Intentional Family Wealth Podcast

Hosted by Stephen H. Nelson, CFA, CFP® & Matthew E. Higbie, CFA, CFP®,TPCP®

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Jun 2026

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About the show

For families with significant wealth, the question shifts from "Will I have enough?" to "How do I steward this well?" Over years of working with affluent families, we've seen recurring concerns: How much should we give our children without harming their motivation or well-being? How do we live with purpose? How can we protect family unity from the challenges wealth can bring? And how do we balance enjoying our resources with giving? Join Stephen Nelson, CFA®, CFP® and Matt Higbie, CFA®, CFP®, TPCP® as they share insights on investing, tax planning, and raising grounded, capable children. This isn't generic advice—it's clarity for those with more at stake.

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June 15, 2026Episode 8035 min

Victor Haghani on Why Wealth Doesn't Last: Lessons from The Missing Billionaires

What happens to great fortunes over generations—and why do so few billionaire families stay wealthy? In this episode, former Long-Term Capital Management co-founder Victor Haghani shares lessons from his book The Missing Billionaires, revealing why wealth preservation is harder than most people realize. Learn about investing, risk management, diversification, intergenerational wealth planning, market crashes, tax-efficient investing, direct indexing, and why Victor invests his own family's money in low-cost index funds. If you're interested in family wealth, financial independence, investing, and preserving wealth across generations, this conversation is packed with practical insights. Victor's firm: https://elmwealth.com/ Elm Wealth YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elmwealth *** If you feel like you should be getting more value than the AUM fee you're currently paying at your brokerage firm, visit https://engagewithbirchwood.com

June 1, 2026Episode 8111 min

Wealth, Marriage, and Prenups: What Families & Advisors Get Wrong

If you feel like you should be getting more value than the AUM fee you're currently paying at your brokerage firm, visit https://engagewithbirchwood.com Should inherited wealth stay separate in marriage? In this video, we explore the difficult conversation many wealthy families face around prenups, inherited assets, and protecting family wealth. Rather than focusing only on financial risk, we discuss the relational and emotional impact prenups can have on agency, loyalty, unity, and equality within a marriage. At Birchwood Capital, we believe wealth planning should consider both financial outcomes and family relationships. This episode examines how prenups, separate property trusts, and asset protection strategies can shape marriages long before any legal issue ever arises. If you're part of a high-net-worth family, expecting an inheritance, or navigating marriage and wealth planning, this conversation offers a thoughtful perspective rarely discussed in traditional financial advice.

May 15, 2026Episode 7822 min

Don't Make This Mistake With Charitable Donations & Appreciated Stock

If you feel like you should be getting more value than the AUM fee you're currently paying at your brokerage firm, visit https://engagewithbirchwood.com Think you can write off 100% of your income with charitable donations? Not so fast. In this video, we break down the IRS rules for charitable tax deductions, including the real limits on cash donations, appreciated stock, donor-advised funds, and private foundations. Learn how high-income earners, business owners, and charitably inclined families can maximize tax savings, avoid costly mistakes, and use strategies like donating appreciated stock to reduce both income taxes and capital gains taxes. We also cover the new charitable deduction changes starting in 2026 and walk through real tax software examples to show how the rules actually work.

May 1, 2026Episode 7922 min

Pass Millions Tax-Efficiently: How GRATS (Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts) Actually Work

If you feel like you should be getting more value than the AUM fee you're currently paying at your brokerage firm, visit: https://engagewithbirchwood.com What is a GRAT (Grantor Retained Annuity Trust) and how do the wealthy use it to pass on millions tax-efficiently? In this video, we break down how GRATs work, who they're for, and why billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg and Jensen Huang use them for estate planning. You'll learn the step-by-step mechanics, real-world examples, key benefits, risks, and strategies like "zeroing out" GRATs to potentially transfer massive wealth with little to no estate tax.

April 15, 2026Episode 7825 min

What Wealthy Families Do Differently To Raise Financially Responsible Kids

If you feel like you should be getting more value than the AUM fee you're currently paying at your brokerage firm, visit: https://engagewithbirchwood.com Wondering when and how to talk to your kids about money and wealth? In this video, we break down the best age to start financial conversations, how to teach strong money values, and what wealthy families do differently to raise financially responsible kids. Learn practical strategies to avoid entitlement, build financial literacy, and prepare the next generation for wealth the right way. Get more of your wealth questions answered here: https://birchwoodcapital.com

April 1, 2026Episode 7716 min

Should You Die With Zero?

If you feel like you should be getting more value than the AUM fee you're currently paying at your brokerage firm, visit https://engagewithbirchwood.com In this episode, we break down powerful ideas from Die With Zero by Bill Perkins and challenge the traditional approach to wealth, inheritance, and retirement. Learn why waiting until your kids are 60 may not make sense, how to maximize life experiences, and how to use your money more intentionally while you're still alive. If you're a high-income saver or retiree thinking about legacy planning, this conversation will change how you view money, time, and family impact.

March 15, 2026Episode 7614 min

How To Give Money To Your Kids (Without Enabling Them)

If you feel like you should be getting more value than the AUM fee you're currently paying at your brokerage firm, visit https://engagewithbirchwood.com Giving money to your kids sounds generous—but it can sometimes do more harm than good. Today, we share practical ways parents and grandparents can financially help their children without hurting their motivation, confidence, or independence. We cover smart strategies like helping with a first home down payment, education, weddings, and family vacations, plus the key rules and parameters that make these gifts beneficial instead of enabling. We also discuss common mistakes—like funding businesses with no boundaries or giving money that removes the incentive to work. If you're a parent or grandparent who wants to support your kids financially while still raising capable, independent adults, this conversation will give you practical ideas and principles to follow.

March 1, 2026Episode 7517 min

Why Multi-Millionaires Often Underperform the Market

Get more of your answered here: https://birchwoodcapital.com Why is it so hard to beat the market? 🤔 In this episode, we break down the real data behind active investing vs. index investing and why even professional fund managers struggle to outperform the S&P 500 over the long run. We cover: -The shocking statistics from the SPIVA study -Behavioral biases that hurt investors (anchoring, overconfidence, gambler's fallacy) -Why Wall Street's biggest firms still have an edge -The power of market-cap weighting and momentum -Why a small percentage of stocks drive most long-term returns If you've ever wondered whether stock picking, newsletters, or market timing can truly outperform index funds, this episode will help you understand what the evidence actually says and how to position your portfolio wisely for long-term success.

February 15, 2026Episode 7420 min

At What Age Should Your Kids Inherit?

When should your kids inherit money? And more importantly… how do you know they're ready? In this episode, we break down the key factors parents and grandparents should consider before passing down a substantial inheritance. Instead of focusing on a specific age, we share a practical "Ready to Inherit Test" built around five critical traits: work ethic, personal motivation, financial responsibility, resilience through setbacks, and a healthy identity not tied to wealth. If you're concerned about how a large inheritance could impact your children's maturity, motivation, or long-term financial success, this conversation will give you a thoughtful framework to guide your estate planning decisions. Whether you're navigating family wealth, trust distributions, or multigenerational financial planning, this video will help you think beyond tax strategies and focus on what matters most—preparing your kids to handle wealth wisely. Get more of your family wealth questions answered here: https://birchwoodcapital.com

January 31, 2026Episode 7322 min

The Secrets of the Wealthy (Here's How They Actually Invest)

Get more of your family wealth answered here: https://birchwoodcapital.com Are there really "secret" investments only available to the ultra-wealthy? Or is that just great marketing? In this episode, we break down how ultra high net worth investors actually invest—from private equity and venture capital to hedge funds and private real estate—and whether those exclusive opportunities truly outperform simple, low-cost index funds. We cover: -The difference between accredited investors and qualified purchasers -What Tiger 21 members (ultra-wealthy peer group) actually own -The truth about private equity, venture capital, and alternative investments -Liquidity risks (including 15–20 year lockups) -Real performance data: private vs. public markets -Why low-cost index funds still dominate long-term results If you've ever wondered whether you're missing out on elite wealth-building strategies—or if public markets are "good enough"—this video gives you a data-driven answer. 👉 Because when it comes to investing, just because you can doesn't mean you should. Watch episodes on YouTube! Check out more writings at: https://birchwoodcapital.com/writings/ Birchwood Family Office