Fearless Money Talks

Halbert Hargrove

Tired of money being a taboo topic? Welcome to Fearless Money Talks, featuring Halbert Hargrove's Co-Chief Investment Officer, Brian M. Spinelli, CFP®, AIF®, and Managing Director of Growth and Client Experience, Kelli Kiemle, AIF®. Get ready for candid, fear-free discussions on helping your money work for you, navigating market ups and downs, and planning for your retirement. Want to learn more about Halbert Hargrove? Click the link below to visit our website today. Our Website: HalbertHargrove.com

  1. 4d ago

    24. Can AI Replace Your Financial Advisor? Tyler Gilley Explains Where It Can Fall Short

    AI can summarize an article, build a budget, explain a Roth conversion, and answer almost any financial question you can think of in seconds. So what happens when investors start asking a bigger question: do they still need a financial advisor? In this episode of Fearless Money Talks, Brian and Kelli sit down with Halbert Hargrove Wealth Advisor Tyler Gilley to explore where AI can be useful, where it can fall short, and why the future of financial advice is likely more human, not less. Tyler explains why the quality of an AI answer depends heavily on the quality of the question being asked, how better prompts help lead to better answers, and why context matters more than investors may realize. The conversation explores the difference between information and advice, how advisors can help uncover the details clients may not think to mention, and why understanding a person's goals, fears, relationships, and life circumstances can change the guidance they receive. The discussion also tackles one of AI's biggest blind spots: confirmation bias. AI is designed to help answer questions rather than challenge assumptions, which can reinforce existing beliefs during periods of market uncertainty. The team also explores the role trust, empathy, and lived experience play when clients are navigating major life events, market volatility, or difficult financial decisions. AI is becoming a powerful tool. Check out this episode to explore why that may make human judgment, perspective, and meaningful conversations even more valuable. Connect with us!  Kelli Kiemle on LinkedInBrian Spinelli on LinkedInTyler Gilley on LinkedIn Halbert Hargrove Website

    30 min

  2. Jun 9

    23. Don't Buy a Business Without Asking These Questions First with David Koch

    Buying a business sounds like the move. Be your own boss. Generate income. Maybe even step back and let it run. But most people walk into the process not knowing what they don't know, and that gap can cost them. This episode of Fearless Money Talks brings in David Koch, senior wealth advisor and director of portfolio management at Halbert Hargrove, for a candid conversation about what smart business buyers do before they sign anything. David walks through what he looks for when a client comes to him with a deal on the table and it goes well beyond the numbers. There's a question he recommends asking every seller that sounds like small talk but can tell you how dependent the business is on one person. There's a reason he assumes the books are ugly until proven otherwise. And there's a cost you should probably pay before spending millions that buyers may skip because it feels expensive. The conversation also covers customer concentration risk, what "passive income" looks like in practice versus in theory, how roll-ups work, and ways to structure a deal so the seller doesn't vanish the moment the wire hits. If you've ever thought seriously about buying a business or you're already in the middle of it, this episode can help with what you look for. Connect with us!  Kelli Kiemle on LinkedInBrian Spinelli on LinkedInDavid Koch on LinkedInHalbert Hargrove Website

    29 min

  3. May 26

    22. It’s Not About the Money: How to Talk to Your Parents About “The Plan”

    Talking to your parents about money sounds like it should be straightforward. It’s not. This episode of Fearless Money Talks takes on one of the most uncomfortable financial conversations out there: inheritance. Or more accurately, everything around it that isn’t really about the money. Kelli Kiemle and Brian Spinelli unpack why most people aren’t usually asking “What do I get?” They’re asking, “Are my parents going to be okay?” and “What happens if they’re not?” Brian walks through how these conversations show up in real life, from adult children worried about becoming caregivers to parents who aren’t sure how much to share and when. There’s a practical breakdown of ways to approach the discussion, whether that’s talking through account values, introducing key advisors, or just making sure someone knows where the documents are kept. They also get into what can go sideways, what a “prepared” parent can look like beyond a will, and why retirement lasting 30-40 years has changed the entire equation. And throughout it all, there’s a consistent theme: if you’re going to start this conversation, lead with empathy. Because the moment it feels like it’s about the money, it’s already off track. It’s not a fun topic. But it might be one of the most important conversations you avoid, until you can’t. Connect with us!  Kelli Kiemle on LinkedInBrian Spinelli on LinkedInHalbert Hargrove Website

    15 min

  4. May 11

    21. The Roth Conversion Playbook with Nick Strain

    What You’ll Learn How Roth conversions actually workWhy timing matters more than most investors realizeThe tax traps that can make conversions expensiveHow Roth conversions affect Medicare premiumsWhy inherited IRA rules changed under the SECURE ActWhat the Roth five-year rule means in practiceWhen paying taxes from the IRA may still make senseMost people have probably heard that a Roth 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, 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 LinkedInBrian Spinelli on LinkedInNick Strain on LinkedInHalbert Hargrove Website

    32 min

  5. Apr 29

    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 LinkedInBrian Spinelli on LinkedInHalbert Hargrove Website

    26 min

  6. Apr 7

    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 LinkedInBrian Spinelli on LinkedInHalbert Hargrove Website

    33 min

  7. Mar 24

    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 LinkedInBrian Spinelli on LinkedInHalbert Hargrove Website

    32 min

  8. Mar 10

    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 LinkedInKelli Kiemle on LinkedInBrian Spinelli on LinkedInHalbert Hargrove Website

    30 min
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5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Tired of money being a taboo topic? Welcome to Fearless Money Talks, featuring Halbert Hargrove's Co-Chief Investment Officer, Brian M. Spinelli, CFP®, AIF®, and Managing Director of Growth and Client Experience, Kelli Kiemle, AIF®. Get ready for candid, fear-free discussions on helping your money work for you, navigating market ups and downs, and planning for your retirement. Want to learn more about Halbert Hargrove? Click the link below to visit our website today. Our Website: HalbertHargrove.com

Information

  • Creator
    Halbert Hargrove
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Fearless Money Talks
  • Show Website
    Fearless Money Talks