Podcasts

Managing Your Financial Future

Making Your Social Security Decisions Easier – Season 1: Episode 12

February 26, 2020

Many people who aren’t old enough to receive their benefits yet don’t give much thought to Social Security.  They figure it will be there for them in some form or another when they retire, but as to when they should begin taking it, well, that’s not something they keep on their mental front-burner.  It’s often… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

IRA Withdrawals: Take Them Now or Later? – Season 1: Episode 11

February 18, 2020

When it comes to finance, conflicting advice is everywhere. This is especially true when people have questions about when they should start taking money from their traditional IRAs: Should I start early, or wait until I’m required to take the money out?  Is my withdrawal going to be taxed? Does an IRA withdrawal affect my… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

The 3 Questions That Every Confident Investor Should Ask – Season 1: Episode 10

February 11, 2020

The current bull market is 11 years old as of March, 2020.  This seems to have given more than a few investors the mistaken idea that stocks will continue to climb forever.  Whenever markets are flying high, or (on the other side) when they’re sinking into oblivion, people tend to overreact and do something that… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

How the SECURE Act Affects You – Season 1: Episode 9

February 4, 2020

The SECURE Act, passed by Congress at the end of 2019 and effective on January 1, 2020, provides several reforms to 401(k) accounts, IRAs, college savings accounts, and more. A couple of long-standing rules, including the age at which most people must begin taking their required minimum distributions, were amended. These changes created both opportunities… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

A Tax Strategy You Never Knew Existed- Season 1: Episode 8

January 28, 2020

A few episodes back, we talked about the benefits of charitable giving for both the recipient of the gift and the giver.  The one who receives the gift gets the benefit of the gift itself.  The one who gives the gift may be entitled to (among other things) a tax benefit for their generosity. Some… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

Killing Your Fear of Running Out of Money – Season 1: Episode 7

January 21, 2020

Fear does strange things to people. It can motivate us to take immediate action when a threat is imminent, or it can cause us to retreat, cover up the issue, and hope it will go away.

Managing Your Financial Future

Helping Yourself Through Charitable Giving – Season 1: Episode 6

January 10, 2020

Most people at some time or another want to be charitable. Part of human nature tells us we should give to those in need—that we have a kind of social obligation to allow others to have something that they could otherwise only dream of. This is why being charitable often gives us a nice, warm… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

How To Manage the Scare of Long-Term Care – Season 1: Episode 5

January 8, 2020

Many people know that long-term care costs are expensive.  In spite of that, they’re often reluctant to buy an insurance policy to cover those costs because they don’t want to pay for something that they may never need to use.  After all, not everyone ends up in a nursing home or care facility. But what… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

Controlling Your Tax Bill – It’s Easier Than You Think – Season 1: Episode 4

December 17, 2019

Did you know that the location of your assets – 401(k), IRA, personal account, Roth – is a big determinant of your ultimate tax bill?  By simply locating your assets in the proper account(s), you may be able to drastically reduce your tax bill. Find out how with Rick “The Professor” Plum, CFP®, and Johnny… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

The Myth of the “Retirement Savings Crisis” – Season 1: Episode 3

December 9, 2019

You may have heard or read that Americans aren’t saving enough for their retirement years.  If so, there’s a good chance that the phrase “retirement crisis” was part of the story. It’s easy to scare people into reading an article online, but while everyone could probably stand to save more then they are, is there… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

The Three Biggest Risks to Your Nest Egg – Season 1: Episode 2

December 9, 2019

You work hard for your money.  You save, you plan, you make contingent plans, you save some more, and yet you can never really be sure that your savings will last as long as you do.  Your portfolio faces a number of different risks, and not all of them happen after you retire.  We’ve narrowed… View Article

Managing Your Financial Future

The Unintended Consequence of Social Security – Season 1: Episode 1

December 9, 2019

Social Security has provisions for a survivor benefit, which allows a surviving spouse to continue receiving their deceased spouse’s Social Security benefits.  It was put in place in 1940 to ensure that widows would not suffer a cut in benefits.  Ironically, in today’s world, those same survivor benefit rules may cause just that – a actual cut in pay to the survivor.  How is that possible?