On this episode of Simply Money presented by Allworth Financial, Bob and Brian share a critical warning for anyone working with a financial advisor—especially if you've never verified their credentials—by breaking down a shocking real-life fraud case and explaining how to protect yourself. They then explore whether gold deserves a place in every investor’s portfolio, offering a measured take that separates fear from smart planning. Next, they go on a “rescue mission” to uncover the risks of neglecting old 401(k) accounts—especially for high-net-worth individuals—and explain how to make them work harder for your retirement. The listener mailbag is full of smart questions, from whether to help your kids with a house down payment, to protecting your portfolio from a bad first year of retirement, to managing concentrated stock positions in a tax-smart way. The show wraps with a must-hear checklist for reviewing life insurance policies you may have forgotten about, and how those dollars could potentially serve a better purpose in your plan today.