Episodes

According to recent studies, the majority of millionaires in the U.S. are self-made. They didn’t inherit their money, they earned it, and most are the first generation in their family to do so. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean, Soledad, and wealth planner Brian Leslie discuss the unique challenges of first-generation wealth and how you can pass on the traits that helped build it to future generations. Later, many people retired during the pandemic and are now regretting their decision because they didn’t take into account how the down markets, inflation, and higher interest rates would affect their retirement plans. Now some are thinking about taking their social security early. The hosts break down why that could be a costly mistake. Finally, Dr. Wei Hu, vice president of financial research at Edelman Financial Engines, joins the hosts for Investing Sense, to talk about what hindsight bias is and how it could be affecting your assessment of your investments.

There’s a lot of hype in the news about 2023 and the economic turmoil we may be facing. However, another way to think about it is that we actually may be on the path to normalization. This week on Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean, Soledad, and wealth planner John McCafferty will discuss the economic forces that are impacting all of us right now, and shed some light on why it may not be as ominous as we think. Later in the episode, Christopher Jones, chief investment officer for Edelman Financial Engines, joins the hosts to discuss how EFE factors in market swings when constructing its portfolios – which can help clients through these periods of uncertainty.

For most people, 2022 has been a perfect storm of high inflation, aggressive rate hikes, volatile markets, worries of recession… and just about everything else that makes investors run for the hills. This week on Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Soledad, Jean and wealth planner Andy Smith will put the markets into context, and – hopefully – provide a bit of perspective about what we’re experiencing right now in the economy. Later in the episode, the hosts discuss two types of investors – those who chase returns and those who work toward a clear set of goals, and why one typically leads to better outcomes. They’ll also explore what to do at different stages and phases of life to help protect your wealth.

When you’re approaching retirement, you have to make many decisions that will affect your finances – either positively or negatively. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean and wealth planner Isabel Barrow discuss some of the most important decisions that could cost you if you don’t plan for them, including what to do with your mortgage, and what to consider before traveling . Later, the end of the year is coming and so are opportunities to harvest some of your losses to help save you money on taxes. Jean and Isabel talk about what tax-loss harvesting is and how it may help you.

Record inflation, aggressive rate hikes and a gloomy financial forecast for 2023 – not much seems to be going right in today’s economic climate. So what effect do these financial headwinds have on our own “personal economies”? This week on Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Soledad, Jean and wealth planner Isabel Barrow will be talking about why you should consider sticking with a diversified portfolio through unsettling times. Later in the episode, with midterms around the corner and the markets weighing heavily on our minds, investors may be wondering if they should be adjusting their portfolios to prepare for election results. The hosts discuss the historical impacts of the elections on the markets and what to do and not do to help protect your wealth.

During Medicare enrollment, there are many decisions to make that could cost you a lot if you don’t choose wisely. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean, Soledad and wealth planner Rose Niang explain the intricacies of Medicare plans and what you need to know to help you make the best decisions. Later in the episode, charitable giving is good for charities and it also could be good for your personal economy. The hosts discuss giving in a tax-efficient way and how a donor-advised fund can help.

There are plenty of ways that inflation may have a negative impact on our finances, but there may be a silver lining. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines' Everyday Wealth™, Jean, Soledad and Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Isabel Barrow break down what may be some positive news when it comes time to pay your taxes. Next, the hosts tackle the challenges of leaving a legacy from first generation wealth – from how to know if you have enough to where to start once you do. Later, Dr. Wei Hu, vice president of financial research at Edelman Financial Engines, joins Soledad, Jean and Isabel for Investing Sense, to talk about what hindsight bias is and how it could be affecting your assessment of your investments.

According to recent studies, the majority of millionaires in the U.S. are self-made. They didn’t inherit their money, they did it the hard way. They earned it, and most are the first generation in their family to do so. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean, Soledad, and wealth planner Brian Leslie discuss the unique challenges of first-generation wealth and how you can pass on the traits that helped build it to future generations.

When you’re approaching retirement, you have to make many decisions that will affect your finances – either positively or negatively. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Jean and wealth planner Isabel Barrow discuss some of the most important decisions that could cost you if you don’t plan for them, including what to do with your mortgage, and what to consider before traveling . Later, the end of the year is coming and so are opportunities to harvest some of your losses to help save you money on taxes. Jean and Isabel talk about what tax-loss harvesting is and how it may help you.

Even in the toughest financial times, you can get a windfall of money and have no idea what to do with it. In this episode of Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Soledad, Jean and wealth planner Jason Cowans talk about what to do if you’re one of those lucky people who come into sudden wealth – either through an inheritance, a divorce or lawsuit settlements, or even the lottery – to help make the most of your money.

As fall approaches, many people are feeling the need to do something before the end of the year, both personally and financially. This week on Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday WealthTM, Jean, Soledad and Edelman Financial Engines’ planner John McCafferty discuss the opportunities you don’t want to miss out on on your financial planning checklist heading into the final stretch of the year including your year end financial review, open enrollment, 401k contributions, and what to do if you’re offered an early retirement package. Later in the episode, there’s a sneak peek of Edelman Financial Engines’ upcoming webinar “The Economic Storm of 2022 and Your Wealth” hosted by Jean Chatzky, where you’ll get timely insights into today's market situation.

The fed continues to work on lowering inflation rates, using interest rate hikes as a method for cooling the economy. As a result, markets tumbled. Now analysts and investors are trying to predict the size of the next Fed hike coming later in September, and the market will move day to day as it tries to price in those potential hikes. This week on Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday WealthTM, Jean, Soledad, and Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Rose Niang will be discussing why we should be interested in rising interest rates and what the upsides are, if any. They’ll also discuss lump sum pensions, when to buy big ticket items, and whether or not buying a second home can help hedge against inflation.

Given the current state of the economy, with high inflation, market volatility, and overall financial stress, many retirees are reconsidering their retirement out of fear that they may outlive their wealth. In this encore presentation of Everyday Wealth™ from July 30, 2022, Jean and Soledad are joined by Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Isabel Barrow to discuss how retirement is changing and what considerations to make when retiring in a bear market, including partial retirement, withdrawal strategies, and more.

Many times in life, people have a sound financial plan – and then BOOM – something unexpectedly disrupts it. From positive experiences like the birth of a new child or changing jobs later in life, to the not so positive ones, like unexpected health scares, these are the times where having your financial house in order matters most. This week on Edelman Financial Engines’ Everyday Wealth™, Soledad, Jean and Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Jason Cowans walk through these moments and demonstrate how a wealth planner can help you better prepare for the unexpected.

As markets continue their bumpy ride, some investors are looking to make back losses during the potential upswings – possibly taking on some excessive risk. In this episode of Everyday Wealth™, Jean Chatzky is joined by wealth planner Andy Smith to discuss the differences between speculation and investing, and how a wealth planner can help mitigate your risks. They also discuss whether it’s better to lease or buy a car in the current economy, and later in the episode, Dr. Wei Hu, vice president of financial research at Edelman Financial Engines, joins Jean and Andy for Investing Sense, where they talk about mental reference points that impact investing. 

The true definition of a recession is technically two back-to back quarters of gross domestic product contraction. In our last episode, we settled on “recession-ish” because, while there was a contraction of the economy, other inputs, like jobs numbers, are still strong. Jean Chatzky and Soledad O’Brien are joined by William Lee, chief economist with the Milken Institute, to discuss what’s really going on and how a white-collar recession could differ from a blue-collar recession. And it’s that time of year when parents are sending their kids off to college, maybe for the first time. Erin Smith, director of estate planning at Edelman Financial Engines, walks Jean and Soledad through what you shouldn’t forget to send with your kids to college.

The word recession has been all over the news lately. Inflation is high, our purchasing power is not, and we're all looking for a solution that can help us spend smarter or at least spend in a way that doesn't make us cringe. In this episode, Jean and Soledad are joined by Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Rose Niang to talk about what a recession would mean for investors and how to not get distressed by the headlines. Later in the episode, Soledad and Jean interview Michael Norton, co-author of Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending, about how you can get more happiness for your money. 

Given the current state of the economy, with high inflation, market volatility, and overall financial stress, many retirees are reconsidering their retirement out of fear that they may outlive their wealth. In this episode of Everyday Wealth™, Jean and Soledad are joined by Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Isabel Barrow to discuss how retirement is changing and what considerations to make when retiring in a bear market, including partial retirement, withdrawal strategies, and more.

With all of the economic turmoil and volatility lately, many investors are left wondering what to do with their wealth. In this episode of Everyday Wealth™, Soledad O’Brien is joined by analyst Jake Novak to share what’s happening in financial news and what it actually means for investors. Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Brian Leslie joins Soledad to provide tactical steps people can take in a bear market. Later in the episode, as a part of our new monthly segment called Investing Sense, Dr. Wei Hu, vice president of financial research for Edelman Financial Engines, explains how behavior such as narrow framing can get in an investor’s way.

Given the current state of the economy, all of the talk about a potential recession, rising inflation and interest rates, as well as market volatility, it’s no wonder that financial stress is on the rise. So how do we conquer it? In this episode of Everyday Wealth™, Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Andy Smith joins Jean and Soledad to discuss how a wealth planner can help lessen the stress. Later, Jean and Soledad talk to financial therapist Amanda Clayman about how to feel more balanced and less stressed when it comes to your finances.

Today’s headlines are full of what the markets are doing due to inflation, rising interest rates and the possibility of a recession. We’re also in the midst of the biggest wealth transfer in history and we need to pay attention to the longer-term items that are important to help build and preserve wealth, like estate planning. In this episode of Everyday Wealth™, Jean and Soledad are joined by estate planning attorney and author David York to examine wealth transfer through a new purpose-driven lens. Later in the episode, Jean and Soledad are joined by Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Rose Niang to discuss considerations to make when you’re leaving an inheritance.

With all of the market volatility in recent weeks, along with inflation and interest rate increases, lots of people are wondering if we’re headed for a recession and how to protect their wealth. In this encore episode of Everyday Wealth™ from June 4, 2022, Jean and Soledad are joined by Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, to discuss how likely a recession is, and how to consider investing during a recession. Later in the episode, Jean and Soledad talk to John McCafferty, a wealth planner at Edelman Financial Engines, about whether preparing for a recession means moving investments to cash.

With recent inflation and interest rate increases and continuing market volatility, more and more people have been predicting a recession. In this episode of Everyday Wealth™, Jean and Soledad are joined by Christopher Jones, chief investment officer at Edelman Financial Engines, to discuss what investment strategies are working in these volatile times and if the 60/40 portfolio is dead. Later in the episode, Jean and Soledad are joined by Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Brian Leslie to talk about the obstacles that can get in the way of building wealth.

It seems like everything is more expensive these days – from gas to groceries, and it’s all due to inflation. In this episode of Everyday Wealth™, Jean and Soledad are joined by Christopher Jones, chief investment officer at Edelman Financial Engines, to discuss why prices are so high and what consumers and investors can do to help protect their wealth. Isabel Barrow, a wealth planner from Edelman Financial Engines, also joins Jean and Soledad later in the episode to discuss personal inflation rates and strategies to consider as consumers and investors.

For more than a year it’s been a crazy seller’s market. But now interest rates are rising, and we are starting to hear murmurings of the potential “heat of the market” cooling just a bit. Or maybe it’s not. In this episode of Everyday Wealth™, Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, joins Jean and Soledad to discuss the housing market forecast and what buyers and sellers should consider. Later in the episode, Brian Leslie, a wealth planner from Edelman Financial Engines, joins the show to discuss home improvements and renovations and potential tax deductions.

Since the beginning of the year, we’ve seen the markets go down, and there’s some speculation that we may be headed for a recession. In this episode, Jean and Soledad are joined by Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, to discuss how likely a recession is, and how to consider investing during a recession. Later in the episode, Jean and Soledad talk to John McCafferty, a wealth planner at Edelman Financial Engines, about whether or not preparing for a recession means moving investments to cash.

In this episode of Everyday Wealth, Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky interview bestselling author and founder of Age Wave, Dr. Ken Dychtwald about life’s third age and how retirees can make the most of their time. Later in the episode, Jean and Soledad dig into the topic of partial retirement with Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner John McCafferty.

Nearly half of U.S. families are blended – where at least one of the partners has been married before and is bringing children into their new relationships. So it’s quite common but can also be quite complex when it comes to finances and figuring out what’s “yours, mine and ours.” In this episode of Everyday Wealth™, Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky are joined by Erin Smith, director of estate planning, and wealth planner Jason Cowans, from Edelman Financial Engines to discuss the financial obstacles that blending families create and how to help navigate them. Later in the show, Jean, Soledad and Jason discuss whether it’s a good time to buy the dip.

We’re approaching graduation season so, in this episode of Everyday Wealth, Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky explore the topic of planning and saving for college. Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Rose Niang joins the conversation to discuss financial aid, scholarships and the best and worst ways to pay for college. Later in the episode, Jean, Soledad and Rose talk to a caller who has a question about 529 plans, and then Jean walks through her book How to Money.

In this episode of Everyday Wealth, Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky are joined by Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Brian Leslie to discuss different investment vehicles for your money, including I bonds, Treasury Inflation-Protected Security bonds, health savings accounts and more. Later in the episode, Jean, Soledad and Brian talk to a caller who has a question about what to do with an inherited IRA.

This week’s episode of Everyday Wealth celebrates Small Business Week, with Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky sharing their personal experiences of building their own small businesses, including great tips and lessons they’ve learned and mistakes they’ve made along the way. Later in the episode, Jean and Soledad are joined by Director of the Retirement Plans Division at Edelman Financial Engines, Jim Marx, and Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Isabel Barrow to discuss 401(k)s and retirement plans for small-business owners.

In honor of Earth Day, the topic of climate change is tackled in this episode of Everyday Wealth. Listen as Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky talk about how different sectors are affected by the current crisis and what it means for investors. Later in the episode, Jean and Soledad are joined by Senior Vice President of Portfolio Management at Edelman Financial Engines Neil Gilfedder and Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner John McCafferty to discuss ESG investing.

This episode of Everyday Wealth with Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky is a journey through the different phases of having an adult child. Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Brian Leslie joins the conversation to answer a listener’s question about 529 plans and how to prepare for boomerang kids after college. Later in the show, Jean and Soledad explore downsizing your home after the kids finally leave with Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Rose Niang.

We’re continuing our series on aging in this episode of Everyday Wealth, Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky are joined by Nora Super, the executive director of the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging, to discuss the link between healthy longevity and financial wellness. Later in the episode, Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Jason Cowans joins Jean and Soledad to continue the theme of aging, with discussions on planning for future health-care costs and living trusts.

In this episode of Everyday Wealth, Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky kick off a new series on aging, starting with an interview with bestselling author and founder of Age Wave, Dr. Ken Dychtwald. Later in the episode, Jean and Soledad dig into the topic of phased retirement with Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner John McCafferty.

Interest rate hikes have everybody talking lately and wondering what to do to prepare. In this episode of Everyday Wealth, Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky, along with Edelman Engines wealth planner Rose Niang, discuss what preparations to make and not make in this rising interest rate environment. Later in the show, they discuss the ins and outs of tax-loss harvesting, as well as tips on changing jobs later in life.  

With talk of a recession on the rise, Everyday WealthTM hosts Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky, along with Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner Brian Leslie, CFP®, discuss how to deal with concerns and help protect your wealth in these uncertain times. Listen as they also address the rise of social influencers and the impact they have on the financial world. Later in the show, Edelman Financial Engines Vice President of Financial Research Wei Hu joins the conversation to offer a sneak peek into the March webinar, 6 tax-smart investment strategies. 

From global conflicts to those more personal, money and assets are used as leverage every day. On this episode of Everyday WealthTM, Soledad O’Brien, Jean Chatzky and Edelman Financial Engines planner Isabel Barrow discuss the global financial response to Russia and they dive into the financial toll of divorce and what to take into consideration when going through it. They close out the conversation answering a listener’s question about the role bonds should play in a diversified portfolio.

In this episode of Everyday Wealth, Wei Hu, vice president of financial research at Edelman Financial Engines, joins hosts Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky to explore the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the current economic situation and how it affects us here at home. Also, Edelman Financial Engines wealth planner John McCafferty joins the conversation to discuss investing tips for women as well as Roth conversions.

Is money the key to happiness or is it open communication about money? Edelman Financial Engines planner John McCafferty joins hosts Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky to talk about money and how it can impact every aspect of a relationship – from the first date to financial infidelity. Plus, a look at the latest geopolitical news and how much stock is too much stock? 

In this episode of Everyday Wealth, hosts Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky are joined by FBI Special Agent Wayne Jacobs to talk about elder fraud and how to help protect your loved ones from being scammed. Later, Edelman Financial Engines planner Jason Cowans joins the conversation to explore how to help protect your wealth using tax-efficient withdrawal strategies.

The topic of financial planning for families with special needs is tackled in this episode of Everyday Wealth.  Listen as Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky talk with Director of Estate Planning Rodney Weaver and financial planner Jennifer Staben from Edelman Financial Engines, to address this important issue, along with exploring the ins and outs of Social Security.

This episode of Everyday Wealth is dedicated to helping you deal with financial stresses, like market volatility. Listen in as Soledad O’Brien, Jean Chatzky and Edelman Financial Engines Planner Rose Niang address this important issue, with a focus on the potential for a bear market, taming our lizard brain and tax planning.

It’s been a roller coaster of a month so far and hosts Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky bring in Dr. Wei Hu, vice president of financial research at Edelman Financial Engines, to tell us what we need to know about inflation, interest rates, tech stocks and more. Also in this episode, Edelman Financial Engines Planner Isabel Barrow joins the show to shed some light on charitable donations and building a legacy for your family.

In this week’s episode, Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky talk to economist and bestselling author Larry Kotlikoff about inflation, when to take social security and when to invest, all of which might surprise you. Then later in the episode, Edelman Financial Engines Planner Brian Leslie talks to Jean and Soledad about homeownership and different approaches to mortgages, how much life insurance you actually need and more.

Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky, along with Edelman Financial Engines Planner John McCafferty, talk about the risks of going it alone when it comes to investing on this episode of Everyday Wealth. Listen as they discuss topics, such as investing trends, caring for aging parents and what to do with a year-end bonus.

Soledad O’Brien and Jean Chatzky, accompanied by Edelman Financial Engines Planner Andy Smith, take on perception vs. reality when it comes to helping grow and protect everyday wealth. Listen as they also discuss retirement withdrawal strategies and the do’s and don’ts of estate planning and making a will.

Soledad O'Brien and Jean Chatzky kick off 2022, accompanied by Edelman Financial Engines planner, Jason Cowans, on the inaugural episode of Everyday Wealth. Listen as they discuss areas that could impact your wealth, from the Great Resignation and inflation to creating tactical New Year’s financial resolutions.