Real Personal Finance
Scott Frank and James Conole
Your personal finance questions answered by CFP® professionals
- 17 minutes 2 secondsThe Simple Automations That Can Actually Boost Your Net Worth
It’s wild how fast a year goes by, and when you finally look back, the gap between what you meant to do and what actually happened is bigger than anticipated. The trick is that most financial progress relies less on skill and more on removing willpower from the equation.
In this episode of Real Personal Finance, Scott and Nick sit down to talk through the small systems that can move your money in the right direction, even on the busiest weeks.
They walk through the everyday automations that meaningfully change how much you save, how smoothly cash flows through your accounts, and how confidently you can stick to your plan.
Key topics:
- How setting contributions as a percentage keeps your 401(k) aligned with future raises
- Why automated brokerage transfers turn good intentions into actual investments
- A simple bank-flow setup that keeps spending predictable and stress-free
- How automation supports higher earners with RSUs, taxes, and rebalancing
- Why “what gets automated gets done” becomes your biggest financial advantage
Curious about your retirement savings? Our How Much Do I Need To Retire? quiz gives you an idea of where you stand and a starting point to think about your long-term planning.
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Ready to learn more?
Money can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexities, you can make better decisions to improve your daily life. Connect with us at Stone Steps Financial.
11 December 2025, 2:00 pm - 19 minutes 47 secondsA Simple Guide to Smarter Giving
The holidays have a way of bringing money and meaning into the same conversation. In this episode of Real Personal Finance, Scott and Nick lean right into that. Between family gifting, charitable giving, donor-advised funds, and changes to deduction rules, this episode walks you through the most practical ways to support the people and causes you care about. It’s a great moment to pause, think about what matters, and check in on how generosity fits into your financial life.
Key Takeaways
• How gift tax exclusion limits really work when supporting family and loved ones
• The benefits of donating appreciated stock instead of cash
• Why donor-advised funds and QCDs can make year-end giving more impactfulReady to learn more?
Curious about your retirement savings? Our How Much Do I Need To Retire? quiz gives you an idea of where you stand and a starting point to think about your long-term planning.
https://www.stonestepsfinancial.com/howmuch
Money can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexities, you can make better decisions to improve your daily life. Connect with us at Stone Steps Financial.
27 November 2025, 4:00 pm - 25 minutes 47 secondsYour Financial To-Do List Before December 31st
Most people wait until tax season to think about taxes, but by then, the window’s closed. Scott and Nick talk about how the best planning happens now, when there’s still time to adjust what’s already in motion.
They get into some of the details that help shape your future: RMD timing, Roth conversions in the “golden window,” how bunching charitable gifts really works, and what happens when you accidentally nudge your income above a Medicare bracket.
A friendly reminder that a little attention before December 31 can go a long way toward starting next year lighter, clearer, and better positioned.
Curious about your retirement savings? Our How Much Do I Need To Retire? quiz gives you an idea of where you stand and a starting point to think about your long-term planning.
https://www.stonestepsfinancial.com/howmuch
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Ready to learn more?
Money can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexities, you can make better decisions to improve your daily life. Connect with us at Stone Steps Financial.
13 November 2025, 2:00 pm - 24 minutes 16 secondsIt’s Open Enrollment Season: How to Avoid Leaving Money on the Table
A lot of people are under-utilizing their corporate benefits, unintentionally leaving money on the table. Open enrollment is a great opportunity to review your company’s benefits plan to ensure that you’re taking full advantage of everything they offer.
In this episode, we walk through some of the most common areas you can optimize your benefits, such as HSAs, FSAs, life insurance, disability, ESPPs, and more.
Curious about your retirement savings? Our How Much Do I Need To Retire? quiz gives you an idea of where you stand and a starting point to think about your long-term planning.
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Get in touch with us!
How Much Do I Need To Retire? Quiz
https://www.stonestepsfinancial.com/howmuch
Money can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexities, you can make better decisions to improve your daily life. Connect with us at Stone Steps Financial.
30 October 2025, 1:00 pm - 16 minutes 38 secondsWhat Business Owners Need to Know About the OBBBA
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has some pretty great enhancements for business owners, but you have to know what you’re looking for in order to get them. Whether it’s the extension of Qualified Business Income, the 100% Bonus Depreciation, or Enhanced Qualified Small Business Stock, the bill has something for businesses of any size.
In this episode, we walk you through six key provisions of the OBBBA that every business owner should be aware of, then we look at how you can take action now to reduce tax liability and boost cash flow.
Curious about your retirement savings? Our How Much Do I Need To Retire? quiz gives you an idea of where you stand and a starting point to think about your long-term planning.
—
Ready to learn more?
How Much Do I Need To Retire? Quiz
https://www.stonestepsfinancial.com/howmuch
Money can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexities, you can make better decisions to improve your daily life. Connect with us at Stone Steps Financial.
16 October 2025, 2:00 pm - 16 minutes 3 secondsThere’s More to Saving for Retirement Than Knowing How Much Money You’ll Need
“How much money do I need to save in order to retire – what’s my number?” It’s one of the most common questions financial advisors get, and we understand why. People want a goal, something they can work toward to help them feel more at peace about how they’re saving.
As is often the case in financial planning, when people ask for their number, the answer goes deeper than dollars and cents. It’s not just how much you save, but where you save and what you prepare for. Tune in as we look beneath your number to understand everything that goes into preparing for retirement.
Curious about your retirement savings? Our How Much Do I Need To Retire? quiz gives you an idea of where you stand and a starting point to think about your long-term planning.
—
Get in touch with us!
How Much Do I Need To Retire? Quiz
https://www.stonestepsfinancial.com/howmuch
Money can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexities, you can make better decisions to improve your daily life. Connect with us at Stone Steps Financial.
12 September 2025, 5:00 pm - 17 minutes 33 secondsPre-Tax, After-Tax, Roth: How Should You Distribute Your 401(k) Contributions?
People often think of their 401(k) as the set-it-and-forget-it retirement account. You set your contribution amount, get your employer match, and leave it alone. But what if your company gives you pre-tax, after-tax, and Roth IRA options? It’s a nice problem to have, but things can get complicated pretty quickly.
In this episode, we’re answering a listener question from someone in just such a predicament, which is pretty common in the world of tech. Listen in as we get practical and break down the max contributions, pre-tax vs after-tax vs Roth, and much more.
Ready to learn more?
How Much Do I Need To Retire? Quiz:
https://www.stonestepsfinancial.com/howmuchMoney can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexities, you can make better decisions to improve your daily life. Connect with us at Stone Steps Financial.
29 August 2025, 3:00 am - 23 minutes 32 secondsA Meaningful Conversation About Money with Former NYT Columnist Carl Richards
Whether you know him as “The Sketch Guy” from his decade-long run as a NY Times columnist or you’ve heard him on a podcast, if you’re interested in the world of finance, you probably know who Carl Richards is. He has also written multiple books, including The Behavior Gap, The One-page Financial Plan, and his forthcoming book of sketches, titled simply Your Money.
In this episode, we sit down to talk through a few of Carl’s favorite sketches, how he came up with the ideas, and what he hoped to communicate with each. Whether it’s learning to be “less wrong tomorrow” or finding out what is on the other side of complexity, Carl’s sketches and insights will leave you feeling inspired.
About our guest
Carl Richards started The Sketch Guy column in The New York Times from the hills of Utah, crafting clear, relatable insights about money with just card stock and a Sharpie. The column ran weekly for a decade. This journey began when Carl applied for what he thought was a job as a “security guard,” only to find out the ad actually said “securities.” That slight misstep sparked a lifelong dedication to reshaping how we think about money.
Resources mentioned in the episode
- Pre-order the book on Amazon
- Bulk orders of Carl’s books
- Support local bookstores
Ready to learn more?
15 August 2025, 11:00 pm - 21 minutes 6 secondsThe Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the OBBBA
Disclaimer:
At approximately 12:09 in this episode, the income thresholds were misstated. The correct information is that the phase-out applies to incomes above $500,000 for single and married filing jointly, and $250,000 for married filing separately.
With the OBBBA now signed into law, we’re sitting down to walk through the good, the bad, and the ugly. The biggest takeaway is that the new bill has opened the door to some great tax planning opportunities, but you have to act soon! Most of the OBBBA’s changes expire in four years, so you have a little time and space to consider doing a Roth conversion or realize some capital gains.
We explore the impact on tax rates, estate and gift tax, deductions, tax credits, and more. After that, we dive into how Congress will pay for the OBBBA, which I guess you could say is where things go from “good” to “bad” – or even “ugly.”
Ready to learn more?
Money can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexities, you can make better decisions to improve your daily life. Connect with us at Stone Steps Financial or Swell Financial Partners.
1 August 2025, 2:00 pm - 30 minutes 2 secondsAm I Behind? Rethinking Retirement Catch-Up Strategies
Do you ever feel like you're behind on retirement? A 41-year-old listener with over $230,000 saved and a 50%+ savings rate, certainly did. In this episode, we explain why starting late doesn't mean finishing last, especially when you're making such incredible strides! We dive into the numbers, the idea of being "behind" and the importance of the right mindset during this prep-for-retirement journey.
You will hear a little debate about Roth versus traditional 401(k), how your tax bracket should guide your choices, and why leaning too heavily on dividend funds might hold back your growth in the long term. After listening, you will have a question stuck in your head: “Is that intense saving strategy keeping me from living today?”
Key takeaways:
- You can make huge progress even if you start “late”
- Mindset matters almost as much as numbers
- Choosing between Roth and traditional 401(k) contributions
- Dividend investing might not be the best strategy
Ready to learn more?
Money can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexities, you can make better decisions to improve your daily life. Connect with us at Stone Steps Financial or Swell Financial Partners.
17 July 2025, 2:00 pm - 25 minutes 43 secondsAre You Saving Money in the Right Order?
We all know we should probably save some more, but when we pass the piggy bank phase and have larger amounts of money, things get a little more complicated than just dropping some coins every once in a while. In this episode of Real Personal Finance, Scott and Nick get into a little detail that most people skip: “where” and “how” matter as much as “how much” when it comes to saving.
Key takeaways:
- The emergency fund is not optional; it’s the foundation of saving
- The 401K match is free money you shouldn't leave behind
- Sequence matters: there’s a smart way to allocate money
Ready to learn more?
Money can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re able to understand the complexities, you can make better decisions to improve your daily life. Connect with us at Stone Steps Financial or Swell Financial Partners.
3 July 2025, 2:00 pm - More Episodes? Get the App