Today's Book Club installment explores Maria Bruno's lesson from Christine Benz's How to Retire: focus on what you can control. We translate that into a concrete retirement playbook—how to define your lifestyle and purpose, set realistic spending, and use tax and withdrawal strategy to your advantage. We discuss what to ignore (short-term market moves, election cycles, interest-rate guessing, single-stock drama) and what to prioritize (goals, cash-flow math, tax planning, and documents). We also cover Social Security timing, 75% income-replacement starting points, the 4% rule nuance, sequencing withdrawals across IRA/Roth/HSA/taxable, RMD surprises, IRMAA, account consolidation, QCDs, aging-in-place vs. moving, and protecting a spouse from cognitive-decline risk. The result: more confidence and a plan you'll actually follow.

Key Takeaways:

• Define a clear retirement vision and daily rhythm; align with your spouse.
• Control > prediction: build a plan resilient to markets, rates, and elections.
• Use 75% income-replacement and ~4% starting withdrawal as baselines—then tailor.
• Social Security: run the numbers before claiming; consider survivor benefits.
• Tax strategy window between retirement and RMDs: evaluate Roth conversions.
• Watch IRMAA, RMD timing, and leverage QCDs (from IRAs) for giving.
• Consolidate accounts; maintain POA, wills, beneficiaries, and directives.
• Plan for go-go / slow-go / no-go phases; decide on aging-in-place vs. communities.
• Consider professional advice for planning, error avoidance, and accountability.

Suggested Chapters:

00:00 Intro & Book Club context (Christine Benz / Maria Bruno) 03:00 Control vs. noise: what to ignore in retirement 08:00 Building a retirement vision & purpose 13:00 Phases: go-go, slow-go, no-go 18:00 Running the numbers: income, spending, cash-flow 23:00 Social Security timing & survivor considerations 27:00 Tax strategy: brackets, IRMAA, RMDs, Roth conversions 33:00 Accounts: IRA vs. 401(k), QCDs, consolidation 38:00 Estate docs & cognitive-decline risk management

Many people believe their primary residence is their best investment—but is that really true? In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, we challenge common assumptions about homeownership and financial returns.

Scott and Greg break down:

• How most homeowners calculate their "return" incorrectly

• Why annualized returns matter more than big round numbers

• The hidden costs of owning a home—maintenance, property taxes, mortgage interest, and renovations

• How tax deductions really work after the 2017 code changes

• Why upgrades like kitchens and bathrooms rarely "pay for themselves"

• The difference between real estate as a lifestyle choice versus as an investment asset

• How to think about your home in the context of your overall portfolio (yes, it may already be your "alternative investment")

We also touch on rent vs. buy, forced savings through mortgages, and why homeownership can still be valuable—even if it's not the wealth-building vehicle many think it is.

Listen now to learn how to view your home with the right financial lens—without losing sight of the American dream.

If you're preparing to retire from ExxonMobil, you've probably heard about segment rates—and how they directly impact the value of your pension lump sum.

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, our team at Baird Retirement Management breaks down:

• How the ExxonMobil pension plan (defined benefit plan) works

• What segment rates are and how they affect lump sum vs. annuity options

• Why timing your retirement date by even one month can mean tens of thousands of dollars difference

• The latest 2025 segment rate updates and what they mean for ExxonMobil retirees

• Key considerations: taxes, supplemental pension, retirement age, and planning around Social Security

Whether you're debating lump sum vs. annuity, wondering if you should delay your retirement, or just trying to understand what segment rates really mean, this episode gives you the clarity you need.

Perfect for:

• ExxonMobil employees preparing to retire

• Families navigating Exxon's pension system

• Anyone looking to make smarter, better-timed retirement decisions

Subscribe to The Personal Finance Project for more retirement strategies, pension insights, and ExxonMobil updates. Questions or topics you'd like us to cover? Email us at [email protected].

Thinking about buying a business with no money down? Wondering if leveraged crypto trading is safe? Curious whether AI art or TikTok "get rich quick" strategies really work? In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, we react to viral FinTok videos that promise fast millions but leave out the real risks.

We cover:

• The truth about seller-financed business deals
• Why leveraging debt to invest in crypto can backfire
• Whether AI-generated art and content are real opportunities or hype
• The difference between DIY investing and professional financial advice
• Why long-term success comes from building expertise, not chasing shortcuts

In Part 6 of our How to Retire series, we unpack Christine Benz's popular "bucket strategy" for retirement income planning. Drawing from her book How to Retire, we explore how cash, bonds, and stocks can be organized into purpose-driven "buckets" to help retirees weather market volatility without sacrificing peace of mind.

We break down:

• Why relying solely on portfolio income can be risky
• How the total return approach offers flexibility in sourcing retirement cash flow
• The behavioral benefits of having a dedicated cash bucket
• Structuring a 3-bucket portfolio to match assets with short-, medium-, and long-term income needs
• The role of rebalancing, tax efficiency, and account type allocation (traditional IRA, Roth IRA, taxable)

Whether you're approaching retirement or advising clients, this episode delivers practical, real-world insights for building resilient retirement portfolios that balance growth, income, and emotional security.

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, financial advisors Scott and Greg break down some of the most viral personal finance advice circulating on TikTok. From using high-yield investments to cover your streaming subscriptions to the true cost of leasing vs. buying a car, and whether owning a laundromat is a smart passive income strategy—nothing is off the table.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why mental accounting can derail your investing strategy
• The real pros and cons of leasing a car vs. buying (feat. Suze Orman commentary)
• Risks and realities behind laundromats as a "Main Street Millionaire" side hustle
• How to apply the 50/30/20 budgeting rule instead of falling for online money hacks
• When viral finance advice is helpful—and when it's dangerously oversimplified

Scott and Greg apply real-world experience, behavioral finance insight, and investment fundamentals to help you cut through the noise and make smarter money decisions.

Perfect for listeners searching: "Is leasing a car a waste of money?" "Laundromat investing passive income" "TikTok financial advice debunked" "Should I use dividends to pay for subscriptions?" "Is Fintok reliable?"

Advisors React is your no-nonsense guide to financial trends, social media myths, and real-world money talk. Subscribe and share if you're ready to build wealth with clarity—not clickbait.

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, Scott and Greg sit down with Andrew Atkinson, Financial Advisor and Branch Manager of Baird's Houston Memorial City office, to unpack one of the most underutilized tools in financial planning: the Health Savings Account (HSA). Andrew, a Certified Private Wealth Advisor® and Retirement Management Advisor®, explains why the HSA is often referred to as the "stealth IRA" and how its triple tax advantage can play a pivotal role in a comprehensive wealth strategy.

They discuss:

• Why HSAs deserve a top spot in your savings hierarchy
• The major differences between HSAs and FSAs (and why it matters)
• How to use your HSA like an investment account, not a spending account
• Key planning considerations for retirement, estate transfers, and tax efficiency
• Potential policy changes that could make HSAs even more powerful in the future

Whether you're just getting started or want to optimize your HSA strategy, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you avoid common pitfalls and maximize this overlooked retirement tool.

In this special tax planning edition of The Personal Finance Project, Scott and Greg break down the most important takeaways from the newly passed "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"—and how it could reshape your retirement income strategy, charitable giving, and Roth conversions in 2025 and beyond.

Whether you're nearing retirement, already drawing from IRAs or Social Security, or just curious about how the latest tax law changes impact estate planning, this episode covers what's new, what's staying the same, and how to avoid costly mistakes during this transition year.

Key topics include:

• Estate tax exemption increases and planning implications
• The future of Roth conversions and Roth distribution strategies
• New senior deduction and how to optimize around it
• Expanded SALT and standard deductions
• Charitable giving rules, QCDs, and the new AGI floor
• The impact of tip income, overtime, and "Trump Accounts"
• 529 changes for K–12 education
• How new deductions interact with IRMAA and phase-outs

If you want to understand how to get the most tax-efficient retirement income possible, this episode is packed with real-world analysis and practical advice.

In this episode of The Personal Finance Project, Scott and Greg sit down with Michael Antonelli—Managing Director, Market Strategist at Baird, and author of the Bull and Baird blog—for a wide-ranging conversation on what it really takes to be a successful investor.

From presidential politics and market overreactions to behavioral finance, financial influencers, and the temptation to "do something," Michael shares insights that help investors zoom out and focus on what truly matters. You'll hear why the 60/40 portfolio still works, why complexity isn't always your friend, and how resisting the urge to constantly tinker with your portfolio might be your greatest financial superpower.

They also dive into:

• How political biases can distort market expectations

• Why doing less often leads to better investment results

• The real problem with Fintok and social media financial gurus

• Timeless investing principles in a world of noise

• Why simplicity and patience remain undefeated

Whether you're worried about the headlines or chasing the next big thing online, this conversation is a masterclass in keeping perspective—and staying the course.

In this thought-provoking episode of The Personal Finance Project, Scott and Greg sit down with Richard Ashcroft to unpack a lifetime of wisdom—both financial and personal. Known internally as the "RA Principles" and affectionately called the "Pop Principles" by his family, these timeless insights reflect decades of leadership, investing experience, and life philosophy.

Richard shares the maxims that have guided his work with clients and his own personal decisions—from asking "What does winning look like?" to the power of "making one decision that makes a thousand." Through real-life stories, client case studies, and even a few laughs, the team explores:

• The hidden costs of custom portfolios

• Why simplicity and structure often outperform complexity

• How to avoid reinforcing bad behavior in high-trust environments

• The dangers of assuming the obvious is obvious

• What leaders get wrong about incentives

• Why incremental change matters more than sweeping overhauls

Whether you're a financial advisor, a business leader, or someone striving for better decision-making in everyday life, this episode offers a roadmap for making thoughtful, enduring choices.