Money Sense

“EIG Behind the Scenes” is a new Money Sense series designed to highlight the people and perspectives behind Ellenbecker Investment Group. In this first episode, Karen Ellenbecker sits down with Brett Engelking, Director of Operations and Systems, to explore what it really takes to build and sustain a boutique firm.

Karen reflects on her more than 40 years in the industry and the intentional decisions behind building a firm grounded in personalized service, long-term relationships, and thoughtful growth. Brett shares how operations and systems work behind the scenes to bring that vision to life while adapting to an increasingly complex, fast-moving environment.

They also discuss how technology supports, but never replaces, human connection, and explore what the rise of AI could mean for the future of the industry. 0:00 EIG Behind The Scenes Introduction

1:50 How the Industry has Evolved Over 40 Years
4:30 What Operations and Systems Actually Do
7:30 From Manual Processes to Modern Technology
11:30 What “Boutique” Really Means Today
15:30 Relationships, Trust, and Legacy Planning
21:30 Technology, AI, and Risk Awareness
29:30 The Future of Advice and The Firm

#MoneySensePodcast #EIGBehindTheScenes #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement #ClientExperience #FinancialEducation #BoutiqueFirm #InvestingInsights #LegacyPlanning #AIinFinance #BehindTheScenes

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP
Presenter of the Money Sense Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable foundations.
Website: ellenbecker.com

This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to companies do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group

What if the hardest part of investing is not finding the right strategy but sticking with it?

In this episode of Money Sense, Kristina Schnuckel sits down with fellow Wealth Advisor Nik Kibardin to explore how behavioral finance shapes the way we save, spend, and invest. From the classic marshmallow experiment to real world market cycles, they break down why delaying gratification can be one of the most powerful decisions an investor makes.

They unpack market timing, the temptation to chase short term wins, and offer practical strategies to help investors stay grounded, disciplined, and focused on long term goals. You will also hear a compelling side by side example that shows how time in the market can matter more than timing the market.

00:00 Why Behavioral Finance Matters
02:15 The Marshmallow Test and What It Teaches Investors
05:10 FOMO, Market Highs, and the Risk of Chasing Returns
08:30 Why Market Downturns Feel So Much Worse
11:40 The Power of Compound Growth with a Real Example
16:20 Time Horizon, Risk, and Smarter Decision Making
21:45 Why You Cannot Time the Market
24:30 Building Habits, Diversification, and Staying Invested

New episodes of Money Sense drop every Tuesday. Subscribe for more conversations about aligning your money with what matters most.

#MoneySense #BehavioralFinance #DelayedGratification #InvestingWisely #FinancialPlanning #LongTermInvesting #WealthBuilding #FinancialEducation

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP
Presenter of the Money Sense Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable foundations.
Website: ellenbecker.com

This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to companies do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group.

Making thoughtful financial decisions during divorce starts with understanding your options.

In this episode of Money Sense, Julie Ellenbecker sits down with Susan Hansen, collaborative attorney and mediator at Hansen & Hildebrand, to walk through how to approach divorce thoughtfully from the very first steps through long-term financial impact.

They emphasize the importance of education and choosing the right process for your situation. Susan outlines the different paths available including mediation, collaborative divorce, traditional litigation, and do-it-yourself approaches, along with the tradeoffs of each.

Susan also highlights a major update in Wisconsin law that allows couples to finalize a divorce without appearing in court, offering a more streamlined and lower-stress option for many families.

00:00 Divorce Planning and Financial Decisions
01:20 Preparing for Divorce and Getting Organized
04:30 Divorce Options
12:30 No-Court Divorce and New Wisconsin Law
19:45 Building Your Divorce Team
24:00 Financial Planning During Divorce
31:30 Divorce Mistakes to Avoid

New episodes of Money Sense drop every Tuesday. Subscribe for more conversations about aligning your money with what matters most.

#MoneySense #DivorcePlanning #DivorceAdvice #WisconsinDivorce #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement #GrayDivorce #Mediation #CollaborativeDivorce #FinancialWellness

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP
Presenter of the Money Sense Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable foundations.
Website: ellenbecker.com

This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to companies do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group.

What if just $1 a day could set your child up for long-term wealth?

In this episode of Money Sense, Amy Bremmer, Wealth Services Advisor at Ellenbecker Investment Group, is joined by Faith Reiter from the EIG Marketing Team, who is expecting her first child, to break down a simple but powerful strategy built on the time value of money.

Together, they explore how small, consistent contributions, whether from parents, grandparents, or loved ones, can grow over a lifetime. From UTMA accounts to Roth IRAs, this episode walks through a step-by-step approach to turning early investing into generational wealth.

They also discuss the realities of modern parenting costs, how to prioritize investing amid competing financial goals, and why starting early, even with a small amount, can make all the difference.

00:00 Welcome & Why This Topic Matters
02:05 The Cost of Raising a Child Today
04:15 What $1 a Day Really Means 
06:20 UTMA Accounts Explained 
10:45 $365 vs. Lump Sum Strategy
16:30 The Roth IRA Strategy
19:50 From $1/Day to Millions

New episodes of Money Sense drop every Tuesday. Subscribe for more conversations about aligning your money with what matters most.

#MoneySense #FinancialPlanning #GenerationalWealth #InvestingForKids #RothIRA #ParentingFinance #WealthBuilding #TimeInTheMarket

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP
Presenter of the Money Sense Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable foundations.
Website: https://www.ellenbecker.com/

This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to companies do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group.

What does it mean to show up as a leader, especially in times of crisis, uncertainty, and burnout?

In this special #AuthorSpotlight episode of Money Sense, we’re joined by Jen Marr, founder and CEO of Showing Up and author of Lifting Up. Through the “showing up” framework, Jen breaks supportive leadership down into clear, actionable behaviors leaders can apply in real time to reduce burnout, strengthen trust, and improve team connection.

Jen shares her deeply personal journey, shaped by proximity to the Sandy Hook tragedy and the Boston Marathon bombing, and how those experiences sparked decades of research into human behavior, stress, and support. From the concept of the “awkward zone” to practical, repeatable micro-skills leaders can use right away, this conversation goes far beyond theory and into action.

00:00 Why Showing Up Matters
01:15 Jen Marr’s Story
05:40 Stress, Disruption & the “Awkward Zone”
10:40 The Showing Up Leadership Framework
15:50 Practical Tools Leaders Can Use Today
26:30 Steady Leadership, AI, & How to Connect with Jen

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jen Marr is the founder and CEO of Showing Up and the author of “Lifting Up”. Through research, training, and real-world application, Jen helps leaders build supportive cultures that reduce burnout, increase trust, and strengthen human connection, especially during times of stress and uncertainty.
Book: "Lifting Up" is available on Amazon and major book retailers.
Website: showing-up.com
Personal Site: jenmarr.com

ELLENBECKER INVESTMENT GROUP
Presenter of the Money Sense Podcast. Ellenbecker Investment Group (EIG), a registered investment advisor, provides comprehensive financial planning and fiduciary wealth management for individuals, families, businesses, and charitable foundations.
Website: ellenbecker.com

This podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Guest opinions represent the views of the individuals speaking, and references to companies do not imply endorsement by Ellenbecker Investment Group.