Financial Decoder

How Can You Preserve Your Assets for Your Heirs?

Taxes are just one part of estate planning. People are also asked to consider custody arrangements, medical decisions, and legal issues. But it comes as no surprise that people who have worked their whole lives to build an estate are wary of letting taxes and fees eat away at their hard-earned assets.    Further complicating the current environment is the fact that lifetime estate and gift tax exemption thresholds are poised to be cut in half at the stroke of midnight December 31, 2025, leading to a potentially sharp jump in some estates' tax liability. But there's still time to prepare.  On this episode of Financial Decoder, Mark interviews Austin Jarvis, director of estate, trust, and high-net-worth tax at the Schwab Center for Financial Research. They discuss why everyone needs a will, various estate planning documents, and what to do if you have a large estate that might owe more taxes later. You can read articles from Austin Jarvis [https://www.schwab.com/learn/author/austin-jarvis], including “Estate Planning for Low Interest Rates [https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/estate-planning-low-interest-rates]” and “How to Help Your Grandkids Pay for College [https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/how-to-help-your-grandkids-pay-college]” on Schwab.com.  Follow Financial Decoder for free on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. Financial Decoder is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit schwab.com/FinancialDecoder [https://www.schwab.com/financialdecoder].  If you enjoy the show, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts [http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1440529681]. Important Disclosures The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market conditions. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed. Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. The information and content provided herein is general in nature and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended, and should not be construed, as a specific recommendation, individualized tax, legal, or investment advice. Tax laws are subject to change, either prospectively or retroactively. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, individuals should contact their own professional tax and investment advisors or other professionals (CPA, Financial Planner, Investment Manager) to help answer questions about specific situations or needs prior to taking any action based upon this information. Schwab does not provide tax advice. Clients should consult a professional tax advisor for their tax advice needs. Consult with an attorney and tax advisor prior to taking any action based upon this information. The Schwab Center for Financial Research is a division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (0824-LC7F)

When Should You Take Social Security?

Summary Mark Riepe is joined by Rob Williams and Susan Hirshman to examine one of the most critical retirement decisions: When should you take Social Security? After you listen: * Check out the helpful resources Susan mentions on the Social Security Administration's website [https://www.ssa.gov/]. * Listen to Mike Townsend's WashingtonWise podcast [https://www.schwab.com/learn/washingtonwise] to stay abreast of the policy debates surrounding government programs like Social Security and Medicare. In this episode of Financial Decoder, host Mark Riepe examines one of the most critical retirement decisions: When should you take Social Security? When you claim too early, your benefits are reduced, and yet a large percentage of people claim at the earliest possible age. What's driving this decision? Mark, along with his guests Rob Williams and Susan Hirshman, look at three psychological phenomena that could impact the decision. Follow Financial Decoder for free on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. Financial Decoder is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit schwab.com/FinancialDecoder [https://www.schwab.com/financialdecoder].  If you enjoy the show, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts [http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1440529681]. Reach out to Mark on X @MarkRiepe [https://twitter.com/MarkRiepe] with your thoughts on the show. Follow Financial Decoder on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5eKsYzSemWDLIQhSwezJyc] to comment on episodes. Important Disclosures The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.  All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market conditions. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed.  Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve. All names and market data shown above are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request. The policy analysis provided by the Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., does not constitute and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party. [0824-HMCL]

Can the Olympics Teach Us About Our Own Behavior?

After you listen: * Reach out to Mark on X @MarkRiepe [https://twitter.com/MarkRiepe] with your thoughts on the show. * Follow Financial Decoder on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5eKsYzSemWDLIQhSwezJyc] to comment on episodes. * Listen to the Schwab podcast Choiceology with Katy Milkman [https://www.schwab.com/learn/choiceology]. Starting July 26th, athletes from around the world will compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Decision-making biases affect many aspects of the Olympic Games, from prospective host cities' bids to judges' scores to whom fans choose to root for.  On this episode of Financial Decoder, Mark Riepe illustrates how some of these cognitive and emotional biases present themselves through the many elements of the games—and how they might contain lessons to apply to our own daily financial decisions. Follow Financial Decoder for free on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. Financial Decoder is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit schwab.com/FinancialDecoder [https://www.schwab.com/financialdecoder].  If you enjoy the show, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts [http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1440529681]. Important Disclosures The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.  All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market conditions. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed.  Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. All names and market data shown above are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request. The information and content provided herein is general in nature and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended, and should not be construed, as a specific recommendation, individualized tax, legal, or investment advice. Tax laws are subject to change, either prospectively or retroactively. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, individuals should contact their own professional tax and investment advisors or other professionals (CPA, Financial Planner, Investment Manager) to help answer questions about specific situations or needs prior to taking any action based upon this information. The Schwab Center for Financial Research is a division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. [0724-EV5G]

How Do You Save for Vacations & Travel?

The conversation around financial planning is often dominated by long-term goals like retirement or saving to buy a home. But what about saving for short-term goals that are still important to you, like travel and vacations?  On this episode of Financial Decoder, Cindy Scott, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Charles Schwab with 25 years of experience, returns to the show to explain how to prioritize and save for short-term goals like these. She and Mark discuss practical ways to fit wants and wishes into your financial plan without sacrificing your needs and long-term financial future.  Follow Financial Decoder for free on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. Financial Decoder is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit schwab.com/FinancialDecoder [https://www.schwab.com/financialdecoder].  If you enjoy the show, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts [http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1440529681]. Important Disclosures The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.  All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market conditions. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed.  Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Money Market Funds- An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. All names and market data shown above are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request. Fixed income securities are subject to increased loss of principal during periods of rising interest rates. Fixed income investments are subject to various other risks including changes in credit quality, market valuations, liquidity, prepayments, early redemption, corporate events, tax ramifications, and other factors. Cash equivalent investments are cash management strategies that seek to prevent the loss of an investment's total value. Although a cash management product may seek to maintain a stable or constant net asset value, there can be no assurance it will do so. The information and content provided herein is general in nature and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended, and should not be construed, as a specific recommendation, individualized tax, legal, or investment advice. Tax laws are subject to change, either prospectively or retroactively. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, individuals should contact their own professional tax and investment advisors or other professionals (CPA, Financial Planner, Investment Manager) to help answer questions about specific situations or needs prior to taking any action based upon this information. The Schwab Center for Financial Research is a division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. 0724-BMYS

What Should You Know About Annuities?

Annuities are an interesting instrument in financial services. They're both simple and complicated, and that combination often means they're frequently misunderstood. To kick off Season 17 of Financial Decoder, Mark is joined again by guest Rob Williams, who heads the Financial Planning, Retirement Income, and Wealth Management team at the Schwab Center for Financial Research. In their discussion, they break down the basic functions of annuities, some problems they attempt to solve, and the role they might play in an investor's retirement-planning strategy.  Follow Financial Decoder for free on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. Financial Decoder is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit schwab.com/FinancialDecoder [https://www.schwab.com/financialdecoder].  If you enjoy the show, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts [http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1440529681]. Important Disclosures The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.  All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market conditions. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed.  Examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to be reflective of results you can expect to achieve. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. The information and content provided herein is general in nature and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended, and should not be construed, as a specific recommendation, individualized tax, legal, or investment advice. Tax laws are subject to change, either prospectively or retroactively. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, individuals should contact their own professional tax and investment advisors or other professionals (CPA, Financial Planner, Investment Manager) to help answer questions about specific situations or needs prior to taking any action based upon this information. Supporting documentation for any claims or statistical information is available upon request. The Schwab Center for Financial Research is a division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. Apple, the Apple logo, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Podcasts are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Spotify and the Spotify logo are registered trademarks of Spotify AB. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., a licensed insurance agency, distributes certain insurance and annuity contracts issued by non-affiliated insurance companies. Not all products are available in all states. (0624-9440)