Capitalize Your Fridays!: Recent Episodes
ALTIUS Financial Inc's Taylor McGowen CFP® & Michael Williams CFP®
Every other Friday Michael Williams & Taylor McGowen will share financial insight as two CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS™ with different generational perspectives. Maybe we'll even bring in a guest speaker too! Provided to you by ALTIUS Financial Inc.
Let's talk Tik Tok. Is Tik Tok going to get banned? And does even apply to me if I'm not a current user? Mike and Taylor dive into the Tik Tok news and what this could mean for different areas of the US economy.
We want to look after our service professionals, but hasTipping gotten out of hand? Mike and Taylor cover what’sthe big issue with tipping? What’s typical for tip protocol? And more.
In this episode, Mike and Taylor cover the top 3 relationship risks when transitioning into retirement.
- Retirement vision and timeline for that vision
- Financial harmony
- Health and longevity
What's an RMD and why do I have to pull money from my account each year? Or do I? In this episode, Mike and Taylor dive into these common questions about required minimum distributions (RMDs), how they're calculated, and the history of them.
ABC’s it’s easy as… wait, no, what business Entity is best for me? In this episode, Mike and Taylor review what a business entity is and the different types of business entities.
Where do you fall on the financial readiness scale?This episode answers questions many of our listeners may have regarding their current financial security relative to social norms.
Santa is coming to town and as he takes off on his sleigh, he may bring the stock market up with him this year. Let’s dive into the concept of the Santa Stock Market Swing.
Tune in to hear about Taylor’s first home buying experience and learn more about the home buying process.
What do my statements even mean and why do I need them? In this episode, we demystify common financial statements and dive into how to understand them.
It’s spooky season! To help prevent being financially ghosted or financially ghosting, Mike and Taylor review the basics of estate planning. If you're interested in this topic or have any questions, sign up here to attend our upcoming workshop on Estate Planning with guest speaker Ryan McGuffey.
In this episode, Malcolm Theobald joins the ALTIUS team to discuss the rise in electric vehicle demand and the current global energy crisis. Malcolm has 30 years of industry experience in energy along with the recent experience in purchasing an electric vehicle.
Over the summer, the ALTIUS team read the book "10x is Easier Than 2x" by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. We thought it was a unique idea and that the book was so good that we had to share it with our listeners. So, in this episode, Mike and Taylor review the basic concepts and why 10x really does seem easier than 2x.
In this episode, Mike and Taylor dive into 1031 exchanges - what it is, how you can utilize it when buying and selling rental real estate, and Mike's own experiences with these.
Earlier this year, ALTIUS had a virtual workshop with Gerry Hollis, who presented on Health Savings Accounts (HSA). If you missed that workshop or need a refresher on HSAs, then this is the episode for you! Mike and Taylor dive into how to utilize HSAs for investing and tax benefits.
It's been a long time since the official purchase of TD Ameritrade by Schwab, but the full transition date is coming up this Labor Day (September 4, 2023). At ALTIUS, we've been preparing for this transition and staying on top of the updates from TD and Schwab in the last couple years. So, in this episode, we answer the questions many of our listeners may have regarding the transition from TD to Schwab.
Blurb: Given the recent debt ceiling debate and worldwide economic uncertainty, many of our clients have asked us about the issue of reserve currency status...will the US dollar continue to function as the currency that the world uses?
The most common types of alternative investments include real estate, collectibles, commodities, private equity, and derivatives. But in this episode, Mike and Taylor cover a couple new unique alternative investments in the wine and art industries. They discuss the potential risk and benefits of these newer investments.
With summer travel coming up, Mike and Taylor review the process of travel credit cards, and how to maximize credit card points. In this overview on credit card points and benefits, Taylor goes over some tips & tricks and things to look out for when considering a credit card.
The Secure Act 2.0 will likely have an impact on ALTIUS' clients, so in this episode Mike and Taylor give an overview of the Secure Act 2.0 and outline how they're thinking about it in the long-term. At the end of the episode, they also discuss the process of stock buybacks and how they affect shareholders.
What is this Chat GPT I hear people talking about? Listen along as Mike and Taylor introduce you to and implement the world's fastest growing new tech.
In this episode, Mike and Taylor discuss the current banking situation (SVB, Credit Suisse, etc) and explain the recent and historic events that led to this predicament.
To help our listeners prepare for potential big life milestones we’re discussing the expenses associated with these milestones. Today’s episode discusses planning for potential pricy prenatal and pregnancy costs.
In this episode we discuss some of the recent layoff turmoil and how this has spread beyond just the tech industries. We share our outlook on causes of these layoffs, our perspective on how this may or may not present investment opportunities, and our suggestions to any listener who may be directly experiencing this difficult time.
Our guest this week isKim Crea, Senior Vice President of Residential Lending at Draper & Kramer Mortgage. Kim has a wealth of knowledge about mortgage lending and has been helping people with their home financing needs since 2003. She loves working with first-time homebuyers, repeat purchasers, or those looking to refinance, and her goal is to make the loan process as easy and smooth as possible. In this episode, Kim walks Mike through the process of “locking in” interest rates, the typical closing timing in the current market, and answers questions about the current housing market and whether now is a good time to buy a home.
ALTIUS recently had a client ask about investing in tech and what is going on with many of the large companies losing trillions based on their share price. So, in this episode, we discuss the chaos around big tech's layoffs and loss of capital, and what that means for ALTIUS' outlook on current market volatility.
Let’s dive into what Market Capitalization is and how it helps investors make allocation decisions.
In this episode, Mike and Taylor discuss what it means to become a new client. Such as, what questions to ask a new advisor, what it means to become a client with a financial advisor, and what the ALTIUS Financial client experience looks like.
Mike and Taylor discuss the 2022 market conditions and the failure of using the 60/40 Rule to protect one's nest egg. What happened and should you throw out the old asset allocation rules?
The recent FTX drama has everyone wondering what’s in store for the future of crypto currency. Tune in to hear our thoughts on what has happened so far and our future outlook for decentralized finance.
Recently, we've had many clients ask about the Debt ceiling and with the government continuing to increase spending and assistance policies the current “debt ceiling” seems more of an open sunroof than an actual ceiling. So in this episode, Taylor questions Mike about his thoughts on government debt and how it may impact our client portfolios.
Let's clarify the employee healthcare policy election process by breaking down terminology and policy types to help you make the right selection. In this episode we cover coinsurance, copays, different types of health insurance plans, and most importantly how an HSA account can benefit your overall financial situation in the long-term.
Pets may be our furry family members, but we often overlook how their expenses quickly add up. Today we discuss the finances around adopting and supporting our favorite fluffy family members.
One of the main financial topics we discuss with clients is preparing for retirement, but here at ALTIUS we think being ready for retirement is not only about how much you've saved. So, in this episode, we discuss what it really takes to be retirement ready and how enjoying the journey shows that there's so much more to life than retirement.
With COVID on the downturn why are we still seeing challenges in our local and global supply chain? Mike and Taylor discuss their research on where these supply chain shortages are at and why - tune in to hear!
It’s a bit harsh to say that a whole generation hates an individual, but it is interesting to point out that much of the millennial generation doesn’t agree with Dave Ramsey's financial philosophy. Listen to this episode to find out why.
In this episode, Taylor tells Mike about some of her recent experiences of buying direct, which sparked the question "Is it always or ever cheaper to buy direct?" Listen to hear Taylor and Mike's thoughts on what is worth getting a deal for and what isn't. Also, at the beginning of this episode we give a brief update on President Biden's Student Loan Announcement and Updates.
Politicians have a knack for naming legislation to make it seem more palatable, especially in election years. This bill is no different since most people really are experiencing the effects of inflation with much higher prices on everyday items. Mike and Taylor discuss President Biden's most recent bill and its potential impact on the economy, markets and client portfolios.
In this episode, Taylor and Mike do a book review of The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness by Morgan Housel. They discuss different principles of the book and the application of them in life and mindset. A book for anyone interested in how to think about money and how to let that mindset drive your monetary behaviors.
We're excited for our 50th episode release! Listen to find out why we created Capitalize Your Fridays and to hear more about what's coming next for our podcast.
Communication is key and in this episode Mike and Taylor talk about a particular miscommunication with a client that led first to some confusion, then laughter and finally to a history lesson. Mike often talks about "chewing on" ideas, as in pondering and then digesting something new or different and he talks about the history of Judaism, finance, money-lending and finance.
In this special episode for Independence Day, Mike and Taylor read Walking Tall to show what it means to have financial freedom. They also discuss the meaning of Independence Day and why it's important to appreciate the founding and revolution - to be patriotic, but cautious of nationalism.
In this episode, Mike and Taylor discuss gold as an investment, and focus on the potential value of purchasing metals and how to hold those types of assets. Tune in to hear the answers to questions like - How is gold valuable? Is jewelry an adequate holding for precious metals? And can precious metals hedge inflation?
Has anyone ever told you, "You need 20% down to buy a house"? This is one of the financial industry's old "rules of thumb" and one that Mike & Taylor discuss in this episode. There are so many old financial rules, but it's hard to know whether or not they're actually applicable now or if they need to be adjusted. So Mike & Taylor take on this challenge to ask -- are the old rules only for the older generations?
Why do we hate people at the top? Is it the natural human need for drama or are billionaires really bad? Or are they truly good for the economy and people, but get vilified by society? Mike and Taylor discuss all these questions in this week's episode about the current envy economy mindset.
At ALTIUS, our investment approach is personalized and catered toward your life's goals, but we know that different investing techniques and strategies can get confusing. So on this Friday's podcast, Mike and Taylor dive into the specifics and differences between active and passive investing.
This week Mike and Taylor discuss the rollercoaster of Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter and clarify why it's important to understand the difference between private and publicly traded (still private property) companies. From there they evaluate free speech and more when it comes to company values and the role of shareholder voting.
Our guest this week is Tara Miller of Debt Free Millennial, who currently works in Fintech as an underwriter for student loans. Taylor, Mike, and Tara talk about the recent updates to the Student Loan Forbearance and answer other questions about options to pay off student loans, refinancing, and the possibility of student loan forgiveness.
Can it be good to invest in our vices? Like beer, tobacco, etc? In this episode discover more about vice investing with Taylor and Mike, and whether investing in our vices can be profitable. And even if it's profitable, is it good or ethical?
It's pretty low odds to win the lottery, but if you do here's some steps to take if you do! There's a lot of different options and situations you might come up against if you ever win the lottery or acquire a lot of money suddenly, so Mike & Taylor discuss what that could look like.
In most episodes we talk a lot about ALTIUS as a business, but in this episode, we decided to let our listeners know a little bit more about our team. Listen to get to know Mike, Taylor, Jenn, and Krescent.
This week, Mike and Taylor have a conversation about Environmental, Social, and (Corporate) Governance Investing - more commonly known as ESG Investing. It's a controversial topic with a lot of different views across generations. They elaborate more on what this means and whether it actually might be profitable to invest in ESG.
To go with the freezing weather in Denver this week, Mike and Taylor go over credit freezes. This episode is all about protecting your credit and the big difference in freezing an account versus freezing your credit. Taylor shares her own personal experience with freezing her credit and talks about why it can help protect you in emergency situations.
Happy New Year from ALTIUS Financial! This new year ALTIUS is changing the phrase "new year, new me" to "new year, new mindset." We love goals and planning, but we've found that their success all comes down to mindset. So in this episode, Mike and Taylor talk about their own goals and why developing a new mindset sets you up for success much more than checking off a list.
In this episode, hear Taylor interview our first ever guest, Mattie Kleist, on how she made some of her hobbies become her hustles. Mattie talks about her experience working three separate side hustles on top of her 8-5 job, and what that looks like financially.
This week Mike & Taylor discuss the importance of gratitude and how charitable giving can help both your mindset and your financial situation.
Dive deep into the ALTIUS philosophy and how it came to be through 5 different quotes from Aristotle, John Adams, and a few other famous authors and figures. These quotes are our credos and have helped create ALTIUS's approach to building wealth.
Tune in for tips and reminders about planning your holiday spending and specifically why it's important this year due to the current global supply chain issues.
In this episode, Mike and Taylor discuss the current markets, tax code changes, and overall causes of market volatility.
Mike & Taylor talk about what the 6 areas of financial planning and why and how they are covered in a financial plan at ALTIUS Financial!
Tune in on this episode to hear about some updates around ALTIUS's team, office, covid-19 thoughts, and upcoming events/plans!
Every choice you make or habit you have can have an impact on your finances, and you might not realize how much these can add up. Maybe a coffee a day is the difference between going on a international trip that year or not. Dive into this episode to get an idea of how much your lifestyle might really be adding up.
Dive into funding education and more through a focus on the types, uses, and details of 529 College Savings Plans.
Sometimes in life you risk it all and sometimes you don’t, but what kind of risks are there in investing? Learn some of the ins and outs of investing with us this Friday to capitalize yours!
What does it take to start a business? Learn that and more about how to and why to start a business in this week's episode. And if you're interested in our "So, you want to go into business?" Virtual Workshop on August 3rd, 2021, register on our website: Events | Michael Williams (altiusfinancial.com).
Time to maximize your savings! Learn how to grow your savings from what accounts you should pay into, saving vs. debt pay off, and how much you should be saving.
Tune in to hear our discussion about the craziness of credit scores -- what they are, what's a good score, how to find out yours, and how you can make it better.
We love getting feedback from our listeners and one of our listeners/clients recommended the topic of addressing recent Conspiracy Theories, their legitimacy, and their potential impact on finances.
Clarifying, as best we can, some of the new alternative investment options that have been popular buzz words and topics.
Sharing thoughts from two financial advisors who have personal and client experience with merging finances and planning.
Is estate planning for everyone or just for wealthy people with a mansion vineyard estate? ha ha! Tune in to hear our perspective for planning for now and beyond.
Let's dive into the concept of investing and weigh our thoughts on growth vs. value investing strategies.
Tips for traveling during a pandemic. Budget and travel pricing thoughts for both those ballin on a budget and for the financially affluent adventurer.
People say home ownership is "The American Dream". Let's discuss the home shopping and buying process and discuss real estate as an investment.
Should you buy crypto? Let's dive into the history of money, the concept of Crypto, how to hold it, and Crypto as an investment.
It's been an interesting week to say the least-- How will what's going on in the world impact your current and future investments (your wallet)?
This episode we discuss the unfortunate truth- the are no free Christmas trees. In all seriousness, we take this last episode of the year to discuss the concept of "free" stuff and weighing cost vs. value, we tie this into the purpose of a corporation and try to weigh the benefits of corporations of all sizes. Lastly, we'll finish off with an intro to our 53 week Finance Challenge and we invite all our listeners to join in on the next 53 weeks of financial engagement.
Let's discuss a handful of helpful financial tips heading into year end focusing on: tax strategies, investment opportunities, and personal financial planning.
Blessed... But are we? Let's talk a bit about how we are all blessed and how both mindset and habits can greatly impact the results of your financial and personal goals.
In this episode we break down the terminology you may see on your health insurance benefit options along with a quick analysis of different plan types. Hopefully this will be helpful for everyone in open enrollment looking to select their plans for next year.
Okay, okay, this episode has nothing to do with FDR or his Fireside chats. But, the recording process was Fireside as Taylor gazed out her window to the wildfire and clouds of smoke approaching her hotel. Note: no employees were injured in the making of this podcast In all seriousness, let's dive into the benefits of gifting your time and money to causes you care about. We'll touch on suggested gifting principles, tax benefits, and what makes this calendar year different from a charitable gifting perspective.
What is the potential financial and social impact of the 2020 election? Pros and cons of a true democracy and our outlook on where Americas is heading as a society.
Everyone will have a big purchase in their life. Maybe it's a car, or a boat, or a home- we're discussing how to consider the variables associated with planning for a car purchase and how to live within your means to save for large future expenses.
We'll briefly introduce you to our speakers, Taylor and Mike, and share a bit of Q&A on current and general financial topics.