Your Retirement Podcast

Many retirees depend heavily on Social Security, aiming to help maximize their returns from this important income source. However, navigating the system's complexities often proves challenging, leaving many to question the best way to optimize the benefits they will receive over their lifetime. 

A longer life expectancy can expose women to various financial risks, including the possibility of outliving their assets. How can women help ensure their money lasts as long as they do?

Regularly rebalancing your portfolio is important to managing risk and helping to stay on track for your retirement goals. 

Preparing for a retirement that could last 30 years or more is no small feat. With many relying on withdrawals from their 401(k) or similar retirement plans for essential income, preserving and optimizing these funds is important.

Preparing for a retirement that could last 30 years or more is no small feat. With many relying on withdrawals from their 401(k) or similar retirement plans for essential income, preserving and optimizing these funds is important.

A recent survey of U.S. workers shows many Americans are not confident about the state of their finances. Credit card debt, costs of homeownership, and inflation, were cited as main struggles according to Edelman Financial Engines, who conducted the survey.

We've all experienced a series of unprecedented events in recent years, from a global pandemic to higher levels of interest rates, inflation, and global unrest. If you're like many people, you might feel you have less control over your future. Now we'll discuss what you can do right now to help take back control of your financial future.

There are more than one million tax preparers in the U.S., so there's no shortage of help when it's tax time. But how do you find the right help with tax planning for your retirement?

Many people assume that their taxes will go down once they stop working. While this might be true for some of you, for many, taxes could actually become one of your biggest expenses in retirement.

Gone are the days when retirees could rely heavily on substantial external support—like Social Security and robust corporate pension plans. Today, not only are pensions a fading memory, but the reliability of Social Security benefits is also increasingly uncertain, placing the burden of securing a financially stable retirement more firmly on individuals.

Lots of Americans are missing a written financial plan and have never talked to a financial planner about retirement. People without a plan tend to feel less confident about their future. So how do you get started on a path to more confidence through planning? 

There are 5 financial stages of life, and three of them happen before your retirement years. Your pre-retirement years are where some of the most critical financial decisions are happening and we want to tackle some of those decisions.

We're faced with questions every day. What's for dinner? When's the meeting? How was your day? These are questions that are – or should be – easy to answer, but when you're starting to consider retirement, the questions can get a lot more complicated.

Do you think you would make the grade when it comes to financial literacy? Most Americans between the ages of 50 and 75 scored low marks when it comes to retirement income literacy quiz. According to the American College of Financial Services.

Do you think you would make the grade when it comes to financial literacy? Most Americans between the ages of 50 and 75 scored low marks when it comes to retirement income literacy quiz. According to the American College of Financial Services.

We've repeated the stats time and time again: thousands of Baby Boomers retire every day. And by 2030, they will all be 65. And if Baby Boomers are up to bat for retirement, that means Generation X is on deck.

Have you ever been so scared of losing money that you didn't take a financial risk? Or maybe you've found yourself buying something just because everyone else is? These are just a couple examples of how our behavior plays a big role in our financial decisions. 

You can test drive a car or an RV, but what about your retirement? We'll share some tips to think about before you make the leap into retirement. 

Any time is a good time to break a bad habit. Whether you want to make improvements in your routine at home, your job performance at work, with your physical health or your financial health, the time to make a positive change for your future, is right now. 

Is your estate plan up to date? After you pass away, will your assets and money go where you intend? Is there a beneficiary form that was not updated after a life situation changed? Do your loved ones a favor and listen to the podcast now.

A lot can happen to you in 20 years that you didn't see coming. You probably had some unexpected blessings and also some obstacles to overcome. Either way, there were some big unknowns in your past and they'll continue in the future. 

You probably know what you should plan to spend on housing and groceries in retirement. And you've been dreaming to finally book that luxury vacation or close on that lake house in retirement. But are you ready for all the unplanned costs in retirement? We'll discuss some surprising, unexpected costs that could knock your retirement off course.

It's easy to make assumptions about what goes into a legacy plan. We'll help make it clear for you as we dive into the basics of creating a lasting legacy for your family.  

We can't prevent bad things from happening. But we can help plan for the worst so if there is an accident, emergency, or serious medical diagnosis … you and your loved ones can focus on healing, not financial headaches. 

David provides a thoughtful analysis of the US economy and the US National Debt which now exceeds $36 TRILLION! He is very impressive. Using his extensive experience as a CPA, David served as the seventh Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) for almost ten years (1998-2008). He served under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. David also appeared in the Psychology of Retirement Movie Premiere Hosted by the Blue Heron Capital Team. This is a must listen podcast!

There are more than one million tax preparers in the U.S., so there's no shortage of help when it's tax time. But how do you find the right help with tax planning for your retirement?

According to a new poll, one in five Americans believe they'll never retire, 62% of people who aren't retired yet believe Social Security won't even cover half their expenses and only 33% of Americans have a written financial plan. Of course, there are some simple steps you can take to gauge your preparedness for retirement and it's as easy as checking off the boxes on our retirement checklist. 

Inflation, Taxes, and Market Volatility are just some of the risks that you need to manage to protect your retirement future. Fortunately, there are ways to prepare, but it takes serious planning to manage the challenges you and so many retirees could face in the coming years! 

It's always important to keep your personal information as secure as possible, especially in our digital age today. However, there might some things you're carrying in that wallet or purse that could be putting you at risk too.

A special guest joins us to discuss the financial impact of the election and how to be more tax efficient in retirement. Today's special guest Becky Swansburg, CEO of Stonewood Financial, and the nation's leading expert on Legislative Risk in retirement. 

How much money do you really need to retire? It seems that everyone has an opinion on that, and the numbers get higher every year, but how do you know how much you'll really need for your retirement journey? Joining in this discussion is Financial Zach Roberts, IRMAACP 

The number one concern for most people when they talk about their retirement is whether their money will last as long as they do.  So we'll disclose 5 Ways to Help Make Your Retirement Income Last Longer. Joining in this discussion is Financial Advisor Zach Roberts

We'll explore some of the more common retirement mistakes and regrets that others have shared and discover ways that you can avoid them. 

Early retirement is a dream for many, but can you really afford to do it? Before you quit your job and sail off into your retirement journey, you'll need to carefully consider taxes, health care, income sources and a lot more. And you definitely shouldn't retire early without a written plan. So, where do you start? Joining in this discussion is Joel Cavaliere CFP TM

Every woman needs have her own Financial Plan – no matter whether she's single, married, or in a committed relationship! Unfortunately, most women don't have a written plan.

With the nation's debt climbing to unprecedented levels, higher taxes may be inevitable. Have you prepared your financial and retirement plans? Learn what you can do to safeguard your future. Joining us in this discussion is Financial Advisor Zach Roberts.

We always encourage saving as much as you can throughout your working years. The money you save today is what you'll live on tomorrow. Listen to learn what we've seen retirees do without really thinking about how their retirement may be impacted.

If you love a good game of trivia, you'll want to listen. We'll explore 10 questions about Social Security that many Americans get wrong! You can test your knowledge, too!

Fraud is rampant – especially against Seniors! Will you know the warning signs to protect yourself?

Birthdays – Love them or hate them.  Either way there are some that are really important!

Is there a difference between a Roth 401(k) and a Roth IRA? You bet there is! We'll cover 6 ways they differ, as well as why you should take advantage of this option if it's offered to you.

Starting in 2024 more than 11,000 Americans will be turning 65 every day – and that's expected to last through 2027 when the last of the youngest Baby Boomers reach that magic age!  Some are calling it the Silver Tsunami while others call it the ‘Peak 65.'  So, if you're one of those lucky individuals turning 65 what do you need to know about planning for your next stage?

We'll explore 4 steps that are often misunderstood, but can help you create a more secure and confident retirement. Joining us in this discussion is Blue Heron Capital Financial Advisor Zach Roberts!

It seems like every dollar you receive these days is taxable income. And with our country's sky rocketing debt, chances are tax rates will be going up sometime in your future! That creates some real concerns! The good news is that the IRS doesn't tax everything! We'll disclose things the IRS doesn't currently tax.

After decades of paying those Social Security taxes, you may now be shocked to learn that up to 85 percent of your Social Security benefits could be subject to income taxes throughout your retirement years!  So, is there anything you can do to help reduce or eliminate taxes on those benefits?

When creating your retirement plan, are you approaching it like a space engineer designs a rocket? Or are you swinging wildly from strategy to strategy unsure what to do next? What you do, and how you do it, really matters! 

Your Money Your Retirement!  It's not just the name of our radio show! It's the driving force in our practice!  Today, we'll review one of the most important chapters in Linda's book, Your Money Your Retirement, as we focus on the number one question the BHC team is asked so often – Will your money last as long as you do?

When you think about retiring are you excited about your next chapter…or are you thinking that's just what comes next in the cycle of life. Or, maybe you're just happy to leave your job behind without any thought of what comes next.  Whatever you've been thinking, maybe it's time to re-fire! And make the rest of your life the best it can possibly be!

It's 7:00 on a Friday evening and you just met with the doctor who told you she's releasing your mom from the hospital first thing Saturday morning. Mom still needs a lot of care and she can't go back to her home. Where do you start? What do you do next? Who are you going to call this late on a Friday evening? This can happen to anyone! 

Does your advisor ever ask to look at your tax return? Does your advisor ask you about your potential for longevity, your health and your retirement goals? And, does your advisor explain things like sequence of returns and how that could impact your retirement future?  If not… why not?

Will your money last...how will inflation, future taxes and healthcare expenses impact your retirement? Will your loved ones be financially ok when you're gone? Do you know where your retirement income is actually coming from? If questions like these are keeping you awake at night, you're not alone! The good news is that there are some great strategies to help you relax!