Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement copertina

Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement

Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement

Di: Chad Smith CFP® and Mike Eklund CFP®
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 When considering retirement, do you wonder what financial opportunities you may be missing? Busy lives take over and years pass without taking advantage. In this retirement podcast, the Financial Symmetry advisors unveil financial opportunities, to help you balance enjoying today so you are ready to retire later. By day, they are fiduciary fee-only financial advisors who answer questions about tax savings, investment decisions, and how to save more. If you've been putting off your financial to-do list or are just not sure what you've been missing, subscribe to the show and learn more at www.financialsymmetry.com. Financial Symmetry is a Raleigh Financial Advisor. Proudly serving clients in the Triangle of North Carolina for over 20 years. Economia Finanza personale Gestione e leadership Management
Episodi
  • Managing Your Portfolio Amid Market Noise in 2026 with Colton Tickle and Mike Eklund, Ep #257

    Managing Your Portfolio Amid Market Noise in 2026 with Colton Tickle and Mike Eklund, Ep #257
    May 4 2026
    The first quarter of 2026 brought a whirlwind of market events—geopolitical shocks, surging energy prices, and a notable shift away from mega-cap US growth stocks. Despite the turbulence, the markets proved remarkably resilient, underscoring the importance of diversification and a long-term approach. We discuss lessons investors can use to navigate uncertainty and build lasting wealth. Market Performance: Weathering the Storm The global markets were down about 2.7% in Q1 2026, a relatively modest decline given the scale of bad news, including significant geopolitical events like military conflicts in Iran and political surprises such as Trump acquiring Greenland. The markets absorbed a lot of negative data, yet diversification protected against steeper losses. Volatility is expected in financial markets. Every year presents reasons to doubt or withdraw, but those who stay invested and look beyond the day-to-day noise are generally rewarded. History shows markets tend to recover and even thrive in the aftermath of geopolitical turmoil, with average positive returns 6 to 12 months after such events. The Power of Staying Invested Over the Long Term Despite periodic shocks, a disciplined investor reaps significant rewards. From 1970 onward, investing a dollar in global equities would now be worth $142, provided the investor simply did nothing and held on. This long-term mindset is crucial. Panicking in response to short-term news and market swings risks locking in losses and missing the eventual recovery and growth. Instead, reframing volatility as the price paid for higher returns can foster the discipline needed for long-term success. Back to Attractive Bond Yields After years of muted performance, bonds are providing meaningful yields again. Short and intermediate-term bonds were roughly flat in Q1, but today's yields—often in the 3 to 5% range—set the stage for more attractive future returns. Focus on high-quality, short maturity bonds to reduce unnecessary risk and secure a reliable income. Gold, Silver, and Bitcoin Safe-haven assets like gold and silver attracted attention amid market turbulence, with gold jumping nearly 8% this quarter. However, over the long run, gold pales compared to the S&P 500: from 1970, $1 in the S&P 500 grew to $341, while gold reached only $132. Gold and silver can take years, even decades, to recover from drawdowns, making them risky for wealth building. Bitcoin's rollercoaster ride further illustrates this point. It's experienced five separate drops of over 70%—far more volatility than traditional stock indices. Diversification and Valuation Discipline and diversification—investing across regions, sectors, and asset classes—remain the best defense against unpredictable events. US small cap value stocks, for example, have outperformed the S&P 500 since 2001. No one can reliably pick the "best" asset every year; a diversified allocation ensures you participate in long-term growth while minimizing drastic falls. Valuations also matter, if not as timing tools then as guides for future returns. Currently, international stocks offer more attractive valuations than US stocks, hinting at potential for higher future gains. Outline of This Episode [00:00] Analyzing long-term market trends[02:12] Volatility is expected in financial markets.[05:37] Conservative bond strategy advice[06:19] Gold, silver, and bitcoin are not substitutes for equities[08:45] Evaluating asset class performance[10:30] The Financial Symmetry three-step process[11:31] Start investing early advantage Resources & People Mentioned The Retirement Podcast NetworkColton Tickle on LinkedInMike Eklund on LinkedIn Connect With Chad and Mike https://www.financialsymmetry.com/podcast-archive/ Connect on Twitter @csmithraleigh @TeamFSINCFollow Financial Symmetry on Facebook Subscribe To This Podcast Apple Podcasts <> Stitcher <> Google Play
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    13 min
  • How Your Money Scripts Impact Your Path to Financial Freedom, Ep #256

    How Your Money Scripts Impact Your Path to Financial Freedom, Ep #256
    Mar 30 2026
    Financial independence isn't just about hitting a certain net worth or reaching a magic retirement number, it's a personal journey shaped by your habits, values, and the emotional baggage that money can carry. In this episode of the Financial Symmetry Show, we dig into Morgan Housel's "The Art of Spending Money," exploring the spectrum from financial dependence to independence. The Financial Independence Spectrum The path to financial independence isn't a straight line, nor is it solely defined by the size of your bank account. You could have a net worth of $10 million, $20 million, or more and still be fully financially dependent—perhaps on an employer, a board, or circumstances outside your control. Morgan Housel's framework outlines 15 levels of financial dependence and independence. Where you fall on this spectrum is shaped as much by your comfort zone, habits, and attitudes toward spending and saving as by your net worth. Someone making several million a year could feel just as constrained as someone living paycheck to paycheck if their spending or obligations keep them tethered to external demands. The Psychology of Spending The art of managing your finances goes far beyond crunching numbers. It requires conscious reflection on your spending habits and your emotional relationship with money. This is where the idea of "money scripts" comes in—subconscious beliefs and habits inherited from our upbringing or past experiences. These scripts can keep us locked in certain behaviors, such as an aversion to debt or an urge to accumulate at all costs, even if we've "outgrown" the underlying need that sparked them. Moving up the independence scale may require challenging these scripts and redefining what financial comfort means to you. Rethinking Wealth: The Value of Unspent Money A powerful theme from Housel's book is the idea that money you haven't spent still offers great value—freedom, flexibility, and the ability to shape your life according to your own terms. Unspent money isn't just idle; it buys intangible benefits like independence and control over your time. This view reframes common advice about spending more freely earlier in life or racing to pay off debts—even if it means missing out on long-term growth or flexibility. For many, retaining a mortgage at a low rate or holding investments for future choices can be as empowering as reaching zero debt. The key is striking the right balance between emotional comfort and financial efficiency. Defining Your Independence The episode spends significant time unpacking levels 8–15 of Housel's spectrum—the stages where true autonomy takes shape. At these levels, you're free from the need for outside validation, able to avoid most debt, and no longer dependent on a paycheck to maintain your lifestyle. For some, a "slim" lifestyle and modest spending can deliver just as much security as a vast portfolio, while for others, continued work remains meaningful and fulfilling. At the highest levels, you possess "walk away money"—the resources to exit any situation, disagree respectfully, and pursue your own path without concern for financial repercussions. Define what you want your money to accomplish—not just for yourself, but for your family and community. Where do you fall on the dependence-to-independence spectrum? What would greater independence mean for your life, your family, and your legacy? Start by identifying your current level, reflect on the beliefs holding you back, and explore new, fulfilled ways of using your resources. Outline of This Episode [00:00] Shifting perspectives on retirement spending [04:16] Understanding financial independence levels [08:24] Examining higher levels of independence [15:45] Facing financial fears in retirement [19:34] Rethinking spending habits and goals [20:26] Finding your current level and setting personal targets Resources & People Mentioned The Retirement Podcast Network The Art of Spending Money: Simple Choices for a Richer Life by Morgan Housel Connect With Chad and Allison https://www.financialsymmetry.com/podcast-archive/ Connect on Twitter @csmithraleigh @TeamFSINC Follow Financial Symmetry on Facebook Subscribe To This Podcast Apple Podcasts <> Stitcher <> Google Play
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    21 min
  • How Caregiving Affects Women's Financial Health with Hayley Modlin, Niamh Douglas, and Darian Billingsley, Ep #255

    How Caregiving Affects Women's Financial Health with Hayley Modlin, Niamh Douglas, and Darian Billingsley, Ep #255
    Mar 6 2026

    As women are living longer than men—on average, 5 to 7 years more—the later decades of life promise opportunities to cherish freedom and fulfillment. Yet, as this International Women's Day episode of the Financial Symmetry Show reveals, these extra years often come with both unique financial challenges and disproportionate caregiving responsibilities. Allison Berger bring together Haley Modlin, Niamh Douglas, and Darian Billingsley to spotlight how the "Give to Gain" theme resonates deeply with women navigating retirement and caring for loved ones.

    We discuss:

    • The Economic Impacts and Cost of Care
    • Employment Factors & the Financial Impact on Women
    • The Impacts to your Financial Plan
    • Tax Implications

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    📰 See the full show notes here

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    24 min
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