There’s a common question asked pre and post-election; “How will this affect investments?” It’s also that time of the year when we naturally reflect back on how the market’s performed this past year and what that may mean for next year. Put those two things together and “voila!” – you have a podcast! Tune in as Adam and Ben provide some historical context for post-election market movements and share some commentary for expectations going forward. Spoiler alert: investing for the long-term and staying diversified are highly recommended in this podcast.
When it comes to something as important as financial advice, choosing who to hire (or retain) is a huge decision. As life evolves, our needs and viewpoints can change repeatedly and there is no shortage of financial advisors and financial planners ready to throw their hat in the ring to have your business. So, how do you know if you found the right one for you? Listen in as Adam and Ben share their perspective on what they feel matters most in a client/planner relationship, and what mistakes you should try to avoid when choosing who you’ll trust to partner with you.
Old habits die hard. Did you sacrifice and save to get to retirement only to find you remain frugal, reluctant, or fearful to spend more freely in a new phase of life? Adam and Ben aren’t jedis and can’t wave their hand to simply make their clients believe that they can spend more in retirement. But they do share some tips and tricks around mental accounting and labeling of accounts to help their clients get over psychological hurdles. Listen in!
Money is an emotionally charged topic and it can sometimes ruin relationships. Savers vs. spenders. Planners vs. non-planners. How can a couple keep the money side of their relationship healthy? It starts by simply building the space and time to talk about it! Whether your relationship is new or mature, we encourage you to listen in as Adam and Ben discuss why it's so important to communicate about family finance with each other, how to go about it, and what those conversations should focus on.
Demand for senior living communities is growing due to an aging population, longer life expectancies, and increased awareness of the benefits of community living. But there are a lot of financial implications to making such a move. Whether "downsizing", "upgrading", or adding the benefits of having skilled care for potential needs later in life - retirement communities aren't cheap. Listen in as Adam and Ben share different planning considerations for retirees who may be looking to make a move.
We're a very polarized nation right now so for many, the stakes of the upcoming election season feel super high. Do your politics impact your planning though? In this podcast, Adam and Ben discuss to what degree the election results could impact financial planning topics like taxes and estate planning and how investment strategies may (or may not) change too. Listen in as they share their perspective and lean on some historical context to support their thoughts.
In its simplest form, financial success stems from having adequate income to cover expenses. The trouble is that even if income exceeds expenses now, that doesn’t mean it’ll always be that way. Retirement, job change, health event, premature death - life often throws us curveballs, many of them emotionally and financially stressful. As planners, we can often see the writing on the wall because certain situations or financial decisions have a high probability of leading to financial ruin. Listen to Adam and Ben share experiences and highlight the importance of education and planning along life’s journey.
While no one can know what the future brings, we know that certain things in life are inevitable like taxes and death. When a loved one passes and you’re in charge of settling the estate, the process and emotions can be overwhelming. Even the most organized and “simplest” of estates can feel cumbersome and complex. Listen in as Adam and Ben share stories and best practices to help you, the executor, prepare for your future role. Some education and proactive communication can go a long way to helping all parties.
Most people build their wealth inside tax-deferred retirement accounts. Deferring taxes sounds great – but at a certain age, the IRS comes calling and you can’t defer paying income taxes any longer on those accounts! Listen as Adam and Ben discuss the required minimum distribution (RMD) rules, how they have recently changed, and what strategies you might proactively consider so your future tax bill feels more like an income tax trickle and less like an income tax bomb.
Here we are in June 2024, and the market is at all-time highs yet again! For some, it begs the question “Is now still an OK time to invest new money?” Oddly enough, Ben and Adam addressed this very question back in June of 2021. With the benefit of hindsight and what was a very bad year for markets in 2022, they again weigh in. Will they answer the question differently this time around? Or hit repeat on podcast #36?! Listen in as they reflect on what’s happened over the last three years and how long-term investing and discipline still worked out.
Sometimes when someone close to us passes away, we end up inheriting their retirement savings. “What’s an RMD? When do I need to take them? Over what period of time? Who is tracking that? You mean I have to pay income taxes?!” There are so many rules and nuances that can make the decision-making and management of this gift confusing and perhaps even frustrating at times. Listen in as Adam and Ben talk about the proactive and reactive ways to prepare for and eventually handle managing Inherited IRAs.
Stepping into retirement comes with a host of challenges! Beyond all the financial STUFF that needs to be well-planned out, there’s the daunting task of figuring out how to spend your time, find purpose, engage others, and continue to challenge oneself. All that can be downright scary! Listen as Ben interviews author Patrice Jenkins on how her books and workshops help others gain the wisdom to get over retirement and on with living!
