Money on Your Mind

Veterans transitioning to civilian life from military service have their own financial challenges and opportunities to consider. In those moments, Associate Financial Planner and U.S. Army, former Sgt. James Williams-Willis enjoys helping veterans plan for what's next. While serving in a Black Hawk unit, James saw firsthand how even high-ranking military individuals had knowledge gaps—and how they looked to experts for guidance without judgement.

James joins Michael Liersch to talk about how a financial planner can help you better understand your complex financial puzzle. They also discuss the support systems and opportunities to keep in mind as a veteran, VA disability ratings, and how to overcome inertia in personal finance.

Money on Your Mind is produced by Edelman Financial Engines and hosted by Michael Liersch. Information is believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, insurance or tax advice. It is not an offer to buy or sell any product and does not represent an endorsement of third parties. All investments have inherent risks. Consult a financial advisor before investing. Individual results may vary. 

© 2026 Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. Edelman Financial Engines® is a registered trademark of Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. All advisory services provided by Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., a federally registered investment advisor. Certain services provided on an educational and guidance basis only. Results are not guaranteed. Produced November 2026. AM6097588

The results are in, settling some of the uncertainty that’s followed us through 2026. American wallets ultimately had a major voice in this election—and elections can have the capacity to affect Americans’ financial situations right back. So what should we expect from this new Congress? Chief Investment Strategist Katie Klingensmith and host Michael Liersch explore how policy debates around affordability, fiscal deficits, AI, and trade could shift. They also cover what those developments could mean for markets, why diversification matters so much, and why anticipating the future is less important than preparing for it.

Money on Your Mind is produced by Edelman Financial Engines and hosted by Michael Liersch. Information is believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, insurance or tax advice. It is not an offer to buy or sell any product and does not represent an endorsement of third parties. All investments have inherent risks. Consult a financial advisor before investing. Individual results may vary. 

Investing strategies, such as asset allocation, diversification or rebalancing, do not ensure or guarantee better performance and cannot eliminate the risk of investment losses. All investments have inherent risks, including loss of principal. There are no guarantees that a portfolio employing these or any other strategy will outperform a portfolio that does not engage in such strategies. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

© 2026 Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. Edelman Financial Engines® is a registered trademark of Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. All advisory services provided by Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., a federally registered investment advisor. Certain services provided on an educational and guidance basis only. Results are not guaranteed. Produced November 2026. AM6090068

For a lot of people, “managing finances" is one item at the end of a long to-do list. Real people make financial decisions while balancing competing priorities, family, debt, healthcare concerns, career changes, and countless other obstacles. “A lot of unexpected things happen in life,” says Angie Chen, an experienced retirement researcher and EFE’s Director of Institutional Thought Leadership. “Getting dinner on the table and thinking about ‘Do I have enough emergency savings?’ is something most people don’t have time for.” 

This is an episode about the power of just getting started. Angie and host Michael Liersch talk about how to start small, why you don’t have to do it alone, the risks of asking a chatbot for help, and much more.

Money on Your Mind is produced by Edelman FinancialEngines and hosted by Michael Liersch. Information is believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, insurance or tax advice. It is not an offer to buy or sell any product and does not represent an endorsement of third parties. All investments have inherent risks. Consult a financial advisor before investing. Individual results may vary. 

 © 2026 Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. Edelman Financial Engines® is a registered trademark of Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. All advisory services provided by FinancialEngines Advisors L.L.C., a federally registered investment advisor. Certain services provided on an educational and guidance basis only. Results are not guaranteed. Produced November 2026. AM6080066

“Create your estate plan”—it’s easier said than done for alot of people. So, what can you do today to actually make progress on your estate planning? Financial planner Rose Faye has a checklist for you. She and host Michael Liersch chat about the importance of having estate plans in the first place, why so many of us put it off, and what you can do NOW to getstarted.

Rose and Michael also have tips for what plans need to bein place for young adults 18+, the importance of updating your beneficiaries after major life events, and why estate planning is the ultimate task for self-described “control freaks.”

Money on Your Mind is produced by Edelman FinancialEngines and hosted by Michael Liersch. Information is believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, insurance or tax advice. It is not an offer to buy or sell any product and does not represent an endorsement of third parties. All investments haveinherent risks. Consult a financial advisor before investing. Individual results may vary. 

The information regarding estate planning should not beconstrued as tax or legal advice and is for general informational purposes only.© 2026 Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. Edelman Financial Engines® is a registered trademark of Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. All advisory services provided by FinancialEngines Advisors L.L.C., a federally registered investment advisor. Certain services provided on an educational and guidance basis only. Results are not guaranteed. Produced October 2026. AM6057596

The only predictable part of midterm elections is how theyraise blood pressures, particularly worries about how the economy will respond. Sprinkle in ongoing attention on oil prices, tariffs, and affordability, and you might wonder what's next for your portfolio in the short term. Chief Investment Strategist Katie Klingensmith is back to explain what history shows us about midterm elections and their effect on the economy. And most importantly, whether you should consider making any changes based on the potential outcomes. She and Michael Liersch also talk through the anxiety aroundelections, the ways policy really does matter, and where you can focus your attention.

Related reading: “What decades of data say about electionsand markets” from Katie Klingensmithhttps://www.edelmanfinancialengines.com/education/market-insights/elections-and-markets/

Money on Your Mind is produced by Edelman FinancialEngines and hosted by Michael Liersch. Information is believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, insurance or tax advice. It is not an offer to buy or sell any product and does not represent an endorsement of third parties. All investments haveinherent risks. Consult a financial advisor before investing. Individual results may vary. 

Investing strategies, such as asset allocation,diversification or rebalancing, do not ensure or guarantee better performance and cannot eliminate the risk of investment losses. All investments have inherent risks, including loss of principal. There are no guarantees that aportfolio employing these or any other strategy will outperform a portfolio that does not engage in such strategies. Past performance does not guaranteefuture results.© 2026 Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. Edelman Financial Engines® is a registered trademark of Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. All advisory services provided by Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., a federally registeredinvestment advisor. Certain services provided on an educational and guidance basis only. Results are not guaranteed. Produced October 2026. AM6035349

Financial professional Nefertari Ward is who our plannerscall with complicated questions about student loans. And with the changes enacted by the One Big Beautiful Bill, there are *a lot* of questions—and anxiety. In this episode, Nefertari and host Michael Liersch talk about how college became so expensive in the first place, and how to support a studentfinancially without risking your own retirement.

Nefertari also has thoughts about the amount ofresponsibility a student should have for funding their education, how early to start saving (junior year of high school might be too late), the funding sources to exhaust before taking out loans, and the consequences of delayingrepayment.

Money on Your Mind is produced by Edelman FinancialEngines and hosted by Michael Liersch. Information is believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, insurance or tax advice. It is not an offer to buy or sell any product and does not represent an endorsement of third parties. All investments haveinherent risks. Consult a financial advisor before investing. Individual results may vary. © 2026 Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. Edelman Financial Engines® is a registered trademark of Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. All advisory services provided by FinancialEngines Advisors L.L.C., a federally registered investment advisor. Certain services provided on an educational and guidance basis only. Results are not guaranteed. Produced October 2026. AM6011321 

Money carries a lot more emotional baggage than numbers can show. It’s deeply personal—and any perceived failures might drive your behavior for decades. Financial planner Mark Cano knows personally that even the most educated people need help to find perspective on their personal history with money, and what they want to do with it next. It’s all about feeling like you’re in control.  

Listen to this episode for a discussion with host Michael Liersch and Mark about the emotions and behaviors behind our money moves. They have guidance for anyone feeling too afraid to spend their hard-earned wealth, overestimating how much money you need, why Mark suggests re-evaluating your needs every 2-3 years, and more.  

Money on Your Mind is produced by Edelman Financial Engines and hosted by Michael Liersch. Information is believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, insurance or tax advice. It is not an offer to buy or sell any product and does not represent an endorsement of third parties. All investments have inherent risks. Consult a financial advisor before investing. Individual results may vary.   

Investing strategies, such as asset allocation, diversification or rebalancing, do not ensure or guarantee better performance and cannot eliminate the risk of investment losses. All investments have inherent risks, including loss of principal. There are no guarantees that a portfolio employing these or any other strategy will outperform a portfolio that does not engage in such strategies. Past performance does not guarantee future results. 

© 2026 Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. Edelman Financial Engines® is a registered trademark of Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. All advisory services provided by Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., a federally registered investment advisor. Certain services provided on an educational and guidance basis only. Results are not guaranteed. Produced October 2026. AM5989662 

At the end of every conversation, we ask financial planners, “What’s the biggest mistake people are making with their money?” This week’s episode is a special compilation of their best insights. And if you recognize yourself in these examples, give yourself some grace. We’re all human, and the first step to fixing a problem is identifying it.



We’ll be back next week with a new financial plannerconversation. Subscribe so you don’t miss it.

Money on Your Mind is produced by Edelman FinancialEngines and hosted by Michael Liersch. Information is believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, insurance or tax advice. It is not an offer to buy or sell any product and does not represent an endorsement of third parties. All investments haveinherent risks. Consult a financial advisor before investing. Individual results may vary. 

Information regarding estate planning should not beconstrued as tax or legal advice and is for general informational purposesonly.

Neither Edelman Financial Engines nor its affiliates offertax or legal advice. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to seek advice from your qualified tax and/or legal professionals to help determine the best options for your particular circumstances. © 2026 EdelmanFinancial Engines, LLC. Edelman Financial Engines® is a registered trademark ofEdelman Financial Engines, LLC. All advisory services provided by FinancialEngines Advisors L.L.C., a federally registered investment advisor. Certainservices provided on an educational and guidance basis only. Results are notguaranteed. Produced September 2026. AM5968689

Naming beneficiaries may feel like simple paperwork, but it’s actually the beginning of a complex process that financial planners wish you knew more about. In this episode, Director of Estate Planning Rodney Weaver is in the studio talking with host Michael Liersch about what can happen if you don’t stay on top of this task as your life evolves. Learn more about what a beneficiary designation means, who (or what) can be named a beneficiary, and why the designation is so important.

 Rodney and Michael also discuss how assets end up in a lengthy legal process called probate and how beneficiaries override instructions in your trust or will. Rodney also shares real stories of situations where beneficiary designations weren’t buttoned up and the consequences of not keeping beneficiaries current.

Money on Your Mind is produced by Edelman Financial Engines and hosted by Michael Liersch. Information is believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, insurance or tax advice. It is not an offer to buy or sell any product and does not represent an endorsement of third parties. All investments have inherent risks. Consult a financial advisor before investing. Individual results may vary.  Neither Edelman Financial Engines nor its affiliates offer tax or legal advice. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to seek advice from your qualified tax and/or legal professionals to help determine the best options for your particular circumstances.

© 2026 Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. Edelman Financial Engines® is a registered trademark of Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. All advisory services provided by Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., a federally registered investment advisor. Certain services provided on an educational and guidance basis only. Results are not guaranteed. Produced September 2026. AM5945301

Life insurance can be a sensitive, confusing conversation in financial planning. But for financial planner Lakeisha Hill, it is simply too important to put off. In this episode, Lakeisha shares her personal experiences with life insurance and the heartbreaking challenges she’s seen families face due to lack of coverage. She also gives an overview of term life and the expenses it can cover for beneficiaries, as well as a rule of thumb for how much coverage to consider based on your income.

 Lakeisha and Michael also discuss the importance of long-term care insurance, sticking to your financial plan during times of uncertainty, and how saving more money today can make it easier to live in the moment.  

Related reading: “A Quick Guide to Life Insurance” fromEdelman Financial Engines Head of Insurance Robert Bain https://www.edelmanfinancialengines.com/education/insurance/life-insurance-quick-guide/

Money on Your Mind is produced by Edelman FinancialEngines and hosted by Michael Liersch. Information is believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed. This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, insurance or tax advice. It is not an offer to buy or sell any product and does not represent an endorsement of third parties. All investments have inherent risks. Consult a financial advisor before investing. Individual results may vary.   

Neither Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. nor any of its advisors sell insurance products. Edelman Financial Engines affiliates may receive insurance-related compensation for the referral of insurance opportunities to third parties if individuals elect to purchase insurance through those third parties. You are encouraged to review this information with your insurance agent or broker to determine the best options for your particular circumstances.

 © 2026 Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. Edelman Financial Engines® is a registered trademark of Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. All advisory services provided by Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., a federally registered investment advisor. Certain services provided on an educational and guidance basis only. Results are not guaranteed. Produced September 2026. AM5923986