Podcasts

Managing Your Financial Future

Will Your Taxes Be Lower in Retirement?- Season 6: Episode 7

July 20, 2021

It would seem to make some sense that once you begin retirement retirement, your tax bill will tend to increase – at least in the early years.  The logic is that people normally have much, if not most, of their retirement funds in a company retirement plan (401k, 403b, etc.), which are all taxable upon… View Article

Capitalize

How I became a CAPitalizer -Season 2: Episode 1

July 19, 2021

Why “CAPitalize?” And what does it mean? On today’s podcast, as we kick off Season 2, I want to focus on my personal history for a moment. I’ll give you my “back story,” as they call it in the media biz, and how – and why – my life changed for the better just a few short years ago. To capitalize means to take the advantage when it presents itself. I struggled at an early age trying to figure out what my own personal strengths were. Once they were made clear to me, though, I began to see just how much I could bring to the table – and I learned how to CAPitalize on that.

Managing Your Financial Future

At What Age Should You Start Taking Your Social Security Benefits?- Season 6: Episode 6

July 13, 2021

It’s the most common question we get when we’re discussing Social Security: what’s the best age to start taking your benefits? Naturally, everyone’s situation is different, but there are general guidelines to determine if it’s better to take them early, or to wait until later for a larger monthly benefit. But it’s not as simple as just saying, “if you think you’ll live a long time, take them later; if not, take them sooner.” Because in some instances, doing the exact opposite may work out far better for you. Podcast host Johnny Dean and “Professor” Rick Plum, CFP® discuss this all-important topic on today’s episode of Managing Your Financial Future.

Managing Your Financial Future

Buying Real Estate in Your IRA: Good Idea, or Bad?- Season 6: Episode 5

July 6, 2021

Maybe you’ve noticed that real estate prices have been soaring over the past year or so. And with the stock market gains we’ve experienced over that same period of time, you may have also seen a similar increase in the balances of your existing IRAs.   This has caused some people to wonder: if I want to buy real estate now, but I’ve only got my IRA funds available to do so, is it a good idea to buy real estate in my IRA, since that’s where my money is? In this week’s episode of Managing Your Financial Future, host Johnny Dean and his guest, “Professor” Rick Plum, CFP® discuss the benefits of owning real estate personally versus in an IRA, and how you may be able to use those funds without the headache and hassle of having your IRA own it. 

Managing Your Financial Future

Planning for Retirement When It’s Still 15-20 Years Away- Season 6: Episode 4

June 29, 2021

When you’re only a few years away from retirement, figuring out your basics — income needs, expenses, activities — is usually fairly easy.   In many cases, your current basics will be relatively close to those you’ll require once you’ve stopped working. But how do you plan for all of that when you’re much farther… View Article

Capitalize

The Creator of the 4% Withdrawal Rule – Interview with Bill Bengen-Season 1: Episode 14

June 28, 2021

For nearly 30 years, we’ve been referring to the guideline that taking 4% from your portfolio may be the most optimal amount to keep you from running out of money over an average retirement. Is this so-called “4% Rule” still valid in a time of high stock values and low interest rates? Or should it be revised higher — or lower? — to reflect more realistic scenarios?

Managing Your Financial Future

Investing a Sum of Money: All at One Time, or Little By Little?- Season 6: Episode 3

June 22, 2021

Maybe you recently got a bonus from work, or — perhaps even better — an inheritance from a relative. Whatever the case, if you find yourself with a lump sum of cash that you’d like to invest, a question should come to mind: do I invest it all at once, or do I phase it… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

Why Naming Your Estate’s Beneficiaries Is Vital- Season 6: Episode 2

June 15, 2021

Estate planning – it’s not just for the ultra rich! While many people don’t have estates that are large enough to warrant an estate tax (which, for married couples, is in excess of $23 million for 2021), there are other aspects of estate planning that most individuals should be aware of. The one that perhaps affects the most people is where beneficiaries are concerned. If you have assets that you want to go to specific people or certain organizations, it’s vital that you have your beneficiary assignments done correctly, even if you already have a will and a trust in place. What do you need to know about beneficiary assignments?  It’s all about making sure your assets go where you want them to go.

Capitalize

Are Annuities Good? Do You Actually Need Life Insurance? Interview with David Lau (Part 2) -Season 1: Episode 13

June 14, 2021

You may have heard that annuities are the greatest thing in finance. Or maybe you’ve heard that annuities aren’t right for anyone at all. The truth, though, lies somewhere in the middle: Annuities may be completely suitable for one individual, while another should never consider owning one. In today’s interview, Christoper Panagiotu, CFP®, CRPS®, talks about the good and bad of annuities, and brings up the question of whether life insurance is actually needed — or not — in part 2 of our interview with David Lau, founder and CEO of DPL Financial Partners.

Managing Your Financial Future

How To Know If Your Social Security Benefits Will Be Taxed- Season 6: Episode 1

June 8, 2021

Have you heard that your Social Security benefits are always going to be taxed as income?  Have you heard that they’ll be taxed at a 50% rate?  Or have you heard that your Social Security benefits are never taxed at all?  These statements (rumors, really) have made their way around the online world over the… View Article

Capitalize

Retirement Got Harder, The Income Dilemma, and Interest Rates – Interview with David Lau (Part 1) -Season 1: Episode 12

May 31, 2021

For many retirees, it’s all about the income.  In fact, that’s true for almost everyone who’s either retired, or looking to retire in the near future.  How do you supply yourself with enough income to last the rest of your life? On this week’s podcast, host Christopher Panagiotu, CFP®, CRPS®, speaks with David Lau, founder and Chief Executive Officer of DPL financial Partners about the challenges of creating lasting, stable income during an era of low interest rates.  How do you manage when rates today are less than half of what they were just 20 or 25 years ago? Find out more on today’s episode of CAPitalize, the podcast for the intelligent investor!

Managing Your Financial Future

When Should You Start Taking Distributions from Your 401k?- Season 5: Episode 12

May 18, 2021

If you’re retired, or you’re approaching retirement, there’s a decent chance that you’ve got some money saved up in what’s known as a “qualified” retirement plan – meaning one that gave you a deduction going in, is tax deferred while it grows, and then will be taxable when the money comes out. In general, we’re… View Article