Financial Perspectives: The Podcast | Foster Group

Care Planning: Financial Strategies for Disability, Special Needs, & Elder Care

Care planning often feels like something that applies to someone else. In reality, it touches nearly every family. In this episode of Financial Perspectives, Director of Communications Gretchen Muller along with Senior Lead Advisor Matt Stagner, a nationally recognized advocate for the disability community, unpack what care planning really means across disability, special needs, and elder care. As Matt explains, it affects far more of us than most people realize. Matt and Gretchen talk through the financial realities families face, from the "disability tax" of higher everyday costs to the benefit rules that can make saving and investing complicated. They also walk through practical solutions: building the right care team, ABLE accounts, special needs trusts, and the value of writing your plan down and talking about it openly as a family. At Foster Group, we believe care planning isn't about replacing the support systems families build. It's about strengthening them and helping people create the independence and quality of life they deserve. Subscribe & Connect with Us! * Gretchen Muller [https://www.fostergrp.com/team/gretchen-muller/] * Matt Stagner [https://www.fostergrp.com/team/matt-stagner/] * Financial Perspectives [https://www.fostergrp.com/financial-perspectives/] * Foster Group [https://www.fostergrp.com/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FosterGrp] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/foster-group] * X [https://x.com/foster_group] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvjzIN7CWlR7c-uvQbrEUDA]

Planning for Inflation: What You Can, and Can’t, Control

In retirement planning, some variables you can control, and others you can’t. Inflation is often an overlooked variable. In this episode of Financial Perspectives, Gretchen Muller, Director of Communications, and advisor Ben Berger walk through the "retirement equation" and use Monte Carlo modeling to stress-test a hypothetical plan against a 5% inflation shock. Ben also shares examples of adjustments that can help keep purchasing power on track. Subscribe & Connect with Us! * Gretchen Muller [https://www.fostergrp.com/people/gretchen-muller/] * Ben Berger [https://www.fostergrp.com/people/ben-berger/] * Financial Perspectives [https://www.fostergrp.com/financial-perspectives/] * Foster Group [https://www.fostergrp.com/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FosterGrp] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/foster-group] * X [https://x.com/foster_group] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvjzIN7CWlR7c-uvQbrEUDA]

Staying Invested During Uncertainty: A Conversation with Wes Crill (Dimensional Fund Advisors)

Gretchen Muller, Director of Communications, and Wes Crill, Vice President and Senior Client Solutions Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors Global Client Group, discuss how markets price uncertainty, why discipline matters more than reaction, and what history tells us about navigating volatility – including the Iran conflict and its economic implications. Subscribe & Connect with Us! * Gretchen Muller [https://www.fostergrp.com/people/gretchen-muller] * Financial Perspectives [https://www.fostergrp.com/financial-perspectives/] * Foster Group [https://www.fostergrp.com/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FosterGrp] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/foster-group] * X [https://x.com/foster_group] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvjzIN7CWlR7c-uvQbrEUDA]

Investing through Uncertainty: Our Perspective on the Iran Conflict and Markets

Recent developments involving Iran have been a reminder of how quickly geopolitics can affect markets. In this Financial Perspectives conversation, Gretchen Muller and Kent Kramer share perspective on what we’re seeing in stocks, oil, and investor feelings and why short-term volatility does not always change the long-term outlook. Gretchen and Kent discuss why uncertainty is a normal part of investing, what history can teach us during periods of conflict, and why a thoughtful financial plan should already account for times like these. At Foster Group, we believe in educated optimism: acknowledging real risks without losing sight of the bigger picture. Subscribe & Connect with Us! * Gretchen Muller [https://www.fostergrp.com/people/gretchen-muller/] * Kent Kramer [https://www.fostergrp.com/people/kent-kramer/] * Financial Perspectives [https://www.fostergrp.com/financial-perspectives/] * Foster Group [https://www.fostergrp.com/] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FosterGrp] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/foster-group] * X [https://x.com/foster_group] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvjzIN7CWlR7c-uvQbrEUDA]

A New Chapter for Financial Perspectives with Gretchen Muller

In this episode of Financial Perspectives, Kent Kramer introduces Gretchen Muller, Foster Group’s Director of Communications. Gretchen shares her background in investment research, teaching, and communication, along with her vision for helping Foster Group communicate clearly about markets, financial planning, and investing. Kent also shares that he will retire from Foster Group, and as host of Financial Perspectives, at the end of 2026. He reflects on how the series began in 2020, and why Foster Group’s commitment to thoughtful, hopeful communication continues to grow. Subscribe & Connect with Us! 1. Kent Kramer [https://www.fostergrp.com/people/kent-kramer/] 2. Gretchen Muller [https://www.fostergrp.com/people/gretchen-muller/] 3. Financial Perspectives [https://www.fostergrp.com/financial-perspectives/] 4. Foster Group [https://www.fostergrp.com/] 5. Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/FosterGrp] 6. LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/foster-group] 7. X [https://x.com/foster_group] 8. YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvjzIN7CWlR7c-uvQbrEUDA]