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Welcome! Bridget Sullivan Mermel and John Scherer talk introduce themselves and talk about why they started the channel, Friends Talk Financial Planning.
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401k to IRA Pros and Cons | When to do it. When to Hold Off
Rolling your 401K to an IRA used to be automatic advice, but it might not be a great idea. We talk about when to do it, and when to hold...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jun 28, 2022
Most Common Tax Mistake You May Be Making Now
The most common tax mistake people make is happening right now. Not doing tax planning. Or thinking that because they had their tax...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jun 18, 2022
How Do REITs Work in a Portfolio? | REIT Investing Explained
Real estate investing can be made easy with REITS, or real estate investment trusts. But many people don't know how REITs work in a...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jun 16, 2022
Is it Best to Pay Off Mortgage Before Retiring?
Should you pay off your mortgage before you retire? Is it best to pay of your mortgage before retiring? What are the pros and cons of...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jun 6, 2022
Net Worth by 40: Are You on Track?
Is your net worth by age 40 putting you on track to retire? This is an important question we often get as fee only financial planners. We...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Apr 9, 2022
Net worth at 30: How do you compare?
Is your net worth at 30 on the right track? We talk about how to figure that out. First, we talk about elements of net worth. What is...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Apr 3, 2022
4 Mistakes People Make When They Find a Financial Planner
Finding a financial planner can be difficult. They all sound the same when they say they care about their clients. How can a normal...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Nov 27, 2021
Make More in Donations and Pay Less in Tax
If you want to make more in donations and pay less in tax, picking the right way to give to charity is crucial. In this video, we'll...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Nov 26, 2021
Fee-only or Fee-based financial advisor: What's the Difference?
What's the difference between a Fee-only or fee-based financial advisor? It turns out, the difference is significant. We’ve talked in...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Nov 11, 2021
Which Employee Benefits for Me? Sorting Through Your Options During Open Enrollment
Confused about which employee benefits are right for you during open enrollment? You're not alone. This video helps you be smart and...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Nov 4, 2021
Two Money Tips for New Grads: Keep it Simple
If you’re graduating from high school and college and embarking on getting your first job, you’re going to start developing an important...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jul 2, 2021
Double Your Money: Use The Rule of 72 for Investment Returns
Using the rule of 72 makes it easy to figure out how much your money will grow over time. Most people think that it will grow pretty...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jun 30, 2021
Money, Math and When to Use a Calculator: Tips on Spending Intentionally
When we’re thinking about spending money, we make better decisions if we do the math. Yet, we resist. Maybe we were traumatized in our...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Mar 1, 2021
Millennials Are Mooches…and Other Money Myths
There are plenty of stereotypes about how certain people behave around money — stereotypes I’ve often seen contradicted in my experience as
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jul 15, 2019
Dive Deep into Credit Cards
Recently a client emailed me to ask, “What is the best credit card?” Then, at a family holiday, four of my nieces and nephews asked the...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Feb 18, 2016
Safe Investing
Dear Bridget, In the 70s, when I was in high school, I shared a Pinto with my sister. She bought the gas, I bought the oil. When the...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Aug 4, 2010
Shopping Angst Revealed
I've got a theory about stress: it's cumulative. In other words, stress isn't about the two big things that constantly worry you. You...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jun 17, 2010
Clunkers Getting More Cash?
The cash for clunker program, which started on July 24th, was supposed to go through November, or when the money ran out. Problem is...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Jul 31, 2009
Save Money While Online Shopping
Recently, I saved about $100 on-line when spending $300, all on items that I would have purchased anyway. I bought items from Kohl's,...
Bridget Sullivan Mermel CFP(R) CPA
Feb 5, 2009
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