Month: May 2025
Behavioral Economics in Investing: Mastering Your Financial Mindset with Matt Sommer (Ep. 26)

Behavioral Economics in Investing: Mastering Your Financial Mindset with Matt Sommer (Ep. 26)

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What happens when the stock market takes a wild ride? 

Join Jim Sumpter and special guest Matt Sommer,  a seasoned strategist with Janus Henderson Investors, as they unpack market volatility, exploring how emotions and mindsets impact financial decisions and investments.

Listen as they dive into the complexities of investments with a focus on retirement planning and the emotional nuances that come with market fluctuations. Matt shares his insights into how investors can better understand and navigate the ups and downs without losing sight of their long-term goals.

Key Topics Discussed:

  • Understanding Market Indices: Discover the relevance of the S&P 500 and why it might not be the only index to watch. (00:06:05) 
  • Investment Strategies Across Life Stages: How market volatility affects different life stages from wealth accumulation to distribution. (00:12:37) 
  • Behavioral Economics and Decision Making: Explore how the brain’s decision-making processes influence investing habits. (00:18:58) 
  • The Importance of Comprehensive Financial Planning: Comprehensive planning goes beyond stocks and bonds. (00:27:28)

Resources:

Connect with Jim Sumpter: 

Connect with Matt Sommer: 

About  Matt Sommer: 

Matt Sommer is Head of the Specialist Consulting Group at Janus Henderson Investors. His team is composed of subject matter experts in retirement planning, wealth advisory, practice management, and investment strategy. Together, they deliver practical insights and actionable guidance that advisors can apply to grow their businesses and better serve their clients.

Before stepping into this leadership role in 2023, Matt served as Head of Defined Contribution and Wealth Advisor Services at Janus Henderson. He was also the firm’s lead researcher in behavioral finance and served as a wealth strategist.

Before joining Janus in 2010, Matt spent 17 years at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and its predecessor firms, Citi Global Wealth Management and Smith Barney, where he held leadership positions, including Director of Financial Planning and Director of Retirement Planning.

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Financial Planning for Couples: Merging Lives and Finances with Amanda Callahan (Ep. 25)

Financial Planning for Couples: Merging Lives and Finances with Amanda Callahan (Ep. 25)

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What happens when two independent financial worlds come together? 

Today on The Financial Puzzle Playbook, Jim Sumpter revisits the six key areas of financial planning—cash flow, retirement, insurance, investments, income, taxes, and estate planning with guest Amanda Callahan, who offers a fresh perspective on merging as a couple.

Listen as Jim and Amanda navigate the complexities of merging two independent lives, going beyond logistics to explore the emotional side of money. They highlight the importance of open communication, compromise, and structuring financial responsibilities in a way that supports both partners’ independence and shared goals.

Gain insight and strategies to help you and your partner align your goals, values, and dreams for the future. 

  • Combining households: Tackling the tricky negotiations over whose furniture fits best and whose home is kept. (00:04:10) 
  • Financial Contributions: Navigating the logistics of separate accounts and shared expenses. (00:06:47) 
  • Protecting the Future: Conversations around Jonathan’s challenging profession and planning for worst-case scenarios. (00:09:18) 
  • Planning for Aging Parents: Balancing dreams of future investments while considering the care needed for older family members. (00:17:23)
  • Prenuptial Agreements: The evolving conversation about removing the stigma around prenups. (00:24:54)

Resources:

Connect with Jim Sumpter: 

Connect with Amanda Callahan:

About Amanda Callahan: 

Amanda Callahan is the advisor-facing event coordinator at RFG Advisory, bringing years of experience in event planning to her role. She began her career in wedding planning and venue management, drawn to the industry by her passion for creating personal, meaningful experiences for clients. After years of coordinating weddings, she transitioned into the corporate world, where she has spent nearly 15 years honing her skills in event management. Amanda’s expertise spans engagements, rehearsal dinners, weddings, and a variety of other events, making her a seasoned professional in crafting unforgettable occasions.

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