Savant Wealth Management Launches The Real Return Podcast
— New Monthly Podcast Explores the Intersection of Wealth, Life, and the Decisions that Shape Both –
Key Facts at a Glance
- Podcast: The Real Return
- Hosts: Zach Ivey, chief investment and advice officer, and Rob Morrison, chief experience officer
- Format: Monthly audio podcast featuring guest interviews followed by The Real Wrap-Up, a discussion of practical planning applications
- Topics: Investing, retirement income planning, tax strategy, estate planning, business ownership, major life transitions, family wealth, and other issues that influence financial lives
- Launch episode: Features Christine Benz, director of personal finance and retirement planning at Morningstar and author of How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement, followed by a Real Wrap-Up discussion with Jack Phelps, managing partner and financial advisor in Savant’s Wellesley, Massachusetts, office and author of The Relaxing Retirement Formula
- Listen: Available at The Real Return and on major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Podbean, PlayerFM, and Podchaser
ROCKFORD, Ill. (Sep. 30, 2026) – On International Podcast Day, Savant Wealth Management, a fee-only registered investment adviser (RIA), announced the launch of The Real Return, a new monthly podcast that explores the financial and personal decisions that shape people’s lives. Zach Ivey, chief investment and advice officer, and Rob Morrison, chief experience officer, host the podcast. Savant created The Real Return based on a simple idea: Financial planning involves much more than investment returns. The podcast examines how people use financial resources to pursue their life and financial goals through informed decision-making and comprehensive planning.
In each episode, Ivey interviews economists, academics, authors, business leaders, financial professionals, and other practitioners about the ideas shaping today’s financial landscape. Conversations cover topics ranging from retirement and investing to tax planning, business ownership, estate planning, divorce, family wealth, and major life transitions. Morrison then leads The Real Wrap-Up, where he joins Savant advisors to discuss the conversation and explore what it means for listeners and their planning decisions.
“When most people hear the word ‘return,’ they think about investment performance,” said Zach Ivey. “While investing is an important part of financial planning, it’s only one piece of the picture. The idea behind The Real Return is that people are ultimately trying to pursue something larger, whether that’s preparing for retirement, supporting family members, navigating a business transition, giving back to their communities, or pursuing other life and financial goals. Through these conversations, we want to explore the ideas, decisions, and planning strategies that can help people make more informed choices.”
Morrison said the format intentionally bridges the gap between financial theory and practical application.
“There is no shortage of information available today,” said Rob Morrison. “What people often need is context. The Real Wrap-Up gives us an opportunity to take the ideas discussed in each interview and explore how they connect to real planning decisions. Our goal is to help listeners better understand not just what’s happening, but why it matters and how it may apply to their own situations.”
The launch episode features Christine Benz, director of personal finance and retirement planning at Morningstar and author of How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement. Benz and Ivey discuss why retirement planning involves more than finances, including purpose, relationships, health, spending decisions, and the transition from work to retirement. In The Real Wrap-Up, Morrison joins Jack Phelps, managing partner and financial advisor in Savant’s Wellesley, Massachusetts, office and author of The Relaxing Retirement Formula, to discuss what those insights mean for retirees and those preparing for retirement.
Future episodes feature conversations with authors, academics, business leaders, and financial professionals discussing topics such as investing, retirement planning, business ownership, family wealth, major life transitions, and other issues that influence financial decision-making. Savant will release new episodes monthly.
Listeners can learn more about the podcast and access episodes at The Real Return or subscribe through their preferred podcast platform by searching for “Savant” and “The Real Return.”
About Savant Wealth Management
Celebrating its 40th year, Savant Wealth Management is an independent, nationally recognized, fee-only firm serving clients with approximately $56.6 billion in assets under management and $2.2 billion in assets under advisement as of Sep. 30, 2026. As a fiduciary advisor, Savant provides investment management, comprehensive financial planning, retirement plan services, and family office solutions to financially established individuals and institutions. Savant also offers corporate accounting, tax preparation, payroll, and consulting services through its affiliate, Savant Tax & Consulting, and estate planning document preparation and related legal services through its affiliated law firm, Savant Legal LLP.
Savant is a registered investment adviser. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. Neither rankings and/or recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations, nor the achievement of any professional designation, certification, degree, or license, or any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he or she will experience a certain level of results if Savant is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. Please read our Important Disclosures at savantwealth.com.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Real Return Podcast
What is The Real Return podcast?
The Real Return is a monthly podcast from Savant Wealth Management that explores the financial and personal decisions that shape people’s lives. Through conversations with economists, academics, authors, business leaders, financial professionals, and other practitioners, the podcast examines topics ranging from investing and retirement planning to business ownership, tax strategy, estate planning, and major life transitions.
Who hosts The Real Return?
Zach Ivey, Savant’s chief investment and advice officer, and Rob Morrison, Savant’s chief experience officer, host the podcast. Ivey conducts the featured guest interviews, while Morrison leads The Real Wrap-Up, where Savant advisors discuss practical planning considerations and real-world applications.
What topics will the podcast cover?
The podcast covers investing, retirement income planning, tax-efficient wealth strategies, estate planning, business ownership and succession, family wealth, divorce, major life transitions, and other issues that influence financial decision-making.
What makes The Real Return different from other financial podcasts?
Savant created The Real Return to explore a broader view of financial planning. The podcast examines how financial decisions connect to retirement, family, business ownership, life transitions, and other goals that matter to people. Investing remains an important topic, but it is only one part of the conversation.
Who is featured in the first episode?
The launch episode features Christine Benz, director of personal finance and retirement planning at Morningstar and author of How to Retire: 20 Lessons for a Happy, Successful, and Wealthy Retirement. During The Real Wrap-Up, Rob Morrison joins Jack Phelps, managing partner and financial advisor in Savant’s Wellesley, Massachusetts, office and author of The Relaxing Retirement Formula.
Where can I listen to The Real Return?
Listeners can access episodes through The Real Return and on major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Podbean, PlayerFM, and Podchaser. Search for “Savant” and “The Real Return.”