Podcasts

Managing Your Financial Future

Why You Might Consider Owning Alternative Investments- Episode 143

July 18, 2023

“Traditional” investments consist mainly of stocks, bonds, and cash.  Many people get by just fine with these, and simply alter their allocation as they age or as their goals and needs change. Others, though, may want to consider investments that fall outside of the traditional group.  Why?  They may be looking for further portfolio diversification,… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

Should You Really Own Fewer Stocks in Retirement?- Episode 142

June 27, 2023

It would seem to make sense that if you’re retired, you can’t “afford” the volatility of the stock market – thus, as you age, common advice is that you should own fewer stocks in retirement. But is that good advice?  The answer may depend on your withdrawal strategy.  Do you need to access the money… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

Figuring Out When You’re Actually Able to Retire- Episode 141

June 20, 2023

You’ve been working your whole life, and retirement for you has always been “at some date in the future.” As you get older, the question becomes more real, and will eventually require an answer.  This is something that financial advisors and planners deal with every day. How do you know when you’re really able to hang it all up?  Maybe your portfolio balance hasn’t reached the number you’ve always figured was the minimum amount you’d need.  As it turns out, there’s a chance, given certain generous tax laws and some basic strategy techniques, that you may be able to retire well before you thought you could. On this week’s episode of Managing Your Financial Future, Podcast host Johnny Dean and financial advisor “Professor” Rick Plum, CFP® discuss what you need to know when asking that all-important question: “When can I retire?”

Managing Your Financial Future

How To Keep Your Parents Financially Safe- Episode 140

June 13, 2023

As our parents age, it’s only natural for us to want to keep an eye on them to make sure their finances stay in good order: bills paid, taxes done correctly, RMDs taken, etc. Sometimes that’s much easier said than done. How do you make sure your parents are on top of their financial situation… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

Will You Have to Pay Taxes On Your Social Security Benefits? – Episode 139

June 6, 2023

Have you heard that you’re going to be taxed on the Social Security benefits you receive?  Or have you heard that they’re never taxed at all? Many people have no idea what to expect. This is because sometimes a recipient’s Social Security benefits will wind up being taxed under certain conditions, while others may never… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

I-Bonds: When 4.3% Is Better Than 9.6% – Episode 138

May 30, 2023

For the past year or so, I-Bonds have come into favor among people who are looking for a higher rate of return on Treasuries. A little over a year ago, they were paying an annualized 9.6 percent rate of return. Today, they’re paying right around 4.3 percent. It would seem, then, that you’d have been better off buying them at that higher rate. But maybe not – because of the way I-Bonds pay their interest, the current “lower” rate may actually be more attractive today. How is that possible?

Managing Your Financial Future

An Inside Look at How Advisors Manage Your Taxes – Episode 137

May 23, 2023

Tax time may be over for most people, but for financial advisors, tax management is a year-round task.  One of those tasks involves a “postmortem” of their client’s tax situation, where they can determine what may have gone right – or gone wrong – with their most recent tax return. If you’ve ever wondered what a financial advisor looks for when managing taxes, and what you yourself may want to look at more closely, today’s episode is a peek inside that world.

Managing Your Financial Future

Higher Interest Rates: What Should You Do with Your Mortgage?- Episode 136

May 16, 2023

Interest rates have risen sharply over the past 16 months, which is good for lenders, but not so much for borrowers.  New mortgages now come with interest rates around 6 percent, pricing some people out of the market. But for those who hold “older” mortgages with much lower interest rates, some opportunities may present themselves. … View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

Time to Calm Your Fears About Running Out of Money- Episode 135

May 9, 2023

Fear can either be a great motivator to get things done, or it can cause a person to retreat, cover up, and hope the issue will go away.  People who are retired have many financial concerns, but their biggest fear (according to the research) is running out of money.  This often causes them to either be frugal beyond all reason, or to ignore their finances completely and just pray it all works out. Neither option is ideal.  What if we told you that you may have a lot less to fear in retirement than you thought? What if you may be able to retire without having to grow your portfolio to the moon?  Is that possible?

Managing Your Financial Future

Let’s Clear Up All the Roth IRA Confusion- Episode 134

May 2, 2023

Roth IRAs have been in existence for 25 years, and while they’re one of the more popular financial planning tools for many people, they’re also quite often misunderstood.   Most investors may be aware of the tax-free nature of the Roth, but beyond that, there are a lot of unanswered questions: When can I get to my money? Can I access converted money? What is the 5-year clock? What is a Roth two-step? Get the answers to those Roth questions, and more

Managing Your Financial Future

Why Should You Hire a Financial Advisor- Episode 133

April 25, 2023

The question is pretty straightforward: Do I need to use the services of a financial advisor, or can I simply manage my investments, my retirement income, and my taxes by myself? The answer, though, is not readily apparent.  A financial advisor can help a person with a little, with some, or with all of their financial needs, depending on what each individual requires.  As we so often say, everyone’s situation is different.

Managing Your Financial Future

Why Your Asset Location Is So Important- Episode 132

April 18, 2023

You may have heard of something the investing world refers to as Asset Allocation, which has to do with deciding between asset categories like stocks, bonds, CDs, alternative investments, etc. It’s an important part of building your portfolio. But there’s another, equally important part that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough: Asset Location. This has to do with how assets located in different types of accounts (Roth, IRA, or personal) are ultimately taxed to you. When done properly, an asset location strategy may dramatically decrease the amount you’ll ultimately pay in taxes on those assets.