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Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement

Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement

Von: 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. Management & Leadership Persönliche Finanzen Ökonomie
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  • Is Do-It-Yourself Investing Enough? The Hidden Value of a Financial Advisor, Ep #253

    Is Do-It-Yourself Investing Enough? The Hidden Value of a Financial Advisor, Ep #253
    Jan 28 2026
    Many people begin their financial lives confidently handling everything on their own. They set up retirement accounts, save diligently, and make decisions that feel reasonable at the time. But as life evolves, that confidence can quietly erode. In this episode, we speak directly to the do-it-yourself investor who has started to wonder whether going it alone still makes sense. We unpack the most common reasons people resist working with an advisor, from concerns about fees and loss of control to confusion about what financial advisors actually do. We also share what typically triggers the shift from DIY to professional help, often a late-night moment of uncertainty sparked by taxes, retirement timing, or growing complexity. This conversation offers a candid look behind the curtain of comprehensive financial planning. It explores what advisory fees really buy, how proactive planning reduces costly mistakes, and why time, interest, and expertise eventually fall out of balance for many successful professionals. The goal is not to push a decision, but to help listeners decide when and if partnering with an advisor could add meaningful value to their financial lives. Outline of This Episode [00:00] Who this episode is for and why DIY investors start asking bigger questions [02:00] Why many people prefer to manage their finances alone [05:00] The common misconceptions about financial advisors and fees [07:00] The questions that prompt people to seek professional advice [12:00] What a financial advisor fee actually pays for [18:00] How complexity, risk, and missed opportunities compound over time Why many investors choose to do it themselves For many people, managing finances alone feels simpler. Setting contributions on autopilot and avoiding difficult decisions can be comforting, especially early on when life and finances are relatively straightforward. Cost concerns also play a major role, as do-it-yourself investors often question whether advisory fees are worth paying. Control is another powerful factor. Turning over financial decisions to someone else can feel uncomfortable, even when things are no longer as simple as they once were. Add in confusion about the financial services industry and fear of being judged for past decisions, and it becomes clear why many people delay seeking help, even when doubts begin to surface. The questions that push people to seek an advisor Most people don't wake up one day and decide to hire a financial advisor without a reason. It usually starts with a specific question they no longer feel confident answering. Am I truly able to retire when I think I can? Am I saving enough for college without sacrificing my own future? Why do my taxes feel higher every year? Other common triggers include managing company stock compensation, holding too much cash without a clear plan, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the growing complexity of life. As careers advance, families grow, and assets accumulate, the margin for error narrows and the cost of mistakes increases. What comprehensive financial planning actually includes A key theme in this episode is that financial planning goes far beyond investment management. Comprehensive planning helps turn vague goals into concrete decisions, supported by realistic projections and scenario analysis. It brings clarity to tax planning throughout the year, not just at filing time, and helps diversify not only investments but tax exposure as well. The hosts also discuss personalized investment strategies, behavioral coaching during market volatility, and identifying opportunities that can be missed without an objective third party. Risk management, from insurance coverage to concentrated stock positions, and estate planning round out the picture, ensuring that plans hold up not just today, but across decades and generations. Deciding if the fee is an investment, not just a cost Ultimately, the decision to work with an advisor is deeply personal. The team emphasizes that it's not about finding the lowest fee, but about understanding the value provided. For many, advisory fees represent an investment in better decisions, reduced risk, and greater confidence over time. As financial lives grow more complex, the question often becomes less about whether someone can manage everything themselves and more about whether they still want to. This episode offers a framework for evaluating that decision thoughtfully, with clarity and intention *********** 📰 See the full show notes here 🌐 Sign up here to receive a detailed pre-retirement checklist to ensure you are positioned to experience your ideal retirement. 🌐Download 5 Questions You Should Ask a Financial Advisor here
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    21 Min.
  • Maximize Generosity and Minimize Tax Surprises, Ep #252

    Maximize Generosity and Minimize Tax Surprises, Ep #252
    Dec 27 2025

    The holiday season inspires generosity, but smart gifting can go far beyond festive moments and gifts under the tree. On the show this week, we're digging into the world of gifting strategies, just in time for the end of 2025. Whether you're navigating last-minute holiday shopping, planning gifts for loved ones, or looking to maximize your charitable donations, this episode is packed with practical advice and fresh ideas.

    We break down everything from tax implications of gifting cash, stocks, and even real estate, to making the most of donor-advised funds and qualified charitable distributions to help you balance generosity with smart financial planning, so you can give with both a warm heart and a wise mind.

    Outline of This Episode
    • 00:00 Balancing gifting and planning.
    • 03:18 Choosing between gifting or inheriting.
    • 09:13 Tax implications of gifting stocks.
    • 11:42 Caution when gifting non-cash assets.
    • 15:17 Tax deductions and SALT limit.
    • 17:29 2026 tax changes for donations.
    • 20:46 Tax benefits of stock donations.
    • 25:00 Qualified charitable distributions explained.
    • 27:30 Tax-efficient inheritance strategies.

    ***********

    📰 See the full show notes here

    🌐 Sign up here to receive a detailed pre-retirement checklist to ensure you are positioned to experience your ideal retirement.
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    31 Min.
  • Stress Test Your Retirement Plan With Real Life What If Scenarios, Ep #251

    Stress Test Your Retirement Plan With Real Life What If Scenarios, Ep #251
    Dec 1 2025

    We talk with hundreds of individuals and families every year, and many of the questions they ask come back to one core concern. Can my retirement plan really survive the messy, unpredictable situations that happen in real life. Instead of only looking at straight line projections or average returns, Chad and Allison walk through how to "stress test" your plan with real world what if scenarios so you can build confidence before a crisis hits.

    In this episode, you will hear three of the biggest what if questions clients have been asking over the past year.

    • What happens if there is a major market crash right as you retire?
    • What if you retire earlier than expected, either by choice or by force?
    • What if there is a major health shock for you or your spouse?

    Rather than focusing on doom and gloom, the goal is to rehearse these situations on paper so that when life happens, you already have a plan for how to respond.

    We also share a simple three-step framework you can use to run your own retirement stress test at home. You will learn how to identify the what-ifs that matter most to you, estimate their impact on your spending and timeline, and choose proactive moves that make your plan more resilient. Along the way, they discuss sequence of returns risk, health insurance bridges before Medicare, using taxable brokerage accounts strategically, and how to think about funding future healthcare needs without overpaying for insurance you may not need.

    Outline of This Episode

    • [00:00] Retirement stress testing.
    • [04:50] Key questions to ask about a 25 to 50 percent portfolio decline, spending flexibility, and your safety bucket.
    • [09:20] Transition to scenario two, early retirement before age 65 and why health insurance is such a critical factor.
    • [13:30] Cash in the bank versus long term growth.
    • [17:20] Healthcare shocks and long term care needs that can show up later in retirement.
    • [21:00] How HSAs, disability insurance, and understanding your deductibles and out of pocket maximums fit into the picture.

    ***********

    📰 See the full show notes here

    🌐 Sign up here to receive a detailed pre-retirement checklist to ensure you are positioned to experience your ideal retirement.
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    25 Min.
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