Financial Flight Plan Podcast

As much as any other threat, recognizing and avoiding scams has become a necessary skill for today’s retirees to develop. Join us as we explore crucial steps you can take to safeguard your financial well-being against the growing tide of scams and identity theft. Learn from real-life stories and gain practical advice to keep your finances secure in this digital era, all from the perspective of a seasoned financial professional.   Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

401(k)s have changed a lot since the beginning of the game and many of them have a powerful tool that not many people know about. Join us in today's episode as we shed light on this often-overlooked feature within the 401(k) community and explore its potential benefits. And make sure to stick around until the end, where Brie helps a listener think about his retirement options!   Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

Sometimes it’s hard to make financial sacrifices when the reward might not be seen until several years in the future. Today we’re back to talk more about some of the situations where you might be inclined to take the immediate benefit when you should really consider the delayed rewards…   Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

Sometimes it’s hard to make financial sacrifices when the reward might not be seen until several years in the future. Today we’ll talk about some of the situations where you might be inclined to take the immediate benefit when you should really consider the delayed rewards…   Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

Join us for a thoughtful episode where we unpack our 2023 edition of key year-end planning strategies for those nearing or embracing their retirement years. We'll explore the nuances of optimizing your investment portfolio, safeguarding your assets, and ensuring a stable, rewarding lifestyle in the years to come. Together, we'll navigate through essential topics like managing RMDs, exploring tax-saving opportunities, and even touch on the often-overlooked emotional aspects of this pivotal life transition.   Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

In a digital world filled with evolving cyber threats, protecting your financial well-being has never been more crucial. In today's episode, we're going to take you through a checklist of some important issues to be aware of when it comes to cyber security. Tune in for some invaluable tips and best practices for protecting yourself against threats to your financial future.   Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

Are you over 55 and pondering retirement? Dive into the world of Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) with us. In this episode, we demystify the reasons behind mandatory withdrawals from your retirement savings. Discover strategies to potentially avoid them and understand the risks of not preparing in advance. And for those fortunate to not rely on RMDs for income, we'll explore impactful ways to utilize those funds.   Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

There are some people who don’t care at all about leaving a financial legacy, but for those who do, it’s important to eliminate some of the common estate planning mistakes. In this episode, we cover topics ranging from poor expense planning to outdated beneficiary designations and family conflict triggers. We also shed light on some misconceptions about transferring real estate and explain the impact of tax implications on your estate. If you want to leave a legacy without regret or legal turmoil, this episode is a great starting point.   Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

Get ready for part two of our Retirement Cash Flow series! This time, we're diving into the income side of the equation. In part one, we tackled the ins and outs of your expenses in retirement. Now, it's all about understanding the crucial role of income analysis. We'll uncover the secrets of guaranteed income versus the uncertain stuff and shed light on the consequences of retiring without a clear income plan. Don't worry if you're feeling lost - we've got your back with practical solutions and expert guidance. Tune in and take charge of your retirement cash flow!   Episode Resources:  www.brokercheck.comwww.advisorinfo.sec.gov   Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

In this episode, we’ll explore many of the expenses in your life that might drastically change (one way or another) in retirement. We’ll break those expenses down further to see which ones are the top priorities and analyze some of the other factors that impact your cash flow in retirement.   Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

In the complex world of retirement planning, there are countless pitfalls one could fall into. In this episode, we've distilled it down to what we believe are the top 5 mistakes to watch out for. Avoiding these crucial missteps can have a significant impact on the success of your retirement plan. So, join us as we delve into these key issues and learn how to navigate them effectively when it's your turn to plan for retirement. Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

Have you ever wondered if the Social Security system will run out of money before you retire? Or if claiming benefits as soon as you're eligible is the best decision for your financial future? In this episode, we'll be debunking common myths about Social Security and answering the questions you've been curious about. Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

Are you preparing for retirement but feeling confident that you have covered all the expenses? Well, think again... It turns out that many retirees overlook some crucial expenses that can leave them financially vulnerable. In this episode, we explore the retirement expenses that most people tend to forget, including skyrocketing medical bills, unexpected travel costs, taxes, and much more. We'll discuss practical tips and strategies to help you plan for these expenses and ensure a secure and comfortable retirement. Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

The debt ceiling has been a big story in the news lately, so we wanted to discuss this item and how it could potentially impact your retirement. Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

After being discussed in Congress for nearly a year and a half, the SECURE Act 2.0 has been passed. Let’s see what we need to know. Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

Saving in your 401(k) can be an easy and painless way to build your retirement savings. But because it’s so easy and painless, it can also be easy to ignore for long periods of time, which often leads to mistakes. We’ll cover at least the top 5 mistakes people make in their 401(k)s. Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

Let’s explore some of the things you should be thinking about to make smart financial decisions when you encounter some of the most significant events in your life. Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

Just like the lights on your dashboard can indicate if something is wrong with your car (like low tire pressure or leaking oil), there are indicators in your financial life that might point out that you have a problem that needs to be addressed... Important Links: Article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/next-change-is-inevitable-growth-is-optional/202208/the-psychological-investment-in-retirement Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

We always talk about the money side of financial and retirement planning. But what about the mental aspect of that big life change? Today we’ll break down an article written by a Licensed Professional Counselor (Kate Schroeder) for Psychology Today, titled The Psychological Investment In Retirement. Important Links: Article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/next-change-is-inevitable-growth-is-optional/202208/the-psychological-investment-in-retirement Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

A recent article in The Hill paints the EARN Act (Enhancing American Retirement Now), the Senate’s version of the House’s Secure Act 2.0 bill, in a negative light as primarily a tool to give a tax break to rich Americans in a way that ultimately adds to the national deficit and only circumvents problems instead of solving them. We’ll breakdown the article on today’s episode and share our opinion on what it gets right, and wrong. Important Links: Article: https://thehill.com/policy/finance/3534883-senate-retirement-bill-benefits-wealthy-americans/ Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

Do you know what red flags, but also some good signs, to be on the lookout for when you’re searching for an advisor to work with as you prepare for retirement? On this episode, we’ll give you some red flags to be aware of, teach you how to spot them, and illustrate the difference between an advisor who does the bare minimum versus one who goes above and beyond to work in your best interests. Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

On this episode, we will be discussing some new changes coming to TSPs and what this can mean for you. Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

There are certain age milestones where you should really pay attention to your retirement planning progress. On this episode, we’ll look at the most important birthdays as you approach retirement and cover the exact things you should be checking off your to-do list at each age. Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

Most people, when trying to plan their retirement, have to guess about the answers to some important questions. Let’s talk about some of those questions and why you need to have a better answer than just a guess. Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

Some people feel that they’ll save money by handling their investments themselves instead of working with an advisor. Others may like the challenge of doing it themselves. Still others just don’t know who to trust so they end up not working with anyone. Let’s talk about some reasons that you might need an advisor. Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

Droves of workers are retiring early or taking a break from work as they change career paths. It’s become known as The Great Resignation. On this episode, we’ll highlight some of the key takeaways of a recent Forbes article and explore a lot of the impacts on retirement planning from across different age groups in the wake of this massive workplace shift that’s underway. Important Links: Forbes Article: https://bit.ly/3rnoupG Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

Maybe you’re close to retirement and think you don’t have nearly enough money saved. But let’s talk about some reasons that the news might not be as bad as you think. Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

With the vaccine mandate set to take effect for Federal employees in November, we wanted to help you understand what this could mean for your employment and how it might impact your retirement plans. Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402

If you’ve ever ridden the subway in London, you’ve probably seen the “Mind the Gap” signs warning you to be aware of the gap between the train door and the station platform. Let’s talk today about minding the gaps in retirement planning. Important Links: Website: https://www.estesfinancial.net/ Call: 817-444-8402