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
74 episodes
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...
Ep. 56 What You Need to Know About the 2025 Changes to Inherited IRA Rules
In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Madison and Mike break down the upcoming 2025 changes to inherited IRA rules, and why beneficiaries and financial planners alike need to pay close attention. They discuss how the SECURE Act has alre...
Ep. 55 Think Twice Before Mailing Retirement Checks
In this episode, Madison and Mike break down “Mailed, Stolen, and Cashed,” a New York Times article by Ron Lieber that uncovers a disturbing trend: checks being stolen from the mail, altered, and cashed. Mike shares insight into the sy...
Ep. 54 Making Sense of Equity Compensation with Maureen Donahue
In this episode of Not Just Numbers: Honest Conversations with a Financial Advisor and Lawyer, Madison and Mike are joined by Certified Financial Planner Practitioner Maureen Donahue to unpack one of the most misunderstood, and potentially most...
Ep. 53 Turning Retirement Savings into a Steady Income Plan Then joined by Eric from The Garden Artisan
In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Madison and Mike dive into one of the most common questions clients ask: How do I turn my retirement savings into reliable income? Mike explains the importance of timing Social Security benefits, st...
Ep. 52 Why Zero Income Tax Doesn’t Mean Zero Financial Surprises
In this episode of Not Just Numbers, Madison and Mike break down a recent Wall Street Journal article that challenges the popular belief that moving to a no-income-tax state guarantees retirement savings. From skyrocketing ins...
Ep. 51 Beyond the Numbers: Preparing Mentally and Emotionally for a Fulfilling Retirement
In this episode of Not Just Numbers: Honest Conversations with a Financial Advisor and Lawyer, Madison and Mike dive into a New York Times article about the mental and emotional challenges of retirement. They discuss why thoughtful pre...
Ep. 50 Financial Market Recap with Mike Then Employee Spotlight on Amy Garry
In this episode of Not Just Numbers: Honest Conversations with a Financial Advisor and Lawyer, hosts Madison Demora and Mike Garry introduce April’s Employee Spotlight, Amy Garry—financial planning associate at Yardley Wealth Managemen...