Ever wondered if you’re better off building your own target date fund instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all option? We’re diving into whether crafting your own investment mix is worth the effort, potentially saving you fees and giving you more control over your portfolio.

But even the pros get it wrong sometimes—just ask Vanguard. We’re covering the major settlement they’re facing over misleading statements about taxes and target date funds, proving that even the big guys make costly mistakes.

Meanwhile, a listener asks a great question about balancing tax optimization with financial flexibility—because what good is a perfectly tax-efficient plan if it ties your hands when you need cash? Plus, Doug takes us back to the origins of the gasoline-driven automobile, and there’s even an unexpected run-in with a Supreme Court justice (because why not?).

And of course, we’ve got a TikTok moment that’ll have you questioning life choices and a few financial misconceptions that might just make you rethink your approach to money.

What’s Inside Today’s Episode:

Vanguard’s Costly Mistake: The settlement every investor should know about.
Understanding Mutual Fund Taxes: How taxes sneak up on your investments.
DIY Target Date Funds: Pros, cons, and when to consider building your own.
Trivia Time with Doug: The surprising story behind the gasoline-driven car.
The TikTok Minute: Financial advice that may (or may not) be worth your time.
Financial Flexibility vs. Tax Optimization: Finding the balance in your strategy.
Community Announcements & Meetups: Where to find us next.

Episode Highlights:

Vanguard’s Legal Trouble: What happened, and what it means for investors.
Mutual Fund Taxation: Avoiding unexpected tax bills.
Should You Build Your Own Target Date Fund? We break down the numbers.
Listener Q&A: How to stay tax-efficient while keeping access to your cash.
Doug’s Trivia: Who REALLY built the first gasoline-powered car?
An Unexpected Supreme Court Encounter: Because that’s just how things go around here.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Learn more about Vanguard’s target date fund settlement in our show notes: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/vanguard-target-retirement-trouble-1637
Read up on mutual fund tax strategies and more by signing up for our 201 newsletter! https://stackingbenjamins.com/201

Tune in now and get the insights you need to build a smarter investment strategy—without falling into costly traps.

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Meredith Sandland of Empower Delivery on the Steps to Digital Maturity