Countdown to Retirement with Gregg MacInnis

The latest numbers show that if Congress fails to act, Social Security benefits could face up to a 25% cut in 2035.  So, while the government’s Social Security Titanic heads for an iceberg, what can you do to fill a possible big income gap?  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains how he can design a plan that can safely steer your retirement ship away from a big shortf...

Don’t Be a Retirement Worry Wart! There’s plenty going on in the world right now to make us worry.  Politics, market volatility, inflation, interest rates and of course, running out of money in retirement.  Each “worry” requires a different response.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis gives examples of solutions he’s implemented to help meet the challenges. For more inform...

Is the 4% Withdrawal Rule in Retirement Still Relevant? The so-called “4% Rule” on how much to take out of retirement accounts has been around for decades.  But does it still hold true in this day and age of inflation, market volatility and life longevity uncertainty?  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains how guaranteed income can help make sure your basic expenses i...

Taking the Emotion Out of a Retirement Portfolio That’s Invested in the Stock Market Do-it-yourself investing can be rewarding.  But sooner or later, it can fall prey to market volatility, speculation and emotion.  At GMac Family Financial, Greg MacInnis and his team aim to take out those factors out of the equation and lower your risk.  Joining Gregg on this episode of Countdown to Retirement is...

What’s This Thing Called an ‘RMD?’  How Do I Keep More of My Retirement Money? Many who are just starting out in their retirement planning are shocked to discover that – beginning in their 70s – they will have to fork over a portion of their savings in pretax accounts to Uncle Sam.  It’s because the government wants its money!  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains ho...

A Social Security Hurricane is Coming – What Can I Do Before Retirement? It’s a safe bet that neither presidential candidate this year will address the ‘Social Security Problem.’  Its trust fund is projected to go dry as early as 2035.  If Congress does nothing to fix it, benefits could be slashed up to 25%.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis offers ways to protect your in...

How Do You Create Your Own ‘Personal Pension’ in Retirement? Pensions used to feed retirement incomes with a guaranteed monthly paycheck for life.  While many government employees still have pensions, they have nearly vanished for the rest of us.  Yet, retirement savers are expressing a desire to replace that check from their jobs.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explai...

What’s This About a Social Security Bonus in Retirement? Maybe you’ve noticed ads on some financial websites and magazines asking whether you’ve taken advantage of the $16,728 Social Security “bonus.”  Before you suffer the fear of “missing out,” Gregg MacInnis sets the record straight in this episode of Countdown to Retirement.  And he offers ways to maximize your Social Security benefits in ways...

Do You Know Your Retirement Tax Bill? You probably just filed your tax return and feel you can rest easy, right?  Maybe not.  Did you realize that true tax planning looks at the long-term , not just on an annual basis?  On today’s Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains the ramifications of taxes in retirement and talks about tools he has to help keep more of your hard-earned money. For m...

Can I Take My Retirement Plan for a ‘Test Spin?’ Designing a retirement plan requires a careful analysis of numbers.  Among the most important is longevity, figuring out how long you’re expected to live.  After that’s reached, how can you “stress test” the plan to ensure you won’t run out of money?  On today’s Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains how he can help so that you won’t have...

Can I Take a Mulligan on My Social Security Benefits? You don’t have to be a golfer to know that the word ‘mulligan’ means “do over.”  When it comes to claiming Social Security benefits, we’re often told that our first choice on when to take it cements that benefit level for the rest of your life.  But as Gregg MacInnis explains on today’s Countdown to Retirement, there is such a thing as taking a...

If the Trump Tax Cuts Expire, How Will That Impact Your Retirement? In January 2026, the tax cuts that were put in place by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017 will “sunset.”  Also called the “Trump Tax Cuts,” Americans will see big changes (for the worse) in tax brackets, standard deductions and estate taxes if Congress doesn’t act.  On today’s Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains how h...

The largest growing group of workers today are those in their 60s and 70s.  Why?  Because they have to work, not because they want to.  On today’s Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains how the difference is achieving financial independence.  He spells it out in a multi-strategy approach so that the only reason you must work in retirement is because you enjoy it. For more information on...

Can you really retire now?  Or are you listening to naysayers who try to convince you otherwise?  On today’s Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis urges you to seek out a financial professional who can give you straight answers based on facts.  And if you encounter obstacles, how to work around them with proven strategies. For more information on GMac Family Financial, or to schedule a consultat...

What’s the first step if you made a New Year’s Resolution to make a retirement plan? Most resolutions made at the beginning of the year vanish within weeks.  One of the most common is to plan for retirement.  On today’s Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains how he can help you keep that resolution beginning with a complimentary meeting.  The result is a blueprint that you can start foll...

It’s no secret – if Congress doesn’t act, Social Security benefits could be cut as soon as 2033.  That could add up to be a big chunk of money!  So, what can you do now?  On today’s Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains how he can run a Social Security assessment and devise a strategy to replace that guaranteed income if necessary. For more information on GMac Family Financial, or to sc...

During our working years, we concentrate on saving for retirement. Once we leave the workforce, we’re supposed to enjoy that money. But the fact is many retirees are afraid to spend because they fear they will run out of money, even if that’s not the case.  On today’s Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis talks about how he’s persuaded clients that it’s okay to spend! For more information on GMa...

How much do you really know about the “A” word in retirement? It’s estimated that only 18% of financial advisors introduce annuities to clients as a way to set up guaranteed income in retirement.  Why is this so?  On today’s Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis talks about how the word “annuity” is so misunderstood.  He explains how the products have evolved over the years to include customizab...

We spend our working life saving up for retirement and now it’s here.  But have you thought about your legacy after you’re gone?  The subject isn’t an easy one.  On today’s Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis offers some helpful tips on not only leaving a will but also making sure that your assets are passed onto loved ones according to your wishes. For more information on GMac Family Financia...

Have you left any retirement money on the table? The average person these days has held up to 12 jobs before retiring.  That can add up to a lot of retirement and/or pension accounts!  Do you remember what you did with the money?  It’s estimated there are nearly 30 million lost accounts with more than $1.5 trillion in assets!  On today’s Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains how he can...

Many retirees underestimate the impact of taxes on their financial plan.  Uncle Sam is out to get his mitts on just about every aspect of income.  And if you wait, it could be too late.  On today’s Countdown to Retirement with Gregg MacInnis, he explains why you need a trusted advisor to show it’s not what you make, it’s what you keep when it comes to taxes. For more information on GMac Family Fin...

So, you’ve finally retired.  And after the feeling that ‘every day is now Saturday’ come the realities. You suddenly have a lot more time on your hands, maybe more than you expected. Maybe retirement isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be. On today’s Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains how he helps coach clients as to what they should expect and prepare for after leaving the workforce...

A new book called, “Retirement Heaven or Hell: Which Will You Choose?” describes the three stages of retirement. The first is fun. The other two, not so much.  On today’s episode of Countdown to Retirement with Gregg MacInnis, he talks about what to expect not only in the ‘honeymoon’ stage, but also how to survive the other two stages that often deal a blow to retirees. For more information on GMa...

Long-term care is considered a “gotcha” expense in retirement. Many fail to plan for it when coverage is more affordable. And they often end up paying the price down the road when the expense can drain their savings. On today’s episode of Countdown to Retirement with Gregg MacInnis, he explains the available options that can prevent this from happening. And some are cost-effective. For more inform...

When you retire, Social Security sends a check.  Your pension might send a check.  But the checks from your job are no more.  However, as Gregg MacInnis explains on today’s Countdown to Retirement podcast, there are ways to develop a guaranteed stream of income that can replace that paycheck, take care of your basic living needs and even provide a “playcheck” to enjoy the rest of your life. For mo...