
Capitalize Your Fridays!
By ALTIUS Financial Inc's Michael Williams CFP® & Taylor McGowen CFP®

Capitalize Your Fridays!Jun 02, 2023

Alternatives to Alternative Investments
The most common types of alternative investments include real estate, collectibles, commodities, private equity, and derivatives. But in this episode, Mike and Taylor cover a couple new unique alternative investments in the wine and art industries. They discuss the potential risk and benefits of these newer investments.

Travel Credit Card - Tips & Tricks
With summer travel coming up, Mike and Taylor review the process of travel credit cards, and how to maximize credit card points. In this overview on credit card points and benefits, Taylor goes over some tips & tricks and things to look out for when considering a credit card.

Secure Act 2.0
The Secure Act 2.0 will likely have an impact on ALTIUS' clients, so in this episode Mike and Taylor give an overview of the Secure Act 2.0 and outline how they're thinking about it in the long-term. At the end of the episode, they also discuss the process of stock buybacks and how they affect shareholders.

AI Chat Bots: the Good, the Bad, & the Ugly
What is this Chat GPT I hear people talking about? Listen along as Mike and Taylor introduce you to and implement the world's fastest growing new tech - Chat GPT. We cover the new artificial intelligence (AI) language processing chat bot technology that is currently at the forefront of bringing AI to the masses and how it relates to investing.

What to know about SVB & Banking
In this episode, Mike and Taylor discuss the current banking situation (SVB, Credit Suisse, etc) and explain the recent and historic events that led to this predicament.

Layoff Chaos
In this episode we discuss some of the recent layoff turmoil and how this has spread beyond just the tech industries. We share our outlook on causes of these layoffs, our perspective on how this may or may not present investment opportunities, and our suggestions to any listener who may be directly experiencing this difficult time.

Mortgage Lending with Kim Crea
Our guest this week is Kim Crea, Senior Vice President of Residential Lending at Draper & Kramer Mortgage. Kim has a wealth of knowledge about mortgage lending and has been helping people with their home financing needs since 2003. She loves working with first-time homebuyers, repeat purchasers, or those looking to refinance, and her goal is to make the loan process as easy and smooth as possible. In this episode, Kim walks Mike through the process of “locking in” interest rates, the typical closing timing in the current market, and answers questions about the current housing market and whether now is a good time to buy a home.

Why is Big Tech Losing Trillions?
ALTIUS recently had a client ask about investing in tech and what is going on with many of the large companies losing trillions based on their share price. So, in this episode, we discuss the chaos around big tech's layoffs and loss of capital, and what that means for ALTIUS' outlook on current market volatility.

Market Cap Confusion
Let’s dive into what Market Capitalization is and how it helps investors make allocation decisions.

New Year, New Client
In this episode, Mike and Taylor discuss what it means to become a new client. Such as, what questions to ask a new advisor, what it means to become a client with a financial advisor, and what the ALTIUS Financial client experience looks like.

Debunking the 60/40 Rule
Mike and Taylor discuss the 2022 market conditions and the failure of using the 60/40 Rule to protect one's nest egg. What happened and should you throw out the old asset allocation rules?

FTX, What the Heck?
The recent FTX drama has everyone wondering what’s in store for the future of crypto currency. Tune in to hear our thoughts on what has happened so far and our future outlook for decentralized finance.

Where's the (Debt) Ceiling?
Recently, we've had many clients ask about the Debt ceiling and with the government continuing to increase spending and assistance policies the current “debt ceiling” seems more of an open sunroof than an actual ceiling. So in this episode, Taylor questions Mike about his thoughts on government debt and how it may impact our client portfolios.

Employee Healthcare Elections
Let's clarify the employee healthcare policy election process by breaking down terminology and policy types to help you make the right selection. In this episode we cover coinsurance, copays, different types of health insurance plans, and most importantly how an HSA account can benefit your overall financial situation in the long-term.

Furry Family Finances
Pets may be our furry family members, but we often overlook how their expenses quickly add up. Today we discuss the finances around adopting and supporting our favorite fluffy family members.

There's More to Life Than Retirement
One of the main financial topics we discuss with clients is preparing for retirement, but here at ALTIUS we think being ready for retirement is not only about how much you've saved. So, in this episode, we discuss what it really takes to be retirement ready and how enjoying the journey shows that there's so much more to life than retirement.

Supply Chain Issues
With COVID on the downturn why are we still seeing challenges in our local and global supply chain? Mike and Taylor discuss their research on where these supply chain shortages are at and why - tune in to hear!

Why Do Millennials Hate Dave Ramsey?
It’s a bit harsh to say that a whole generation hates an individual, but it is interesting to point out that much of the millennial generation doesn’t agree with Dave Ramsey's financial philosophy. Listen to this episode to find out why.

Is it Always (or Ever) Cheaper to Buy Direct?
In this episode, Taylor tells Mike about some of her recent experiences of buying direct, which sparked the question "Is it always or ever cheaper to buy direct?" Listen to hear Taylor and Mike's thoughts on what is worth getting a deal for and what isn't. Also, at the beginning of this episode we give a brief update on President Biden's Student Loan Announcement and Updates.

Biden's Inflation Reduction Act
Politicians have a knack for naming legislation to make it seem more palatable, especially in election years. This bill is no different since most people really are experiencing the effects of inflation with much higher prices on everyday items. Mike and Taylor discuss President Biden's most recent bill and its potential impact on the economy, markets and client portfolios.

The Psychology of Money
In this episode, Taylor and Mike do a book review of The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness by Morgan Housel. They discuss different principles of the book and the application of them in life and mindset. A book for anyone interested in how to think about money and how to let that mindset drive your monetary behaviors.

We're 50 Now!
We're excited for our 50th episode release! Listen to find out why we created Capitalize Your Fridays and to hear more about what's coming next for our podcast.

Chew On It?
Communication is key and in this episode Mike and Taylor talk about a particular miscommunication with a client that led first to some confusion, then laughter and finally to a history lesson. Mike often talks about "chewing on" ideas, as in pondering and then digesting something new or different and he talks about the history of Judaism, finance, money-lending and finance.

Walking Tall on Independence Day
In this special episode for Independence Day, Mike and Taylor read Walking Tall to show what it means to have financial freedom. They also discuss the meaning of Independence Day and why it's important to appreciate the founding and revolution - to be patriotic, but cautious of nationalism.

Sold on Gold?
In this episode, Mike and Taylor discuss gold as an investment, and focus on the potential value of purchasing metals and how to hold those types of assets. Tune in to hear the answers to questions like - How is gold valuable? Is jewelry an adequate holding for precious metals? And can precious metals hedge inflation?

Are old financial rules only for old people?
Has anyone ever told you, "You need 20% down to buy a house"? This is one of the financial industry's old "rules of thumb" and one that Mike & Taylor discuss in this episode. There are so many old financial rules, but it's hard to know whether or not they're actually applicable now or if they need to be adjusted. So Mike & Taylor take on this challenge to ask -- are the old rules only for the older generations?

The Envy Economy
Why do we hate people at the top? Is it the natural human need for drama or are billionaires really bad? Or are they truly good for the economy and people, but get vilified by society? Mike and Taylor discuss all these questions in this week's episode about the current envy economy mindset.

Active vs Passive Investing
At ALTIUS, our investment approach is personalized and catered toward your life's goals, but we know that different investing techniques and strategies can get confusing. So on this Friday's podcast, Mike and Taylor dive into the specifics and differences between active and passive investing.

Twitter, Takeovers, & Talking Freely.
This week Mike and Taylor discuss the rollercoaster of Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter and clarify why it's important to understand the difference between private and publicly traded (still private property) companies. From there they evaluate free speech and more when it comes to company values and the role of shareholder voting.

Impending student loan repayments - with Debt Free Millennial’s Tara Miller
Our guest this week is Tara Miller of Debt Free Millennial, who currently works in Fintech as an underwriter for student loans. Taylor, Mike, and Tara talk about the recent updates to the Student Loan Forbearance and answer other questions about options to pay off student loans, refinancing, and the possibility of student loan forgiveness.

Fun(d) with Vice Investing
Can it be good to invest in our vices? Like beer, tobacco, etc? In this episode discover more about vice investing with Taylor and Mike, and whether investing in our vices can be profitable. And even if it's profitable, is it good or ethical?

What to do when you win the lottery
It's pretty low odds to win the lottery, but if you do here's some steps to take if you do! There's a lot of different options and situations you might come up against if you ever win the lottery or acquire a lot of money suddenly, so Mike & Taylor discuss what that could look like.

Introduction to ALTIUS
In most episodes we talk a lot about ALTIUS as a business, but in this episode, we decided to let our listeners know a little bit more about our team. Listen to get to know Mike, Taylor, Jenn, and Krescent.

ESG Investing - Can feeling good actually be profitable?
This week, Mike and Taylor have a conversation about Environmental, Social, and (Corporate) Governance Investing - more commonly known as ESG Investing. It's a controversial topic with a lot of different views across generations. They elaborate more on what this means and whether it actually might be profitable to invest in ESG.

What's the inflation situation?
Mike & Taylor talk through inflation and what's going on in the current market.

It's Credit Freezing Out!
To go with the freezing weather in Denver this week, Mike and Taylor go over credit freezes. This episode is all about protecting your credit and the big difference in freezing an account versus freezing your credit. Taylor shares her own personal experience with freezing her credit and talks about why it can help protect you in emergency situations.

New Year, New Mindset
Happy New Year from ALTIUS Financial! This new year ALTIUS is changing the phrase "new year, new me" to "new year, new mindset." We love goals and planning, but we've found that their success all comes down to mindset. So in this episode, Mike and Taylor talk about their own goals and why developing a new mindset sets you up for success much more than checking off a list.

Hobby vs. Hustle
In this episode, hear Taylor interview our first ever guest, Mattie Kleist, on how she made some of her hobbies become her hustles. Mattie talks about her experience working three separate side hustles on top of her 8-5 job, and what that looks like financially.

Gratitude by Charitable Giving
This week Mike & Taylor discuss the importance of gratitude and how charitable giving can help both your mindset and your financial situation.

ALTIUS's Philosophy in Quotes
Dive deep into the ALTIUS philosophy and how it came to be through 5 different quotes from Aristotle, John Adams, and a few other famous authors and figures. These quotes are our credos and have helped create ALTIUS's approach to building wealth.

Holiday Spending Reminders
Tune in for tips and reminders about planning your holiday spending and specifically why it's important this year due to the current global supply chain issues.

Causes of Market Volatility
In this episode, Mike and Taylor discuss the current markets, tax code changes, and overall causes of market volatility.

What's in a Financial Plan?
Mike & Taylor talk about what the 6 areas of financial planning and why and how they are covered in a financial plan at ALTIUS Financial!

ALTIUS Updates
Tune in on this episode to hear about some updates around ALTIUS's team, office, covid-19 thoughts, and upcoming events/plans!

How Your Lifestyle Adds Up
Every choice you make or habit you have can have an impact on your finances, and you might not realize how much these can add up. Maybe a coffee a day is the difference between going on a international trip that year or not. Dive into this episode to get an idea of how much your lifestyle might really be adding up.

Planning for College & Education
Dive into funding education and more through a focus on the types, uses, and details of 529 College Savings Plans.

The Risk and Return of Investing
Sometimes in life you risk it all and sometimes you don’t, but what kind of risks are there in investing? Learn some of the ins and outs of investing with us this Friday to capitalize yours!

Small Businesses Starters
What does it take to start a business? Learn that and more about how to and why to start a business in this week's episode. And if you're interested in our "So, you want to go into business?" Virtual Workshop on August 3rd, 2021, register on our website: Events | Michael Williams (altiusfinancial.com).

Maxing Your Savings
Time to maximize your savings! Learn how to grow your savings from what accounts you should pay into, saving vs. debt pay off, and how much you should be saving.

Credit Score Craziness
Tune in to hear our discussion about the craziness of credit scores -- what they are, what's a good score, how to find out yours, and how you can make it better.

Buying into Business
Bringing clarity to the concept of employee stock options and grants.

Conspiracy Theory Thoughts
We love getting feedback from our listeners and one of our listeners/clients recommended the topic of addressing recent Conspiracy Theories, their legitimacy, and their potential impact on finances.

Stonks, SPACs, and NFTs please?
Clarifying, as best we can, some of the new alternative investment options that have been popular buzz words and topics.

The Great Merge- Merging Finances and Goal Planning
Sharing thoughts from two financial advisors who have personal and client experience with merging finances and planning.

Financial Planning for Beyond the Grave
Is estate planning for everyone or just for wealthy people with a mansion vineyard estate? ha ha! Tune in to hear our perspective for planning for now and beyond.

Where's the GROWTH for VALUE investors?
Let's dive into the concept of investing and weigh our thoughts on growth vs. value investing strategies.

Tips for Travel Time
Tips for traveling during a pandemic. Budget and travel pricing thoughts for both those ballin on a budget and for the financially affluent adventurer.

Tax Time Tips and Tricks
Tips, tricks, and thoughts heading into 2020 tax prep season.

Tribute to Tammy
Some of our favorite memories and thoughts of our loved and dearly missed coworker.

Living The American Dream
People say home ownership is "The American Dream". Let's discuss the home shopping and buying process and discuss real estate as an investment.

Making Cents of Crypto Currency
Should you buy crypto? Let's dive into the history of money, the concept of Crypto, how to hold it, and Crypto as an investment.

World Meets Wallet
It's been an interesting week to say the least-- How will what's going on in the world impact your current and future investments (your wallet)?

What to Ask an Advisor?
Do I need an advisor and what should I ask when shopping for one?

No Free Christmas Trees
This episode we discuss the unfortunate truth- the are no free Christmas trees. In all seriousness, we take this last episode of the year to discuss the concept of "free" stuff and weighing cost vs. value, we tie this into the purpose of a corporation and try to weigh the benefits of corporations of all sizes. Lastly, we'll finish off with an intro to our 53 week Finance Challenge and we invite all our listeners to join in on the next 53 weeks of financial engagement.

It's December... Now What?
Let's discuss a handful of helpful financial tips heading into year end focusing on: tax strategies, investment opportunities, and personal financial planning.

#Blessed
#Blessed... But are we? Let's talk a bit about how we are all blessed and how both mindset and habits can greatly impact the results of your financial and personal goals.

HMO, PPO, HSA-- What the Hell?
In this episode we break down the terminology you may see on your health insurance benefit options along with a quick analysis of different plan types. Hopefully this will be helpful for everyone in open enrollment looking to select their plans for next year.

Fireside Charity Chats
Okay, okay, this episode has nothing to do with FDR or his Fireside chats. But, the recording process was Fireside as Taylor gazed out her window to the wildfire and clouds of smoke approaching her hotel. *Note: no employees were injured in the making of this podcast* In all seriousness, let's dive into the benefits of gifting your time and money to causes you care about. We'll touch on suggested gifting principles, tax benefits, and what makes this calendar year different from a charitable gifting perspective.

Does My Vote Count
What is the potential financial and social impact of the 2020 election? Pros and cons of a true democracy and our outlook on where Americas is heading as a society.

Buying Cars and Paying Down Cards
Everyone will have a big purchase in their life. Maybe it's a car, or a boat, or a home- we're discussing how to consider the variables associated with planning for a car purchase and how to live within your means to save for large future expenses.

Ep. 1: Intro to Finance Fridays & Current Markets
We'll briefly introduce you to our speakers, Taylor and Mike, and share a bit of Q&A on current and general financial topics.