Financially Free Era by SLP Wealth

We're talking about cars — not from a "never buy anything nice" angle, but from the perspective of how much they can quietly drain from your long-term wealth. Jake Courtney, CFP®, CSLP®, joins us to break down what an $80,000 SUV really does to your savings rate. We also look at the pressure to "upgrade" when life changes (new baby, new job, new neighborhood) and how to separate what you actually need from what feels normal around you. You'll learn practical ways to get a reliable, safe car without letting transportation become the biggest drag on your wealth. Key moments: (01:24) New baby, growing families, and the peer pressure to upgrade vehicles (08:42) A $200K-income couple and how one car choice adds eight work years (19:12) The three-year-old used SUV strategy and why it wins long term (29:41) When leasing can make sense — and when buying still comes out ahead Resources mentioned: Monarch Money Kelley Blue Book There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Think you've got your investments under control? You might be surprised. Two SLP Wealth partners — Travis Hornsby, CFA®, CFP®, and Conor Mahlmann, CFP®,CSLP® — break down seven costly mistakes even the most hands-on investors make, from subtle market timing to tax traps that quietly eat away at returns. Discover what most people miss when managing their own portfolios and learn how to spot (and fix) the issues before they snowball. Key moments: (04:38) Sneaky ways you might "time the market" without realizing it (12:26) What tax-loss harvesting really involves (and why most people don't do it right) (15:58) Why your brokerage's default settings could cost you thousands in taxes (20:02) The purpose and power of rebalancing your portfolio There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

We're sharing our real-life financial horror stories, from haunted tax bills and ghostly subscriptions to lifestyle creep and the curse of bad investments. You'll hear about surprise tax collections, credit card vampires, and toddler fraud (yep, it's a thing). We talk about how to escape debt traps, protect yourself from money monsters, and keep lifestyle creep from haunting your future. Key moments: (08:34) Identity theft, IP PINs, and freezing your credit for protection (17:32) The curse of the curious toddler and surprise subscriptions (20:37) Debunking haunted money myths and why buying a house isn't always a good investment (39:24) How to keep the ghost of lifestyle creep from sneaking up on you Resource mentioned: IRS identity protection PIN There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

We all lie to ourselves with numbers — even when we don't mean to. Our brains (and marketing messages) bend math in ways that can make questionable money choices feel justified. From how we frame percentages and comparisons to the mental gymnastics we do to justify spending, we explore why our perception of "good" or "bad" financial decisions can be so skewed. When we start to recognize how we "lie" with numbers, we can make clearer, more honest progress toward our goals. Key moments: (03:38) The PSLF "99% denial" panic — how framing changed everything (11:44) How magnitude blindness affects our spending habits (18:06) The car payment blind spot — why big costs feel smaller than they are (22:10) How marketing and "discount logic" trick us into overspending (34:33) Reframing money decisions to align with what actually matters Resources mentioned: How to Lie with Statistics by Darrell Huff There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Debt can make you feel like you're always behind. But there's a path forward — and it's not as complicated as it seems. Learn what debt looks like for different professions and the best ways to finally pay it off. We walk through real numbers from SLP Wealth clients, from dentists to veterinarians, and break down strategies like the avalanche and snowball methods, balance transfers, debt consolidation, HELOCs, and even 401(k) loans. I also share when each option might make sense (and when to stay far away). Most importantly, we talk about how to stay out of debt once you're free. Key moments: (04:49) Real client data: average debts and incomes across professions (11:01) How to choose between the avalanche and snowball payoff methods (15:37) Smart (and risky) tools to pay down debt — 0% balance transfers, consolidation loans, and HELOCs (27:18) When a 401(k) loan might actually make sense Resources mentioned: Monarch Money There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Student loans are complicated — and with all the recent rule changes, it's easy to make missteps that cost you time, money, or progress toward forgiveness. We're digging into the most common signs that your repayment strategy might be off track and what to do about it. Whether you're working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), income-driven forgiveness, or paying your loans off completely, small mistakes can make a big difference. You'll learn how to stay proactive, integrate your tax strategy, and make smarter decisions about refinancing, repayment, and tracking your progress toward forgiveness — all while keeping your student loan strategy aligned with your larger financial plan. Key moments: (03:41) Why staying on the SAVE plan too long could stall forgiveness progress (10:11) How tax planning can directly impact your monthly student loan payments (17:13) The right way to track PSLF and IDR credits to avoid lost time (27:18) When refinancing makes sense (and when it locks you out of options) Resources mentioned: PSLF Payment Tracker PSLF Reconsideration PSLF Buyback There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Think your Roth IRA is set up perfectly? You might want to think again. There's a good chance you're making at least one mistake without realizing it. Roth IRAs are powerful retirement tools, but they come with a bunch of IRS rules that can trip you up. Learn the most common Roth mistakes people make — including backdoor Roth mishaps and the dreaded "pro rata" problem. We'll help you figure out if something's off with your contributions before it turns into a costly headache. If you've got a Roth or you're thinking about opening one, this episode will show you what to watch out for. Key moments: (06:39) The most flexible savings tool for retiring early (10:27) Reclassifying IRA contributions and what is a backdoor Roth (15:28) The common mistake high-income earners make (19:58) Pro rata red flags (29:50) When your Roth IRA investment isn't actually invested There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Ever wonder what financial planners really think about their clients when the meeting's over? We're cracking open those candid conversations that happen behind closed doors. Inspired by a blog post that one of our readers sent to us: "Are you a DIYer, Validator, or Delegator when it comes to your finances," we're sharing some controversial hot takes that might be a little shocking to some of our listeners. Key moments: (02:24) Travis shares his journey from being a DIYer to a Delegator (09:32) Validators struggle finding one-off planners because compliance requirements make occasional service impractical (22:43) A simple investment mistake that often leads to massive future taxes (38:27) Insider perspective: A lot of people are being ripped off by financial planners that charge too much Resources mentioned: Delegator, Validator, or DIYer? There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Childcare expenses have completely outpaced normal inflation, and it's one of the biggest financial shocks new families face. We're talking real numbers and honest conversations about costs that can make you sweat. It's not just expensive daycare. We're sharing creative strategies and money-saving hacks that actually work, plus exploring how to weave these massive expenses into your overall financial plan without losing your mind. You'll also learn our best tips to raise money-smart kids from day one, breaking that uncomfortable taboo around talking about finances. If you're expecting, planning, or already knee-deep in parenting, you'll get practical tools to navigate these crazy costs while setting your family up for long-term success. Key moments: (06:54) Childcare costs range from 10% to 35% of household income depending on situation (14:33) Parenthood requires trade-offs, maybe swapping your dream car for practical payments (19:58) Remember income restrictions apply to child tax credits (24:49) Always prioritize retirement savings over your kids' college fund contributions first (39:34) Kids absorb your money attitudes even when you're not actively teaching them Resources mentioned: Monarch Money Child Tax Credit Dependent Care Credit Dependent Care FSA The 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work by Dr. John Gottman There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

We're diving into the latest money stories making headlines, like the drama unfolding at Kroger, changes in airline travel costs, and the impacts of spiking healthcare premiums in California. We swap personal stories, from travel mishaps to a power-washing scam, and unpack how corporate scandals might hit your day-to-day expenses. Plus, we break down what Disney and Hulu's upcoming merger could mean for your streaming budget. Key moments: (05:15) Installing car seats on planes was a hassle and why to avoid hard-shell luggage (10:45) Lawsuit claims Kroger favored family ties over singer Jewel, sparking serious ethics questions (23:44) Disney is officially going to merge with Hulu (27:04) New executive order could bring real estate, crypto, and private equity into 401(k) plans There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts