Money Made Simple with Oakwood Wealth Partners

Oakwood Wealth Partners
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Money Made Simple with Oakwood Wealth Partners is a father–son financial planning podcast designed to bring clarity, confidence, and simplicity to the world of personal finance. Hosted by Mike Lockwood, CFP®, CRPC®, Founding Partner of Oakwood Wealth Partners, and his son Nick Lockwood, CRPC®, a Financial Planner with the firm, the show blends decades of real-world experience with a conversational, approachable style that meets listeners exactly where they are in their financial journey. From the very beginning, the vision for the podcast has been to strip away the noise, jargon, and overwhelm that often surround financial decision-making. Instead, Mike and Nick aim to create a resource that feels like sitting down with trusted advisors who understand both the technical and emotional sides of money. Whether listeners are trying to organize a complicated financial life, navigate investment decisions, plan for retirement, balance risk, understand insurance, or work through major life transitions, the show focuses on delivering insight in a way that feels grounded, relatable, and actionable. Moving forward, Money Made Simple will continue to explore the key questions real people face every day—how to build financial literacy, when to seek professional help, how to stress test a financial strategy, how to make sense of taxes and investments, and how to plan for the unexpected. The show will also dive into the emotional and behavioral components of financial decision-making, highlighting the real human experiences behind the numbers.

Episodes

  1. JAN 26

    The Financial Questions Employees Ask and Employers Don't Expect

    In this episode of Money Made Simple, Mike and Nick Lockwood explore a reality they see every day while working with employer groups. While retirement plans are often the starting point, the financial questions employees bring to the table go far beyond plan enrollment and contribution limits. From the employer perspective, Mike shares what consistently shows up in conversations with leadership teams. There is a growing lack of financial literacy, uncertainty around who employees should turn to for guidance, and a desire to support teams without always knowing how. Retirement plans are important, but they are only one part of a much bigger financial picture. From the employee side, the questions come fast and often feel overwhelming. How much should I contribute. Should I choose pre tax or Roth. How do I balance saving for retirement while trying to buy a home or support my family. Beyond the basics, deeper planning questions surface around trusts, Social Security timing, pension decisions, insurance needs, and ultimately the question everyone asks at some point. When can I retire. Throughout the conversation, Mike and Nick emphasize a core truth in financial planning. The answer to most of these questions is, it depends. Context matters. Education matters. And having a trusted team to help connect the dots makes all the difference. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 4:02 - What's creating stress among employees? 10:22 - Large employers struggle to properly educate 14:34 - "Americans are confident in retirement, but scared of daily finance" 19:35 - Goal-setting and aligning your financial plan 24:53 - When can I retire? 31:01 - The opportunity that exists for employers 35:22 - Sharing a client story 37:12 - Closing remarks

    39 min

  2. JAN 5

    Financial Clarity vs. Financial Confusion

    In this episode of Money Made Simple, Mike and Nick Lockwood tackle one of the most common—and most damaging—challenges people face with their finances: confusion. When there’s no clear direction or understanding, progress stalls. Confusion leads to inaction, inaction leads to messy outcomes, and before long, people lose focus on what truly matters for their families and their future. The conversation explores why so many individuals feel overwhelmed by financial decisions and why having a coach or teacher is often the missing piece. Mike and Nick discuss how poor experiences—such as being sold products that weren’t fully explained or receiving advice that felt overly complex—can create frustration, distrust, and long-term paralysis. They also address a common refrain they hear from clients: “I don’t understand my advisor.” When conversations move too fast or focus only on investments instead of goals, clarity is lost. A central theme of the episode is the power of simplicity. While comprehensive financial plans are important, they’re only effective if people can follow through. Mike explains why Oakwood emphasizes breaking plans down into clear, digestible action steps—because a simple plan that gets executed is far more valuable than a complex one that sits on a shelf. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 1:06 - What keeps you up at night? 8:24 - Making sense of your data and developing a plan 14:42 - Inaction typically stems from a lack of a coach 19:35 - "I can't understand my financial advisor" 25:58 - First steps you can take towards financial clarity 29:27 - Have key financial discussions with your spouse 33:00 - Closing remarks

    34 min

  3. 12/02/2025

    The Oakwood Origin Story

    In the premiere episode of Money Made Simple with Oakwood Wealth Partners, Mike Lockwood, CFP®, CRPC® takes listeners back to where it all began. Before Oakwood Wealth Partners became a trusted name in financial planning, it started with a personal journey shaped by early experiences, unexpected lessons, and a growing passion for helping people find clarity in their financial lives. Mike shares the defining moments that influenced his approach to client service, from his first exposure to the world of financial planning to the values that ultimately guided him toward launching the firm. Joined by his son and co-host, Nick Lockwood, CRPC®, the conversation offers an intimate look at the philosophy and purpose that still drive Oakwood today. This episode sets the foundation for the entire series—highlighting why education, organization, and real human connection play such central roles in the work Mike and Nick do every day. If you’ve ever wondered what shaped the firm behind the microphone, or why its advisors are so passionate about simplifying the complex, this origin story provides the perfect starting point. Start here, and get to know the heart behind Money Made Simple. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 1:34 - Mike Lockwood's humble beginnings 8:08 - Pivotal family relationships 15:09 - The start of Mike's career in 1987 21:38 - Nick Lockwood joining Oakwood Wealth Partners 27:06 - Mike's top priorities for his clients and the firm 31:50 - The financial literacy challenge that exists today 32:40 - Closing remarks

    33 min
  • 3 Episodes

About

Money Made Simple with Oakwood Wealth Partners is a father–son financial planning podcast designed to bring clarity, confidence, and simplicity to the world of personal finance. Hosted by Mike Lockwood, CFP®, CRPC®, Founding Partner of Oakwood Wealth Partners, and his son Nick Lockwood, CRPC®, a Financial Planner with the firm, the show blends decades of real-world experience with a conversational, approachable style that meets listeners exactly where they are in their financial journey. From the very beginning, the vision for the podcast has been to strip away the noise, jargon, and overwhelm that often surround financial decision-making. Instead, Mike and Nick aim to create a resource that feels like sitting down with trusted advisors who understand both the technical and emotional sides of money. Whether listeners are trying to organize a complicated financial life, navigate investment decisions, plan for retirement, balance risk, understand insurance, or work through major life transitions, the show focuses on delivering insight in a way that feels grounded, relatable, and actionable. Moving forward, Money Made Simple will continue to explore the key questions real people face every day—how to build financial literacy, when to seek professional help, how to stress test a financial strategy, how to make sense of taxes and investments, and how to plan for the unexpected. The show will also dive into the emotional and behavioral components of financial decision-making, highlighting the real human experiences behind the numbers.

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