The DIY Investor's Guide to Building Your Own Index Fund (And Why It's a Terrible Idea)
What if you could skip the index fund and build your own? In theory, you can. In practice…well, it’s a bit like building your own refrigerator. You’ll learn a lot, and maybe even get a working model, but you’ll also discover why the factory-made version is so efficient in the first place.In this episode, we dive into the peculiar urge to “DIY” the market, and why the exercise can be incredibly educational—even if you never actually follow through. Along the way, you’ll learn:The 11 Sectors of the Market: From flashy Tech to steady Utilities, every portfolio starts with understanding the cast of characters.How Benchmarks Really Work: Why the S&P 500 is more active (and more tax-efficient) than most people realize.The Temptation of Tilts: When to add seasoning like value or small-cap, and when ego is just disguising speculation.Building Your Own Fund: How to use sector ETFs to replicate the market—and why rebalancing can become a full-time job.Keeping Costs and Ego Down: The S&P’s hidden advantages in cost and tax efficiency, and why humility may be the cheapest asset in your portfolio.The takeaway? You can build your own index fund. You might even enjoy the process. But the real lesson is what it reveals: index funds are masterpieces of design, combining diversification, tax efficiency, and ruthless discipline—all while letting you spend your time on things that matter more than spreadsheets.And if you are interested in learning more about those who support this content and make the show possible, visit facet.com/tyler today! And see why they're the only partner I've brought to you thus far as a resource. 👉 If you found this episode useful (or at least more entertaining than quarterly earnings reports), please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or share it with a friend. It’s the best way to help the show grow—and keeps me from muttering about sector weights to myself in the Vermont woods.
--------
37:45
--------
37:45
4 Tax Moves That Can Save You 6 Figures - Part 2 of 2
Your 50s are a tax-planning sweet spot—a decade when smart strategies can save you tens or even hundreds of thousands over the course of retirement. In this episode, Part Two of our two-part series, we explore four advanced but practical moves to keep more of your money compounding where it belongs.Here’s what we cover in this episode:The HSA Triple Play: Why this account is the most underrated retirement tool, and how to turn it into a stealth IRA with triple tax benefits.Social Security Timing & Taxes: How your claiming age affects not just your benefit but how much the IRS quietly takes back.Charitable Giving with Donor-Advised Funds: A Costco-sized deduction now, with the ability to give on your terms for years. Plus, how Qualified Charitable Distributions can kill two birds with one IRA.Bracket Shifting by Gifting to Kids: Move money to lower tax brackets within your family—legally—while supporting education, housing, or even a responsible jet ski purchase.Together with Part One (Roth conversions, withdrawal sequencing, and tax-efficient investing), this gives you a full seven-strategy toolkit for your 50s. No gimmicks, no offshore shell games—just thoughtful planning that keeps more money in your pocket and less in Uncle Sam’s.👉 If this series has been helpful, please leave a review or share it with a friend. It’s the best way to help the show grow—and it keeps me from muttering about Roth conversions to my dogs in the Vermont woods without witnesses.
--------
28:48
--------
28:48
4 Tax Moves That Can Save You 6 Figures - Part 1 of 2
Taxes in your 50s may not be cocktail party conversation, but they can make or break your retirement plan. In this episode, I kick off a two-part series on the smartest tax moves to make once the kids are (hopefully) off your payroll and you’re staring down retirement.In Part One, we cover four essential strategies:Roth Conversions: Why your 50s and early 60s may be the perfect window to pay taxes on your terms, not Uncle Sam’s.Withdrawal Sequencing: The order in which you raid your taxable, pretax, and Roth accounts can extend your portfolio by years.Tax-Efficient Investing: How to avoid paying tax on “phantom income” by using ETFs, low-turnover funds, and muni bonds.Tax Loss Harvesting: Turning portfolio lemons into lemonade by using losses to offset gains and shrink your tax bill.Think of this episode as a tax tune-up: no jargon—just practical strategies that can save you tens or even hundreds of thousands over your lifetime.And this is only Part One. Next week, we’ll cover the HSA triple play, Social Security timing, and two bonus strategies for the charitably inclined and family-minded.👉 Subscribe so you don’t miss Part Two, and if you’re finding these episodes helpful, consider leaving a quick review. It helps more people discover the show — and keeps me from muttering about Roth IRAs to my dogs in the Vermont woods entirely in vain.
--------
26:18
--------
26:18
10 Ways Investors Lose Money Without Knowing It
Most portfolios don’t implode in one dramatic crash; they leak slowly. A percent here, a hidden fee there, and before you know it, your retirement fund has been funding someone else’s yacht. (Cough, cough...your advisor's...)In this episode, I shine a light on ten common wealth leaks that quietly drain portfolios, plus practical fixes for each one.We’ll cover:How a “tiny” 1% fee can cost you a third of your returns.Why overtrading turns your portfolio into Swiss cheese.The real silent killers: taxes, spreads, and cash drag.Why your own emotions can be more expensive than any advisor.You’ll walk away with a checklist to plug the holes, lower your costs, and keep more of your money compounding where it belongs — in your account, not Wall Street’s.👉 Think of this episode as financial plumbing: we’re finding the leaks before they flood your future.
--------
29:27
--------
29:27
The Only Asset Allocation Guide You’ll Ever Need
Your portfolio’s performance isn’t about finding the next hot stock; it’s about how you slice the pie. In this episode, I break down the real math behind compounding, why losses hurt more than wins help, and three simple allocation models you can actually follow without losing sleep.We’ll cover:Why “average returns” are misleading and compounding is what matters.How diversification really works (hint: it’s not about guessing winners).Three practical allocation strategies for different levels of risk tolerance.The surprising case for the “reverse glide path” in retirement.Whether you’re cautious, balanced, or adventurous, you’ll leave with a framework to match your investments to both your spreadsheet and your stomach.And if you’ve ever wondered whether you should own more stocks, more bonds, or just more Advil to deal with it all once you retire — this episode’s for you.
Your go-to podcast for mastering money and investing. Hosted by Tyler Gardner, a trusted influencer with over 2.5M followers, Your Money Guide on the Side simplifies the complex, adds nuance to what seems simple, and connects you with the brightest minds in finance, investing, and business. Whether you’re just starting or leveling up, this is your one-stop resource to navigate your own finances with clarity, confidence, and a bit of fun. Let’s get you one step closer to where you need to be.
Australia