Search for episodes from Retirement DNA with a specific topic:

Latest episodes from Retirement DNA

Episode 40: A Conversation about Taxes

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 16:12


Takeaways: 1.      No major changes for 2025 so far 2.      IRA contributions remain the same, 401(k) and SEP IRA have had increases. 3.      Most likely taxes on Social Security benefits will remain. Hopefully they will inflate the brackets to more current levels. They haven't been inflated since the 1980's. 4.      If you own rental properties, be sure to deduct depreciation and recapture it when you sell. 5.      Tax planning strategies. Tax loss harvesting on non-IRA accounts and Roth conversions to help lower taxes for the future.

Episode 39: The Debt Ceiling and What It Means for Americans

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2023 17:11


1.      There are 3 potential ways to balance the US Budget and start to pay off debt. 2.      2. Soon the U.S. will be spending more on interest on our than we will spend on any other program. 3.      3. The math doesn't work out to only raise taxes on the wealthy. 4.      4. Taxes will increase for everyone. 5.      5. Tax-Free accounts will become more important in the future.

Episode 38: How to Stop Stressing Over Money and Start Enjoying Retirement

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2023 10:22


Take intermittent steps into retirement. Go part-time, then retire. Work with a financial planner that will look holistically at your income and assets. If you don't have a pension, be sure you have a strategy for taking Social Security. That may include taking it early or waiting until after FRA. Have your adviser run different scenarios so you can see the difference with taxes, income and how your assets are used.

Episode 37: Why You Should Separate Income and Growth

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2023 17:43


The traditional way of investing doesn't work. Research proves it It only works in up markets. Your income bucket should last 12+ years. It's important to keep your income bucket away from your growth bucket. You can't have your safe bucket going negative due to the market.

Episode 36: How to Increase Your Confidence through Retirement

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2023 10:14


Only about 25% of Americans have been able to reach this goal. A traditional balanced portfolio no longer works according to JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs studies. Add in some guaranteed products, like annuities. Even the big Wall Street firms like Goldman Sachs, Fidelity, and Morgan Stanley are starting to see the value in them. Make sure you are talking to an adviser who specializes in retirement income planning and has the freedom to pick and choose products that are right fit for you.

Episode 35: How to Retire and Aim for The Same Standard of Living

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2023 11:51


1.      Only about 25% of Americans are able to reach this goal. 2.      A traditional balanced portfolio no longer works according to JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs studies. 3.      If you add in guarantees to your portfolio, you can still take the 4% or more and have your money last your retirement. 4.      The adviser you speak with matters. Some big firms limit what their advisors can do because they don't make money off certain products.

Episode 34: The Secure Act 2.0

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2023 14:38


Required Minimum Distribution changes to age 73 and will move to age 75 in 2033. The Required Minimum Distribution penalty of 50% decreased to 25% and possibly down to 10%. Catch-Up contributions have increased and will increase even further for those 60-63 in 2024. 529's that have remaining balances can now be rolled to a Roth IRA for the beneficiary. There is still clarification on some things coming down the pike.

Episode 33: Three Opportunities In Today's Market

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2022 20:01


Remember the 3 – legged stool? The pension leg has gone away. Maybe you can create your own now. Safe money on the sidelines has been earning nothing. Now might be a good time for the next few years for a CD Alternative or a short-term, high quality fixed income portfolio. Are you taking advantage of tax harvesting? If not, you should be. Has your advisor talked to you about your non-IRA account? Roth IRA Conversions. We talk about this a lot I know. But the market is down, when it comes back all those gains could be tax free. This year it's too late, but the market will still be down early 2023.

Episode 32: How To Win When The Market Is Down

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2022 21:21


If things look bad, don't freeze with indecision, come talk with us Don't be afraid to make a change, even it if means paying taxes Sometimes you have to make a change to rescue your retirement Make sure you have a way to limit losses Base your retirement on math and not the markets  

Episode 31: The Power of Zero

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2022 9:43


Knowing the average return of a portfolio doesn't tell the whole story. You don't have to have great returns to end up in a really good place. Bonds are the go-to safe haven for the stock market, but where do you go when bonds are down more than some stocks? How are you hedging your portfolio? How are you combining good return potential and risk hedging?

Episode 30: Reasons to Start Social Security Early Takeaways

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2022 10:41


Everyone's situation is different. What's right for you may not be right for someone else. Be sure to run the numbers. Know when your breakeven age is. Your reason might be a good one to start early, but does it make the most financial sense?  

Episode 29: Diversify Tax Efficiently and Cash Alternatives

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2022 12:53


Set a capital gains tax budget Work with someone that will tax loss harvest Don't be afraid to sell the losers If you have cash on the sideline waiting for rates to go up, we have other options for you!

Episode 28: 3 Biggest Retirement Fears

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2022 16:32


Three biggest fears: Out living their money, Health Care and rising taxes. Don't be so paralyzed with fear that you keep working when you don't have to and don't want to. Work with an advisor that is going to address the whole retirement picture and shows you HOW you can retire.

Episode 27: What Are Retirement Risks?

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2022 15:00


Your retirement plan must address, longevity, healthcare, inflation, taxes and investments. The conventional “Balanced Portfolio” is not going to work. Just one market drop of 20% or more in the first 10 years can have drastic consequences. Make sure you work with an advisor that SHOWS you how you are going to be ok in retirement.

Episode 26: Why You May Need to Update Your Plan

Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2022 12:53


If your advisor doesn't show you How you are good and set for retirement, then you probably aren't. If your advisor just talks about how you have a 60/40 portfolio and says you're good and set for retirement, you probably aren't. What happens if markets don't cooperate during retirement? Is there a plan for that? Don't base your retirement income on the market, base it on math.

Episode 25: Is Retirement Tax-Free?

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2022 12:10


Truth is, you may be in a higher tax bracket than when you were working. If you are still working, maybe you shouldn't be following “conventional wisdom”. There are strategies that can be started now to save on taxes in retirement. Tax Planning needs to be a major part of your Retirement Plan.

Episode 24: The Three Levels of Advisors and How They Are Different

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2022 21:38


Which level of advisor are you currently using? What areas of planning does your advisor cover? Is your advisor addressing your planning needs? A good retirement plan covers more than just investments. It included taxes, health care, risk management and estate planning.  

Episode 23: Why You Should Pay Tax Now, Instead of Later

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2022 16:48


Look at your accounts with your Reality Glasses on Understand that the amount you see on your 401(k)/IRA statement isn't all yours Make smart long term tax decisions Know the difference in tax between converting all at once or over a certain time period Have us run a Roth Conversion calculation for you    

Episode 22: Pay Less Tax

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2021 15:53


Takeaways: Make sure you know what your tax liability looks like in retirement. Your RMD's can cause the tax you pay to go up on all other sources of income. Would a Roth IRA conversion or special designed life insurance benefit you? Have a Roth IRA conversion calculation done for you.  

roth ira payless takeaways make
Episode 21: Don't Ignore Life Insurance

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2021 10:14


Takeaways: Know your protection needs for the unknown. Life insurance is a useful tool in retirement if done correctly. Better to be overinsured than underinsured.  

life insurance takeaways know
Episode 20: Achieving Financial Success

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2021 9:26


Work with a holistic planner. Manage money in an asymmetrical way. Plan for taxes in the future, not just now. Make sure you have planned for the unknown.

Episode 19: How Will Taxes Impact Your Investments

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2021 14:44


Know the types of accounts you have and how they will be taxed. Work with a holistic financial planner to look at all aspects of your plan. Take steps now to minimize taxes in retirement.  

Episode 18: When Should I Take Social Security

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2021 16:33


Have a realistic idea of your life expectancy. Start to get a feel for what you spend each month. Know what your other assets are and how they will generate income for you. Know the amounts of your Social Security benefit at your different ages. Get objective help from an advisor to help evaluate your overall situation.

Episode 17: Two Retirements, Two Outcomes

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2021 9:46


Have goals and plan for them. Create an asset allocation that will give you steady stable income. It's about the math and not the markets. Make sure your plan can withstand the losses of the market.  

Episode 16: Should I Pay off My Mortgage

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2021 12:56


Have a goal and plan for it. It's all about BALANCE. Do the math.  

Episode 15: Mutual Funds and ETF’s

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2021 18:16


Both are diversified stock or bond portfolios. Both can easily be purchased. ETF’s are more tax efficient. ETF’s offer greater transparency.  

Episode 14: How Much Money Do I Need To Retire?

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2021 16:13


Know your cash flow. Make sure you don’t have lazy investments What withdrawal rate will provide what you need and last your lifetime? Everyone is different. You need a custom retirement plan that encompasses Investments, Taxes, Income, Inflation, and your legacy.

Episode 13: The Spousal Tax Trap

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2021 12:05


The Filing Single tax bracket is the highest current tax rate. When a spouse passes away, they get moved to the Filing Single tax bracket Strategies used to lessen the burden of taxes now and later.

Episode 12: RMD's in 2021

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 13:24


RMD age moved to age 72. How to calculate RMD’s Strategies to lower your RMD.

Episode 11: Asset Location and the Role it Plays in Portfolio Success

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2021 11:36


Asset location is just as important as Asset allocation. Pay attention to what assets are in your different accounts. Is a canned portfolio ok for you or do you need a customized investment plan?

Episode 10: Will the Election Affect My Financial Plan?

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2020 28:18


Review the risk you are taking in your investment portfolio Get a Roth Conversion Review done Review your Income Plan

Episode 9: Why IRA’s Are Bad During Retirement

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2020 15:51


Every dollar is taxed Distributions can impact the tax you pay on other income Required to pull money out Worst type of account to pass to surviving spouses No control over taxes paid or how much tax is paid

Episode 8: Four Things To Check Now

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2020 13:11


Review of Expenses – Current and Future Review Your Assets Know the Risk You Are Taking Do You Have an Income Gap?

Episode 7: The SECURE Act

Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2020 8:05


Age change for starting RMD’s. Contribution age change. Guaranteed Income rider options in 401(k)’s now. Exceptions for the early withdrawal penalty. Withdrawal changes for 529 accounts.

Episode 6: Personal Benchmark

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2020 5:02


Financial success is not just about adding $0’s to your net worth. Investing comes down to two things. Opportunity and Risk. Having your own benchmark can help with market stress during volatile periods.

Episode 5: Investment Planning

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2019 15:13


Duane and Aaron Johnson talk about the important aspects in investment planning.

Episode 4: Estate Planning

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2019 21:38


Duane and Aaron Johnson talk about the important elements of estate planning.

Episode 3: Tax Planning

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2019 17:37


Duane and Aaron Johnson talk about the important elements of tax planning.

Episode 2: Income Planning

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2019 15:47


Duane and Aaron Johnson talk about the important elements of income planning.

Episode 1: Intro to Duane Johnson Group

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2019 10:57


Duane and Aaron Johnson talk about who they are and what they do.

Claim Retirement DNA

In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

Claim Cancel