Make Retirement Work

We've received some great questions from clients recently. For instance, if you got a raise at work, but your household now makes too much money to contribute to a Roth IRA, what do you do? Where should your investments go if you like tax-free growth?   Tune in to this episode as Marc answers this question and others, like how to use a health savings account, how to save for your kids' college, an...

Today we're tackling two meaty topics – the debt ceiling and playing the long game in investing. Last show, we talked a lot about the debt ceiling, so we wanted to give you an update. The Federal Reserve met recently and decided to pause rates, which was to be expected. In the media, it was doom and gloom last month, and now they're not talking about it as much. Some people thought the Fed might c...

Today we're talking about the U.S. debt ceiling. You might be wondering, what is that? It's basically a limit on the total amount of money our government is authorized to borrow. U.S. Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, says our country has enough money to pay our bills until June 1, so we're coming up against that deadline.    The president and House and Senate leaders are currently negotiating abo...

We have a lot to talk about on today's show because it's an exciting time of year! Tax season is behind us and we're looking ahead. In honor of Financial Literacy Month, we're sharing facts you need to know when it comes to your money. We'll explain how financial literacy can impact you and how your money challenges and successes can impact your children down the road. If you're listening to this...

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank has been huge news in the financial sector and an event that many people worry could trigger even more fallout across the country. With 2008 still fresh in our mind, it's justified to be concerned about what this might mean for your money.     In this episode, Marc will break down the events leading up to these bank failures and explain what a...

Today we're sharing a great checklist you should follow to begin 2023. This will help you through the year if you're interested in being better prepared for financial planning and for retirement.  If you're retiring this year, it's essential to have some concrete answers to these questions we're talking about on today's show. If you're still a few years from the milestone, tune in so you can start...

In the New Year, it looks like we may have some changes to the retirement system. It may make things slightly more challenging for PFA and for consumers throughout the nation. New retirement legislation is on the horizon, and in this episode we will discuss some of the key points you will want to know about the SECURE Act 2.0. On this episode, we'll share: What to know about the SECURE Act 2.0. (1...

Today's show combines our two favorite topics – finances and football. Believe it or not, planning for your financial future has some similarities to the sport of football. In retirement planning, some people try to be successful without having a coach at all. Others keep the same coach that they've had for years, even though things aren't working out with him. We'll explain why you need to design...

Welcome to today's show! If you haven't heard of Professional Financial Advisors, LLC, we handle money management and financial planning and have been in business since 2003. We also help clients with Medicare plans. Within financial planning, we try to be holistic so we can handle all your needs. Find out more about our business and how we can help you. On this episode, we'll share: Why you shoul...

(Note: Today's episode sounds a little different as it was originally produced for the NebraskaLand Bank Podcast) On this episode: Medicare can be confusing, especially with the various plans and supplements offered through different companies. So we're going to break down Medicare today with two experts on the topic, Whitney Kester, a specialized Medicare insurance agent, and Marc Werkmeister, a...

(Note: Today's episode sounds a little different as it was originally produced for the NebraskaLand Bank Podcast) On this episode: With a volatile market, rising interest rates, and high inflation, many people are worried about the state of the economy. On today's show, two economic experts, Senator & NebraskaLand CEO Mike Jacobson and Certified Financial Planner Marc Werkmeister join us to break...

I was recently a guest on NebraskaLand Bank Podcast and spoke with hosts Ty Lucas and Danielle Remus. Today I'm sharing our conversation on my podcast. Here are some of the highlights. What should people be thinking about with retirement planning? As far as the end of year, a lot of it centers on capital gains, taxable events by mutual funds, maxing out retirement accounts, etc. All that stuff has...

In today's mailbag, we're answering listener questions about how to retire early, whether to take a pension lump sum and if it makes sense to have two financial advisors.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://makeretirementwork.com/make-retirement-work/podcast.html     What we discuss on this episode:  2:11 – Retiring early 6:21 – Pension 8:25 – Two advisors

Today we're sharing some potential red flags you should be aware of in your finances. How would you answer these questions? Can you name all of the investments in your portfolio?  It's not a red flag if you can't name them all, but you should know generally what you own. If you can name them all, you might not be very well diversified. If you don't know how your money is invested, maybe you're not...

Marc is on the hot seat with this financial and retirement quiz. Play along and see how you do as well.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://makeretirementwork.com/1399/ep-28-test-your-financial-knowledge/     What we discuss on this episode:  2:30 – Scary retirement 4:22 – Scary coming year 9:10 – Tax bracket 11:24 – Money in retirement 14:16 – Wish you had more

We're changing it up today with some funny financial planning jokes and what we can learn from the humor. Read more and get additional financial resources here:   https://makeretirementwork.com/podcasts/ What we discuss on this episode:  1:57 – Credit cards 4:52 – Buying bonds 8:02 – Check my balance 11:23 – Long-term investment 13:27 – Stock market crash 17:07 – Retire at 64

Common sense is actually quite uncommon, especially when it comes to financial planning. Here are some common sense money approaches you need to know.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://makeretirementwork.com/1372/ep-26-learning-through-uncommon-sense/     What we discuss on this episode:  1:43 – Buy low, sell high 5:36 – Don't pay more in taxes than you have to 8:47...

People often have questions about life insurance. It's not a sexy topic, but it is an important one. We'll explain why.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://makeretirementwork.com/1350/ep-25-do-you-really-need-life-insurance/     What we discuss on this episode:  1:50 – Dirty word 3:33 – Do you need it? 4:48 – How much? 7:50 – Strategic uses 11:54 – Term, whole and univ...

On this episode of Make Retirement Work with Marc Werkmeister, we'll explain how financial planning is like basketball. You might be surprised how much they have in common.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://makeretirementwork.com/1331/ep-24-what-basketball-teaches-us-about-retirement/     What we discuss on this episode:  2:54 – Shot clock 6:08 – Double dribble 9:37...

Today, we're answering your most pressing financial questions about 401ks, mutual funds and inflation. Let's jump into the mailbag.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://makeretirementwork.com/1321/ep-23-mailbag-401ks-mutual-funds-and-inflation/     What we discuss on this episode:  2:41 – Can I leave 401k to son? 6:57 – Worry about inflation? 10:30 – Mutual funds 15:13...

Alternative investments like SPACS, crypto, and others have become very popular in recent years. Should you ignore them or jump on them? We'll shed some light on what they are, how they work and whether they're worth your time.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://makeretirementwork.com/1283/ep-22-are-alternative-investments-right-for-you/     What we discuss on this ep...

If you don't know the answer to the question, then this episode is for you. On this episode, we'll explore the three qualities of money, discuss whether you can achieve them in a single investment, and how to put the right emphasis on the different qualities. It's really quite basic, but understanding these fundamentals can make an enormous difference in your financial life.   Read more and get ad...

The idea of diversification is pretty common within financial planning, but how effective is the average investor at executing that strategy? Today we'll talk all about diversification, what it means, and where the biggest issues arise.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: http://makeretirementwork.com/466/ep-20-is-diversification-for-suckers/     What we discuss on this episod...

Do you know all you need to know about your 401(k)? Find out in today's episode of the podcast as we unpack some frequently asked questions.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: http://makeretirementwork.com/462/ep-19-answering-the-top-401k-faqs/   What we discuss on this show:  1:17 - Is it a good idea to take advantage of free advice?  5:46 - Are 401(k) loans good or bad?  8:...

We're all facing financial challenges in 2020 but the generation impacted the most might be the Baby Boomers because millions are entering retirement or already there. Today we'll share the biggest financial concerns we're hearing from clients and other people in that generation as they get ready to retire.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: http://makeretirementwork.com/458/...