Your Money Guide on the Side

A massive thank you to those who make this show possible!

Facet: Every January we obsess over physical health. But what about your financial health? If you're ready to actually get a plan instead of just hoping for the best, Facet pairs you with CFP® professionals who build personalized strategies for a flat fee. Head to facet.com/tyler to get $250 into your brokerage account when you invest $5,000 in your first 90 days, plus waived enrollment fees for new annual members.

Fabric: If anyone relies on your paycheck, term life insurance isn't optional—it's the safety net that catches them if you're not there. Fabric by Gerber Life lets you apply online in ten minutes with no health exam, and a million dollars in coverage often costs less than a dollar a day. Head to meetfabric.com/tyler to get covered before you finish your coffee—policies issued by Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, not available in certain states, prices subject to underwriting.

And now on to the show notes!

Saving money for retirement gets all the attention. Spending that money intelligently is the hard part.

In this episode, Tyler tackles the part of retirement no one really teaches: how to draw down your money without running out, losing sleep, or overpaying in taxes. Accumulation is mostly math and discipline. Decumulation is judgment, flexibility, and understanding tradeoffs.

This is a practical walkthrough of dynamic retirement income strategies — not rigid rules — and why the approach your parents used probably doesn’t work anymore.

In this episode, Tyler breaks down:


Why retirement drawdown is harder than saving — and why there’s no single “right” rule


The three main income strategies in retirement: selling growth assets, living off dividends, and fixed income


How the 4% rule actually works — and why it shouldn’t be followed blindly


The pros and cons of dividend-focused portfolios, including tax implications


When bonds, ladders, and annuities can make sense as income stabilizers


Why inflation is the silent risk most retirees underestimate

The most tax-efficient order to withdraw from accounts

How Roth conversions, low tax brackets, and timing can save real money

Along the way, Tyler explains why flexibility beats optimization, why peace of mind matters as much as returns, and why most retirees end up using a blend of all three strategies, not just one.

This episode isn’t about squeezing every last dollar out of your portfolio.

It’s about making your money last long enough to enjoy it — and knowing how to adapt as markets, taxes, and life change.

If you’re approaching retirement, thinking about early retirement, or just want to understand how the endgame actually works, this episode gives you a solid framework to start from.

And if the show has been helpful, leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify genuinely helps.

As always, hope this gives you something worth thinking about this week.

This week's episode is brought to you by:

Facet. They provide you with access to a team of fiduciary CFP® professionals who gets paid to help you—not to sell you whole life insurance to fund their boat payment. New year, new financial plan that actually makes sense. Learn more at joinfacet.com/tyler.

Copilot Money. The only finance app I've ever recommended to friends unprompted. Three finance professionals signed up, all three stuck around—which tells you everything. If you want to actually organize your money without turning it into a part-time job, check it out at try.copilot.money/tyler.

Gelt. I spent six months doing everything right in my business—automated savings, proper accounting, the works—except I forgot to get a tax strategist. Rookie move. Should've been the first call, not an afterthought. If you're running a small business or a high earner, don't make my mistake. Check out joingelt.com/tyler.

And on to the show notes!

Most of what the insurance industry sells falls somewhere between unnecessary and borderline predatory.

That’s not hyperbole. That’s the point of this episode.

Here, Tyler breaks down what insurance is actually for, what you truly need, and why so many popular policies are aggressively oversold, misunderstood, or designed to benefit everyone except the person buying them.

This is a blunt, behind-the-scenes look at how insurance really works — informed by Tyler’s time inside the finance industry — and why mixing insurance with investing is almost always a mistake.

In this episode, Tyler covers:


What insurance is meant to do — protect against catastrophic loss, not build wealth

The short list of insurance most people actually need

Why whole life insurance is a bad deal for nearly everyone


How indexed and variable life policies repackage the same problems with more complexity and fees


When annuities can make sense, and when they don’t


Why HSAs are one of the most powerful financial tools available, if you’re eligible

Along the way, Tyler explains how commissions shape “financial advice,” why bad products stick around, and how to spot sales tactics dressed up as planning.

This episode isn’t anti-insurance.

It’s about using insurance for what it’s good at — transferring risk — and avoiding products that pretend to be investments.

And if the show has helped you avoid a mistake — or ask better questions — leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify genuinely helps.

Hope this gives you something useful to think about this week.

This week's endeavor in free financial literacy for all, brought to you by:

LMNT: You can have all the money in the world, but if you don't feel good physically, none of it matters. For years, I'd finish my morning workout and be foggy-headed with a headache by 1 PM—turns out I was chronically under-hydrated and needed actual electrolytes, not just water. LMNT has 1,000mg sodium, 200mg potassium, 60mg magnesium, and zero sugar that keeps me sharp all day. My routine: one during my workout, then a Sparkling LMNT around 4 PM (Mango Chili is the move). Right now they're offering a free sample pack with any purchase at drinklmnt.com/tyler.

Bilt: I spent my late 20s throwing thousands at rent in Vermont while maxing out retirement accounts, feeling like I was getting nothing back. ⁠Bilt⁠ fixes that by turning rent and mortgage payments into actual rewards—flights, hotels, fitness classes, or Amazon purchases. Join at ⁠joinbilt.com/Tyler⁠ and make money you're already spending work harder.

Facet: Every January we prioritize physical health like it's the New Year's resolution Olympics, but why don't we give our financial health that same energy? I get hundreds of messages weekly asking for personalized advice, and while I want to help, I can't responsibly address your specific situation in a podcast. That's why I partner with ⁠Facet⁠: you get dedicated CFP® professionals who build actual financial plans tailored to your life, charging a flat fee instead of a percentage of assets. Connect with Facet at ⁠facet.com/tyler⁠ and start 2026 with both your health and your wealth dialed in.

And on to the Show Notes!

Somewhere between "retire at 30" and "work until 70," there's a middle path. Tyler talks with Andy Hill, host of Marriage, Kids and Money and author of Own Your Time, about how he and his wife reshaped their financial life to work 20–25 hours a week while staying financially secure—without winning the lottery or selling a tech company.

This isn't a FIRE hype episode. It's a grounded conversation about tradeoffs, mistakes, marriage tension, and building a life that doesn't feel like a trap.

Tyler and Andy discuss why extreme FIRE often breaks down in family life, how "Coast FIRE" creates a realistic middle ground, why income growth matters as much as cost-cutting, how money conversations can go wrong in marriage, and what it actually took to leave corporate work without blowing up financial security.

Andy shares three concrete starting steps for anyone who feels stuck or burned out and wants to reclaim control over their time. This episode isn't about escaping work—it's about finding work you don't need to escape from.

If the show has been helpful, leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify genuinely helps more people find it.

A massive thank you, as always, to this week's sponsors:

⁠Copilot Money⁠: Want to actually see where your money goes without judgment or manual spreadsheets? ⁠Copilot Money⁠ connects all your accounts in one place, tracks subscriptions automatically (no more surprise renewals), and uses AI to categorize spending so you're not tagging transactions like a digital archaeologist. It's privacy-first (they don't sell your data), and they're an Apple Design Awards finalist. Use code TYLER at ⁠copilot.money⁠ for two free months, plus 26% off your first year for new users. If you're starting 2026 wanting clarity around your finances, this is worth trying—especially for free.

Gelt: If you're like me, a solopreneur or a high net worth individual, and you do NOT want to make managing your taxes a SECOND full time job, visit Gelt today and see what they can do to turn your tax strategy around in 2026 and let YOU get back to doing literally anything else. Visit joingelt.com/tyler to see if they're the right fit for you and your business.

⁠Fabric⁠: And if you have ANYONE who depends on your income, term life insurance is essential. That's why it's Step 3 in my financial order of operations, long before an emergency savings account or funding a Roth IRA. This is what will actually help the family if something happens to you. And you can get covered in ten minutes from your couch while watching Survivor. Go to ⁠meetfabric.com/tyler⁠ today and get the coverage you need.

And on to the show notes!

Rebalancing gets treated like financial gospel.

Something you must do on a strict schedule, or else you’re somehow being irresponsible with your money.

In this episode, Tyler pulls that idea apart.

Yes, rebalancing matters — but it’s far less urgent, far less precise, and far less sacred than the financial industry wants you to believe.

This is a practical, anxiety-reducing look at what rebalancing actually is, when it’s worth doing, and when you can probably stop worrying and go live your life.

In this episode, Tyler breaks down:


What rebalancing actually means, and why age-based formulas are mostly nonsense


Why goals matter more than age when deciding your allocation


When rebalancing barely changes outcomes — and when it actually matters


How target date funds handle rebalancing for you, and when they work well


How to rebalance yourself without overthinking it, especially inside retirement accounts


Why rebalancing in taxable accounts is trickier, and when paying taxes is actually the right move


How to rebalance using new contributions instead of selling — and why taxes shouldn’t paralyze you

Along the way, Tyler explains why rebalancing isn’t about hitting a perfect allocation, why most people exaggerate its importance, and why alignment beats optimization every time.

This episode isn’t about micromanaging your portfolio.

It’s about making sure your money still reflects your goals — and knowing when you can safely stop tinkering.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you should rebalance, whether it’s worth triggering taxes, or whether you’re overthinking the whole thing — this one’s for you.

And if the show has been helpful, leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify genuinely helps. It helps other people find the show and keeps it going.

As always, hope this gives you something useful to think about this week.

Here are some truly helpful resources from this week's sponsors:

First, the ONLY way I am able to make this much content, day in day out, is by feeling my best. Always. And that starts with my working out each morning and needing something that doesn't leave me feeling like I just ate four pounds of candy. Enter LMNT. It is literally the product designed for people like me: need the fuel, don't need the crash, game on. Check out LMNT today here.

And if you're looking to start 2026 with a bang, like, a "get my act together financially once and for all" type bang, check out Facet. They continue to practice what I preach, and they provide real advice from real experts for real people. Check them out today here.

And now on to this week's the show notes!

Most people say they believe in long-term investing.
Far fewer people actually behave like it — especially when markets are at all-time highs.

In this episode, Tyler tackles one of the most common (and expensive) investing mistakes there is: sitting in cash while waiting for the “right time” to invest. The twist? That “right time” almost never shows up, and the data is brutally clear about what it costs.

Despite how uncomfortable it feels, buying stocks at all-time highs has historically been a perfectly reasonable — and often superior — strategy compared to waiting on the sidelines.

In this episode, Tyler walks through five reasons why staying in cash is costing you a fortune:


All-time highs are normal — markets hit them far more often than most people realize


Even terrible timing beats no timing — buying at the worst possible moments still outperforms sitting in cash


“This time is different” almost never is, no matter how convincing the headlines sound


Missing the best days destroys long-term returns, and those days often arrive during chaos


Doing nothing is still a decision — and it carries real risk

Along the way, Tyler breaks down decades of market history, real return data, and behavioral traps that convince smart people they’re being cautious when they’re actually sabotaging themselves.

This episode isn’t about ignoring risk or investing recklessly.
It’s about recognizing that waiting for certainty is just another way to lose money.

Markets go up. Markets go down.
But sitting in cash while hoping to outsmart two centuries of economic progress has never been a winning strategy.

If you’ve ever told yourself you’re “just waiting for a pullback,” this episode is for you.

And if this helped you rethink your approach — or finally get out of your own way — leaving a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify genuinely helps. It helps other people find the show and keeps this whole thing moving.

As always, hope this gives you something useful to think about this week.