If you’re on your journey toward retirement, you’re either on track, behind, or ahead of schedule. Do you know where you’re at? Are you only a few years from retirement, but stuck having to work longer than planned? If you feel behind, how do you catch up? Lisa—a listener of the podcast—recently asked what I would recommend for someone who felt like they weren't on track to retire on time. It’s easier to find out now and fill in the gaps than having to delay retirement. So in this episode of Ret...
Apr 08, 2021•19 min•Ep. 40
When is a retirement date fund appropriate? Who might need one? What are the downfalls of retirement date funds? Many people use these in their 401k or 403B. So in this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I talk about the pros and cons—and why I’m personally not a fan . Don’t miss it! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:28] The whole idea behind retirement date funds [7:10] Who retirement date funds work well for [8:18] The downsides of retirement date funds [11:09] Sh...
Apr 01, 2021•18 min•Ep. 39
Davis Love III—a pro-golfer and PGA Champion—was interviewed years ago and asked, “How do you prepare for these tournaments?” He said, “When you see me play, everything looks natural….Day after day, Monday through Friday, preparing for a tournament, 95% of the time I work on the basics—the fundamentals of golf.” Every morning he’d practice the basics until he couldn’t get it wrong. You need to prepare for a successful retirement the same way: master the basics . Listen to this episode of Retirem...
Mar 25, 2021•20 min•Ep. 38
Are you close to retirement? Are you ready to close up any loose ends you may need to deal with? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share a few simple tips to help you get on track for the retirement you’ve been working for. I also answer a couple of listener questions that came in over the last few weeks. Check it out! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:25] Strategies to reach a secure retirement [9:09] Ask for advice + get help now [10:19] WHY I don’t giv...
Mar 18, 2021•23 min•Ep. 37
What can Warren Buffett teach us about the volatility of the stock market? Where do you get started with retirement planning? Should you bring in a professional to help you? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I answer some listener questions and share a story that drives home the point of long-term investing. Don’t miss it! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:32] What we can learn from Warren Buffett [8:52] Answering Julie’s Question: Professional financial he...
Mar 11, 2021•22 min•Ep. 36
What are health savings accounts (HSAs)? How can an HSA be beneficial to you and your retirement? One of my listeners asked me to cover HSAs, so this episode of Retirement Made Easy is dedicated to them. But if you’re wondering what the big deal about an HSA is, don’t miss this episode! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:51] ALL about Health Savings Accounts [3:13] What qualifies as medical expenses? [4:24] HSA funds can be invested [8:52] Why is an HSA important? ...
Mar 04, 2021•17 min•Ep. 35
Is a certain stock tip or investment the “holy grail?” Is there a magic bullet that will make you millions? The money you invest in your retirement needs to be there for the next 30–40 years—so how do you make smart decisions with your future? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share the best way to invest your hard-earned money. Don’t miss it! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [3:01] There is NO magic bullet [5:16] The #1 wealth-building vehicle [7:50] Mutua...
Feb 25, 2021•19 min•Ep. 34
In this special Throwback Thursday edition of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, we take a look back at episode #4: Are Women BETTER Investors Than Men? In this episode I dissect THREE studies that all come to the same conclusion . To find out what the research says—and learn how you can leverage it—check out this special replay!
Feb 18, 2021•15 min•Ep. 33
You can’t control health insurance premiums going up. You can’t control rising prescription costs. But you can control your tax planning. As the old saying goes, “You have to make hay while the sun is shining.” We are still under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Until that changes, the sun is shining and you should consider taking advantage of a Roth conversion. What is it? How does it help you? Listen to this episode of Retirement Made Easy to learn more! You will want to hear this episode if yo...
Feb 11, 2021•19 min•Ep. 32
When Should You Claim Your Social Security Benefits? Ep #31 Did you know that you can be eligible to collect social security benefits as young as 62? While the prospect may be exciting, the bigger question is: Should you? The answer is different for everyone and based on many factors. Are you married? What’s your health like? Do you plan on working in retirement? Do you have assets or other savings to draw from? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I walk through some common questions to hel...
Feb 04, 2021•20 min•Ep. 31
A Roth IRA is THE best thing since sliced bread. Why? Why do I think it needs to be a part of your investment portfolio? How does it positively impact your retirement income? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share why you need to make tax-free investing a bigger piece of the pie. Don’t miss it! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:37] Roth IRAs are underutilized [5:22] Tax-free income in retirement [7:48] What if you don’t have a Roth IRA? [10:45] Make tax-...
Jan 28, 2021•17 min•Ep. 30
How do you want to be remembered when you’re gone? Who do you want to bless financially? What organization or individuals are important to you? Legacy planning is the missing piece in retirement plans—and can be a difficult conversation to have. But it’s a conversation that must be had and what I’m talking about in this episode of Retirement Made Easy. You’ve worked hard for everything that you have. You didn’t get it by accident. If you spent your entire life working for everything you have, at...
Jan 21, 2021•17 min•Ep. 29
Why do some people have a bad experience investing in the US stock market? Why do they lose money? More importantly— how do they lose money? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I walk through the decisions that would lead someone to lose money in the stock market—and how to keep that from being you. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:31] What the research about the stock market tells us [6:26] Why people have bad experiences investing in the US stock market [1...
Jan 14, 2021•18 min•Ep. 28
Should you change your investment strategy now that Joe Biden is president-elect? Should you move your investments into a different asset class? Will the stock market tank with Biden in office? 2020 left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth and now many are worried about how 2021 will look with Joe Biden in office. In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share what I think you should or shouldn’t do. If you’re concerned about your future, give this one a listen! You will want to hear this episode ...
Jan 07, 2021•19 min•Ep. 27
What is a retirement plan? What should a well-written retirement plan do for you? What 5 questions should it answer? Can you adjust a retirement plan? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I talk about the importance of planning ahead for retirement. The sooner you have a retirement plan in place, the better. Listen to find out why it’s so important! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [0:22] The importance of planning ahead [2:26] The two best books on retirement [...
Dec 31, 2020•20 min•Ep. 26
People say that you spend 30% less in retirement—but is that true? What do you need to budget for retirement? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I look at data from my many clients throughout the US to help YOU get a clearer picture of your budget for retirement. If you’re questioning where your budget needs to be, don’t miss this one! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:05] How to create a budget for retirement [7:12] Chapman University Survey of American Fea...
Dec 24, 2020•17 min•Ep. 25
The bucket strategy is a popular way to plan for retirement. Now only is it popular, but it’s an easy-to-understand approach that works . Everyone wants to retire and be able to live comfortably, but many people don’t realize that it takes some planning to do that. Social security and pensions aren’t enough to sustain your lifestyle. So what is the strategy? How does it help you reach your retirement goals? Listen to this episode of Retirement Made Easy to find out! You will want to hear this ep...
Dec 17, 2020•20 min•Ep. 24
What are the insurance options for anyone who wants to retire early? What’s the difference between long-term care and hybrid long-term care? Why would I never recommend a Medicaid Irrevocable Annuity Trust ? These are just a few of the many questions I answer in this special Q&A episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast. Be sure to listen! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [0:52] Rapid-fire questions & answers [2:41] Insurance options for those retiring ear...
Dec 10, 2020•23 min•Ep. 23
In this special throwback episode, I'm going to highlight a fan-favorite episode of the Retirement Made Easy Podcast, episode #7—The Worst Retirement Plan EVER. I talk about the worst retirement plan I've EVER seen, go over the six mistakes that were made, and cover what you should do instead. Don't miss this replay—you might catch something you missed the first time.
Dec 03, 2020•21 min•Ep. 22
Why are large companies (like Amazon) getting tax breaks while the common man doesn’t? What about the wealthy—should those making more than $400,000 need to pay more in taxes? We are in a low tax environment right now and some people are upset by it. They say that corporations aren’t paying their “Fair Share” in taxes. But what happens if they do have to pay more in taxes? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I walk through what it could look like if corporate taxes and taxes on the wealthy ...
Nov 26, 2020•17 min•Ep. 21
In February of 2020, the student loan crisis hit a record $1.6 trillion. It’s not uncommon to talk to college graduates who have thousands of dollars in debt. Many pre-retirees would like to help pay for or fund their grandchildren’s education. It’s personally on the top of my list. I believe college education is a gift that can never be taken away. How do you help save money for your children’s or grandchildren’s college education? What’s the best way? One of the best ways to save money for col...
Nov 19, 2020•24 min•Ep. 20
Are you in your sixties and thinking about your impending retirement? What does your dream retirement look like? Will the money you have allocated for retirement help you accomplish those dreams? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share the #1 thing you can do to live the retirement you’ve been dreaming of. I share how you can define a successful retirement and how to set goals to determine the path of your investments. If you’re nearing retirement, this will give you peace of mind about...
Nov 12, 2020•18 min•Ep. 19
There’s a lot of negativity in the news. It can weigh on your mind and impact how you view your life—and your investments. The turmoil of the current political climate paired with uncertainty in the economy and then magnified by the Coronavirus has us all questioning the future. Where do we stand today? I believe the path forward is bright. I believe what we have been through can shed light on our future. So in this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share a look into the past 45 years of invest...
Nov 05, 2020•20 min•Ep. 28
How can you turn a challenge like a pandemic into an opportunity? How do you thrive in this kind of environment? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share 4 financial opportunities that arose because of the Coronavirus pandemic. It hasn’t been an easy time for anyone but taking advantage of these opportunities could potentially help your financial situation. Learn more by listening! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [0:22] The 4 opportunities arising from the ...
Oct 29, 2020•20 min•Ep. 17
I received a call a few weeks ago from someone who wanted to interview financial advisors to help with their investments. This person asked, “Do all of your clients outperform the S&P 500?” This person assumed that outperforming the S&P 500 was the main objective of a retirement strategy. That is NOT the case. It shouldn’t be your primary financial goal and certainly isn’t the key to a successful retirement. So what is the ONE crucial key—the biggest factor—that leads to a successful ret...
Oct 22, 2020•20 min•Ep. 16
Chris Hogan with Ramsey solutions recently surveyed and interviewed over 10,000 millionaires—the largest study ever conducted to this date. It was spurred by the research of Thomas Stanley. But the study really digs into what makes millionaires different. How do they become millionaires? What are their habits? How do they spend—or not spend—their money? Success leaves tracks. If you can figure out how someone else does it and follow in their footsteps, there’s no reason why you can’t be just as ...
Oct 15, 2020•20 min•Ep. 15
What do you do if you inherit your Mom’s IRA? What if it’s a Roth IRA? How does it have to be distributed? What’s the best way to handle the resources? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I’ll let you know how you can handle an inherited IRA (and how the SECURE Act comes into play). You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:43] How to handle inheriting your Mom’s IRA [5:27] Should you take a withdrawal? [6:30] The impact of the SECURE Act [10:01] Is inheriting a Roth...
Oct 08, 2020•19 min•Ep. 14
What is the mistake that 60% of American adults are making? According to a 2019 study by Caring.com, nearly 60% of American adults don’t have a will in place . You may be thinking, “Why is that such a big deal?” In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share WHY it’s a HUGE mistake—and what you can do about it. Check it out! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:23] The HUGE mistake that 60% of American Adults Make [2:03] Celebrities that passed away without a will ...
Oct 01, 2020•17 min•Ep. 13
What happens if Trump gets reelected? What happens if Biden gets elected? How will your investments and retirement be impacted? We are living in an interesting time in history. The Coronavirus pandemic has shaken up our economy, the stock market, the job market, and life in general. On top of that—it’s an election year, which historically comes with volatility in the market. So what does the election mean for your investments? Listen to this episode of Retirement Made Easy to hear my thoughts! Y...
Sep 24, 2020•21 min•Ep. 12
Are there good reasons to NOT work with a financial advisor? Have people had poor experiences? Is it a complete lack of trust? People have shared their reasoning with me when I find out they’ve chosen to avoid working with a financial advisor. In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share what those 4 common reasons are—and whether or not I think they’re valid. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [0:21] 4 Reasons to NOT work with a financial advisor [2:27] Reason #1...
Sep 17, 2020•19 min•Ep. 11
