124 - One of the biggest financial advisor mistakes
Its one of the main reasons people leave their financial advisor. What is it?
Mon, 27 Dec 2021 - 09min
123 - Is rebalancing worth it?
What is rebalancing a portfolio and is it necessary?
Mon, 20 Dec 2021 - 05min
122 - The market is roaring. Why talk about protection now?
You need to take advantage of good years in the market to weather the bad years. Why should you pull back your market exposure now?
Mon, 06 Dec 2021 - 13min
121 - Is your advisor really listening to you?
A new study shows some advisors are out of touch with their client needs. How do you make sure you and your advisor are on the same page?
Mon, 15 Nov 2021 - 13min
120 - Calculating your retirement net worth
While the account balance in your 401(k) or IRA looks good, it’s not the real number you will bring to retirement.
Mon, 08 Nov 2021 - 07min
119 - Keeping up with the latest tax changes
So it’s not your thing to keep up with the latest changes in the tax laws? That’s ok, Bruce is, and it could help your retirement planning.
Mon, 01 Nov 2021 - 16min
118 - Should married couples have separate portfolios
If women statistically live longer than men, should they have their own portfolio with a higher risk level so their money will last longer?
Mon, 25 Oct 2021 - 11min
117 - The retirement “Fears List” has changed!
When asked, “what is your biggest fear about retirement?”, the #1 answer has been the same for many years. But this year, it’s different.
Mon, 18 Oct 2021 - 09min
116 - Market volatility is back, are you ready for it?
The markets tend to be rocky in the fall, but all the talk of tax hikes may add another layer of uncertainty. Will a market correction damage your retirement lifestyle? Time to do something about it.
Mon, 11 Oct 2021 - 17min
115 - Can Tax Freedom Planning work for you?
Look at how much you have saved. Now imagine your tax bill as that same number. It’s true for many people. Is there something you can do about it?
Mon, 04 Oct 2021 - 06min
114 - Are we about to be the highest taxed people in the world?
Here it comes. The plan to pay for all the stimulus spending is taking shape. How long before they come for your retirement money?
Mon, 27 Sep 2021 - 09min
113 - Why are you using Uncle Sam as your financial advisor?
When should you start to dip into your 401(k)? Many people are using Uncle Sam’s guidelines when they don’t need to.
Mon, 20 Sep 2021 - 16min
112 - What is your "Freak-Out" Factor?
There is a point where investors get to in a falling market where they panic and sell everything. How do you determine your "freak-out" factor, and how do you avoid reaching it?
Mon, 13 Sep 2021 - 11min
111 - When should the tax conversation start with an advisor?
If you want to move towards a “tax free” retirement, how long before you retire should that process begin?
Tue, 07 Sep 2021 - 07min
110 - Can I walk away and retire early?
More and more, people in their 60s have looked at the new reality of the workplace OR have found new freedom by working at home. They are now asking, “Can I retire early?”
Mon, 30 Aug 2021 - 18min
109 - There’s a new reason to see a financial advisor
When do you need financial help? Is it an age? Is it an amount of money? There is an uneasiness right now that could be your cue to see an advisor.
Mon, 23 Aug 2021 - 10min
108 - Your 4 biggest financial concerns
Schwab did a nationwide survey asking, “Where do you need financial help?”
Mon, 09 Aug 2021 - 08min
107 - Does a Roth conversion really pay off?
An article in "Market Watch" says that converting your 401(k) money over to a Roth isn’t worth it. Bruce says, “Run the numbers.”
Mon, 02 Aug 2021 - 12min
106 - The main reasons people seek financial help
What are the unknowns in your financial life that you are looking to solve? See if they are the same things on our list.
Mon, 19 Jul 2021 - 12min
105 - Biden invests in IRS
President Biden wants to invest 80 billion dollars in the IRS to beef up their ability to audit and collect taxes. What kind of investment will you make to keep your retirement money?
Mon, 12 Jul 2021 - 06min
104 - Are we facing “The Perfect Storm” for retirement planning?
Why is this the most challenging era ever to plan for retirement?
Mon, 05 Jul 2021 - 07min
103 - Congress is working on higher taxes for retirees
Could the money you send down to your heirs be taxed at 83 percent? That’s a new proposal in Congress!
Mon, 28 Jun 2021 - 19min
102 - Will the new rules on Capital Gains affect you?
There is a proposal to bring the capital gains tax up to your income tax bracket. What would that do to you in retirement?
Mon, 14 Jun 2021 - 15min
101 - Put your retirement plan on the treadmill
When your doctor puts you through a stress test, they are looking for failure points. You can do the same with your retirement plan.
Mon, 07 Jun 2021 - 12min
100 - Can you order off the retirement menu?
Many advisors have a set menu of tools you can use for retirement planning. What if you could order off the menu?
Mon, 31 May 2021 - 07min
99 - Why are there so many tax proposals right now?
The market is up, and so are the number of new ideas for taxes. Coincidence?
Mon, 10 May 2021 - 06min
98 - Should you haggle about your retirement?
Are you a bargain shopper? Are you always looking for a discount? There are savings to be had in retirement planning, if you know where to look.
Mon, 03 May 2021 - 05min
97 - How much steam is left in this market?
There is an incredible amount of new money pouring into stocks. Should that concern us?
Mon, 19 Apr 2021 - 07min
96 - What can we learn from the ultra-wealthy?
A study was done about what the Super Wealthy view as important regarding their money. It might surprise you.
Mon, 12 Apr 2021 - 13min
95 - What you don’t know can hurt you
One survey says Americans lose 307 billion dollars a year because of things they don’t know. Are you missing something in your retirement planning?
Mon, 29 Mar 2021 - 06min
94 - 401(k) vs IRA – Which is better?
The 401(k) and the IRA each have their advantages and disadvantages. Let’s put them head to head.
Mon, 22 Mar 2021 - 10min
93 - The market is up, why is my account not up?
Is your retirement account and its success connected to the market? Is there a need for some diversification?
Mon, 15 Mar 2021 - 12min
92 - Will your financial plan keep working in 10 or 20 years?
Is your financial plan built to stand the test of time? Bruce Smith has evaluated many plans at many stages of life. What did he find?
Mon, 08 Mar 2021 - 11min
91 - Don’t get caught in this frothy market
How do you know what time to pull money off the table without being a market timer?
Mon, 01 Mar 2021 - 13min
90 - Are you terrified of loss?
Are you so afraid of losing money that it’s hurting your chances of retirement success? Is there a middle road between too conservative and too risky?
Mon, 22 Feb 2021 - 15min
89 - 50% of retirees are seeing their Social Security check get taxed!
They’ve already taxed your paycheck for Social Security. Can they tax you again? The answer is YES!
Mon, 15 Feb 2021 - 10min
88 - Do you want to live to 100?
People were asked about living to 100. Those who said they didn’t want to, had a very interesting reason.
Mon, 08 Feb 2021 - 10min
87 - How do you choose the right financial advisor?
There are so many different titles of people to help you with your money. How do you know which one is right for you?
Mon, 01 Feb 2021 - 05min
86 - 10 reasons you need a tax plan in your retirement plan
Bruce’s new book “The Power of Tax Freedom Planning and Management” will be available soon. Here we discuss the 10 benefits he outlines in the book.
Mon, 25 Jan 2021 - 25min
85 - Will you be proactive or reactive with taxes in retirement?
Bruce is an Ed Slott 'Master Elite Financial Advisor'. What does that mean and why does Ed say you can choose how you want to pay taxes?
Mon, 18 Jan 2021 - 09min
84 - Should DOW 30 thousand mean anything to you?
When is the best time to take a profit? When there is one. Is this the time to make a decision with your retirement accounts?
Mon, 11 Jan 2021 - 14min
83 - The inheritance wrinkle you didn’t count on
Boomers will pass down over 36 trillion dollars over the next 10 years. Who will benefit the most?
Mon, 14 Dec 2020 - 08min
82 - How much of your 401k is really yours?
A record number of people have a million dollars in their 401k accounts. Although they may not actually be millionaires. Joe Pat Roop explains why and how you can stay closer to that million-dollar mark.
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Mon, 07 Dec 2020 - 18min
81 - How should you feel about Dow 30,000?
The Dow is up 9,000 points since March. How did you do?
Mon, 07 Dec 2020 - 14min
80 - You may not know it but you have a tax problem
Most people pay their taxes on Uncle Sam’s schedule. Is there another way to legally pay fewer taxes in retirement?
Mon, 23 Nov 2020 - 14min
79 - What retirement and your credit card bill have in common
They tell you to “pay taxes later” on that 401(k) and IRA. But paying taxes later may also mean paying taxes longer.
Mon, 16 Nov 2020 - 16min
78 - The right time to sit down with a financial advisor
In the military, you train during the calm times to be ready during the tough times. Can we say the same thing about retirement planning?
Mon, 09 Nov 2020 - 06min
77 - Would you rather have a million dollars or a pension?
Everyone wants to be a millionaire, right? In retirement there is a number that is more surprisingly important than your account balance.
Mon, 02 Nov 2020 - 07min
76 - Can you run a computer test run on your retirement?
If you took all your financial data and plugged it into a computer program, can it give you a reliable answer to the question, "Have I saved enough for retirement?"
Mon, 26 Oct 2020 - 11min
75 - Having a light bulb moment about retirement
How many times have you had a moment of discovery and said “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?” It could be a good thing. Like finding a new restaurant. However, it could also be the moment when you discover that an important part of your retirement is missing.
Mon, 19 Oct 2020 - 13min
74 - Will politicians ruin the 401(k)?
They offered us a 401(k) when the pension went away. When it comes to the tax benefit, one politician wants to change the rules.
Mon, 12 Oct 2020 - 08min
73 - Can you get to a zero tax rate in retirement?
You can go with the Government tax plan or a personalized tax plan. Which do you think will keep more money in your pocket?
Mon, 05 Oct 2020 - 14min
72 - Stop overpaying your taxes
The IRS says there are billions of dollars people pay every year on taxes that could be saved. How can you avoid that trap?
Mon, 28 Sep 2020 - 12min
71 - Is paying high taxes a sign of success or something else?
Paying high taxes used to be a sign of great financial success. But is there something you are missing?
Mon, 21 Sep 2020 - 14min
70 - The Pension Pot Hail Mary
Many pensions are under-funded. To turn the tide, a pension in California is trying to hit new “highs.”.
Mon, 14 Sep 2020 - 09min
69 - Is the advantage of the 401(k) gone?
The 401(k) came along to help those of us who didn’t have pensions. But now that boomers are using it, are there some fatal flaws?
Mon, 07 Sep 2020 - 11min
68 - Will this wacky California idea about taxes catch on?
California has a creative way to retrieve the money they paid for pandemic aid. Will it trickle down to the rest of the country?
Mon, 31 Aug 2020 - 09min
67 - How can comedian Steve Martin help your retirement?
There’s been a lot of funny moments with Steve Martin over the years, but there’s nothing funny about how one of his routines affects our retirement.
Mon, 24 Aug 2020 - 11min
66 - How is retirement planning like Monopoly?
Is Monopoly a game of luck or skill? What about retirement planning? Can you build your financial future on more than just a roll of the dice?
Mon, 17 Aug 2020 - 10min
65 - Is “sitting still” a good option right now?
Can you look at your investments and retirement accounts and say, “I’ll just wait until this is over”?
Mon, 10 Aug 2020 - 07min
64 - Will you have the spendable income you think in retirement?
A new survey looked at retirees over more than 20 years and found half of them didn’t have the income they hoped. What happened and how can you avoid it?
Mon, 27 Jul 2020 - 13min
63 - Is Wall Street really cutting back on fees?
Investment Fees pull away at your retirement nest egg. People are getting wise to it and are not happy about it. Is Wall Street starting to listen?
Mon, 20 Jul 2020 - 06min
62 - Tax forward thinking for 2020
Wealthy people have a tax strategy before the November election. Should you do the same?
Mon, 13 Jul 2020 - 08min
61 - Suzi Orman says you’re crazy if you put your money here…
Suzi Orman says you’re crazy if you put your money in a 401(k). Have things changed so much that the 401(k) is no longer a good place to save for retirement?
Mon, 06 Jul 2020 - 10min
60 - Is there too much market risk in the next 6 months?
The Chairman of the Fed sees it. Many money managers see it. Why is it that investors can’t see the risk in this market?
Mon, 29 Jun 2020 - 13min
59 - Has Covid-19 put your Social Security check in jeopardy?
Social Security is funded primarily through payroll deductions. What has all the unemployment done to the future of the program?
Mon, 22 Jun 2020 - 05min
58 - Is the market full of “stupid money"?
The bad economic news keeps coming in, but the market keeps going up. How is this possible, and is it a warning sign?
Mon, 15 Jun 2020 - 07min
57 - Congress is busy changing retirement planning
Congress has made sweeping changes in the last 6 months about how you will treat your IRAs and 401(k)s. Is your plan keeping up?
Mon, 01 Jun 2020 - 12min
56 - How often are you checking your retirement accounts?
If you are checking your retirement accounts regularly what does that say about you? Is there a way that you can ease some of that anxiety?
Mon, 18 May 2020 - 11min
55 - Has the recent market made you lose confidence in investing?
Warren Buffett says he’s sitting on billions in cash right now looking for a good place to invest, but can’t find one. What should that say to you?
Mon, 11 May 2020 - 10min
54 - How Covid-19 may have changed financial planning forever
It’s possible your shopping habits, recreational activities and work environment may be changed forever with Covid-19. One analyst says this will change Capitalism forever.
Mon, 04 May 2020 - 09min
53 - Did you prepared for the unexpected?
Having a financial plan means testing for all kinds of ups and downs in the economy. How has your plan fared so far?
Mon, 20 Apr 2020 - 12min
52 - Have recent events changed the strategy of using dividends for income?
Holding a stock because it pays a dividend has been an income strategy for years. But what happens if that company reduces or can no longer pay that dividend?
Mon, 13 Apr 2020 - 08min
51 - Are you suddenly unsure about retirement?
If what has happened over the last month has put doubt about whether you can retire, now is the time to talk about your financial plan.
Mon, 06 Apr 2020 - 16min
50 - Is this 2008 again? And what do I do?
You are sheltered at home, watching your retirement money take a huge hit. How do you get help and what do you do?
Mon, 30 Mar 2020 - 09min
49 - You’ve seen losses. Can you recover quicker than 2008?
It may have taken you 5 years to recover your 2008 losses, can we reduce that after this current market drop?
Mon, 23 Mar 2020 - 11min
48 - Are you ready to get off the market roller coaster?
Wall Street flipped a “Circuit Breaker” recently to stop dramatic losses. Do you have a “Circuit breaker” in your portfolio?
Mon, 16 Mar 2020 - 13min
47 - Wild swings on Wall Street, what is your move?
The Corona Virus, Super Tuesday, and a surprise cut by the Fed have the market swinging by over 1,000 points a day. If you are close to retirement, do you really want to be on this roller coaster?
Mon, 09 Mar 2020 - 14min
46 - Do you have termites in your retirement plan?
Termites work unseen over time and when you discover them they usually have done a lot of damage. Is there something in your retirement plan doing the same thing?
Mon, 24 Feb 2020 - 08min
45 - Beyond the Basics
We brought in an article this week that says a good financial advisor goes “Beyond the Basics.” What are the basics, and what should we expect beyond that?
Mon, 17 Feb 2020 - 12min
44 - Figuring out your monthly spend in retirement
Pick a number…or pick a percentage. Is that the way to figure out how much you can spend each month in retirement?
Mon, 10 Feb 2020 - 10min
43 - Are you Uncle Sam’s Tax Mule?
Those close to retirement, and IN retirement and paying the bulk of taxes in this country. That may come as a surprise for those about to go on a fixed income.
Mon, 03 Feb 2020 - 08min
42 - Finding the lost money in retirement
Is there money to be “found” in your portfolio? Bruce talks about how with smarter tax, fee and risk management, there may be money for your retirement that you never knew you had.
Mon, 27 Jan 2020 - 09min
41 - Are we in for a market “melt up"?
What is a stock market melt up and what might be the danger to the retirement saver?
Mon, 20 Jan 2020 - 09min
40 - Do you see yourself as wealthy?
As your 401k balance got bigger in 2019 it probably didn’t change anything about you. But there is someone who views you in a whole different light.
Mon, 13 Jan 2020 - 04min
39 - They’ve changed the rules for retirement planning
At the end of 2019 Congress passed “The Secure Act.” There are some big changes that you need to know about if you have an IRA or 401k.
Mon, 06 Jan 2020 - 16min
38 - There’s a new magic number!
It’s common for people to ask, “How much do I need for retirement?” The internet is full of ideas, and those ideas are constantly changing.
Mon, 30 Dec 2019 - 09min
37 - Wacky Wall Street Advice
You need to sift through the advice you hear on the financial networks to see if it’s right for you. The question is: Is this advice good for anyone getting ready for retirement?
Mon, 23 Dec 2019 - 05min
36 - Why women are unhappy with financial services
There’s a new study that says of all the services women use, they are most unsatisfied with financial services. Why is that?
Mon, 16 Dec 2019 - 10min
35 - The Folly of Predictions
I your financial advisor looks at you and says, “You’re gonna be fine,” don’t believe him.
Mon, 09 Dec 2019 - 09min
34 - Are you in the Sweet Spot for a rollover?
Converting some of your taxable money to tax free money sounds good, but are you a good candidate for this strategy?
Mon, 25 Nov 2019 - 10min
33 - Losses vs Low Returns
What do you think is more dangerous to your retirement: Losses or lower returns?
Mon, 18 Nov 2019 - 11min
32 - Dow 650 thousand, are you kidding me?
Bruce weighs in on one of the more outlandish predictions we’ve heard lately, plus the results of your politics influencing your investing.
Mon, 11 Nov 2019 - 10min
31 - Pulling the financial blinders off
Fidelity reports a record number of people pulling out of the market and going into CDs. Is this smart, overly cautious, or misguided? Bruce discusses the alternatives with better risk management.
Mon, 04 Nov 2019 - 13min
30 - Financial lessons from Judge Judy
You may not know it but Judge Judy is one of the highest paid women on TV, and we can learn something from her “No BS” approach.
Mon, 28 Oct 2019 - 12min
29 - Put a dent in your biggest retirement expense
What do you think your biggest retirement expense will be? Will it be food, housing, fun or something else? You might be surprised.
Mon, 21 Oct 2019 - 13min
28 - Is your pension a part of the next headline?
GE announced it is freezing pensions for 20 thousand employees and offering buy out for 100 thousand others. If you are looking forward to a pension check, what do you need to know?
Mon, 14 Oct 2019 - 09min
27 - I don’t have time for financial planners
There is always an excuse to avoid talking about your money and planning for the future. Bruce talks to those of you who say: “I don’t have time,” “I don’t understand it,” “I hate it,” “I do it myself,” and “I don’t have enough money to justify a financial advisor.”
Mon, 07 Oct 2019 - 16min
26 - The Retirement Double Whammy
What happens if the year you retire the market takes an ugly turn? Can you prepare for that?
Mon, 30 Sep 2019 - 04min
25 - The curious client
Bruce has told many stories of how he has helped clients increase their potential lifetime retirement benefits by 100 thousand dollars or more. Your question might be the same as many who come into the office. Can it work for me?
Mon, 23 Sep 2019 - 16min