You’re Not Behind — You’re Just Playing the Wrong Financial Game

Link to YouTube – https://youtu.be/LG1TnA0ahRs
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Episode 112: You’re Not Behind — You’re Just Playing the Wrong Financial Game

In Episode 112 of the Money PIG Podcast presented by Goodwin Investment Advisory, Tim Goodwin is joined by his newly promoted co-host Joe Beckford. This episode blends practical wisdom with a friendly, approachable tone as they explore the quiet financial costs that can sneak up on high-net-worth families if planning is left on autopilot

Rather than focusing on market predictions, Tim and Joe encourage listeners to be intentional in 2026 by paying attention to patterns, missed opportunities,  and the cost of waiting.

In this episode, they cover

• Why missed planning opportunities can quietly cost more than market swings
• Commonly overlooked strategies like Roth conversions, backdoor Roths, and QCDs (qualified charitable distributions).
• How giving appreciated securities or using a donor-advised fund can be more effective than giving cash
• Where money often leaks out through taxes, disorganization, and unaligned advisors
• Why your financial advisor, CPA, and estate attorney need to work together
• How assumptions about last year can lead to surprises in the next one
• The real cost of waiting includes penalties, missed tax savings, and outdated estate documents
• One key area to review in 2026 is the different tax types your money is invested in and why having a mix matters.

The big takeaway
Be intentional, not accidental. Have a plan, update it often, and do not do it alone.

Resources and next steps:

Blog Post:  How Financial Planning Can Help you Reach Your Long-Term Goals

Blog Post: Things You Didn’t Know a Financial Advisor Could Do For You

Podcast: Things You Didn’t Know a Financial Advisor Could Do For You

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For personalized financial guidance,  schedule an intro call with our team at Goodwin Investment Advisory in Woodstock, Georgia . Our CFP® professionals can provide  advice and help you navigate how to invest your wealth and plan for your retirement. We’d love to help you live out your legacy! To learn more about the benefits and services we offer click here.

Goodwin Investment Advisory is an SEC-registered investment adviser (CRD #131193), and this episode is produced by evanced.net. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any financial products, securities, digital assets, or other investments. It should not be used as the basis for any financial decisions. The host and/or guests may personally hold investments mentioned in this episode. All investments involve risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results. Please consult with a qualified financial adviser, tax professional, and attorney before taking action on any information shared.

​​The following transcript of the podcast audio was software-generated, and not reviewed for accuracy. Therefore, the transcript below should not be used without verifying the validity and accuracy of its content. Please contact Goodwin Investment Advisory with any questions.

Below is a cleaned, easy to read transcript using proper punctuation, clear speaker labels, and a colon after each name. I lightly edited for clarity and flow while keeping the dialogue true to what was said. No page breaks. No hyphens. Just straightforward and readable.

Tim Goodwin:
Welcome to the Money Pig Podcast, presented by Goodwin Investment Advisory, where our mission is to lead you to financial pig peace, independence, and generosity. I’m your host, Tim Goodwin, and welcome back to the Money Pig Podcast.

You got your late night DJ voice going there. I wanted to go super low on that one. Yes. That wonderful voice over there is now my co host, the one and only Beckforth, which is his beloved nickname here at the office. How you doing today, Beckforth?

Joe Beckford:
I’m doing awesome. You’re doing well. Let me get my very white voice on. It’s so great to see you. I’m doing great. Late night podcast with Joe and Tim. Oh my goodness.

Tim Goodwin:
Joe, I don’t know if I told you this, but a kid burned down a house recently. I thought we always started with something good. Jeez.

Joe Beckford:
Okay. Kid burned down a house.

Tim Goodwin:
This kid burned down the house, and his dad put his arm around his wife and said, “That’s our son.”

Joe Beckford:
Oh my. That’s our son.

Tim Goodwin:
Okay, back to the subject matter. It gets better, folks. Just keep listening. Like Saturday Night Live, one day it’ll be really good.

Our episode today is called, “You’re Not Behind. You’re Just Playing the Wrong Financial Game.” But before we get into it, Joe, what’s happening good with you?

Joe Beckford:
What’s happening good? I’d say we live in the South, the weather is really nice, and a lot of the country is frozen. I’m grateful for that. Tempered weather is what’s happening good for me.

Tim Goodwin:
That’s pretty cool. I’m grateful too. You know when you have a trip you’ve been planning for a year and you finally get to go? I get to go on one of those this Sunday. Very excited. It’s a couples trip. No kids. I love my kids, but it’s a different kind of trip.

Joe Beckford:
Everybody loves their kids.

Tim Goodwin:
Different trip. Looking forward to it.

Joe, to kick us off, many people feel like they’re behind financially. In your experience, how often is that actually true versus them just measuring themselves by the wrong scoreboard?

Joe Beckford:
Seldom. And I think that’s because by the time people come to us, they’ve usually done pretty well. There’s some wealth to manage. But they feel behind because they fall into the comparison trap. Comparing themselves to friends, neighbors, or some imagined version of success.

I try to reframe it and ask, “Behind relative to what?” Usually it’s relative to someone else. But you don’t actually know their financial situation. They might drive a BMW, but that doesn’t mean anything.

So we bring it back to what’s important to you. What’s your why? Where are you going? What’s your plan? That’s the only comparison that really matters.

Tim Goodwin:
I totally agree. People rarely feel satisfied. We always hear the same answer when we ask how much is enough. Just a little more.

At some point, you have to stop moving the goalposts. Compare yourself to your plan. And if someone truly is behind, there are only two levers. Increase income or reduce expenses.

Go get another job if you need to. It doesn’t have to be forever. Tara, our producer, wanted to hit a financial goal and bartended for a short time. Totally reasonable.

When I started this company at 22, I mowed lawns and cleaned pools. It’s okay to do what you need to do. But most people we work with are comparing themselves to the wrong thing.

Joe Beckford:
Exactly.

Tim Goodwin:
So what are some financial games people unknowingly play that leave them stressed even when they’re doing well?

Joe Beckford:
I’m speaking from experience here. Lifestyle creep. As my income went up, my expenses followed. That’s super common in American culture.

I kept thinking I’d save later. I’ll catch up later. But later doesn’t work. You have to build the habit of saving and giving at every income level.

I read a book once that challenged me to treat raises differently. Instead of spending the whole raise, save or give away half. Spend less of each incremental increase. That mindset shift helped a lot.

Tim Goodwin:
That’s powerful. “I’ll do it later” is like saying, “I’ll eat better later” or “I’ll exercise later.” Why wait to feel better?

The peace of mind that comes from having a plan and funding it now is real.

For our ideal client, a steady earner and thoughtful saver, what does the right financial game actually look like?

Joe Beckford:
It comes back to your why. What’s enough for you? What lifestyle do you want? Who are you becoming?

Our mission is financial peace, independence, and generosity. The right game includes all three. Peace means manageable debt and confidence. Independence means choice over your time. Generosity means an open hand. People with generous hearts tend to be happier.

It’s about stewardship, savings, and enjoying life. Experiences matter.

Tim Goodwin:
I love that. And I think the key shift is changing the scorecard. Not income or net worth, but peace, independence, and generosity.

That’s how we measure success. That’s the good life pyramid we talk about. Clients come in with pain points, and we help with those, but ultimately we want them scoring life differently.

Joe, people who feel behind often want to catch up fast. Why is rushing usually the wrong move?

Joe Beckford:
Rushing leads to bad decisions. People let feeling behind affect their risk tolerance. They take risks they would never have taken before.

They think the only way to catch up is to swing for the fences. But that’s gambling, not planning. Risk should be based on timeline and capacity, not panic.

Start sooner rather than later, yes. But make decisions slowly and intentionally with someone you trust.

Tim Goodwin:
Exactly. If there’s anything to rush, it’s starting. Not making extreme decisions.

Last question. If someone listening feels behind, what’s one mindset shift they can make to get back into the right game?

Joe Beckford:
I have three.

First, ask if you’re trying to do this alone. Get help. An advisor. A mentor. Someone to separate emotion from reality.

Second, ask who has gone before you. Learn from others. Read. Ask questions.

Third, realize it’s never too late to start. The past is sunk cost. You can’t change it. You can only change what you do next. Start today.

Tim Goodwin:
That’s perfect. Nothing to add.

If you’re still listening, we’re grateful. We don’t have one specific guide for this topic, but we do have over twenty free guides on our website at goodwininvestment.com in the Knowledge Center. Subscribe to the blog. Or schedule an intro call if you want to talk.

Joe, what are you grateful for?

Joe Beckford:
I’m grateful for this team. It’s a really good team.

Tim Goodwin:
It really is. I’m grateful for the reminder to slow down and see life in seasons. Not everything has to be fast all the time.

Thank you for listening. We hope this helps. Have a great day.

Joe Beckford:
Bye.

Tim Goodwin:
Bye.

Tim Goodwin:
Goodwin Investment Advisory is an SEC registered investment advisory. CRD number 131193. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Please consult a qualified financial adviser, tax professional, and attorney before taking action.

The Money PIG podcast is hosted by Reid Trego. Goodwin Investment Advisory is a Registered Investment Advisory firm regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance and compliance with securities laws and regulations. Goodwin Investment Advisory does not render or offer to render personalized investment or tax advice through the Money PIG podcast. The information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, investment or legal advice.

For personalized financial guidance, schedule an schedule an intro call with our team at Goodwin Investment Advisory in Canton, GA . Our CFP® professionals can provide advice and help you navigate how to invest your wealth and plan for your retirement. We’d love to help you live out your legacy!

Goodwin Investment Advisory is a Registered Investment Advisory firm regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance and compliance with securities laws and regulations. Goodwin Investment Advisory does not render or offer to render personalized investment or tax advice through the Money PIG podcast. The information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, investment or legal advice.