Financially Free Era by SLP Wealth

AI tools seem to be everywhere right now. It’s only natural to wonder if human financial planning is still worth it, especially as new platforms promise smarter automation and fee compression. I dig into how much the landscape has changed in just months, share behind-the-scenes stories about testing OpenAI, Claude, and emerging tools like Hazel, and get real about what AI can (and absolutely can’t) do for students, professionals, and families with complex needs.Along the way, we talk about value beyond the spreadsheet — how emotional tradeoffs, life planning, and actual human connection still matter, even as the numbers-crunching gets faster and sharper.Key moments:(01:06) Testing OpenAI and Claude for real-world financial planning tasks — and what surprised me most(05:45) How AI-driven “margin killers” impacted Wall Street valuations for custodians and advisors(13:05) Where AI falls short: sycophantic answers and the critical human element in life decisions(16:26) Real examples of balancing emotional, family, and financial goals that AI just can’t handleResources mentioned:Hazel by Altruist: https://altruist.com/hazelThere’s no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free!Like the show? There are several ways you can help!Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon MusicLeave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Feelings and headlines can easily influence the choices we make with money—often at our own expense. I walk through how relying on stories or vibes (instead of cold, hard stats) can impact everything from investment picks to whether you stick with a high-value loan strategy like PSLF. We get into cognitive biases that trip up even the smartest people, dig into major financial opportunities that exist in obscure rules (like the Augusta Rule), and break down how “bad trades” happen when you don’t understand the real value of what you have.Key moments:(06:28) What commitment bias, anchoring, confirmation bias, and loss aversion do to your investment choices(13:11) The Augusta Rule explained: rent your home up to 14 days a year, tax-free(17:37) The Vanderbilt hat trade: refinancing federal loans you shouldn't, selling at a loss, and chasing salary without weighing benefitsThere’s no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free!Like the show? There are several ways you can help!Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon MusicLeave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

We're surrounded by messages telling us to want more: more income, more accounts, more complexity. But the winners in both golf and personal finance are usually the ones who do less, better. I pull lessons from the Masters tournament to show how lowering your financial "score," whether that's your interest rate, your stress level, or your monthly obligations, can help you actually win with money. You'll learn where paying less, owning less, and even thinking less can maximize your results — and why you don't need to make things harder than they have to be. Key moments: (08:37) Lower your interest rate with debt to pay less interest over time (obvious but powerful) (14:37) Using automation to reduce financial stress and decision fatigue (19:53) How simplifying your accounts can cut through the mental clutter (25:12) Smarter ways to minimize your tax bill (without giving Uncle Sam an interest-free loan) Resources mentioned: Monarch Money There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Most people's New Year's resolutions fall apart by spring — research says the average resolution lasts about 3.74 months, and we're right at that tipping point. So let's get honest about how behavior — not just the calendar — shapes the path, and why it's so easy to talk ourselves out of the dreams that matter most. Many of the limits we put on our financial lives aren't handed down by a judge. Instead, they're stories we've told ourselves that we've never really questioned. I walk through why the things you've been dreaming about (a four-day workweek, that big annual trip, a career shift) might not be a money problem at all, but a decision problem, and how running the numbers on trade-offs can change the whole picture. Key moments: (06:22) Reframing the things you think you "can't" change (08:13) What dropping to a four-day workweek actually does to your long-term retirement projections (12:47) Why making one big change beats a thousand tiny cuts in your budget or career (20:23) The hidden cost of staying stuck: trading time, clarity, or happiness without realizing it Resources mentioned: Meditations for Mortals There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Most people with big student loans assume they'll be grinding until their 60s before they can finally breathe, but that math is usually way off. Most professionals have far more control over their work-life balance than they realize. You'll hear practical ways to rethink saving, spending, and career planning so you can reclaim time, energy, and purpose right now (not just decades from now). Learn the math and the mindset you need to start living the life you want, sooner than you think. Key moments: (03:31) Running the numbers to show why dramatically changing your job tomorrow is more realistic than you think (06:04) What most high earners say they'd do if they had "enough" (07:24) Why pausing retirement savings for daycare years isn't as bad as it seems (15:08) The one "big thing" you need to be frugal on to open up your life There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

For years, the internet's favorite investing advice was simple: buy VTSAX and chill. But it's long overdue for a reality check. We'll talk about the downsides of a one-fund portfolio and why recent international and small-cap value outperformance should give you pause. You'll learn how diversification, smart portfolio rebalancing, and practical investment management can protect your goals (and your peace of mind) far better than going it alone or chasing past returns. I'll walk you through the evidence, the behavioral traps, and how to align your investments with your real life, not just the latest forum trend. Key moments: (01:51) Why international and small-cap value beat the US large-cap lately (07:49) How outperformance cycles should shape your portfolio, not your emotions (13:01) The dangers of chasing performance versus committing to a long-term allocation (21:13) Why portfolio complexity means tax and rebalancing headaches — and when to get help There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

What would you do if you were sliding backward down an icy mountain at 11 p.m. with your kids in the car? We walk through a terrifying near-miss and the powerful financial lessons that came from it: overconfidence bias, underinsuring your life and disability, and why preparedness isn't fear-based — it's freedom-based. You'll also hear why reflecting on your mortality might actually help you live (and spend) more intentionally. If you've ever found yourself on a slippery slope — literally or financially — this episode is for you. Key moments: (03:20) Why spending on safety, like snow tires or insurance, isn't optional (06:37) No one should live in fear, but we should be better about being prepared (08:39) Overconfidence bias and dangerous financial blind spots (12:52) Balancing long-term savings with living fully in the present There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

What if your tax return could quietly point out investing mistakes that are costing you real money? In this episode, we walk through the three most easily spotted investing blunders we find over and over. Learn why missing out on tax-loss harvesting, donating cash instead of appreciated stock to charity, and not maximizing backdoor Roth IRAs can slow your financial progress. If you've been DIY-ing your investments or feel a little lost during tax season, this is the episode you didn't know you needed. Key moments: (01:20) Tax loss harvesting and the problem with having brokerage accounts at different places (04:20) Your Schedule A and charity donations (05:44) Why actively managing your portfolio's cost basis is potentially genius (06:47) Check your Form 1040 if you did a backdoor Roth IRA (09:28) Even really smart, capable people make investing mistakes There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Why are colleges telling students to borrow less… while writing nine-figure checks for football coaches? In this episode, Travis Hornsby, CEO of SLP Wealth, joins me to pull back the curtain on the business of higher education through the lens of college football. We talk NIL money, massive TV contracts, coaching buyouts, and what all of this says about how universities actually operate. We also connect the dots to student loan caps, ROI on degrees, and why it's more important than ever to approach college decisions with eyes wide open. Key moments: (06:20) How TV deals turned football into a cash machine (09:08) What $100M+ coaching contracts teach us about leverage and negotiation (17:01) Contract terms, non-competes, and exit options might matter more than salary (22:43) Why loan caps could change which schools are actually worth attending There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Credit card points can feel confusing, risky, or downright gimmicky. Listen in as I sit down with credit card rewards consultant Colin Stroud to break down what "points hacking" really is (and what it isn't). We talk about simple, realistic ways to use travel rewards without opening a dozen cards, wrecking your credit, or turning it into a part-time job. You'll learn how to think strategically about points, avoid common traps, and decide whether this is even worth your time. Key moments: (02:21) What credit card "hacking" really means and why it's misunderstood (08:22) Why flexible travel cards beat airline or hotel cards for beginners (14:57) How transferring points works (and when it's actually worth it) (26:09) A simple 1–3 card system for earning points without constant card churn (34:34) How business owners can unlock outsized value from everyday spending Resources mentioned: Point.me - Flight search tool for points Monarch Money - Spending and tracking tool Go Somewhere - Find Colin Stroud online There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Most people hear "disability insurance" and instantly want to tap out. But this might be the most important episode you listen to all year. We sit down with Dennis Hornsby, Director of Insurance Operations at SLP Insurance, to break down what disability coverage actually does, why it matters so much in your 20s–40s, and how a few simple decisions can protect your income, your family, and your future. You'll learn what must-have policy features to look for, how to avoid common mistakes, and why now is the best time to get this in place. Key moments: (07:12) Resident discounts: the 20% lifetime savings most people miss (11:54) Own-occupation coverage and why specialists can't skip it (16:11) Partial disability: the benefit you'll likely use before anything else (23:27) Riders that matter (catastrophic, COLA, and benefit increase) (38:06) Benefit period vs. elimination period and how to choose the right combo Resource mentioned: Get a disability insurance quote There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

Headlines have been wild this year, but what actually matters for your money? We'll run through nine quick "newsworthy nuggets," from mortgage rates and inflation to student loan forgiveness, insurance gaps, and the job market. You'll hear what's noise, what's worth paying attention to, and how these headlines show up inside real financial plans. By the end, you'll feel a little more informed, and a lot less panicked. Key moments: (01:44) Will self-driving cars actually lower your auto insurance anytime soon (05:37) Mortgage rates dip, but why 3% (and probably 4%) mortgages aren't coming back (09:02) Student loan forgiveness resumes — and clarity on 2025 tax-free forgiveness (16:31) Inflation is raising prices and squeezing your everyday budget (22:57) Why insurance premiums keep climbing even as coverage feels weaker There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts

We're talking about cars — not from a "never buy anything nice" angle, but from the perspective of how much they can quietly drain from your long-term wealth. Jake Courtney, CFP®, CSLP®, joins us to break down what an $80,000 SUV really does to your savings rate. We also look at the pressure to "upgrade" when life changes (new baby, new job, new neighborhood) and how to separate what you actually need from what feels normal around you. You'll learn practical ways to get a reliable, safe car without letting transportation become the biggest drag on your wealth. Key moments: (01:24) New baby, growing families, and the peer pressure to upgrade vehicles (08:42) A $200K-income couple and how one car choice adds eight work years (19:12) The three-year-old used SUV strategy and why it wins long term (29:41) When leasing can make sense — and when buying still comes out ahead Resources mentioned: Monarch Money Kelley Blue Book There's no one-size-fits-all for wealth. Get the plan that fits you. Try SLP Wealth risk-free! Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts