Your Retirement Elevated Podcast with Scott Dougan

The new Trump Accounts are officially here—and with the rules now finalized, parents and grandparents have much more clarity about how these accounts actually work. While the promise of a $1,000 government contribution has captured plenty of attention, the real planning opportunities lie in understanding the fine print, tax treatment, contribution limits, and long-term strategies these accounts cr...

For decades, retirement planning has focused on one question: How much have you saved? But once retirement begins, a different question takes center stage. In this episode, Scott explains why two retirees with identical account balances can have dramatically different retirement outcomes and why understanding your income needs may be far more important than the size of your nest egg. Here’s what w...

Retirement is supposed to feel exciting. No more alarms, deadlines, meetings, or work schedules. Yet many people find themselves feeling increasingly anxious as retirement approaches, even when the numbers say they're ready. Scott explores the emotional side of retirement and why confidence often comes from more than just having enough money. If retirement feels closer than ever, but excitement is...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg For most of your working life, the retirement message was simple: save consistently, invest for growth, and let time do the heavy lifting. But retirement changes the game. Scott explains why accumulating wealth and spending it are two completely d...

For decades, retirement planning revolves around one primary goal of saving enough money. But as retirement approaches, a different question becomes increasingly important: how much of that money will you actually get to keep? Many retirees discover too late that taxes can significantly impact their retirement income, Social Security benefits, Medicare premiums, and even the legacy they leave behi...

There’s some big retirement news out of Washington worth understanding. President Trump recently signed an executive order aimed at expanding access to retirement savings for the tens of millions of Americans whose employers don't offer a plan. Today, Scott breaks down what was signed, what it means in practice, and what questions it raises for your own retirement picture. The retirement coverage...

You spent decades learning how to save for retirement, but almost nobody teaches you how to actually spend from it. Today, Scott explains why retirement income planning is completely different from simply building a large 401(k), and how to turn retirement savings into a reliable paycheck. He reminds us that the distribution phase of retirement can be just as important as the accumulation phase. H...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg   Scott challenges the idea that financial numbers are the true measure of success and introduces a richer way to think about retirement life. He explores how time, fulfillment, and intentional living often matter more than portfolio size. Let’s s...

You can have plenty of money on paper and still feel unsettled in retirement. After decades of saving and doing everything right, many people expect confidence to come automatically. Instead, they hesitate to spend, second-guess their decisions, and worry about the future. Today, Scott explains why retirement isn’t just a math problem- and why feeling secure takes more than simply having “enough.”...

This is Part 2 of our Hidden Risks series, and we’re shifting focus to one of the biggest long-term threats to your retirement: taxes. Some risks don’t hit all at once, they slowly wear down your plan over time. Scott breaks down how tax decisions shape your income, flexibility, and long-term outcomes. If Part 1 was about protecting your plan, this one is about keeping more of what you’ve built. H...

This is Part 1 of our Hidden Risks series, where we’re looking at the issues that can quietly derail a retirement plan if they’re not addressed. Most people focus on investments, but that’s only part of the picture. In this episode, Scott walks through the risks that don’t show up on a statement but can still have a major impact. It’s all about making sure your plan is built for real life, not jus...

Kansas City is about to take center stage as it hosts one of the biggest global events with the World Cup, and that spotlight brings a surge of opportunity. Homeowners are asking a simple but powerful question: can you rent out your home during the event and keep the income tax-free? It all points back to a little-known strategy called the Augusta Rule, a tax provision that sounds almost too good...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg Most people buy life insurance once and never think about it again. But by the time you reach your 50s, the real question isn’t just what type you have, it’s whether you still need it at all. As your financial picture evolves, so should your appro...

See the chart here: https://listentoscott.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GRAPHIC-Retirement-Age-vs-Death-scaled.png A viral chart is making a bold claim: the later you retire, the shorter you live. It’s eye-catching, easy to share, and—at first glance—convincing. But like a lot of financial content online, it blends real-looking data with misleading conclusions designed to grab attention, not tell...

Today, Scott’s going through the top things people are Googling about AI and retirement and giving you straight answers. The search bar doesn't lie. People are nervous, curious, and trying to figure out what AI means for the life they've spent decades building. Most of the answers are less dramatic than the questions suggest. But those questions are still worth working through with someone who und...

When most people picture retirement, they imagine fewer deadlines, fewer worries and hopefully fewer taxes. But many retirees are surprised to learn their tax bill can actually increase once they stop working. Scott walks through four retirement tax traps that catch people off guard and how proactive tax planning can help reduce lifetime taxes and protect retirement income. Here’s what we cover in...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg AI headlines are everywhere right now: “jobs disappearing,” “work becoming optional,” and predictions that artificial intelligence will reshape the entire economy. Scott steps back from emotional headlines and looks at what the actual data suggest...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg What actually happens after your annual review meeting? Is your plan just sitting on a shelf, or is something happening behind the scenes? In this episode, Scott pulls back the curtain and walks through the firm’s annual service calendar, the inte...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg Financial media loves simple answers: always do this or never do that. But real financial planning doesn’t work that way. Most of the biggest decisions people face in retirement live in the gray. Scott pulls back the curtain on the sensational adv...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg Some people love a thunderstorm, while others panic the moment clouds roll in. Markets work the same way and pretending you’re more comfortable with risk than you really can get expensive. Scott uses a weather lens to explain how preparation, not...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg Most people don’t struggle in retirement because they made bad decisions, they struggle because they keep using the right tools for the wrong season. Scott shows how a simple story reveals why familiar strategies can quietly become obstacles over...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg There’s no shortage of retirement advice out there, but not all of it is helpful, and some of it can quietly do real damage. Today, Scott walks through 10 of the most common retirement planning myths and explains why relying on them can derail an...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg After a year marked by volatility, uncertainty, and more than a few economic curveballs, it’s understandable if optimism doesn’t come easily. Today, Scott discusses a Bloomberg opinion column that argues the outlook for 2026 may be brighter than m...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg What’s new in 2026 for retirees and pre-retirees? Retirement rules are changing, and your future could look different in 2026. Tune in to discover what’s new and how the latest shifts might impact your financial strategy. Scott also shares what’s...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg Smart, successful people don’t lose money because they lack intelligence. They lose money because they’re human. In this episode, Scott goes in-depth about the hidden cost of emotional investing and why fear, greed, and headlines often derail even...