Not Just Numbers: Honest Conversations with a Financial Advisor (and Lawyer!)
For most of us, financial planning and investing are intimidating and overwhelming subjects. There are so many elements to consider and so much information from a seemingly endless sea of voices. What if you could cut through the confusion to finally feel confident and in control of your finances? It’s time to get smart about money. In this podcast, you will hear Mike and Maddie have honest conversations about financial concepts and situations you might be facing right now, rules and best practices for you to follow, and how to make sense of the financial media - what you really need to know. You will also hear local Yardley and Bucks County businesspeople talk about their businesses, their successes, and their challenges.
Episodes
81 episodes
Ep. 81 Am I Chasing Investment Returns? How Emotions Affect My Investment Decisions
In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison discuss why investors often struggle to separate smart long-term strategy from emotional decision-making. Using recent articles on performance chasing and Americans’ preference for ...
Ep. 80 Why Stock Valuations May Be Higher Than They Used to Be
Stocks are trading at historically high valuations, but is comparing today’s market to the past really an apples-to-apples comparison? In this episode, Mike and Madison explore how lower trading costs, index funds, ETFs, retirement accounts, fr...
Ep. 79 Trump Accounts Are Now Open: What Do I Need to Know?
In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison discuss the new Trump Accounts and what families should understand before opening or funding one. They cover who may qualify for the federal $1,000 seed contribution, how the accoun...
Ep. 78 Stocks, Bonds, and Cash: Finding the Right Balance in Today’s Market
In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison unpack three recent Wall Street Journal articles that raise timely questions about stocks, bonds, and cash. They discuss why the equity risk premium has narrowed, what higher bond y...
Ep. 77 What Would You Do with a Windfall?
What really happens when someone suddenly comes into a large amount of money? In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison unpack the emotional, psychological, and financial realities that follow inheritances, business sales, ...
Ep. 76 Why Retirement Planning Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison take a closer look at one of the biggest questions in retirement planning: should you save in a traditional retirement account, a Roth account, or both? Inspired by a recent Wall St...
Ep. 75 Keeping the Bank of Mom and Dad Open
Graduation is often seen as a finish line, but financially, it’s really a turning point. In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison explore what happens when college tuition payments end and a significant amount of cash flow...
Ep. 74 Rethinking Your Portfolio: Why Age Alone Shouldn’t Drive Your Investment Strategy
Are you still using rules like “100 minus your age” to guide your investments? In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison unpack a Wall Street Journal article featuring a Yale professor’s new approach to portfolio allocation...
Ep. 73 How Do You Teach Teens and Young Adults to Make Confident Money Decisions Before the Stakes Are High? With Maureen Donahue
In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison are joined by financial advisor Maureen Donahue to tackle a challenge many families face: how to teach teens and young adults to make smart money decisions before the stakes are hig...
Ep. 72 Why Your Credit Score Doesn’t Always Make Sense (And What to Do About It)
In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison break down the often confusing world of credit scores—why they can drop even when you’re making smart financial moves, and why they matter more than most people realize. Drawing on ...
Ep. 71 Three Important Numbers for Women’s Financial Futures
In this episode of Not Just Numbers: Honest Conversations with a Financial Advisor and Lawyer, Mike and Madison discuss three key numbers shaping the financial future of women: 45, 5, and 59.Women are projected to control 45% of...
Ep. 70 Can a 100% S&P 500 Portfolio Survive Retirement?
Many investors assume that owning the S&P 500 means they’re fully diversified. But in today’s market, that may not be true.In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison discuss growing concentration in the U.S. stock...
Ep. 69 From Tax Prep to Tax Strategy: How to Make Taxes Work for You All Year
Taxes are often treated as a once-a-year obligation, but they play a much bigger role in your overall financial life. In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison explore the difference between tax preparation and tax strategy...
Ep. 68 2025 in Review and What to Know Heading Into 2026
As we head into 2026, what lessons can we take from a year of major change?In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison break down the biggest developments of 2025 and what they mean for planning ahead. The discussion f...
Ep. 67 From Tax Strategy to Industry Shifts: The Real Work (and World) of Financial Planning
Most people think financial advice is something you do once — get a plan, make a few changes, and move on. In reality, that mindset can cost you tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars over time.In this episode, Mike and Madison un...
Ep. 66 Market Gurus, Bold Predictions, and the Truth About Timing the Market
In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison sit down to unpack the world of stock market pundits, the personalities who make sweeping predictions that often grab headlines but rarely stand the test of time. From Jospeh Granvi...
Ep. 65 Understanding the 2026 401(k) Rule Changes: What Savers Need to Know
In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison unpack the major retirement plan updates arriving in 2026. They break down new 401(k) contribution limits, expanded catch-up opportunities, and the significant shift to Roth-only ca...
Ep. 64 Year-End Giving Strategies: Tax-Smart and Impactful Then joined by Christian LeFer from Instant Nonprofit
As the year draws to a close, charitable giving surges — and with thoughtful planning, those gifts can become even more meaningful. In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison explore how to make your generosity truly count, ...
Ep. 63 The True Costs of Caring for Aging Parents Then Joined by Jimmy Rios from Rios Business Advisors & Rios Business Funding
Caring for aging parents is one of the most emotional, and financially complex, challenges many families will face. In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison dive into the realities of caregiving, what it looks like, why it...
Ep. 62 The Hidden Cost of Estate Planning Errors Then Joined by Shellee Howard from College Ready
In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Mike and Madison break down a costly estate planning mistake that led one family to pay $1.5 million in unnecessary taxes. Using a recent Wall Street Journal case as an example, they explain how filing error...
Ep. 61 Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early? Then joined by Yvonne from The Crossing Animal Society
In this episode of Not Just Numbers: Honest Conversations with a Financial Advisor and Lawyer, Mike and Madison dive into one of the most common financial questions: Should I pay off my mortgage early? They break down the adva...
Ep. 60 Colleges Fail the Liquidity Test: Lessons for Everyday Investors Then joined by Matt Stout from Stout Organics Turf and Plant Care
In this episode of Not Just Numbers: Honest Conversations with a Financial Advisor and Lawyer, Mike and Madison unpack Jason Zweig’s Wall Street Journal article, “Colleges Fail This Basic Test.” They explore how some of the na...
Ep. 59 Millennials and Money: Why Financial Anxiety Still Lingers Then joined by Anne Lester
Millennials are entering midlife with more wealth than previous generations at the same age, yet many remain anxious about their financial futures. In this episode of Not Just Numbers: Honest Conversations with a Financial Advisor and Lawye...
Ep. 58 Breaking Down the One Big Beautiful Bill Act: What You Need to Know
In this episode of Not Just Numbers: Honest Conversations with a Financial Advisor and Lawyer, Madison and Mike break down the sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a new tax law signed into effect in July.At 887 pages, this legi...
Ep. 57 Breaking Free from Investing’s Memory Traps Then joined by Joe Dillon from Equitable Mediation
In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Madison and Mike explore how our personal financial memories, whether shaped by market crashes, bull runs, or housing booms, can cloud judgment and influence investing decisions. Inspired by Jason Zweig’s Wa...