Financial Fitness

Many people look forward to retirement and the changes it can bring - but you have to have the money to make it happen. Today Bob talks about factors like taxes, inflation and health care that, if planned for, will help make your retirement a confident one.

That may be a question no one wants to think about, but if you plan ahead, you will have far fewer headaches if that time comes than if you don't. Today Cortney Dale is back to talk about the kinds of things to plan for and how they can prepare you for the unexpected, worst case scenario.

Do you want to be confident in your retirement? Then there are some things you need to ask yourself beforehand, and Bob talks about what those issues concern, such as lifestyle, having enough money, sources for income and more.

How do you manage your retirement accounts like 401Ks or IRAs to get the most out of them? Today Cortney Dale from Bob's Victoria office helps guide you through the world of developing a plan to make sure your money is in the right places at the right time to help maximize your retirement assets.

Today Bob talks about eight myths and misconceptions about various retirement topics and sets the record straight about investment strategies, Social Security, and even advisors themselves. Bob discusses what is true and what is not as true about each area and how you can best use the information to be sure your own plan is solid going forward.

You've saved for your retirement, and the day is now here. What will you do with that money? If you don't understand how to make that nest egg work for you, you could run through it in no time at all. Bob talks today about the ways to make that money work for you and keep it safe so you don't run out of it before you run out of life.

If you are getting closer to retirement, you need to know about various strategies and maneuvers to help get the most from your nest egg. Today Bob addresses some of these steps as well as making preparations emotionally for the day you stop working.

With the recent uptick in stock market volatility, you might be concerned about a correction robbing your retirement investments of value. Today Bob addresses this and the best ways to be sure you are protected.

Cortney Dale, the insurance specialist for Bob Schwarz Financial, joins Megan today to talk about her specialty, Medicare - mainly some updates to start 2018 and reviewing how the program works and ways to update your coverage and save money in the process.

Retirement today is all about income. Will you have what you need when that time comes? Today Bob goes through the sources where you save your funds, such as Social Security, retirement accounts such as 401Ks and the like, and other investments like land, rental properties, interest from stocks or other investments. Make sure these places are ready to provide what you need.

Retirement should not be stressful, and you shouldn't worry about your finances, either. Today Bob explores why it is important to have a stress test performed on key elements of their retirement plan. It helps folks gain a clearer picture of their financial future as they get closer to that retirement day.

If you are planning on applying for Medicare soon, Cortney Dale, the insurance specialist for Bob Schwarz Financial, talks about year end changes if you have it now and what you can do going forward, as well as what to do when you apply for it for the first time. Also be sure to look on this website for dates for upcoming Medicare information meetings throughout the state.

A long awaited edition of Financial Fitness where Bob talks with Paul Mussman from Ag West, a commodity marketing firm, on how best to take the products produced by farmers and use it to their financial advantage both now and in the future.

Including ways to improve your physical health, which is tied in directly with your retirement outlook. Bob talks about a number of ways where being physically healthy can help you be sure you are financially healthy in retirement, too.

Or, in a sense, ways to be sure your nest egg is maximized so you will never run out of money. Bob goes through the ways planning can help you accomplish your goals and dreams for the years after you quit working.

Why? So your nest egg can be the most efficient and effective for your retirement dreams and goals. Today Bob talks about how this can be best accomplished through many different strategies from which to choose.

It's that time again - time to make any changes in certain parts of Medicare coverage. Cortney Dale, the insurance specialist in the Victoria office, talks about what is on the table and what may be available for you.

There are a range of ages from 50-70 1/2 that you need to know when planning your retirement. These are the various points where you can make decisions like saving or withdrawing from retirement accounts, claiming Social Security benefits, and taking Required Minimum Distributions, among others. Bob discusses them and what you can do to help your nest egg along the way.

It is not easy to change the mindset from saving for retirement to taking the money out to spend it. Today Bob discusses the most efficient manners to do this, including taking taxes into account.

Annuties can be a source of guaranteed income for retirement - but they are also a sensitive subject because they are complex and not always understood well. Today Cortney Dale from the Victoria office discusses when they are best used in a retirement plan, along with the many different types and the best ones for today's retirees.

In the second of a two part show, Bob and Megan finish their discussion on what to ask any potential advisor you want to handle your retirement finances. They also address the subject of fees and ways to know yours are in line with what you are getting from your advisor.

In the first of a two part show, Bob and Megan address 19 questions to ask anyone you might consider to oversee your financial strategy for retirement. A task especially important as the new Department of Labor fiduciary rules begin to take effect.

The greater share of income in retirement that is guaranteed, the more confidence you will have going into retirement. Today Cortney Dale from Bob's office in Victoria addresses ways to maximize the guaranteed sources for retirement income.

Those include freedom from worrying about their finances, flexibility to do what they want and the ability to spend quality time with family. Today Bob talks about what is different about retirement and what people want from it, and how to plan properly to be sure you get what you want out of it.

Cortney Dale hosts the show today and talks about how to go about finding the best Medicare plan at the lowest cost - not just at the start of retirement, but also as retirement continues.