Money for Life with Eric Roberge, CFP

Eric Roberge, CFP & Beyond Your Hammock
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  • Investing
  • Twice monthly

Money for Life helps high-earning professionals and executives in their 30s and 40s build wealth with intention and clarity. Hosted by Kali and Eric Roberge, CFP®, this podcast shares real-world strategies to reduce lifetime taxes, invest wisely, and make confident money decisions. Hear case studies, expert interviews, and practical Q&As that help you align your finances with the life you want—today and in the future.

  1. 1 hr ago

    How Expecting Parents Can Create Financially Secure Homes

    Financial planning for a new baby isn't about hitting some magic savings number — it's about knowing what your cash flow can actually absorb, and building enough flexibility into your plan that a major life pivot doesn't derail everything else you're working toward. We bringing back one from the archive today, to talk about our own financial and personal planning conversation we had before deciding to have a baby. We break down how we separated the emotional question ("do we actually want this?") from the financial one ("can we afford it?"), why "how much should I save?" is the wrong starting question, and what actually determines financial readiness for a kid. We also cover: Stress-testing your cash flow with a pretend baby budget Understanding the difference between your insurance deductible and out-of-pocket maximum before the hospital bill arrives The one-time costs that catch new parents off guard Why estate planning — specifically naming a guardian in your will — becomes urgent the moment a child enters the picture This episode also digs into the strategy we used to create real flexibility when deciding to have a child shifted our initial financial plan: using an aggressive early-retirement target as a "guardrail," not a hard goal, to create built-in wiggle room. Plus: we reveal why sizing your mortgage off your current cash flow, without factoring in future child-related costs, is one of the most common — and expensive — planning mistakes new and expecting parents make. Whether you're actively trying to decide if kids are right for you, or you're already home with your new baby and want to make sure your plan is solid, this episode gives you a real, lived-in framework.

    How Expecting Parents Can Create Financially Secure Homes

  2. 13 Jul

    Stop Tax Surprises: 5 Tax-Smart Moves for High Income Earners to Reduce Tax Liability

    Looking for legal ways to reduce your tax bill before you're caught off guard again next spring? In this classic Money for Life episode, hosts Eric and Kali break down five tax reduction strategies for high earners. These 5 money moves are all designed to lower what you owe the IRS. By being proactive and strategic, you can lower your tax burden and avoid unpleasant surprise tax bills next year We talk through: How to use a securities-backed line of credit against your brokerage or bank account to access cash without triggering capital gains from selling investments How to treat your HSA like a stealth IRA for triple tax-free growth The financial tradeoffs of relocating to a state with no income tax Why tax-loss harvesting is more strategic than the robo-advisor marketing suggests (and where the wash-sale rule trips people up) Why high income earners might want to consider using a backdoor Roth IRA conversion to get money into a Roth despite income limits… plus the pro-rata rule mistake that can quietly create a tax bill (and IRS penalties) down the road This is a rerun of a fan-favorite episode, so as an important note for listeners: some of the figures mentioned are from when this originally aired in 2022. Account limits and specific numbers have been adjusted since then, and some numbers may be different for the 2026 tax year (and beyond). Other than specific IRS limits, the guidelines here are still valid and the strategies are solid for reducing your tax burden with some proactive planning. This is a great mid-year listen if you want to make adjustments before you file again next spring. Ready to create, use, and enjoy money for life? Request a complimentary consultation with us at BYH and discover how to optimize your investments, reduce your tax burden, and grow your wealth: https://beyondyourhammock.com/schedule

    Stop Tax Surprises: 5 Tax-Smart Moves for High Income Earners to Reduce Tax Liability

  3. 29 Jun

    Trump Accounts for Kids: What High-Earning Parents Need to Know About Section 530A Accounts

    Trump accounts for kids (officially called Section 530A accounts) landed on our radar the moment the One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced them in 2025, complete with a headline-grabbing $1,000 government deposit for eligible children. But is the hype matched by the substance? Should families use these accounts or steer clear? In this episode of Money For Life, we provide our take and break down all the details of how these new kids' retirement accounts work: the $5,000 annual contribution limit, the narrow menu of low-cost U.S. index funds you're allowed to hold, the two custodians (BNY Mellon and Robinhood) to choose between, the lesser-known requirement to file a gift tax return every year you contribute - and more! There are real tradeoffs to consider, so this episode is not about declaring Trump accounts good OR bad. We provide you with a decision-making framework so you can choose what works best for your family. That framework includes considerations like: -- The early-compounding advantage of starting a retirement account at birth instead of waiting for a child's first paycheck -- The lack of investment diversification once your money is locked into U.S.-only funds -- The political durability question in a hyper partisan, extremely polarized environment -- The impact of where you live, based on how states are responding to the introduction of these accounts We also compare Trump accounts head-to-head with 529 plans (including the newer Roth IRA rollover provision), UGMA/UTMA custodial accounts, and a simple joint taxable brokerage account. Finally, we share what we did in our own family, and the single savings account we'd pick if we could only choose to use one for our daughter. If you're a high-earning parent trying to figure out the smartest way to save for your kids, whether that's retirement, college, a future down payment, or just general flexibility, this episode gives you the full framework for deciding where a Trump account fits (or where it doesn't) in your financial plan. Ready to create, use, and enjoy money for life? Request a complimentary consultation with us at BYH and discover how to optimize your investments, reduce your tax burden, and grow your wealth: https://beyondyourhammock.com/schedule

    Trump Accounts for Kids: What High-Earning Parents Need to Know About Section 530A Accounts

  4. 15 Jun

    The Inside Track on Becoming a Landlord: Understanding Property Management with Peter Cook

    Want to get rich and earn passive income? Invest in real estate, baby! Only, it's not that simple, and today's expert guest has a truly inside track to explain why.  Today on the show, Annapolis Property Management founder Peter Cook joins us to explain what high-income earners need to understand before they wade into the waters of real estate investing and rental property management. Peter has spent 25 years in property management, and in this episode, he and Eric dig into a real, unfiltered breakdown of what it means to be a landlord. Not the theoretical version from a book or a podcast that romanticizes rental income as the best way to riches — but the operational reality of tenant screening, rent pricing, vacancy costs, maintenance reserves, and the relationship dynamics that determine whether your investment is a wealth-builder or a financial headache. If you already own a property and you're wondering whether to rent it or sell it (especially if you're moving up to a bigger home but aren't ready to let go of your first place) this conversation is for you. You'll hear: Why your mortgage rate is completely irrelevant to what rent you can charge How to think about vacancy as a true financial cost (not just an inconvenience) The one-year lease rule that protects both landlords and tenants An insider tool almost no one uses: the tenant handbook. Peter also breaks down the specific criteria good property managers use to screen tenants, the math on maintenance reserves, and how to actually find a trustworthy property manager if you're not going to do it yourself. Real estate can absolutely be a strong long-term wealth-building strategy for high earners, but it's not for everyone and works best when you go in with both eyes wide open to the realities. This episode gives you the financial framework and the practical details to make that call clearly. Peter is the President of Annapolis Property Services. Originally from Wales, Peter moved to Annapolis in 1999 as the General Manager of Sunsail Sailing Vacations. In 2003, after recognizing the need for long-term residential property management in and around the Annapolis area, he founded Annapolis Property Services. Peter is a licensed Real Estate agent, a member of NARPM (National Association of Residential Property Managers) and a graduate of Southampton University. In his spare time he enjoys sailing, Adventure motorcycling, snowboarding and spending time with his family and friends. Resources mentioned: PropertyManagement.com: Directory of vetted property management companies searchable by zip code NARPM.org: National Association of Residential Property Managers   Ready to create, use, and enjoy money for life? Request a complimentary consultation with us at BYH and discover how to optimize your investments, reduce your tax burden, and grow your wealth: https://beyondyourhammock.com/schedule

    The Inside Track on Becoming a Landlord: Understanding Property Management with Peter Cook

  5. 1 Jun

    Raising Financially Healthy Kids: How to Help Kids Manage Finances with Productive Money Mindsets

    If you're a high-income earner who grew up with far less than you have today, you've probably thought about how much different your own children have it than you did as a kid. Do you ever wonder how to raise money-smart kids that don't take dollars for granted? Or wish you could talk to someone about how to enjoy all you've worked hard to have - without creating a family of spoiled kids who don't appreciate how good they have it? Today's conversation is for you. In this episode of Money For Life, we get personal about one of the trickiest challenges facing financially successful families: How do you raise a money-smart kid when your child will never experience the financial struggle that shaped you? We share what they're actually doing with our own 4 year old daughter, from inviting her to help keep the family budget and update it in real time to helping her experiment with how it feels to use her $5 weekly allowance. We also get candid about the subtle ways parents unconsciously pass down money stress, identity, and habits… as well as share some ideas about how to break that cycle. And most importantly, we talk through how raising kids who have a healthy, empowered relationship with money starts with the hardest thing of all: your OWN relationship, habits, and mindsets around your finances and how you manage your money. We'll also get into: Why saving for college is usually the starting point for families talking about kids and money… but why it shouldn't be the only financial planning you do for your kids. The specific language trap many parents fall into, and a simple shift that changes everything. What (we think) a $5-a-week allowance (not tied to chores) can teach a four-year-old about spending, saving, and regret. Check back in 20 years to see if it worked. How to have money conversations with your kids without turning them into lectures, and ideas on creating a real life money lab for the best learning experiences. The single most important money belief we each want to pass on to our daughter Ready to create, use, and enjoy money for life? Request a complimentary consultation with us at BYH and discover how to optimize your investments, reduce your tax burden, and grow your wealth: https://beyondyourhammock.com/schedule

    Raising Financially Healthy Kids: How to Help Kids Manage Finances with Productive Money Mindsets

  6. 11 May

    Get Your Time Back: How High-Earning Families Can Reclaim Their Time With a House Manager featuring Kelly Hubbell of Sage Haus

    You've optimized your career. You've built the income. You have a wonderful family you love, a home you worked hard for - and a completely unmanageable workload that leaves you with zero time, energy, or mental bandwidth. Sound familiar? For most dual-income households, there's a second full-time job hiding in plain sight outside of a demanding work career that eats up at least 25 hours per week beyond the time you spend in the office. Between all the grocery runs, meal prep, Amazon returns, laundry, school pickups, the random appointment you forgot to reschedule - oh, and coordinating the logistics of all of this day in and day out! - it's a lot.  And it could be causing you to wear thin, not just eroding your free time but also your relationships and peace of mind. Thankfully, there's a solution. In this episode of Money For Life, Eric talks with Kelly Hubbell, founder of Sage Haus, about a solution most high-earning families don't even know exists: the house manager. This is a versatile, systems-driven person who takes the operational load of your household off your plate so you can actually show up — for your career, your kids, and yourself. Kelly breaks down what a house manager actually does, why the "I can't afford it" objection is the wrong question to ask, how to set up home systems before you hire so the partnership with your house manager actually works, and why this support is far more accessible than most people think. If you've ever said "I just need more hours in the day" — this episode is for you. Take the Sage Haus quiz to see if your family could outsource some of the load to a house manager. And if you're ready to get support for your own family and learn more about how Kelly can help, she welcomes you to book an informational call with Sage Haus here. You can also find Kelly and Sage Haus on Instagram @mysagehouse or LinkedIn.   Ready to create, use, and enjoy money for life? Request a complimentary consultation with us at BYH and discover how to optimize your investments, reduce your tax burden, and grow your wealth: https://beyondyourhammock.com/schedule

    Get Your Time Back: How High-Earning Families Can Reclaim Their Time With a House Manager featuring Kelly Hubbell of Sage Haus

  7. 27 Apr

    Investing at the End of the World: Dealing with Your Personal Portfolio Amid Geopolitical Tension, Questionable Job Markets, and Ongoing Market Volatility

    If uncertainty has you feeling anxious and itchy to do something, this episode will show you exactly where to channel that energy — and why the investors who come through periods like this the strongest are the ones who already have a plan in place. The stock market is bouncing around. The headlines are loud. There are literal wars to worry about. So if you've logged into your investment account recently and felt a knot in your stomach, you're not alone. In this episode of Money For Life, we cut through the noise to give you a clear-headed, data-backed look at what market volatility actually means for your financial plan. We're also sharing what you should (and absolutely should not) do about it. Some of this you probably already know: for investors with a sound long-term plan, the best action is often no action at all. But that doesn't mean sitting helplessly by.  You'll learn why true diversification goes far beyond owning the S&P 500, how volatility drag quietly erodes your compounded returns even when your average return looks fine, and why disciplined rebalancing is actually a way of "buying the dip" without ever leaving the market. We've also got a compelling case for redirecting your nervous energy: toward Roth conversions, estate planning, cash flow optimization, and other high-impact financial moves that are completely within your control. Here's what else we have for you in this episode: Why market timing is a losing game every time The real cost of missing the market's best days (and why they cluster right next to the worst days) What "true diversification" actually looks like (get out of here with your 3-index-fund approach or your S&P500 fund!) How volatility drag reduces your long-term wealth even with the same average return Why you should consider increasing contributions during a downturn, not pulling back The high-impact financial planning moves to make right now instead of stressing about your portfolio How clients with financial plans weather market storms vs. those without Don't miss this resource mentioned: Chart on volatility drag from Peter Lazaroff's Making Money Ready to create, use, and enjoy money for life? Request a complimentary consultation with us at BYH and discover how to optimize your investments, reduce your tax burden, and grow your wealth: https://beyondyourhammock.com/schedule

    Investing at the End of the World: Dealing with Your Personal Portfolio Amid Geopolitical Tension, Questionable Job Markets, and Ongoing Market Volatility

  8. 13 Apr

    Angel Investing: How to Bet on the Right Founders, Build Real Wealth, and Vote With Your Dollars with Jess Lynch and FoundersEdge

    How do you start angel investing? Can anyone be an angel investor or is this a world reserved for Silicon Valley insiders and Shark Tank-esque business tycoons? Jess Lynch joins us to explain how $2,500 can be your entry ticket into the world of angel investing - and how to deploy those dollars wisely in a high-risk environment. Join us to get the exact frameworks Jess uses to find, vet, and back the founders most likely to win. In this episode, Eric asks Jess to pull back the curtain on the private markets and how average investors can start exploring opportunities within them. They give clear guidelines that anyone can use to guide decision-making, from how to size your allocation (4–7% of net worth), to why you should plan for at least 20 investments to manage risk, to what Jess calls her "founder index": 60 standardized questions designed to reduce bias and surface the founders most likely to deliver outsized returns. They also tackle one of the most common and emotionally charged situations investors face: what do you do when a friend or family member asks you to back their company? Beyond the mechanics, this episode dives into something rarely discussed in personal finance circles: the societal power of angel investing. Less than 2% of venture capital goes to women-led teams — and the conversation around who gets to make those early funding decisions matters deeply for what ends up getting built. Whether you've been angel investing curious for years or you're hearing this concept seriously for the first time, this episode gives you the map, the math, and the mindset to decide if this asset class belongs in your financial life. Jess Lynch is a forensic accountant turned founder turned investor. Jess recently co-founded a pre-seed VC fund, FoundersEdge, that invests in multi-time founders using AI to transform user experiences, and has built a large network of experienced entrepreneurs to support these new ventures, doing everything she can to help them succeed. You can connect with Jess on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicallynch. Learn more about FoundersEdge at https://www.foundersedge.com Ready to create, use, and enjoy money for life? Request a complimentary consultation with us at BYH and discover how to optimize your investments, reduce your tax burden, and grow your wealth: https://beyondyourhammock.com/schedule

    Angel Investing: How to Bet on the Right Founders, Build Real Wealth, and Vote With Your Dollars with Jess Lynch and FoundersEdge
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About

Money for Life helps high-earning professionals and executives in their 30s and 40s build wealth with intention and clarity. Hosted by Kali and Eric Roberge, CFP®, this podcast shares real-world strategies to reduce lifetime taxes, invest wisely, and make confident money decisions. Hear case studies, expert interviews, and practical Q&As that help you align your finances with the life you want—today and in the future.

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