Afleveringen
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This might be the most common money question I get, and maybe even the most important: Should I hire a financial advisor?
And right behind it: If so, how do I find a good one?In todayâs episode, Iâm not giving you a yes or no answer (sorry, not sorry). Instead, Iâm walking you through a three-part framework to decide if you need an advisorâskill, will, and timeâand then Iâm sharing seven real-world filters for choosing the right one if you do.
Because the truth is:
Working with a financial advisor might be one of the smartest moves youâll ever make.Or it might be an expensive, unnecessary distraction.The difference lies in what you need and who you choose.
Weâll talk about:
The difference between CFPÂź, CFAÂź, CPA, and the rest of the alphabet soupWhat being a âfiduciaryâ really means (and doesnât mean)The myth of market-beating promises (run from those)Fee models that make senseâand those that donâtWhy credentials are clues, but not the whole storyHow investing is often more about behavior than brillianceThe one question you must ask every advisor: âHow do you invest your own money?âAnd yes, I even compare hiring a financial advisor to datingâbecause, honestly, it is.
This episode wonât give you a rubber-stamped answer, but it will give you something far more valuable: a lens to look through so you can make the call yourself.đ§ Whether youâre DIY-ing your financial life or just trying to figure out if the grass really is greener with professional helpâthis oneâs for you.
If you enjoy the show, donât forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend whoâs wondering if they should âtalk to someoneâ about their money.
đ© And as always, you can sign up for the free newsletter at tylergardner.com for more clear, action-oriented financial education.
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He paid off $100K in debt and isnât trying to sell you a thing â meet Dan the Budget Man.
In a financial world cluttered with gurus, grifters, and gatekeepers, Dan Brigham (@budgeters_anonymous) is a breath of fresh air. No paywalls. No âsix-figure side hustleâ webinars. Just brutally honest content, bite-sized math on notecards, and a contagious belief that you can take control of your money â excuses not included.
In this episode of Your Money Guide on the Side, we dive into the moments that shaped Danâs mission, including his two-year journey out of over $100,000 in debt and why vulnerabilityânot credentialsâis his currency of trust. We talk about his viral âSmart Guy vs. Dumb Guyâ series, the backlash he gets over car payments (youâve been warned), and why he thinks showing integrity is far more important than performing expertise.
Youâll also hear us unpack:
What makes people defensive about moneyWhy so many creators struggle with relevance and comparisonHow to stay grounded (literally and spiritually) when the work feels heavyThe reality behind Austinâs finance/media sceneAnd the books that actually changed our lives (spoiler: oneâs still in print after 2,000 years)If youâre tired of being yelled at by the financial internet or just want to hear two humans wrestle with what it means to help others and still help themselvesâthis oneâs for you.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts. And donât forget to subscribe if youâre into financial literacy, big questions, and small wins.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Is All Debt Bad? What the Wealthy Know That Most People Donât
Debt doesnât have to be your enemyâand in this solo episode, Tyler Gardner breaks down how to make smarter decisions about debt, ditch shame, and leverage it as a tool for long-term wealth.
Whether youâre currently drowning in high-interest credit cards, juggling student loans, or just debating whether to pay off your 3% mortgage early, this episode is your new north star for how to think clearly about debt. Youâll learn how to:
â Decide whether to pay off debt or invest
â Use a practical ranking system to tackle your debt (hello, Debt Emergency Scale!)
â Think about opportunity cost like an investor
â Understand the psychological weight of debtâand why some people sleep soundly with it while others spiral
â Use the avalanche or snowball method depending on your own wiring
â Flip the script: how leverage (yes, debt!) can be used strategically to build wealth the way entrepreneurs and investors do every dayPlus, Tyler shares a vulnerable reminder that debt isn't a moral failingâit's a part of modern life. The goal isnât perfection. Itâs clarity, action, and momentum.
This one is personal. And powerful. And might just change the way you think about debt forever.
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What happens when a former English teacher becomes a CFOâand decides to teach everyone around him how money actually works?
In this episode, Tyler sits down with longtime friend and campmate Andy Schneider, a career educator and current CFO at an independent school, for a wide-ranging and deeply honest conversation about what we teach (and donât teach) about money.
Andy has worn a lot of hatsâboarding school English teacher, PWC consultant, MBA grad, educational administratorâand he brings a rare combo of humility, humor, and clarity to the messy overlap between education, money, and life purpose.
Youâll hear:
Why Andy left the classroomâand why he came backHow business was âdemystifiedâ for him in the least expected wayWhat actually drives the cost of college (and why some schools wonât survive)The myth of the âmoney expertââand how to choose who you trustWhat a CFO wishes more teachers asked him (but never do)đïž Plus:
The uncomfortable truth about health insurance, school budgeting, and stock-picking competitions in high schoolsWhy college needs a Julliard-style reset for the modern worldAnd why Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel just might be the most important book youâll ever readThis oneâs for anyone navigating careers, family, and the growing pressure of financial decision-making in a world that feels increasingly complex and expensive. Whether you're saving for college or trying to explain your 401(k) to your teenager, this episode helps add clarity, confidence, and maybe even some joy to the process.
đ Education, meet real-world finance.
đ¶ Also: Tylerâs dogs make a guest appearance with some strong opinions on college tuition.
đ Highlights & Resources:
Book: The Psychology of Money by Morgan HouselConcept: Education vs. College (yes, thereâs a difference)Tool: Why every good CFO keeps a whiteboard in their officeFramework: You donât need to be a teacher to teachđŹ Subscribe to Tylerâs newsletter for 3 weekly money insights: tylergardner.com
đ§ More episodes at Your Money Guide on the Side -
Have you ever said, âIâm just bad with moneyâ?
Yeahâme too. But what if the real issue isnât your spending or saving or investing strategy... but your ability to name the actual problem in the first place?
This solo episode is a follow-up to last weekâs conversation with CFPÂź Victoria Ferguson, and itâs all about creating a personal framework that helps you stop spinning your wheels and finally make meaningful progress in your financial life.
Youâll learn:
Why most people never get past step one in solving their money problemsHow to stop drowning in to-do lists and prioritize the right thingA new lens for filtering financial advice (and spotting BS in a sea of influencers)đ Whether youâre overwhelmed by credit card debt, unsure how to retire, or simply tired of feeling like youâre doing everything but getting nowhere, this episode gives you the tools to:
â Name the problem
â Prioritize the problem
â Solve the problemâwithout getting lost in the noisePlus:
What Warren Buffettâs 25-5 Rule has to do with your financesThe Latin origin of the word âpriorityâ (spoiler: it was never meant to be plural)Why vague financial advice is like shopping at Costco while hungryAnd how smoke alarms at 2 a.m. taught me more about problem-solving than any spreadsheet ever didIf you want clarity, confidence, and a simple way to move forward in your financial lifeâthis episode is for you.
đŻ Donât just solve problems. Solve the right one.
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What do you get when you combine a financial planner with the heart of a teacher and the boldness of a creator? You get Victoria Fergusonâtodayâs guest and a true money guide for the modern world.
Victoria is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERÂź who left a traditional finance career to create educational content full-time. Why? Because she knew more people needed clear, honest money guidanceâand that trust is built through storytelling, not spreadsheets.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why budgets are like dietsâand why most donât workWhat really makes someone a financial âexpertâThe emotional side of money most advisors ignoreHow to interview a financial advisor (with the questions that matter)Why money shame exists at every income levelAnd how to define your own goals before chasing anyone elseâs tacticsVictoria shares her best insights from years of working with high-net-worth clients, her decision to walk away from a stable paycheck, and what it really means to feel secure with moneyâregardless of your bank balance.
Whether youâre looking for a financial planner, trying to navigate online money advice, or just curious what it means to live in alignment with your values⊠this episode is for you.
đ§ Listen now to learn:
â How to find a CFPÂź whoâs a true fit for you
â Why understanding your values changes your money game
â The exact framework to use when you're overwhelmed by financial adviceConnect with Victoria
@financiallyvictoria | TikTok & Instagram
Mentioned in the show:
Fee-only fiduciaries (what that really means)Why where do you summer? is the wildest financial flexAnd why first principles matter for financial planningâ
đ§ Want more episodes like this? Subscribe to Your Money Guide on the Side wherever you get your podcasts and join Tylerâs weekly newsletter at tylergardner.com
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Most people spend their lives trying not to lose. The wealthy? They play to win.
In this solo episode, Tyler Gardner breaks down the asymmetry of opportunityâwhy one big win can outweigh dozens of small failures, and how our fear of loss keeps us from seeing the upside that could change everything.
Tyler takes you from Disneyâs acquisition of Pixar to Jeff Bezosâ âregret minimization framework,â unpacks the psychology of loss aversion, and explains why Monte Carlo simulations, the Kelly Criterion, and even barbell investing can help you make better decisions in life and money.
Youâll also learn:
Why we overweight risk and underweight opportunityHow only 4% of public companies have driven all net market gains (ASU study)What venture capital teaches us about failure and power lawsWhy the S&P 500 has never lost money over any rolling 20-year period (Fama/French)The exact 3-question framework the wealthy use to evaluate high-stakes decisionsWhether youâre building a business, investing for your future, or just trying to get out of your own way, this episode will help you rewire your decision-making process and start playing for upside.
đ§ Itâs not about taking reckless risksâitâs about taking the right ones.
đ Learn how to structure your decisions like a builder, not a hedger.â
For more insights, visit tylergardner.com, and subscribe to Tylerâs weekly newsletter for 3 actionable financial ideas every Sunday.
Follow Tyler on all platforms @socialcapofficial (IG + YT) and @socialcap (TT)
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This week on Your Money Guide on the Side, Iâm joined by the incredible Jessica Inskipâone of the sharpest, most grounded voices in modern investing. Jessica was the first female on Fidelityâs active trader desk, and you may have seen her breaking down complex strategies alongside Jim Cramer, or offering sharp, accessible takes on CNBC, Fox Business, Schwab Network, and Yahoo Finance.
In this episode, we unpack her journey from nearly becoming an engineer to becoming a nationally recognized voice in financial educationâand why she made the bold decision to give up her professional licenses in order to educate people where theyâre actually learning: on TikTok, Instagram, and her #1-ranked personal finance podcast, Market MakeHer.
Jessica shares the powerful story of how she pivoted careers after realizing that the people who needed the most helpâyoung investors learning from unverified sourcesâwerenât being reached due to compliance constraints. The tragic case of Alex Kearns, and the inability for licensed professionals to correct misinformation in real-time, was a tipping point. From that moment on, Jessica committed to bridging the gap between Wall Street and the everyday investor, even if it meant leaving behind the traditional career path.
We talk about how she built a media presence without compromising her authenticity, how she measures impact over virality, and why she believes good education, not flashy trends, is the antidote to financial misinformation online. She shares her approach to making complex topics like credit markets and macroeconomics accessibleâand the surprising (and sometimes frustrating) viral moments that have shaped her platform.
We also dive into:
How she transitioned from Merrill to full-time educator and creatorThe emotional and professional weight of giving up her Series licensesThe difference between being a financial expert and simply playing one on social mediaWhy compliance rules continue to keep great educators out of the creator economyHow she balances family life, media work, and her growing personal brandHer podcast, Market MakeHer, and how it became a trusted resource for tens of thousandsJessica also reflects on what success really means in a digital world that rewards metrics over meaning. Her answer? Itâs not about the followers. Itâs about the impactâthe emails, the DMs, the women who now feel confident speaking about bonds, credit markets, and earnings reports because someone took the time to meet them where they are.
We wrap by talking about her work with Jim Cramer, the power of representation in finance, and how sheâs planning a book that will finally explain the domino effect of marketsâfrom interest rates to consumer behaviorâin a way that actually makes sense.
Whether youâre an active investor, a new creator, or just someone trying to be smarter with your money, Jessica offers a masterclass in clarity, commitment, and courage. This conversation is packed with insights, humility, and heart.
đïž Take a listenâyou wonât just learn about markets. Youâll learn why voice, vision, and values matter more than ever in todayâs financial landscape.
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Bonds have been a staple in portfolios for decades, often hailed as the âsafeâ investment that brings stability and protects wealth. But what if I told you that this belief is outdated, and in many cases, dangerously misleading?
In todayâs episode, I take a hard look at why bonds are overrated, the risks most investors overlook, and whether they deserve a spot in your portfolio at all. While bonds can serve a purpose, blindly following the 60/40 portfolio mantra without questioning its effectiveness can be a costly mistake.
Weâll break down the three biggest risks of bonds and why they may not be as âsafeâ as you think:
â Interest Rate Risk â When rates go up, your bond values drop. Itâs that simple, and 2022 proved it when the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index suffered its worst year in history.
â Inflation Risk â Your 3% return isnât a real 3% return if inflation is running at 4-5%. Thatâs a recipe for losing purchasing power over time.
â Opportunity Cost â For every dollar you park in bonds, youâre missing out on investments with real growth potentialâwhether thatâs stocks, real estate, or other wealth-building assets.Many investors believe bonds guarantee stability, but I argue that true long-term financial security comes from growth, not just preservation. The reality? A well-diversified stock index fund has statistically near-zero risk of going to zero, while bonds can quietly eat away at your purchasing power.
So, do bonds ever make sense? Maybeâif youâre already financially set and just want to protect what you have. But for most investors, the classic advice to shift heavily into bonds at retirement may be one of the biggest financial missteps.
This episode isnât about hating bondsâitâs about thinking critically before defaulting to outdated strategies. Are you actually protecting your wealth? Or are you unknowingly holding yourself back?
đ Tune in now, challenge conventional wisdom, and decide for yourself.
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Back in 2003, I met Mike Taormina at the London School of Economics, never expecting we'd stay in touchâlet alone spend decades debating finance and traveling together. Fast forward, and Mike has become a powerhouse in fintech, co-founding Vault, CommonBond, and Alluvial, with a Wharton MBA and a CFA to back it up.
But credentials aside, what sets Mike apart is his ability to break down complex crypto and finance topics into something actually useful. In this episode, we dive into decentralized finance, separating the noise from real opportunities, and why blockchain tech is transforming financial transparency.
We also discuss personal investing, risk tolerance, debt, and why even a seasoned finance pro like Mike trusts a robo-advisor over DIY trading. Whether you're deep into crypto or just trying to make smarter financial moves, this conversation is packed with insights.
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In this week's episode, we explore our common tendency to react emotionally to political elections and their perceived impact on the stock market. I argue that changing investing habits based on external "noise," and it is noise to me, is nonsense; I only change investing habits when my own life or financial needs have changed. Emphasizing and drawing upon historical data, the show explores the market's long term patterns of growth, regardless of who is in office. In short, the market transcends our politics (in a way). Additionally, we explore the pitfalls of trying to time the markets based on politics, business cycles, or consumer sentiment. Finally, as always, we remember that it's normal to feel this way, and the moment of empathy comes form knowing that we all feel this way at times and need to remind one another to take a breath and focus on the long term plan.
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My guest this week, Patrick Wetherille, shares a little bit about his experience with optimizing life, managing empathy through start-up culture, and taking advantage of every opportunity to learn from and alongside business minds at every level. As the episode progresses, Patrick shares his thoughts on the importance of being able to work from anywhere and how that very freedom can often bring teams together and create optimized work cultures and production.
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In this episode, I explore the power of diversifying communication channels, income streams, and the irony of many people knowing they should diversify and yet their not quite being able to walk the same walk. When the TikTok "ban" occurred, I was left wondering why so many creators, all of whom discuss the power and importance of diversification on a daily basis, had not diversified their digital assets, as well, and considered their content as part of their overall portfolio.
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In this episode, I do my best to touch on the absolute musts of investing and controlling our emotions. Not only controlling our emotions, but knowing our emotions and our reactions to market volatility first-hand through experience. I attempt to highlight the importance of thinking slightly differently and distantly about the markets and taking a walk when we need to escape from the relentless noise that is encouraging us to panic and make choices that we will, ultimately, regret when the waters calm.
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I am thrilled to offer a brief glimpse into the "why" behind building out the podcast. The ability to add nuance, engage other minds, and learn from multiple voices intrigues me and hopefully will help add value to your life. This episode is primarily highlighting what this endeavor will aim to achieve and how each episode might help you move closer to where you need to be with your personal finances, your attitude towards money, and your ability to learn more each and every day and ultimately take control of your own finances.