Episodes

Getting married means combining more than your lives. For young couples, it can also mean figuring out how to budget together, talk openly about spending, and make financial decisions as a team. How can young couples build healthy financial habits, communicate about spending, and make decisions that reflect what matters most to them? In this episode, Jim Sumpter, CFP®, continues his conversation with Cassidy Sumpter, the second C in CMC Financial, about the financial lessons she has learned whil...

Young adults entering new stages of life often face major decisions around careers, relationships, and money. How do you build a future together while navigating uncertainty and changing priorities? In this episode, Jim Sumpter, CFP®, reconnects with Cassidy Sumpter to talk about her path toward becoming an elementary school teacher, the influence of a teacher who changed her life, and the lessons she hopes to pass on to future students. Cassidy shares how she chose her career path, the support ...

How much cash should you keep on hand? When should you begin planning for long-term care? What happens when you inherit an IRA? These are the kinds of financial questions many people don’t ask until they’re facing an important decision. In this episode, Jim Sumpter, CFP®, walks through several of the retirement planning topics clients bring up most often. He explains how to think about emergency funds, why long-term care planning starts with a conversation long before care is needed, how to bala...

Have you been putting off your estate plan because it never feels urgent? Many families discover too late that assumptions, outdated paperwork, or missing documents can create difficult decisions for the people they care about most. In this episode, Jim Sumpter, CFP®, explains why estate planning isn’t reserved for wealthy families and walks through the core documents that help protect your wishes. He discusses common misunderstandings about wills, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, m...

Digital assets are becoming a bigger part of financial conversations, but many people still wonder whether they belong in a long-term plan. How do blockchain, Bitcoin, and crypto actually work? And what should investors understand before adding digital assets to a portfolio? In this episode, Jim Sumpter continues part two of his conversation with Loran Coffman, MRFC®, CRPC, CBDA℠, Wealth Advisor and Founder of Route Financial Group, about how digital assets are evolving beyond cryptocurrency hea...

Life has a way of changing even the most carefully crafted financial plans. One day you’re focused on building wealth and preparing for the future, and the next you’re navigating a major transition that requires a completely different set of financial decisions. In this episode, Jim Sumpter, CFP®, welcomes fellow advisor and GFG Wealth Advisors founder Mark Green for a conversation about the moments that can change a financial plan overnight. As they explore market uncertainty, retirement readin...

Cryptocurrency can feel confusing, speculative, or difficult to understand, especially with so much hype surrounding digital assets. In this episode of The Financial Puzzle Playbook, Jim Sumpter sits down with Wealth Advisor and Founder of Route Financial Group, Loran Coffman, MRFC®, CRPC, CBDA℠, to break down the basics of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, and why digital assets are becoming a growing topic of conversation in financial planning. Loran explains how Bitcoin evolved from a...

Many people think tax planning happens once a year when they file their return. Jim Sumpter believes the real planning starts after tax season ends. In this episode, Jim introduces what he calls the “Tax Control Triangle,” a simple way to think about where your money lives, how it’s taxed, and why flexibility matters when it comes time to use it. Jim walks through the differences between taxable accounts, tax-deferred retirement accounts, and tax-free strategies like Roth IRAs. He also explains ...

What shapes the financial mindset of the next generation? How do young professionals balance money, work, faith, and purpose as they begin their careers? In this episode, Jim Sumpter, CFP®, sits down with Margaret Easterling, Finance student at Samford University and intern at CMC Financial, to explore how young adults think about money and career choices today. Margaret shares her path from South Carolina to Samford, her experience helping manage the student-run Bulldog Investment Fund, and wha...

Financial planning today is about more than picking investments. As client needs grow more detailed and interconnected, how do advisors bring together the right people and resources to serve families well? In this episode, Jim Sumpter, CFP®, introduces Mark Green, President at GFG Wealth Advisors, to share how their strategic partnership expands capacity for clients. They explore the shift from transaction-based investing to comprehensive planning, including tax strategy, retirement income, cash...

Tax headlines can sound simple, but the details often tell a different story. What do recent tax law updates actually mean for your income, deductions, and long-term planning? And how should you adjust when the rules keep shifting? In this episode, Jim Sumpter, CFP®, breaks down key changes from the recent tax bill and explains how they affect families, retirees, and business owners. He covers updates to SALT deductions, child tax credits, and charitable giving, while clarifying common misconcep...

Inheriting money sounds straightforward, but for many families, it becomes one of the most confusing and emotionally loaded financial moments they will ever face. In this episode, the client learns why preparation, guidance, and the right advisor matter more than the inheritance itself. Jim Sumpter, CFP®, is joined by fellow CFP® David Pulcini Jr. for an honest conversation about the Great Wealth Transfer and why so many families are not fully prepared when assets change hands. Together, they un...

What does real diversification actually look like when markets feel noisy and unpredictable? In this episode of The Financial Puzzle Playbook, Jim Sumpter, CFP®, sits down with trading desk expert Paul Wankmueller to break down how stocks really work, why diversification goes far beyond numbers, and how investors can stay grounded when headlines and emotions compete for attention. In this episode, the client gains a clearer understanding of how ownership, trends, and discipline play a role in bu...

Most families think adding a child to a parent’s bank account is a simple act of love, but Jim Sumpter CFP® reveals how easily it can create tax issues, legal exposure, and long-term family conflict. In this episode, Jim breaks down why ownership matters more than most people realize and why wills often never even come into play. Through real client stories and personal examples, he explains how joint accounts, powers of attorney, TOD designations, and cost basis rules work behind the scenes, es...

Many families avoid talking about money because they fear conflict, awkwardness, or hurting someone’s feelings. Jim and returning guest Brendan Frazier break down why family meetings matter more than ever and how they can protect both relationships and legacies. They explore the emotional dynamics that show up when siblings gather, why blended families need a different level of care, and how to talk openly, frequently, and graciously so everyone knows their role long before decisions need to be ...

It is easy to think financial planning is all about numbers, but this episode pulls back the curtain to show why the human side matters just as much. In this episode, Jim Sumpter, CFP®, sits down with returning guest Brendan Frazier, Chief Behavioral Officer at RFG Advisory, to explore the Golden Circle framework and how understanding your why can shape every financial decision you make. From cash flow to retirement to caring for aging parents, your deeper motivations can either move you forward...

Sometimes the toughest seasons reveal the most unexpected opportunities. When COVID-19 turned the world upside down, Jessica Snead found herself without a job, a plan, or a clear next step, but what she did have was creativity, determination, and a love for making things beautiful. In this episode of The Financial Puzzle Playbook, host Jim Sumpter, CFP®, talks with Jessica, owner of Petal & Platter, about how she turned an uncertain moment into a thriving catering business. From her first “Happy...

Join host Jim Sumpter, CFP®, and his returning guest, CMC Financial’s Vice President, Andy Graffeo, AFSP, as they take you through essential year-end financial planning strategies using their six-piece playbook. They cover key topics like maximizing 401(k) contributions, Roth conversions, required minimum distributions, charitable giving, education planning, and energy tax credits. Throughout the episode, Jim and Andy stress proactive planning, highlighting that working closely with trusted fina...

The holidays come early in this unforgettable episode of The Financial Puzzle Playbook, where Jim Sumpter is joined by none other than Santa Claus himself. With a cocoa in hand and a beachy Hawaiian shirt on, Santa opens up about his off-season routine, what makes the perfect cookie, and why budgeting for the holidays is one of the greatest gifts you can give your future self. Amid the laughs and holiday cheer, Jim and Santa dive into deeper reflections on meaningful memories, financial mindfuln...

What happens when Gen Z tackles investing armed with TikTok hacks in one hand and a finance textbook in the other? In this candid and high-energy episode of The Financial Puzzle Playbook, host Jim Sumpter reconnects with Vivi Spotswood, a rising junior at Ole Miss, for part two of their conversation. This time, the spotlight shifts to investing, what it really means, how younger generations misunderstand it, and why building financial confidence takes more than a viral video promising millionair...

When Vivi Spotswood arrived at Ole Miss, she didn’t know many people, but what she did know was that she wanted to carve her own path. Now a rising junior studying finance, entrepreneurship, and marketing, Vivi joins host Jim Sumpter for a two-part conversation about cash flow, confidence, and the mindset shifts that come with growing up financially independent. From budgeting as a college student to understanding how her parents’ work ethic shaped her own, Vivi brings sharp insight, relatable h...

What does insurance really look like across a lifetime, and how do you make sure it fits your plan? In this second conversation with Eileen Shovlin, Director of Business Development at Crump Life Insurance, we dive deep into the logistics of insurance at different stages of life. From understanding insurability and group policies to integrating coverage with wealth accumulation, preservation, and distribution, this episode is full of insights for families, professionals, and anyone navigating th...

What if a single unexpected moment reshaped your entire financial future? In this episode, host Jim Sumpter, CFP®, sits down with Eileen Shovlin, Director of Business Development at Crump Life Insurance, to explore the deeply personal journey that led her to become an advocate for smart, values-based insurance planning. From a life-altering car accident at 27 to a health crisis at 31 that made her uninsurable, Eileen shares the lessons that shaped her purpose and how insurance gave her peace of ...

Depreciation can be one of the most misunderstood aspects of owning a business or rental property, and mishandling it can lead to IRS headaches, audit risk, or unexpected capital gains. In this episode, Jim Sumpter, CFP®, breaks down how depreciation really works, including how it’s calculated, what qualifies, and what happens if you skip it. Whether you’re renting out a home, replacing a roof, or writing off new gear, understanding the depreciation timeline is critical. Jim also covers recaptur...