Five Minute Finance

Hosted by Mike Morton, CFP®, RLP®, ChFC®

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Episodes

203

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Are you super busy with your career, kids, and life? Discover ways to get organized and enjoy a wonderful life! We cover smart strategies for personal finance, investing, and how to enjoy your time and money. Breakthrough the complicated financial landscape with easy-to-understand information that you can actually follow. I discuss how to become wealthy: tips and habits to change in your life to achieve financial freedom. I dive into topics such as savings, investing, education planning, insurance, tax planning, and more. If it's related to financial planning and financial success, you can be sure we'll cover it. I love to discuss listener questions, so please connect and follow me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwsmorton

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 8, 202624 min

You Don’t Need A Side Hustle → You Need a Better Strategy

Most people don’t need another side hustle; they need a smarter framework for building financial flexibility. This week, Matt and I explore the difference between true passive income and expensive distractions, including equity compensation, rental real estate, angel investing, and the hidden cost of time and energy.Find out more about Mike at https://www.mortonfinancialadvice.com and connect at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwsmorton/

June 1, 202610 min

AI Was Supposed to Save Time. Why Doesn’t It Feel Like It?

AI promises efficiency, but what if the real effect is simply raising expectations rather than freeing time? Join Matt and I for this first ever BONUS Five Minute Finance that riffs off our latest episode about AI. Why do productivity gains often disappear? How does convenience change our standards? Where does AI help versus where could it be quietly weakening creativity, judgment, and long-term skill development?Find out more about Mike at https://www.mortonfinancialadvice.com and connect at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwsmorton/

May 25, 202626 min

AI Assistant ≠ AI Advisor - Use AI for What it is Good at and Leave the Rest to Humans

AI is changing how people approach personal finance, but the smartest use isn’t asking it to make decisions; it’s using it to surface ideas, explain strategies, and help you ask better questions faster. Join Matt and me this week as we discuss where AI genuinely adds value, where it can confidently lead you astray, and why human judgment still matters most when real money is on the line.Find out more about Mike at https://www.mortonfinancialadvice.com and connect at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwsmorton/

May 11, 202630 min

The Real Lesson After 200 Conversations About Money

After 200 episodes, the biggest financial lesson is that success comes from structure—not complexity. Mike Morton and Matt Robison look back on the top ten most popular episodes in the past five years and revisit the things that matter most to you: taxes, optimization, family and legacy, and the emotional side of money.Top Ten Most Listened to Episodes of Five Minute Finance:Masterclass: EFT vs. Mutual Funds Part 1; Part 2How to use your After Tax 401k Contributions Clean Backdoor RothRoth IRA for MinorsTraditional 401k vs. Roth 401k: Which is truly better?Permission to SpendHow to maximize employee benefitsTraditional or Roth: Choose the right 401kTop Five Brilliant Money HacksHSA’s: Healthy Retirement SavingsFind out more about Mike at https://www.mortonfinancialadvice.com and connect at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwsmorton/

April 27, 202629 min

Tax Planning vs. Tax Preparation - They Are NOT the Same Thing

Most people think doing their taxes correctly is enough—but the real opportunity lies in planning ahead. Join CFP® Mike Morton and Matt Robison as they break down the critical difference between tax preparation and tax strategy, showing how high earners can reduce surprise tax bills by understanding their marginal tax rate, coordinating multiple income sources, and making smarter year-round decisions.Find out more about Mike at https://www.mortonfinancialadvice.com and connect at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwsmorton/

April 13, 202627 min

Why High Earners Still Feel Broke (And How to Fix It Without Cutting Everything)

High earners often feel like they’re living paycheck to paycheck, but the real issue isn’t income—it’s visibility and alignment. As earnings increase, so do expenses and expectations, while savings happen quietly in the background, making progress feel invisible. Join Matt Robison and Mike Morton as they break down why this happens, how to tell if it’s actually a problem, and what to do to ensure your spending, saving, and lifestyle are working together—not against you.Find out more about Mike at https://www.mortonfinancialadvice.com and connect at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwsmorton/

March 30, 202630 min

Equity Compensation, Stock Options and RSUs: How to Make Smarter Decisions With Company Stock

Company stock: one of the most confusing—and potentially valuable—parts of your compensation. From RSUs to ISOs and NSOs, learn what you actually own, how vesting and exercising work, and where people commonly make costly tax and risk mistakes. The key takeaway: equity compensation is often a great opportunity, but it’s not simple—and without a clear plan around timing, taxes, and concentration risk, it’s easy to leave money on the table or create avoidable problems.Find out more about Mike at https://www.mortonfinancialadvice.com and connect at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwsmorton/

March 16, 202628 min

Private Markets: Should You Go Beyond the Stock Market?

In this episode of Five Minute Finance, Mike Morton and Matt Robison unpack the world of private assets—investments like private equity, private credit, and private real estate that aren’t traded on public markets. They explain how these opportunities differ from traditional index funds, who qualifies to invest in them, and the key trade-offs investors should understand, including limited liquidity, higher fees, lower transparency, and added tax complexity. While private investments can offer diversification and unique opportunities for high earners with substantial portfolios, the hosts emphasize that for most investors, a simple strategy built around low-cost public investments is still the most effective foundation.Find out more about Mike at https://www.mortonfinancialadvice.com and connect at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwsmorton/

March 2, 202626 min

Navigating Tax Season: Top 10 Smart Saving Tips for 2026

In this episode of Five Minute Finance, CFP® Mike Morton and Matt Robison walk through 10 smart tax-saving strategies for 2026, from maximizing retirement accounts and using HSAs to capital loss harvesting, 529 planning, small business strategies, and income timing. Rather than overwhelming listeners, they present a practical “buffet” approach — choose one idea, take a five-minute action step, and keep more of what you earn without overcomplicating your financial life.Find out more about Mike at https://www.mortonfinancialadvice.com and connect at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwsmorton/

February 16, 202626 min

Are Index Funds Still Safe? S&P 500 Concentration Risk Explained

You’ve been told index funds are safe — and they are. But what if your “diversified” portfolio is more concentrated than you realize? In this episode, Certified Financial Planner Mike Morton and Five Minute Finance host Matt Robison unpack how market-cap weighting has quietly increased risk inside popular index funds, why mega-cap stocks dominate your portfolio, and what simple adjustments (not panic moves) can strengthen your diversification.Find out more about Mike at https://www.mortonfinancialadvice.com and connect at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwsmorton/