Join The Team at Foster Group and our expert guests as we explore a variety of subjects that could impact your financial life. We will cover timely economic and financial market news, a wide range of personal financial planning ideas, and investment topics. Ultimately, we want to encourage educated optimism and do our best to provide valuable insights to help you navigate your financial life journey with confidence. Want more Financial Perspectives from the team at Foster Group? www.fostergrp.com/insights Have a financial question, idea, or need a second opinion? www.fostergrp.com/contact PLEASE SEE IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION at www.fostergrp.com/disclosures. A copy of our written disclosure Brochure as set forth on Part 2A of Form ADV is available at www.fostergrp.com.
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August 17, 202619 min
529 Plans Are More Flexible Than You Think
As another school year gets underway, a lot of families are thinking about more than school supplies and busy schedules. In this episode, Gretchen Muller and Ryne Oller discuss education planning: where the conversation should start, how 529 plans really work, and why they're far more flexible than most people realize. Subscribe & Connect with Us! Gretchen Muller Ryne Oller Financial Perspectives Foster Group Facebook LinkedIn X YouTube
July 11, 202623 min
Why Your Portfolio Needs a Lifeboat | A Conversation with Baird’s Warren Pierson
Most investors focus on stocks, but the bond market is actually larger, and it can play a critical role in protecting your portfolio when markets get rocky. In this episode of Financial Perspectives, Gretchen Muller, Director of Communications, and Warren Pierson, Co-Chief Investment Officer at Baird Advisors, discuss the "lifeboat" concept in portfolio construction, Warren’s current outlook on inflation and interest rates, where he sees value in fixed income today, and the biggest long-term risk to the bond market. Whether you're near retirement or building long-term wealth, this conversation will help you understand how bonds fit into a well-designed financial plan. Subscribe & Connect with Us! Gretchen Muller Financial Perspectives Foster Group Facebook LinkedIn X YouTube
June 29, 202618 min
Chief Master Sergeant to CFP: Military Benefits and the New Trump Accounts
In this special edition of Financial Perspectives, Daniel Hawthorne, Air Force veteran, SERE specialist, retired Chief Master Sergeant, and advisory team manager at Foster Group, joins Director of Communications, Gretchen Muller, to discuss two timely topics: navigating military financial benefits and the new 530A (Trump) Accounts launching July 4th, 2026. Subscribe & Connect with Us! Gretchen Muller Daniel Hawthorne Financial Perspectives Foster Group Facebook LinkedIn X YouTube
June 14, 202618 min
Care Planning: Financial Strategies for Disability, Special Needs, & Elder Care
Care planning often feels like something that applies to someone else. In reality, it touches nearly every family. In this episode of Financial Perspectives, Director of Communications Gretchen Muller along with Senior Lead Advisor Matt Stagner, a nationally recognized advocate for the disability community, unpack what care planning really means across disability, special needs, and elder care. As Matt explains, it affects far more of us than most people realize. Matt and Gretchen talk through the financial realities families face, from the "disability tax" of higher everyday costs to the benefit rules that can make saving and investing complicated. They also walk through practical solutions: building the right care team, ABLE accounts, special needs trusts, and the value of writing your plan down and talking about it openly as a family. At Foster Group, we believe care planning isn't about replacing the support systems families build. It's about strengthening them and helping people create the independence and quality of life they deserve. Subscribe & Connect with Us! Gretchen Muller Matt Stagner Financial Perspectives Foster Group Facebook LinkedIn X YouTube
May 18, 202616 min
Planning for Inflation: What You Can, and Can’t, Control
In retirement planning, some variables you can control, and others you can’t. Inflation is often an overlooked variable. In this episode of Financial Perspectives, Gretchen Muller, Director of Communications, and advisor Ben Berger walk through the "retirement equation" and use Monte Carlo modeling to stress-test a hypothetical plan against a 5% inflation shock. Ben also shares examples of adjustments that can help keep purchasing power on track. Subscribe & Connect with Us! Gretchen Muller Ben Berger Financial Perspectives Foster Group Facebook LinkedIn X YouTube
April 10, 202624 min
Staying Invested During Uncertainty: A Conversation with Wes Crill (Dimensional Fund Advisors)
Gretchen Muller, Director of Communications, and Wes Crill, Vice President and Senior Client Solutions Director for Dimensional Fund Advisors Global Client Group, discuss how markets price uncertainty, why discipline matters more than reaction, and what history tells us about navigating volatility – including the Iran conflict and its economic implications. Subscribe & Connect with Us! Gretchen Muller Financial Perspectives Foster Group Facebook LinkedIn X YouTube
March 25, 202613 min
Investing through Uncertainty: Our Perspective on the Iran Conflict and Markets
Recent developments involving Iran have been a reminder of how quickly geopolitics can affect markets. In this Financial Perspectives conversation, Gretchen Muller and Kent Kramer share perspective on what we’re seeing in stocks, oil, and investor feelings and why short-term volatility does not always change the long-term outlook. Gretchen and Kent discuss why uncertainty is a normal part of investing, what history can teach us during periods of conflict, and why a thoughtful financial plan should already account for times like these. At Foster Group, we believe in educated optimism: acknowledging real risks without losing sight of the bigger picture. Subscribe & Connect with Us! Gretchen Muller Kent Kramer Financial Perspectives Foster Group Facebook LinkedIn X YouTube
March 18, 202615 min
A New Chapter for Financial Perspectives with Gretchen Muller
In this episode of Financial Perspectives, Kent Kramer introduces Gretchen Muller, Foster Group’s Director of Communications. Gretchen shares her background in investment research, teaching, and communication, along with her vision for helping Foster Group communicate clearly about markets, financial planning, and investing. Kent also shares that he will retire from Foster Group, and as host of Financial Perspectives, at the end of 2026. He reflects on how the series began in 2020, and why Foster Group’s commitment to thoughtful, hopeful communication continues to grow. Subscribe & Connect with Us! Kent Kramer Gretchen Muller Financial Perspectives Foster Group Facebook LinkedIn X YouTube
March 16, 202617 min
How Tax Strategy Fits into Your Financial Plan
Tax strategy plays an important role in financial planning, but the right approach depends on your specific goals, timeline, and overall plan. In this episode of Financial Perspective, Gretchen Muller, Marcus Iwig, and Michael Westphal discuss how tax considerations can affect retirement planning, business sales, farm ground, stock compensation, account types, and investment implementation. The key takeaway: taxes matter, but they should be considered within the context of a broader financial plan. Subscribe & Connect with Us! Gretchen Muller Marcus Iwig Michael Westphal Financial Perspectives Foster Group Facebook LinkedIn X YouTube
February 14, 202621 min
Market Volatility in 2026: Don’t Let Headlines Drive Your Financial Plan
In early 2026, concerning headlines feel nonstop and uncertainty can make investors wonder, "should I adjust my financial plan?" In this episode, Gretchen Muller and Kent Kramer discuss how to separate market noise vs fundamentals and share a planning-first approach to staying disciplined through volatility. Subscribe & Connect with Us! Kent Kramer Gretchen Muller Financial Perspectives Foster Group Facebook LinkedIn X YouTube
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