
Check Your Balances
Check Your Balances explores the world of personal finance, investing, and business through the lens of two financial planners that help people navigate some of life's most impactful financial decisions.
Episodes
237 episodes
Can you "Rule Break" into retirement?
As a follow up to last week's episode with David Gardner, we dive deeper into whether the Rule Breaker Investing philosophy is suited for an investor that is approaching retirement. Ross and Dan spent 6 years almost exclusively trying to answer...
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Episode 242
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29:39

Rule Breaker Investing with David Gardner
This week we are honored to have the Co-Founder and Chief Rule Breaker of The Motley Fool, David Gardner, join the show. David has an unbelievable investing track record, and his new book Rule Breaker Investing is his formula for success. We kn...
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Episode 241
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43:56

August Mailbag: When does overpaying a mortgage make sense?
Got extra cash and wondering if you should throw it at your mortgage? 🤔 This week, we dive into the age-old debate: when does it actually make sense to overpay your mortgage? What are you using if you still mourn the loss of Mint.com? Th...
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Episode 240
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25:42

Are these the dumbest finance theories?
When it comes to talking about finance, not all of the theories you hear out there are going to be winners. What are some of the dumbest theories that we've come across, and why are they wrong? Tune in to find out.
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Episode 239
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24:51

What Are the Strategies for Managing an Inherited IRA?
Are you one of the many people who've inherited a retirement account and are now wondering, "What's an RMD and how do I manage it?" The rules around inherited IRAs and required minimum distributions have changed, and it can be confusing....
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Episode 237
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30:29

Scott Galloway Got Rid of His Insurance... Should you?
Scott Galloway recently announced he’s dropped all of his insurance—but is he an anomaly or onto something? Dan and Ross break down his controversial stance and discuss whether most people are actually over-insuring themselves against small ris...
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Episode 236
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27:59

Is the OBBB Beautiful... For You?
The highly anticipated "One Big Beautiful Bill" has officially been signed into law, sparking intense debate and speculation. This week on Check Your Balances, we're cutting through the noise to deliver a crucial breakdown of its sweeping chang...
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Episode 235
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29:59

Do You Own Enough Emerging Markets? With Callum Thomas
In this episode of Check Your Balances, we're joined by Callum Thomas to tackle a crucial question for your portfolio: Do you own enough emerging markets? Callum shares his expert insights on the current landscape, potential, and risks of inves...
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Episode 234
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33:27

Is the New Chase Sapphire Reserve Worth It? with Sara Rathner
This week, NerdWallet's Sara Rathner makes a second appearance on the show to talk about the changes to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. As one of the most prominent travel cards and the market, and one that Ross happens to personally use... th...
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Episode 233
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30:10

Does Chat GPT Know How Taxes Work?
On this week's episode of Check Your Balances, a mailbag episode! Does Chat GPT know how each of your retirement account taxes actually works? How do the fees in mutual funds and ETFs actually get deducted? These questions and more as we dive i...
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Episode 232
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32:00

Severance & Independence
What can the hit Apple TV show Severance teach the fellas about saving for financial independence? Join us this week as Ross and Dan explore the idea that you might be "severed" from the version of yourself that you're supposed to be saving mon...
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Episode 231
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15:49

Liability Matching
How do you you get your money to line up with being available when you actually need it? Designing a portfolio with this strategy in mind is called "Liability Matching" and it's a concept that Ross and Dan believe in and teach regularly. While ...
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Episode 230
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31:51

Over Under: Do we know the average American's finances?
Think you know the average American? Ross and Dan are about to find out if they do! Welcome to "Over Under," the brand new game on Check Your Balances where our hosts put their statistical savvy to the test. They'll compete in a lighth...
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Episode 229
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32:03

World's Worst Real Estate Investor?
A surge in homes for sale relative to the number of buyers leads Ross to question whether his purchase of a home 6 months ago might have been poorly timed. Is he the worlds worst real estate investor? Only time will tell, but you can hear the b...
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Episode 228
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22:23

Should You Use Your Roth as an Emergency Fund?
This week on Check Your Balances, we tackle a listener question: Should your Roth IRA double as an emergency fund? We'll explore the pros and cons. We'll also demystify the critical difference between correlation and causation in personal finan...
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Episode 227
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32:23

SALT Changes, Housing Choices, and a Recession Coming?
This week we're diving into the big questions we think you should be asking. We break down the latest rumblings around SALT deduction changes and what they could mean for your tax bill. Then, we pivot to the ever-shifting housing market, and wh...
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Episode 226
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32:17

Do You Trust Your Financial Plan?
What do you do when the numbers tell a different story than your gut? This episode tackles a common planner's dilemma: how to help clients truly believe their financial plan when the data clearly shows they'll be okay. We'll explore if it's abo...
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Episode 225
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25:46

Would You Rather...?
Want a fun and engaging way to talk about money with your partner? This episode of Check Your Balances explores how "Would You Rather...?" style finance questions can be a fantastic tool for uncovering each other's financial values and perspect...
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Episode 224
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29:48

Is That Sloppy Financial Planning?
On this episode of Check Your Balances, we're putting replacement ratios in the hot seat! Is this financial fortune-telling or just lazy math? We'll ask the tough questions: Are they the ultimate shortcut to a comfy retirement, or a recipe for ...
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Episode 223
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25:17

Save Vs. Splurge: How to Handle "Extra" Cash
Stop wondering what to do with that extra paycheck, bonus, or side hustle income! "Save vs. Splurge" empowers you to make confident financial decisions that align with your values and goals. We explore the art of balancing saving for a secure f...
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Episode 222
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23:29

Mailbag: Money Markets, CDs, and Estates!
Have you ever wondered why you'd use a money market or a CD instead of a high yield savings account? Are you concerned about battling it out with a sibling over an inheritance? If so, this week's mailbag episode is for you!
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Episode 221
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31:20

Hedging Your Index Funds
Should you even try to hedge a single position inside an index fund? What happens when you spot a single stock within your broad market index that looks seriously overvalued? We'll weigh the costs, complexities, an...
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Episode 220
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20:41

Tariff Tantrum
The headlines are screaming about tariffs and trade wars, but what does it all mean for your wallet? In this episode of Check Your Balances, we break down the "Tariff Tantrum" and explore how these international trade spats could impac...
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Episode 219
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30:22
