Your Money Guide on the Side

Pre-order Tyler's book, Real Wealth, at tylergardner.com/book and be eligible for all monthly incentives between now and December 1st!

And as always, a MASSIVE thank you to this week's sponsors:

And now, on to the show notes!

Most people who get financially devastated by divorce didn’t lose because they were reckless.

They lost because they weren’t prepared to operate independently when life changed unexpectedly.

In this episode, Tyler breaks down the financial side of divorce — not just for people currently going through one, but for anyone building a life with another person.

Because financial awareness inside a marriage is not distrust.

It’s maturity.

In this episode, Tyler covers:

Tyler also explains how some advisors specifically target recently divorced people — and how to tell the difference between real guidance and someone capitalizing on vulnerability.

The core idea:

Financial independence inside a relationship is not a backup plan. It’s part of being an adult.

Because whether a marriage lasts five years or fifty, every person deserves the ability to confidently understand and manage their own financial life.

If the show’s been helpful, leaving a quick review on Apple or Spotify genuinely helps.

Hope this gives you something to think about this week.

Pre-order Tyler's book, Real Wealth, at ⁠tylergardner.com/book⁠ and receive two chapters that didn't make the final cut in digital form in early June.

And as always, a MASSIVE thank you to this week's sponsors:

And now on with the show notes!

You wake up tomorrow morning and there’s $1 million sitting in your account.

What’s the first thing you do?

Most people think they know the answer.

In this episode, Tyler walks through exactly what he would do with a sudden lump sum of money — practically, immediately, and without turning it into a fantasy exercise.

Because having money doesn’t automatically make people better with money.

It just makes mistakes more expensive.

In this episode, Tyler covers:

Tyler also explains why he wouldn’t immediately buy expensive depreciating assets — and why the goal is to get the principal working hard enough that the returns eventually pay for the lifestyle instead.

The core idea:

A million dollars isn’t the destination. It’s the infrastructure.

The real question isn’t what you buy.

It’s what kind of life the money gives you the freedom to build.

If the show’s been helpful, leaving a quick review on Apple or Spotify genuinely helps.

Hope this gives you something to think about this week.

Pre-order Tyler's book, Real Wealth, at tylergardner.com/book

And as always, a MASSIVE thank you to this week's sponsors:

And now on with the show notes!

What if the most important investing conversation you’ve ever had… never got recorded?

That’s what happened here.

In this episode, Tyler reconstructs a lost interview with Burton Malkiel, author of A Random Walk Down Wall Street, and uses it to tell a bigger story — one about index investing, behavior, and why the simplest strategy is still the hardest to follow.

Because this isn’t just about theory.

In this episode, Tyler walks through:

Tyler also shares one of the most important takeaways from the conversation:

Even Burton Malkiel feels fear. He just doesn’t act on it.

And that’s the difference.

The core idea:

Investing isn’t about being right. It’s about staying consistent when it’s hardest to do so.

The episode closes with a broader reflection on retirement — not just how to invest, but how to live.

Because according to Malkiel, the goal isn’t to stop working.

It’s to stay engaged — with ideas, with learning, and with life itself.

If the show’s been helpful, leaving a quick review on Apple or Spotify genuinely helps.

Hope this gives you something to think about this week.

As always, a MASSIVE thank you to this week's sponsors!

And now, on with the show notes!

Most retirement withdrawal conversations focus on one number:

4%? 5%? 6%?

But that misses a much bigger variable:

Taxes.

In this episode, Tyler revisits his $2 million retirement portfolio framework and explains why the real issue isn’t just how much you withdraw — it’s how much you keep after taxes.

Because two retirees can withdraw the exact same amount and end up with very different lifestyles depending on how their accounts are structured.

In this episode, Tyler covers:

Tyler also explains why the classic withdrawal-rate debate often misses the point entirely.

A 6% withdrawal with poor tax planning may feel like 4.75%.

A well-structured 6% withdrawal may feel like…6%.

The core idea:

The goal was never to withdraw less. The goal was always to keep more.

This episode isn’t about tax gimmicks or loopholes.

It’s about understanding the rules well enough to make smarter decisions with the money you’ve already built.

If the show’s been helpful, leaving a quick review on Apple or Spotify genuinely helps.

Hope this gives you something to think about this week.

As always, a MASSIVE thank you to this week's sponsors!

And on to the show notes!

Most financial advice focuses on optimization.

This episode is about something else entirely: alignment.

In this more personal episode, Tyler shares five lessons from spending two months “snowbirding” in Sedona — and what the experience revealed about money, time, and the life we think we want.

Because sometimes the biggest financial insights don’t come from spreadsheets.

In this episode, Tyler reflects on:

Along the way, Tyler connects everyday moments — cooking dinner, staying in Airbnbs, almost buying a house — to deeper financial decisions around spending, relocation, and retirement.

The core idea:

Wherever you go, there you are.

Money can change your environment.

This episode isn’t about maximizing efficiency.

It’s about building a life that actually fits — before you build the plan to fund it.

If the show’s been helpful, leaving a quick review on Apple or Spotify genuinely helps.

Hope this gives you something to think about this week.

Pre-Order Tyler's First Book, Real Wealth, ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ & be immediately eligible for exclusive bonuses between now and December 1st!

April Bonus: Free two-hour digital live event on Wednesday, May 6th from 7-9pm EDT, where Tyler will answer the most commonly asked questions and walk through what you can expect from the book!

And as always, a MASSIVE thank you to this week's sponsors:

LMNT just dropped a limited-time Pink Lemonade flavor — exclusively for LMNT INSIDERs, which means you need to order the INSIDER Bundle (four boxes for the price of three) to get it. If you like your electrolytes without the sugar and your hydration without the regret, this one's for you:

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→ try.copilot.money/tyler — use code TYLER2 for two free months.

And on to the show notes!

Most people think investing is about finding the next big thing.

The reality is much less exciting — and far more effective.

In this episode, Tyler sits down with Chris Hill, longtime host of Motley Fool Money, to talk about what actually drives long-term success in investing — and why so many people get distracted along the way.

From launching a podcast during the 2008 financial crisis to interviewing some of the biggest names in business and finance, Chris shares lessons from decades inside one of the most influential investing platforms.

In this conversation, Tyler and Chris discuss:

Chris also reflects on what makes a great investor over time — and it’s not intelligence or access.

It’s patience.

Discipline.

And the ability to ignore noise when it matters most.

The core idea:

Investing isn’t about being clever. It’s about staying consistent long enough for compounding to do its job.

If the show’s been helpful, leaving a quick review on Apple or Spotify genuinely helps.

Hope this gives you something to think about this week.

Pre-Order Tyler's First Book, Real Wealth, ⁠here⁠ & be immediately eligible for exclusive bonuses between now and December 1st!

April Bonus: Free two-hour digital live event on Wednesday, May 6th from 7-9pm EST, where Tyler will answer the most commonly asked questions and walk through what you can expect from the book!

And as always, a MASSIVE thank you to this week's sponsors:

Thrive Market: Get $20 off your first three orders plus a FREE

$60 gift if you order at thrivemarket.com/tyler today.

Facet: find out why I have been endorsing Facet for over 18 months now by checking out ⁠facet.com/tyler⁠. They are a one-stop shop for financial planning, investment management, tax strategy, and retirement planning. And best part: it's all for one flat annual membership fee.

And on to the show notes!

No one wants to think about long-term care.

Which is exactly why most people don’t plan for it.

In this episode, Tyler tackles one of the most uncomfortable — and most overlooked — parts of financial planning: what happens if you live long enough to need care.

Because longevity is a gift.

In this episode, Tyler covers:

Tyler also lays out a clear, practical framework:

Understand your numbers.

The core idea:

A retirement plan isn’t complete until it answers one question — what happens if care is required?

Because this isn’t just a financial decision.

It’s a decision that affects your spouse, your kids, and how the last chapter of your life actually plays out.

If the show’s been helpful, leaving a quick review on Apple or Spotify genuinely helps.

Hope this gives you something to think about this week.

Pre-Order Tyler's First Book, Real Wealth, here & be immediately eligible for exclusive bonuses between now and December 1st!

As always, a MASSIVE thank you to this week's sponsors:

LMNT⁠: regardless of who much money you have, if you're not feeling your best physically and mentally, it means very little. That's why I drink ⁠LMNT⁠ daily (well, multiple times a day) to continue to be as productive as I can be after my workouts. Try ⁠drinklmnt.com/tyler⁠ today and let me know what your favorite flavor is!

Copilot Money⁠: if you are looking for one of the most well-designed money apps out there, check out ⁠Copilot Money⁠ today. My friends and family continue to rave about it, and they now have all of their money needs in one place. Check out ⁠try.copilot.money/tyler ⁠today and use code TYLER2 for two free months, so you can see if it works for you!

Anthropic⁠: I use Claude AI every single day as a thought partner and business strategist. To become more efficient and solve problems more quickly and effectively, check out ⁠claude.ai/tyler⁠ today. There is no single business move I have made in the past year that has been more worthwhile and productive.

And on to the show notes!

When should you take Social Security?

It’s one of the most debated — and most personal — financial decisions you’ll ever make.

In this episode, Tyler makes a serious, data-backed case for taking benefits at 62 — not as a blanket recommendation, but as a counterpoint to the conventional advice to always wait.

Because this decision isn’t just math.

In this episode, Tyler covers:

Tyler also introduces a practical framework — six key questions — to help you make the decision based on your own life, not a generic rule:

Health.

The core idea:

This isn’t about maximizing dollars. It’s about maximizing life.

For some people, waiting is the right call.

If the show’s been helpful, leaving a quick review on Apple or Spotify genuinely helps.

Hope this gives you something to think about this week.

As always, a MASSIVE thank you to this week's sponsors:

Gelt: I will forever regret not prioritizing a tax strategist early in my solopreneur journey. Don't make the same mistake I did and leave money on the table. If you are a business owner or a high net worth individual, check out Gelt today at joingelt.com/tyler.

Fabric: there is a reason that term life insurance is number 4 in my financial order of operations, before an Emergency Fund, and before funding the Roth IRA. If anyone else depends on your income, cross this off your list today in ten minutes at meetfabric.com/tyler.

And on to the show notes!

AI isn’t replacing financial advisors.

But it is getting surprisingly good at doing one of the most valuable parts of the job: stopping you from making bad decisions.

In this episode, Tyler breaks down how to actually use AI as a financial tool — not for stock picks or shortcuts, but for clarity, structure, and behavioral coaching.

Because the biggest gap in investing isn’t information.

In this episode, Tyler covers:

The core idea: AI is a tool, not a replacement for judgment.

Used well, it can help you think more clearly, avoid emotional decisions, and build a plan you actually understand.

Used poorly, it can give you confident-sounding answers to the wrong questions.

If you take one thing from this episode, it’s this:

Better inputs lead to better decisions.

And if AI helps you slow down, ask better questions, and avoid one major mistake, it’s already paid for itself.

If the show’s been helpful, leaving a quick review on Apple or Spotify genuinely helps.

Hope this gives you something to think about this week.

As always, a MASSIVE thank you to this week's sponsors:

LMNT: regardless of who much money you have, if you're not feeling your best physically and mentally, it means very little. That's why I drink LMNT daily (well, multiple times a day) to continue to be as productive as I can be after my workouts. Try drinklmnt.com/tyler today and let me know what your favorite flavor is!

Copilot Money: if you are looking for one of the most well-designed money apps out there, check out Copilot Money today. My friends and family continue to rave about it, and they now have all of their money needs in one place. Check out try.copilot.money/tyler today and use code TYLER2 for two free months, so you can see if it works for you!

Facet: find out why I have been endorsing Facet for over 18 months now by checking out facet.com/tyler. They are a one-stop shop for financial planning, investment management, tax strategy, and retirement planning. And best part: it's all for one flat annual membership fee. Check out facet.com/tyler and see if they're the right fit for you!

And on to the show notes!

Many parents want to help their kids financially — but often focus on the wrong things.

Saving for a wedding, helping with a down payment, or paying for grad school can help in the moment. But the biggest advantage you can give a child financially is time.

In this episode, Tyler breaks down how investing small amounts early in a child’s life can turn into millions thanks to compound growth — and walks through the most practical ways parents can do it.

In this episode, Tyler covers:

Even small, consistent contributions can grow into life-changing sums over decades.

If this episode helped clarify your approach to investing for your family, consider leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps others find the show.