The Retirement Trainer

Millions of Americans are still feeling the pinch of high gas and grocery costs. Mortgages rates have climbed to a high of 8% for 30 years, and credit card rates and balances are impacting the ability to absorb the new cost of living. We’ve been talking about inflation for several years now, but we’ve never had a chance to discuss it with a true titan of finance and media until now.  Today, we’re...

Every day we’re bombarded with harmless-looking emails promising free gifts or things that are too good to be true. The phone rings and we get asked to update information we didn’t know anything about. Where is this coming from? When it comes to your sensitive information, who can you trust, and what’s real?  Today, we’re talking about how to protect yourself from highly sophisticated scammers. Yo...

The more things change, the more they stay the same. We’re still dealing with high inflation and interest rates and the silent recession continues with the average household still feeling the pinch at the grocery stores and gas pumps. And now, the Federal Government says that we’re in a deflationary period while adding $1 trillion to the national debt every quarter. Which begs the question: What’s...

With 30-year mortgage rates at 7.5%, inflation continuing to impact our spending power, and gas pushing almost $4 a gallon, we’re seeing higher bankruptcy rates and hearing talk of a lost decade. So what do we do to keep our financial plan as healthy as possible?  In today’s episode, we’re talking about what’s going on in America–and the silent recession that is affecting everyone except those on...

“ We’re overspending $5.1 billion a day more than we’re bringing in because of interest rates. ” - Ed Siddell Today, we're talking about how good news can actually lead to bad news when it comes to the economy. When something looks good, it usually comes at a cost. We’ve all lived through a whole lot of craziness since 2020, and we’ve experienced major shifts in employment and the housing market–a...

There are things that are within our control and some that are not. Time doesn’t stop, and everybody gets older, but one thing that is within our control is to take action before it’s too late to secure your legacy and avoid headaches like probate. For anyone who has been able to put money away and generate enough wealth to leave assets behind, we all need to determine who will take care of us and...

Fear of missing out is a real thing. Everyone is looking for 15-20% returns and this can prompt people to make risky decisions–especially when it comes to retirement. Right now, we have a bull market in the S&P, volatility is low and tech is back on the rise. So, is it time to go all-in, or should investors beware? Today, we’re talking about why our markets seem so crazy, the resurgence of big...

Consumer credit is at an all-time high. Credit card debt is pushing $1.25 trillion and headed upwards. Inflation’s high, consumer spending is high, and employers are cutting good jobs with benefits. Even if you’re steadily employed or running a healthy business and your personal debts are manageable, these macroeconomic factors can still affect you.  In today’s episode, we walk through why other p...

After a brief hiatus, we’re back with a timely episode to answer a popular question: Is it better to save with pretax dollars or a Roth? Inflation continues to be an issue in today’s economy, which is why it’s so important to make every dollar count. Everything is more expensive now, and saving for retirement is not a one-size-fits-all plan because everyone’s situation is different. In today’s epi...

Between inflation, a possible recession, and bank failures, our economy feels chaotic right now. However, that doesn’t mean that now’s the time to panic.  Instead, this is your opportunity to get a better understanding of these complex situations and make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your individual financial plan strong and healthy. In today’s episode, we talk through how we arriv...

You worked hard. You built a life, had a career, and hit some milestones along the way–and now you’re retired. So what are you going to do? Now that you’ve got all this free time, what’s your plan or purpose now? Today’s episode is all about answering one of the toughest questions we get asked: “What do I do now?” We dig into how it feels to retire, the power of feeling uncomfortable, and how to l...

Ads for gold, silver, and other precious metals are everywhere. But even with the dollar coming off its high and inflation pushing over 7%, are they a good hedge? If so, what are you supposed to buy, and what should you avoid? We’ve had lots of people asking us where they can purchase gold and silver. With that in mind, today’s episode is all about precious metals–and why the buyer should almost a...

When everything we buy costs more, every dollar in our pocket and our bank account is worth less. You can cut back on unnecessary expenses here and there, but there’s only so much you can do to cut back on groceries or gas. That’s why factoring inflation into your retirement plan is so important right now. In today’s episode, we walk you through how to create an action plan to get you through this...

Let’s face it, everyone has to face their own mortality at some point. But if you’ve planned ahead, your family and beneficiaries will thank you because settling an estate can be stressful when you’re starting from scratch. Today’s episode is all about how to make legacy planning as simple as possible. We’ll walk you through what needs to be done to ensure that your family is looked after and care...

As inflation soars, more and more people are dipping into their savings–or going into debt–to make ends meet. While it may not be an emergency (yet!), it may be time to take a step back and assess your situation. With that in mind, today’s episode is all about how to make sure that your money lasts. We’re talking about why it’s so easy to accidentally take on debt, how to put together a personal d...

No matter what financial shape you’re in right now, it’s never too late to find new ways to do better in the years to come. If you’re thinking about retiring (or trying to figure out if you still can retire), concerned about today’s economy, or simply want to make sure that everything is in place before you make that decision, this episode is for you. Today, we dig into pensions, Social Security,...

If you’ve been watching the markets over the last few weeks, you probably have questions. Is the current market rally evidence that we’re experiencing a rebound, or are we still in a bear market? Pundits love to share good news; they don’t love to talk about the underlying pressures that make markets act the way they do. This means that if you’re nearing retirement and keeping up with financial ne...

Our economy feels like a pretty uncertain place right now–especially if you’re approaching retirement age (or recently retired). Whether you’re reading the headlines or not, you’re probably feeling the effects of inflation and market volatility every single day. And if you’re of retirement age, you were there for the hyperinflation of the 1970s, the dot-com bust of the 2000s, and the Great Recessi...

On June 15th, the Federal Reserve decided to raise interest rates by 75 basis points. Understandably, this leads to a lot of questions: how is this going to affect bonds and the stock markets? How will this impact the economy and employment? Will there be a recession? No matter what happens, a comprehensive financial plan is your best defense in uncertain times. In today’s episode, we discuss the...

It's difficult to prepare for every worst-case scenario. When the most likely scenarios are considered, it can help avoid panic and overwhelm when the rough days rise to the surface.  Imagine that you're on your way to an important business meeting or picking your spouse up from the airport when one of your tires suddenly goes flat. If you have a spare, you'll be a little late. If you don't, your...

Rampant inflation seems like it’s here to stay for at least a while longer. Everyone’s feeling it at the grocery store, the gas pump, and seemingly everywhere else. In part one of this two-part series, we’ll discuss why it’s happening and dive into how to make sure your retirement plan can sustain your lifestyle, even if costs continue to go up. We’ll help you make sense of why the markets seem to...

Inflation’s constantly in the news, and it’s easy to see why. When everything we buy costs more, each dollar in our pocket is worth less. And while it’s easy to cut back on some unnecessary expenses, no one wants to make severe changes to their lifestyle to cover simple costs like gas and groceries. That’s why it’s so important to factor inflation into your retirement plan. While you can hope for...

No one who was there remembers the lineups at the gas pumps in the 1970s with any fondness. And though we’re not seeing long gas lines yet, we are seeing extremely high gas prices, rampant inflation, and extremely volatile markets–what we not-so-fondly refer to as stagflation. However, an energy or economic crisis doesn’t have to become a wealth crisis, and you can create a plan that helps you no...

Back in the 1970s, we experienced a combination of economic stagnation and inflation. Energy prices were high and the stock market went up and down like a roller coaster, very similarly to what we’re experiencing right now. Back then, it was called stagflation–and we’re hearing that word more and more in 2022. Unfortunately, stagflation can have real impacts on your finances, especially if you’re...

Tax season is about much more than just how much money you owe the IRS each year. It’s also a golden opportunity to review your investment strategy, your estate plan, and what your taxes will look like in the years to come.  With the April 18th due date coming ever closer, the national debt ballooning, and inflation continuing to rise, today’s episode is all about how to take a holistic look at yo...