Smart Money Questions

Today we’re talking about 401ks versus pensions. Would you rather get a lump sum now or monthly payments over many years? Deb in New Jersey needs our help answering that very question.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-NU     What we discuss on this episode: 2:08 – Beneficiaries 8:07 – SECURE Act 12:10 – 401ks and pensions 15:30 – Premature death and pen...

On today’s episode we’re talking about a couple conversations we’ve had with clients in Seattle, Wash. and some recent changes that have been put in place. In 2019, the state approved a new payroll tax that is 100% paid by the employee, the first of its kind in the entire country.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-NN     What we discuss on this episode: ...

Today’s episode is a little different. We’ve started doing recorded webinar workshops on certain topics, and we’re doing a replay on this podcast. Today’s episode is about President Joe Biden’s proposed tax increases.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-NH     Watch our webinar replay on Biden's proposed tax increases: https://oldsecuritygroup.wistia.com/m...

We’ve had a couple clients recently who decided to retire earlier than planned. We’ll explain how we helped them, even with very little time to prepare, and how you could handle a similar situation.    Read more and get additional financial resources here: http://smartmoneyquestions.com/podcastposts/episode-148-how-to-handle-an-unplanned-retirement/     What we discuss on this episode:  6:12 – Hea...

We’re tackling some tough questions about family finances today. Should you kick your sister out of your deceased mother’s home? What retirement challenges could you face as the parent of a young child? Should you buy your dream home?   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-Nt     What we discuss on this episode:  2:35 – Kick sister out? 4:37 – Get a mortgage?...

People often ask us, “What’s your average client like?” We’ll share what traits they have and why they are successful. Also, find out what documents you must have and why you should keep them up to date.   Read more and get additional resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-Nn     What we discuss on this episode:  0:30 – 20-year wedding anniversary 3:30 – Mortality and documents 7:11 – Wills 9:36 – H...

Is $1 million enough to retire? That depends on a lot of factors. We’ll explain what they are on this episode.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-Ni     What we discuss on this episode:  4:22 – Yahoo Finance Article 6:13 – Put money to work 8:58 – Your situation 12:58 – Social Security 14:13 – Expenses 15:40 – Moving to lower tax states 17:23 – Risk 21:32...

Should I leave my 401k to my child? We get this question a lot so let’s dive into the pros and cons of leaving your children money and what strategies you can use to make sure it benefits everyone.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-N8     What we discuss on this episode: 4:13 – Leave 401k to son? 11:53 – Should I rent or sell my aunt’s house?

Should you follow the advice of well-known financial gurus, such as Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman? A lot of people have asked me that question over the years. Find out what I tell them.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-N0     What we discuss on this episode:  4:11 – No credit cards 7:19 – Car financing 12:47 – Good debt 15:43 – Guru talk and preaching 18:5...

Today we’re talking about business owners and retirement plans. Even if you’re not a business owner, there’s something you can learn from this.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-MU     What we discuss on this episode:  2:25 – Discussions with business owners 5:28 – Selling your business 8:04 – Your family situation 13:00 – The tax man cometh 14:05 – Ques...

What’s the better investment strategy – pay off your primary home sooner or save up for a rental property? We’ll share the pros and cons.     Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-MO     What we discuss on this episode:  3:33 – Pay off home or save for rental property 7:27 – What’s your budget? 9:09 – Strategy for paying off house or investing 11:55 – Real est...

Long-term care is a subject many people don’t want to discuss, but it’s crucial that you have a plan in place. Find out why and learn about hybrid policies and paying premiums   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-MJ     What we discuss on this episode:  3:10 – The subject no one wants to talk about 8:48 – Hybrids 12:25 – Paying a premium 14:47 – Expense pol...

When making your legacy and estate plan, it’s crucial to know how taxes will affect that plan. Matt explains why you want to be careful and shares some real-life examples.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-MD     What we discuss on this episode:  2:28 – Charities and individuals 6:00 – How much money should go to each? 9:50 – Moving to a new state 13:46...

At the end of 2020, Congress passed a $900 billion Covid relief package. We’ll go over some highlights and what you should understand moving forward.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-Mu     What we discuss on this episode:  2:56 - $600 payments 6:51 – PPP loans 8:19 – Unemployment 9:08 – Social Security 10:54 – Qualifying medical expenses 13:05 – Charit...

As 2020 comes to a close, now’s the time to do some financial planning. Matt has some important topics you should cover with your advisor. We'll also spend talk some about first-time homebuyers and how to approach your mortgage.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-Mo     What we discuss on this show:  2:53 – Maximize 401k 4:55 – CARES Act 6:35 – RMD charit...

After a long year in 2020, many of us want to make sure 2021 starts off right. On this episode of the podcast, Matt answers several questions from listeners and clients when it comes to making wise investment and financial decisions in the new year.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-Mk     What we discuss on this show:  3:36 - How can I avoid market vola...

  We’re talking about two important topics today: Are reverse mortgages a bad idea? And how can I help my widowed parent with their finances?   Read more and get additional resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-Me      Learn more about reverse mortgages: https://smartmoneyquestions.com/podcastposts/episode-93-harlan-accola-behind-the-curtain-of-reverse-mortgages/     What we discuss on this show: 2...

U.S. News & World Report has released its list of the top places to retire in the country. Choosing where to retire is not only a personal decision; it’s also a financial one. We’ll explain why.   Read more and see the full list of cities here: https://wp.me/p9B077-M8     What we discuss on this show:  2:26 – How were places ranked? 3:15 – Top 15 places to retire 4:40 – Consider housing affordabil...

This week marks an important milestone in Maggie’s journey with cancer. We’ll give you an update about her health. We’ll also discuss Medicare and help you understand it better.   Read more and get additional financial updates here: https://wp.me/p9B077-LW     What we discuss on this show:  0:41 – Maggie’s 5-year mark after cancer diagnosis 6:45 – What do I need to know about Medicare? 8:16 – Trad...

There’s no doubt that election concerns are on the mind of many people right now, especially as it relates to their financial portfolio. We’ll start the show by addressing these election cycles worries by looking back at what history has shown us. From there, Matt will talk about a call he had with someone recently that wanted to get their retirement on track. He’ll take you through the essential...

We get a lot of questions about the CARES Act and 401k fees. Here's how they work and what you need to know.   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-Lx     What we discuss on this show:  2:49 – Questions about CARES Act, 401K fees 5:19 – CARES Act 9:04 – Qualified individual 12:36 – IRA withdraws, RMDs and charitable distributions 15:18 – Roth conversions 18:0...

Between the coronavirus, market swings and upcoming election, people have been calling our office with all kinds of investment and retirement questions and fears. Let’s talk about some of these common concerns.    Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-Ln     What we discuss on this episode:  3:00 – Get serious about financial planning 8:22 – Don’t make emotion...

Did you know that more than 80% of all first-time homebuyers last year put less than 20% down on their homes? Mortgage expert Lindsey Johnson tells us about private mortgage insurance and what changes the mortgage and real estate industries may see.   For more information, visit https://www.lowdownpaymentfacts.com/  and http://www.usmi.org/ .   Read more and get additional resources here: https://...

You may recognize his voice. Now, get to know more about Walter Storholt, our friend and former co-host who runs Third Wheel Media. How has the pandemic affected his business? What is the future of podcasting and media? And what is his dream job?   Read more and get additional financial resources here: https://wp.me/p9B077-L7     About our guest: https://www.thirdwheelmedia.com/     On today's sho...

Are you feeling stuck in an annuity? Do you have big plans to travel in retirement? Matt answers these questions and two others on today’s podcast.     Read more and get additional financial resources here:  https://wp.me/p9B077-L0     Today's show schedule:  1:01 - We’ll talk about four questions today. 2:56 - If a variable annuity has high fees but a high penalty to get out, what should you do?...