It's All About the $Money, Honey!

Some of the most sweeping tax changes on the horizon will impact the estate you leave to your heirs. Beginning in 2026, the amount of assets you can pass to your heirs without paying estate tax will fall. These changes, if allowed to take effect, could significantly alter how you manage your estate plan. In this episode, we'll discuss those changes and how they might impact you. Later, we share some simple strategies for m...

As talk of tariffs continues to roil the stock market, many investors have decided they are packing it in for now. They are done riding the market roller coaster and waiting for a smoother ride to get back in. However, just because the market is down doesn't mean there aren't opportunities to be found, if you know where to look. In this episode, we share some of the ways you can take advantage of a falling market with long...

The big headline in April 2025 was tariffs. The Trump Administration announced new tariffs on imports from a variety of nations. Not surprisingly, global stock markets, including in the United States, fell significantly as investors considered the possible fallout. Whether it's tariffs, interest rates, or terrorist attacks, the market is always going to be susceptible to massive drops when people get scared. The key to wea...

Each year, a small percentage of Americans will face the dreaded IRS audit. While there is no sure-fire way to avoid triggering an audit, there are certain tax situations that attract the IRS' attention more often and increase the odds you will be audited. In this episode, we examine 5 of the biggest tax red flags that will almost certainly trigger an IRS audit and how you can avoid them. Later, we will discuss a special t...

Following the death of legendary actor Gene Hackman, details came to light about his estate plan. Because he and his wife died so closely together, it was unclear who actually died first. This set off a chain reaction that led to disputes over his substantial estate. In this episode, we examine cautionary tales of celebrity estate planning nightmares and how you can avoid them. Later, we share how retirees are earning actu...

At some point, it is likely you will become a caregiver for an aging parent or spouse. Helping a loved one transition from independent living to assisted living or nursing care can often be a challenging ordeal. The key to managing that transition as best you can is being prepared. In this episode, we share the key documents to have and considerations to make as you become a caregiver for a loved one. Later, we discuss the...

Of all the classes of assets people can invest in, the one that seems to attract the most interest, but has the least amount of understanding, is alternatives. For many people, the idea of investing in alternatives is exciting, exclusive, and maybe a bit dangerous. Promising huge potential returns, alternatives can be a great way to multiply your wealth, or lose it all. In this episode, we discuss three of the most popular...

It was hard to ignore the big financial story from the past few weeks. We’re talking about tariffs. President Trump announced tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China and, not surprisingly, the stock market reacted negatively.  Tariffs have a lot of Americans nervous about the future for our economy, yet recent history suggests they might not be such a big deal. In this episode, we examine the potential impact of ...

One question we get quite frequently is "Should I consider using Roth accounts?" Like almost every financial question, the answer is, 'It depends." While using Roth accounts won't really make any difference in the investment choices you make, they can have major impacts on your future taxes. Choosing to use Roth accounts or Roth Conversions is a judgment call based on your specific goals and needs. In this episode, we exam...

It's often said that the only things certain in life are death and taxes. However, there is one missing from that list. One thing that is absolute certain is uncertainty. Change is inevitable and this includes the economy and market. Still, while we can't predict what or when changes will occur, it is possible to take steps to prepare your money. In this episode, we share how to navigate financial changes with tried and tr...

As 2025 approaches, there will be no shortage of headlines that dominate the news in the coming months. Among those are financial headlines that will likely have significant impacts on the economy and market. In this episode, we reveal the top financial headlines for 2025 we will be watching. And later, we will share a better way for setting New Year's Resolutions that ensures a much higher probability you will achieve you...

Millionaires have a very low probability of running out of money in retirement. Yet, there are those that are very happy, contented, and living their best lives and there are those that are unhappy, stressed, and always chasing more. How can there be such a disparity in the the experiences of people with similar financial resources? In this episode, we share common characteristics of The Unhappily Rich. Later, we reveal so...

More than 66 percent of Americans have no estate plan of their choosing and are relying on courts and state laws to decide what happens to their lifetime of accumulated assets after they pass away. Sadly, the people that are impacted most are the loved ones left behind. In this episode, we discuss why creating an estate plan is the ultimate gift of love to your family. And later, we share why a financial plan is the perfec...

Studies show that those who live to the age of 65 have a 70 percent probability of needing some type of long-term care at some point in their lives. As human life expectancy grows, this fact makes it more likely that children will become caregivers for aging parents. In this episode, we examine some of the actual experiences of clients we serve and how they have handled the significant challenges and burdens of becoming a ...

Most of your life will be spent in the accumulation phase of managing your wealth. The goal is to grow your nest egg so that when you retire, it's as big as possible. However, there will come a time when the primary goal is to preserve and spend your wealth in retirement. This is called the decumulation phase and mastering it takes a totally different mindset than the growth phase. In this episode, we reveal why having a g...

Approximately 90 percent of wealthy families will see their accumulated wealth disappear within three generations. It shouldn't be surprising that the generations who had little or no role in creating the wealth have little respect for how hard it was to earn it and preserve it. In this episode, we talk with Pam Mowry, CEO of Canterbury Voices, about the importance of shared vision and values among families and the role th...