Fearless Money Talks

21. The Roth Conversion Playbook with Nick Strain

What You’ll Learn * How Roth conversions actually work * Why timing matters more than most investors realize * The tax traps that can make conversions expensive * How Roth conversions affect Medicare premiums * Why inherited IRA rules changed under the SECURE Act * What the Roth five-year rule means in practice * When paying taxes from the IRA may still make sense Most people have probably heard that a Roth IRA [https://www.halberthargrove.com/news-guidance/what-is-an-individual-retirement-account-ira/] is a good thing. Far fewer people understand what it actually takes to get there or what it costs to get it wrong. This episode of Fearless Money Talks brings in Nick Strain [https://www.halberthargrove.com/member/nickolas-r-strain/], who fields the Roth conversion questions so often that Brian said he just calls Nick whenever one comes up. Together, the three dig into what a Roth conversion actually is, why timing matters more than most people realize, and why converting your entire IRA at once might be one of the more expensive mistakes you could make. The conversation moves through the full picture: the clients who can likely benefit most (recently retired, business owners with a rough year, someone staring down a big RMD at 73), the planning that needs to happen before you sign anything, and the hidden costs that don't show up until April or on your Medicare bill. Nick also walks through what the paperwork actually looks like, why you can't undo a conversion once it's done, and a legacy planning angle that most people don’t think to ask about. It's a genuinely useful conversation for anyone who has ever nodded along when someone mentioned Roth conversions without fully knowing what they were agreeing to. Connect with us!  * Kelli Kiemle on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellikiemle/] * Brian Spinelli on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianspinelli/] * Nick Strain on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-strain-cfp%C2%AE-cpwa%C2%AE-aif%C2%AE-96738619/] * Halbert Hargrove Website [https://www.halberthargrove.com/]

20. Q1 2026 in Review: Expect the Unexpected

What if everything went wrong in the markets and it still wasn't as bad as you expected? This episode of Fearless Money Talks is a Q1 2026 market recap that actually earns its runtime. Kelli Kiemle and Brian Spinelli walk through a quarter that had no shortage of headlines, oil spikes, geopolitical tension, AI panic, inflation jitters, and ask the question most investors forgot to ask: so how bad did things actually get? The answer is more interesting than the noise suggested. Brian discusses why oil shocks have historically affected portfolios differently over time, what the SaaS selloff was really about, and how international and emerging markets performed relative to the US in Q1. He also walks through the role diversification can play in a portfolio, including a plain-language explanation of reinsurance, an asset class that sounds obscure until he explains the connection to your everyday homeowner's insurance. There's also an honest conversation about investor psychology: why people feel like the market is collapsing when historical patterns suggest otherwise, why the urge to do something in volatile moments is worth examining, and what a "lost decade" has looked like historically when a quick recovery never came. Kelli admits she's been trained not to look at her 401k. Someone's 401k became a 201k. Brian has thoughts about that too. It's a market update for people who don't love market updates, which, as it turns out, includes at least one of the hosts. Connect with us!  * Kelli Kiemle on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellikiemle/] * Brian Spinelli on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianspinelli/] * Halbert Hargrove Website [https://www.halberthargrove.com/]

19. The Real Cost of Giving

What happens to all that boomer wealth everyone keeps talking about? And while we're at it, how much should you actually spend on your nephew this Christmas? This episode of Fearless Money Talks takes a sharp turn from the sentimental to the sobering. Brian Spinelli and Kelli Kiemle are joined by producer Brodrick Lothringer, who jumps in along the way with questions that keep the conversation honest. Together they open with a topic that doesn't get nearly enough airtime: the real cost of long-term care, who ends up paying for it, and what can happen to families when one side saved and the other didn't. Longevity and the possible quiet financial strain on adult children come up, because these are the conversations clients are having, even if they'd rather not. Then things get lighter. The team digs into holiday gift giving, the etiquette of receipts tucked into boxes, the white elephant debate, experiences versus things, and whether a gift card is thoughtful or just a polite way of saying "I didn't know what to get you." Kelli has strong opinions. Brian has a Chihuahua mug. Brodrick has a closet full of mystery tools from his father-in-law. It's a mix of real financial stakes and the kind of family dynamics that can make the holidays feel complicated for a lot of people, sometimes in the same conversation. Connect with us!  * Kelli Kiemle on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellikiemle/] * Brian Spinelli on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianspinelli/] * Halbert Hargrove Website [https://www.halberthargrove.com/]

18. What Clients Want From a Financial Advisor

Have you ever been in a conversation where someone kept explaining something long after you stopped caring? That realization comes up in this episode of Fearless Money Talks, and it opens a bigger discussion about one of the most overlooked skills in financial advice: listening. From Kelli’s early retail jobs at Nordstrom to Brian’s first client meeting that went completely sideways, the team reflects on the moments that taught them an important lesson. Most clients don’t want a technical breakdown of their portfolio. They want to know what actually matters to them. Brian Spinelli and Kelli Kiemle are joined by Brodrick Lothringer, who jumps in along the way with questions that help unpack what clients are looking for when they sit down with an advisor. The conversation moves through the everyday realities behind financial advice. Why many advisors unintentionally overexplain, the questions clients are really trying to answer when they meet with an advisor, and how life changes such as retirement, inheritance, divorce, or simply wanting to enjoy the present often matter more than market performance. There is humor, a few hard lessons, and a candid look at why good communication often beats technical expertise when it comes to building trust. Connect with us! * Kelli Kiemle on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellikiemle/] * Brian Spinelli on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianspinelli/] * Halbert Hargrove Website [https://www.halberthargrove.com/]

17. The Leadership Lessons You Learn the Hard Way with JC Abusaid

Have you ever had to tell someone a raise or bonus wasn’t happening anymore, and realized mid-sentence that you hadn’t explained nearly enough? That moment comes up early in this episode of Fearless Money Talks, and it opens a much bigger conversation. What happens when leadership goes through a hard stretch, communication breaks down, and people start assuming the worst? And how do those moments change the way a firm operates years later? This episode with our CEO JC Abusaid reflects on the uncomfortable lessons that help shape culture. Being clear when it’s awkward. Letting people see the full picture. Making decisions during market stress that protect trust instead of eroding it. There’s humor, some hard-earned perspective, and a very real look at how firms can grow without losing the people inside them. Connect with us!  * JC Abusaid on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jc-abusaid-a66a41/] * Kelli Kiemle on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellikiemle/] * Brian Spinelli on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianspinelli/] * Halbert Hargrove Website [https://www.halberthargrove.com/]