Roth conversions can be a great tool for minimizing your tax burden, but you don’t want to jump in blind. If you have a 401(k) and/or an IRA, you don’t want to miss this episode.Join us as we look at the what, when and why of Roth conversions.Ready to learn more? Scott Frank on LinkedIn Stone Steps Financial Meg Bartelt on LinkedIn Flow Financial PlanningLeave us a question! Money can be confusing—but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexit...

Ever wonder what exactly a financial advisor does? In our latest episode, we’re going beyond investments and insurance to look at the big picture of everything we do as advisors.Join us as we pull back the curtain on what we do, how we think about it, and how we help our clients.Ready to learn more? Scott Frank on LinkedIn Stone Steps Financial Meg Bartelt on LinkedIn Flow Financial PlanningLeave us a question! Money can be confusing—but it doesn’t have to be. When yo...

Sitting down to do a tax projection can make a huge impact on the amount of taxes you pay – but you have to do it before December 31!Whether you’re expecting next year to be a high- or low-income year, join us as we discuss how a tax projection can help minimize your tax burden.Ready to learn more? Scott Frank on LinkedIn Stone Steps Financial Meg Bartelt on LinkedIn Flow Financial PlanningLeave us a question! Money can be confusing—but it doesn’t have to be. When you...

We’re back with another look at open enrollment decisions! This time, we’re talking life insurance, disability coverage, 401(k)s and more.Join us as we discuss which options make sense, and which you could probably ignore.Ready to learn more? Scott Frank on LinkedIn Stone Steps Financial Meg Bartelt on LinkedIn Flow Financial PlanningLeave us a question! Money can be confusing—but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexities, you can make bet...

Open enrollment season is almost here! Do you know what you’ll need for health insurance next year? Join us as we look at the most important factors to consider when choosing your plan. Ready to learn more? Scott Frank on LinkedIn Stone Steps Financial Meg Bartelt on LinkedIn Flow Financial PlanningMoney can be confusing—but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexities, you can make better decisions to improve your daily life. Are you re...

If your financial goals always feel like they’re just out of reach, you’re not alone! In this episode, we talk about the dissonance between your financial plan and real life – and how to put your advisor’s best advice into action more consistently.Join us as we discuss the stories and strategies that make financial planning such a dynamic and important journey.Ready to learn more? Scott Frank on LinkedIn Stone Steps Financial Meg Bartelt on LinkedIn Flow Financial Planning...

Should you join an exchange fund? Can they really minimize taxes? What are the potential downsides? What are your other options? Do we recommend them?Join us as we talk through the pros and cons of exchange funds, plus a few alternatives that could provide added protection without all the complexity. Ready to learn more? Scott Frank on LinkedIn Stone Steps Financial Meg Bartelt on LinkedIn Flow Financial PlanningMoney can be confusing—but it doesn’t have to be. When y...

It’s election time again and right on cue, everything feels a little out of control. But should it? What does history have to say about market behavior around elections? Join us as we consider the influence of Democrats vs. Republicans, presidents vs. senators, the Fed vs. the DOJ, and more as we seek to find where politics and economics overlap (and where they don’t).Plus, we’ll zoom in to see how you can seek to maintain financial stability, even when the news seems hell-bent on trying to m...

How do financial advisors mix stocks, bonds, and cash to achieve the best returns to meet each person’s financial needs? In today’s episode, Scott Frank and Meg Bartelt discuss the unique risks and potential returns each one offers; focusing on these primary asset classes can lead to a more stable and profitable investment strategy. They dive into the various types of bonds—government, municipal, and corporate—and their role in your portfolio, while delving into the importance of credit ratin...

People say it’s just business, it’s not emotional, but that’s really not the case. In this episode of Real Personal Finance, Scott Frank, founder of Stone Steps Financial, and Meg Bartelt, founder of Flow Financial Planning, LLC, tackle the psychological minefield of investment decisions and uncover how recent trends, like the meteoric rise of big tech stocks, can warp your perspective. They delve into the cognitive biases, specifically recency bias, that often stand in the way of sound finan...

How prepared are you for a financial crisis when job security feels more fragile than ever? In today's episode, Scott Frank and Meg Bartelt break down the essential steps to creating a strong emergency plan able to withstand the tech industry’s volatile job market. Learn how to navigate financial instability with actionable strategies. In order to save money, people are often advised to cut small expenses, but that’s not enough. We discuss why that practice isn’t enough and how managing ...

How do you secure your retirement against an uncertain future? In this episode of “Real Personal Finance,” Scott Frank, founder of Stone Steps Financial, and Meg Bartelt, founder of Flow Financial Planning, LLC, explore strategies to predict future expenses and ensure financial readiness, even if retirement is decades away. They address a listener question about preparing 26 years ahead, covering how to assess current expenses and plan for changing costs like mortgages. Estimating future medi...

Rethink your charitable giving and maximize your tax benefits with Donor-Advised Funds. Discover how this streamlined and tax-efficient alternative to traditional donation methods might just be a game-changer to your financial strategy. Scott and Meg contrast DAFs with conventional giving methods like checks and credit cards, to paint a clearer picture of their advantages. They also address common myths surrounding DAFs, especially the idea that they're only a tool for tax avoidance. Le...

Are you using your Health Savings Account to its full potential? HSAs are great for covering immediate healthcare costs, but with careful planning, they can also become a strategic part of your long-term wealth plan. This week, Scott Frank, founder of Stone Steps Financial, and Meg Bartelt, founder of Flow Financial Planning, LLC, take on HSAs, sharing the ins and outs of eligibility, their triple tax benefits, and how it can become a vital nest egg for end-of-life care later on. HSAs w...

Deciding what to do with your stocks can prove to be a problem, challenge, and opportunity all at once. With a huge portfolio in front of you, what can you do to slim it down? This week, Scott Frank, founder of Stone Steps Financial, and Meg Bartelt, founder of Flow Financial Planning, LLC, provide insights on how to cut down on your stocks to achieve the life you’ve dreamed of. We have emotional ties to our investments—but that shouldn’t stop you from pursuing a more financially sound f...

Is your cash currently sitting under your mattress, withering away with inflation? While stashing your cash seems like a safe bet, it limits your access to investment opportunities. With inflation rising, the value of your cash may not have the longevity you hoped for. If you currently have a pile of cash and are asking yourself, “Well…what now?” this week’s episode of “Real Personal Finance” guides you through aligning your resources with the life you want to lead. Scott Frank, founder of St...

What does being financially independent mean to you? Those chasing FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) are choosing to live frugally now to achieve early retirement. FIRE is a means to unlock a life where work is optional and the freedom of choice reigns supreme. Scott Frank, founder of Stone Steps Financial, and Meg Bartelt, founder of Flow Financial Planning, LLC, discuss the movement's evolution and how people are applying FIRE principles to their daily lives. With the concept...

Does your anxiety spike every time tax season rolls around? The possibility of receiving an unexpected tax bill can bring a sense of dread to the entire month of April. We all have to pay taxes, but we don’t have to stress about them. Scott Frank, founder of Stone Steps Financial, is joined by Meg Bartelt, founder of Flow Financial Planning, LLC, to simplify conversations around money and tax planning. Conquer your tax season anxiety and avoid the shock of unexpected tax bills through Sc...

Scott and James thank all of the fans for years of support for listening to the podcast and review where you can find them if you're looking for customized advice when it comes to maximizing your finances.  LET'S CONNECT! James YouTube | Website | Podcast Scott Facebook | Twitter | Website

Scott and James discuss how to balance a home purchase with saving for retirement. Listener Question: We want to stay in manhattan and want to be home owners but can’t make the math work. Our current rental 2 bed 2 bath just went up to $4400/mo. A comparable condo would sell around $1.3-$1.5m. That would put the mortgage at around $7,000 with another $2,000-$3,000 in maintainable and taxes a month. Rent does keep increasing and I don’t want to keep getting squeezed but does buying in...

Scott and James discuss what to do if you make too much to contribute to a Roth IRA. Listener Question: I am currently 33 years old, single, and am nearing a $129,000 annual salary. I have been investing in a Roth IRA and realize the phaseout limits for single taxpayers are from $129k - $144k. My question is, how do I lower my income, besides contributing to my traditional 401k, so I can keep contributing the max $6000/year into my Roth IRA as my income rises over the years? Planning Points...

Scott and James discuss whether or not an MBA is worth it. Planning Points Discussed Utilizing Time EfficientlyCapital AppreciationPurchasing PowerOther issues (IRAs, Inflation, Financial Goals, etc.)Timestamps: 2:30 - Listener Quesiton 5:30 - Why MBA? 7:46 - Pros/Cons of MBAs 8:30 - Debt v. Investing 16:05 - Aligning Your Financial Goals LET'S CONNECT! James YouTube LinkedIn Website Scott Facebook Twitter Website

Scott and James discuss the tax implications of withdrawing income from various accounts in retirement. Listener Question: Can you talk about how some of the main retirement accounts are taxed upon withdrawal?  Example topic: Are withdrawals just subject to Federal taxes, or FICA taxes as well? And how / if withdrawing from retirement accounts affects eligibility / taxes you have to pay on social security?  Can you talk about how after tax brokerage accounts are taxed both while investing...

Scott and James discuss how to reduce costs inside of your company's 401(k). Join the Real Personal Finance Community and click on "The Nation" We're on YouTube here! Listener Question: What is a good expense ratio for a retirement account? Is this something you can control with an employer sponsored plan? I want to make sure my money is working for me and I am maximizing my returns Planning Points Discussed Utilizing Time EfficientlyCapital AppreciationPurchasing PowerOther issues (IRAs,...