Smarter Planner Podcast

In this episode, Belle Osvath, CFP®, talks with Rob Heltzel, a mortgage banker with more than 40 years of experience, about the changing housing market and how buyers can think strategically about financing.

Rob shares his perspective on rising mortgage rates, increasing inventory, home prices, and the growing role of seller concessions and rate buydowns. He explains why, in some situations, using cash to lower the mortgage rate may have a greater impact on a buyer's monthly payment than putting more money toward the purchase price or down payment.

The conversation also explores changing housing needs across generations, including downsizing, relocation, new construction, and the growing demand for smaller, more convenient homes.

Rob and Belle also discuss real estate investing and newer financing options, including debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) loans and non-qualified mortgages that can be useful for investors and self-employed borrowers.

For financial planners, Rob's key message is that the mortgage should be part of the financial planning conversation. Understanding the available loan options—and how to balance cash, down payments, interest rates, and other assets—can help planners work more strategically with clients considering a home purchase or real estate investment.

Guest Links

Rob Heltzel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robheltzel/ Rob Heltzel at Fairway: https://www.fairway.com/lo/rob-heltzel-203008 NMLS #203008: https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/INDIVIDUAL/203008

Recommend a Podcast Guest 👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7

Disclaimer The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals, firms, products, or services mentioned.

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes Nicky Amore, MBA, MA, CFP®, CPWA®, ChSNC®, CFT™, CCFC, a wealth advisor who is also a certified financial therapist. Nicky teaches CFP exam coursework, serves as an adjunct college professor, and works with families navigating disability, caregiving, and long-term care.

In this conversation, Nicky draws a clear line between three practices that often get blurred together. Financial counseling adds skills around budgeting and debt management. Financial planning adds tax strategy, insurance, and investments. Financial therapy goes a step further and asks a different kind of question, the one she opens with: what did you learn about money as a kid? She notes that the question is almost always followed by a sharp intake of breath, and that what surfaces is usually less about the numbers than about what someone does not want to repeat.

Much of the conversation looks at where Nicky applies financial therapy in practice, which is with families living with disability and long-term caregiving needs. She explains why she added the ChSNC® designation, how she collaborates with other advisors on special needs trusts and public benefits, and why the work so often means bringing the wider family into the conversation. If a sibling is going to serve as trustee, she asks, what do they need to understand to stay inside the rules of the road for distributions and ongoing care? Facilitating that, she says, is mostly a matter of explaining complex material in a way anyone in the room can follow.

Belle raises the kind of conversation that stops a plan cold: the parent who is three decades older than the child they care for, and the arithmetic that follows. Nicky's answer points to a document that is neither legal nor financial, the letter of intent. She describes it as writing the truest story you can for your loved one, including their favorite restaurant, the toys they will not go to bed without, and who their providers are, so that whoever steps in can provide the care the family would have provided, particularly when a loved one is nonverbal.

For advisors considering the designation, Nicky walks through the process at the Financial Therapy Association, including the self-paced video curriculum, the application and recommendation requirements, and an hours requirement she describes as roughly 500 hours split between direct service in finance or mental health and alternative experience such as teaching, facilitating financial literacy programs, peer-reviewed research, or writing financial plans. She notes the course and exam ran about $850 at the time of recording, and mentions a weekend externship offered in the fall for advisors who want to see financial therapy practiced in the room.

Nicky and Belle also discuss her financial literacy work, including a doctorate in progress focused on instructional design and a dissertation using free financial literacy video games with women veterans returning from service. She points listeners to several free resources, including the Next Gen Personal Finance arcade games, a free financial helpline for women, and a free two-year financial literacy program for adults under 40, which she suggests aspiring CFP® professionals consider volunteering with as mentors.

Asked the question Belle puts to every guest, what is one thing financial planners should know but don't, Nicky turns it back on the profession:

Planners sacrifice more of themselves than they are willing to admit, and taking care of themselves is part of taking care of their clients and their families. As she puts it, you cannot pour from an empty cup.

Guest Links

Nicky Amore at Parallel Advisors: https://www.paralleladvisors.com/people/nicky-amore

LinkedIn: Nicky Amore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/namore

Financial Therapy Association, CFT™ certification: https://financialtherapyassociation.org/cft-certification/

Next Gen Personal Finance Arcade (Build Your Stax, Credit Clash, Time for Payback): https://www.ngpf.org/arcade/

Savvy Ladies Free Financial Helpline: https://www.savvyladies.org/

Third Decade free financial literacy program: https://3rddecade.org/

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👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7

The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals, firms, products, or services mentioned.

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, speaks with estate planning attorney Michael D. Whitty about premarital agreements and the role financial planners can play in helping clients approach these conversations thoughtfully and early.

Mike has spent his career helping families navigate the legal and personal complexities of wealth transfer, family governance, and business succession planning. He is also the former president and current director of Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises (AFHE), a nonprofit organization of attorneys dedicated to helping family-owned businesses navigate the legal, tax, and governance issues that come with sustaining an enterprise across generations.

While premarital agreements are often viewed primarily as protection in the event of divorce, Mike explains that their purpose can be much broader.

A well-designed agreement can provide greater certainty for both spouses by establishing expectations around separate and marital property, family wealth, business interests, debt, potential alimony, and estate planning. Mike discusses how agreements can even include provisions that change over time as a marriage evolves.

The conversation also explores what premarital agreements can and cannot accomplish. Mike explains why issues such as child custody and child support cannot be predetermined and why both parties should have appropriate representation when negotiating an agreement.

One of the most important parts of the process is financial disclosure.

Before entering into an agreement, both individuals need to understand the other's assets, debts, income, and financial obligations. Even when clients decide they don't want a premarital agreement, Mike and Belle discuss why going through this financial discovery process can help couples avoid surprises after they're married.

For financial planners, timing is one of the biggest takeaways from the episode.

Mike encourages advisors to raise the subject when a relationship is becoming serious, ideally well before the wedding. Waiting until invitations have gone out or the wedding is only days away can create pressure and make an already sensitive conversation much more difficult.

Throughout the conversation, Mike challenges advisors to think of premarital planning as more than preparing for the possibility of divorce. It can be an opportunity to help clients better understand their financial lives, establish expectations, and make informed decisions before entering a marriage.

Mike's message for advisors is simple:

Start the conversation early. Giving clients time to understand their options can make premarital planning a thoughtful financial decision rather than a last-minute legal exercise.

Michael D. Whitty | Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP

LinkedIn: Michael D. Whitty

Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises (AFHE): Former President and current Director

👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7

The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals, firms, products, or services mentioned.

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes back Paul D. Sippil, a forensic 401(k) consultant whose work focuses on helping employers better understand the costs, services, provider relationships, and incentives behind their retirement plans.

Paul has reviewed thousands of Form 5500 filings and documented thousands of conversations with employers. Through that work, he has identified what he calls "The Missing Market" in the retirement plan industry.

Paul explains that in most functioning markets, buyers can easily compare what they're paying with what they're receiving. With 401(k) plans, that can be much more difficult. Fees may be deducted directly from participant accounts, employers may never see an invoice, and the people responsible for selecting providers may have little visibility into what those services actually cost in dollars.

In this conversation, Paul explains why he believes something as simple as requiring providers to send an invoice could dramatically improve transparency. An invoice showing the actual dollars being paid and the services provided could give employers a clearer way to evaluate whether those costs are reasonable.

Paul and Belle also discuss why this issue can be particularly important for smaller retirement plans. Paul shares what he has seen through his analysis of Form 5500 filings and explains why smaller plans can sometimes face significantly higher per-participant costs.

The conversation also explores the human side of these decisions. Long-standing relationships, inertia, and a reluctance to revisit existing arrangements can sometimes prevent employers from asking whether their retirement plan providers are still delivering appropriate value.

For financial advisors, Paul encourages looking beyond percentages and asking more practical questions. What has the plan actually cost in dollars over the past several years? What services have been provided in return? How much time are providers actually spending servicing the plan? And are comparable services available at a more appropriate cost?

Paul also discusses whether employers should consider paying certain plan expenses directly rather than automatically passing those costs on to participants, including the potential implications for participants and the employer.

Paul's message for advisors is straightforward:

Understand what the plan costs in actual dollars, understand what participants are receiving for those fees, and don't assume an existing provider relationship is still the right one simply because it has been in place for years.

Paul D. Sippil & Associates

The Missing Market: Available on Paul's website

LinkedIn: Paul D. Sippil

👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7

The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals, firms, products, or services mentioned.

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes Jason Howell, CFP®, CPWA®, CSRIC®, founder of Jason Howell Company, adjunct professor at George Mason University, and author of Joy of Financial Planning: Seven Strategies for Transforming Your Finances and Reclaiming Your American Dream. Jason has dedicated his career to helping families build meaningful financial legacies by combining sound planning with intentional conversations about values, communication, and multi-generational wealth.

Jason introduces the concept of family governance and explains why it is no longer reserved for ultra-high-net-worth families. He shares how advisors can use structured conversations to uncover a client's financial history, identify the values that shape money decisions, and strengthen communication between spouses, children, and future generations. Jason also discusses how understanding a family's story can lead to deeper trust, better planning outcomes, and stronger long-term client relationships.

Throughout the conversation, Belle and Jason explore how the role of the financial advisor continues to evolve beyond investment management. As technology handles more of the technical aspects of planning, advisors have an opportunity to differentiate themselves by becoming trusted guides who facilitate meaningful conversations, help families navigate complex financial decisions, and preserve both wealth and the values behind it.

The discussion also highlights why financial planning is ultimately about people, not portfolios. Jason shares practical ways advisors can begin incorporating family governance into their practices while reinforcing one of his core beliefs: the work financial advisors do truly matters because it helps families communicate better, make wiser decisions, and create lasting legacies.

Guest Links

Company Website: https://www.JasonHowell.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonhowell

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/jasonhowell

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The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals, firms, products, or services mentioned.

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes back Macia Mantel, one of the retirement industry's leading experts on Social Security, Medicare, and retirement income planning. She is the author of Social Security, Lightly Toasted, Not Burnt: How to Make Your Best Claiming Decision and has spent nearly three decades helping advisors and consumers navigate complex retirement decisions.

As headlines surrounding Social Security's financial future intensify, Marcia breaks down what is really happening and what advisors and clients need to understand. She explains why Social Security is not "going bankrupt," how the program is funded, and why the current challenges stem from demographic changes and political inaction rather than an immediate collapse of the system. Marcia also explores potential solutions being discussed in Washington, including raising the taxable wage cap, adjusting benefit formulas, modifying cost-of-living increases, and other creative policy proposals designed to preserve the program's long-term sustainability.

Throughout the conversation, Belle and Marcia discuss a growing concern among financial planners: clients making emotional claiming decisions based on fear rather than strategy. More Americans are claiming benefits early because they worry Social Security won't be there for them, potentially reducing their lifetime retirement income and creating additional financial risks later in life.

The discussion also highlights the important role advisors play in helping clients navigate uncertainty, model different planning scenarios, and become informed advocates for preserving the Social Security system.

Guest Links

Website: https://mantellretirementconsulting.com

Blog: https://boomerretirementbriefs.com

Book: Social Security, Lightly Toasted, Not Burnt: How to Make Your Best Claiming Decision

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marciamantell/

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👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV72

The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals, firms, products, or services mentioned.

Have you listened to the latest episode of the Smarter Planner Podcast yet?

In this CE-credit episode, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, sits down with Matt Gelfand, PhD, CFA, CFP®, of Princeton Global to discuss the role commodities can play in modern portfolio construction.

The conversation explores: • Diversification benefits of commodities • Inflation protection strategies • Gold, silver, oil, and TIPS • Central bank buying and geopolitical impacts • Practical portfolio implementation ideas for advisors

Already listened? Don't forget to complete the quiz and claim your CE credit.

🎧 Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/smarter-planner-podcast/id1656084327?i=1000774716942

📝 Take the quiz: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FPANCA_SmarterPlannerPodcast

Complete both steps to receive 1 CE credit through FPA National Capital Area.

#FinancialPlanning #CFP #ContinuingEducation #FinancialAdvisor #PortfolioManagement #Investing #Commodities #FPANCA #SmarterPlannerPodcast

In this CE-credit episode, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, sits down with Matt Gelfand, PhD, CFA, CFP®, Managing Director and Global Strategist at Princeton Global, to explore the role commodities can play in modern portfolio construction.

From gold and silver to oil and inflation-protected securities, Matt explains why commodities remain relevant for advisors seeking diversification, inflation protection, and risk management. The conversation examines recent developments in commodity markets, the impact of central bank buying, geopolitical events affecting oil prices, and practical approaches to incorporating commodities into client portfolios.

Listen to the full episode.

Take the quiz: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FPANCA_SmarterPlannerPodcast

Receive 1 CE credit upon completion.

The information provided in the Smarter Planner Podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice. Views expressed are those of the guests and host, not necessarily those of the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area (FPA NCA). Please consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes back Victor Haghani, founder of Elm Wealth, co-author of The Missing Billionaires: A Guide to Better Financial Decisions, and former co-founder of Long-Term Capital Management. Victor returns to the podcast to discuss his latest investing experiment, the Crystal Ball Challenge, a unique exercise designed to test whether having access to tomorrow's news would actually make investors better decision-makers.

Inspired by a challenge posed by Nassim Taleb, the Crystal Ball Challenge gives participants access to a future Wall Street Journal front page while hiding the actual market results. Players then decide how to position stocks and bonds before discovering what really happened. What sounds like an investing superpower quickly becomes a lesson in uncertainty, confidence, and risk management.

Victor also explains why some artificial intelligence models were surprisingly effective at identifying market direction while still struggling with one of investing's most important skills: determining how much risk to take.

Throughout the conversation, Belle and Victor explore a challenge every financial planner encounters. Even when investors have access to more information, markets often behave in unexpected ways. Understanding the limits of prediction can help advisors keep clients focused on process, discipline, and long-term outcomes rather than short-term forecasts.

One of the most compelling takeaways is that confidence and accuracy are not the same thing. Whether you're a human investor, a professional trader, or an artificial intelligence model, knowing what might happen next is only part of the equation.

Victor's message is simple:

Successful investing is not about predicting the future perfectly. It's about making better decisions in the face of uncertainty.

Website: https://elmwealth.com

Book: The Missing Billionaires: A Guide to Better Financial Decisions

Crystal Ball Challenge: https://elmwealth.com

👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7

The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals, firms, products, or services mentioned.

In this episode of The Smarter Planner Podcast, host Belle Osvath, CFP®, welcomes Susan Bradley, founder of the Sudden Money Institute, creator of the Certified Financial Transitionist (CeFT®) designation, and author of Sudden Money: Managing a Financial Windfall.

Susan has spent decades studying what happens when people experience major life transitions involving money. What began as work helping women receiving legal settlements eventually evolved into a career focused on understanding the human side of financial planning and the challenges clients face when life changes suddenly.

In this conversation, Susan explains why many financial planning conversations focus heavily on the technical side of change while overlooking the emotional, behavioral, and decision-making challenges that often accompany major life events.

Susan also discusses the concept of becoming a client's thinking partner rather than simply their financial expert. She explains how advisors can help clients move through major life changes by providing structure, perspective, and a safe environment for decision-making.

Throughout the conversation, Susan challenges advisors to think beyond the technical plan and consider what clients are experiencing as they move from one stage of life to another.

One of her most important observations is that while advisors often focus on the first year after a major life event, many transitions continue unfolding for several years as clients adjust to a new reality and redefine their identity, relationships, and goals.

Susan's message is simple:

Financial transitions are ultimately human transitions, and advisors who understand both sides can create a deeper impact for their clients.

Website: https://financialtransitionist.com

Book: Sudden Money: Managing a Financial Windfall

LinkedIn: Susan Bradley

Certified Financial Transitionist (CeFT®): https://financialtransitionist.com

👉 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWXHTV7

The Smarter Planner Podcast is produced by the Financial Planning Association National Capital Area Chapter (FPA NCA) for educational purposes only. Belle Osvath and FPA NCA do not endorse specific individuals, firms, products, or services mentioned.