Mr. Stillman's Opus

This week, we're back on the farm with another hands-on financial lesson, because sometimes the best way to understand money is to get your boots dirty. In part two of our Finance Lessons from the Farm series, John breaks out a literal toolbox and a little dirt to teach a big concept: using the right financial tool for the right job. He walks through common missteps, explains how these mismatches happen, and shares how to rethink your approach so every tool in your financial plan is aligned with its intended purpose. Just like you wouldn’t dig a hole with a four-foot level (seriously, don’t try it), you shouldn’t use life insurance as a long-term investment or stash your Roth IRA in bank CDs. These tools aren’t inherently bad, but they’re often wildly mismatched to the goals people expect them to accomplish. Tune in to make sure you’re using the right tools for the job. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: