The Green Zone

You have a will. You’ve named beneficiaries. You’ve done the “responsible” estate planning things. But if something happened to you tomorrow… would your family actually know where everything is? In this episode of The Green Zone Podcast, Jeff Green and Lauren Smith talk about the practical information families often overlook when planning for the future. It’s not the most comfortable topic, but organizing these details now can make an incredibly difficult time easier for the people you love—an

How much money do you really need to retire? Is $1 million enough? Should you be aiming for a specific number? Or are you asking the wrong questions altogether? In this episode of The Green Zone Podcast, Jeff Green and Lauren Smith break down why there is no one-size-fits-all retirement number and share the questions that matter far more than simply asking, "How much do I need?" Together, they discuss: Why there is no universal dollar amount needed for retirement The difference between focus

What happens when a parent’s health suddenly changes… and no one knows where anything is? How do you support aging parents while still honoring their independence, wishes, and dignity? In this episode of The Green Zone Podcast, co-hosts Jeff Green and Lauren Smith discuss one of the most emotional (and most avoided) areas of financial planning: preparing for aging parents, caregiving responsibilities, and difficult future decisions before a crisis happens. Together they discuss: Why “the best

You know the feeling. You turn on the news or scroll your phone and suddenly it feels like everywhere you look there’s another alarming headline: markets crashing, wars overseas, political tension, inflation, interest rates, uncertainty about what happens next. And naturally, you start wondering: Should I be doing something different with my money right now? Should I be changing something financially? That feeling is completely understandable. But when the noise gets loud, what should you actu

What are the biggest mistakes people make when planning for retirement—and are you unknowingly making one of them? In this episode of The Green Zone Podcast, Jeff Green and Lauren Smith break down some of the most common (and costly) retirement planning missteps, using real-world insights and practical experience from working with clients every day. From inflation and healthcare costs to investment strategy and income planning, they walk through what can quietly derail even the most well-intent

Is tax season just a painful annual chore… or could it actually reveal something important about your financial life? What if your tax return is quietly showing you where money is being lost, opportunities are being missed, or planning could make a meaningful difference? And how can high-net-worth families start using tax season as a strategic tool instead of just reacting to it every April? In this episode of The Green Zone Podcast, co-hosts Jeff Green and Lauren Smith encourage you to take