Picture this: your child is graduating and venturing into the real world. Do you feel confident that they’re financially prepared? In this episode of The Green Zone Podcast, co-hosts Jeff Green and Lauren Smith share their top financial tips that they feel young adults need to understand by age 25. Together they discuss: The importance of financial literacy and starting good money habits early The three basic financial principles they feel all young adults need to embrace: living debt-free, establish an emergency fund and thinking about retirement early Understanding where your money goe ..read more

Are you nearing retirement and worried about navigating the complexities of taxes? Join Jeff Green and Lauren Smith, financial advisors at Green Financial Group, as they tackle the often-overlooked, but crucial, topic of taxes in retirement. While visions of pickleball and leisure may dance in your head, Jeff and Lauren warn that failing to plan for taxes can be a real "gut punch" to your nest egg. Together, Jeff and Lauren discuss: The four stages of retirement: Pre-Retirement, Go-Go Years, Slow-Go Years and No-Go Years Expense considerations in retirement including inflation, longevity ..read more

Does your portfolio feel as dusty as an unopened box of chocolates? Do investment meetings only happen when it's time to "buy, buy, buy"? If your financial advisor's idea of love is the occasional market update email, it's time to ask yourself: is this all there is? In this special Valentine's Day episode of The Green Zone Podcast, Jeff Green and Lauren Smith dig deep into the hallmarks of a truly loving financial relationship. We're talking about advisors who: Ditch the one-size-fits-all approach and listen to your unique goals, dreams (and yes, even pet inheritance plans!) Challenge y ..read more

Do you feel financially fit? Do you even know what that means? If not, you’re in luck. In this episode of The Green Zone Podcast, hosts Jeff Green and Lauren Smith guide you through the key elements you’ll need to ensure your financial well-being in the coming year. You’ll hear about everything from long-term investments to retirement goals to ways you may want to consider to protect your assets. Together they discuss: The importance of pausing to evaluate your near-term and long-term goals and aligning your investment strategy accordingly How understanding your retir ..read more

In this episode of The Green Zone Podcast, hosts Jeff Green and Lauren Smith take a moment to reflect on Green Financial Group’s progress and key milestones achieved during 2023. Together they discuss: Celebrating GFG’s 15th Anniversary and 1st year in our new office How our team has grown and changed this year, including two great new additions with Dylan Daggett and Laura Garza Our new GFG Blog, focused on providing more in-depth financial education and timely insights for our clients and beyond How each feel they’ve learned and grown this year, particularly in respect to the various i ..read more

In this special episode of The Green Zone, hosts Jeff Green and Lauren Smith are joined by members of the Green Financial Group team as they share their favorite holiday gifts to both give and receive. If you have been on the fence about what to buy for a loved one this holiday season – or what to put on your own list! – this episode is for you. Tune in to see why these following items made the cut for the 2023 GFG Holiday Gift Guide: “What I Love About Mom” Book ($13) “What I Love About Dad” Book ($16) Wireless Sleep Headphones ($16) Sequence Game ($25) Holiday Candle ($27) Wicked ..read more

In this inspirational episode of The Green Zone Podcast, hosts Jeff Green and Lauren Smith sit down with Shelly Kirkland, CEO of Boot Campaign, an organization dedicated to supporting veterans and military families. Shelly, who comes from a family with a strong military background, shares her passion for serving those who have served and discusses the incredible work Boot Campaign does to make a difference in the lives of veterans and their families. In this episode, they cover: Boot Campaign's unique mission and the heartwarming story of its inception The organization's dedication to support ..read more

The dream of retirement has probably been sitting in the back of your mind for years. You have an idea of what you want it to look like. You’ve saved for it. You’ve talked to financial professionals. And all of that is great… but have you done any research and planning about how to avoid common retirement mistakes? In this episode of The Green Zone Podcast, hosts Jeff Green and Lauren Smith share a list of items you may want to consider in order to avoid these “retirement traps” and help ensure you are able to live out your dream retirement. Together, they discuss: Why man ..read more

When you think about long-term investments, you probably focus on stocks, bonds, real estate, funds, and the like. But what about cash? In this episode of The Green Zone Podcast, hosts Jeff Green and Lauren Smith cover some of the key considerations you should be making if you’re pondering the pros and cons of long-term investments in cash. Together, they discuss: The reason some folks are prioritizing cash funds in their investment strategy Why you must pause to evaluate your near-term and long-term goals and needs How to think about a 60/40 principle with regards to your portfolio The pros ..read more

Your financial advisor is someone you need to trust. Someone who you know has your best interests front and center. Green Zone Podcast hosts Jeff Green and Lauren Smith want you to find the best advisor for you and your unique financial situation. In this episode, they share some of the biggest mistakes people tend to make when vetting financial advisors and highlight a few best practices for your own search and interview process. Together they discuss: The difference between Fee Based and Fee Only Financial Advisors What types of backgrounds to look for in a Financial Advisor such as co ..read more