Make It Personal Podcast

What if you’re leaving thousands of dollars in Social Security benefits on the table every year, money you earned and may still be able to claim? In this episode of Make It Personal, we reveal Social Security secrets and claiming strategies most people never hear about, including hidden spousal benefits, divorced spouse benefits, survivor benefits, and timing moves that can dramatically increase y...

Your home isn’t just where your memories live, it may be the missing piece in your retirement plan. In this episode of Make It Personal, we unpack the reverse mortgage reality and explain how a reverse mortgage can help eligible homeowners 62 and older access home equity for retirement income without selling the house or moving out. If you’ve ever heard “the bank takes your home” or that reverse m...

If your business disappeared tomorrow, would your financial security disappear with it? Many business owners work hard to grow revenue, increase profit, and build enterprise value, but their entire financial life is often tied to one place: the business. Their income comes from the business, their net worth depends on the business, and their retirement plan may rely on a future sale that may or ma...

If your business disappeared tomorrow, would your financial security disappear with it too? In this episode of Make It Personal, we unpack why building wealth beyond your business is one of the most important financial moves a business owner can make.  This conversation is for entrepreneurs, founders, and owners who have most of their income, net worth, and retirement tied directly to their c...

What if a sudden medical emergency wiped out years of careful retirement planning? One hospitalization, unexpected surgery, chronic condition, or long-term care need can quietly become the silent killer of retirement savings, especially when Medicare doesn’t cover everything.  In this episode of Make It Personal, we break down the “what if” of healthcare costs in retirement and how proactive...

It is a simple but powerful framework for evaluating whether your current debt strategy is helping you build a stronger business or just helping you survive from month to month. You’ll Learn: → Why matching the length of a loan to the life of the asset matters so much. → How short-term debt can create long-term cash flow pressure. → Why borrowing for operational shortfalls is often a warning sign....

Most business owners work hard to grow revenue, serve clients, and build something that lasts. But one unexpected event can undo years of progress if the business is not protected the right way. In this episode of the Seven Pillars mini-series based on Profit, Protect, Prosper, we break down why hope is not a business strategy and what real protection planning looks like. This conversation is for...

What if your money could do more than just cover retirement, what if it could build a legacy that empowers your children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren?  In this episode of Make It Personal , we introduce the Legacy Loop, a long-term wealth strategy designed to help you enjoy life now while creating a multi-generational financial foundation. This isn’t about get-rich-quick schem...

If April is the only time you think about taxes, you may be paying more than necessary.  In this episode of Make It Personal, we break down why tax strategy is not just about filing returns or staying compliant. It is about building year-round control over your income, expenses, cash flow, and long-term financial decisions. This episode is for business owners, entrepreneurs, and S-corp owners...

If your business could not run without you tomorrow, your retirement plan may be more fragile than you think. In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast, we continue the Seven Pillars series from Profit, Protect, Prosper by breaking down retirement planning and exit planning for business owners.  This conversation is for entrepreneurs, founders, and owner-operators who want more than jus...

No one tells you this part: when the kids leave home, it’s not just the house that feels different, it’s your money. Your grocery bill drops, your calendar opens up, and suddenly the financial rules you lived by for decades don’t apply the same way. If you’re an empty nester (or about to be), this is the moment most people skip… and it can cost you years of financial momentum.  In this episod...

Are you a small business owner who keeps saying, “I’ll pay myself later”?  In this episode, we talk about how to pay yourself consistently as a small business owner without guilt, stress, or guesswork. Too many entrepreneurs pour every dollar back into the business and call it discipline, but if your business cannot pay you reliably, it may not be a sustainable business model. This episode is...

Cash flow is the difference between running your business with confidence and checking your bank account in panic mode every day. In this episode, we break down why revenue is vanity, profit is opinion, and cash is survival for small-business owners who want more stability, less stress, and better decision-making.  If you have ever wondered why your business can look healthy on paper but stil...

Reverse mortgages have a reputation, and not a good one. Many people believe they’re risky, predatory, or only for those in financial trouble. But is that actually true? In this episode of Make It Personal, we break down the real story behind reverse mortgages, separating fact from fiction so you can make smarter retirement decisions. If you’re a homeowner nearing retirement or already retired, yo...

Could one account help you save on taxes, cover healthcare costs, and support your long-term financial goals?  In this episode of Make It Personal , we’re diving into the Health Savings Account, or HSA, a powerful but often misunderstood tool that can help you manage today’s healthcare costs and prepare for future ones. Whether you’ve heard the term or are already enrolled in a high-deductible h...

What if the greatest threat to your retirement isn’t market loss… but rising prices over time? In today’s “You Asked” episode of Make It Personal , we dive into a smart question from listener Kurt: “Do we need to plan for inflation in retirement, even if we’ve saved well?” The answer is a resounding yes. Because when retirement lasts 20, 30, or even 40 years, inflation becomes more than a backgrou...

What if retirement wasn’t about slowing down… but stepping into something greater? In this episode of Make It Personal , we’re rewriting the retirement playbook, and flipping old assumptions on their head. Forget the outdated picture of golf carts and idle time. This is Reverse Retirement, a bold, purpose-driven approach to your post-career years, where meaning, creativity, and even new income str...

You’ve saved for retirement. You’ve followed the plan. But what happens if a long-term care need enters the picture, and threatens to unravel everything? In this special “You Asked” episode of Make It Personal , we’re answering a heartfelt question from listener Barb: “If we’ve done the right things and saved enough, could long-term care still drain our retirement savings?” It’s a question more an...

What if it’s not just how much you earn in retirement, but when you earn it, that makes all the difference? In this episode of Make It Personal , we dive into a critical but often overlooked challenge in retirement planning: Sequence of Returns Risk . Through the real-life stories of Linda and James, two retirees with similar savings and returns, but drastically different outcomes, we explore how...

What if your greatest financial breakthrough doesn’t start with more money, but with a better plan? In this inspiring real-life episode of Make It Personal , we meet Martin and Natascha Moore, a couple juggling work-from-home jobs, three young kids, and over $20,000 in credit card debt. Their house was tight, their budget tighter, and their dreams felt just out of reach. But with the right mindset...

In this episode of Make It Personal , we step into a unique perspective: what would I say to my 51-year-old self, not from the view of retirement, but right in the middle of the journey? If you’re in your 40s or 50s and wondering whether you’re really on track, this conversation is for you. Unlike advice from retirees looking in the rearview mirror, this episode speaks from the front lines of real...

What if two simple financial concepts could help you bring more clarity, coordination, and confidence to your investment strategy? In this episode of Make It Personal , we’re unpacking two often-confused, but incredibly important, terms in financial planning: asset allocation and asset location . While they may sound alike, these tools serve very different purposes. And understanding how they work...

Is there a “secret weapon” for retirement income that most people overlook or misunderstand? When it comes to retirement planning, most of us think 401(k)s, IRAs, or market-based investments. But there’s a tool you’ve probably heard of, maybe even avoided, that could play a crucial role in securing your future: annuities. Are they helpful or hype? Simple or overly complex? In this episode of Make...

Ever wonder if your employer's 401(k) match can grow tax-free like your Roth contributions? You’re not alone, and thanks to a recent law change, the answer might surprise you. In this episode of Make It Personal , we tackle a smart question from Jennifer about how employer contributions work when you’re saving into a Roth 401(k). For years, the rules were straightforward: your contributions could...

What really happens the day after your last day of work? One retiree opens up about the surprises, joys, and real-life challenges of life after 42 years on the job. Rick gives us a deeply honest look at his first year of retirement, not the highlight-reel version, but the real one. From relearning how to structure his days to facing the emotional shift of losing his professional identity, Rick wal...