Through The Noise

FMI • Financial Management, Inc.
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This show helps individuals and families navigate money with clarity, confidence, and a values‑driven perspective. Rooted in timeless principles and supported by decades of professional financial planning and tax expertise, each episode delivers practical strategies you can use this week—from smarter tax moves and retirement planning to generosity, legacy, and financial stewardship. Join us for clear frameworks, real scenarios, thoughtful faith‑informed insights, and tools designed to help you steward well and live fully.

  1. 2d ago

    What Every Investor Needs to Know Before November (Midterm Elections 2026)

    📊 Want to see the data behind the discussion? View Capital Group's Midterm Elections Guide here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17XuUi6IFijusGw0Bk6ZpZsJYRm8Uu7Ph/view?usp=sharing In this episode, David and Marlana discuss how changes in political leadership can influence tax policy, industries, investment positioning, and market volatility. The conversation covers the historical relationship between elections and market performance, the potential impact of a divided Congress, active management during periods of political uncertainty, and why moving a 401(k) to cash because of an election may not be a sound strategy. They also discuss how companies such as Walmart, Coca-Cola, Exxon, and Nvidia navigate changing political and economic environments, why investors should focus on companies rather than political parties, and how media coverage can influence emotional investment decisions. 00:00 – Introduction and the impact of midterm elections on markets 00:43 – Why politics matters for financial planning and investing 01:21 – Elections, tax policy, and the 2017 Tax Act 02:11 – Active management during changing political environments 02:43 – The Exxon example and reacting to changing market conditions 03:49 – Lessons from the Great Recession: Walmart and Dollar General 04:10 – What happens if Congress is divided after the midterms? 05:29 – Election-year volatility and what investors should expect 06:17 – Should you move your 401(k) to cash? 07:09 – Political bias and historical market performance 08:02 – Why company fundamentals matter more than political parties 09:14 – International exposure through American companies 09:44 – Media influence, raw data, and historical market numbers 10:29 – Should you only invest when your political party is in power? 11:16 – “Take your politics to the polls, not to your portfolio” 11:47 – Turning off the news and avoiding emotional investment decisions 12:19 – Behavioral finance and staying disciplined 12:30 – Closing thoughts

    What Every Investor Needs to Know Before November (Midterm Elections 2026)

  2. Sep 28

    Who Knows More About Your Money? CPA or CFP?

    What’s the real difference between a CPA and a CFP, and when do you actually need both? In this episode of Through The Noise, we sit down with Raya Custard, a CPA with Bookkeeper.com, for a candid conversation about how tax professionals and financial planners approach money differently - and why working together can make a major difference for clients. Marlana and Raya discuss tax planning, retirement, business strategy, capital gains, estate planning, major financial decisions, and the importance of having these conversations before you make the move. They also tackle some common financial questions, including whether tax deductions are always worth pursuing, how gifting a home can affect taxes, what can happen to Medicare costs after a high-income year, and why simply trying to pay zero taxes isn't always the goal. Most importantly, the conversation highlights the value of proactive planning and having your CPA and CFP working together rather than making major financial decisions in isolation. 00:00 – CPA vs. CFP: What’s the Difference? 01:37 – How Difficult Is the CPA Exam? 03:17 – What Led to a Career as a CFP? 04:18 – The CFP Exam & What Comes After 05:29 – The Difference Between Studying & Applying Knowledge 06:44 – When Should You Have Both a CPA and CFP? 07:32 – Tax Planning & Financial Planning Working Together 08:38 – Why Tax Planning Should Happen Before December 09:05 – S Corporations, Deductions & Business Tax Strategy 10:24 – Why Saving Money on Taxes Isn’t Always a Good Investment 10:39 – Capital Gains: The Tax You Didn’t Expect 12:14 – Taking the Emotional Burden Out of Taxes 12:58 – Tax-Loss Harvesting & Strategic Planning 13:14 – “How Can I Pay Zero Tax?” 14:23 – Business Owners, Liquidity & Retirement Planning 15:08 – Selling Appreciated Assets & Tax Consequences 15:50 – CPA vs. CFP: Short-Term Taxes vs. Long-Term Planning 16:35 – The Financial Advisor as the “Quarterback” 16:54 – How Income Can Affect Medicare 17:35 – Should You Gift Your House to Your Children? 18:19 – Step-Up in Basis Explained 19:03 – The Home-Sale Capital Gains Exclusion 19:52 – What Should Clients Ask Before Making a Big Purchase? 20:49 – The Value of Financial Guidance vs. DIY Investing 21:29 – Why Relationships Matter in Financial Planning 22:06 – It’s More Than Just Investments 23:05 – What Business Owners Should Ask Before Starting a Business 24:20 – Why the “Before” Is So Important 24:41 – The Power of CPA + CFP Collaboration 25:21 – Closing Thoughts

    Who Knows More About Your Money? CPA or CFP?

  3. Sep 9

    Give More to Charity. Pay Less in Taxes. Here's How.

    Charitable giving can be about much more than simply writing a check. When planned correctly, giving can also play an important role in tax planning, retirement planning, investment strategy, and even family legacy. In this episode, David and Marlana break down several strategies that can help make charitable giving more tax-efficient and purposeful. They discuss Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), donor-advised funds, charitable remainder trusts, giving appreciated assets, and how charitable planning can fit into a broader financial and estate plan. They also talk about the role charitable giving can play in teaching children about generosity, creating a family legacy, and supporting organizations that matter to you. Whether you're retired, approaching retirement, sitting on highly appreciated assets, or simply looking for smarter ways to give, this conversation offers several strategies worth knowing. 00:00 - Introduction: Why charitable giving matters 00:59 - Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from an IRA 01:44 - Why keeping taxable income lower can matter 02:37 ‎- Giving, stewardship, and the bigger purpose behind philanthropy 04:01 - Making charitable giving more tax-efficient 05:25 - Donor-Advised Funds: A strategy for major income years 06:17 - How a Donor-Advised Fund can let you give over time 07:33 - Giving highly appreciated stocks or real estate 08:01 - How a Charitable Remainder Trust works 08:31 - Avoiding a large capital-gains event while creating income 08:52 - Receiving income from a charitable trust 09:14 - What happens to the assets when the trust ends? 10:05 - What about leaving money to your children? 11:26 - A real-world example of a Charitable Remainder Trust 12:21 - Why charitable trusts don't pass the assets directly to heirs 12:31 - Family foundations, private foundations, and teaching generosity 13:35 - Charitable giving and college foundations 14:16 - Giving appreciated stock to charitable organizations 14:22 - Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts (CRATs) 14:57 - A real-life example involving multiple charitable trusts 15:21 - How charitable annuity trusts work after the donor's lifetime 16:01 - Wrapping up: The "alphabet soup" of charitable strategies

  4. Aug 24

    What Really Happens to Your Assets When You Die?

    What happens to your assets when you're gone–and how can you make things easier for the people you leave behind? In this episode of Through the Noise, Marlana Lancaster joins David Elmore in a conversation, breaking down the fundamentals of estate planning, including wills, trusts, probate, powers of attorney, medical directives, beneficiaries, and more. While estate planning can seem complicated and overwhelming, David explains why every family should have a plan in place and how a few key documents can help protect your wishes and your loved ones. Whether you're just getting started with estate planning or reviewing documents you created years ago, this episode offers practical insights to help you make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

  5. Aug 10

    Trump Accounts vs. 529 Plans: Everything Parents Need to Know

    Should you open a 529 Plan, a Trump Account, a Roth IRA, or another investment account for your child? In this episode of Through The Noise, David Elmore and Marlana Lancaster break down the most popular ways to save and invest for children–from college savings plans to the newly introduced Trump Accounts. They discuss the pros and cons of each option, recent changes to 529 plans, why trade schools deserve more attention, and how parents can use Roth IRAs and even family businesses to build long-term wealth for the next generation. Whether you're a new parent, grandparent, or simply planning ahead, this episode will help you understand which savings strategy may fit your family's goals. 00:00 - Preview 00:39 - Introducing "Through the Noise" 01:28 - Ignore the Market Noise 02:21 - Best Ways to Save for Your Child 02:49 - 529 Plans Explained 04:16 - What Are Trump Accounts? 05:36 - How Much Could a Trump Account Grow? 06:27 - Why Investing Early Matters 07:24 - New Benefits Added to 529 Plans 08:07 - Using 529 Plans for Trade School 09:10 - Can You Pay Student Loans with a 529? 09:45 - What Happens to Leftover 529 Money? 10:46 - Converting a 529 into a Roth IRA 11:58 - UTMA/UGMA Custodial Accounts 13:25 - Keeping Investments in the Parent's Name 15:18 - Using a Roth IRA for College Savings 16:31 - Funding a Roth IRA for Your Child 17:37 - Can FMI Help Set Up a 529 Plan? 18:20 - Final Thoughts

  6. Jul 21

    The Biggest Tax Mistake People Make Every Year (And It's Preventable)

    In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Wes Kirtz, Managing Director of Bookkeeper.com, to discuss how integrating tax planning with financial advising can help individuals and business owners simplify their financial lives while minimizing unnecessary taxes. The conversation covers why having multiple investment accounts and advisors can create unnecessary complexity, the importance of proactive tax planning throughout the year, new charitable giving rules for 2026, retirement planning strategies, and why having a single financial "quarterback" can make a significant difference for both your finances today and your family's future. Whether you're preparing for retirement, managing investments, or looking for ways to reduce your tax burden, this discussion provides practical insights into building a more coordinated financial plan. 0:00 – Introduction and meeting Wes Kirtz 1:02 – Why multiple investment accounts create financial chaos 2:12 – The advantages of consolidating assets and advisors 4:28 – Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and consolidation benefits 5:56 – The difference between tax preparation and tax planning 7:46 – Why tax planning must happen before year-end 8:15 – 2026 charitable deduction changes explained 11:02 – Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) and IRA giving strategies 14:07 – The best tax deduction: retirement accounts 15:29 – Retirement plan strategies for business owners 17:05 – Estate planning, wealth transfer, and avoiding unnecessary complexity 17:56 – The value of having financial advisors and CPAs working together 18:26 – Closing thoughts

    The Biggest Tax Mistake People Make Every Year (And It's Preventable)

  7. Jul 1

    Why AI Demand Is Exploding (And What Investors Should Know)

    In this episode, we sit down with Client Services Associate Joel Elmore to discuss how engineering, technology, and AI are reshaping the way we approach investment management. Joel shares his background in electrical and computer engineering and how those problem-solving skills translate directly into building and managing strategies. The conversation explores how data, software development, and AI tools are being used to analyze large amounts of information, improve decision-making, and create more effective investment strategies. We also dive into key principles such as risk management, diversification, and the importance of aligning strategies with each client’s goals and comfort level. The discussion touches on current market trends, including the rapid growth of AI, and why today’s environment differs from past cycles like the dot-com era.

    Why AI Demand Is Exploding (And What Investors Should Know)

  8. Jun 12

    Meet the Young Financial Advisor Helping 20-Somethings Build Wealth

    In this episode of the FMI podcast, Marlana Lancaster sits down with associate advisor Caleb Snider to talk about his journey into financial planning, growing up in southwest Virginia, and his passion for helping people navigate their financial lives. They discuss practical advice for younger investors, including retirement savings, Roth IRAs, employer matches, investing during market downturns, and how much house people can realistically afford. Caleb also shares insights on consistency in investing, long-term financial planning, and balancing life outside the office through faith, music, golf, and fitness. 00:00 – Introduction and welcome 00:47 – Caleb’s background and career path 03:39 – Why financial planning as a career 06:34 – Who needs a financial advisor and minimums 07:19 – Working with younger vs. older clients 08:10 – How much to save (retirement contribution guidance) 09:15 – Employer match importance (401k basics) 09:41 – Additional savings beyond a 401k 10:01 – What is a Roth IRA and how it works 10:49 – Comparing growth and tax treatment across accounts 11:32 – Importance of actually investing contributions 12:01 – How aggressive young investors should be 12:21 – Home buying and affordability guidelines 13:41 – Key advice for young investors (consistency, discipline) 14:30 – Market downturns and investing mindset 15:13 – Personal interests and life outside of work 16:34 – Closing remarks

    Meet the Young Financial Advisor Helping 20-Somethings Build Wealth
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About

This show helps individuals and families navigate money with clarity, confidence, and a values‑driven perspective. Rooted in timeless principles and supported by decades of professional financial planning and tax expertise, each episode delivers practical strategies you can use this week—from smarter tax moves and retirement planning to generosity, legacy, and financial stewardship. Join us for clear frameworks, real scenarios, thoughtful faith‑informed insights, and tools designed to help you steward well and live fully.

Information

  • Creator
    FMI • Financial Management, Inc.
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © FMI • Financial Management, Inc.
  • Show Website
    Through The Noise