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.

Guest Links

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

LinkedIn: Michael D. Whitty

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

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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 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.

Guest Links

Paul D. Sippil & Associates

The Missing Market: Available on Paul's website

LinkedIn: Paul D. Sippil

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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 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.

CE Credit Instructions

Listen to the full episode.

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

Receive 1 CE credit upon completion.

Links & Resources Princeton Global https://www.princetonglobal.com LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgelfand

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.

Guest Links

Website: https://elmwealth.com

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

Crystal Ball Challenge: https://elmwealth.com

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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 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.

Guest Links

Website: https://financialtransitionist.com

Book: Sudden Money: Managing a Financial Windfall

LinkedIn: Susan Bradley

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

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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 Jeremy Keil, CFP®, CFA®, and Certified Kingdom Advisor®, founder of Keil Financial Partners, host of the Retirement Revealed Podcast, and creator of the Mr. Retirement YouTube channel.

Jeremy joins Belle to talk about advisor marketing, branding, and niching down in a way that feels authentic rather than sales-driven. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience helping clients transition into retirement, Jeremy explains why successful marketing is not just about generating leads. It starts with understanding exactly who you serve and how you communicate with them.

Jeremy breaks down the framework he uses for his own business:

• Brand: Who you are and who you serve • Messaging: How you speak to those people • Marketing: How you help the right people find you

Jeremy also explains how his retirement planning framework became part of his client experience and why advisors should think intentionally about how clients experience their process from the very first interaction.

The conversation also explores Jeremy's work as a Certified Kingdom Advisor and how values, faith, and transparency can influence advisor-client relationships.

Finally, Jeremy shares why he believes advisors should learn motivational interviewing, a communication framework originally developed in behavioral counseling that helps people move toward meaningful change through better conversations and questions.

His message to advisors is simple:

The best marketing often does not feel like marketing at all. It feels like clarity, consistency, and connection.

Guest Links

Website: https://keilfp.com

Podcast: https://keilfp.com/blogpodcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MrRetirement

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

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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 Vincent Randazzo, CMT, portfolio manager at Tamaris Capital Management, co-portfolio manager of the Defender Risk Adaptive 500 ETF, and founder of ViewRight Advisors.

Vincent has spent more than two decades studying market behavior, technical analysis, and portfolio risk. In this conversation, he joins Belle to talk about a research paper he recently co-authored called Navigating Lost Decades: Protecting Long-Term Compounding in Secular Bear Markets and why advisors need to think beyond short-term volatility and start planning for the market environments that can quietly damage wealth over time.

Drawing on more than 155 years of market history, Vincent explains what "lost decades" really are, why they happen more often than many investors realize, and how extended periods of flat or negative returns can create both financial and behavioral challenges for clients.

Vincent also talks about why valuation alone is rarely enough to guide investment decisions, why context matters more than headlines, and how having a clear process can help advisors stay confident when clients start asking tough questions during volatile markets.

Guest Links

Website: https://viewright.ai

LinkedIn: Vincent Randazzo

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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.