BusinessInvestingEducationSociety & Culture

Financial Decoder

Charles Schwab

Cognitive and emotional biases can have a big impact on your financial life. Each episode of Financial Decoder looks closely at one financial decision--and the biases that might cloud your judgment and cost you money. Host Mark Riepe, head of the Schwab Center for Financial Research, decodes the behavioral and psychological factors at play and shares strategies designed to improve the way you approach financial crossroads. Other experts join Mark to provide their unique perspective on behavioral economics, portfolio management, retirement planning, personal finance and more.

Podcasts are for informational purposes only. This channel is not monitored by Charles Schwab. Please visit schwab.com/contactus for contact options.

Play

Open in

21 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 25 min
English

Episodes 21

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

S22 · E6
August 17 · 30 min
What Are the Keys to Lowering Financial Stress?
Financial peace isn't about hitting a magic number. Cindy Scott joins Mark to share how to worry less and make more confident financial decisions.
S22 · E5
August 3 · 13 min
How Do IRAs Actually Work?
What exactly is an IRA, and how do you know if one makes sense for you? Mark unpacks the fundamentals behind one of the most important retirement accounts.
S22 · E4
July 20 · 34 min
What's Really Driving Your Portfolio Decisions?
When should you act on your portfolio, and when should you stay the course? Learn how to separate emotional reactions from thoughtful investment decisions.
S22 · E3
July 6 · 20 min
What Can America's First 250 Years Teach Us?
For America's 250th birthday, Mark revisits stories from U.S. financial history and explores what debt, taxes, money, and markets can teach us today.
S22 · E2
June 22 · 32 min
Could a Trust Fit Your Estate Plan?
Thinking about a trust? This episode explains how trusts work, what problems they solve, and why they may be useful for more people than you might expect.
S22 · E1
June 8 · 18 min
How Do You Offer Financial Guidance to a College Grad?
Helping a college grad manage money starts with how you give advice. Learn what works, what backfires, and the key biases that shape early financial decisions.
S21 · E6
April 27 · 20 min
How Can You Plan Beyond Next Year's Tax Bill?
Avoid letting short-term tax concerns drive long-term financial decisions. Learn how tax aversion, timing, and planning impact after-tax wealth over a lifetime.
S21 · E5
April 13 · 11 min
What Do Both Sides of an Inheritance Need to Consider?
Inheritance raises practical and emotional questions. In this episode, Mark looks at how families plan, manage expectations, and make sound decisions when wealth changes hands.
S21 · E4
March 30 · 29 min
What's the Best Way to Talk Money With Teens?
Parents play a key role in teens learning real-world money skills. This episode explores how open dialogue and hands-on experience help young people move toward financial independence.
S21 · E3
March 16 · 13 min
7 Good Ideas for New Investors
New to investing? In this episode, Mark outlines seven good ideas that cover investing fundamentals designed to hold up across market cycles and changing conditions.
S21 · E2
March 2 · 24 min
Why Is the 401(k) Crucial to Retirement Saving?
Learn how 401(k)s work, why their structure matters, and how smart contribution decisions can significantly shape long-term retirement outcomes.
S21 · E1
February 16 · 26 min
What Should Investors Know About Cryptocurrency?
Learn how to evaluate cryptocurrency suitability and risk to consider if digital asset exposure aligns with your long-term investment goals.
Dec 15, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
(Bonus) From On Investing: 2026 Market Outlook
As we approach 2026, what can investors expect from the equities market, fixed income, and the overall U.S. economy in the new year?
S20 · E9
Dec 8, 2025 · 26 min
How Can You Make the Most of Your Charitable Giving?
Julie Sunwoo, president of DAFgiving360, joins Mark Riepe for a timely discussion of charitable giving strategies.
S20 · E8
Nov 24, 2025 · 31 min
How Should Your Goals Shape Your Portfolio?
Investing isn't one-size-fits-all. Stephanie Shadel returns to discuss key investing concepts, biased behaviors, and how to build and manage a portfolio that aligns with your financial plan.
S20 · E7
Nov 10, 2025 · 18 min
What Makes a Financial Plan Fit Your Life?
Learn how to make decisions that align with your real-world goals, resources, and priorities to make a financial plan tailored uniquely to you.
S20 · E6
Oct 27, 2025 · 34 min
What Should You Consider When Buying a New Home?
Understand the complexities of buying a home, including key players, financial considerations, and emotional factors involved in the process.
S20 · E4
Sep 29, 2025 · 28 min
Do Alternative Investments Have a Role in Your Portfolio?
Alternative investments can feel opaque. Learn about what they include, from hedge funds to private equity to real estate, and how they're distinct from traditional assets.
S20 · E3
Sep 15, 2025 · 5 min
Could These 5 Strategies Help You Save on Domestic Travel?
Learn five simple ways to cut costs on domestic travel while still enjoying great experiences and making the most of every trip.
S20 · E1
Aug 18, 2025 · 26 min
What's Driving Women's Investing Trends?
Mark Riepe is joined by the head of Schwab's branch network, Jeannie Bidner, to discuss survey data about how women investors view themselves and what drives their decisions.

Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes