Your Retirement Elevated Podcast with Scott Dougan

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg It’s official, the IRS has released the full set of 2026 tax numbers, and the changes may impact more than just your next return. Scott walks through what’s actually changed and how it may impact you and your future. The real opportunity isn’t jus...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg A new type of government-backed savings account for children, commonly referred to as a Trump Account, is set to launch in 2026, and it’s already drawing attention from parents and grandparents alike. The details are still being finalized but Tyle...

💼 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 if you retire with only $1 million… are you behind? That question fuels a lot of unnecessary anxiety, especially when comparisons creep in from coworkers, siblings, or YouTube success stories. In this episode, Scott breaks down what determine...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg   How can naming your spouse as beneficiary create unintentional tax problems? Most people assume naming their spouse as the IRA beneficiary is the safest and simplest option, but Scott explains why that isn’t always true. In this episode, he walk...

💼 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 advisors are well-intentioned, but not all advisors are the right advisor for you. Scott breaks down the warning signs that often get overlooked when choosing—or staying with—a financial advisor. This conversation uncovers the habits, behav...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg   Thanksgiving has a much deeper story than the modern traditions we celebrate today. In this episode, Scott details how the holiday formed, who helped shape it, and why its meaning has shifted over time. It’s a reminder that gratitude, community,...

💼 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 decades, retirees have based their spending on a simple idea: “The 4% Rule.” But new research, and even the rule’s original creator, suggests you may be able to spend significantly more without increasing your risk. Scott shares what’s chang...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg   Retirement, as we know it, is a modern invention. But the very system designed to protect your future might now be holding you back. In this episode, Scott uncovers a powerful yet often hidden feature inside many 401(k) plans that can give you g...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg   When it comes to investing for retirement, not all dollars belong in the same place, or even in the same world. In this episode, Scott explains the concept of the Three Investment Worlds: Protection & Savings, Growth & Potential, and the...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg   You’ve worked hard to build up your Roth IRA, but one small mistake could turn “tax-free” income into a tax surprise. In this episode, Scott walks through the five essential steps to make sure your Roth IRA withdrawals remain completely tax and...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg   This October, the Social Security Administration is expected to announce a 2.7% cost of living adjustment for 2026 now that sounds like good news, until you see what it really means in dollars and cents. Today, Scott breaks down what the new Cos...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg   A groundbreaking JP Morgan study just revealed something that could completely change the way we plan for retirement. Scott breaks down three of the biggest surprises revealed by new data from 280,000 households, showing that retirement spending...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg   Do you know which parts of your retirement plan are in your control, and which ones you’re leaving to chance? In this episode, Scott breaks down the “retirement equation,” a framework that helps you separate what you can control, what you can 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   Saving for retirement is only half the battle, but the real challenge is turning those savings into income you can actually spend. The type of accounts you use will impact your taxes, your Social Security, and even your Medicare premiums. In thi...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg   Imagine standing at the water's edge, eager to fish but instead obsessing over organizing your tackle box. Many retirees do the same with their finances, constantly adjusting their plan but never truly enjoying the fruits of their labor. In this...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg   Well, you’re retired. Now what? Some people subscribe to the “first year rule” which says that the majority of your best retirement months will all take place in the first year of retirement. So how can you be strategic during that first year 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   Most people assume their beneficiary form tells the whole story when it comes to retirement accounts. But for 401(k)s and other ERISA-governed plans, one little known rule can completely override your wishes, and in one case, it shifted $3 milli...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg   Thinking about tapping into your retirement savings early? The IRS might have a 10% surprise waiting for you. Withdrawing money before age 59½ from a traditional IRA or 401(k) can trigger not just regular income taxes, but also hefty penalties....

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg   Retirement is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll  ever make, but how do you know if you’re really ready? While there are countless details that matter, Scott is boiling it down to make it simple. In this episode, he covers the three k...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg   The first five years of retirement can shape your financial future more than any other stage. Overspending often isn’t about recklessness, it’s about good intentions made at the wrong time. In these early years, small choices can snowball into b...

💼 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 a brand-new savings account just for kids created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and the media is already getting it wrong. It’s called the Trump Account, and it might just be the most misunderstood part of the new law. In this episo...

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was passed in July and it’s already reshaping the retirement landscape, especially when it comes to tax strategy and account planning. In this episode, Scott breaks down the three biggest takeaways from the bill that directly impact your retirement accounts. From Rothification trends and expanded conversion opportunities to smarter ways to preserve income-bas...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg   The new tax bill just passed, but will it actually help you? Let’s look at who stands to benefit, who might lose out, and the strategic moves to consider now while the rules are fresh. Scott returns with a detailed breakdown of what the “Big Bea...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg Sending your child off to college is a proud and emotional milestone, but many parents miss one crucial step. Once your child turns 18, you're no longer automatically allowed to access their medical or financial information, even if you’re still p...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg Have you heard the rumor that Social Security is now tax-free or that you’re getting a $40,000 deduction just for existing? Let’s clear up the myths and focus on what the new tax law actually did and what it didn’t. In this episode, Scott breaks d...