It's All About the $Money, Honey!

Each year, a small percentage of Americans will face the dreaded IRS audit. While there is no sure-fire way to avoid triggering an audit, there are certain tax situations that attract the IRS' attention more often and increase the odds you will be audited. In this episode, we examine 5 of the biggest tax red flags that will almost certainly trigger an IRS audit and how you can avoid them. Later, w...

Following the death of legendary actor Gene Hackman, details came to light about his estate plan. Because he and his wife died so closely together, it was unclear who actually died first. This set off a chain reaction that led to disputes over his substantial estate. In this episode, we examine cautionary tales of celebrity estate planning nightmares and how you can avoid them. Later, we share how...

At some point, it is likely you will become a caregiver for an aging parent or spouse. Helping a loved one transition from independent living to assisted living or nursing care can often be a challenging ordeal. The key to managing that transition as best you can is being prepared. In this episode, we share the key documents to have and considerations to make as you become a caregiver for a loved...

Of all the classes of assets people can invest in, the one that seems to attract the most interest, but has the least amount of understanding, is alternatives. For many people, the idea of investing in alternatives is exciting, exclusive, and maybe a bit dangerous. Promising huge potential returns, alternatives can be a great way to multiply your wealth, or lose it all. In this episode, we discuss...

One question we get quite frequently is "Should I consider using Roth accounts?" Like almost every financial question, the answer is, 'It depends." While using Roth accounts won't really make any difference in the investment choices you make, they can have major impacts on your future taxes. Choosing to use Roth accounts or Roth Conversions is a judgment call based on your specific goals and needs...

It's often said that the only things certain in life are death and taxes. However, there is one missing from that list. One thing that is absolute certain is uncertainty. Change is inevitable and this includes the economy and market. Still, while we can't predict what or when changes will occur, it is possible to take steps to prepare your money. In this episode, we share how to navigate financial...

Every new year brings new financial rules and laws that impact our money and the financial decisions we make. As we begin 2025, this year is no different. Changes to Medicare, Social Security, taxes, and 401k plans have all taken effect and it's vital that you know what's changing and how they will impact you.

As 2025 approaches, there will be no shortage of headlines that dominate the news in the coming months. Among those are financial headlines that will likely have significant impacts on the economy and market. In this episode, we reveal the top financial headlines for 2025 we will be watching. And later, we will share a better way for setting New Year's Resolutions that ensures a much higher probab...

Millionaires have a very low probability of running out of money in retirement. Yet, there are those that are very happy, contented, and living their best lives and there are those that are unhappy, stressed, and always chasing more. How can there be such a disparity in the the experiences of people with similar financial resources? In this episode, we share common characteristics of The Unhappily...

More than 66 percent of Americans have no estate plan of their choosing and are relying on courts and state laws to decide what happens to their lifetime of accumulated assets after they pass away. Sadly, the people that are impacted most are the loved ones left behind. In this episode, we discuss why creating an estate plan is the ultimate gift of love to your family. And later, we share why a fi...

Studies show that those who live to the age of 65 have a 70 percent probability of needing some type of long-term care at some point in their lives. As human life expectancy grows, this fact makes it more likely that children will become caregivers for aging parents. In this episode, we examine some of the actual experiences of clients we serve and how they have handled the significant challenges...

Most of your life will be spent in the accumulation phase of managing your wealth. The goal is to grow your nest egg so that when you retire, it's as big as possible. However, there will come a time when the primary goal is to preserve and spend your wealth in retirement. This is called the decumulation phase and mastering it takes a totally different mindset than the growth phase. In this episode...

While having a lot of money in retirement can certainly make life easier and more enjoyable, it does not guarantee happiness. What truly makes wealthy retirees happy is what they do with the wealth they have. In this episode, we reveal 5 key habits happy retirees share. And later, we share simple strategies you can use to put your lazy cash to work.

Approximately 90 percent of wealthy families will see their accumulated wealth disappear within three generations. It shouldn't be surprising that the generations who had little or no role in creating the wealth have little respect for how hard it was to earn it and preserve it. In this episode, we talk with Pam Mowry, CEO of Canterbury Voices, about the importance of shared vision and values amon...

Most people have some idea about what their retirement will look like. Travel, spending time with family and friends, volunteering, etc. However, other things they thought would be important often turn out not to be. In this episode, we share 4 retirement realities that many people get wrong.

Preparing for retirement is a journey that takes planning and time with a multitude of decisions to make. Some, like how much cash flow you'll need each month, are pretty evident. Others are less so. These are the misunderstood and overlooked decisions you didn't even consider. In this episode, we share some of those spooky retirement decisions that hide like monsters under your bed, ready to scar...

Most people think of planning for retirement as creating the perfect investment portfolio. That's definitely a big part. However, there are so many others parts that are easy to overlook, even by professional financial advisors. Often, they aren't thought of until there's a problem. In this episode, we share some interesting and little asked questions retirees face and how to deal with them.

Do you feel in total control of your financial choices? You buy or invest in something and believe you know exactly what to expect as a result. However, there are often unintended consequences from the financial choices we make. You pull one lever not realizing it could trigger others down the road you can't see. In this episode, we examine some common financial decisions people make and how to an...

Hurricanes, wars, election tension, labor strikes? That was all in just the last week of September 2024. It doesn’t matter the time or season, there will always be bad news that causes uncertainty and fear in the market. It can truly be a mad, mad, mad mad world. However, making financial decisions based on your emotional reactions to these headlines will usually end up costing you. On today’s sho...

As we near the 4th quarter of 2024, many year-end deadlines are approaching that impact you financially. This means you have just three short months, or less, to make some of the biggest financial decisions you will make all year long. In this episode, we share your year-end financial housekeeping list and options you should consider before the calendar turns to 2025.

It's often said the greatest fear retirees have is running out of money. While that is true, and probably always will be, it's not quite accurate enough. What retirees truly fear is not being able to generate income in retirement. This makes sense because choosing retirement is choosing 30+ years of voluntary unemployment. With no more paycheck from work, you must find a way to generate income in...

While it’s not a given, there is a high probability that we will soon see The Federal Reserve announce they are lowering interest rates. Naturally, many are asking, "How far and how fast will rates fall?" Regardless of when and how much interest rates decrease, what can we expect to happen when they do? In this episode, we share 5 things to expect as interest rates begin to fall and how you can us...

The Great Wealth Transfer is underway! As Baby Boomers age over the next decade, it is is expected that nearly $90 trillion in wealth will pass from them to their heirs. If you plan to leave a legacy to your family, at some point, they need to know your plans, where the money is, and what to do and whom to call should something happen to you. In this episode, we share the essential estate planning...

With Election Day just two months away, our thoughts begin turning to the Presidential race. Among the many things Americans will consider as they step up to the ballot box, the potential impacts to their families' financial futures will likely be near the top of the list. Of chief concern will be taxes. There are few things the economy and market care about in Washington, D.C., but taxes are one...

If you haven’t heard already, a massive data breach was recently reported involving the theft of more than 2 billion pieces of personal data, including, among many other things, Social Security Numbers of millions of Americans. It is very possible that every Social Security number was stolen, with the true scope of the breach yet to be understood. So, what should you do to protect yourself? In thi...