Many people accumulate their wealth in a bank or a long-term investment, and this may create problems. But there is a different strategy. In this new episode of the Common Sense Financial Podcast, host Brian Skrobonja goes over the Build Banking strategy and how you can consider a different banking paradigm using specially designed life insurance policies that allow you to start banking on yourself. Most people know that banks use other people’s money to generate profits. This process is known a...
Dec 11, 2024•16 min•Season 3Ep. 71
Time is your most precious resource, but how you use it is up to you. The shift from earning to retirement can be quite challenging, as you have to thread the needle between income, growth, and time. In this new episode of the Common Sense Financial Podcast, host Brian Skrobonja goes over the most important mindset shift people need to make in order for their retirement plan to succeed. It is possible to retire without growth, but it’s impossible to succeed without income. But many people have t...
Dec 04, 2024•16 min•Season 3Ep. 70
“The more money you have, the bigger the mistakes,” someone once told Brian… How does that translate into retirement planning? And how can you help ensure you approach your financial planning for your “golden years” in the best possible way? In this new episode of the Common Sense Financial Podcast, host Brian Skrobonja goes over five retirement mistakes that you should stay away from at all costs, as well as what retirement is actually about. Brian touches upon something that a very successful ...
Nov 27, 2024•15 min•Season 3Ep. 69
Brian Skrobonja shares practical tips on year-end tax planning so you can make informed decisions and take control of your financial future. He explains why now is the perfect time to assess your financial situation and the type of strategic moves you can make to reduce your tax liabilities, maximize savings, and enhance your overall financial health. Brian starts the conversation by revealing the key elements of a well-designed year-end tax planning strategy. Tax planning isn't an April 15th ac...
Nov 20, 2024•22 min•Season 3Ep. 68
Are you part of that 68% of people who would like to have a personalized financial plan, but aren’t sure where to find a financial advisor? What should you pay attention to when trying to get a financial planning expert to help you, and you’re evaluating different options? In this new episode of the Common Sense Financial Podcast, host Brian Skrobonja shares six factors you should keep into consideration and look at when going through different financial advisor options. According to a May 2022 ...
Nov 13, 2024•16 min•Season 3Ep. 67
You feel healthy so everything is okay, right? Have you ever thought that health planning should be part of your retirement planning efforts? If you’ve answered ‘yes,’ pay close attention to Regan Archibald! Regan joins host Brian Skrobonja to discuss how people should approach health planning, the world of preventive care, the role of nutrition, and why longevity medicine is something you should be mindful of. Regan Archibald kicks off the conversation by sharing his origin story. In his work w...
Nov 06, 2024•54 min•Season 3Ep. 66
What comes to mind when you think about retiring? Is it enjoying your "golden years?" That's an outdated approach, says today's guest Dean Jackson! He joins host Brian Skrobonja to discuss a new way to think about retirement – and how doing things this way will change your life – the concept of "pre-tiring," two types of economy, and what "money hobby" and self-managing companies are all about. The idea of the conversation with Dean came to Brian as the result of conversations he has been having...
Oct 30, 2024•58 min•Season 3Ep. 65
In this episode, Brian Skrobonja breaks down Kamala Harris' proposed tax plan and how it aims to tax unrealized capital gains for the ultra-rich. He sheds light on how the tax plans will affect all Americans regardless of their income level, what to do if Kamala Harris is elected president, and how taxing unrealized gains could contribute to constant market volatility. Brian starts the conversation by breaking down the key elements in Kamala Harris' plan to tax unrealized capital gains for ultra...
Oct 23, 2024•19 min•Season 3Ep. 64
In this episode, Brian Skrobonja shares tips and insights on how to help protect yourself against identity theft. He sheds light on the best identity theft tools in the market, what to consider when someone steals your identity, and ways to minimize the risk of your data ending up in the dark web. Brian starts the conversation by sharing what he learned as a victim of identity theft and how you can be more prepared if you find yourself in a similar situation. The reality is that identity theft c...
Oct 16, 2024•20 min•Season 3Ep. 63
Life when you’re gone… an uncomfortable conversation most people prefer to avoid. Why isn’t that a good idea? How can estate planning help you ensure that things are taken care of once you aren’t around anymore? Listen to learn about big mistakes people make, the different elements that make up the estate plan puzzle, the three primary areas of cash flow, and the type of plan you should have in place. When it comes to end of life financial planning, many people tend to put it off because it’s an...
Oct 09, 2024•14 min•Season 3Ep. 62
Did you know that a good part of American households haven’t thought about retirement planning? When it comes to planning for retirement, there are some key concepts to understand and three traps you should do your best to avoid. Listen to learn why a money increase doesn’t always equal a lifestyle enhancement, the three things people often look at but that come back to bite them later on, and how you can effectively plan for retirement and protect your money. As life expectancy increases, peopl...
Oct 02, 2024•14 min•Season 3Ep. 61
You can live without saving money, and you can live with debt, but you cannot live without cash flow. In fact, if you want your personal finance to flourish, cash flow is a key element you need to focus on – passive income too. Why is that the case? Find out about critical personal financing missteps you should avoid making, what to focus on to measure financial progress and happiness, and the key traits you can learn from the happiest and most successful people to win more in personal finance. ...
Sep 25, 2024•14 min•Season 3Ep. 60
Emergencies and retirement. This is what we're taught to save for. But what if you created a different system, which allowed you to pay for the expenses you will incur between now and retirement age – without losing the ability to build wealth? Find out why you may need to rethink your financial planning approach and what you should do about the “Missing Middle.” According to popular opinion, sound financial planning advice typically consists of two main steps: saving for emergencies and saving ...
Sep 18, 2024•16 min•Season 3Ep. 59
In this episode, Brian Skrobonja breaks down the seven key questions you must ask your advisor before choosing to work with them. He sheds light on why selecting a financial advisor is crucial for your financial well-being, the benefits of working with an experienced financial advisor, and why you should be wary of financial entertainers. How can people find financial advisors who can help them beyond just picking investments? Brian goes over seven key areas you must consider before working with...
Sep 11, 2024•22 min•Season 3Ep. 58
In this episode, Brian Skrobonja goes over the three main retirement mindsets that could negatively impact your retirement plans. He sheds light on what most retirees get wrong about retirement planning, why being confident doesn’t eliminate investment risks, and what to consider when hiring a financial planner. Brian goes over three retirement mindsets that have the potential to derail even the best-laid retirement plans. He starts by explaining that there is more to the conversation around ret...
Sep 04, 2024•19 min•Season 3Ep. 57
In this episode, Brian Skrobonja explains what alternative investments are and why they are the fastest route to growing your assets or retirement savings. He sheds light on how the most successful investors in the world keep getting wealthier and how to use an endowment like strategy to position your retirement assets. Brian explores alternative investments opportunities. He goes over what larger investors are doing to diversify away from the public market in an effort to help clients protect d...
Aug 28, 2024•17 min•Season 3Ep. 56
In this episode, Brian Skrobonja answers the top questions he receives from people looking for help with their financial plan. He sheds light on why a plan is more than just picking stocks, what most people get wrong about passive income, and the benefits of knowing how much tax liability you’ll have in the future. Brian answers the top questions he receives from people looking for financial planning assistance. He starts by explaining why a financial plan is more than just picking a few stocks ...
Aug 21, 2024•18 min•Season 3Ep. 55
In this episode, Brian Skrobonja breaks down a simple framework everyone can follow to build and multiply wealth. He sheds light on what most people get wrong about wealth building, the benefits of having multiple appreciating assets, and how wealthy people use other people’s money to build wealth. Brian goes over a simple framework for multiplying and sustaining wealth--the same framework he uses to build and scale his business. Brian reveals the rhythm to building wealth: Accumulate money, bui...
Aug 14, 2024•23 min•Season 3Ep. 54
In this episode, Brian Skrobonja breaks down ways to save, grow, and invest your money. He sheds light on what a well-diversified portfolio looks like, the true definition of financial freedom, and why you need different mindsets for spending versus investing money. We all want the same thing when it comes to money--we all desire to make money, grow money, and use the money that we have. However, most people have a belief system that is rooted strictly on growing money--which, on some level, mak...
Aug 07, 2024•13 min•Season 3Ep. 53
In this episode, Brian Skrobonja sheds light on the complex and often overwhelming process of managing an estate after the loss of a loved one. This is a step-by-step guide from the initial steps you need to take after a loved one passes, to the intricate details of settling an estate. Brian offers valuable advice and practical tips to navigate this difficult time with grace and efficiency. Having a clearly defined process in place for managing an estate can help avoid the emotional drain of mak...
Jul 31, 2024•13 min•Season 3Ep. 52
In this milestone 100th episode of the Common Sense Financial Podcast, host Brian Skrobonja delves into the critical topic of managing taxes in retirement. The episode focuses on strategies for minimizing tax liabilities, especially for retirees with tax-deferred accounts facing potential hefty tax bills. Brian emphasizes the importance of sustainable income creation during retirement and the role of tax optimization in this process. Most people envision their retirement to be built from predomi...
Jul 24, 2024•18 min•Season 3Ep. 51
In this podcast episode, Brian Skrobonja takes us on a thought-provoking journey through the evolving concept of retirement. As we dive into the past, present, and future of retirement, Brian helps us unravel the complexities of this modern-day concept which, though deeply ingrained in our society, is relatively new in human history. This episode is essential for anyone planning for retirement, offering a fresh perspective on how to approach this significant life stage in the context of rapid so...
Jul 17, 2024•16 min•Season 3Ep. 50
In this episode, Brian Skrobonja goes over the three main retirement mindsets that could negatively impact your retirement plans. He sheds light on what most retirees get wrong about retirement planning, why being confident doesn’t eliminate investment risks, and what to consider when hiring a financial planner. Brian goes over three retirement mindsets that have the potential to derail even the best-laid retirement plans. He starts by explaining that there is more to the conversation around ret...
Jul 10, 2024•19 min•Season 3Ep. 49
In this podcast episode, Brian shares his remarkable journey from his parents' middle-class immigrant background to achieving financial freedom through decades of learning and building businesses. He recounts his early aspiration for an opulent lifestyle and the pivotal moment when he realized the importance of creating income-producing assets. Through content creation, including three books and the Common Sense Financial Podcast, Brian's financial wisdom and expertise have garnered recognition ...
Jul 03, 2024•11 min•Season 3Ep. 48
In this episode we talk about the importance of using key performance indicators beyond just investment performance to gauge the health of one's retirement plan. There are five crucial data points that form the foundation of a successful retirement strategy: passive income, effective tax rate, cash flow ratio, banking capacity, and horizontal asset allocation. By focusing on these metrics, you can adopt a comprehensive approach to retirement planning that factors in various financial variables a...
Jun 26, 2024•16 min•Season 3Ep. 47
In this episode on Certificates of Deposit (CDs) as investments, we talk about the nuanced decision-making involved in purchasing CDs and whether or not CDs are good investments, particularly in a rising interest rate environment, and we explain why interest rates are the only factor you need to consider. Wealth creation isn't solely dependent on CD rates, and we need to consider the impact of inflation and interest rates to gain a comprehensive financial perspective. The episode also explores h...
Jun 19, 2024•13 min•Season 3Ep. 46
In this episode, Brian Skrobonja explains what alternative investments are and why they are the fastest route to growing your assets or retirement savings. He sheds light on how the most successful investors in the world keep getting wealthier and how to use an endowment like strategy to position your retirement assets. Brian explores alternative investments opportunities. He goes over what larger investors are doing to diversify away from the public market in an effort to help clients protect d...
Jun 12, 2024•17 min•Season 3Ep. 45
In this episode, we delve into the link between overall retirement quality and the confidence you have in your financial plan. We emphasize how a well-designed retirement strategy tailored to your needs, not solely reliant on market performance, is pivotal for boosting confidence and making your retirement plan a reality you can rely on. Addressing common fears, exploring emotional extremes, and understanding the evolving landscape of retirement planning, will help you discover the significance ...
Jun 05, 2024•18 min•Season 3Ep. 44
The complexity of Social Security calculations can cause some confusion around when someone eligible should file and claim their benefit. There are a lot of variables to consider and acronyms to decipher that can make Social Security feel like a confusing hedge maze. Let’s cut through some of the noise and clarify some of the most pressing questions around Social Security benefits and what questions you need to consider to determine what’s best for you and your family. Social Security has many l...
May 29, 2024•15 min•Season 3Ep. 43
If you tune into social media, there are a lot of influencers and gurus peddling one-size-fits-all financial advice and unfortunately plenty of investors base their strategies on what these people recommend. Find out why basing your investment decisions on what’s trending on TikTok is short sighted and discover the seven indispensable steps of building wealth that are the most common among our most successful clients. Conventional wisdom such as paying off mortgages, quickly maxing out 401(k)'s ...
May 22, 2024•14 min•Season 3Ep. 42
