Don Sowa's MoneyTalk

At year-end, one of the frequent investor topics of interest is Roth conversions, but more often than not those investors find that there is far more involved in the decision than they anticipated. Donna discusses how advisors determine if a Roth conversion is right for you, and how to reverse a Roth conversion. Also on MoneyTalk, the difference between inheritance tax and estate tax. Host: Donna...

Burnout is all too common in corporate America today, and for those trying to decide if it’s time to jump ship to a new career it can be a scary and uncertain time. Nathan talks with Dave Lubelczyk, founder of The Dream Catapult, to discuss his journey of leaving the corporate world behind to help individuals rewrite their story and pursue a lifestyle that better reflects their true values. Host:...

The 401(k) is the primary retirement savings vehicle for American workers, but it is only one of the option available, and having a good grasp on the rules and limitations of those options is important when developing your retirement savings strategy. Nathan discusses the pros and cons of of 401(k)s, and how to use it to its full potential. Also on our MoneyTalk Moment in Financial History, Nathan...

Life insurance is a broad and complicated area of personal finance, and the particular type of insurance that is right for you may not be right for someone else. Donna and Nathan discuss the various types of life insurance, and how to determine which products will best serve your individual needs. Also on MoneyTalk, Stock Trivia: Two Truths and a Lie. Hosts: Donna Sowa Allard, CFP®, AIF® & Nathan...

More often than not, the economy is the lead issue on the ballot during the midterm elections, but how does our current economic situation stack up against election cycles of the past? Donna and Nathan test their chops with a quiz on the state of the economy during some of the major midterm elections of American history. Also on MoneyTalk, retiring in a down market, and Stock Trivia: Two Truths an...

The reverse mortgage has been shrouded in controversy and misunderstanding due to some early abusive sales tactics targeting the highly vulnerable senior market, but when used under the right circumstances, the reverse mortgage can be a game changer. Donna and Nathan have a conversation with reverse mortgage expert, Garrett Duffy, to explain how reverse mortgages work, and who should and shouldn’t...

With more and more people saving a portion of their money on a Roth basis, the next generation of retirees will have greater opportunities for maximizing tax efficiency when it comes to taking retirement income. Donna and Nathan discuss the importance of order of distribution when it comes to drawing from your retirement assets. Also on MoneyTalk, and Stock Trivia: Two Truths and a Lie. Hosts: Don...

Retirement accounts are among the most complicated types of inherited assets because the rules vary based on the recipient, and they are frequently targeted for reform. Nathan discusses the unique rules around BDA IRAs, and related tax strategies. Also on our MoneyTalk, part 2 of our retrospective on the US banking system prior to the Federal Reserve. Host: Nathan Beauvais CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®; Air...

Anthropic recently secured the largest artificial intelligence infrastructure financing deal to date, the latest gamble among a trend of circular financing arrangements propping up the AI tech giants. Nathan highlighted the immense risk companies are taking on to meet the capacity needs of the frontier AI labs, and whether we should be concerned. Also on MoneyTalk, the surge in buy now/pay later l...

That 10 year stretch of time leading up to retirement is a critical period when your strategic retirement plan gets accelerated to get you to your goal, and how you choose to focus your efforts and resources will make all the difference. Donna runs through 10 questions you should be asking yourself when planning for your final approach to retirement. Host: Donna Sowa Allard, CFP®, AIF®; Air Date:...

The traditional 60/40 portfolio has been disrupted over recent years by the increased correlation between stocks and bonds, driving investors to asset classes like commodities for diversification. Nathan speaks with Dan Cole, Principal at Quantix Commodities, to dig into how futures contracts function, how different types of commodities respond to inflation, and how they can fit into your portfoli...

Bank runs, financial panics, and battles over who controls the nation’s money—this was the status quo for the American banking system before the Federal Reserve. On this edition of our MoneyTalk Moment in Financial History, we explore the crises and controversies that shaped our financial system and ultimately led to the Fed’s creation in 1913. Also on MoneyTalk, understanding the different creden...

Government programs are often complicated, and social security is a prime example. Donna and Nathan discuss some advanced social security questions, including whether claiming your social security benefit disqualifies you from claiming your spousal or survivors benefit, how claiming a divorced spouse’s benefit impacts your ability to claim another spousal benefit down the road, and more. Also on M...

The F.I.R.E. movement (Financially Independent, Retiring Early) is a growing lifestyle trend which emphasizes making extreme financial sacrifices today to set yourself up for an early retirement. Donna discusses some of the strategies used by F.I.R.E. movement followers to maximize their savings and current income while minimizing their expenses. Also on MoneyTalk, longevity planning in retirement...

Life is full of issues that are important, but not urgent, and one way to stop yourself from kicking the can down the road is through a well developed financial plan. Nathan discusses some of the key components of a financial plan, and how to decide what should be included in yours. Also on MoneyTalk, financial scams to avoid, and what to look for when researching mutual funds. Host: Nathan Beauva...

Since the passing of the SECURE Act 2.0, the IRS age trigger for required minimum distributions has been raised to 73, but having a little extra time to grow your assets doesn’t necessarily mean there will be more money left when you pass. Donna and Nathan discuss RMD planning, and how to use the rules to your maximum benefit. Also on MoneyTalk, Stock Trivia: Two Truths and a Lie. Hosts: Donna Sow...

For this emerging generation of first-time homebuyers, it is becoming more common to see parents offering their kids a financial boost to even the playing field. Donna and Nathan discuss the pros and cons of gifting some of your child’s inheritance early to help with buying a home. Also on MoneyTalk, big mistakes made by big investors, and Stock Trivia: Battle of the Sowas. Hosts: Donna Sowa Allar...

Buying a second home is on the retirement bucket list for many of us, but what looks good on paper doesn’t always pan out in reality. Donna discusses some considerations for those looking to purchase a second home in retirement. Also on MoneyTalk, what to do with your 401(k) at retirement, order of distribution in retirement, and Stock Trivia: Battle of the Sowas. Host: Donna Sowa Allard, CFP®, AI...

If you are one of the millions of Americans who doesn’t have a will, trust, or other estate planning tool in place, your assets are left at the mercy of the laws of the state in which you live, which can lead to unintended costs, headaches, and conflicts for your loved ones. On this Best of MoneyTalk episode, we revisit a conversation with estate planning attorney and long time friend of the show,...

Mortgage rates have crept back up to three-year highs, and the pressure that has plagued home buyers is now catching up to the other side of the transaction. Donna and Nathan discuss how home sellers are having to make concessions to balance out the conditions of an untenable housing market. Also on MoneyTalk, how to know if you’re ok with your finances, and Stock Trivia: Battle of the Sowas. Host...

There are a variety of investment vehicles at your disposal, and knowing how and when to use one vs. another requires a good understanding of their mechanics. Nathan breaks down the common investment vehicles, how they differ, and how they can serve different needs within your portfolio. Also, on our MoneyTalk Moment in Financial History, Nathan covers the critical role of tariffs and taxes throug...

It’s no secret that the Social Security program is in need of major reform, but surveys show that Americans feel extremely conflicted about the proposed solutions. Donna and Nathan discuss the various options being debated on how to reform Social Security, and the challenge that the next administration will be faced with in getting it right. Also on MoneyTalk, jobs were seniors are still in demand...

Retirement is crunch time for making decisions on many of those issues that you may have been putting off, and tackling them all at once can be a bit overwhelming. Donna takes us through some of the decisions that challenge new retirees, including: Should I buy a second home? Should I rollover my 401(k)? And, should I pay off my mortgage? Host: Donna Sowa Allard, CFP®, AIF®; Air Date: 10/5/2026; O...

Making mistakes just means you're human, and they can be a powerful learning tool, but survival depends on avoiding those mistakes that cannot be fixed. Donna and Nathan discuss four retirement mistakes that can't be undone. Also on MoneyTalk, surprises for annuity owners. Hosts: Donna Sowa Allard, CFP®, AIF®, Nathan Beauvais, CFP®, CIMA®, CPWA®; Air Date: 10/1/2026;. Have a question for the hosts...

With bond yields on the rise in 2026, we've seen renewed interest in active fixed income funds, but these funds can vary broadly in their risk exposure, and may not look as impressive relative to inflation. Donna and Nathan discuss the state of the bond market, and the importance of measuring performance in real return. Also on MoneyTalk, managing money for couples with different risk tolerances,...