Estate planning can help you maintain more control over important financial and personal decisions, both during your lifetime and after your death. Host Mark Riepe speaks with Austin Jarvis, director of estate, trust, and high-net-worth tax planning research at the Schwab Center for Financial Research, about what goes into an effective estate plan and the key considerations for getting started. They discuss how wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, and other elements can work together to reflect your wishes and protect the people you care about. They also explain why estate planning isn't a one-time task and how changes in your life may signal that it's time to revisit your plan.

After you listen:

· Check out the article "Estate Planning: Don’t Let the State Decide" for guidance on putting a plan in place.

· Dig deeper into the essentials with "What Is Estate Planning?" and learn more about the pieces that make up an estate plan.

Financial Decoder is an original podcast from Charles Schwab.

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.

Reach out to Mark on X @MarkRiepe with your thoughts on the show.

Follow Financial Decoder on Spotify to comment on episodes.

Important Disclosure

This material is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned are not suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decisions.

For illustrative purposes only. Individual situations will vary and are no guarantee of future performance or success. Not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve and are not intended to be, nor should they be construed as, a recommendation to buy, sell, or continue to hold any investment.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic or political conditions.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

The Schwab Center for Financial Research is a division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

1126-W4TE

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Making smart portfolio decisions require more than just choosing investments. It requires managing your own behavior. Mark speaks with Schwab Wealth Advisory's Chief Portfolio Strategist Kasey McCurdy about how emotions influence investing decisions and why investors often struggle with rebalancing, diversification, and staying invested during market volatility. Along the way, they share practical ways to approach portfolio construction and avoid common behavioral investing pitfalls.

After you listen:

• Learn how a goals-based approach to investing can help you build and manage a portfolio with Schwab Wealth Advisory™.
• Check out Schwab's resources on portfolio management for more about diversification, rebalancing, and other long-term investing strategies.

Financial Decoder is an original podcast from Charles Schwab.

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.

Reach out to Mark on X @MarkRiepe with your thoughts on the show.

Follow Financial Decoder on Spotify to comment on episodes.

Important Disclosures

This material is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned are not suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decisions.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic or political conditions.

Diversification, asset allocation, and rebalancing strategies do not ensure a profit and do not protect against losses in declining markets.

Rebalancing may cause investors to incur transaction costs and, when a non-retirement account is rebalanced, taxable events may be created that may affect your tax liability.

There are risks associated with investing in dividend paying stocks, including but not limited to the risk that stocks may reduce or stop paying dividends.

Schwab Wealth Advisory™ ("SWA") is a non‐discretionary investment advisory program sponsored by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. ("Schwab"). Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. ("SWAI") is a Registered Investment Adviser and provides portfolio management for the SWA program. Schwab and SWAI are affiliates and are subsidiaries of The Charles Schwab Corporation.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

​Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The Schwab Center for Financial Research is a division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

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Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are one of the most widely used retirement savings vehicles, yet many investors are unsure how they work. Mark Riepe breaks down IRA basics, including traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, contribution limits, tax advantages, withdrawal rules, and eligibility requirements. He also explains key differences between IRA types and offers a framework for evaluating which option may fit your retirement-planning goals. Whether you're opening your first IRA or comparing retirement account options, this episode provides a practical guide to understanding the fundamentals.

After you listen:

• Read the article "What Is an IRA? Traditional, Roth, and Other Types of IRAs."
• Learn more about IRAs and what to consider for your retirement planning.

Financial Decoder is an original podcast from Charles Schwab.

If you enjoy the show, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.

Reach out to Mark on X @MarkRiepe with your thoughts on the show.

Follow Financial Decoder on Spotify to comment on episodes.

Important Disclosures

This material is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned are not suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decisions.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic or political conditions.

Roth IRA conversions require a 5-year holding period before earnings can be withdrawn tax free and subsequent conversions will require their own 5-year holding period. In addition, earnings distributions prior to age 59 1/2 are subject to an early withdrawal penalty.

Withdrawals and distributions of taxable amounts are subject to ordinary income tax and, if made prior to age 59½, may be subject to an additional 10% federal income tax penalty, sometimes referred to as an additional income tax.

You generally have to start taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) no later than April 1st of the year following the calendar year you reach age 73 or retire, whichever is later. If you were born on or before June 30, 1949, the required minimum distribution age is 70½. If you were born after June 30, 1949 and before January 1, 1951, the required minimum distribution age is 72. If you own 5% or more of the business sponsoring the Plan, other provisions may apply. Refer to your Plan document for details. However, you are not required to take a minimum distribution from your Roth accounts during your lifetime.

A rollover of retirement plan assets to an IRA is not your only option. Carefully consider all of your available options, which may include but not be limited to keeping your assets in your former employer's plan; rolling over assets to a new employer's plan; or taking a cash distribution (taxes and possible withdrawal penalties may apply). Prior to a decision, be sure to understand the benefits and limitations of your available options and consider factors such as differences in investment-related expenses, plan or account fees, available investment options, distribution options, legal and creditor protections, the availability of loan provisions, tax treatment, and other concerns specific to your individual circumstances.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

​Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The Schwab Center for Financial Research is a division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

0826-RTYC

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.