals.

Like, comment, and share this episode with a colleague or friend who’s ready to take control of their money.

Sponsored by Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm:
If you’re a professional in Florida seeking a private, respectful divorce process, visit FamilyDiplomacy.com
 or call 813-443-0615.

What would your life look like if you never had to work another billable hour? Would you finally take that long-overdue sabbatical? Pivot to a passion project you’ve been putting off? Keep what you are currently doing and just pad your bank account or build generational wealth?  Or maybe just scale back and enjoy more time with the people who matter most—without financial stress hanging over you? These are the types of options that the freedom of financial independence provides. And today, we’re going to talk about one of the simplest yet most powerful tools to help you get there: the 4% Rule. You’ll learn what it is, how it works, and how to calculate your own FI number so you can start building your freedom—one decision at a time.

Resources:
Original Trinity Study (1998) - https://bit.ly/45BebUr
Florida’s Supreme Court Long-Form Financial Affidavit - http://bit.ly/4myq1UV
Simple Path To Wealth: http://bit.ly/47ODgfP
Wade Pfau - https://www.wadepfau.com/
Michael Kitces - https://www.kitces.com/
Early Retirement Now - https://earlyretirementnow.com/
Empower - https://bit.ly/45QKi1b
Atticus Law Firm Coaching - https://atticusadvantage.com/