Podcasts about resources people mentioned

What happens if you start collecting Social Security payments but feel like you've made a mistake or taken it too early? Did you know that you can stop or suspend the benefits? Secondly, when you start collecting Social Security there's an option for a lump-sum payment. Learn more about this little-known Social Security strategy in this episode of Retirement Made Easy! And as a bonus, I'll answer three listener questions!  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:08] Submit a question at RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com! [6:19] Using Subsidies for Retirement Plans to Fix Social Security [12:45] Social Security withdrawal options  [15:26] Social Security's lump-sum option  [17:36] Listener Question #1: Should I roll a 403B into an IRA? [21:25] Listener Question #2: Should I roll over my 401k at 57? [24:50] Listener Question #3: How does disability work with life insurance?  Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning The Case for Using Subsidies for Retirement Plans to Fix Social Security Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

Most “Top 10 Mistakes You're Making in Retirement” articles are vague, mostly common sense, and of little use to their readers. And when you read these articles, you have to consider the source. A bank is never going to tell you that having debt in your retirement is a mistake because they want to sell you loans! I wanted to share mistakes that I see every single day working in my firm—mistakes that you won't find in most articles. 90% of our clients are 55 and older working toward their dream retirement. I've seen it all. So in this episode of the Retirement Made Easy Podcast, I'll cover 10 retirement planning mistakes you need to think about.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:41] Ask me questions at RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com! [2:45] Mistakes to avoid making in retirement [6:08] Mistake #1: Not accounting for an early retirement [8:39] Mistake #2: Neglecting planning for healthcare [9:30] Mistake #3: Not understanding the impact of inflation [10:40] Mistake #4: Neglecting tax planning  [12:02] Mistake #5: Not understanding Social Security  [13:30] Mistake #6: Failing to address long-term care expenses [15:06] Mistake #7: Forgetting about the big ticket items in retirement [18:40] Mistake #8: Not understanding how your money helps you reach goals [20:43] Mistake #9: Not having your goals written down [22:25] Mistake #10: Not understanding sequence of return risk Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning 16 Retirement Mistakes You Will Regret Forever J.P. Morgan 2023 Guide to Retirement Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube   Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

What are required minimum distributions (RMDs)? How will they impact you? How do we account for them? Too many financial advisors neglect to help their clients plan for RMDs. I am not one of them. I cover the basics that you need to know in this episode of Retirement Made Easy.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:54] Carefully choose the people you take advice from [5:29] Something you need to know about 401ks [9:47] The basics of required minimum distributions [13:28] Why you want to work with a professional [15:22] The various ways you can take distributions  [19:07] Know that the time is coming and plan for it [20:46] RMDs for inherited accounts are different Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning 2024 Tax Guide RMD Calculator Qualified Charitable Distribution Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

Let's wrap up 2023—and kick off 2024—with another round of your questions, answered! In this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I'll answer six listener questions, covering everything from how severance pay is taxed to how the pop-up feature on pensions work. I'll also share my thoughts on what 2024 has in store. Give it a listen! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:07] Question #1: What happens to unvested 401k money? [5:31] Question #2: How is severance pay taxed? [7:38] Question #3: What is the outlook for 2024? [12:22] Question #4: What is the pop-up feature on pensions? [16:06] Question #5: How do you convert a beneficiary IRA? [19:48] Question #6: How does tax mapping work for my clients? Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning LPL Financial 2024 Outlook Report Fidelity 2024 Stock Market Outlook Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube   Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

What are 5 ways you can prepare for retirement? Why can actively managed funds be risky in retirement? How does a divorce impact your social security? In the last two episodes of 2023, I plan on answering some amazing listener questions, including these. Listen to this episode of Retirement Made Easy for some rapid-fire answers to your questions.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:40] Question #1: 5 Ways to prepare for retirement [7:02] Question #2: The risks of actively managed funds  [10:56] Question #3: Customer service should be top priority [12:44] Question #4: How does a divorce impact social security? [15:41] Question #5: Should I work with Fisher Investments? [16:13] Question #6: How to pay for long-term care Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

I've received numerous questions all running along the same theme: Are we heading into a recession? What would it mean for the stock market moving forward? How will it impact your retirement? Many of you are concerned that we'll be entering a recession in 2024. In this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I'll cover what a recession is, the trends we're seeing, and what the stock market teaches us about investing. Don't miss it! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [0:43] Check out RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com! [3:02] Are we on the verge of a recession?  [6:36] What the stock market teaches us about investing [11:34] Contributions toward Roth IRAs and 401ks in 2024 Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning ERISA Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube   Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

Are you on the same page as your spouse when it comes to retirement planning? Do you both understand your retirement plan? Even if one of you handles the finances, both of you need to understand the ins and outs of your retirement plan. It's inherently important. How do we develop a plan that everyone understands that makes sense? That's what I'll cover in this episode of Retirement Made Easy.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [4:21] Why your spouse needs to be involved in retirement planning [6:36] Why you need to understand your retirement plan [8:10] How to keep your uninterested spouse engaged  [15:06] Question #1: Should you build an expected inheritance into your plan? [19:25] Question #2: How can you calculate costs in retirement?  Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

What could go wrong in retirement? What if the “what-ifs” become realities? How will it impact your 30-year retirement? We don't know what the future holds which is why it's important to think about the variables. There will be things outside your control but you can reduce risks by taking retirement planning seriously.  No one plans on “failing” at retirement but many people fail to plan ahead of time. But the choices you make will have long-lasting implications. You need a game plan in place. In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I talk about some of the “what-ifs” and what you can do about them.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [4:59] My biggest recommendation [5:53] Why a nonchalant mindset makes me anxious  [8:10] What if you're overly concentrated in a single stock? [10:51] What if you overspend during retirement? [15:22] What if you waste money on something you “want?” [18:13] What if you accidentally trap your money?  [20:26] The importance of identifying the what-ifs Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

Social Security isn't likely intentionally misleading us but they are leaving out some details that every person contemplating retirement needs to know. Social Security announced the cost of living adjustment for 2024: 3.2%. This will go into effect 1/1/2024. However, your benefit won't likely go up the full 3.2%. Why? I'll share the answer in this episode of Retirement Made Easy.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:48] Check out RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com! [2:47] The cost of living adjustment and Medicare Part B [10:03] Social Security benefits will be cut [15:04] Social Security benefits won't likely cover monthly expenses Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning The Consumer Price Index Voluntary Withholding Request Social Security's COLA for 2024 is 3.2% SSA.gov Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube   Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

Medicare's open enrollment is starting soon, so I've invited Danielle Roberts from Boomer Benefits to join me today.  In this episode, we're discussing what's new with Medicare in 2024, the important dates to remember for open enrollment, when to reevaluate your health insurance options, and how to ensure you have health coverage when traveling abroad in retirement. Press play to hear what's new in Medicare. Outline of This Episode [2:26] What's new with Medicare this year? [8:44] How often do people reconsider advantage vs. supplement and drug plans? [15:42] Bearing risk [22:00] What can you expect from your Medicare when traveling abroad? Resources & People Mentioned 5 Easily Avoidable Medicare Mistakes What to Expect as You Approach Age 65 with Danielle Roberts, Ep # 163  Connect with Danielle Roberts BoomerBenefits.com Boomer Benefits on YouTube Medicare Q&A Group on Facebook Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Join the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter Dive deeper into retirement planning with Ben at www.RetirementIncome.University Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podbean, Player FM, iHeart, or Spotify

What is the assumed life expectancy for retirement? What accounts can you open for your grandchildren? Should everyone follow the 60/40 rule? The questions have been rolling in! So in this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I'll answer some questions and give you a starting place for a conversation with your retirement planner.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [3:09] Question #1: What is the assumed life expectancy for retirement? [6:22] Question #2: Why not follow the 60/40 rule for investments? [12:01] Question #3: Should you use numerous professionals—or one? [15:38] Question #4: What accounts can you open for grandchildren? Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

In this episode of the Follower of One podcast, Mike Henry Sr. interviews Sondra Calhoun, a leadership consultant from Strata Consulting. Sondra shares her journey into the consulting world, the role of her faith, and how she helps leaders grow and develop. Today's Guest... Sondra Calhoun is a certified executive coach and organizational development consultant. In her 25 years of professional experience, she has led organizations through growth cycles, strategic planning, mergers & acquisitions, implementing new processes, and engaging employees.   Sondra is the founder of Strada Consulting, an organization that helps leaders and organizations unlock, execute, and deliver on behaviors that lead to success. In this Episode How Sondra Got Started(1:05) Sondra's career began in training and development within large organizations, offering valuable learning experiences and mentorship. Sondra pursued coaching training to address the challenge of workshop participants not translating knowledge into practical growth, eventually creating a coaching role within T-Mobile. Faith Journey(4:45): Sondra's faith journey began in childhood, witnessing her parents' transformative experience with faith, which strengthened their family. Coaching and Consulting(5:54): Sondra provides one-on-one and team coaching, helping leaders align their values with their leadership approach, emphasizing holistic integration of faith. Challenges in Leadership(7:54): Mike and Sondra acknowledge that leadership can be difficult, particularly in environments that downplay faith. Prayer in Leadership(14:12): Sondra starts her day with prayer, seeking wisdom, guidance, insights during conversations with others. Marketplace Mission Trip Experience(14:48): Sondra participated in a marketplace mission trip with Follower of One, appreciating its practical, engaging content and the importance of community and prayer support for believers in the workplace. Resources & People Mentioned www.strada-consulting.com Follow Sondra Calhoun Connect on LinkedIn Connect With Follower Of One Join us over in our Online Community, get social with us; Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Listen to our podcast on your way to work and subscribe using your favorite podcast app!

Where do you want your assets to go when you're no longer here? I know it may seem morbid, but this is an important part of retirement planning that most people neglect. But the heart of the matter is your family. What do you want to leave behind? Or do you want to leave money to your favorite charities?  Doing what I do for a living, I have these tough conversations every day. It's my job to make recommendations to make sure your wishes are carried out seamlessly and tax-efficiently. In this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I share the story of a couple who thought they had a great plan—until I started asking questions.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [3:07] Check out RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com! [3:51] Setting the stage: An 18-year-old plan [8:43] Splitting the retirement accounts  [12:10] Splitting a home equally [14:44] Beneficiary planning for four children Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

In 2019, there were 61.5 million people on Medicare. By 2027, it's estimated that 75 million Americans will be on Medicare. That's just four years from now. The #1 reason that people push off retirement is because health insurance is too expensive. Do you know what you'll be paying for health insurance when you retire and get on Medicare? Medicare is multi-faceted. It can be complicated to understand. So in this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I'll break down the very basics of Medicare planning to help you make a more informed decision about your retirement.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [3:47] Submit a question at RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com [6:05] Understanding the basics of Medicare Part A & B [8:28] Calculating your Medicare Part B premium  [11:59] Medicare Part C: Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement [14:48] Medicare Part D: Prescription drugs  [15:44] How do you choose the right plan? [18:01] Make Medicare planning part of retirement planning Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

How will things change for those saving for retirement in 2024? What is the estimated cost of living adjustment going to be? Do you think you're on track for a comfortable retirement? These are the questions I discuss in this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast. If you're planning for your dream retirement, these are things you need to know. Don't miss it!  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:37] Check out RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com [2:20] Changes to the catch-up contribution in 2024 [8:50] How much should you save for retirement? [12:45] The estimated cost of living adjustment for 2023 [14:06] Are you on track for retirement?  Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning Ed Slott High-income retirement savers may have to pay tax now on catch-up contributions. Eventually. T. Rowe Price Says You Need This Much Saved For Retirement Based on Your Income Cost-of-Living Adjustment for 2024 Could Be 3.1% Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

We all want our kids to get a good education, but everyday college becomes more and more expensive. This is why it is so important to plan for their education needs in advance.  On this episode of Solopreneur Money, we're going back to basics to help you create the life you want for yourself and your kids. Listen in to explore the various ways that you can set aside funds to use for your kids' college education. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Questions you should be thinking about with funding your kids' education [3:42] Which college savings tool you want to use [8:45] The Coverdell education savings account [12:12] How to start saving for college [17:51] Resources & People Mentioned 100th Episode and 14th Anniversary with Melissa Nelson Connect With Gabe Nelson BOOK – The Solopreneur's Money Manifesto by Gabe Nelson www.GabeNelsonFinancial.com/contact FREE Downloadable Resources at https://www.gabenelsonfinancial.com/resources/ EMAIL: Gabe (at) GabeNelsonFinancial.com Follow Gabe on LinkedIn Follow Gabe on Twitter: @GabeNelsonCFP Follow Gabe on Facebook Follow Gabe on Instagram: @GabeNelsonCFP Subscribe to Solopreneur Money Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

What will make or break your retirement plan? What makes a plan weak or unrealistic? What needs to be factored into the overall strategy? How do we build a great retirement plan? A retirement plan isn't just reviewing your investment statements. A far greater level of detail is required to make sure your dream retirement isn't just a dream—but a reality. So in this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share a high-level overview of what we do to build a great retirement plan.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:16] Why it's time to build/update your retirement plan [7:47] Check out RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com [10:06] Addressing health insurance in retirement [13:48] Do you want to earmark funds for travel?  [14:27] What are your goals and objectives? [16:22] Factoring inflation into your retirement plan [18:08] Your retirement plan needs to be customized to you [19:56] Do your investments align with your goals? [21:00] Where is your income coming from? [22:14] Making your retirement plan tax-efficient [23:25] Legacy, estate, and beneficiary planning Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning The Retirement Story Everyone NEEDS to Hear, Ep #6  Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

Can you convert a beneficiary IRA to a Roth IRA? Can you roll a 401k into a 403B? What about alternative investments—are they worth the risk? The questions have been rolling in, so in this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I'm tackling some of the most asked questions I've received. Don't miss it!  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [4:19] Question #1: Can you convert an inherited IRA to a Roth IRA? [7:44] Question #2: Can you roll a 401k into a 403B? [12:45] Question #3: Are alternative investments risky? [15:49] Question #4: When do survivor benefits begin? [18:51] Question #5: Can a non-working spouse contribute to a Roth IRA? [20:38] Question #6: How does the gift tax exclusion work? Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning Atomic Habits by James Clear Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

I've had numerous people ask me about managing their income in retirement. Your income in retirement will be different from everyone else's, unique to you. But what sources can you draw from? What will it look like? How do you plan for it? Where can you go wrong? I'll start to dissect each of these topics in this episode of Retirement Made Easy. I'll lay out some of the important things you need to keep in mind as you manage your retirement income. Check it out!   #Retire #Retirement #RetirementPlanning #RetirementPlan #FinancialFreedom #investing #investments #DaveRamsey #SmartVestorPro You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:56] Check out RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com!  [4:25] The main source of retirement income: Social Security  [6:34] Other common sources of retirement income [8:58] The most important retirement income source [12:00] Have a retirement income game plan [20:28] Create a tax-efficient retirement income stream Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

How do we attract more clients and stand out against competitors' businesses through effective marketing strategies and systems?   As today's guest says, attracting qualified leads is hard, and landing bigger jobs can be tough. With all the advancement going on, there's a lot more competition and challenges on the sides. But that's exactly why he's here today – to share golden nuggets you can easily implement. Join us as we learn from Matt Thibeau today.   Matt Thibeau is the Owner and Founder of Savant Marketing Agency, helping contractors systemize their marketing and sales process. He is one of the top digital marketing experts in the home improvement industry, an Author of Dude 2.0, and a Client Acquisition Expert for top construction companies across North America.   Through Matt and Savant Marketing Agency, you can get new ideas, new concepts, and new strategies, giving you results that make your phone ring, projects that make you more profit, and systems that save you time. So what are you waiting for? Have your note-taking tools ready, for we are about to drop mind-bombs on today's episode of Untrapped!     “In the beginning, the best things that you can be doing are gathering what I call proof assets, and that would be pictures; just snapping quick pictures of your work and really showing before and after pictures of the best thing you can show so someone actually has a level of comparison. Because when you just show an after picture, then people have nothing to compare it to. So, it is important to be able to show, like, ‘Hey, here's what it looked like before—crappy, ugly lawn or backyard—and then here's what it looks like now.”   – Matt Thibeau     Topics Covered   00:00 – “In the beginning, the best things that you can be doing are gathering what I call proof assets, and that would be pictures.”   Welcoming today's awesome guest, Matt Thibeau   03:51 – “I've always been interested in marketing, but I kind of just fell into the contracting niche. And so, I just kind of ran with it from there.”   Who is Matt Thibeau? Why is he doing the work that he does? How is he able to understand all the subtle nuances of what contractors actually go through?   06:37 – “If you're going to be out and doing jobs, you might as well start building a portfolio. Start capturing those jobs that you're actually doing. Just take a moment, snap before and after pictures, because what I call that is building out what's called proof assets.”   Why is a portfolio a must-have when you're aiming to get a lot more leads and position yourself as a credible business that stands out against the competition? How do you create before and after pictures for that?   10:04 – “What I like to tell our clients is get into the habit of some kind of system or protocol and how you go about doing a job or onboarding a client, so then you literally can have a checklist and be like, cool.”   Matt shares tips on the importance of getting into the habit of having a system or protocol that's built right into every job. He also talks about getting into the habit of getting reviews and using that to attract more clients, highlighting why you should only ask for a testimonial when your clients are happy and excited.   16:19 – “A golden nugget that you can start implementing that I guarantee you not a lot of landscapers are doing is you can start looking for ways to get people's attention by adding value into your service with something free that you throw in instead of discounting something.”   On giving out freebies, discounts, and warranties: Which is more effective if you want to get people's attention and stand out against competitors?   18:46 – Want a FREE copy of Matt's book, “Digital Marketing Secrets for Contractors”? Find out how and where to get yours now!   20:24 – “Google ads are going to be more expensive and more competitive. Just because it's been around longer, there's a lot more competition on there. But the thing is that Google ads is going to be a more qualified lead that you get from there.”   What is the best route to get into advertising? Comparing Google ads to Facebooks ads for beginners and close clients   26:35 – “What I see a lot of is people going way too wide with their services way too soon. If you're a newer landscaping business, then stick to one or two things that you can really rock, and you're the go-to guy for that.”   “Niche down, a scale that, become the go-to guy, and then start going wider”: The importance of niching down and focusing on one niche before going wide on your services   29:59 – Connect with Matt Thibeau     Key Takeaways   “If you're going to be out and doing jobs, you might as well start building a portfolio. Start capturing those jobs that you're actually doing. Just take a moment, snap before and after pictures, because what I call that is building out what's called proof assets.”   “If you wait like a week later, and then you say, ‘Hey, can you give us a review?' then you're risking that maybe he got in a fight with his wife when you send that email, or maybe something happened in his family that's just bad, or maybe he got fired from his job or whatever. Obviously, now, your review isn't going to be the top priority, or maybe you're risking that his emotional state isn't going to be in the right state to catch him. So when he's in that moment or she, and they're saying like, ‘Wow, you're so amazing,' you want to catch it right there. You want to catch them in that peak state of excitement because that's a window of time that's limited.”   “A golden nugget that you can start implementing that I guarantee you not a lot of landscapers are doing is you can start looking for ways to get people's attention by adding value into your service with something free that you throw in instead of discounting something.”   “In your first couple of years, Google ads might be something that might be a little bit further down the line for you. So then that means that Facebook ads would be a really good option to start with. Definitely, you're going to have to have fewer quality leads that come through that, but you're going to be able to get into the advertising game less expensively and be able to start generating your own leads and not just rely on referrals.”   “Niche down, and then really, really scale that and become the go-to guy for that, and then start going wider.”     Connect with Matt Thibeau   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.thibeau/ Facebook Group: Renovation Contractor Success YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mattthibeau   Website: https://savantmarketingagency.com/   Connect with Keith    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandscapingemployeetrap Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithkalfas/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@keith-kalfas Website: https://www.keithkalfas.com/     Resources/People Mentioned:   My Website: Official Site Keith Kalfas Matt's book: Digital Marketing Secrets for Contractors FREE mp3 download of Matt's book: https://contractormarketingbook.com/ Savant Marketing Agency: https://savantmarketingagency.com/   Jobber: www.getjobber.com/keith Ballard Products: www.ballard-inc.com/ Jill's Office: www.jillsoffice.com/    

Emotions are often the drivers of our financial decisions. This year we've seen record inflation. The Fed continues to raise interest rates. There is a banking crisis. Then there's the discussion of whether or not we're in a recession. Many people have wiped their savings and emergency funds and have held them as cash because they're worried their bank or credit union might fail. 2024 is another election year. But a lot of this is noise. The market will always fluctuate because of numerous factors. As a financial planner, when short-term concerns arise, it's my job to remind people of the long-term goals they have. There will be numerous things per year that can throw us off course—if we react adversely. Listen to this episode of Retirement Made Easy to learn more about controlling your emotions when things get tumultuous.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [6:49] Why you can't let short-term concerns derail long-term goals [9:42] Should you put money into CDs or money markets? [11:23] People make purchase and investment decisions based on emotions [15:52] Learn more about the bucket strategy for investing Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning The Retirement Bucket Strategy Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

How do we DIY our way into having a healthier lawn and, at the same time, impress our landscaping clients with our A++ ways?   We all want a healthier lawn, be that for our own land or our clients'. However, more often than not, we tend to skip the basics, so we end up with burnout, either internally or within the business. But what if we tell you that even just by enjoying the “mow-ment,” you can strengthen both your lawn and yourself, thus leading both to better health?   Whether you want to do it because you want to dominate your neighbors or you want everybody to go, “Dang, this dude's got his lawn dialed,” there's no doubt that this episode is perfect for you!   Allyn Hane started his first lawn business in 1987 at the age of 14 with a bright orange Sears push mower. Fast forward to 1998, he started working for the world's largest lawn service, TruGreen, where he got the knowledge that he transcribes into videos and articles, adding his own opinions and spin. He stands proud and tall on his philosophy that organic lawns look better and resist problems better for the long haul; to him, it's just a smarter choice. Tune into this episode to discover his tips on how to impress your clients and have a healthier lawn!     “Get out and learn your land; that's really the most important thing. There are certain things you'll learn over time, but it starts just by getting out and measuring your lawn. So, get out, walk that lawn, learn your land, and pay attention when you're doing it.”  – Allyn Hane.     Topics Covered   01:03 – “Over the years, I've noticed that there are a lot of lawn professionals that are in the audience…so I appreciate you having me on. I love being in front of this audience of lawn professionals and, hopefully, bring value today.”   Keith welcomes today's awesome guest, Allyn Hane of The Lawn Care Nut.   03:44 – “For people that do a lot of fitness, you know your body, you know how far you can push it, you know when you're going to get an injury; you just learn your body over time. And that's really the same with your lawn—you learn it over time—and that's really how you can be successful.”   Tip #1: Get out and learn your land. Here, Allyn discusses the importance of knowing your land as he shares simple things you can do to improve the lawn.   06:40 – “That's what mowing is; it's going to really strengthen the lawn. And that's actually true. The more you mow, the healthier your lawn is.”   Tip #2: Learn to love the mow. Enjoy the “mow-ment.” Here, Allyn talks about reframing lawn care both as a time for personal development and a workout, explaining how mowing is like cardio that can give you immediate gratification, an endorphin rush, and a healthier lawn   10:41 – “As a DIY-er, I only have my own lawn below, I'm only taking care of one property, I know it like the back of my hand, I can take care of the bug. This is the thing about being a DIY-er; this is the advantage that I see.”   Allyn highlights the advantages of being a DIY-er as he talks about lawn leveling and the importance of having patience.   14:19 – “I'm just safer by design because I put less chemicals down, and I only put it where it's needed.”   What can you do to deal with a pest (e.g., weed) problem when you have a dog, making sure that the chemicals aren't going to make your pet sick?   20:23 – “Fertilizer doesn't burn the lawn unless you spill it.”   Tip #3: Don't be afraid to throw down. Here, Allyn enlightens you on the benefits of putting fertilizer on your lawn as he discusses the need to be licensed if you want to get into spraying -cides. He also encourages people who are just starting out to try working for TruGreen for a couple of years.   27:55 – “So many people, they want to put a miracle application on the law that's going to take care of everything, and I get it—that's how our world operates; we want immediate results. But lawn care is different, and this is why it's good therapy for people.”   Tip #4: Don't expect immediate results. Here, Allyn shares why lawn care is a good therapy for people while also explaining why it's a must that you learn and start with the basics.   32:01 – “Go get that real training somewhere that is doing what you want to do, whether you like the way they do it or not. If they're the biggest, if they're the leader, go learn from them. There's a lot of positives there, too, that you can do while you're learning.”   Keith and Allyn reading and answering comments.   39:25 – “The first time you see a brown spot in your lawn, the first rule of thumb is to just dig; just see what you'll find.”   Allyn shares tales from the trenches of his TruGreen years as far as crazy customers, educating you on what to do with brown spots. Keith and Allyn continue to read comments afterward   44:08 – “If that fertilizer were to be blown off of your lawn from a thunderstorm in the summer and go down into the rivers and then out into the gulf, it could create what is called red tide.”   Allyn talks about lightning's beneficial help to your lawn. He also talks about phosphorus runoff and algal blooms such as red tide and how it's usually formed. (Sign up for Allyn's email list for the best content)   47:21 – “There's a theory that female dogs are worse because they are lower to the ground, and they actually cause more damage.”   Allyn explains how dog pee and/or poop can cause brown spots to appear on your lawn. Keith also talks about the most professional way to deny a client service due to personal capacity before proceeding to read and answer comments again.       Key Takeaways   “For people that do a lot of fitness, you know your body, you know how far you can push it, you know when you're going to get an injury; you just learn your body over time. And that's really the same with your lawn—you learn it over time—and that's really how you can be successful.”   “Mowing is like cardio. The more cardio you do, the healthier your heart is. It just makes you have more stamina. You're able to do things that you weren't able to do before when you have good cardio. That's what mowing is; it's going to really strengthen the lawn. And that's actually true. The more you mow, the healthier your lawn is.”   “These little things that you do are what are going to make the biggest difference.”   “We want to fertilize the lawn to make it thicker because a thicker lawn is the best defense against weeds.”   “Go get that real training somewhere that is doing what you want to do, whether you like the way they do it or not. If they're the biggest, if they're the leader, go learn from them. There's a lot of positives there, too, that you can do while you're learning.”     Connect with Allyn Hane, Lawn Care Nut   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allynhane/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thelawncarenut     Connect with Keith    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandscapingemployeetrap Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithkalfas/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@keith-kalfas Website: https://www.keithkalfas.com/     Resources/People Mentioned:   My Website: Official Site Keith Kalfas My Podcast Page: The UNTRAPPED Podcast   Lawn Care Nut: https://thelawncarenut.com/ Yard Care Bootcamp: https://www.yardcarebootcamp.com/ TruGreen: https://www.trugreen.com/ Yard Mastery: https://yardmastery.com/   Jill's Office: https://www.jillsoffice.com/ Jobber: https://getjobber.com/im/ambassador-referral/?gspk=a2VpdGhrYWxmYXM4NTIx&gsxid=Rs6pwtznLDcs  

Everyone is likely familiar with 401k plans and many people have them through an employer. But do you know anything beyond the very basics? Does your company offer a match (and do you know how it works)? Do you know how much your plan costs or what your balance is? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I'm going to start covering some of the ins and outs of 401k plans. My hope is that you'll gain a better understanding of something so important to a successful retirement.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [0:35] Send me questions and ideas for future episodes! [4:35] The employer gets to determine 401k matching [9:44] The average 401k balance by age [12:14] Types of investment options in 401k plans [17:13] Why you shouldn't pull your money out of the market [19:18] The advantages of Roth 401ks/traditional 401ks [23:33] Consolidating or rolling over old 401k plans Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning The Average 401k Balance by Age Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

Tax planning is different when you're retired versus during your working years. It also changes from state to state. Some states are more tax-friendly than others. That's why many people retire in Florida, Tennessee, and Texas. Taxes matter in the decisions that we make. However, you can take tax planning too far. In this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I cover assessing the quality of your assets, why you can't let taxes dictate everything you do, and something to watch out for when you choose a financial planner.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [4:45] Check out RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com! [6:13] Assessing the quality of the assets that you own [13:34] How are your taxes going to be different in retirement? [15:55] We can't let taxes take over the driver's seat [19:00] Carefully chose who creates your retirement plan Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning Scotty Kilmer's YouTube channel The Best—and Worst—States to Retire To, Ep #53 Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

Listener questions have been piling up and a Q&A is LONG overdue. So in this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I'll cover as many questions as I can. I'll cover everything from Medicare Part B to SEP IRAs, and the impact of inflation to collecting Social Security benefits. Don't miss this comprehensive episode!  > You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [3:54] Question #1: Does Biden's ESG veto impact your brokerage accounts? [7:17] Question #2: Why is my husband's Medicare Part B premium so high? [10:00] Question #3: Why can't I contribute to my Roth SEP IRA yet?  [11:33] Question #4: Can you help us understand the impact of inflation? [16:07] Question #5: How should I invest my Roth IRA and 401k? [20:00] Question #6: Can you help manage a trust?  [23:44] Question #7: What happens if you die before collecting social security? Why is my husband's Medicare Part B premium so high? The listener's husband turned 65 and applied for Medicare. They were shocked when his Medicare Part B premium was far higher than expected (and his Social Security benefit was reduced far more than they expected). She thought it would be $165 per month, which would cover 80% of his medical costs. Then he'd get a supplement to cover the rest. Why is his premium so high? The Part B Medicare premium is income-based. The amount you're paying for the premium is based on your income two years prior. I bet if you go back and look at his earnings from two years ago, they were likely over the limit for the $165 premium. There's a premium table that dictates the premiums you're paying today. If you believe you're being overcharged, there's a special form you can submit to appeal the premium. It's linked in the resources below!  Can you help us understand the impact of inflation? One of the biggest risks of retirement planning is the rising cost of living, i.e. inflation. Inflation heavily impacted people in 2022. Retired people especially felt it. How can we understand the real risks of inflation?  A 62-year-old non-smoking couple in the US has a joint life expectancy of 30 years. The wife is predicted to pass away at 92. If you're planning for a 30-year retirement, you have to factor in the rising costs of living. Inflation WILL impact your retirement.  But our brains find it hard to imagine things in the future. It seems less real. So instead of trying to guess what costs are 30 years in the future, look back 30 years. How were things in 1993? The cost of stamps, Big Macs, cars, and college tuition has risen significantly since 1993. Prices will continue to rise over time. So you need a retirement plan that accounts for rising living costs.  Can you help manage a trust?  A listener's husband passed away. When he died, all of their accounts went into a trust. The trust names his two daughters and son as co-trustees. They are now responsible for making financial decisions for their mom. However, the kids and their spouses seem to be struggling with the responsibility—The value of the trust was down 38% in 2022. What can she do?  Go see an attorney. With the kids being named as trustees, they get to call the shots. The trust should have designated a financial planner or institution to manage the trust after the husband's passing. The trust should also include guidelines of what the trust can be invested in, what income comes out of it for the widow, etc.  The couple should have been working as a team with a competent financial planner so that when the husband passed, the wife could turn to her financial planner. But because that isn't the case, I recommend speaking with an attorney. I'm sure the children are trying to do what's best, but they likely just aren't qualified to manage the fund. What happens if you die before collecting social security? I had a 45-minute conversation with a bright and friendly listener. He's a single guy worried about his social security. He's been paying into social security for 39 years. If he delays his benefit until he's 70 and dies, does social security pay out a measly death benefit? If he dies before collecting, where does all of that money go? Is it essentially gone?  Hypothetically speaking, yes, it's gone. There is no residual value there. This gentleman didn't believe this was fair. So what can you do if you're worried about passing away before claiming benefits?  He could always claim his benefit early and suspend it later if need be. You can always start your benefit—and within 12 months of starting it—can suspend or withdraw the application. Hoover, you will have to pay back what you received. What else can you do? Listen to the whole episode to learn more! Resources & People Mentioned 9 Ways the SECURE Act 2.0 Will Impact Retirees, Ep #132 3 Steps to Retirement Planning Biden Vetoes First Bill Medicare Part B Premium Chart Medicare Part B Appeal Form Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

The Social Security Expansion Act is being introduced to congress, sponsored by Bernie Sanders, with the “goal” of increasing the solvency of the Social Security fund. Sadly, by 2035, Social Security benefits will have to be reduced by 25% if nothing is done. Senator Elizabeth Warren states that the Social Security trust fund would remain solvent until 2096 if these changes are put into place. But a lot of the proposed changes in the bill are controversial, to say the least—including how they propose we increase payments into the fund. I'll cover four of the main goals of this bill in this episode of Retirement Made Easy and share my thoughts on each one. Don't miss it! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [0:53] A big thank you to my listeners [1:49] Why retirement planning HAS to be customized [5:37] The Social Security Expansion Act [7:50] Goal #1: To increase the benefits for all recipients  [9:23] Goal #2: Change the cost-of-living adjustment calculation  [10:28] Goal #3: Making high-income earners pay more [12:41] Goal #4: Increasing the Net Investment Income Tax  [13:50] My thoughts on the proposed bill Goal #1: To increase the benefits for all recipients The bill starts with a fact sheet, which includes these sad facts: One in seven seniors relies on Social Security for more than 90% of their income Half of Americans 55 and older have nothing saved for retirement The average Social Security benefit is $1,688 per month Many seniors are struggling, which is why they're trying to overhaul social security. That's why their first proposal is to increase the benefit for all Social Security recipients by $200 per month (which would apply to everyone, even those on Social Security who aren't seniors).  Goal #2: Change the cost-of-living adjustment calculation  The bill also proposes changing how the cost-of-living adjustment is calculated. Right now they calculate based on a CPI-W index. They want to change it to a CPI-E index, with the “E” being short for the elderly. It makes a lot of sense. Seniors spend money on doctor visits, medical bills, prescriptions, etc. It's smart to track the cost of living of people in that age group and this index would be a better indication of spending habits for recipients. Goal #3: Making high-income earners pay more Currently, you pay into social security on the first $160,200 that you earn. You pay 6.2% and your employer pays 6.2%. The proposed change is trying to hit high-income earners. Let's say you make $1,000,000. Right now, this person is paying 6.2% into social security on the first $160,200. Anything they earn above that doesn't require paying into social security. This bill proposes that for every dollar they make above $250,000, they'd pay 6.2% into social security.  That's another $46,500 that this person would have to pay that they wouldn't have had to pay otherwise. But it doesn't stop there. Goal #4: Increasing the Net Investment Income Tax Anyone making $250,000 or more already has to pay a net investment income tax of 3.8% on capital gains on investments (stocks, bonds, etc.). The bill proposes increasing this tax by 12.4%, taking the net investment income tax to 16.2%. My thoughts on The Social Security Expansion Act We currently have a divided congress, so the chances of this bill passing are slim. The bill is also asking politicians—i.e. high-income earners—to vote for a bill that will tax their friends and supporters. Secondly, I think the bill overestimates the tax revenues they'll get. If you slap an additional 12.4% tax on high-income earners, they will strategically pivot.  The extra $200 a month would be a permanent increase for everyone. But many people don't need the extra $200 per month. The increase should be proposed based on need, not a blanket policy.  The amount people get now is based on how much they paid into social security over the years. Your social security check should be based on how much you paid in, not how much someone else paid. It doesn't seem fair. I know there are a lot of people hurting and inflation is negatively impacting retirees. But I'm not sure this bill is the answer. Listen to the whole episode to hear my thoughts! Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning The Social Security Expansion Act What Social Security's Cost of Living Increase in 2022 Means for You, Ep #69  How Rising Interest Rates Will Impact Your Retirement, Ep #121 Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

When you retire, where does your income come from? How frequently will you get “paid?” Can you choose when you'll get social security income? In this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I'll cover how income works in retirement and what you're able to “customize” to you. I'll also cover some listener questions regarding social security and who you should trust. Don't miss it!  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:50] Where does your retirement income come from? [14:16] Tom's Question: How does the spousal benefit work? [18:41] Tina's Question: Should I invest in these two mutual funds? Where does your retirement income come from? Many people get paid every two weeks working a normal job. But when you retire, how do you decide how often to pay yourself or make a withdrawal? How do you decide when to withdraw from a Roth IRA, IRA, or after-tax brokerage account? How does it work with social security and pensions? There are a lot of factors to consider. So we break it down into steps and help our clients map it out: Step #1: How much income do you need every month to live the lifestyle that you want? If you don't know, head to my website and check out my “Retirement Budgeting Tool.” Keep in mind that your expenses in retirement will likely be different than while you were working.  Step #2: What are your fixed income sources, i.e. social security/pensions?  Step #3: What gap is there between your fixed income sources and the amount you need to live comfortably every month? We will come up with a game plan where you draw the money you need from Roth IRAs, IRAs, and brokerage accounts to fill that gap.  If someone needs $2,500 on top of social security and pensions, we might draw $500 of income from their Roth IRA, $1,000 from their IRA, and $1,000 from an after-tax brokerage account. We do this strategically to keep them in the lowest tax bracket possible.  All of that being said, many of our clients like to make withdrawals the first week and third week of the month. Others are fine with only getting paid monthly and prefer to receive their distributions in the same week. It comes down to personal preference (in most cases). However, your pension and social security pay out once a month. Tom's Question: How does the spousal benefit work? Tom and his wife are both 62. Tom plans to continue to work while his wife would collect her social security benefit. When they both turned 67, Tom planned to retire and claim his benefit. He understood that his wife would get half of his social security income, or $1,400. In total, they'd receive $4,200 a month from social security.  Tom's wife certainly can claim her benefit at 62. She can also claim her spousal benefit after Tom retires. However, if she claims her benefit at 62, she won't get the full 50% spousal benefit when they're both retired.  For every month that she collects her social security income before full retirement age, it reduces the spousal benefit. However, if both waited until they were 67, he could claim the $2,800 and she could claim the $1,400 spousal benefit. Tina's Question: Should I invest in these two mutual funds? Tina asked my thoughts on a financial expert on YouTube. He claims that the best investment strategy for retirees is to own two specific mutual funds. Would I recommend that? I watched the video. This person isn't a financial planner or financial advisor. He isn't licensed to give financial advice at all.  Someone who is licensed—like me—can't put out videos giving blanket advice to people. Anyone else can—but would you trust it? Would you take financial advice from that person? You can't take this as real advice and implement it. I would never recommend that you put all of your money into two specific mutual funds at the advice of someone not certified to give it.  The bottom line? Be careful who you take advice from. Learn more in this episode of Retirement Made Easy! Resources & People Mentioned  3 Steps to Retirement Planning Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

Skye Warren is a New York Times bestselling author in the dangerous romance subgenre, and her works include “The Endgame Trilogy.” Skye shifted from starving a artist to a successful author and is always looking to share her knowledge and experience with others in the profession. Skye understands the importance of investing in yourself and your business and turned a $100,000 investment into over $850,000 in sales in one year. She's used her skills to raise money for great causes, most recently for relief and human rights organizations working in Ukraine. Her books have been featured in Jezebel, Buzzfeed, USA Today, Happily Ever After, Glamour, and Elle Magazine. Listen in for some great takeaways about the business of being a writer and how making an investment in your business can yield fantastic results. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... Learn more about bestselling author Skye Warren [2:47] Skye explains the subgenre of dangerous romance [4:16]  What inspired “Nightingale: An Anthology for Ukraine” [12:48]  Learn how to effectively use Facebook Ads for marketing [17:08] How Skye decides how to design her book covers [22:43]  Why Skye has published with 1,001 Dark Nights [30:26]  How TikTok has changed the marketing world for authors [31:47]  How authors can ensure their readers feel appreciated [36:51]  What Skye did today that put her in the mindset for success [40:55] Resources & People Mentioned 1,001 Dark Nights with Liz Berry, Episode #83 Sign up for Skye's Newsletter to get free resources PickFu Connect with Skye Warren The website On Instagram On Twitter On Pinterest On Facebook On TikTok Connect With Mitlin Financial podcast*at*mitlinfinancial(dot)com - email us with your suggestions for topics or guests If you would like to learn more schedule a call: https://mitlin.us/FitCall https://mitlinfinancial.com  Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram Subscribe on Youtube Follow on Linkedin Follow on Facebook Guests on the Mitlin Money Mindset Show are not affiliated with CWM, LLC, and opinions expressed herein may not be representative of CWM, LLC. CWM, LLC is not responsible for the guest's content linked on this site. Subscribe to Mitlin Money Mindset™ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

There's a lot of misunderstanding circulating regarding social security claiming strategies with spousal and survivor benefits. Spousal benefits and survivor benefits can be confusing and difficult to understand. So in this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I'm going to tackle this topic. I'll also cover the FairTax Act of 2023 and why you shouldn't make changes to your retirement planning based on this act just yet. Don't miss this informative episode!  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [3:16] The basics of the FairTax Act of 2023 [10:20] The spousal benefit vs. survivor benefit [14:45] Planning social security around spousal benefits The basics of the FairTax Act  The Fair Tax Act is a sales tax bill that was introduced by Republicans to abolish the IRS. It would change the tax code as we know it. I keep getting asked: What's a good strategy in response to the bill that might become law? Let's backtrack a little first. The act proposes getting rid of the IRS and Federal income taxes across the country. It would institute a 30% sales tax on top of local and state taxes. Why? Because 40.1% of US households didn't pay Federal income taxes in 2022. These Republicans want to recoup money from these households to help cover Medicare and Social Security.  Think of what inflation would be if you had a 30% sales tax. The price of goods and services would go up a lot. It would be offset by the amount you'd be saving on Federal taxes, so your paycheck would go up. But would it offset too much? Would you end up paying far more?  I'm not a proponent of this bill. My response to the questions I'm getting is this: We aren't going to change your retirement plans based on a rumor or possibility. Biden says he'd veto the bill if it got to him. I wouldn't make any changes until this became law. The spousal benefit vs. survivor benefit A listener—who I'm going to call Lisa—was married for 20 years and has been divorced for five. She wanted to claim her spousal benefit based on her ex-husband's earnings. She met the time requirements for claiming an ex-spouse. But she was under the impression that if she claimed benefits at 62, she could claim half of her husband's benefit and then claim his entire benefit at his full retirement age. She was misinformed. At her full retirement age, she can get half of her husband's “Primary Insurance Amount” or PIA, which is his benefit at his full retirement age. So if his benefit is $3,000 a month, she could claim half of that. If she claimed it when she was 62, it would be further reduced. When would she get the full benefit? If he passed away, she'd be eligible for the survivor benefit.  Planning social security around spousal benefits I spoke with a couple who was clear that social security would be a large part of their retirement income. Someone had misinformed them about how the benefits worked. She was 62 and he was 58. Let's call them John and Joan. Joan wanted to claim her benefit at age 62. Her benefit was lower than her husband's. She thought it would be dumb to let it sit and not collect it. Then, when he hit full retirement age, she planned on claiming her spousal benefit (50% of her husband's benefit).  But to get the spousal benefit, her spouse has to claim his benefit first. However, when Joan is 67, she won't get the full spousal benefit. Why? Because she collected her own benefit at age 62. Social Security will reduce her spousal benefit because she had claimed her own. What happens if she waits until full retirement age to claim her benefit? Listen to the whole episode to learn more about collecting spousal benefits.  Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning The FairTax™ Act Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

What does your dream retirement look like? What will make you happy? What are you working to achieve? Your goals don't have to sound good to other people. They're your goals. They're based on your dreams. To reach your dream retirement, you have to figure out what you want and set specific goals to get there.  You also can't let emotions rule your decision-making. In this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I'll share some insights from Vanguard and LPL financial's 2023 market reports. But no matter what these reports tell you, you have to follow the long-term plan you've created to reach the retirement of your dreams.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [0:33] What does your dream retirement look like?  [6:48] 2023: Starting with layoffs and unemployment  [10:48] Vanguard believes a recession is coming [13:51] Short-term emotions negatively impact long-term results  2023: Starting with layoffs and unemployment There were a lot of layoffs this month (January 2023) and they will likely continue throughout 2023. Google, Microsoft, and 3M had significant layoffs.  Mike Row interviewed the economist, Nicholas Eberhart, about the job situation and unemployment pre-pandemic and post-pandemic. Right now, there are 7 million men ages 25–54 who are not working or looking for work. They're not included in unemployment figures. We've never seen anything like this. We have 4 million more open jobs versus pre-pandemic and 4 million fewer people in the workforce. As of November 2022, there were 10.5 million jobs available. We can't look at unemployment numbers accurately because we have so many people who aren't even looking for work.  Vanguard believes a recession is coming In Vanguard's market outlook, they've stated they believe there's a 90% probability that the United States will enter a recession this year. Recessions slow down the economy. Companies' sales and revenue are down and they have to lay people off. However, I don't think we will see the normal amount of layoffs you'd see in a recession, like what happened in the 2008 financial crisis. Many companies have lean workforces as it is. Vanguard is expecting unemployment to rise to 4.5–5% by the end of the year. They're expecting inflation to be 3% year over year.  Vanguard also expects US stocks to realize 4.7% to 6% of growth for the next 10 years, below a typical 10-year average. Their analysts are not optimistic about 2023 or the next 10 years. However, LPL Financial's market outlook is more optimistic and far more detailed. They put a lot of time, money, and resources into their market outlook. Go to my website to get a free copy.  Short-term emotions negatively impact long-term results  In 2022, as the market began a downward trend, people began to abandon their long-term plans for something that felt better. They sold out of long-term investments to avoid a bumpy ride. It probably gave them temporary peace of mind. But I've seen this happen over and over again: People who pull their money out of the market let years go back and never get back in. The market rebounds with them sitting on the sidelines because they got scared. I spoke with someone last year who gave in to impatience and paid $75,000 over what a home was appraised for. One year later, they know they made a mistake and they're not happy. I spoke with someone else who was convinced Amazon was going to take over the world. He put 90% of his retirement savings in Amazon stock. Guess what happened? Amazon's stock was down 50%. 90% of his retirement nest egg was cut in half. He knew better (and wasn't one of my clients).  The reason we make these mistakes? We let emotions get in the driver's seat because we throw logic out the window. The bottom line? Don't let temporary emotions derail long-term goals. You are where you are now because of past decisions.  If you're doubting yourself and losing confidence, you're not alone. Update your financial plan. Make slight adjustments. You don't have to make drastic changes to see improvements. And if you want a second opinion on your plan, connect with me.  Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning Vanguard's investment and economic forecasts, January 2023 Get the LPL Financial 2023 Market Outlook Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

It can be hard to look back at 2022 and see anything positive, right? Inflation is the highest it's been in 40 years. The stock market had a volatile year and many people's investments are down. But the market conditions allowed us to do some positive things we normally couldn't. In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I share 6 ways that we helped clients find some wins in 2022.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:23] LPL Financial 2023 Market Outlook [2:34] Get a FREE 30-minute coaching call [3:14] Win #1: Tax-loss harvesting  [4:50] Win #2: Roth conversions [8:10] Win #3: High interest rates [12:30] Win #4: Social security's cost-of-living adjustment [14:36] Win #5: Updating beneficiaries [18:11] Win #6: Unexpected Roth conversions Win #1: Tax loss harvesting I had a lot of questions from listeners and clients about tax loss harvesting. If you sell a stock, mutual fund, ETF, etc., and book the loss, you can deduct up to $3,000 per year of a capital loss on your tax return. Anything above $3,000 gets carried over to future tax years. But you have to be careful of the “Wash Sale Rule.” If you take the loss, you have to wait 30 days to buy back that particular security. The rule wipes out your ability to deduct that capital loss if you buy back that same security.  Win #2: Roth conversions Many people also took advantage of Roth conversions. If you have pre-tax 401k money or an IRA, you can pay the taxes on a portion of the account and switch it to a Roth IRA. Why do that when the stock market is down? You're paying taxes on something worth less. So let's say a stock was worth $10 but because of the market, its value dropped to $8. So when you move it to the Roth IRA, you can take advantage of the market bounceback tax-free. Some people wait to do Roth conversions until the end of the year—listen to find out why! Win #3: High interest rates How we measure inflation is far different than it was in the 80s. The calculations are completely different. That's why we can't compare the inflation of today to the 80s. If we used the same calculation, the inflation in 2022 would have been in the ‘teens.  So where's the opportunity? Series I savings bonds were over 9% last year. Money market rates, savings accounts, CDs, etc. were paying as much as 5.5%. Everyone sought to take advantage of cash alternatives while interest rates were high.  Win #4: Social security's cost-of-living adjustment Social security's cost of living adjustment, effective January 2023, was 8.7%. It was a nice pay raise. I worked with a couple where the husband is 68 and had already claimed his social security.  They didn't have income problems, so we decided to turn off his social security benefit in 2022. Because you're past your full retirement age, you can stop your benefit and get deferral credits, (up to 8% per year).  So his benefits are growing at 8% per year until he's 70. Secondly, He'll also get the 8.7% bump in 2023. In one year, he'll get a 16.7% boost to his social security benefit. It was a huge win for him and his wife.  Win #5: Updating beneficiaries I was able to help someone update their outdated IRAs so that her deceased husband was no longer the beneficiary of her IRAs. Instead, we changed it so that her children would inherit the IRAs, without probate getting involved. We also assigned beneficiaries to her bank accounts so that if something happened to her, it would pass to her son and daughter outside of probate. We made sure her home was titled to pass to her children. Lastly, she had savings bonds that we discovered had matured, so we cashed them out so she could invest the money.  Win #6: Unexpected Roth conversions I was reviewing a new client's 2021 tax return and got a sense of what their income would look like for 2022. I determined they could do a Roth conversion of $14,000—and pay no income tax—or withdraw $14,000 and take a distribution and pay no federal income tax. I recommended they do a Roth conversion without paying taxes.  I had another client who was laid off in 2022. He found himself in a lower-income situation. What does that mean? He'd end 2022 in a lower tax bracket. Normally, he was in the 24% tax bracket. In 2022, he dropped down to the 12% bracket—with enough room to do a Roth conversion of $25,000. In a normal year, he's been paying another 12% in taxes!  I hope this episode helped you see that even in a year when the market is down and inflation is high, there's almost always a way to do something to benefit your retirement. Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning LPL Financial 2023 Market Outlook Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

When he was just a guy offering services to clients, no one believed he could do it. That prompted him to create his YouTube channel to prove he had it. YouTube has become his portfolio. He admits that no matter what you do to showcase the good stuff, you will likely face criticism. Nevertheless, he continued to share with others what he knew. He created a Mastermind group to help landscapers build their dreams across the country.  Today's guest crosses boundaries. He has spoken at many events and owns a multimillion-dollar landscaping company in California. His YouTube channel helps landscapers and their clients understand landscaping by providing them with information. Through his mastermind class called the goat gang, he has also been able to help many small business owners reach their targets. Tune in as I talk with Tigran Gertz about what happens behind the scenes of his business—learning what this wise man says might benefit you and your business.    “I did not start a YouTube channel to become a YouTuber; I started a YouTube channel because people didn't believe me that I could do their job.” - Tigran Gertz     Why do you have to listen to today's episode. 00:16 - “He has a multimillion-dollar landscaping operation. You might have seen his YouTube videos where he not only shows you the entire process of how they install the luxury outdoor living spaces to the maximum, but he also shows you the before the after he shows the mistakes that he makes in his business and how he quickly solves them and its high value.” Introduction to today's guest    4:21 - “That was really fun. I was actually very nervous about the and, here is a little inside scoop about how that happened. Grant went on an Instagram with me, he goes Instagram Live, and you can invite someone, and you could do an Instagram live with them for, like, a few minutes. And he did that. He invited me on.” Tigran Gertz explains how he got invited to a live interview with Grant Cardone.   9:03 - “One thing I told you is that I get a tremendous amount of sleep every day. A lot of people think that that is the opposite way of being successful, but they say sleep for hours to get more work done. But most of the time, people that sleep for hours, they're not productive. And when you're very well rested and very awake and alert, you're able to get more work done, and you're more cognitive. So sleep for me is huge. As Tigran Gertz explains, sleep is important and benefits a person's well-being and productivity.   11:53 - “One thing that he pointed out was that the reason they're losing respect for me is that when you work alongside your employees, they become your coworkers, and you start making jokes, and you start making comments.”  According to Tigran, you must establish a boundary between yourself and your employees to maintain respect between them and you.   13:57 - “I did not start a YouTube channel to become a YouTuber; I started a YouTube channel because people didn't believe me that I could do their job.” According to Tigran, his YouTube channel showcases his ability to walk the talk. As a result, his YouTube channel has become his portfolio.    14:54 - “People come to me, and they say I'm a bad person. I'm an idiot. And the beginning, I always used to try to prove my point and try to prove them wrong. I'm like, No, I'm not I'm really good person. But then I just realized haters are inevitable.” Whatever you do, no matter how you explain. Putting yourself out there, especially on social media, is always risky, regardless of how good you are. You will inevitably get negative feedback from haters.   20:10 -  “It's really difficult to get someone's attention with a very good positive video very like. Usually, the more negative the video is, the better it will do. It's crazy because, well, we'll look at the News. The news is super negative. And that just goes to show, especially in the 2020 era, we had just a whole bunch of negativity, and people are glued to the screen. And that's when I felt like humanity was definitely at its lowest.”  Whether or not something is said to trigger haters is the difference between being a jackass and just saying something.   25:59 - “It's very difficult to stand up to a customer when they say, Johnny, I want you to do it for this price, you Tom $1,000. And they're like, No, you need to do it for 700. And it's almost like they're doing you a favor by giving you work.” According to Keith and Tigran, the key to surviving bad offers is knowing how much you're worth.    34:58 - “I've always attracted really good people in my life. And that only happened when I started making good decisions. When I was a dirtbag. I was a shitbag; I was doing bad things, and I was attracting bad people. And a lot of people might wonder. They might sit there. Listen, there might wonder, why can't I catch a break because your decisions are garbage? You keep making the wrong decisions.” Avoid making the same mistakes by choosing the right decision for yourself.   38:37 - “A lot of lessons happen from mistakes. But the smart thing to do is learn from other people's mistakes. So you don't have to do that.” Here's an advice from Tigran that everyone should heed.     44:45 - “The only way you can have sanity and landscaping because there are so many variables is to keep track of everything.” Looking at your business's history is important to understand what went wrong.    49:00 - “Sometimes it is not only the customer's decision to hire you, but it is also my decision to if I don't like the person, but I also don't want to do business with them. If I don't have a good relationship, or we have a good vibe, they seem like they're just trying not to get me. I don't want to do business with them. I'll just say no.” When determining whether you and a customer are a right fit, sometimes it's not the customer who chooses that. You will base it on your assessment of the client. Then you can decide whether to accept the offer or not.    51:21 -  “I don't really care about design. Taylor is a very good designer. I don't need to learn, I just need to trust him and just continuously give him leads, give him leads, give him leads, and he will close the deals and move forward. What I need to do is focus on marketing and closing deals, that's it.” The whole world does not need to be learned. The only thing you need to do is trust your employees to do the job for you. You hired them to perform a particular task that you couldn't do, so you could focus on your specialty, which is growing your business.    Key Takeaways “I've always attracted really good people in my life. And that only happened when I started making good decisions. When I was a dirtbag. I was a shitbag; I was doing bad things, and I was attracting bad people. And a lot of people might wonder. They might sit there. Listen, there might wonder, why can't I catch a break because your decisions are garbage? You keep making the wrong decisions.” - Tigran Gertz  “A lot of lessons happen from mistakes. But the smart thing to do is learn from other people's mistakes. So you don't have to do that.” -Tigran Gertz   Connect with Tigran YouTube: Tigran Gertz - YouTube Instagram: Tigran Gertz (@tigrangertz) • Instagram photos and videos Website: Join the Goat Gang LinkedIn: Tigran Gertz | LinkedIn   Connect with Keith   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelandscapingemployeetrap Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untrapped.podcast/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIaWTkH4yQoDR7SnroIV6Ww Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-kalfas-2964b146/ Website: https://keith-kalfas.mykajabi.com/   Resources/People Mentioned:  The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time: The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time by Arianna Huffington | Goodreads Patrick Bet-David: Patrick Bet-David - Valuetainment Guru Home Study Course by Eben Pagan: https://ipb.us/eben-pagan/guru-home-study-course/ What $500,000 in Landscaping Looks Like in California!!: What $500,000 in Landscaping Looks Like in California!! - YouTube Goat Gang Mastermind: Join the Goat Gang

The beginning of a new year is a great time to review what you should and shouldn't be doing. That's why in this special retirement replay edition of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, we're revisiting episode #110: The Great 8 IRA Mistakes that WILL Cost You Money. This episode covers 8 things you should be mindful of as we dive into 2023: If you're a non-working spouse, take advantage of the spousal IRA option that's available to you (you and your spouse can each contribute up to $7,000 per year. Did you know that you don't have to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from Roth IRAs? If you don't need the money, don't take the withdrawal and pay unnecessary taxes! Don't roll over an IRA or 401k that has company stock in it or you'll have to pay capital gains on the stock (net unrealized appreciation). Talk to a financial advisor first! Make sure you designate a beneficiary on your IRAs, or your estate will move into probate court when you die (leading to an unnecessary for your family to endure). Don't list a trust as the beneficiary of an IRA. the receiver only has 10 years to empty it and pay taxes. Secondly, trusts are taxed at a high rate ($13,450 and higher is taxed at 37%).  If you're under 59 and ½, make sure you do Roth conversions properly so you're not paying Uncle Sam a 10% early withdrawal penalty. Make sure you're not contributing to a Roth IRA or traditional IRA if you're above the income cap, or you'll be paying a steep 6% penalty each year the excess remains in the account(s). Whenever possible, don't do an indirect rollover. If the money from an IRA is sent to you and you don't put it in another IRA within 60 days, you'll have to not only pay taxes on the money but also pay a 10% penalty. Ouch.  If you avoid some of these costly mistakes (and follow some of the advice) you should be well on your way to saving for retirement and avoid getting hit with unnecessary taxes and penalties. Listen to the whole episode for more details!  Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

I've been talking about this bill for well over six months and it finally passed in December of 2022 as part of a $1.7 trillion-dollar package. So in this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I'll cover the nine core provisions that are changing and what it means for everyone. There are some changes that I've been campaigning for and there are others that just don't make sense. Many of the provisions don't start until 2024 or 2025 to give administrators some time to get systems in place. Learn how it will impact you by listening!  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [3:21] Get FREE resources at RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com [6:40] Change #1: The required minimum distribution age is changing  [10:29] Change #2 Required minimum distributions for Roth 401ks are ending [12:28] Change #3: Catch-up contributions are increasing [17:13] Change #4: Implementing a database for accessing old retirement accounts [19:12] Change #5: Automatic enrollment in employer retirement accounts [20:07] Change #6: Implementing emergency funds in Roth 401ks [21:46] Change #7: Employers can match student loan payments [24:34] Change #8: 529 plans can be rolled into Roth IRAs after 15 years [26:58] Change #9: Domestic abuse survivors can take penalty-free withdrawals The required minimum distribution age is changing The original SECURE Act changed the age you're required to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from 70.5 to 72. Now, the SECURE Act 2.0 is changing the age of a RMD from 72 to 73, starting in 2022. In 2033, the new age will be 75. Why? Because they're extending the life expectancy tables because people are living longer. Previously, if you forgot to take your RMD, you were penalized 50% of the RMD and you still had to withdraw the money and pay taxes on it. The penalty is now being reduced to 25% (and as low as 10% if corrected in a timely fashion).  SIDE NOTE: I work closely with tax advisors. The IRS doesn't do a good job of auditing and enforcing the penalties on RMDs. Many people get out of paying that penalty.  Required minimum distributions for Roth 401ks will no longer be required I've been campaigning for this change for years. Starting in 2024, you will no longer be required to take a mandatory distribution from Roth 401ks. Honestly, I'm not sure why someone would leave money in a Roth 401k, because if you roll it over to a Roth IRA, you don't have to take RMDs. But if you leave it in the Roth 401k, once you turn 72 they make you take withdrawals every year. This change just makes sense. Now, these withdrawals are tax-free, but if you want your money to continue to grow, you can leave it in either account.  Catch-up contributions are increasing Starting in 2025, catch-up contributions to 401ks will go up. In 2023, for someone over 50, the catch-up contribution is $7,500. With the new provision, individuals 60–63 can contribute an additional contribution of $7,500 annually to their 401k, 403B, etc. But why stop at age 63?  To complicate it further, high-income earners (making over $140,000) can only contribute the additional money to a Roth 401k. Why? Because Congress is in debt. They want high-income earners to pay their taxes now. This is another way of punishing high-income earners. Starting in 2024, the catch-up number will be indexed to inflation. So if there's inflation, you can contribute extra per year. What other positive changes are happening? Keep listening.  529 plans can be rolled into Roth IRAs after 15 years The SECURE Act allowed 529 plans to pay for trade schools in addition to traditional colleges/school options. The act also allowed 529 plans to pay off up to $10,000 of student loan debt. But what if the 529 plan doesn't get used? What if the child gets scholarships or goes into the military? With the new provision in the SECURE Act 2.0, after the money has been in a 529 plan for 15 years, it can be rolled over into a Roth IRA for the child or grandchild (With a lifetime cap of $35,000).  Listen to the whole episode to learn about other changes, such as implementing emergency funds in Roth 401ks and employers being allowed to match student loan payments (by contributing to their employer-sponsored plans).  Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning SECURE 2.0: Rethinking retirement savings Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

How is a fiduciary different? What can you expect to pay a CFP? How does capital gains tax work? Did contribution limits increase? In the first episode of 2023, I'm going to revisit some important listener questions from the last few months. They're important things to remember as we enter tax planning season. Check it out!  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [0:40] Listener Question #1: How is a fiduciary different? [2:29] Listener Question #2: What can you expect to pay a CFP? [5:01] Listener Question #3: Why won't I work with Wells Fargo? [8:52] Listener Question #4: How does capital gains tax work? [13:38] Listener Question #5: Why do you need to find specialists? [17:50] Listener Question #6: Did contribution limits increase?  How is a fiduciary different? A fiduciary is an advisor that is both legally and ethically bound to do things in your best interest. If an advisor isn't a fiduciary, they operate under what's called the “Suitability Standard.” What they recommend has to be suitable for you at that point in time.  Imagine you have high cholesterol and a Dr. recommends Lipitor (a brand-name drug), which costs you $300 a month. A fiduciary would recommend using a generic brand that would only cost you $9 a month. As a fiduciary, I think the generic drug is in your best interest. Lipitor IS suitable but costs you abundantly more per month.  So what can you expect to pay a CFP? Listen to hear what the average cost is per hour (and how to determine what is a good value).  How does capital gains tax work?  One of the advantages of owning a residential rental property is that you can depreciate your property over 27 ½ years. What does that mean? It reduces the amount of rental income that's taxable. When you sell the rental property, there is depreciation recapture which will impact your taxes. I spoke with a couple who wanted to sell their rental properties. When you've lived in your home for two of the last five years, there is a capital gains exclusion of up to $500,000. Let's say this couple lived in their home for 10 years. They bought the home at $200,000 and sold it for $700,000. That's a $500,000 gain that they won't have to pay taxes on. However, anything above that amount will be subject to capital gains tax. Another listener was retiring at the end of 2022 and had gained $1 million in his company stock. He plans to have no taxable income in 2023, to hit the 0% tax bracket. He was told that if he's anywhere under the 12% tax bracket, he wouldn't have to pay capital gains. That's NOT correct—he will still be taxed on a portion of those capital gains.  Why you need to find specialists Another listener, Beth, is concerned that her tax advisor (CPA) did tax prep and didn't help her with tax planning. She also has a stockbroker with a large firm in St. Louis, who recommends buying and selling individual stocks and bonds. She asked him point-blank about her retirement plan and he changed the subject. I think his specialty is the investments themselves, just like a tax preparer focuses on the tax return. You're working with the wrong providers. You need to work with someone who specializes in tax planning and retirement planning. Who specializes in what you need help with? That's who you need to seek out.  Did contribution limits increase for 2023? Tim is 63 years old and wants to max out his Roth IRA and 401k. He wants to know if the contribution limits increased for 2023. The answer is YES! Roth IRA limits increased to $7,500 for each spouse (for someone over 50). 401k contributions increased by $3,000. That means in 2023 if you're over 50, you can contribute $30,000 annually. That's a total of $37,500 you can save for retirement in 2023.  Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

In this special final episode of 2022, I'm going to share clips from the top five most downloaded episodes of 2022. I cover everything from huge retirement mistakes that you should avoid to the types of accounts you want to use to save for retirement. These contain some of my best tips from the year. Don't miss this special edition of the Retirement Made Easy podcast! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [0:29] Episode #118: 3 Types of Accounts You Want to Have to Save for Retirement [3:21] Episode #99: The Two Types of People Who Fail at Retirement [6:44] Episode #103: How to Avoid these HUGE Retirement Mistakes [8:09] Episode #107: 6 Reasons Why People are Scared to Retire in 2022 [11:37] Episode #108: Two Things You Should NEVER Do Episode #118: 3 Types of Accounts You Want to Have to Save for Retirement There are three accounts I believe you NEED to have to save for retirement to create a blended income stream:  Account Type #1: Roth IRA, 401k, 403B, or TSP Account Type #2: The traditional IRA, 401k, 403B, or TSP Account Type #3: A brokerage account/trust account/non-qualified account  If you have a measuring cup with three different pots in front of you, you want to take a little bit from the Roth IRA, 401k, and another scoop from the brokerage account.  Having these three types of accounts gives you flexibility in retirement. We plan and calculate exactly what to withdraw from each type of account. You'll only need to make changes if the tax law or your goals change.  Episode #99: The Two Types of People Who Fail at Retirement The first type of person that fails at retirement lacks a sense of purpose. This is someone who hasn't planned for what they will do with their time. This type of person really struggles once the feeling of living in an infinite vacation subsides. They start to miss the sense of purpose they had when they were working. What can you do to combat this? Listen to hear my recommendations! Episode #103: How to Avoid these HUGE Retirement Mistakes  You can't retire without a plan. I spoke with someone whose husband always told her that they'd be okay, without showing her the plan to prove it. It's so important to have a plan. This woman is 57 with an 87-year-old mother. If she lives as long as her mother, it needs to last another 30 years—or longer.  Episode #107: The top 6 reasons why people are concerned about retirement in 2022 What concerns leave people afraid to retire? According to the Schroders 2022 US Retirement Survey, these are the top six reasons people are concerned about retiring:  The impact of inflation: People are scared of the impact inflation will have on their assets. 65% of people listed inflation as their top concern. The cost of healthcare: Sadly, we can expect that healthcare costs will always continue to rise. Medicare part B premiums continue to climb—so you have to plan.  A major market downturn: This is what we're currently experiencing in 2022. This will impact your retirement accounts. An unexpected health issue: As you get older, you'll focus more on healthcare, so that you're not stuck draining your savings on an unexpected health issue.  Taxes reducing retirement savings: This is something a financial planner can easily help you plan so you don't give Uncle Sam more than you have to. Not being able to afford the lifestyle they want: Everyone wants to maintain the lifestyle they've become accustomed to. Some want to be able to do more when they retire.  Have you noticed a trend? If you don't carefully plan for your future, it's a HUGE mistake. The people that make retirement planning a priority are the ones who will have the retirement they've dreamed of.  Hear a clip from THE most downloaded episode of 2022 by listening to the whole episode! Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

Noëlle Janka, PCC is a white, queer, disabled career and healing coach for social impact leaders, a yoga teacher, Gateless Writing Teacher, and mentor coach at the Academy for Coaching Excellence. She especially loves supporting individuals to more fully inhabit their bodies, trust their intuition, and live well within systems of oppression and domination. She is a self-described "healing junkie," a dog lover, a student of herbal medicine, and a funk and soul enthusiast residing on unceded Pocumtuck land in so-called Western Massachusetts. Additionally, I'll be donating to and raising awareness for the charity or organization of my guest's choice with each episode now. This episode, the organization is called Political Healers. Any and all donations make a difference! You can connect with Noelle on: Website Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Facebook To connect with me: Interested in working with me as your coach? Book a complimentary 15 minute call here. LinkedIn Instagram Website Subscribe to my weekly newsletter YouTube Please leave a review for this podcast on Apple Podcasts!   Resources/People Mentioned: adrienne maree brown American Detox - Kerri Kelly Inflamed - Rupa Marya The Myth of Normal - Gabor Maté Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve - Stanley Rosenberg My Grandmother's Hands - Resmaa Menakem The Sum of Us - Heather McGhee Anchored - Deb Dana Pleasure Activism - adrienne maree brown Emergent Strategy - adrienne maree brown Ishita Sharma LaTosha Brown Academy for Coaching Excellence Jeremy Blanchard Coaching Thomas Hubl and his Workshop on NPI Katina Macris Wim Hof Breathing Authentic Movement Prochaska and DiClemente's Stages of Change Model for Social Workers Deepa Iyer and her article What's your social change role? Suzanne Kingsbury on Gateless writing Afro Flow Yoga Hidden Brain Podcast Nick Shrewsbury Andy Cahill Political Healers

How do you gift money to individuals without getting hit with having to pay taxes on the gift? How do you make withdrawals if you're gifted a beneficiary IRA? What is the most tax-efficient way to carry out charitable giving? These are just a few of the questions that I'll answer in this special end-of-the-year episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:26] Submit questions at RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com [2:19] Why pension lump sums are declining [6:50] Gifting money to individual people [14:36] Example #1: The Mega Backdoor Roth [16:48] Example #2: Withdrawing from a beneficiary IRA [18:57] Example #3: Giving with donor-advised funds (DAF) Gifting money to individual people I've heard many people say they don't want to gift someone money because they'll have to pay taxes on it (or because the gift receiver will have to). That doesn't have to be the case! If you wanted to give a friend or family member money, the annual individual limit is $16,000 for 2022.  So a married couple can each give $16,000 to one individual, totaling $32,000. You can certainly gift more, but $16,000 is the annual limit you can give one individual without filling out a gift tax form that gets filed with your taxes. Many people gift up to that amount so they can avoid paying taxes.  There's also something called a lifetime gift exemption. That means you can gift someone a maximum lifetime amount of $12,060,000 to another person. The gift form helps you keep an account of what you've gifted someone over your lifetime. What can't you gift? What happens if you loan someone money they don't pay back? Listen to find out!  Withdrawing from a beneficiary IRA I worked with a couple where the wife inherited her mother's IRA. Because it's an inherited IRA, she has 10 years to take withdrawals from that IRA and pay the taxes on them. She thought that she'd just do Roth conversions and move the money into her own IRA. Unfortunately, we can't do that. So what can we do?  We can put more of her earned income into her traditional and Roth 401k. The tax deduction she gets for contributing to her Roth IRA offsets the taxes she has to pay on the withdrawals from her inherited IRA. We wanted her to stay in the 12% tax bracket, so we very carefully balanced her income levels.  Giving with donor-advised funds (DAF) A charitable couple had inherited a lot of cash, stocks, real estate, etc. They wanted to find a way to continue their charitable giving without having to pay excess taxes. We recommended that this couple look at their appreciated stock. If they cashed out the stock that was up in value, they'd pay long-term capital gains, taxed at 20%. Instead of giving cash to charities, we recommended they take that money and use it to fund a donor-advised fund. How would that help them?  They'd see a tax deduction for charitable giving as well as call the shots on how that money was given over the next chunk of years. In that way, they'd also avoid paying the capital gains on the appreciated stock. If you're already planning on charitable giving, I'm a huge fan of donor-advised funds. The money continues to grow and all of the tax-free growth can be gifted.  Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning 1,000 salaried Ford workers retire after pension warning from automaker The gift tax form  Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

When I help a client craft a retirement plan, we want to make sure it lasts at least 30 years, (based on average life expectancy). A lot can change over a 30-year time period, right? So in this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I share why you can't embrace the “set it and forget it” mentality and tell you why your retirement portfolio must change and adapt with your changing needs and goals.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [0:28] What makes you more likely to achieve goals? [5:55] Check out RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com! [6:53] Why you can't apply “set it and forget it” to investing [10:07] Don't forget the purpose of investment account(s) [12:46] You must adapt because change is inevitable  Why you can't apply “set it and forget it” to investing Years ago, my mom bought a rotisserie cooker. The brand's catchphrase was “Just set it and forget it.” That's not how it works for retirement planning. You can't “set it and forget it” with your investment portfolio. Why?  Because it needs to last 30+ years of retirement. In 30 years, there will be tax law changes. Interest raises will rise. Your income needs may change. You may need to withdraw more (or less). As you get older, your risk tolerance may be lower.  How you design your portfolio largely depends on your goals for retirement. Those will likely change as you get older. So how you invest your portfolio will need to adjust based on your changing needs.  Don't forget the purpose of investment account(s) The purpose of a retirement account is to leave behind a legacy for children or loved ones or, it's to help fund your retirement years. Usually, it's a combination of both.  If you want to travel in the first 10 years of retirement, you'll need more income in those years. Your portfolio will need to focus on producing an income. When you're 82, you might not plan on traveling as much. Your travel budget may be next to nothing. Your needs and desires constantly change over your lifetime. So you will need to make changes to how your retirement portfolio is invested.  You can't buy a car and never change the oil, rotate the tires, or replace the brakes. Maintenance must be done to care for your car. Once you retire, the work is not done. Changes will need to be made as your lifestyle changes. You must adapt and pivot.  You must adapt because change is inevitable  If you inherited an IRA before 1/1/2020, you were required to take distributions out on an annual basis for the rest of your life. The law changed with The Secure Act. Now, when you inherit an IRA, you have 10 years to withdraw all of the money from the IRA and pay the taxes on that money. This was a monumental change. There will always be new laws and changes to social security thrown our way.  Have you ever walked into a completely outdated home? Maybe the carpet is dank, the appliances are outdated, and the bathrooms need to be gutted. If you feel like you're walking back 30–40 years in time, you might lose interest in buying that home. You'll have to spend thousands of dollars to make the updates.  If improvements haven't been made to the home, it becomes less valuable. Secondly, it makes you question if the home is being maintained properly. What else is outdated that isn't visible to the naked eye? It's the same with your investment portfolio. You need to adapt and make changes as your needs change. And every adjustment that is made solely depends on you and your goals. Remember, there is no cookie-cutter approach to investing for retirement.  Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning The Retirement Story Everyone NEEDS to Hear Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

What happens when you sell your primary home? What are the tax implications? What's the deal with long-term care insurance? Do you need it? What are Roth 401ks and IRAs and why do you need one? I've been getting numerous questions about these three topics, so in today's episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast I'll break them down. Don't miss it! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [4:02] Submit a question at RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com [5:45] Popular Topic #1: What happens when you sell your house [10:33] Popular Topic #2: Long-term care insurance [17:16] Popular Topic #3: Roth IRAs and 401ks Popular Topic #1: The tax implications of selling your primary residence What happens when you sell your home? Will you owe taxes on the gain? Let's say a hypothetical married couple bought their home for $300,000 20 years ago and it's worth $600,000 today. That's a $300,000 gain. Will they realize a $300,000 capital gain on the sale of their home? According to the IRS, if you sell your primary residence, a couple filing jointly has a $500,000 capital gain exclusion on the sale of that residence. This couple would not have to pay capital gains taxes on the first $500,000 of profit. If you're single, the exclusion is $250,000.  However, to qualify for the exemption, you have to have lived in the home full-time for two of the last five years. What if you make improvements to the home? Listen to learn a bit more! Popular Topic #2: Long-term care insurance Some states (like Washington) require you to buy long-term care insurance through an employer. Most of the questions I've received are geared toward the basics of long-term care, so here they are: Traditional long-term care insurance: You pay into a policy, similar to homeowners insurance. If nothing happens and you don't submit a claim, you don't get your premiums back. Those payments are gone. You're insuring for a risk that may not come to fruition (i.e. whether or not you need long-term care).  Hybrid long-term care insurance: This combines a long-term care policy with a life insurance policy. So when you pass away, if you don't use the long-term care, your family inherits a death benefit. These are becoming more popular.  The more competitors you have in any environment, the more choices there are, and the lower premiums will be. There isn't a lot of competition right now, so this insurance is costly. So if you're going to pay for long-term care insurance, we need to account for these premiums in your retirement plan. Listen to hear some positives and negatives of each of these types of policies to decide if it's right for you.  Popular Topic #3: Roth IRAs and 401ks I was recently at a conference for financial advisors. The speaker asked us if taxes would be higher in the future. Thousands of advisors raised their hands. The Biden administration wants to raise taxes, yet we add more and more debt. I believe it's inevitable that taxes will only go up. To combat rising taxes, you could consider a Roth IRA or 401k. Roth IRAs are the one way you can pay taxes on the money now in a lower tax environment and watch it grow tax-free. And when you make a withdrawal, you will not be taxed. If a loved one inherits your IRA, they won't have to pay taxes on it. See the theme? But to contribute to a Roth IRA, you must have earned income or do a Roth conversion. So if you have a traditional IRA, you can take a portion, pay the taxes on it, and move it to a Roth IRA.  When does it make sense to do this? How much should you convert? Why wouldn't you want to put everything in a Roth IRA? Listen to the whole episode to learn more! Resources & People Mentioned 3 Steps to Retirement Planning The Basics of Long-Term Care Insurance 3 Types of Accounts You Want to Have to Save for Retirement Connect With Gregg Gonzalez Email at: Gregg@RetireSTL.com  Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com Follow Gregg on LinkedIn Follow Gregg on Facebook Follow Gregg on YouTube Subscribe to Retirement Made EasyOn Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts

After finishing a landscape project, what do you do next? Do you quickly get checks and receive payments? Do you save that invoice for tomorrow because you're too tired to send it right now? During this episode, I share with you why it's so critical for you to get paid quickly. Ensure the work is done, receive the check, and deposit it. Please do not let your business fail due to getting too comfortable allowing money to flow out!    “Understand that every single day that you wait, become lazy, or you don't have the energy to send that customer the invoice, or pick up the phone, or make sure that you're getting paid quickly, it's another day that there's a small percentage that keeps decreasing the likelihood that you will actually even get paid.” - Keith Kalfas     Why do you have to listen to today's episode.   01:51– “Understand that every single day that you wait… or you don't have the energy to send that customer the invoice… it's another day that there's a small percentage that keeps decreasing the likelihood that you will actually even get paid.” Today, I'm here to discuss why you must get paid in your landscaping business on time, as I remind you to send your customers an invoice.   03:55 – “Every time I get a check, no matter what I'm doing, the second that check goes into my hand, I get in my truck, it gets cashed and mobile deposit immediately.”  My business has a rule where I put receipts, cashed checks, and deposited checks in zippered pockets, and whenever a deposit happens, I add a small "D" to the bottom left corner. Invoices and records are easier to track this way.     06:04 – “Make sure you invoice your clients immediately. If you can't get paid immediately, send them an invoice immediately, and you'd want to get paid online.” The online payment convenience saves you a lot of time, energy, and money in running around. The faster you can get paid and get that money into your bank, the better. But make sure you send clients a receipt as well.   07:40 – “There's some things in life that are non-negotiables. They're things that you do no matter what; they're prioritized. And one of that, I think, in running your own small business is cashing those checks the second you get it and making sure you follow up with customers who owe you money.” We once had a customer who owed us money for a small residential job, and it took them six weeks to pay us. The majority of the time, people freak out but don't   11:04 – “Don't annoy them because you're scared. Just relax and know that they're probably going to pay you.” Please don't tell people that you were ripped off and that your business was damaged. Sometimes your customers are also busy, which is why your payment was delayed, or perhaps they are also getting paid late. Eventually, they'll pay you. As an alternative, you can ask for deposits and installments as options.   Key Takeaways  “Every time I get a check, no matter what I'm doing, the second that check goes into my hand, I get in my truck, it gets cashed and mobile deposit immediately.”   “Make sure you invoice your clients immediately. If you can't get paid immediately, send them an invoice immediately, and you'd want to get paid online.”   “The convenience of payment online saves you a lot of time and energy and money in running around. The faster you can get paid and get that money into your bank, the better.”   “There's some things in life that are non-negotiables. They're things that you do no matter what; they're prioritized. And one of that, I think, in running your own small business, is cashing those checks the second you get it and making sure you follow up with customers who owe you money.”   “Don't annoy them because you're scared. Just relax and know that they're probably going to pay you.”   Connect with Keith   Facebook Instagram  YouTube LinkedIn   Resources/People Mentioned:   My Website: Official Site Keith Kalfas My Podcast Page: The UNTRAPPED Podcast How “Saturday Finances” Changed My Life: Saturday Finances blog Come see me at The Huge Convention in Nashville, Tennesee, this August 17th-19th, 2022. Go to keithkalfas.com/events and get $25-$50 off your tickets through my link. Get a Free Trial of JOBBER Software & save 20% off your first six months. Grow Your Business With Jobber (getjobber.com) Want to go to the GIE+EXPO 2022? Go to keithkalfas.com/events and click on the Equip Expo link. Use the promo code “Keith50” to save 50% off your tickets. Maximize your production in the field with Ballard Products.  Grow Your Business With Jobber (getjobber.com)Don't forget to use Keith's promo code “Keith10” and save 10% off anything in the online store.      

Marriage is one of the most important decisions in a person's life. The decision you make will change your life, as it will be with them that you will spend the rest of your days. The gift of finding someone of such rarity, beauty, and love is truly something to be thankful for. It is also possible to break all these beautiful things in a flash if you cannot let go of all your fears, your wounds from your past hurts. It is my desire for you to live in an environment where there is unwavering peace and love. I hope you join me as I talk about how to be a better man and water all the good plants in life.       “When you upgrade that identity, and you let go of that tiny little space that you can no longer fit into anymore, everything is going to be okay with you and your marriage.”    Keith Kalfas     Why do you have to listen to today's episode.   00:51 – “It doesn't matter how much wealth you have materialistically if you're not happy.”  We always look for epiphanies because it is through these that we live a blissful life. Join me today as I share one of the most beautiful epiphanies I've experienced.   01:50 – “Don't talk about that because you recede back to the older part of yourself that still might have residual pain, and then you just water that seed of feeling unworthy, feeling not good enough.”  When you have unhealed wounds, and you go back to scratch them from time to time, you will carry them with you for a very long time, which will then bring scarcity to your life.   05:29 – “If you focus on the wobble and try to say ‘What's wrong with me?' or even worse, ‘What's wrong with them? It's all them', the wobble gets more and more unsteady… And then ultimately, it could break up all types of things.”  Marrying someone is a serious decision to make. Grow up and be responsible for your own emotions. Otherwise, you might end up and even pull someone down from that place of pain. 07:31 – “Your marriage has really, really good and amazing stuff that you would never find anywhere else out there in the world.”  Focus on the good things, on the beauty of your marriage. Watch how much they shine when you water all the good plants.   11:10 – “When you upgrade that identity, and you let go of that tiny little space that you can no longer fit into anymore, everything is going to be okay with you and your marriage.”  Allow love in your life and in your marriage. Loosen your grip on fear. Let all the pain go and live in unconditional love and peace.     Key Takeaways  “We're always looking for epiphanies. And it's great when you have an epiphany because you get this profound understanding or insight on something that maybe is causing you grief or struggle, and now, the roadblocks are open, the resistance is gone, and you can just be like water and flow upward and onward to buoyancy and wellbeing in your life, to live a happy, holistic, healthy life and be happy, which is the highest form of wealth.”   “Don't talk about that because you recede back to the older part of yourself that still might have residual pain, and then you just water that seed of feeling unworthy, feeling not good enough.”   “If you focus on the wobble and try to say ‘What's wrong with me?' or even worse, ‘What's wrong with them? It's all them', the wobble gets more and more unsteady… And then ultimately, it could break up all types of things.”   “Your marriage has really, really good amazing stuff that you would never find anywhere else out there in the world. That's why you married your spouse -- because you saw these amazing things that you love so much about them that you knew didn't exist out there in the world. You found a diamond. You found something so rare and precious and so amazing that you felt so grateful and worthy enough to actually get married because you knew you could contribute those same qualities as well.”   “All the good things that you were hoping for and wishing for are all real. They're still real, even in pain. They're always real. They can not be because it's truth, and the truth is real.”   Connect with Keith   Facebook Instagram  YouTube LinkedIn   Resources/People Mentioned:   My Website: Official Site Keith Kalfas My Podcast Page: The UNTRAPPED Podcast Maximize your production in the field with Ballard Products. Don't forget to use Keith's promo code “Keith10” and save 10% off of anything in the online store. Come see me at The Huge Convention in Nashville, Tennesee, this August 17th-19th, 2022. Go to keithkalfas.com/events and get $25-$50 off your tickets through my link. Want to go to the GIE+EXPO 2022? Go to keithkalfas.com/events and click on the Equip Expo link. Use the promo code “Keith50” to save 50% off your tickets. Please leave us a well-written, positive 5-star review if you liked the show. You may click here    

Why is emotional context an important aspect of a story? A prospect needs to feel like they identify with a character in your story. If they're able to see themselves in the context of the story, it can deepen their investment in your conversation. So how do you craft stories that are compelling, where a buyer can feel emotionally invested? Dan Seidman shares his strategy in this episode of Sales Reinvented.  Outline of This Episode [1:01] Create emotional context for the buyer [2:35] Dan's two models for storytelling [5:10] What makes salespeople great storytellers? [6:28] Two books that Dan recommends [7:26] Dan's storytelling dos and don'ts [10:25] First impressions are everything [12:56] Dan's “confession sessions” Create emotional context for the buyer When you share a story, you create an emotional context for the buyer. But if you can get buyers to go into the story, it deepens their emotional investment in the conversation. Dan was on a ride-along with a BCBS sales rep. They were talking to an owner and he asked, “What if you don't switch insurance programs? What if you stay where you are?”  The owner got angry and said, “My son chipped a tooth in an accident and they haven't paid for it because the dentist recommended an orthopedist take care of his fractured jaw. The insurance company rejected the claim because it was a dentist that recommended an orthopedic procedure.” He emphasizes that they were switching no matter what. His story helped them understand the emotional context behind the buying decision.  Dan's two models for storytelling One model that Dan likes to use is “PET.” A story must be personal, emotional, and teachable. Another framework that's great for written communication is “PWS.” You have a problem, you worsen it, then you offer a solution.  Inside these two models, you want to create a role in the story that the buyer can identify with by building emotional context. When Dan trains people on storytelling, he shares a story about his daughter. In the scenario, his daughter is at McDonald's playing in the kids' area. A girl became quite upset because his daughter bumped her on the slide. The parents watched on the sideline to see what happened. The little girl spit in his daughter's face.  Dan then asks everyone in the audience, “What's your teaching moment from this story?” Everyone—based on the role they identify with—tells a different teaching moment. Someone might say he was a bad parent because he didn't intervene. Another person might say that the other parents were poor because they didn't make their daughter apologize. There are ways to get people to identify with the characters, which deepens the experience.  Dan's storytelling dos and don'ts Dan shares some savvy storytelling advice:  You need to make your stories sound like they're spontaneous so the conversation is a back-and-forth. Don't just fire it off like you have the story prepared.  Account for the professional and personal impact of the decision at hand. When you share a story, their professional and personal circumstances may impact their choice. If Dan is talking to a buyer and asks how their reputation and decision-making might impact their choices, they think about their role, who they get reviewed by, and where they want to be aligned when they make a decision.  Account for both the benefits people would obtain and the problems they would solve with your product or service. Most people have a problem-solving mentality or they're motivated by benefits/good things. You have to speak to both types. Make sure when you share stories that they're things you've had experience with or something you solidly believe in. You already have proof someone should buy from you because you can share reasons why other people said, “yes.” Tell them the consequences of success.  First impressions are everything Dan spoke with two salespeople who were on a sales call in Florida. It was a hot day. They had bought some slushies and sat in their car waiting for their appointment. One man looked over at his partner to see that his lips, teeth, and tongue were flaming red. He looked at himself in the mirror to see that his teeth were green.  They walked into the building and people laughed at them as they walked through the lobby because they looked like circus clowns. But they had to keep their appointment. They were led into the president's office, where they obviously weren't taken seriously.  First impressions are critical; they can kill your opportunity or create a great one. How do you bail yourself out of a mistake? You could use self-deprecating humor. Or, they could've brought in a Slurpee for the president of the company to mitigate the embarrassment.  Dan shares a hilarious bonus story in this episode—don't miss it.  Resources & People Mentioned 10 Simple Secrets of the World's Greatest Business Communicators Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs Connect with Dan Seidman Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter Connect With Paul Watts  LinkedIn Twitter  Subscribe to SALES REINVENTED Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com

If you are like many retirees and soon-to-be retirees, you may be rethinking your entire investing strategy. Stocks are down, interest rates are up, and inflation is eating away at your purchasing power.  One listener wonders, with everything going on in the world, should they shift their investments into commodities? In the listener question segment, I discuss what commodities are, how to invest in them, and share my thoughts on whether investing in commodities is a good idea. Before the listener questions, we'll explore a retirement headline written by Eleanor O'Sullivan at Rethinking65.com which examines what life might look like if more people live to age 114. Join me on this episode of Retirement Starts Today as we explore the effects of technology on longevity and whether you should jump ship from your sinking stock portfolio to invest in commodities. Outline of This Episode [1:32] Planning to live to 114? [3:15] Cell phones improve access and democratize healthcare [7:53] Technology can help in every aspect of our lives [11:03] Is it time to invest in commodities? [13:08] How to invest in commodities [17:55] My thoughts on investing in commodities Resources & People Mentioned 88 Years Old and Planning on 114 Brite '22 Conference Greycroft Primetime Partners Apax Partners Sharecare Investopedia on commodities Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podbean, Player FM, iHeart, or Spotify

In today's episode, I encourage you to start your landscaping business. I know you're worried that the industry is saturated, but I tell you, it's not. The grass, shrubs, and trees on people's lawns will never stop growing; maintenance is necessary. That being said, let me ask you, "When will you do it?" Because if you ask me, I'll only say one thing – right now. Now is the right time to start your business and start crushing it.     “If you're trying to go full time in your business, if you're trying to get off the ground, right now is the time.”  – Keith Kalfas     Why do you have to listen to today's episode. 00:57 – “It's never too late to start a business.” It will never be too late to start a business. But, if you wait till next year, you are just prolonging and wasting your time. There are too many jobs around you. All you need to do is act now!   02:07 – “If you're trying to go full time in your business, if you're trying to get off the ground, right now is the time.” There's no better time to start than today, but your first step will still depend on your decision. When are you going to do it? Remember, you're the one in control.   03:24 – “The biggest thing that I learned is work creates work. It all starts with one side job.” When you work in neighborhoods, people around the area see you. You are being visible. You are being known. Later on, one work will lead to another.   03:58 – “The grass is always gonna grow. Trees are gonna grow. The plants and the shrubs will never stop growing. So it's a maintenance thing that's not going away. It's just a necessity.”  The landscaping industry isn't saturated. Landscaping plays an important role in people's life. The grass, shrubs, and trees never stop growing. It's never too late to start to do landscaping.   05:21 – Want to attend the GIE+EXPO 2022? Visit https://www.greenindustrypros.com/events/event/22236637/gieexpo-2022 and use the promo code “Keith50” to save 50% off your tickets!   Key Takeaways “There will always be an endless amount of work. If you had a real challenge, that would be finding all of the people and organizing them and getting all the systems together actually to get it all done. But the work's not a problem. If you're trying to go full-time in your business or get off the ground, right now is the time.” “The biggest thing that I learned is work creates work. It all starts with one side job.” “The grass is always gonna grow. Trees are gonna grow. The plants and the shrubs will never stop growing. So it's a maintenance thing that's not going away. It's just a necessity.”     Connect with Keith   Facebook Instagram  YouTube LinkedIn   Resources/People Mentioned:   My Website: Official Site Keith Kalfas My Podcast Page: The UNTRAPPED Podcast Want to go to the GIE+EXPO 2022? Visit their website and use the promo code “Keith50” to get half off your tickets! Get a Free Trial of JOBBER Software & save 20% off your first 6 months. Grow Your Business With Jobber (getjobber.com) Try Jill's office today and get a $25 discount when you say or type untrapped. Click here to go to Jill's office.com Maximize your production in the field with Ballard Products. Don't forget to use Keith's promo code “Keith 10” and save 10% off of anything in the online store. Please leave us a well-written, positive 5-star review if you liked the show. You may click here

How many business days do you have in a week?  As I run my landscaping business, I've learned the importance of taking some time off to rest and recharge. So I book days on my calendar and spend more time with my family.  It has tremendously helped me, for I could work without burnout. That's why I share my five emergency days in this episode and why they're important. Because same as how important your business is, your health and well-being should also matter.  Tune in and learn from this episode.       “Find out what your days are that you're going to be taking off or you can't do stuff, and book out days before that. Do not book customers on those days. It's tempting when you're with a customer, and they want us to do a $3,500 or $10,000 job right now, and you're making that promise to a customer. That's risky business because you're banking on the hope that everything's gonna go perfect; that it's not going to rain, there won't be equipment failures and breakdowns and everything, and that doesn't happen; a perfect world.”   – Keith Kalfas     Why do you have to listen to today's episode.     01:02 – Have emergency days on your calendar. Not having these can eventually lead to a hurt business. 01:52 – I take the whole week off on the fourth of July – the end of the business' 100 days of hell. 04:27 – The Parkinson's Law says that whatever space you give something, it will fill. The same thing happens in business. 06:59 – It's tempting when a customer asks for an urgent $10,000 job, but make sure not to book customers on your emergency days. 08:00 – Nashville, Tennessee, August 17th to 19th Window cleaners, pressure/soft washers, and landscapers Go to https://www.keithkalfas.com/events and save 25 bucks off your ticket. GIE+Expo on October 20th Go to https://www.keithkalfas.com/events for discounts as well. 09:34 – Also, I've teamed up with Kory Ballard, the founder of Ballard Products. Check the info below on how you can get discounts.   Key Takeaways “What we do is we take the entire week off. The fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh – whatever the fourth lands on, we take that whole. Let's say the fourth ends up Tuesday. We take the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth – all the way through Sunday off, then we come back to work the following Monday. I take a week off, and whoever's working for me gets a week off as well. That way, we don't burn out.”  “I've learned that I need to take some time off and spend it with my family because if you don't take some time off and go on a little whatever canoe trip, it's not good.” “I've learned now that no matter what, there's always going to be more customers that want stuff done.”    Connect with Keith   Facebook Instagram  YouTube LinkedIn     Resources/People Mentioned:   My Website: Official Site Keith Kalfas My Podcast Page: The UNTRAPPED Podcast My Events Page: https://www.keithkalfas.com/events   Nashville, Tennessee August 17th to 19th Window cleaners, pressure/soft washers, and landscapers Go to https://www.keithkalfas.com/events and save 25 bucks off your ticket.   GIE+Expo October 20 Go to https://www.keithkalfas.com/events for discounts as well. Get a Free Trial of JOBBER Software & save 20% off your first 6 months. Grow Your Business With Jobber (getjobber.com) Try Jill's office today and get a $25 discount when you say or type untrapped. Click here to go to Jill's office.com.  Maximize your production in the field with Ballard Products. Don't forget to use Keith's promo code “Keith 10” and save 10% off anything in the online store. Please leave us a well-written, positive 5-star review if you liked the show. You may click here

Inflation is weighing heavy on the minds of retirees right now, so when I came across this article on WSJ.com from Cristin Lourosa-Ricardo, I knew I had to share it with you. Listen in to try and find the silver lining of inflation.  If you are a financial advisor fan of this show, make sure to stick around until the very end for a special announcement. Outline of This Episode [1:38] How to lessen the impacts of inflation [5:19] Why you should buy the car you're leasing [9:00] Control lifestyle creep [14:34] How to balance a portfolio in this economic climate Resources & People Mentioned 15 Ways Consumers Can Deal with–and Even Benefit from–Rising Inflation Episode 247 - What's Going on with the Market?! with Joseph Hogue Episode 245 - An Active Retirement Could Cost More Money with Thatcher Taylor Capital City Wealth Management on LinkedIn Connect with Benjamin Brandt Get the Retire-Ready Toolkit: http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/ Follow Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/retiremeasap Subscribe to the newsletter: https://retirementstartstodayradio.com/newsletter Subscribe to Retirement Starts Today on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Podbean, Player FM, iHeart, or Spotify

How do you make your landscaping business a highly profitable money-making machine?   During my early days of doing business, I used to be the person who offered everything. You would have seen me painting houses and cutting lawns if you'd met me back then. I kept my truck stocked with all kinds of tools for almost three years to provide excellent service. Then one day, I awoke to the desire to do only landscaping and maintenance. So I learned how. Now, I know how to dominate. As a result, my business is now heading towards real success. So let's get started, and let me share three tips to help you achieve a company that will change your life!   "This is how you get to the top of the pyramid faster and make your business lean and mean – you flip it upside down and say, 'where's all the low hanging fruit?'" – Keith Kalfas   Why do you have to listen to today's episode.   00:33 – Learn how to succeed in doing business. First, two tips are (1) increasing the average ticket price and (2) selling bundled services. 02:06 – Specialize in one service and dominate. That's how most businesses reach success. 04:55 – By offering packages and upselling things, you provide more value. So do not be afraid to make that move. 07:12 – Tip #3 is to increase the frequency of purchase. Remember, always book a meeting from a meeting. 08:48 – [Recap of tip #1] Learn how to raise prices in “Piranha Marketing.” Also, try using Jobber, my trusted CRM software. 11:01 – Check my course, Business Money Basics. [Recap of tips #2 and #3]   Key Takeaways 3 Tips: Increase the average ticket price, sell bundled services, and increase the frequency of purchase.   “When you offer packages, and you upsell things to the same customer, you're actually offering them more value, way more value, because they don't have to go and find other people to do it.”    Connect with Keith   Facebook Instagram  YouTube LinkedIn Website   Resources/People Mentioned:   My Website: Official Site Keith Kalfas My Podcast Page: The UNTRAPPED Podcast My online course: Business Money Basics Jay Conrad Levinson's book: Guerilla Marketing Joe Polish's book: Piranha Marketing Try Jill's office today and get a $25 discount when you say or type untrapped; go to Jill's office.com. Get a Free Trial of JOBBER Software & save 20% for your first six months. Grow Your Business With Jobber (getjobber.com) Maximize your production in the field with Ballard Products. Use Keith's promo code “Keith 10” and save 10% off of anything in the online store.  Please leave us a well-written, positive 5-star review if you liked the show. You may click here.      

Are you currently trapped in an infinite set of challenges that have been overwhelming you for a long time now? Are you aware of the psychological constructs you've lived with all this time? How do we really build a successful life? How do we really live the life we've been dreaming about? In today's episode of the Untrapped podcast, Rob joins us again as we discuss sacred stewardship in line with the importance of dealing with the identification we have with what runs in our minds. Here, we talk about quantum reality as we counter mental constructs that we've been led to believe since we were a child. Untrap yourself in your psychological time and be present in the NOW. Inspire and aspire before your life expires.     “It's harder the more deeply identified your identification with your psychology is, but you always have the ability to improve upon it. You've been granted the resources to do it naturally. In fact, if you could peel off all of the mental fiction, that's what would be left. You don't have to find or build it. You've already been given it.”   –  Rob     Why do you have to listen to today's episode.   03:03 – A map is not the reality; it is just an abstraction. Same as how your mind is not who you are but is a tool you should maximize towards a better life. 06:29 – There may be times when we confuse quantum reality with mental constructs. Think not about the past. Think not about the future. Instead, be present in the NOW. 11:02 – What are the differences between fear, anxiety, and worry? Learn from Rob's perspective. 18:13 – You get addicted because you become dependent on something outside of you, even when the truth is that you are not benefitting from it; you just believe that you do. 23:08 – Rob defines ‘sacred stewardship' with me as we discuss how one can truly understand and accept it.     Key Takeaways   “Once you get access to that grounding, when you find the ground, it's like you're swimming and you're kicking, and you're hyperventilating, but at some point, you notice in the middle of this black sea, there's a little island that you can stand on. When you find that thing, you become grounded. It's like you can channel everything through that.”   “The mind is not who we are; it's a tool that we've been granted.”   “Fear is something you know, and it's happening now, so fear is a present response. Worry is something that's known but is not happening now, so you're rehearsing for fear. Anxiety is something unknown that's not happening now, so the ego tries to define it, and now you're creating a layer of worry over the top of your anxiety.”   “When you add anything to I am, it's something you have, and you can't be what you have.”   “It requires grounded consciousness to truly accept sacred stewardship, to understand what it even means.”   “Sacred stewardship is taking that sacred gift, that uniqueness, that deep passion, that deep I am-ness, and accepting that that is something that you have to give.”     Connect with Keith   Facebook Instagram  YouTube LinkedIn Website     Resources/People Mentioned:   My Website: Official Site Keith Kalfas My Podcast Page: The UNTRAPPED Podcast  Dr. Wayne Dyer: Website Essentia Water: Website Dr. Joe Dispenza: Website Gregg Braden: Website Are you looking to maximize your productivity in the field? Ballard Products has over 300 products to help you get the most out of your efforts every day. Use Keith's promo code “Keith 10” and save 10% off anything in the online store. If you're looking for probably the greatest software ever to run your business, go to www.getjobber.com/keith and receive 20% off your first six months once you use Keith's link to sign up. Please leave us a well-written, positive 5-star review if you liked the show. You may click here

Staying small as a business has its own pros and cons. Most of the time, it's all about the absence of the need to worry about paying employees, for it is only you that's running the business. But if we're going to think further, scaling is far more beneficial long term. Not only would you be able to grow the business, but the business' progression would also help you live life better. However, people in the first phases of scaling usually tend to get cold feet and lose the drive to continue. Some get overwhelmed because they don't even know their where-to's. Their mindset is not in good condition. There's no clarity on purpose. So for this episode, I invited Dan Platta over to share the 12 exact steps to successfully scale our business towards the growth we've always dreamt of! Sit back and relax. You're in for a treat today! Dan Platta, commonly known as the “The Service CFO,” runs the Blue Skies Admin Services, where he and his team help small businesses get that on-demand scale in the service industry.     “We didn't get into business as a charity. All of our businesses are profit businesses. We are here to make money. We want to do a lot of good, we want to help a lot of people, but at the end of the day, for us to do that, we need to be profitable, we need to be successful.”  – Dan Platta     Why do you have to listen to today's episode. 00:54 – #1: Whatever you're doing, as long as you're in business, you're playing a math game. Here, you'll learn how to set up your business financially in five steps. 13:23 – Mindset is everything. Clarity and commitment play a huge role in your progress. Work on being able to separate your personal stuff from your business. 17:54 – #2: Why tax yourself as an S Corp and not as a sole proprietor? Understand why for two reasons. 23:54 – #3: What is bookkeeping really for? When do you need to get a bookkeeper involved in your business? 33:44 – #4: You'd never want to lose both your clients and your employees for the unequal surge of work to be done. Here's the Magic Formula: Capacity = Demand 43:09 – #5: Let's talk about the inflection point of scaling and why it's a good plus for you to scale. 56:52 – #6: What's the first thing you got to do after scaling? Do marketing. Keep in mind the importance of ROI. 1:10:45 – #7: Find more employees and invest in them. It's just like marketing in reverse. 1:29:35 – #8: Start investing in infrastructures, in new software. Continue to upscale. 1:37:23 – #9: Receiving pay keeps employees motivated. Which suits you best – commission pay or hourly pay? 1:50:45 – #10: Why is commission pay more apt for smaller crews than bigger ones? Find the answer here. 1:59:43 – #11: Buying assets the right way is a vital move. No one wants to lose money for other business purposes over assets that aren't properly serving the business. 2:08:03 – #12: Everybody believes that we ought to be spending lots of money at the end of the year to avoid the IRS. Legally minimize your taxes.     Key Takeaways “If it's just a hobby and you're not going to scale it, or you're not counting on it to make a living, then it's fine to keep it smashed together because it's not something that your livelihood is dependent on. But once it starts becoming that career in a business and something that you're passionate about and trying to grow, you're only doing yourself a disservice if you keep it structured like it's a hobby, still. You got to really get serious about keeping business stuff separate from personal stuff, even if you're the only one that owns the business and you're the only one working in the business.”   “The point of bookkeeping is that you have good clarity on your data as you build the business, so you know where your money is coming, you know where it's going, and you know that you're operating it profitably; or if you're not, you know what you need to change so that you can operate it profitably. It's not about paying taxes. It's about seeing where your money is going if you're in line with your business bottle and if you're making good decisions.”   “Capacity = Demand is the magic formula to grow a business that doesn't suck because if you grow a business and you have too much capacity and not enough demand, or too much demand and not enough capacity, the farther those things deviate from one another; the more your life sucks.”   “It's a mindset thing. You got to find the right mindset when it comes to finding employees, that they are the thing that unleashes your business and allows you to scale.”   “I'm not saying it's the right solution for everybody, but our math clearly shows that commission pay leads to higher production rates, leads to more revenue, which allows you to do more cool stuff, and your business grows faster.”   “When we can minimize our taxes legally, that makes a shit ton of sense. Why not invest in growing our business? Because the minute we have to pay taxes, that's money that we don't get to invest in the growth of our business. So we might as well spend the money on the growth of the business than pay it to the government, for the government will make more money too if we grow the business because then, they're going to have more taxes than they can get from us for that business. We all win.”     Connect with Dan Platta Website Facebook Group YouTube Podcast Facebook Instagram    Connect with Keith   Facebook Instagram  YouTube LinkedIn Website   Resources/People Mentioned:   My Website: Official Site Keith Kalfas My Podcast Page: The UNTRAPPED Podcast My FREE Marketing Guide: Seven Steps to Marketing Your Business Dan's Home Cleaning Business: Blue Skies Admin Services Hiring software: CareerPlug Hiring software: HireWho Payroll software: Gusto Answering service: Jill's Office If you're looking for someone to help you get your books done, go to https://yourblueskies.com/kalfas/ and save half off your setup fees with Blue Skies. If you're looking for probably the greatest software ever to run your business, go to www.getjobber.com/keith and receive 20% off your first six months once you use Keith's link to sign up.  Please leave us a well-written, positive 5-star review if you liked the show. You may click here.