Happy Financial Literacy Month

Happy Financial Literacy Month — Paul Merriman

“Content makes poor men rich: Discontent makes rich men poor.”

— Benjamin Franklin

In This Edition

→ Happy Financial Literacy Month — Paul Teaching at Western Washington University

→ Making Retirement Work in Real Life — Christine Benz · April 16

→ Keeping More of What You Earn — Mike Piper · April 21

→ Learning from the History of Markets — Bill Bernstein · April 28

→ Latest Podcast — PlanVision: Low Cost Flat-Fee Financial Planning for Do-It-Yourself Investors

→ Testimonial

Happy Financial Literacy Month!

On April 29th and 30th I'll be teaching at Western Washington University — Finance 440: Investments, Finance 215: Personal Finance, and a special introduction to investing for freshmen, plus a breakfast with peer mentors giving financial guidance to younger students.

Paul at WWU — April 29–30

Western Washington University is also hosting 7 other Financial Literacy events on campus this month — for the crypto-curious, the money-curious, and everyone in between.

Read about all the WWU events →

And don't forget — we have 3 more special Financial Literacy events before the month is up. Details below.

📽️ Missed the Larry Swedroe interview? We'll have the full video available in next week's newsletter.

Financial Literacy Series · Free Zoom Event

Making Retirement Work in Real Life

Thursday, April 16 · 4:30 – 6:00 PM PST

Christine Benz, director of personal finance and retirement planning at Morningstar, has spent her career helping investors translate financial theory into real-life retirement decisions.

Her work focuses on the practical questions retirees face: How should a portfolio be structured for income? How do we balance safety and growth? How can retirees manage spending in uncertain markets?

Christine brings a rare blend of analytical rigor and empathy for the real challenges families face as they transition from saving to spending.

Join Us Live

Thursday, April 16 at 4:30 PM PST — Sign up to reserve your spot.

RSVP Here →

Financial Literacy Series · Free Zoom Event

Keeping More of What You Earn

Tuesday, April 21 · 4:30 – 6:00 PM PST

Mike Piper is known for his ability to explain some of the most complex financial topics in remarkably simple terms. His books and resources on taxes, Social Security, and retirement income planning have helped thousands of investors avoid costly mistakes.

Mike's work focuses on something many investors overlook — the impact of taxes and government programs on retirement income. Understanding how these systems work can often make the difference between a good retirement plan and a great one.

His writing proves that clarity is one of the most valuable gifts a financial educator can offer.

Join Us Live

Tuesday, April 21 at 4:30 PM PST — Sign up to reserve your spot.

RSVP Here →

Financial Literacy Series · Free Zoom Event

Learning from the History of Markets

Tuesday, April 28 · 4:30 – 6:00 PM PST

Dr. Bill Bernstein is a retired neurologist, financial advisor, and historian who brings a rare long-term perspective to investing. His landmark book The Four Pillars of Investing helped thousands understand that successful investing rests on four foundations: theory, history, psychology, and business.

Bill asks the bigger questions: What have markets taught us over centuries? Why do investors repeatedly make the same mistakes? What simple principles have consistently led to long-term success?

His perspective reminds us that markets change — but human behavior often does not.

Join Us Live

Tuesday, April 28 at 4:30 PM PST — Sign up to reserve your spot.

RSVP Here →

Latest Podcast

PlanVision: Low Cost Flat-Fee Financial Planning for Do-It-Yourself Investors

Paul Merriman sits down with Mark Zoril, founder of PlanVision, in the first episode of a new series spotlighting affordable financial planning options for do-it-yourself investors.

Mark built PlanVision in 2012 around a simple premise: investing isn't as complicated as the financial services industry makes it seem, and technology makes it possible to deliver thoughtful, unbiased financial advice at a price almost anyone can afford.

In This Episode You'll Learn

→What you get for $489 in the first year — including access to the eMoney financial planning platform and one-on-one advisor sessions

→How the $8/month ongoing subscription works, and when it makes sense to stay on vs. cancel

→Why PlanVision has no commissions, no affiliate links, no insurance sales, and no conflicts of interest

→How the firm handles complex situations: Roth conversions, Social Security timing, 529s, pension vs. lump sum, and tax planning (with a CPA on staff)

→What PlanVision will and won't do — no estate planning, no market timing, no gold hedging strategies

→How they serve expats in over 180 countries

→What happens when a client passes away and a surviving spouse needs guidance

→Mark's own investing philosophy — and why he puts his own money in a Vanguard target date fund

→How PlanVision works with clients who follow Paul Merriman's, Rick Ferri's, Larry Swedroe's, or any other multi-equity asset class indexing philosophy

Links Mentioned

→PlanVision website

→PlanVision testimonials

→Rob Berger interview with Mark Zoril (expat investing, 60+ min)

→Stan the Annuity Man

→Bogleheads PlanVision comments

→Watch the full video on YouTube

Listen to the Full Episode →

From Our Community

“AAII does wonderful work in educating the general public in financial education and so does Paul Merriman. I've been reading and listening to him for 25+ years as one among others, including AAII, in gaining a financial education.”

— A Paul Merriman Listener

From Paul Merriman

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Happy Financial Literacy Month — Join Me for 3 Special Events