Retirement Talk Podcast with Laura Stover

The S&P just had its worst half since 1970. With these jarring numbers, every investor is wondering if the stock market is ready to recover in the back half of 2022? None of us can know exactly when the market will recover, but there are some signs we can explore that may give us some insight into the rest of the year.    Obviously, the biggest issue our economy is currently facing is inflation. W...

Many of us are desperate to get back to normalcy, especially because of what we've experienced over the past two years. But the market seems to keep reminding us that everything isn't exactly normal and unfortunately, we've been in correction mode all year long. On today's episode, we'll break down a recent article that explores investor misperceptions, behavior biases, and how these factors hurt...

Do you truly understand the difference between volatility and risk? Modern portfolio theory was trademarked in the 1950s and is often still used today in our industry. This approach is still viable today and highlights understanding portfolio risk and the proper way to measure volatility. Standard deviation is a mathematical formula we use to measure and estimate risk. While it doesn't address all...

Now more than ever, people are realizing the importance of a long-term financial plan. Things can threaten your plan seemingly out of nowhere. A year ago, inflation was hardly a topic of concern, but looking at today's market has a lot of us worried about the future. As a way to combat rising inflation, the Fed is looking to raise interest rates which could impact our portfolios even more. So, how...

With the current volatility trends in the market, many of us are wondering what to expect in the coming months and years. The S&P is down over 20%, inflation is on the rise, and consumers are concerned. The reality is that many investors are facing major losses. Conservative investors are even experiencing volatility in their fixed-income investments. Despite these fears, the economy is doing well...

With 2022 starting out with a lot of volatility, a lot of people are rethinking their portfolio approach. Maybe you are ready for a new advisor or perhaps you are reaching out to a professional for the first time. In any case, how do we go about finding unbiased and independent advisors in such a large industry? On today's episode, we'll discuss some of the key components a balanced and competent...

One of the most important components of everyone's retirement plan is their personalized income plan. So, on today's episode, we are going to break down the advice of two experts in the financial industry: Wade Fouad and Michael Kitces. Determining how to efficiently tap into your lifelong savings is one of the most important life decisions you are going to make. Choosing an income strategy that m...

While the data shows a healthy economy (job growth, consumer spending, and business investments are all up) the market is still on a downward trajectory. So, what is causing this decline? Is it Russia's fault, inflation's fault, the Fed's fault, or some other factor? On today's episode we are going to break down why the market is going down and the key indicators you need to keep your eye on to en...

Everyone has in their mind the concept of designing an ideal retirement savings portfolio, but should you be blindly following the same methods that people have always used? Large institutions have been telling people for decades to pump money into their tax-deferred retirement accounts, keep cash in the bank, and get your mortgage paid off. But will these status quo methods help you achieve the f...

We spend so many years of our lives working to save and accumulate assets to create financial independence for ourselves, but most people don't realize you must plan on how you will spend during retirement.  Transitioning from accumulation to the preservation and distribution phase can be a challenge.  Do you have the ability to shift your financial mindset from saving to that of income?  Having a...

With rising inflation and now an inverted yield curve, are we headed towards a recession? The interest rate paid on our short-term debt has exceeded the interest paid on our long-term debt of the same quality. So, what does this mean for investors? On today's episode we'll unpack the inverted yield curve, the concerns investors should be aware of, what to anticipate for the remainder of the year,...

Prices have been steadily climbing for some time now. What is driving this unprecedented increase in inflation and how can you insulate your financial future from these black swan events? Many retirees are aware of risk and volatility within the market, but inflation itself can be a silent killer that lowers your future buying power when it comes to things like gas, groceries, and health care cost...

Could Joe Biden's new tax proposal impact you and your retirement plan? On today's episode, we're breaking down Joe Biden's proposal of a 20% billionaire tax, the looming financial crisis, and what you can do to protect yourself and your future against rising taxes. The billionaire tax proposal is expected to reduce the deficit over the next decade. However, this is coming after a $3.9 trillion do...

Anywhere from 50% to 60% of Americans don't have a will. Does this surprise you? However, more and more people are becoming more aware of the 6th pillar of the Redefining Wealth Process, estate planning. On today's episode, we are continuing our conversation on estate planning and why it's so important for you and your family. We will explore the key documents you need to consider when building ou...

No matter your age, having an estate plan is something we all need to think about. On today's episode, we'll explore the importance of having an estate plan and some things you may not be considering when it comes to that plan.  Over the past few years, we've certainly seen that things can change quickly. Keeping our essential documents updated is more important than ever. A will is a legal docume...

If you're trying to build wealth, sharp market downturns can be your biggest enemy. But these downturns are not uncommon and we want you to be prepared to overcome these market dips. On today's episode, esteemed money manager, Jay Pestrichelli joins us to discuss buy and hedge retirement planning. He's the author of  Buy and Hedge  as well as the owner and co-founder of ZEGA Financial.   Over the...

We discuss many different money management tools on our show but having a defined process is perhaps the most important thing investors need to consider when constructing their plan. Having a process allows you and your assets to perform at peak capacity. Customized to each individual a process should cover your income needs, investments, tax planning, estate planning, and liquidity.  While many o...

'Heads I win, tails you lose.' In this uncertain time, investors are facing a lot of volatility. We often discuss using tactical management and algorithms to prevent losses but what other tools are available? How can we win when the market goes up  and  when the market goes down? We can always be certain the market will do one of three things: go up, go down, or go sideways. So we have to prepare...

Special Guest, CFA, Portfolio Manager David Wagner of Aptus Advisors, joins us on today's episode to discuss the various factors contributing to market volatility in 2022. As a portfolio manager David is constantly studying the market, understanding the impact it has on investors. Should we expect a recession? What will bring down inflation? David will share his expertise on these topics and more...

Are you dreading this upcoming income tax season? It may be time to switch from tax preparation to tax planning. Strategic planning can reduce your overall tax burden, making this time of the year a lot less stressful. You should be working with a tax professional that is a part of your overall financial planning team.  One of the first steps in tax planning is projecting your future income. This...

January ended up being a pretty volatile month in the market. With inflation, geopolitical tension, and rising interest rates we may see more volatility in the near future. What is the danger this poses to our retirement? A fear of outliving your money coupled with recency bias can lead to an unbalanced portfolio. Portfolio failure, running out of money in retirement, is directly related to volati...

As we've seen in the past month, volatility is back in the market. Why are we seeing this volatility and what can we do to protect our retirement plan? We've seen some robust gains in the past few years, but that might soon be changing. With changes from the Fed, interest rate hikes, and geopolitical tension the market is likely to see more ups and downs.  In most cases, people aren't great at mak...

For many of us a 401(k) is our primary saving tool for retirement. So, why is the 401(k) now being considered a disaster? Most people don't have a lot of background in investing when they start saving, defaulting instead to the guidance of their employers. Originally developed to be a bonus in accordance with a pension, the 401(k) was not designed to be a stand-alone account to depend one's retire...

There is no perfect portfolio that will fit everyone's needs. Instead, we must ask ourselves what the perfect portfolio looks like for our individual lives. The market is a risky endeavor, so you really need to understand how much volatility you are comfortable with and how much is necessary to support the longevity of your retirement. Not everyone will look at risk in the same way. You'll need to...

Everyone has worries in life, especially when it comes to money. Does money have the power to change your life? It certainly can take care of our basic necessities. However, worrying too much can lead to questionable decision-making and unhealthy levels of stress. An obsession with your bank account may be a sign of deeper anxieties that money can't solve. If you feel this way you are not alone, e...