Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Good evening and welcome to Safe Money Strategies right here
on WBZ News Radio. I'm Kelly Kelly, founder of Kelly
Financial Services, and your host tonight. I'm so glad you're
with us. Every Saturday night at nine pm, we bring
you real conversations about retirement, resilience and protecting the life
(00:27):
you've worked so hard to build. We're a proud, family
run firm based right here in New England, and for
over twenty two years, we've helped thousands of families plan
for the next chapter with clarity and confidence. You may
know us from our two decades on the AM airwaves,
and now we're thrilled to bring that same trusted voice
(00:50):
to WBZ. This show is about more than just money.
It's about peace of mind purpose in making smart decisions
that support the people you love. Each week, I'm joined
by my children, William Kelly Junior and Mary Madeline Kelly,
along with our incredible team of fiduciary advisors. Together, we
(01:11):
share practical strategies, personal stories, and a few laughs along
the way. We'll cover everything from inflation and taxes to
income planning, market trends, and how to leave a lasting legacy.
Because retirement isn't. The end of the story is the
beginning of a new one. So if you're winding down
(01:32):
for the evening, pour something relaxing, settle in and spend
a little time with us. You're in good company and
we're glad you're here. This is Safe Money Strategies where family,
finance and your future come together.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Safe Money Strategies with Kelly Kelly and her team called
Kelly Financial at eighty eight eight hundred and twenty and one,
or go to Kelly Financial dot org. That's Kelly ally
Financial dot org.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Each week on Safe Money Strategies, we take a moment
to step back from the headlines and have a real conversation,
the kind you might have around the kitchen table. This
is a part of the show we call Forever Young.
It's where I sit down with my son, William Kelly Junior,
and we talk about life, what's going on in the world,
(02:28):
in our family, and what really matters most when you're
planning for the future. Sometimes it's light, sometimes as thoughtful,
but as always real.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Good evening, William, How are you?
Speaker 4 (02:40):
I'm fine, Mom?
Speaker 2 (02:41):
How are you?
Speaker 3 (02:42):
I'm doing great?
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Good.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
So it's another Saturday upon us.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
It's crazy to say that.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
I can't believe that we had Melly over for a
whole weekend and this dog. Ladies and gentlemen, I don't
know if you like cute dogs, but if you're looking
to get a cute dog, get a cockapoo, because this
dog is like a little heavenly baby angel.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
She's so cute.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
I know.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
It was our first time babysitting her without Mary Madeline.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yes, I honestly I am having withdrawals right now. I
miss that dog so much. The animals miss the dog,
believe it or not, Ladies and gentlemen, our cat Marshall,
who is exclusive to Georgia only.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
He only likes Georgia other dogs he's very weary of.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
He was weary of Melly at first, but not intimidated
by her.
Speaker 5 (03:26):
He wouldn't run away.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
He'd you know, kind of swat her a couple of times.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
But then all of a sudden, the day before she leaves,
Marshall starts playing. They start wrestling because Marshall likes to
wrestle with Georgia, our Karen Terrier dog, and they're very
physical and Marshall is just you know, he's a good
sport and I couldn't believe it. They finally started playing,
and you know, I think they realized that their siblings.
(03:52):
And I think Mary Madaline has done a fine job.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
She's on a good schedule, she is, and I feel
like we stuck with it.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Yeah. I think this is proof that maybe Murray Madaline
can be responsible.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Yeah, maybe she can handle responsibility.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
And I think that, you know, being a financial advisor
as she is, I think that's very important skills to
develop in this field. So I'm very proud of Mary
Madaline for taking this accountability. I know, having a puppy
is a big deal and jokes aside, I am very
proud of Marray Madeline. She's raised a really fine dog already.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
She's one of the most responsible people I know.
Speaker 4 (04:29):
Probably. Yeah, it's a good way. She's a she always
is by the book always. She super detailed.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
But you know, I mean, we all slip up, and
I think Murray Madaline just kind of was stumbling along
and this dog brought her stability, you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Oh William you are you bust her chops every step
of the way.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
If I did not, I think, ladies and that would
be weird. It's your job exactly. It would be strange
if I was just like, I love my sister. She
he's perfect. That's weird, that's weird.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Of course, behind her back, I would compliment her, right,
but to her face, I can never do that.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Are you kidding me?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
I mean, unless we're having a serious one to one.
But I mean, you got to keep her humble. It's
my job, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Mary Madlin is not with us at this moment.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
But that's true. So this is a sibling battle. Ladies
and gentlean just ignore it, don't worry about it.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
So besides Mellie being the best dog on planet Earth
and just really assimilating with the family super well, I got.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
To meet Marray Madaline's boyfriend, Frank. But Frank he is.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
A I don't know if he's a biochemist.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Biochemist, very interesting, like extremely cerebral, very interesting job, hard worker.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
He himself is very cerebral.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
He doesn't know it all, and I hope you'll be
a know it all because he's getting his PhD. And
he just loves science. He knows it so well, like
the back of his hand. So if you have any
kind of chemistry question, he's the guy to ask, so
I like this guy already, and you know I meet him.
He comes over to the house a couple of weeks back,
(06:11):
brings all of his dogs, and him and my sister
go to their high school reunion together.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
And after that they split.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Up and went I can't believe they met at the abbey.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Right, they knew each other at the abbey.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
They were kind of years ago, yeah, and then.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
All of a sudden ten years later here there together.
Life is a funny, funny how things come over to
never know. You really don't, you really don't.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Anyways, I have to drop Melly off, and Frank gives
me a text. He sends me a text and he says, William,
would you be interested in going to Lifetime Fitness with me?
Speaker 6 (06:44):
Now?
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Lifetime Fitness, Ladies and gentlemen. I don't know if you've been,
but it is this luxury fitness place. It is, as
he described it.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
The Disney World of gyms. And I'm so excited.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Barry Madaline found a really nice guy, I have to say.
And I'm sure you guys are very interested in the
in the Kelly family gossip, so I'll let you guys
in a little bit of the.
Speaker 3 (07:06):
Secret here coming straight from Williams, this is true.
Speaker 4 (07:10):
He's past the brother test.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
I have to say, I.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Can't believe this, but I think he has what it
takes to annoy Mary Madaline to a degree that I
used to do. And that's not something that you can
just do, ladies and gentlemen. It takes research, psychological understanding
of Mary Madaline's mind.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
You have to be thorough.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Okay, if you want to annoy my sister, if you
want to not just annoy but prank Marray Madaline.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
It's just you got to get her.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
So Frank, I think he has a sense of humor.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
He does, and that is such an important credential, and
he just gets Mary Madaline and.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
He is so He's just such an enjoyable guy to
be around.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
You know, I'm really proud of both of them. I'm
really proud of him and what he's doing. And I'm
so happy that he's just treating me Madeline so well,
and you know, I don't have to annoy her anymore.
It's a little sad because you know, Frank is doing
all this work for me and I just you know,
I'm going to miss it.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
One I have a feeling he does not annoy her
that much. I, well, someone's got to try.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Murray Madeline can't live a life without being a little annoyed,
you know. But I'll give you a good example, ladies
and gentlemen, and then I'll wrap it up.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
I said to mom. Frank does pranks on Murray Madaline.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
You know, he'll do little things to kind of mess
with her, but then he'll do a really good thing
to offset it. So, Murray Madaline was on a trip
and she comes home, and before she arrives, Frank opens
all the cabinet doors in her entire apartment, but he.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
Does the dishes.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
And then when Frank and I were hanging out and
we were at Maury Madeleine's apartment to return Melly to
to Murray Madeline's apartment, we drink all of her SODA's
and we're eating her food and Mary Madeline's try to drink.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
So who's day, Oh, Mary Madeleine and Frank and Frank, well,
it was like a probiotic soda. Okay, sorry, let me
it's it's crazy what they sell now, a probiotic healthy soda.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
And yeah, no, so Frank and I were drinking it harmlessly.
We drank one. It was the last one.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Mary Madaline wanted it, she was saving it. She was
just heartbroken that we did it. So Frank goes to
the store by four more for her same flavor. So
Mary Madaline's a trooper. She puts up with it, you know.
She uh, but it's if you're gonna be Mary Madaline.
And I mean, I guess. I guess it's my fault
because I got born into this world and I just
(09:34):
couldn't help but mess with her.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
I can't help it.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
It's like, oh, William, I.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Think there's a gene in me that causes me to
do it. But God answered my prayers and gave her
a great guy who will also do that.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
For her, so she'll never escape it for the rest
of her life. So God, thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Well, that was nice of you to drive Mallie and
then for Frank two to help do all of this
before her fly.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
It was so Frank is really he's an upstanding guy.
Melly is a great passenger. Yeah, Melly is just great
far everything. So yeah, I know we're all going to
hang out together pretty soon, so I'm excited for that.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
So good good do keep us on your dial. We've
got a lot of great content coming your way. Mike
Ducett and Greg Workman will break down the federal reserves
upcoming October meeting, what rakecuts could mean for inflation, the
job market, and your portfolio. As we head into year end, Mary,
Madeline Kelly and Greg Murray, we'll discuss one of the
(10:35):
biggest challenges facing today's retirees, how to make your money
last a lifetime and strategies to protect against outliving your savings.
I'll be back with William and we'll be covering two
separate topics, how to get your finances ready for a
year end with an October checkup, and how parents and
(10:55):
grandparents can start those powerful family conversations about money and values.
And of course we'll close the hour with some wit
and wisdom from the late Bill Kelly. His words continue
to inspire and guide us. That's wrap for forever, young
Thank you for listening, and William, thank you for joining me.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
We'll be back with more content. I love you, honey, I.
Speaker 2 (11:19):
Love you too. Call us today at eight eight hundred
and eighty one or visit us online at Kellyfinancial dot
org to schedule your complimentary retirement income analysis.
Speaker 7 (11:39):
Welcome back to Safe Money Strategies, the show that helps
you make informed financial decisions and.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
Plan wisely for the future.
Speaker 7 (11:46):
I'm Mike Ducett, chief operating officer at Kelly Financial Services,
here with my co host Greg Workman.
Speaker 6 (11:52):
Hello, I'm Greg Workman, investment advisor at Kelly Financial. We
are glad you could join us tonight, Mike. The big
head line this week is the Federal Reserve's upcoming policy
meeting on October twenty eighth and twenty ninth. Many people
think FED meetings are just for the economists, but their
decisions ripple through everyone's finances, from mortgages and credit cards
(12:15):
to business loans and even our retirement accounts.
Speaker 7 (12:18):
Absolutely, Greg changes to the Federal Funds rate affect borrowing
costs for millions of Americans. When the FED raises rates,
loans get more expensive. When they cut rates, borrowing becomes cheaper,
encouraging spending and hiring. But the timing and size of
the changes make a huge difference, which is why this
October meeting is so closely watched.
Speaker 6 (12:38):
And let's not forget the Fed's dual mandate keep inflation
low and employment high. Right now, those two goals are
intention Inflation remains above the fed's two percent target. While
the labor market is certainly showing some signs of slowing down,
that makes the upcoming decisions even more critical.
Speaker 7 (13:00):
In these, rate decisions affect more than just borrowing. They
influence savings, investment returns, and business growth. Lower rates can
make mortgages more affordable and encourage businesses to invest and hire.
At the same time, lower rates can reduce yields on CDs,
savings accounts, and other fixed income instruments.
Speaker 6 (13:18):
Exactly for investors and retirees, Understanding the fed's moves and
the reasoning behind them is critical. Over the next segments,
we'll break down the fed's recent history, labor market trends, inflation,
global considerations, and practical strategies you can use to protect
your portfolio and take advantage of opportunities.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
So stay with us.
Speaker 7 (13:42):
By the end of this show, you'll have a clear
picture of the fed's path, what it could mean for
your finances, and actionable steps to consider before year end.
Greg Before we dive deeper into the upcoming FED meeting,
let's give our listeners some context. The FED has a
long history of adjusting rates to manage the economy. Understanding
that history can help explain why markets react the way
(14:03):
they do.
Speaker 6 (14:04):
Absolutely, Mike. If we go back just a few years,
inflation started spiking in twenty twenty two, reaching over eight percent,
one of the fastest increases that we've seen in decades.
To counteract that, the FED implemented a series of aggressive
rate hikes, eleven of them between March twenty twenty two
(14:26):
and mid twenty twenty three, raising the federal funds rate
from near zero to above five percent.
Speaker 7 (14:33):
Those moves helped cool inflation, but they also had a
direct impact on everyday Americans. Mortgage rates climbed above seven percent,
credit card interest surged in small businesses faced higher borrowing costs.
Speaker 6 (14:46):
Exactly, you can see why the Fed's actions have such
a ripple effect. When rates rise too quickly, the cost
of debt can become a burden. On the other hand,
if rates stay too low for too long, inflation can spiral.
The FED is constantly balancing those forces.
Speaker 7 (15:06):
In twenty twenty four, the FED paused its rate hikes
as inflation cooled to roughly three to four percent. That
pause gave the economy a chance to stabilize, but by
twenty twenty five, inflation pressures returned due to tariffs, energy costs,
and supply chain issues, prompting the FED to make its
first rate cut since twenty twenty two, a quarter point
(15:29):
reduction last month, lowering rates to a four to four
point twenty five percent range.
Speaker 6 (15:34):
Markets reacted quickly. Investors immediately began pricing in another potential
rate cut in October, with futures indicating a possible three
point seventy five to four percent range. But it's important
for our listeners to understand that these numbers are not
just speculation. They reflect real economic signals, including jobs, wages,
(15:58):
consumer spending, and in inflation trends exactly.
Speaker 7 (16:02):
For example, when rates were at their peak in twenty
twenty three, a three hundred thousand mortgage could cost a
homeowner roughly five hundred dollars per month than it would
at today's rates. That's money that could otherwise be spent, saved,
or invested, and.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
Small businesses felt it too. Higher rates meant higher interest
on equipment loans or lines of credit, which sometimes forced
delays on hiring or expansion. This is why watching FED
policy is not just for the economists. It directly affects
families and businesses.
Speaker 7 (16:35):
Looking forward to the October meeting, the fedwill wig whether
to continue cutting rates to stimulate the economy or hold
steady to ensure inflation doesn't creep back up. It's a
delicate balancing act and history shows that even small changes
can have significant effects. Greg One of the biggest influences
on the Fed's decision making right now is the labor market,
(16:55):
and the data is showing some signs of slowing.
Speaker 6 (16:57):
That's right, Mike. In June five, the US lost jobs
for the first time in over four years, and by
August only twenty two thousand jobs were added. To put
that in perspective, over the past decade, we've typically seen
one hundred and fifty thousand to two hundred thousand jobs
added monthly.
Speaker 7 (17:18):
Unemployment has edged up to four point four percent, and
wage growth has slowed to three percent year over year,
which is below what's needed to keep pace with inflation.
That combination slower hiring and moderate wage growth creates a
rail drag on consumer spending exactly.
Speaker 6 (17:35):
Consumer spending drives seventy percent of the US economy, so
even small slowdowns can ripple throughout the markets. Certain sectors
like retail, manufacturing and parts of technology have already begun
freezing hiring or cutting staff.
Speaker 7 (17:51):
For the FED, this is a key signal.
Speaker 6 (17:53):
A slower labor market.
Speaker 7 (17:55):
Suggests that the economy may need support through lower interest
rates to stimulate hiring and spending.
Speaker 6 (18:01):
On the other hand, the FED must balance this against inflation.
If rates are cut too aggressively, borrowing becomes cheaper, which
can reignite price pressures, particularly in housing and consumer goods.
Speaker 7 (18:15):
Let's give a practical example. A small business planning to
expand may hesitate to hire additional staff if they anticipate
higher borrowing costs. A rate cut can lower interest on
a business line of credit, making the expansion feasible. Conversely,
families may refinance a mortgage, freeing up cash to spend
in the local economy.
Speaker 6 (18:33):
It's a delicate balancing act. The FED is trying to
keep unemployment low without triggering inflation, while real people and
businesses feel the effects every day. That's why the labor
market reports are closely watched by investors, policy makers, and
financial advisors alike, and for our listeners.
Speaker 7 (18:52):
Understanding these trends can help guide decisions on timely purchases,
refinancing loans, or adjusting investment allocations. Dreg and I to
take a quick break, but we'll be back soon to
continue our conversation, so stay tuned.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
I'm Kelly Kelly from Kelly Financial. Is your financial advisor
a fiduciary? In other words, are they legally required to
act in your best interest? My complimentary book, Retire Your Fear,
Plan Your Future explains what a fiduciary is and will
help you understand if an advisor is really putting you first.
For the book, call eight eight eight eight hundred and
(19:29):
eighteen eighty one or email Kelly at Kellyfinancial dot org.
We're Kelly Financial. Come retire with us. Welcome back to
safe money strategies. I'm Kelly Kelly here with my son
William Kelly. Follow us here. Pumpkins on porches, football in
(19:50):
full swing, the leaves beginning to change, and you know, William.
October is one of those months where life seems to
shift gears. The summer is gone, the holiday rush has
not hit yet, and is the perfect time to stop
and ask am I on track before the year ends?
Speaker 2 (20:09):
That's exactly right, mom. October is really like a reset month.
It's the start of the last quarter of the year,
and it gives people the breathing room to check in without.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
The distraction of the holidays.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
By the time November rolls around, life gets busy with
Thanksgiving and family gatherings. December it's holiday parties and year
end everything. So October is really the time to take
a clear look and ask, am I where I want
to be financially.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
And that's so important.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
At Kelly Financial, our team helps clients with these checkups
every single year. It's a chance to see what's been
accomplished and what still needs to be done before the
calendar flips. And what people always tell us is how
much peace of mind they feel after going through this
kind of review, right.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Because it's not just about numbers on a page. It's
knowing that you're not heading into the holidays with uncertainty.
I think people want to enjoy time with their families,
not sit at the dinner table worrying if they forgot
something critical about their retirement accounts or taxes exactly.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
And let's talk about some of the practical things that
make this season important. First contributions, Many people start the
year with a goal for their retirement accounts. Maybe it
was maxing out a four oh one K or making
steady contributions to an IRA. October is a great time
to check in and ask, am I own pace or
(21:33):
do I need to make some adjustments before December thirty.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
First, And for retirees, the focus shifts require minimum distributions
are one of those things you can't ignore. Advisors help
clients pace those throughout the year, but for anyone who
hasn't checked yet, October is a reminder you don't want
to be dealing with that right in the middle of
the holiday season.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
And then there's tax planning. October gives you enough runway
to think about whether there are charitable gifts you'd like
to make this year, or whether there are other opportunities
to manage taxes in a thoughtful way. It's not about rushing,
it's about having space to make good decisions.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Another big October item is healthcare. Medicare open enrollment begins
this month, and that's one of those things where options
change a year to year. The plan that fits your
needs last year might not look like the best one
this year. It's a good time to look at those
choices before the deadline sneaks up.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
And William, you touched on something earlier that I think
is worth emphasizing peace of mind. This season is about
more than checklist. It's about knowing that when the holidays come,
you can actually enjoy them. You can sit with your
family at Thanksgiving dinner, watch a holiday movie, or celebrate
(22:50):
with friends without that nagging feeling that something important was
left undone.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
And I think that's what people really want, mom. They
don't want to be up at night in December worrying
if they're ready. They want to feel organized, and October
is when that's possible.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Yes, October really is that golden window after the busyness
of summer, but before the rush of the holidays. It's
a chance to pause, to look at where you are
and to make sure your financial life is aligned with
your goals.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
And for our listeners, if you're sitting there thinking, I
don't know if I've done my checkup this year, let
this be your son. Ask yourself. Have I contributed what
I planned? Have I thought about.
Speaker 4 (23:30):
Withdrawals or taxes?
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Have I looked at my healthcare options? Even just asking
those questions now can give you a clear sense of direction.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
And if you don't have all the answers, that's okay.
That's what our advisors are here for They love sitting
down with clients this time of year because it's about
clarity and confidence, and we'd love to help you too.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
If you'd like to sit down for a complimentary October checkup,
we'd be happy to schedule that for you. Just give
us a call at eight days, eight hundred and oney
eight one or email us at Kelly at Kelly Financial
dot org and our team will help you.
Speaker 4 (24:05):
Set it up.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
October is the month to take action. Don't wait until
year end. Give yourself the gift of peace of mind
so when the holidays arrive, you can truly be present
with your family, with your friends, and with yourself.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
And coming up after the break, we're going to switch
gears and talk about another topic that's close to our hearts,
how parents and grandparents can start financial conversations with their
kids and grandkids.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
Yes, that's one of my favorites. Stay with us, we'll
be right back.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Save money strategies with Kelly Kelly and her team. Call
Kelly Financial at eighty eight eight hundred and twenty eight
one or go to Kelly Financial dot org. That's Kelly
at Kelly Financial dot org