Episode 487: It's Mary Time, Intermediate Accumulation, 529s To Roths, And Leeroy Jenkins Gambling Problems
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Feb 11, 2026
Mary shares her work with Fairfax CASA and how steady advocacy changes outcomes for abused and neglected children. The hosts launch a CASA fundraising drive tied to National Child Abuse Prevention Month. They explore using a Golden Butterfly risk-parity approach for three–five year savings and how to model HYSAs versus portfolios. They also cover new 529-to-Roth rollover tactics and warn about highly leveraged kids’ portfolios.
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insights INSIGHT
Consistent Advocacy Changes Outcomes
CASA volunteers provide steady advocacy that materially improves children's case outcomes and stability.
Fairfax CASA's reports and recommendations are overwhelmingly adopted by the court, showing measurable impact.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Parent Thank-You Illustrates CASA Impact
Mary shared a parent's text thanking her for attending IEP meetings and advocating like the children were her own.
That firsthand example illustrates the tangible difference a CASA volunteer makes to families.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Use Risk-Parity For Mid-Term Goals
Use a risk-parity (Golden Butterfly) portfolio for intermediate-term savings to reduce drawdown length and depth compared with stocks.
Model it with T-bills as the HYSA proxy and include regular monthly contributions to reflect real cash flows.
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In this episode we answer emails from Tim, Anderson, and Pete. We discuss using a Golden Butterfly portfolio for intermediate accumulation, converting 529s to Roths and excessively levered portfolios for small children. (I can't make this stuff up.)
But first we share Mary’s mission with Fairfax CASA and explain how steady advocacy changes a child’s path, and roll out our Fairfax CASA fundraising campaign in connection with National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Ever wonder how to save for a goal that’s a few years away without riding stock-market whiplash or leaving too much on the table in cash? We walk through a practical, risk-aware path for mid-term savings and pair it with something close to our hearts: Mary’s work with Fairfax CASA, where trained volunteers are a constant for kids navigating abuse or neglect cases. You’ll hear what CASA volunteers actually do—attend hearings, coordinate services, write court reports, and keep showing up—plus the data that proves consistent advocacy moves outcomes.
From there, we dig into building an intermediate-term portfolio using a risk parity approach like the Golden Butterfly. We explain how to model a real alternative to HYSAs: use long-history T-bill data instead of SHY, add regular monthly contributions to reflect real life, and examine drawdown length and worst-case windows over three to five-year spans. You’ll learn why shorter, shallower drawdowns can matter more than headline returns when timing is uncertain, and how Testfolio helps you compare paths with clarity. We also unpack a powerful planning angle: rolling leftover 529 funds to a Roth IRA under current rules, including holding periods, beneficiary considerations, earned income needs, and why Roth contribution capacity is too valuable to waste.
We don’t shy away from the spicy stuff either—managed futures, leverage, and the gap between theory and practice. Rather than letting fear set the rules, we talk about small, controlled experiments that build skill and confidence. That shift—from anxiety to informed action—can change both your portfolio and your peace of mind.
If this resonates, support Fairfax CASA via the link in the show notes and mention Risk Parity Radio or Mary Vasquez in the comment box. Then hit follow, share the episode with a friend who’s stuck between stocks and savings, and leave a quick review to help more DIY investors find us.
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