Cognitive and emotional biases can have a big impact on your financial life. Each episode of Financial Decoder looks closely at one financial decision--and the biases that might cloud your judgment and cost you money. Host Mark Riepe, head of the Schwab Center for Financial Research, decodes the behavioral and psychological factors at play and shares strategies designed to improve the way you approach financial crossroads. Other experts join Mark to provide their unique perspective on behavi ...
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How Can You Preserve Your Assets for Your Heirs?
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Taxes are just one part of estate planning. People are also asked to consider custody arrangements, medical decisions, and legal issues. But it comes as no surprise that people who have worked their whole lives to build an estate are wary of letting taxes and fees eat away at their hard-earned assets. Further complicating the current environment is…
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Summary Mark Riepe is joined by Rob Williams and Susan Hirshman to examine one of the most critical retirement decisions: When should you take Social Security? After you listen: Check out the helpful resources Susan mentions on the Social Security Administration's website. Listen to Mike Townsend's WashingtonWise podcast to stay abreast of the poli…
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Can the Olympics Teach Us About Our Own Behavior?
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After you listen: Reach out to Mark on X @MarkRiepe with your thoughts on the show. Follow Financial Decoder on Spotify to comment on episodes. Listen to the Schwab podcast Choiceology with Katy Milkman. Starting July 26th, athletes from around the world will compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Decision-making biases affect many aspects o…
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The conversation around financial planning is often dominated by long-term goals like retirement or saving to buy a home. But what about saving for short-term goals that are still important to you, like travel and vacations? On this episode of Financial Decoder, Cindy Scott, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Charles Schwab with 25 year…
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Annuities are an interesting instrument in financial services. They're both simple and complicated, and that combination often means they're frequently misunderstood. To kick off Season 17 of Financial Decoder, Mark is joined again by guest Rob Williams, who heads the Financial Planning, Retirement Income, and Wealth Management team at the Schwab C…
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(Bonus) From On Investing: Mid-Year Outlook
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All eyes were on the Fed in the first half of 2024, but with core PCE holding steady and no rate cuts, how did the other parts of the economy and the markets fare? In this midyear episode, Schwab experts look ahead to the second half of 2024 to consider what investors might expect from the U.S. stock market, the global markets, and policy and polit…
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(Bonus) Does Your Portfolio Need Decluttering?
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Your financial life can accumulate disorder and inefficiency over time. Lots of accounts, lots of holdings, and lots of priorities without a clear organizational structure. If this sounds like your portfolio, a good spring cleaning or decluttering could be in order. On this episode of Financial Decoder, Susan Hirshman, a director of wealth manageme…
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Do Investing Pros Make Smart Buy and Sell Decisions?
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Successful investors know that choosing what to sell is just as important as choosing what to buy. However, findings from a recent study suggest that even professional portfolio managers are subject to psychological forces while making buying and selling decisions. On this episode, Mark Riepe discusses these recent findings with Alex Imas, professo…
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Figuring out how to cover college expenses often means navigating a bewildering range of options, programs, and plans. As the financial burden of higher education grows, so does the decision-making complexity for those pursuing a degree. Some even wonder whether college is still a worthwhile investment. On this episode of Financial Decoder, Mark Ri…
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What Should You Do with Your Employee Stock?
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Not all compensation takes the form of a cash salary or bonus. Today, many startups and most of the companies on the Fortune 500 list allow their employees to take ownership in the company through stock awards, employee stock purchase plans, stock options, or some other form of equity compensation. Despite this boom of employee ownership offerings,…
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(Bonus) Do Super Bowl Wins Diminish in Value?
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The Kansas City Chiefs won last year's Super Bowl (LVII) and another just a few years before in 2020. The San Francisco 49ers last won a championship in 1995. In this short bonus episode, Mark Riepe shares his insights on how a concept from 18th-century mathematician Daniel Bernoulli might speak to our perceptions of utility, or emotional benefit, …
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Should You Trust Popular Trading Proverbs?
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Sometimes an oft-repeated axiom, maxim, or cliché has at least a small piece of truth to it. Others make sense and are true in some situations, but not others. The world of finance and investing is no exception to the coining of popular axioms and the misconceptions that can go along with them—especially when it comes to trading stocks. Traders are…
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Should You Roll Over Your Retirement Account?
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A job change is a big change, and it's one of those changes happening to people with greater frequency for a variety of reasons. For many of these job seekers and switchers, past and future employers offer some kind of retirement savings plan, meaning these job transitions come with decisions to make around retirement planning for those investing i…
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(Bonus) From On Investing: Market Outlook: What's in Store for 2024?
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After a tumultuous year for the markets, what's in store for 2024? In this year-end episode, Schwab experts look ahead to consider what investors might expect from the markets in the new year. First, Liz Ann Sonders, Schwab's chief investment strategist, speaks with Senior Investment Strategist Kevin Gordon. Liz Ann offers her perspective on the di…
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How Does Retirement Planning Differ for Freelancers?
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With over 70 million freelancers in the U.S., freelancing obviously appeals to a lot of workers and offers a lot of benefits to those who wish to work for themselves. However, it doesn't offer a 401(k) program, and that means saving for retirement is not as easy as filling out a form and giving it to HR. In fact, freelancers are essentially their o…
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How Can You Build Your Pre-Retirement Checklist?
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Most people look forward to retirement—after all, most of us save money during our working lives to fund our golden years when we'll have more time to do what we enjoy. However, it's hard to do detailed planning if you haven't pinpointed, at least approximately, what you want to achieve in retirement. In other words, the first step for retirement p…
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Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Before You Retire?
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Recent interest rate increases have inflated the cost of debt, which can have a profound effect on individuals carrying a mortgage on their home but also approaching retirement. Is it beneficial to pay off the mortgage prior to retirement or to continue to make your normal payments of interest and principal each month? Are there other forms of debt…
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How Did Chuck Schwab Disrupt an Industry? (Rebroadcast)
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Charles Schwab & Co. founder and Chairman of the Board Chuck Schwab discusses the decisions that led him to create a revolutionary business model for the brokerage industry. Chuck talks about his decision to start a business, his difficulties raising capital, and even how he convinced his wife to mortgage the house to support his upstart company. H…
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Today's financial landscape is more complex than ever, encompassing a huge range of investment opportunities. Yet, the advancement of technology has made moving money easier and faster than ever before. While some investors enjoy making financial decisions on their own, this can be an overwhelming experience for others. Many people want to hire a f…
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How Can You Prepare for the Perils of Aging? (Rebroadcast)
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Risk management is one of the most important parts of financial planning. But we seldom consider how those risks evolve as we get older. It's just one of many blind spots that can leave investors of all ages vulnerable. Many people might expect to protect their senior or vulnerable parents, but the risk-management process should begin much earlier …
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What Should You Do If You or Someone You Love Becomes Disabled?
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If you or someone you care for has been diagnosed with a disability, you may be faced with many challenges. While this can be an overwhelming experience, there are various financial protections and other specialized tools available to aid you in your journey. First, we hear Bob's story. After his son experienced an accident resulting in a disabilit…
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To kickstart Season 14, Schwab experts look ahead to consider what investors might expect in the second half of 2023. First, Mark talks with Liz Ann Sonders, Schwab's chief investment strategist. Liz Ann offers her perspective on the direction of the U.S. economy and stock market. Next, Jeffrey Kleintop—Schwab's chief global investment strategist—d…
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Every portfolio is different—and so are the people who manage active and passive funds. In this episode, we dig into the details of how fund managers at two different firms approach their role. Their decision-making processes vary according to the goals of the fund and their strategy for achieving those goals. First, Mark speaks with David Giroux, …
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When Can Direct Indexing Make Sense for Your Portfolio?
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The idea of making your portfolio your own typically involves adding and subtracting specific investments. The concept of "addition by subtraction" is a key component of an investment strategy that's been going mainstream lately. In this episode we look at one potential way you can subtract or add to your portfolio by using a method known as direct…
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Jodi's Story: How Can You Prepare for a Career Change?
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In this episode, we hear Jodi's story. Jodi started her career in finance and developed a love of travel. She also had a passion for gender-lens investing and nonprofits that served young women. As she progressed in her career, Jodi faced a crossroads in her life. How would she find a path that fit her values? Jodi Morris is a success coach and ven…
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What Should Be on Your Wealth Management Watch List This Year?
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There are many long-term financial-planning decisions we can lose sight of as we navigate the unexpected avenues of our lives. If left unchecked, these choices we made years ago may not match up with our current situation. Is there anything to consider in 2023 to help determine if these past decisions still make sense? In this episode, Mark Riepe i…
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Is It Time to Reboot Your New Year's Resolutions? (Rebroadcast)
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Many people set New Year’s resolutions, but sadly, most don’t keep them. In this episode Mark Riepe offers several suggestions for keeping you on track with your resolutions, as well as proposing some specific resolutions that can help you better manage your financial life—whatever the date you choose to implement them. Mark talks with Carrie Schwa…
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After a tough year for the markets, what's in store for 2023? In this year-end bonus episode, Schwab experts look ahead to consider what investors might expect from the markets in the new year. First, Mark talks with Liz Ann Sonders, Schwab's chief investment strategist. Liz Ann offers her perspective on the direction of the U.S. economy and stock …
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Can You Invest in Crypto Without Buying Crypto Directly?
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30:06
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The cryptocurrency landscape is vast. There are well over 10,000 types of cryptocurrencies. For investors who are looking for exposure to this space, are there indirect opportunities that might reduce some of the risk? In this episode, Mark Riepe is joined by Inga Rachwald, a senior portfolio strategist for Schwab Asset Management. They discuss the…
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Mary Anne's Story: How Can You Leave a Legacy and Honor a Loved One?
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In this special episode, we hear the story of Mary Anne. Mary Anne and her twin sister Virginia were very close growing up. But as they pursued different careers, they lived on different sides of the country. After her sister's untimely passing, how did Mary Anne find a way to honor her sister's memory? The event that Mary Anne organized benefited …
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Should You Start Giving Money to Your Heirs Now or Leave a Bequest?
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Taxes are a big issue for any investor. For people likely to incur federal estate tax, does it make sense to give away assets to family members sooner rather than later? The answer to that question can be fraught with all kinds of psychological and emotional issues. But it's important to contemplate the details of different lifetime gifting strateg…
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How Can You Steer Your Portfolio Through a Recession?
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Anyone who has invested for more than a few years has seen their share of bear markets, bull markets, down economies, and recessions. But each circumstance is different. Heraclitus said that you can't step into the same river twice: The person is different, and the river is different. When the economy turns downward, what are some strategies you sh…
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What Can You Do If Your Retirement Plan Gets Off Track?
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What do you do if you haven't put enough money into your retirement account over the course of your working life, and you know you don't have enough money or time to fund the retirement you want? You might be tempted to act like a losing football team and throw caution to the wind with a Hail Mary pass. But your financial life is more consequential…
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How Can You Make the Most of Your IRA Nest Egg?
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When you spend your working life saving and investing, it can be a little scary when it comes time to shift your mindset and start withdrawing from those accounts. Whether you have a 401(k) or an IRA, what strategies can help you make the most of your retirement nest egg? In this episode, Mark Riepe speaks with Daniel Stein. Daniel is a vice presid…
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Instinctively, most people know that it's a good idea to save money for the future. But when it comes to saving for retirement, there are complex decisions each person must face—and typically when they are just starting out in the workforce. Is it better to contribute to a 401(k) or a Roth IRA? When can a traditional IRA make sense? How can you con…
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When Interest Rates Rise, What Should You Do with Bonds?
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The Fed is hiking short-term interest rates to slow the economy. Now the bond market is starting to expect less inflation longer term, and so yields on Treasury bonds have declined from their peak. What should bond investors do? In this episode, Mark Riepe speaks with Kathy Jones, Schwab's chief fixed income strategist. Kathy has analyzed global bo…
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Balancing the trade-off between risk and return is one of the most fundamental decisions an investor makes. But it can be difficult to "know thyself" and truly understand your risk tolerance. Myriad psychological factors may cause you to behave differently than your stated risk profile when confronted with market volatility. And beyond weathering t…
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How Can You Stop Procrastinating and Create an Estate Plan?
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Creating a will has several benefits. A will can help your loved ones carry out your wishes, it can protect your assets, and it can allow you to designate a guardian of your children. Inevitably, some people never get around to making a will, even though they intend to do it. This type of procrastination can be difficult to overcome. Procrastinatio…
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Is it possible for your portfolio to reflect your beliefs? ESG could be one way to help. ESG is an umbrella term to describe investing strategies that emphasize environmental, social, or governance factors, in addition to traditional measures of risk and return. Within this umbrella framework are strategies like SRI, or socially responsible investi…
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Many people do not enjoy the process of thinking through what happens to their assets after they pass away. But the decisions to be made are a crucial part of estate planning. Life can be complicated, and there are many advantages to having a trust in place. But the jargon surrounding trusts can be overwhelming. How can you determine which trust is…
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How Can You Maximize Your Charitable Giving?
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Throughout the holiday season, you might encounter dozens of appeals for charity. If you decide to give, or if you donate throughout the year, how can you maximize the impact of your gift? In this episode, Mark talks with Sam Kang, president of Schwab Charitable, a nonprofit organization established with the support of The Charles Schwab Corporatio…
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How Can You Be a More Confident Investor?
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In assessments that show women to be less financially literate than men, is that gap due to a lack of knowledge or a lack of confidence? One recent study revealed that women tend to disproportionately respond “do not know” to questions measuring financial knowledge, but when this response is unavailable, the gap closes substantially. In this episod…
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Special purpose acquisition companies (or SPACs) aren’t entirely new, but they’ve made headlines in 2020 and 2021. SPACs take funds from investors in order to buy or merge with another company. They’re sometimes called “blank check” companies because it’s as if investors are giving the companies a blank check to buy whatever sort of business they w…
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Financial planning is an ongoing, iterative process. But it always starts with identifying and defining goals. Why are you saving money? When do you plan to retire? How much do you spend now? Are you saving for college? The more specificity that can be added to each goal, the more likely it is to be achieved. No matter your stage in life, whether y…
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How Can You Protect Your Portfolio Against Inflation?
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Since the financial crisis of 2008, the Federal Reserve has engaged in a great experiment: They are testing whether massive amounts of new money can heal the damage from macroeconomic catastrophes, such as the financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. For years, investors have asked persistent questions about the likelihood of high inflation and …
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