Financial Decoder

Epizode

• Could a Trust Fit Your Estate Plan? 22.06.2026 32min

  Thinking about a trust? This episode explains how trusts work, what problems they solve, and why they may be useful for more people than you might expect.
• How Do You Offer Financial Guidance to a College Grad? 08.06.2026 18min

  Helping a college grad manage money starts with how you give advice. Learn what works, what backfires, and the key biases that shape early financial decisions.
• How Can You Plan Beyond Next Year's Tax Bill? 27.04.2026 20min

  Avoid letting short-term tax concerns drive long-term financial decisions. Learn how tax aversion, timing, and planning impact after-tax wealth over a lifetime.
• What Do Both Sides of an Inheritance Need to Consider? 13.04.2026 11min

  Inheritance raises practical and emotional questions. In this episode, Mark looks at how families plan, manage expectations, and make sound decisions when wealth changes hands.
• What's the Best Way to Talk Money With Teens? 30.03.2026 29min

  Parents play a key role in teens learning real-world money skills. This episode explores how open dialogue and hands-on experience help young people move toward financial independence.
• 7 Good Ideas for New Investors 16.03.2026 13min

  New to investing? In this episode, Mark outlines seven good ideas that cover investing fundamentals designed to hold up across market cycles and changing conditions.
• Why Is the 401(k) Crucial to Retirement Saving? 02.03.2026 24min

  Learn how 401(k)s work, why their structure matters, and how smart contribution decisions can significantly shape long-term retirement outcomes.
• What Should Investors Know About Cryptocurrency? 16.02.2026 26min

  Learn how to evaluate cryptocurrency suitability and risk to consider if digital asset exposure aligns with your long-term investment goals.
• (Bonus) From On Investing: 2026 Market Outlook 15.12.2025 1h 1min

  As we approach 2026, what can investors expect from the equities market, fixed income, and the overall U.S. economy in the new year?
• How Can You Make the Most of Your Charitable Giving? 08.12.2025 26min

  Julie Sunwoo, president of DAFgiving360, joins Mark Riepe for a timely discussion of charitable giving strategies.
• How Should Your Goals Shape Your Portfolio? 24.11.2025 31min

  Investing isn't one-size-fits-all. Stephanie Shadel returns to discuss key investing concepts, biased behaviors, and how to build and manage a portfolio that aligns with your financial plan.
• What Makes a Financial Plan Fit Your Life? 10.11.2025 18min

  Learn how to make decisions that align with your real-world goals, resources, and priorities to make a financial plan tailored uniquely to you.
• What Should You Consider When Buying a New Home? 27.10.2025 34min

  Understand the complexities of buying a home, including key players, financial considerations, and emotional factors involved in the process.
• Do Alternative Investments Have a Role in Your Portfolio? 29.09.2025 28min

  Alternative investments can feel opaque. Learn about what they include, from hedge funds to private equity to real estate, and how they're distinct from traditional assets.
• Could These 5 Strategies Help You Save on Domestic Travel? 15.09.2025 5min

  Learn five simple ways to cut costs on domestic travel while still enjoying great experiences and making the most of every trip.
• What's Driving Women's Investing Trends? 18.08.2025 26min

  Mark Riepe is joined by the head of Schwab's branch network, Jeannie Bidner, to discuss survey data about how women investors view themselves and what drives their decisions.
• (Bonus) Special Guest Katy Milkman 11.08.2025 30min

  In this special bonus episode, we revisit an interview with Choiceology host Katy Milkman to discuss some of the barriers to change in her book How to Change.
• What Should Your Advisor Know About You? 26.05.2025 17min

  How much should you share with your financial advisor? Learn why trust, open communication, and the right information matter when working with professional help.
• Does Your Inner Scorekeeper Skew Your Judgement? 12.05.2025 32min

  How do mental scorecards shape your financial decisions? Professor Daniel Stone joins to unpack how reference points can shape risk, reward, and regret.
• (Bonus) Did May Day Reshape Investing? 05.05.2025 7min

  Mark Riepe explores the history of how investing has become more accessible, from key milestones like May Day to the various factors that have shaped who could participate through the last century.