Connecting the Dollars by Propel Financial Advisors

In the latest episode of the “Connecting the Dollars” podcast, Amanda Vaught and guest David Vaught CFA dive deep into Warren Buffett's 2025 Berkshire Hathaway annual letter. If you're keen on strategy, leadership, or simply fascinated by Buffett's approach, this episode is a must-listen.

In our latest episode of Connecting the Dollars, Amanda Vaught and Emily Agosto dive deep into the upcoming tax law changes for 2025. If you're keen on staying informed about what might happen with 401(k) plans, IRAs, and more, this episode is a must-listen.

Dive into the latest episode as co-hosts Emily Agosto and Amanda Vaught unravel the intricacies of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and how they are shaping the corporate world today. This insightful discussion provides a deep dive into real-world applications and impacts of DEI. Key Takeaways: • Financial Motivation Behind DEI: While many perceive DEI initiatives as politically motivated, they are often rooted in financial strategies. Studies show that diversity, especially in corporate settings, enhances financial outcomes. • Real-world Examples and Impact: From redefining 401(k )contribution educational sessions to transforming maternity policies into inclusive parental leave policies, tailoring DEI initiatives can lead to a more engaged and financially secure workforce. • Investment Strategies vs. Consumer Influence: Support for DEI can extend beyond investing in stocks. Leveraging consumer power by supporting diverse and inclusive businesses directly can have a significant impact. Tune in to explore how your financial decisions might intersect with your values! www.connectingthedollars.com

Reflections on 2024 Markets: What We Learned Connecting the Dollars Episode 60 We dive deep into the financial trends and insights from the past year. Join Emily Agosto and Amanda Vaught as they explore the dynamic shifts in the economy and provide valuable lessons for investors moving forward. Key Takeaways from the Episode: Economic Predictions vs. Reality: Throughout 2024, many anticipated a recession that never fully materialized. Over time, it became evident that the economy was more resilient than expected, highlighting the uncertainty and challenges in predicting market conditions. International vs. Domestic Stocks: The U.S. stock market outperformed international markets significantly in 2024. Many portfolios unknowingly held significant international exposure, emphasizing the importance of understanding where your investments lie. Tech Dominance & Diversification: While tech stocks continued to attract attention, sectors such as financials and industrials also showed strong performance. This underscores the importance of maintaining a diversified portfolio to capture gains from various market segments. Tune in to gain more insights and make informed decisions for your financial future. We're here to help you navigate your path to achieving your financial goals. connectingthedollars.com

In a recent episode of Connecting the Dollars, Amanda Vaught and Emily Agosto discussed the significant impact that natural disasters, like the ongoing California wildfires, have on personal finances. Here's what we explored:  Vigilant Charity: In times of disaster, it's essential to ensure your donations are going to vetted charities. Be aware of fraudulent activities and choose reputable organizations for your contributions.  Insurance Rate Dynamics: As natural disasters become more frequent, insurance companies adjust their rates accordingly. This change affects both homeowners and renters, nationwide. It's important to stay proactive to mitigate these rising costs.  Financial Preparedness: Whether you're a homeowner or renter, maintaining a liquid emergency fund and understanding the ins and outs of your insurance policy can provide crucial support when disaster strikes. To dive deeper into these discussions, check out the full episode on our website or your favorite podcast platform. Stay informed and prepare for the unexpected. #ConnectingTheDollars #NaturalDisasters #FinancialPlanning #Insurance #PersonalFinance We'd love to hear your thoughts and any questions you might have! www.connectingthedollars.com

In our latest episode of Connecting the Dollars, Amanda Vaught and Emily Agosto discuss how our 2024 resolutions shaped up and set our sights on new goals for 2025. Here are three key takeaways: Accountability Matters: Amanda found that setting a reading goal and using Goodreads for tracking helped her stay on course. This method, she notes, can spill over into financial goals – having accountability can make a huge difference.  Self-Care & Boundaries: Emily shared how prioritizing self-care allowed her to handle the stress of tax season better, and made her more present and grounded. Setting clear boundaries at work (and home) can translate into a healthier, more balanced life.  Evaluate & Adapt: If you're falling short of your financial savings goal or any other goal, don't stress. Adjust and find a balance that lets you live fully while still working towards your objectives. Incremental changes, automated savings, and celebrating small victories are key. We invite our listeners to share their New Year's resolutions with us. Let's make 2025 a year of growth, both personally and financially. www.connectingthedollars.com

Major life events are great times to get personalized financial advice. Emily & Amanda believe that ongoing quality financial advice can have a greater impact than merely seeking advice for one-off events. There is a big difference between getting the advice and actually implementing it. Time stamps 3:45 Planning for retirement 6:40 Trusting in professional advice 8:49 Hiring a tax professional for the whole picture 13:12 When you should consider switching professionals. Find additional resources at Connecting The Dollars

Holiday season is upon us. Unfortunately, it's also a time where we see a significant increase in financial frauds. Emily & Amanda discuss some common frauds they see when working with clients. They also provide tips on how to prevent and stop them in advance. We wish you a joyous, scam-free holiday with your family and friends.   www.connectingthedollars.com

It's Halloween season, so Emily & Amanda take this opportunity to discuss personal finances of one of their favorite scary movie tropes - haunted houses. Time stamps 2:12 Inspection and appraisal 3:55 Check your insurance coverage 5:40 What if your spouse is the one to inherit? 9:40 Lessons from The Shining 13:14 How to Sell a Haunted House

The seasons are changing which means it's time to tackle those year-end financial tasks. Amanda & Emily talk tax planning, retirement planning, budgeting, and what to expect for the rest of 2024. What's on your to-do list before we hit 2025? Topics Covered: Fed rate cut, Tax Planning: withholding, Tax Planning: harvesting capital losses or gains, Tax planning: Roth accounts, Retirement planning: 401(k) contributions, income limit for Roth IRA contribution, Holiday budget planning, Election impact on markets and Open enrollment.

Emily & Amanda discuss how the recent Fed rate cut may impact your personal finances. They suggest considering the rate cut in context before making any changes to your financial plan. www.connectingthedollars.com  

All year, Wall Street has been practically chomping at the bit for lower rates, while Fed Chair Powell has continually urged a more steadied, cautious approach to lowering rates. Now, it seems to be around the corner, as Powell signaled at his last press conference. In this episode, Amanda and David discuss the potential impacts of the pending Fed rate cut - expected on September 18. We discuss: 1) Potential cash moves 2) The Impact on bond and stock markets; and 3) The Impact on mortgage market.   www.connectingthedollars.com

Emily and Amanda discuss what we can learn about personal finance from the recent summer Olympics in Paris. One thing about athletes is that they know there will be a peak performance and that they'll have to adjust their career afterwards. What about regular people? Most don't recognize when they're at their peak earning potential. Life happens – you have a baby, you lose a job, you burnout on your career. We might not know when we peak, but we do know that if you are a high earner, you may not stay one. If you plan now for when life throws a monkey wrench in the works, then you'll be better able to pivot when the change comes.

Midyear Market Insights Part 2: the Fed & the economy Connecting the Dollars Podcast Episode 50 Emily and Amanda discuss some major market themes in 2024. Next in our series: The Fed and the economy Inflation has fallen this year, with the most recent readings falling below expectations. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate keeps creeping up. The Fed has a dual mandate on inflation and employment: will the long-awaited rate cut happen soon?    www.connectingthedollars.com

Emily and Amanda discuss some major market themes in 2024. First up: Nvidia and AI: The returns in Nividia and other AI stocks have been astronomical this year. Emily & Amanda lay out how we, as financial advisors interpret and apply the news. They discuss: -          Comparisons to the dot-com bubble and whether they're warranted -          Portfolio concentration and risk -          Recognizing the feelings of FOMO that can lead to imprudent behaviors   www.connectingthedollars.com

This week, Emily and Amanda dive into the current state of the housing market and what to consider before purchasing your first home. After discussing the impact of higher interest rates and rising home insurance costs, they cover five key considerations before taking the leap into real estate.   www.connectingthedollars.com

This week, fellow advisor Danielle Woods joins the podcast. Danielle draws on her 26 years of experience as a financial advisor to discuss the five most common issues she sees clients struggle with. They are:   1. Focusing on an isolated issue rather than the whole picture. 2. Balancing paying off debt vs savings 3. Being proactive and speaking with your advisor before taking action 4. Preparing for death (legally and financially speaking) 5. Working on their budget   Additional resources:   During our discussion Danielle referenced a webinar that we hosted that goes through the elements of estate planning.   Navigating the Dark Cloud: Planning Before and After a Loved One's Death  

In this episode, Emily and Amanda reflect on tax season 2024. When preparing tax returns, Emily and Amanda see recurring themes across clients. They discuss their top ten issues they saw taxpayers struggling with in 2024. www.connectingthedollars.com

In this episode, Emily and Amanda discuss the different types of fees financial advisors charge for their services: from AUM (assets-under-management) to flat-fees to commissions. They also include a discussion around different types of hidden fees to look for. Emily and Amanda believe in being upfront and transparent about their fees. Find additional resources at https://propelfinancialadvisors.com/connecting-the-dollars

Get to Know your Advisor: Emily Agosto, CPA Connecting the Dollars Podcast Episode 44 In this episode, we get to know advisor Emily Agosto better. Emily has extensive professional experience as an accountant, investment advisor and financial professional. Learn more about how she approaches her financial advising practice and why she enjoys it so much.    www.connectingthedollars.com

What It's Like to Work With Us Connecting the Dollars Podcast Episode 43 Emily and Amanda get into what it's like to work with a Propel financial advisor. They walk through the steps from the introductory phone call to an on-going relationship.   www.connectingthedollars.com

In honor of Valentine's Day, Amanda and Emily discuss how to evaluate a stock for a long-term commitment.  They teach you: - Where to find sources of reliable information, and - The numbers to consider before buying any stock.   www.connectingthedollars.com

Amanda is joined by fellow advisor David Vaught, CFA, to discuss the pros and cons of model and bespoke portfolios.   They delve into: Quantitative vs qualitative considerations in investment portfolios; How models impact the sales model that financial advisors and brokers use; and Whether or not models are something we can rely on based on their past performance. www.connectingthedollars.com

In this episode, we get to know advisor Amanda Vaught better. Amanda has extensive professional experience as an investment advisor and financial professional. Learn more about how she approaches her financial advising practice and why she enjoys it so much.  Check out Amanda's full bio.   connectingthedollars.com

Emily & Amanda are excited to be back with a new season of Connecting the Dollars. The premiere episode features their insights on some finance-related New Year's resolutions for 2024. They dig into: - the use of high yield savings accounts, and the impact of the Fed's recent pivot on interest rate policy;   - whether or not high income people really need a budget; - the importance of asking for help and making a plan. They wrap up with some non-financial goals - can you guess which of them wants to drum more and who wants to go sailing? Be sure to let us know your own New Year's resolutions in the comments. connectingthedollars.com

Emily & Amanda discuss financial advice they've come across on the internet: - What to do with a 401(k) suffering from the poor performance of target-date funds, - The impact of investment choices on a portfolio, - Emily recommends a personal finance book for small business; and - They address a listener question on LLCs vs S-Corps.   Connectingthedollars.com

In this episode, we get to know advisor Danielle Woods better. Danielle has extensive professional experience as an investment advisor and financial professional. Learn more about how she approaches her financial advising practice and why she enjoys it so much.   www.connectingthedollars.com

Moody Markets The markets have been in a mood lately, no? Emily & Amanda discuss: - the current state of the stock and bond markets, - cover some year-end tax planning, and - finish up with their hot take on whether the 60-40 portfolio is dead.   connectingthedollars.com

In this episode, we get to know advisor David Vaught better. David has extensive professional experience as an investment advisor and financial professional. Learn more about how he approaches his financial advising practice and why he enjoys it so much.     connectingthedollars.com

It's that time of the year where everyone starts to go back to school. In honor of the season, Emily and Amanda dive into the student loan repayments that will be resuming soon. Then they switch over to how they approach saving and investing for children's college education with 529 plans. Finally, they answer a listener question: “I overspent on my recent vacation. What should I do?”   Resources - connectingthedollars.com

Emily and Amanda discuss finance topics that came up in two summer blockbusters of 2023: Barbie (white collar crime) and Mission Impossible (crypto). They wrap up with a response to a listener question: "I bought a stock and it went down. I was sad and upset about it, so what should I do?" Find additional resources at connectingthedollars.com

Emily and Amanda dive into financial planning of hobbies this episode. Working with clients, we've found that a lot of people don't budget for their hobbies, despite them being one of the most joyful parts of their life. Then Emily and Amanda discuss when a hobby turns into a business and potential tax consequences.   Resources - connectingthedollars.com

Join Emily and Amanda for a discussion of current events in markets and personal finance in the summer of 2023. They start with international investments and their recent outperformance of domestic stocks. Then they delve into the "hawkish pause" by the Fed and its potential impact. Finally they wrap up with thoughts on the recent Supreme Court case on student loan forgiveness, and how to approach the upcoming resumption of student loan payments expected to begin this fall.  Find additional resources at connectingthedollars.com

Emily and Amanda are joined by David and Danielle to discuss the various types of assets. Listen in as the whole team gives you their insights.   connectingthedollars.com

The Listener Edition: $600 Reporting Triggers, Debt Ceilings, and Letting Go of Sentimental InvestmentsWe answer three listener questions in this episode:1. What's the deal with the $600 limit on digital payment platforms like Venmo? 2. Should I change any of my investments because of the debt ceiling? 3. How do I handle investments that have sentimental value? Find additional resources at Connecting the Dollars.

Amanda and Emily are joined by fellow advisor David Vaught, CFA, to discuss our current economic environment and the record inflows into money market funds in 2023. We discuss: - The pros and cons of using money market funds; - The types of risks to consider when choosing investment products for your cash, particularly reinvestment risk; and - The importance of staying optimistic in today's economic environment. Find additional resources at https://propelfinancialadvisors.com/connecting-the-dollars/episode28

Amanda and Emily celebrate Earth Day with a discussion around green investing, which has started to become synonymous with ESG investing. We discuss: What does ESG investing really mean; How did ESG investments perform in 2022 compared to other investments?; ESG investing in the political crosshairs and the implications; and How Propel incorporates ESG investing for our clients. Correction: Note that at one point Amanda quotes an expense ratio of 0.28% for an ESG ETF, but she mis-spoke. The expense ratio was 0.10% as of 5/4/2023. connectingthedollars.com

Even though we just wrapped up the 2022 tax season, it's time to get started on planning for 2023 taxes. In this episode, Emily and Amanda discuss several things to keep an eye on throughout the year so that there are no surprises next spring.   connectingthedollars.com  

In this episode, Emily & Amanda discuss several ways to evaluate financial advisors before you decide to hire them. The recent Madoff documentary on Netflix, reminded us how easy it can be for investors to be taken advantage of. We want everyone to be aware of the research tools and simple questions to ask that can help you determine the best advisor for you.   www.connectingthedollars.com

In this episode, Emily and Amanda discuss how to budget for a new pet in your life.   Links and Resources - Connectingthedollars.com

In this episode, Emily tells the story of working in a hardware store where customers who bought the cheapest hammer invariably returned to buy the nicer, costlier version. Emily and Amanda go on to dive deeper into how to evaluate the true cost of what we buy. They discuss how the concept applies to investments, and cover the pros and cons of indexes versus using more active investments. Sometimes what's “cheap” ends up costing you more.   Links - www.connectingthedollars.com

In this episode, Emily and Amanda discuss their financial resolutions for the year. They discuss why utilizing a Roth and Tax Planning should be on your list. Listener question! In this episode we answer: "How should I plan for doing taxes for the first time?"   Links and Resources - connectingthedollars.com

Emily & Amanda get into the practical side of estate planning. We know most Americans don't have their affairs in order, but where can you start? They discuss easy and practical steps you can take today to begin the process. Listener question! In this episode we answer: "How much life insurance do I need?"   www.connectingthedollars.com

In this episode, advisor Danielle Woods joins Emily and Amanda to discuss the new tax and retirement-savings law called SECURE ACT 2.0 passed in December of 2022. Find out how these new provisions impact your savings and tax-planning strategies.    www.connectingthedollars.com

In this episode, Emily & Amanda discuss six money habits to break in 2023: 1. Constantly checking your portfolio's value 2. Downplaying the risk of cybercrime 3. Making minimum payments on your credit card 4. Procrastinating on your taxes 5. Putting expenses on autopilot 6. Postponing joy Today's episode was inspired by this article in AARP: 6 Money Habits to Break in 2023 connectingthedollars.com  Watch this episode on YouTube!

This is an Encore Episode previously released on 11/30/2021. Amanda and Danielle discuss different types of savings accounts including 401ks, Roth IRAs and taxable savings/brokerage accounts. They breakdown the potential tax consequences of each type of account and emphasize the importance of saving and planning in order to meet your future goals.   Links and resources can be found at www.connectingthedollars.com

This is a replay of episode #6 originally published on 12/29/21. In this episode, Emily and Amanda discuss the history and different types of Social Values Investing. Amanda gives an in-depth review of how to incorporate your own values into your investment portfolio and the importance of research before doing so.  All links and resources can be found at www.connectingthedollars.com

Join us for our season one finale episode on the current state of international markets.  We've revealed our own domestic bias by generally sticking to the US stock markets on our podcast. Join us as we delve deeper into international markets and how Propel Financial Advisors approaches investments globally. Amanda is joined by fellow advisor and CFA, David Vaught, who discuss: ·         How international companies are increasingly global companies, ·         The impact of the strong US dollar, ·         Taking advantage of the global opportunity set, ·         Emerging markets like China and Ghana, ·         Britain's recent market turmoil, and ·         Globalization's impact and how it may evolve in a post-Covid world Connectingthedollars.com

In light of the recent announcement of a debt jubilee on student loans, Emily & Amanda decided it was time to dig into how we think about debt, both individually and as financial advisors. We discuss: Psychological factors that factor into decision-making around debt; Creating a plan to pay off your debt; Examining your behavior to prevent going back into debt; Prioritizing paying off debt vs savings; and Emily & Amanda revisit the money diaries they kept earlier this year to examine their own spending. Links and Resources - www.connectingthedollars.com

In this summer's hit show “The Bear”, a young chef comes home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop after a death in the family. The restaurant he inherits is plagued with financial issues, causing unneeded stress on top of an already tense situation. The show provides a great jumping off point for Emily and Amanda to discuss various financial issues that plague all small business owners. Over the past several years, especially in response to Covid's impacts on our lives, a lot of people have started freelancing or started new businesses. These new opportunities also lead to new financial matters to address in both your personal and work lives. We dig into: -          Business formation; -          How to pay yourself; -          Expenses and deductions; -          Tax consequences to be aware of; and -          The importance of keeping good books. www.connectingthedollars.com