Mark's Money Mind

From his home studio in Longmont, Colorado, Mark Trautman discusses estate planning as friends are settling loved ones’ estates. He notes research suggesting only about 25%–47% of U.S. adults have wills. 

He outlines key documents (will, durable power of attorney, healthcare proxy, living will) and explains intestacy, probate, and how trusts can reduce back-end work and keep matters private. He emphasizes using POD/TOD and beneficiary designations on accounts, reviewing them regularly, and understanding that beneficiary forms can override a will. 

Mark recommends organizing a binder with accounts, debts, keys, and password/phone access info, streamlining accounts, automating bills, and ensuring the estate or trust retains accessible cash to cover expenses. He cautions that trusts must be funded and briefly notes tax considerations when naming trusts as IRA beneficiaries.

Episode Links:

Mark’s Money Mind YouTube Channel

How to Keep Your Estate Plan From Tearing Your Family Apart - WSJ.com

Timestamps:

00:28 Why Estate Planning Matters

03:06 Core Estate Documents

04:12 Wills Versus Trusts

05:46 Avoiding Probate

06:30 PODs TODs and Beneficiaries

09:57 Working With An Attorney

10:51 Executor Binder And Access

15:34 Consolidating Accounts

17:04 Funding Estates And Trusts

20:53 Trust Taxes and IRAs

23:39 Talking With Heirs

28:11 Automating Bills For Continuity

30:45 Fourth Quarter Checklist

Mark welcomes his first in-person guest at his “home studio,” Roxanne Duckels aka “Finance Rox” to discuss Coast FI after recent mainstream coverage. 

Roxanne defines Coast FI as saving enough for traditional retirement so compounding can carry you to your goal, freeing future cash flow for more spending, lower income, or fewer hours; she says she used all three over six years and reached full FI in February. 

They walk through the math using a 35-year-old targeting $60,000/year via the 4% rule (25x expenses = $1.5M) and a 6% real return, equating to a need of $261,165 today, while noting sensitivity to return assumptions, sequence-of-returns risk, and changing life needs. 

Roxanne shares quitting corporate accounting, working lower-paying jobs, mini-retirements, and expensive short-term travel as Coast FI benefits, plus upcoming solo travel to New Zealand and Australia and attending Tribe FI.

Episode Links:

Mark’s Money Mind YouTube Channel

Young People Are Obsessed With This Simple Retirement Savings Formula - WSJ.com

Opinion | Gen Z Is In Coast Mode - WSJ.com

Reaching ‘Coast To FI’: The Path to Financial Freedom - Investopedia

The FIRE Crowd Might Be Making Some Lofty Assumptions About Their Path To Retirement - Business Insider

TribeFI

Follow Roxanne Duckels @FinanceRox on social media

Timeline:

01:14 Meet Finance Rox

02:17 Why Coast FI Is Trending

03:40 Coast FI Explained

04:57 Coast FI Math Breakdown

07:03 Four Percent Rule Basics

08:36 Choosing Return Assumptions

11:14 Common Critiques and Risks

18:50 From Coast to Full FI

23:13 Savings Rate and Lifestyle

25:39 Deprivation vs Contentment

26:29 Coast FI Benefits

29:07 Family Friction Risks

30:06 Sprint Then Coast

31:02 Retirement Balance Quiz

33:45 Why Coast FI Feels Realistic

34:57 Small Steps and Automation

36:26 Latte Myth and Mindset

37:44 Contentment and Community

40:30 Solo Travel Plans

45:18 Longmont Fresh Start

46:18 Where to Follow Rox

Mark Trautman of Mark’s Money Mind and Jordan Grumet (Doc G) of Earn & Invest record a live collaboration at CampFI Midwest 2026, focusing on how in-person gatherings counter modern isolation and provide energy, courage, and connection. 

Mark shares how attending his second CampFI in 2021 shortly after his wife’s death helped him find the community he didn’t know he needed, leading to deep friendships, travel, and even a move to Longmont. 

Amber Smith describes going from early community involvement and side hustle reselling to full-time reselling and influencing, growing her net worth and reaching Coast FI. 

First-time attendee Ryan B explains coming via an invitation and finding an unexpectedly welcoming community. 

Additional attendees share how CampFI enables meaningful conversations, motivation, and friendships across ages.

Episode Links:

Mark’s Money Mind YouTube Channel

CampFI

Earn & Invest podcast

Follow Amber on social media @amberwavesofbrain_

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and CampFI Intro

01:02 Live Crowd Kickoff

01:37 Why In Person Matters

02:44 Mark's Story and Community

08:31 Doc G’s Courage to Act

11:29 Amber Smith’s Coast FI Journey

18:21 Social Media and Authenticity

20:43 Ryan B’s First Meetup

26:38 Show Up and Meet Your Heroes

31:04 Aftershow - Audience Stories

Host Mark Trautman returns to Mark’s Money Mind after a trip to Norway and explains Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) and how they differ from standard Treasury Bills, Notes and Bonds.

TIPS have a fixed rate but adjust principal up or down with CPI; interest is paid on the inflation-adjusted principal and at maturity investors receive the adjusted principal or original principal, whichever is greater.

Mark describes comparing yields between Treasuries and TIPS to calculate implied inflation and notes that TIPS are beneficial when inflation exceeds that expectation.

He shares an asset-liability matching example: buying a 10-year TIPS in a traditional IRA to preserve today’s purchasing power for potentially purchasing a single premium immediate annuity (SPIA) at age 70 to cover a retirement income shortfall, and discusses taxes, where to hold TIPS, and buying them via brokerages rather than TreasuryDirect or through mutual funds and ETFs.

Episode Links:

Mark’s Money Mind YouTube Channel

Treasury Yield Curve

Currently Available TIPS

Treasury Direct

Timestamps:

00:00 Show Intro

00:26 Norway Trip Recap

02:13 What Are TIPS

02:42 Treasury Basics: Bills, Notes and Bonds

04:18 How TIPS Adjust for Inflation

06:00 Breakeven Inflation and When TIPS Win

08:02 Using TIPS for Goal Matching

10:20 Retirement Floor and Annuity Plan

15:57 Why TIPS Look Attractive Now

18:23 Taxes and Best Account Placement

20:17 How to Buy TIPS and Avoid Fund Pitfalls

23:33 Wrap Up and Key Takeaways

In this Fourth of July weekend episode, Mark highlights federal student-loan changes tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3) which go into effect as of July 1, 2026.

He notes a new auto-pay incentive: as of July 1st, borrowers on auto payment receive a 1.00% interest-rate reduction (up from 0.25%), effective automatically for those already enrolled, with a Sept. 30 enrollment deadline for others. 

He reviews the new loan rates for loans disbursed between July 1, 2026 and July 1, 2027 and the unchanged loan origination fee. Undergraduate annual and lifetime borrowing limits remain the same, while Parent PLUS loans are now capped at $20,000 per year and $65,000 lifetime per student. New caps for graduate students go into effect as well: $100,000 (for non-professionals) and $200,000 (for professionals). 

He also outlines the RAP repayment approach based on AGI and emphasizes that balances won’t grow due to negative amortization under the new rules.

Episode Links:

Mark’s Money Mind YouTube Channel

OBBBA Federal Student Loan Updates FAQ

Federal Student Aid official website

Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized Loans

Federal Student Loan Repayment Plans

Timestamps:

00:00 Holiday Show Intro

01:55 Student Loan Changes

02:35 New Autopay Rate Discount

04:16 New Loan Interest Rates

06:20 Federal Loan Limits

08:40 PLUS Loan Caps

11:16 New RAP Repayment Plan

13:09 Avoiding Balance Growth

16:34 Wrap Up Resources

18:55 Conclusion