Planning Matters Radio

A new bill, called the Social Security Fairness Act, was just signed into law and will increase payments for nearly 3 million current and former public employees. As Peter with Richon Planning explains to Erin Kennedy, the law repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, which limited benefits for recipients with other pensions. That means teachers, firefighters an...

Join Peter Richon on Dash Town - highlighting local businesses making an impact in Fuquay! Today, we visit with Colton Owczarzak, owner of Iron Varsity, a physical therapy and sports performance business dedicated to helping athletes move, recover, and perform at their best. Colton holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from High Point University and a Bachelor's in Exercise Physiology from Califor...

It's that time of year, time to get ready for tax day. Yes, it's stressful, but as Peter with Richon Planning explains to Erin Kennedy, with a little bit of preparation, it doesn't have to be.  To set yourself up for success and a stress-free filing, Peter outlines: -The steps you should take now to ensure you're fully prepared for tax season -How to avoid common tax filing mistakes -How to maximi...

Annuity sales set new records in 2024. In the first nine months of the year, we saw a 23% increase to $331.2 billion! In this video, Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy walk through why annuity sales have seen a huge jump in sales, and they discuss whether the Fed's decision to lower interest rates will affect their returns. People often turn to annuities to create sustainable income in re...

Roth IRAs are a great way to create wealth. Roths offer tax-free withdrawals of contributions and earnings in retirement. Plus, that money can grow tax-free indefinitely because Roths are not subject to required minimum distributions. However, as Peter with Richon planning explains to Erin Kennedy, there is a catch: you can only contribute to a Roth IRA if your income is below $165,000 for single...

According to the @Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual expenses for people 65 plus in 2021 was about $52,141.00, which works out to about $4,345 a month. But as Peter with Richon Planning explains to Erin Kennedy, no two people are alike, so figuring out how much money YOU will need depends on your lifestyle and your unique retirement goals. To determine what you'll need for a comfortabl...

For the first time this year, on the 2024-25 FAFSA, students are no longer required to report cash gifts from a grandparent or contributions from a grandparent-owned 529 savings plan. As Peter with Richon Planning explains to Erin Kennedy, that means, grandparents can now use a 529 plan to fund a grandchild's education without impacting the child's financial aid eligibility. Peter also walks throu...

Let's address the number one fear of most retirees: running out of money. One way to make your nest egg last longer... figure out how to keep all of it in your pocket, as opposed to sharing it with the government. In this video, Peter with Richon Planning explains to Erin Kennedy how converting your tax deferred accounts to Roth accounts can add years to your retirement nest egg. Not only will you...

Back in 2022 when inflation was through the roof, we were able to buy I Bonds, or inflation bonds, with a 9.6% return! Now though, the rate of return is just over 3%. In this video, Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy discuss whether investors should redeem those I Bonds and invest in something else. The short answer is yes. There are several places you can put your money right now that ar...

The end of the year is a great time to start thinking about your finances for the upcoming year. So Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy are sharing 5 tips you can start now, to help you get on track for 2025. 1. Perform a Budget and Emergency Fund Checkup  2. Max Out Your Roth IRA (and HSA) 3. Consider Tax Loss Harvesting 4. Rebalance 5. Consider a QCD If you'd like to talk through your fi...

By 2034, it's projected that Social Security will only be able to pay about 78% of scheduled benefits if no changes are made to the system. This is why people need to start preparing now. In this video, Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy walk through these 4 tips to maximize your benefit: 1.Maximize When You Claim Social Security 2. Diversify Your Retirement Income 3. Work Now to Create T...

Many people assume their taxes will be lower in retirement, but that's not always the case. In fact, as Peter with Richon Planning explains to Erin Kennedy, there are 4 good reasons you can plan on your taxes being higher in retirement: 1. You won't be spending less: if you need the same amount of money to enjoy your retirement, you'll be in the same tax bracket when you're not working.  2. Tax ra...

Financial advisor Peter Richon of Richon Planning interviews Kyle Connor, a Real Estate Exchange Specialist. They discuss the aspects of real estate investment and exit strategies. Real Estate investors can use advanced tax strategies to their advantage when exiting or passing Real Estate as part of their legacy. The 1031 Exchange, 721 Exchange, and DST, Delaware Statutory Trust present significan...

The 2.5% cost of living adjustment reflects a steady decline in inflation. However, it looks like we'll be paying almost 6% more for Medicare Part B! That doesn't mean you'll see a smaller SS check in January, but if you're wondering how this will affect you, Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy walk through these questions: -Does the COLA affect when we should claim our Social Security ben...

Annuities can provide a guaranteed stream of income in retirement. And while the benefits aren't as significant for high-net-worth individuals, as Peter with Richon Planning explains to Erin Kennedy, there are a few that can make sense as part of a comprehensive retirement plan, including a: Longevity Annuity 2. Hybrid Long-Term Care Annuity 3. Charitable Gift Annuity 4. Grantor Retained Annuity T...

There are many different enrollment periods with Medicare, and there are penalties if you miss your enrollment period. October 15th kicks off the Annual Election Period, which runs through Dec 7th. In this video, Peter with Richon Planning speaks with Erin Kennedy to break down deadlines, costs, and the differences between each Part. There is no cookie cutter answer as to which plan or Part is rig...

A recent survey by AARP found that many Americans over 50 don't feel confident about their finances. However, if you follow these 3 specific strategies, as explained by Peter with Richon Planning to Erin Kennedy, you will certainly feel more in control, and you'll be setting yourself up for a financially happy retirement. Here's a look at those three strategies: Utilize the Bucket Strategy: segmen...

You'd think any kind of income would be good, but phantom income, and the taxes that come with it, can take a lot of investors by surprise! Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy want to make sure you know how to avoid it and talk through some smart tax strategies to consider, including investing in ETFs (exchange traded funds) instead of mutual funds. If you'd like to work with an advisor wh...

Roth accounts are an amazing tool when it comes to creating wealth. Roth IRAs are not subject to probate and can be passed on to heirs tax-free. They also grow tax-free! If you're considering a Roth Conversion, Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy walk through 3 key considerations: 1. Your future tax rate  2. When will you need to access the funds? 3. Your beneficiary's future tax rate Keep...

In this episode, Peter sits down with special guest Becky Swansburg for an insightful conversation about how the upcoming election could shake things up for your retirement plans. They break down the key issues to watch out for and what changes might be on the horizon. From new tax laws to shifting policies, Peter and Becky cover the important topics that could directly affect your financial futur...

Interest rates have been high since March of 2022, but now, they're finally coming down. That means it's time to rethink how we're investing. In this video, Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy talk through why the Fed has decided to lower interest rates, and they discuss specific investments you should consider now that rates are coming down, including: High-yield Investments Bond ETFs Pre...

Check out this recent headline: "Hackers may have stolen the Social Security numbers of every American." And according to the experts, those numbers are now available -for free- on an online marketplace for stolen personal data. In this video, Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy discuss what you can and should do to keep your personal information safe, starting with: 1. Freeze Your Credit ...

Concerns about a cooling U.S. economy led to a recent market downturn. And that volatility may continue. As Peter with Richon Planning explains to Erin Kennedy, a correction was somewhat expected. Historically, we often see corrections around this time of year, particularly in August and September. But when our team at Richon Planning constructs portfolios, we always consider the potential impact...

Small business owners underreport a significant portion of their income, potentially as much as 30-50%! That's according to the @National Bureau of Economic Research. However attractive as hiding cash may seem, Peter with Richon Planning lays out 4 reasons to Erin. Kennedy, as to why you should report all income to the IRS, including: 1.Legal Risk 2. Long-Term Financial Health and Growth of Your B...

Are you paying more than you need for financial advice? In this video, Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy break down the pros and cons of working with "fee-only" versus "fee-based" financial advisors. It's important to know that both structures have different tax implications and perhaps different incentives for the advisor. An advisor who works on commission may not have your best intere...