The Long Game is a show about money, planning, and the lifestyle you actually want to live. Hosted by Ryan Coburn, a financial strategist who believes money only matters when it’s used with intention, this podcast shares real conversations, personal stories, and reflections to help you connect your finances to your values — so you can live more on purpose, and less on autopilot.
Mastering Equity Compensation: A Guide to Stock Options, RSUs, and ESPPs with Sheri Fortier
Summary
In this detailed interview, Sheri Fortier, Senior Manager ofEquity Compensation Programs at NetScout, shares her expertise on stock options, RSUs, ESPPs, and the intricacies of equity compensation. Learn how to navigate tax implications, maximize benefits, and understand the differences between various equity plans to make informed decisions.
Keywords
equity compensation, stock options, RSUs, ESPP, taximplications, stock plan management, employee benefits, stock vesting, stockpurchase plans, financial literacy
Key topics
Differences between stock options, RSUs, and ESPPs
Tax implications of equity compensation
How stock plans are set up and managed
Best practices for employees to understand and leveragestock benefits
Common mistakes and misconceptions about equity plans
Guest name
Sheri Fortier
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
04:10 Understanding Equity Compensation: Stock Options vs.RSUs
09:55 Tax Implications of RSUs and Stock Options
16:03 Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPP) Explained
23:43 Navigating the Complexities of Equity Compensation
24:31 Understanding Employee Stock Purchase Plans
25:38 Navigating Company Resources for Stock Benefits
30:05 Common Misunderstandings About Equity Compensation
33:21 Maximizing the Value of Equity Benefits
36:19 Tax Implications of Equity Compensation
39:57 Valuation and Grant Structures in Equity Compensation
Guest links
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherifortier (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheri-fortier-cep-a71a7ba3/)
16 Jul 2026
Decoding Benefits: What Every Employee Should Know with Jaclyn Prymicz
Summary
In this insightful interview, Jaclyn Prymicz, a benefits and compliance expert, shares her knowledge on employee benefits, health insurance, maternity leave, and maximizing benefits. Ryan Coburn, a financial advisor, explores practical questions about benefits planning, helping listeners understand how to make informed decisions during open enrollment and beyond.
Key Topics
Health insurance options and differences (HSA, FSA, PPO, HDHP)
Maternity leave, FMLA, and disability benefits
Maximizing employer benefits and retirement contributions
Common misconceptions and pitfalls in employee benefits
Takeaways
Ask questions during open enrollment to understand your benefits
Calculate the cost-effectiveness of health plans based on your needs
Take advantage of employer matches in 401k plans
Understand the difference between job protection (FMLA) and paid leave
Utilize benefits like HSAs and FSAs to save on taxes
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Benefits and Leave Planning
01:35 Jaclyn's Background and Expertise in HR
04:38 Understanding Benefits During Open Enrollment
07:34 Common Misunderstandings in Benefits
10:36 Navigating Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
13:50 Maternity Leave: FMLA vs. Paid Leave Options
18:52 Understanding Family Leave and Benefits
23:20 Maximizing 401(k) Participation
27:16 Exploring Ancillary Benefits
29:39 The Importance of Long-Term Disability
32:39 Navigating Employee Benefits as a New Hire
35:16 The Value of Calculating Health Plan Costs
38:01 Yellow and Black Illustrative Podcast Cover (Video).mp4
38:10 Jaclyn Prymicz compliance statement for Ryan Coburn (1).mp4
Guest links
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaclynpshrmcp/
4 May 2026
Active vs. Passive Investing: What $3.4 Billion Under Management Actually Teaches You
Summary
What if the biggest risk to your financial future is not a market crash, but overconfidence in a strategy that has never truly been tested?
Gracio Garcia has spent 24 years inside the world of wealth management. He personally manages roughly $700 million and oversees a $3.4 billion book at the Bullfinch Group. He is a Forbes-listed advisor and a member of the Park Avenue Securities Executive Committee. He is also a former elite rower who ranked 4th nationally trying out for the U.S. team as a Brazilian citizen, a trained violinist who gave up classical music for a rowing scholarship at Northeastern, and a dad who helps families navigate wealth the way a good friend would.
This conversation goes deep on what it actually takes to build a portfolio that can survive not just the good times, but the ones most investors have never had to live through.
You will hear Gracio and Ryan break down the real difference between active and passive investing, why the S&P 500 index is a great start but not a complete strategy, and how the wealthier you get, the more tax efficiency and active management start to matter. They also dig into the Vanguard study that quantifies exactly what a great advisor adds to your long-term plan, why chasing rate of return is one of the most dangerous habits an investor can develop, and what it really means to think about your full financial life, not just one account.
Gracio's framework: passive is your core. Active is the harmony around it. And the goal is never a number. It is the life that number makes possible.
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:50 Gracio's Origin Story: From Brazil to Boston
2:27 Trying Out for Team USA (As a Brazilian)
3:53 Building Bullfinch's Investment Department from $300K to $25M
6:36 What a Financial Advisor Actually Does
8:53 The "I'll Just Buy the S&P 500" Conversation
13:37 Active vs. Passive Investing: Clearly Defined
17:03 When Active Management Earns Its Place
20:18 The Hidden Danger of DIY Concentration Risk
21:55 The Lost Decade and the Stimulus Blind Spot
23:10 Macro Thinking: Your Whole Balance Sheet
24:37 Goal-Based Investing vs. Chasing Rate of Return
27:34 Risk On / Risk Off: The Thematic Investing Approach
29:29 Why Life Complexity Is the Real Argument for an Advisor
32:29 The Vanguard Study: A Great Advisor Adds 2%
35:33 Gracio's Credentials and Track Record
39:05 Passive as Core, Active as Harmony
40:12 Tax Efficiency: The Overlooked Piece Most Investors Miss
Connect with Gracio Garcia and the Bullfinch Group:
https://www.bulfinchgroup.com/team/gracio-garcia
graciogarcia@bulfinchgroup.com (mailto:graciogarcia@bulfinchgroup.com)
Who has been a guest on We're Growing Up Fast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
John Moro
Bill Camarda
Bennett Camarda
Talia Spiriduto
Michael Cinquino
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 12 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
10
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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