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PODCAST

Real Personal Finance

Your REAL personal finance questions answered by CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals, Scott Frank and Nick Covyeau. With all of the misinformation and jargon in the financial industry, it"s no wonder most people are confused about how to best manage their money. Scott and Nick are here to give clear answers to the important questions they hear most often. If you"re ready to use your finances to create a more secure financial future, this show is for you.

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All Episodes

23:19

The Diversification Illusion of the S&P 500

Real Personal Finance ·

2025/02/13

The S&P 500 was up 25% in 2024, so is that all you need for a strong financial future? Not so fast. Putting all your money in one place—even a good one—is risky. Smart investors look beyond the U.S. to global markets, small-value stocks, and international giants like Toyota and Taiwan Semiconductor. More variety = less risk. Join us to see just how staying broadly diversified means so much more than simply investing in the S&P 500. Ready to learn more? Scott Frank on LinkedIn&nb...

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12:44

Investing Principles to Keep in Mind in 2025

Real Personal Finance ·

2025/01/30

If you’re tired of checking on your portfolio every day, we’ve got good news! In this episode, we go back to Investing 101 to look at the basic principles of a healthy outlook on the markets.Join us for this quick overview of how to avoid the traps that others fall into and keep your financial plan on target!Ready to learn more? Scott Frank on LinkedIn Stone Steps Financial Leave me a question! Money can be confusing—but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to underst...

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32:03

The 5 Steps of a DIY Annual Investments Review

Real Personal Finance ·

2025/01/16

The new year is a great time to do an annual review. In this episode, we look at five things to look at regarding your investments to help you make the most of your money. Join us as we look at some of the simplest ways you can help keep your financial plan on track!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 abl...

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30:53

Building Habits that Last Longer than Resolutions

Real Personal Finance ·

2025/01/02

New year, new you, new episode! Failed New Year’s resolutions are so cliche. How can you achieve lasting results, whether you’re trying to get healthy, save more money, or something else?Tune in to hear how you can set yourself up for success – as well as our favorite financial habits for the new year!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 does...

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37:41

What Does Your Most Fulfilled Life Look Like?

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/12/19

What does your most fulfilled life look like? If you’re not sure, then this episode is for you. Join us as we discuss three questions to help you uncover what is most important to you!Resources mentioned in this episode:Goals for Life WorksheetKinder’s 3 QuestionsReady 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 t...

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33:53

Should I Rent or Should I Buy?

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/12/05

To be a home owner or not to be a home owner, that is the question – and the answer is anything but simple!Tune in as we discuss when home ownership makes sense and when it may be better to rent. 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 better decisions to impr...

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27:39

When Roth Conversions Make Sense (and When They Don’t)

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/11/21

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...

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31:04

What Do Financial Advisors Actually Do?

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/11/07

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...

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30:06

How to Leverage Tax Projections to Minimize Your Tax...

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/10/24

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...

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30:32

Making Moves During Open Enrollment? Learn More About...

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/10/10

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...

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22:35

Weighing the Benefits: How to Make a Decision on...

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/09/26

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...

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27:47

Embracing the Mess: How to Improve Financial Outcomes...

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/09/12

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...

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26:44

What is an Exchange Fund (and Should You Ever Join One)?

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/08/29

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...

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24:08

Politics and Personal Finance: Strategies for...

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/08/15

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...

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30:13

Balancing Stocks, Bonds, Cash, and Your Financial Goals

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/08/01

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...

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20:46

How to Stop Your Instincts and Biases From Ruining...

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/07/18

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...

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24:52

How to Build an Emergency Plan

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/07/04

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 ...

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22:01

7. How Can You Plan For An Uncertain Future?

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/06/20

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...

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28:26

Is Giving to a Donor-Advised Fund Worth It?

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/06/06

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...

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27:16

Should I Invest in My Health Savings Account?

Real Personal Finance ·

2024/05/23

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...

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237 results

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