In this episode of
Something More with Chris Boyd, Chris and Brian dive into two of the biggest areas where families unintentionally sabotage their financial success: retirement savings missteps and education planning mistakes. Brian discusses patterns he's seen after reviewing hundreds of 401(k) plans — especially the surprising frequency of investors mixing
target-date funds with additional stock funds, inadvertently doubling their risk. Chris and Brian explain how target-date funds are designed, why adding extra funds defeats the purpose, and how investors often fall into the trap of chasing performance or comparing themselves unfairly to the S&P 500. The conversation also unpacks:
- Why the S&P 500 is not an appropriate benchmark for most people
- How risk tolerance, time horizon, and personal financial stability should determine allocation
- Why short-term performance viewing leads to emotional decisions
- The "illusion of diversification" when holding many similar stock funds
- How to properly evaluate whether your portfolio risk matches your goals
- The importance of focusing on time in the market, not timing the market
Then the episode turns to education planning mistakes — an increasingly urgent topic as college costs continue skyrocketing. Chris and Brian cover:
- Why early and consistent saving matters most
- Why 529 plans remain the best savings vehicle for education
- How the new Trump savings accounts fit in (and don't)
- How costs differ dramatically between public vs. private education
- Why parents often damage their own retirement security trying to pay for college
- The importance of setting expectations with children early
- Brian's personal system for projecting education costs to 2044
- Why lifestyle decisions (cars, home choices, spending patterns) impact your ability to fund education
Finally, the discussion closes with a thoughtful segment on whether buying a home is always the right move, especially for Millennials and Gen Z. Chris and Brian outline why today's high prices and high mortgage rates reduce affordability — and why renting may sometimes make more financial sense until conditions improve. Learn more / Contact us: https://somethingmorewithchrisboyd.com
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