Tag: retirement planning
Beyond the Headlines: Unpacking 2025’s Economy & 2026 Outlook (Ep. 7)

Beyond the Headlines: Unpacking 2025’s Economy & 2026 Outlook (Ep. 7)

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Periods of economic uncertainty often lead people to question their financial choices, yet most long-term outcomes are shaped by steady decisions rather than day-to-day noise.

Why do we feel worried even when the data looks stable? How do rising prices, interest rates, and shifting job conditions influence real-life planning?

In this episode, Jamie Hopkins and Kate Duffy talk with Andrew Davis, CFA, Head of Macroeconomic Research at Bryn Mawr Trust, about inflation trends, labor market shifts, and what the past year reveals about consumer behavior. 

They walk through the Fed’s direction, the impact of housing constraints, and how portfolios may evolve as rate cuts move closer. In addition, Andrew explains what investors should watch in 2026 and why staying focused on long-term planning matters more than reacting to news cycles.

Key points:

  • How inflation shapes consumer frustration even when headline figures ease
  • Why the labor market shows cooling but still signals underlying strength
  • How today’s rate environment influences housing decisions and affordability
  • What market performance says about earnings growth and diversification
  • Why sticking to a clear financial plan helps reduce emotional reactions

Connect with Bryn Mawr Trust: 

Connect with Kate Duffy: 

Connect with Jamie Hopkins: 

Connect with Andrew Davis:

About our Guest: 

Andrew Davis is an investment strategist with more than a decade of experience applying macro insights and portfolio construction principles to help clients make informed decisions in changing conditions. He blends real-time market perspective with a long-term approach, offering guidance that is both thoughtful and actionable.

In his role as Head of Macro Research, he shapes asset allocation views, contributes to the firm’s wide investment strategy, and supports advisor teams with clear, data-focused commentary. His weekly video series, Two the Point, highlights key economic themes for an audience of investors looking for clarity amid constant noise. He has appeared as a guest commentator on CNBC’s Fast Money and has been recognized by the American Bankers Association’s 40 Under 40 in Wealth Management and WealthManagement.com’s Rising Star Award for leadership and innovation.

Andrew earned his MBA with honors from The Wharton School and holds a Master’s in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University, along with the CFA designation. His work is grounded in data, shaped by purpose, and focused on insights that build confidence and long-term value.

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How To Practice for Retirement (Ep. 4)

How To Practice for Retirement (Ep. 4)

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Retirement isn’t just about reaching a number or a specific age. It’s a significant life transition that requires preparation beyond financial planning.

How do you shift from a lifetime of saving to spending? How do you build new communities and find purpose when work becomes optional?

In this episode, Jamie Hopkins and Kate Duffy explore the concept of “practicing retirement” and how to prepare for this major life transition at every stage of life. They discuss the psychological challenges of spending down savings, the importance of aligning your values with your spending, and practical strategies like bucketing, visualization, and test-driving retirement lifestyle choices. 

  • Key takeaways:
  • The psychological and behavioral challenges of transitioning from saving to spending in retirement
  • The importance of retirement planning beyond finances, including identity shifts, community building, and lifestyle changes
  • How to use bucketing and visualization techniques throughout your life to align spending with your values and goals
  • Practical strategies for test-driving retirement
  • The counterintuitive benefit of stopping retirement savings 2-3 years before retiring to improve quality of life and potentially stay in the workforce longer

Resources:

Connect with Bryn Mawr Trust: 

Connect with Kate Duffy: 

Connect with Jamie Hopkins: 

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Redefining Retirement with Christine Benz (Ep. 1)

Redefining Retirement with Christine Benz (Ep. 1)

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Retirement isn’t just about money; it’s about how you spend your time, maintain relationships, and create a meaningful life.

In this episode, Jamie Hopkins and Kate Duffy welcome Christine Benz, Morningstar’s Director of Personal Finance, to explore how retirement planning is shifting from purely financial to a more holistic approach.

Christine shares insights from her book How to Retire, highlighting why delaying retirement can be powerful, why relationships matter most, and how small lifestyle choices shape longevity.

Key takeaways:

  • Why phasing into retirement often works better than stopping suddenly
  • The value of enjoying experiences like family trips, even while still working
  • How relationships form the core of happiness in retirement
  • Why men, in particular, should proactively plan for social interactions after work
  • The role of physical activity and everyday interactions in staying well longer 

Resources:

Connect with Bryn Mawr Trust: 

Connect with Kate Duffy: 

Connect with Jamie Hopkins: 

Connect with Christine Benz: 

About Our Guest: 

Christine Benz is director of personal finance and retirement planning for Morningstar and senior columnist for Morningstar.com. In that role, she focuses on retirement and portfolio planning for individual investors. 

Benz is the author of How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement (Harriman House, September 2024). She also wrote 30-Minute Money Solutions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Finances (Wiley, 2010) and Morningstar® Guide to Mutual Funds: 5-Star Strategies for Success, published in 2005. 

She also co-hosts a podcast for Morningstar, The Long View, which features in-depth interviews with thought leaders in investing and personal finance. She is a frequent public speaker and is widely quoted in the media, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, CNBC, and PBS. In 2020, Barron’s named her to its inaugural list of the 100 most influential women in finance; she appeared on the 2021 list as well. In 2021, Barron’s named her as one of the 10 most influential women in wealth management. 

Before assuming her current role in 2008, she served as Morningstar’s director of mutual fund analysis and was editor of Morningstar Mutual Funds and Morningstar FundInvestor.

Benz holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and Russian from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is president of the board for the John C. Bogle Center for Financial Literacy. Benz is also a member of The Alpha Group, a group of thought leaders from the wealth management industry from across the country. In her free time, she works with underprivileged women to improve their understanding of personal finance concepts.

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