RETIREMENT MADE EASY

Why are large companies (like Amazon) getting tax breaks while the common man doesn't? What about the wealthy—should those making more than $400,000 need to pay more in taxes? We are in a low tax environment right now and some people are upset by it. They say that corporations aren't paying their "Fair Share" in taxes. But what happens if they do have to pay more in taxes? In this episode of Retir...

In February of 2020, the student loan crisis hit a record $1.6 trillion. It's not uncommon to talk to college graduates who have thousands of dollars in debt. Many pre-retirees would like to help pay for or fund their grandchildren's education. It's personally on the top of my list. I believe college education is a gift that can never be taken away.  How do you help save money for your children's...

Are you in your sixties and thinking about your impending retirement? What does your dream retirement look like? Will the money you have allocated for retirement help you accomplish those dreams? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share the #1 thing you can do to live the retirement you've been dreaming of. I share how you can define a successful retirement and how to set goals to determin...

There's a lot of negativity in the news. It can weigh on your mind and impact how you view your life—and your investments. The turmoil of the current political climate paired with uncertainty in the economy and then magnified by the Coronavirus has us all questioning the future. Where do we stand today? I believe the path forward is bright. I believe what we have been through can shed light on our...

How can you turn a challenge like a pandemic into an opportunity? How do you thrive in this kind of environment? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share 4 financial opportunities that arose because of the Coronavirus pandemic. It hasn't been an easy time for anyone but taking advantage of these opportunities could potentially help your financial situation. Learn more by listening! You wil...

I received a call a few weeks ago from someone who wanted to interview financial advisors to help with their investments. This person asked, "Do all of your clients outperform the S&P 500?" This person assumed that outperforming the S&P 500 was the main objective of a retirement strategy. That is NOT the case. It shouldn't be your primary financial goal and certainly isn't the key to a successful...

Chris Hogan with Ramsey solutions recently surveyed and interviewed over 10,000 millionaires—the largest study ever conducted to this date. It was spurred by the research of Thomas Stanley. But the study really digs into what makes millionaires different. How do they become millionaires? What are their habits? How do they spend—or not spend—their money?  Success leaves tracks. If you can figure ou...

What do you do if you inherit your Mom's IRA? What if it's a Roth IRA? How does it have to be distributed? What's the best way to handle the resources? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I'll let you know how you can handle an inherited IRA (and how the SECURE Act comes into play). You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:43] How to handle inheriting your Mom's IRA [...

What is the mistake that 60% of American adults are making? According to a 2019 study by Caring.com, nearly 60% of American adults don't have a will in place . You may be thinking, "Why is that such a big deal?" In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share WHY it's a HUGE mistake—and what you can do about it. Check it out! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:23] T...

What happens if Trump gets reelected? What happens if Biden gets elected? How will your investments and retirement be impacted? We are living in an interesting time in history. The Coronavirus pandemic has shaken up our economy, the stock market, the job market, and life in general. On top of that—it's an election year, which historically comes with volatility in the market. So what does the elect...

Are there good reasons to NOT work with a financial advisor? Have people had poor experiences? Is it a complete lack of trust? People have shared their reasoning with me when I find out they've chosen to avoid working with a financial advisor. In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share what those 4 common reasons are—and whether or not I think they're valid.  You will want to hear this episo...

There have been numerous changes to the Social Security program since it was created in 1935. Just think: in 1937, life expectancy was age 63—but you had to be 65 to collect Social Security benefits. Two bills have passed since then that have dramatically changed things for the 77 million Baby Boomers that will be retiring. What are they? What impacts did they have? What do I foresee happening wit...

What should you ask a potential financial advisor? How do you make sure you hire the right person? How do you find a financial advisor that actually cares ? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I answer a listener question by sharing the five top questions (+ a bonus question or two) you NEED to ask a potential financial advisor. Don't miss it! You will want to hear this episode if you are int...

Over the last 10+ years as a financial advisor, I've heard a lot of horror stories. I've also heard a lot of crazy things come out of my client's mouths. So in this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I'm going to share the top 5 financial life lessons I've learned from my clients. After all, the best way to learn is from someone else's mistakes. Hopefully, these lessons can help you make better deci...

What does THE worst retirement plan I've ever seen look like? What should you avoid when you craft your retirement plan? Once you make certain decisions—there's no going back. You need to understand the choices you're making and how it will impact your future.  In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share a story about the worst retirement plan I've ever seen. I explain what makes it so cringe...

What big challenges could a retired couple face in 2020? Based on the research I've conducted, the average age of the American retiree is 62 . According to the Social Security Administration , 34% of Americans begin to claim their social security benefits at age 62. That doesn't mean it's the optimal age to claim it . It even lowers the amount of money you'll receive monthly. So how should you pla...

In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I answer YOUR pressing questions. Over the last month, a variety of questions have been rolling in about social security, retirement, inheritances, and more. So with their permission, I'm sharing their questions—along with my best answer to them. As always, double-check my answers against whoever it is your family trusts for prudent financial advice before...

Who's the better investor: men or women? What is the difference between men and women? What makes one gender the better investor? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share three different studies that all come to the same conclusion. You'll get my answer to this dangerous question: Are women better investors than men?   You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:45] S...

"How should I be Investing in retirement?" This is one of the most popular questions that I get from listeners. What should you invest in? How do your investments help you reach your goals? What does your portfolio need to do for you in retirement? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share my opinion on these questions and give you the 3 keys to successful investing in retirement.  You will...

What does a $15 minimum wage have to do with retirees? Why would they be upset about it? Is it that big of an issue? Illinois recently enacted a plan to increase their minimum wage by $1 each year until 2025—at which time they'll have fully implemented a $15 minimum wage. In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I use some hypothetical scenarios to explain the impact of the minimum wage increase a...

There are a lot of myths being perpetuated about retirement that are simply NOT true. These myths may leave the average personed discouraged and disheartened about their future and wondering if they'll ever retire. How much money do you need? How much will you spend? Will social security still be around? Will taxes be lower? In this debut episode of Retirement Made Easy, I dispel some of the myths...