Make It Personal Podcast

Mark Zagurski introduces the eBook The Game of the Decade: Seven Plays for Winning the Most Important Ten Years to Retirement Success , targeting pre-retirees who need a personalized action plan. He outlines the seven plays: maximizing the five years before and after retirement, determining retirement income needs, managing taxes, optimizing Social Security, planning for early retirement, addressi...

In this episode, Mark Zagurski shares a personal story about his grandmother to underscore the importance of planning for long-term care, which 70% of 65-year-olds will need. He outlines four options to manage these costs: paying out of pocket, long-term care insurance, hybrid policies combining life insurance or annuities, and deferred income annuities like QLACs. Mark explains how each option wo...

Mark Zagurski, a proud Gen Xer, dives into the four critical ages for Generation X (born 1965–1980) in retirement planning: 50, 59½, 62, and 73. As Gen Xers juggle peak earning years with expenses like mortgages and kids’ education, Mark highlights the importance of these milestones. At 50, catch-up contributions allow for boosted retirement savings. At 59½, penalty-free access to retirement funds...

In this episode, Mark Zagurski tackles the hotly debated question: should you pay off your mortgage before retirement? With nearly 20% of homes in major U.S. metros owned by people 65 and older still carrying mortgages, this decision carries significant financial and emotional weight. Mark breaks down four reasons to pay off your mortgage, peace of mind, lower expenses, interest savings, and housi...

In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast, Mark Zagurski explores two time-tested strategies, life insurance and annuities, that act as a form of “crowdfunding” to secure your financial future and that of your family. While modern crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe have become popular for addressing unexpected expenses, Mark explains why relying on them for critical needs, like funeral cos...

In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast , host Mark Zagurski tackles one of the most common, and important, questions people ask: Do I really need a financial advisor? With so much financial content flooding the internet, from talking heads to self-proclaimed “gurus”, it’s hard to know what’s credible and what’s truly in your best interest. Mark offers an honest, inside look at what a trus...

In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast , host Mark Zagurski tackles one of the most overlooked yet critical components of financial planning: assumptions. Every solid financial plan relies on a mix of facts, like your age and income, and assumptions, such as how long you’ll live, what inflation will look like, and most importantly, your expected rate of return. But what happens when those...

In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast , host Mark Zagurski takes a lighthearted but impactful look at a growing financial trap many of us fall into: subscription creep. With humor, a nod to classic Gen X TV, and real-world data, Mark explores how small, recurring charges, whether for streaming services, news sites, or monthly deliveries, quietly drain your wallet over time. According to...

In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast , host Mark Zagurski tackles one of the most confusing and critical aspects of retirement: planning for healthcare. With nearly 99% of retirees age 65 and older qualifying for Medicare, understanding your options is essential for safeguarding your financial and physical well-being in retirement. Mark breaks down the differences between Medicare Suppl...

In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast , Mark Zagurski takes recent college graduates, and those advising them, through the essential first steps to financial success after graduation. From ancient graduation traditions like diplomas and gowns to the more modern tradition of student loan debt, this episode highlights both the history and the current challenges facing today’s grads. With s...

In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast , Mark wraps up the two-part series on the 10 most important financial decisions that shape your long-term success. Building on last week’s exploration of education, career, budgeting, and saving, this episode tackles the next five pivotal choices that deepen and secure your financial foundation. Mark revisits the crucial difference between saving an...

In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast , the team dives into one of life’s most overwhelming and yet critical arenas: financial decision-making. Host Mark walks listeners through the sheer volume of choices we make daily, estimated at 35,000 per day, and zooms in on the 10 most important financial decisions that shape long-term success. This episode kicks off with the first five, helping...

In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast , host Mark Zagurski pulls back the curtain on DIY financial planning. With over 30 years of experience in insurance, investments, and strategic communication, Mark takes you on a journey into what today’s internet really says about “doing it yourself" when it comes to finances—and why that might not be your best move. From Google searches to Re...

In this episode, Mark Zagurski tackles a crucial financial question sparked by a conversation with his video producer— Is the Roth IRA the gold standard? With nearly 30 years of experience in training and developing financial advisors at Mutual of Omaha Advisors, Mark breaks down the differences between Roth and Traditional IRAs, explaining the advantages and trade-offs of each. Listeners will gai...

Time moves fast, and for parents, the reality is stark—by the time a child turns 18, 80-90% of your time together has already passed. This episode dives deep into the importance of family vacations, financial planning, and balancing present experiences with future security. Drawing from studies on childhood memories, vacation spending statistics, and financial planning insights, host Mark Zagurski...

What does it really take to become a millionaire? In this episode, host Mark Zagurski explores the realities behind wealth accumulation, challenging the myth that millionaires are simply born into money. Drawing from Ramsey Solutions’ National Study of Millionaires and the insights of The Millionaire Next Door , Mark uncovers how financial success is built through intentional habits, smart investm...

In this episode, host Mark Zagurski takes a deep dive into one of the most misunderstood aspects of personal finance— taxes in retirement . Many people assume that once they stop working, their tax burden will automatically decrease, but the reality is far more complex. With a tax code that grows more complicated every year, understanding how federal income tax applies to your retirement savings i...

In the final episode of this enlightening podcast series, the focus shifts to Principle #7: Find Good Financial Advice Tailored to Fit Your Needs. Over the past seven episodes, host Mark Zagurski has explored the Seven Principles for Your Success , including building a strong career foundation, balancing savings and investing, and protecting your family’s financial future. Mark ties it all togethe...

In this episode, host Mark Zagurski continues his exploration of the Seven Principles for Your Success with Principle #6: Conventional Advice Is Too Conventional – The Wisdom of Building Your Own Capital. After diving into career growth, saving vs. investing, and retirement planning, Mark shifts to a critical yet often overlooked aspect of personal finance: creating and safeguarding your own capit...

In this episode of the Make it Personal podcast, host Mark Zagurski dives into Principle #5 of the Seven Principles for Your Success: Retirement Investing – It’s Personal and Subject to Change. Building on the foundations laid in previous episodes, Mark takes a personalized approach to the complexities of retirement planning. With retirement potentially lasting 30 years or more, this principle hig...

In this episode of the podcast, we dive into Principle #4 of the Seven Principles for Your Success: Protect Your Most Important Asset First—You and Your Family. Building on the foundation laid in previous episodes, host Mark Zagurski highlights why personal financial protection is the cornerstone of any effective financial plan. Listeners will learn the importance of safeguarding their income and...

In this episode of the Make it Personal podcast, the journey through the Seven Principles for Your Success continues with Principle #3: Emotional Wants vs. Financial Needs. Host Mark Zagurski builds on the foundation laid in earlier discussions about careers and the difference between saving and investing, this principle dives into the mindset shifts needed to overcome societal pressures and impul...

In this episode of Make It Personal , host Mark Zagurski dives into Principle #2 of the Seven Principles for Your Success: Savings vs. Investing: Know the Difference . Picking up from last week’s discussion on leveraging your career as a growth engine, Mark tackles the critical distinction between saving and investing, emphasizing the unique roles each plays in achieving financial security and lon...

In this episode, the Make It Personal podcast begins an in-depth exploration of the 7 Principles for Your Financial Success , starting with Principle #1: Your Career as a Growth Engine to Success. Host Mark Zagurski unpacks how your career or business serves as the cornerstone of financial prosperity, offering insights into maximizing your earning potential through skill development, personal grow...

In this episode of the Make It Personal podcast, Mark Zagurski challenges the common belief that financial planning is a do-it-yourself project. While it’s tempting to rely on online resources, social media, or advice from well-meaning friends and family, DIY financial planning often overlooks the complexities and nuances of personal finance. From budgeting and investing to retirement and estate p...