Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Discover safe money strategies with Kelly Kelly and her team.
Call Kelly Financial at eighty eight eight hundred one eighty
one or visit Kelly Financial dot org.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Hello, this is Greg Murray, Senior vice president and Chief
Compliance Officer at Kelly Financial Services. Joining me this evening
is Mary Madeline Kelly, one of our wealth advisors. How
are you doing tonight, Hi, Greg?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
I am doing great. Friends Giving was a success last week.
I always make my signature cornbread cast role and it
was a hit yet again. This time I actually made
two batches because it goes so fast that people love it.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
That is awesome to hear. It's going to be a
busy Thanksgiving week for me as well. We have Diane's
family Thanksgiving with thirty eight people coming, and then we
are going to be with my family on Saturday, which
we will be hosting for the first time. And then
once we get through Thanksgiving, the race is on to
the end of the year.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Wow, thirty eight people sounds like a lot, but I'm
sure you guys will have a great time. And the
end of the year is the time when a lot
of people start reviewing their retirement plans and contributions which
brings us right to this evening's topic, the changes coming
to four oh one K catch up contributions.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
That's right, and these updates have caused a lot of confusion,
so let's break them down. Catch Up contributions are extra
amounts you can put into your four oh one K
once you turn fifty. It's a great way for people
nearing retirement to boost their savings.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Exactly, for twenty twenty four, the catch up contribution limit
is seventy five hundred dollars on top of the regular
twenty three thousand dollars limit for employees under fifty, so
if you're fifty year older, you can put away up
to thirty thousand, five hundred dollars in total.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
And the big change has been getting attention comes from
Secure Act two point zero. Originally, it's said that higher
earners and when making more than one hundred and forty
five thousand dollars a year would have to make their
catchup contributions are rough four oh one K instead of
pre tax four o one k.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Yes, meaning those contributions would no longer be tax deductible
up front, but the withdrawals and retirement would be tax free.
It's a shift from tax now or tax later, and
it really affects how people think about saving exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
That rule was supposed to take effect in twenty twenty four,
but the IRS recently announced a two year delay, so
it won't kick in until twenty twenty six. That gives
planned administrators and participants a little more time to.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Prepare, and that's a big deal. Because not every employer's
plan currently offers a four oh one K option. Some
would have been scrambling to add one this year. The
delay gives everyone some breathing room.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
It also gives investors time to think strategically about how
they want to allocate those savings. There's no one size
fits all answer. For someone in a high tax bracket
now but expecting lower taxes in retirement, the pretax rote
might still make sense.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
While it's available, and for others, especially younger boomers or
Gen xers who think tax rates will be higher in
the future, the WROTH option could be more attractive. You
pay the taxes now, let the money grow tax free,
and then have flexibility in retirement when it comes to withdrawals.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
That's the key.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Flexibility both pre tax and ROTH savings gives you choices
when it's time to draw income. You can manage your
tax bracket more efficiently by choosing which accounts to take
from each year.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
And another change worth noting. Starting in twenty twenty five,
workers ages sixty to sixty three will get a special
super catch up contribution limit. They'll be able to contribute
up to ten thousand dollars more per year or one
hundred and fifty percent of the regular catchup limit, whichever
is greater.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
That's a great opportunity for people in that final stretch
before retirement, when their expenses may be lower, kids are
out of college, and they finally have extra income to save.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Yes, and it really underscores the importance of reviewing your
retirement plan each year. So many people set up their
contribution percentage years ago and never look at it again.
But laws, limits and income levels change, and the end
of the.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Year is a perfect time to check those details, make
sure you're contributing enough, taking advantage of any employer match,
and planning for these upcoming rule changes.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
And if you're self employed or running your own business,
there are some smilar opportunities in sep I RaSE or
solo for oh one case, so it's worth reviewing those
as well.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
So to sum it up for our listeners, here are
the key points in the four to oh one k
catchup contributions. One, if you're a fifty year older, you
can contribute an extra seven five hundred this year. Two,
the new rule requiring higher earners to make roth catchup
contributions has been delayed until next year. Three, starting in
twenty twenty five, workers age sixty to sixty three can
(04:26):
make even larger catch up contributions.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Perfect summary, and this is exactly the kind of planning
that can make a huge difference over time. A few
extra years of catchup contributions can add tens of thousands
of dollars and potentially thousands in future tax savings.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And that's where we can help. At Kelly Financial, we
sit down with clients look at their entire retirement picture,
not just how much they're saving, but where they're saving
and what makes the most tax sense for their.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Situation, because at the end of the day, the goal
isn't just to save money, it's to make sure your
retirement dollars go as far as possible and you keep
more of what you've earned.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Well said, that's going to wrap things up.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
If you'd like to review your four oh one K
or understand how these catchup changes affect you.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Give us a call.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
We'd love to help you plan ahead for twenty twenty
five and beyond.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
Absolutely well, Greg, thank you for your time tonight, and
I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Save Money Strategies with Kelly Kelly and her team called
Kelly Financial at eighty eight eight hundred and twenty eight
one or go to Kelly Financial dot org.
Speaker 5 (05:32):
Welcome back.
Speaker 6 (05:33):
This is Kelly Kelly here with my son William Kelly
Junior in part two of our series. Today, we're going
to talk about one of the most important and often
overlooked parts of retirement planning, the long game. Because true
retirement planning is not just about dollars and cents. It's
(05:54):
about your health, your income, your legacy, and your independence.
And when you think about it that way, planning becomes
something much deeper than financial strategy. It becomes peace.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
Absolutely mom. And something I've learned from working with our
team is that the topics people avoid the most are
usually the ones that matter the most. Things like long
term care, taxes, income planning, and especially the conversation's families
put off until later, but later always comes, and having
a plan before that moment makes all the difference.
Speaker 6 (06:29):
Long term care is a perfect example. Nearly seventy percent
of Americans will need some form of long term care
in their lifetime. That could mean home care, assisted living,
memory care, or nursing care. And if families are not prepared,
that responsibility emotionally and financially can fall on the people
(06:53):
they love.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
And it can happen so quickly. A fall, a diagnosis,
a hospitalization. Suddenly a family is trying to figure out
what to do, what it costs, and how long they
can sustain.
Speaker 6 (07:05):
It exactly in long term care today is expensive. Inflation
alone can double care cost in twenty to thirty years.
Planning is not about fear, is about compassion. It's about
giving your spouse, children, and family members a clear plan
so they are not overwhelmed when life changes. There are
(07:27):
many ways to prepare long term care. Insurance hybrid policies
are simply earmarking assets with intention. The key is starting
the conversation. While you are healthy and independent, you.
Speaker 5 (07:41):
Can always say hope for the best and plan for
the worst.
Speaker 6 (07:44):
That is right, because planning is not about assuming bad
things will happen. It's about making sure your family is
protected if they do.
Speaker 5 (07:54):
Another topic people avoid is taxes. Everyone knows they have
to file taxes, but not everyone understands the power of
tax planning.
Speaker 6 (08:03):
That is an important distinction. Tax filing is backward looking,
tax planning is forward looking. Is not about paying less
than your fair share, it's about not paying more than
your fair share. With proper planning, families can manage their
tax brackets, plan their withdrawals, and protect more of their
(08:25):
retirement income. And with rising national debt, many experts believe
taxes could be higher in the future. So planning now,
especially before required minimum distributions begin, can create decades of
long term savings.
Speaker 5 (08:42):
And that is why you always encourage people to think
about taxes year round, not just in April exactly.
Speaker 6 (08:49):
Your income plan and your tax plan should work together
like a pair of bookends holding up the rest of
your retirement.
Speaker 5 (08:58):
And that brings us to one of the big pieces
of retirement planning. Income. You say it often people retire
on income, not on assets. It is true.
Speaker 6 (09:07):
Your dreams, your lifestyle, your goals, everything depends on reliable,
sustainable income, not guesswork, not hope income. The key is
balancing all the tools available social security, pensions, investments, protected
income options in a way that supports your actual spending,
(09:31):
and that spending should be based on real numbers, not estimates.
Your bank and credit card statements tell the real story
of your lifestyle. When your income plan is solid, your
retirement becomes more than an idea. It becomes a daily
reality you can enjoy without fear.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
One topic you speak about often is women and retirement,
and I think it's one of the most important chapters
in your book.
Speaker 6 (09:58):
It is women face a unique set of challenges in retirement.
They tend to live longer, they often spend years out
of the workforce, caring for children or aging parents, and statistically,
most women will spend at least part of retirement on
their own, either through widowhood or divorce. This is why
(10:20):
I tell women, be informed, be involved, and be ready.
Do not rely on someone else to manage your financial life.
You do not have to know everything, You just have
to be part of the conversation.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
I remember you saying that one of the most common
requests to hear from women is teach me how to
be a widow that always stays with me.
Speaker 6 (10:40):
It is a powerful and honest request, and the time
to have those conversations is long before someone needs them.
Planning is an act of love for yourself and for
the people who will one day need to carry your decisions.
Speaker 5 (10:56):
Forward, and that leads us to the final piece, the
right advisor. Not every firm is the right fit for
every family.
Speaker 6 (11:05):
That is true. At Kelly Financial, our philosophy is built
on three pillars, values, trust, and knowledge. Values create connection,
trust sustains relationship, and knowledge help families grow in confidence.
Our advisors do not just manage money. They help guide decisions.
(11:29):
They help families understand their risk, their opportunities, and their
long term goals, and they do it with a fiduciary
commitment to always put clients first. You do not need
an advisor to tell you what to do. You need
one who helps you understand why the decision matters.
Speaker 5 (11:49):
And that brings us back to your book, the stories,
the lessons and the hope behind it.
Speaker 6 (11:53):
The book is filled with real experiences, longevity, taxes, income,
socialis security, long term care, women's planning, legacy, and more.
It's a guide rooted in faith, humor, and heart, and
as we head into Thanksgiving week, it's a reminder that
(12:14):
planning is gratitude in action. When you prepare for the future,
you protect the people.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
You love, and this is the perfect time to read it.
Speaker 7 (12:23):
It is.
Speaker 6 (12:24):
If you would like a complimentary copy of my book,
Retire Your Fear, Plan Your Future, just call or email
or office at Kelly at Kellyfinancial dot org.
Speaker 5 (12:36):
We hope today's conversations have given you clarity and confidence
as you think about your own plan.
Speaker 6 (12:40):
From all of us at Kelly Financial, have a blessed
Thanksgiving and may you and your family plan for a
prosperous future. You are listening to safe money strategies right
here on WBZ. If you're looking for a meaningful gift
(13:02):
this Christmas, I want to tell you about a wonderful
new book written by my son, William Kelly Junior, called
Only the Good invest Young. It's a thoughtful, straightforward guy
that helps younger people understand the basics of money responsibility
and building a strong financial foundation. That I'll tell you
is not just for the younger generation. People my age
(13:23):
are reading it and really enjoying the message. It's simple,
it's encouraging, and it gets right to the heart of
why good habits matter at every stage.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Of life.
Speaker 6 (13:32):
So if you want a gift that truly makes a
difference for your child, your grandchild, or anyone in your family,
this is a wonderful choice for the holiday season. And
here's the best part. We're giving complimentary copies to our
listeners no charge. To request your copy of Only the
Good invest Young, give us a call at eight eight
eight eight hundred eighteen eighty one or email Kelly at
(13:54):
Kellyfinancial dot org. It's a gift with real value and
we'd love to send one your way.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Safe Money Strategies with Kelly Kelly and her team. Called
Kelly Financial at eighty eight eight hundred twenty one or
go to Kelly Financial dot org.
Speaker 8 (14:12):
Welcome back to Safe Money Strategies. I'm Mike Ducet here
with Greg Workman, and before the break we were talking
about how today's markets look a little stretched, high valuations,
narrow leadership, and big expectations riding on tech and AI spending.
Speaker 9 (14:26):
Right, Mike, and as we said, it's not necessarily a
doom and gloom picture, but it's definitely a time to
be selective and strategic. So let's dig into the two
sides of this bull and bear case for where the
market could go next.
Speaker 8 (14:40):
Let's start with the optimistic side. The bulls argue that
while valuations are high, they can stay high for a
long time if earning's growth continues to deliver.
Speaker 9 (14:49):
Exactly, corporate balance sheets are generally strong, and technology continues
to drive productivity gains. If those capital investments and artificial
intelligence and automation pay off, that could lift earnings in
a way that supports today's prices or even justifies further upside.
Speaker 8 (15:07):
And you've got the possibility of lower interest rates too.
If the Federal Reserve continues cutting rates, that could reduce
borrowing costs and make equities more attractive compared to bonds.
Speaker 9 (15:18):
That's a great point. Historically, lower rates have supported higher valuations.
If inflation keeps trending down and the economy stays resilient,
investors might be willing to keep paying a premium for growth.
Speaker 4 (15:31):
There's also the global angle.
Speaker 8 (15:33):
International capital still views US markets as the most stable, innovative,
and liquid in the world. That foreign demand helps valuations,
especially when global uncertainty rises elsewhere.
Speaker 9 (15:44):
So the bull case is, yes, the market's expensive, but
for good reason. The US economy remains relatively strong, innovation
is booming, and investors are betting that these trends, well,
they'll continue.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
Now let's flip it around. The barecase says, be careful
because this kind of optimism can go too.
Speaker 9 (16:04):
Far exactly when valuations are stretched. You don't need a
recession to have a pullback in the stock market. You
just need a disappointment. Maybe earnings growth slows or interest
rates stay higher for longer than predicted, or AI spending
turns out to be less profitable than expected.
Speaker 8 (16:24):
Or geopolitical risk elections, trade tensions, conflicts, any of those
can shake confidence and trigger volatility when markets are priced
for perfection.
Speaker 9 (16:34):
And remember that concentration risk we talked about earlier. If
one of the Magnificent seven has a bad quarter or
faces regulatory scrutiny, it could ripple across the entire index.
Speaker 8 (16:46):
That's the bare case in a nutshell, not that the
economy collapses, but that expectations are just too high. And
when everyone's on one side of the boat, even a
small wave can cause a lot of movement.
Speaker 9 (16:58):
So where does that leave the average investor? For our listeners,
especially those nearing or in retirement, this is about balance.
You don't have to pick sides between bull or bear,
you can prepare for both.
Speaker 4 (17:12):
That's right.
Speaker 8 (17:13):
This is where safe money planning really comes into play.
It's about having a portfolio they can participate in growth,
but also hold up if things get shoppy.
Speaker 9 (17:21):
One of the things we talk about with clients is
identifying the money that they can't afford to lose, the
income sources that need to be there no matter what
the stock market does. Those dollars should be positioned conservatively,
focused on protection and steady yield.
Speaker 8 (17:39):
Meanwhile, for the portion that's meant to grow, you can
stay invested, just more selectively. That might mean diversifying beyond
the big tech names, or incorporating sectors that haven't run
as hut, like healthcare industrials or certain dividend payers.
Speaker 9 (17:52):
And for some clients will use tactical tools things like
structured buffered ETFs or even actively managed strategies that can
adjust exposure as conditions change. The goal it's to stay invested,
but not be overexposed. From a risk standpoint.
Speaker 8 (18:11):
Greg one thing we see a lot when volatility picks
up is that investors get emotional.
Speaker 4 (18:16):
They see big headlines or.
Speaker 8 (18:17):
Shot moves and feel pressure to do something right away exactly.
Speaker 9 (18:21):
That's why Having a written plan is so important. When
you've mapped out your income, your risk tolerance, and your goals,
you're less likely to make reactive decisions.
Speaker 8 (18:32):
And that's really the heart of safe money strategies. It's
about clarity, knowing what you own, why you own it,
and how it fits into your broader retirement plan.
Speaker 9 (18:41):
We had a client recently who is heavily invested in
growth stocks. They'd done well for the past few years,
but they were starting to lose sleep over the ups
and downs in the market. We rebounced their portfolio, added
some income focused positions, and built a clear withdrawal strat
The market didn't change overnight, but their stress level sure did.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
That's such a common theme.
Speaker 8 (19:06):
You can't control markets, but you can control how much
uncertainty you're exposed to.
Speaker 9 (19:12):
If you're listening and wondering whether your portfolio might be
overheated or maybe too concentrated in certain sectors, now is
the perfect time to dive in and take a closer look.
Speaker 8 (19:24):
That's why we put together a Safe Money Strategies workbook.
It's a simple practical tool that helps you evaluate your
risk exposure, identify potential gaps in your retirement income plan,
and see how your current investments align with your goals.
Speaker 9 (19:38):
You can request a free copy of the Safe Money
Strategies Workbook by calling our office. It's completely complementary, no cost,
no obligation.
Speaker 8 (19:47):
And if you'd like, we'll even schedule a personal review
with our team to walk through your results and help
you understand your options.
Speaker 4 (19:54):
In today's market environment.
Speaker 9 (19:55):
Whether you're feeling confident or feeling cautious, it's always smart
to check your especially when markets are running hot. So
give us a call and request your copy of the
Safe Money Strategies Workbook and take that first step toward
greater peace of mind. With that, I'm Greg Workman, and
now Mike you said.
Speaker 8 (20:13):
We'll be back next week for another edition of Safe
Money Strategies.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
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 10 (20:29):
Bill Kelly always had a way of taking us back
to the moments that shaped him, the places, the people,
and the grit that defined an entire generation. In this
week's story, he brings us to Autonomy Hill in Newport,
Rhode Island, where his grandmother kept a tiny apartment shining
like a museum and where respect, hard work, and personal
(20:53):
responsibility were simply expected. Is a reminder that even the
humblest beginnings can build the strongest foundations.
Speaker 6 (21:02):
Here's Bill Kelly.
Speaker 7 (21:05):
I mentioned my family lived in housing projects before we
bought bailey Brook Farm. With the help of Grams, my
whole family moved from Providence to a housing project known
as Totomy Hill in Newport. It was a mix of
nationalities back then, but mostly Irish and Italian. We would
visit my grandmother Atttomy Hill. To me, she lived in
a museum. She kept the apartment immaculate and made it
(21:28):
wonderful to look at with all her knickknacks and beautiful curtains.
The yards were kept up and the premises were kept clean.
My grandmother was sixty five and the neighborhood bully was
named Bobby Brooks. If he came through her yard and
left a gum wrapper, my grandmother would yell at him.
Picture someone who looked like the fawns. Right. If the
Fawns got his character from someone, it was this guy,
(21:49):
Bobby Brooks. So here's a sixty five year old Italian
lady in an open bedroom window, pointing a finger and
yelling at a hoodlum, Bobby Brooks, if you don't pick
that gum wrapper up, I'm coming down there. And if
I come down there, you're not going to like it.
I'm going to call your mother before I go down there,
and I know what she's going to tell me. She's
(22:10):
going to tell me to do whatever I need to do.
So that was my grandmother and Bobby Brooks, the neighborhood
hoodlum would look up and say, okay, missus Murphy, I'll
get the wrapper. Sorry about that, I'm out of here.
He was the toughest kid I knew back then, when
you heard an adult yelling at you from a window,
you listened. But things have changed a lot since then.
(22:32):
We didn't know we were poor, and we didn't know
my grandmother was poor. We didn't think of it as
a project to us. She lived at nineteen Cowie Street.
About twenty years ago, I was driving through that neighborhood
and they were tearing it apart again. It's been redeveloped
four different times in forty years. Unbelievable. That's just what
(22:52):
happens with public housing. I wondered if nineteen Cowie Street
was still there, so I went back. The door was
open and off its hinges. The whole street was being redone.
I walked into the apartment and what a shock. It
was tiny. The kitchen was ten by ten, the living
room was probably ten by fifteen, and there was a
set of stairs leading to the top floor where there
(23:13):
were two bedrooms. One was probably ten by twelve and
the other was probably twelve by twelve. There also was
a bathroom. A feeling of claustrophobia took hold. Those stairs
used to gleam. When you went to Grandma's house, you
dusted before you went to bed at night. When you
got up in the morning after breakfast, you cleaned the
stairs with pledge. That's what happened at Grandma's house. The
(23:37):
beds were made perfectly. Everything was neat and orderly, all
in public housing. My uncles lived at Tottomy Hill too,
in the house next door to ours. The funny thing
is they would save some money and then they would
move out and buy a starter home. That's what they did.
As you know, Mom worked for the phone company and
Dad was a fireman. He also worked at a hardware store.
(24:00):
We sold real estate once in a while because she
had a knack for it. Then suddenly, and with the
help of Graham, they bought bailey Brook Farm and that
was the beginning of the next phase of our lives.
They were out of the projects. We didn't call them
that then, but would certainly call them that now. One
day we were living in Tottomy Hill. The next day
(24:20):
we had a big farm with thousands of chickens, and
everyone was happy. My uncle's got work in hardware stores.
My uncle Tom started working at Raytheon and got put
through radio school. Just imagine that he began working at
Raytheon and all of a sudden found a great career.
Did we have an advantage because our skin color was white,
I don't know, but I'll tell you what advantage we
(24:41):
did have. If we didn't have a job, it didn't
go over well at the dinner table and my family.
At the ripe old age of nine, we were expected
to work. We could deliver a newspaper, we could caddy,
we could mow lawns, or we could shovel Snow, my
older brother started to sell encyclopedias. At one point my
(25:01):
parents bought a set of course and they received a
Webster's dictionary with it that dictionary was about a foot
tall and it had screws in the spine. The cover
was similar to leather and was very, very stiff. We
used to stand on it at the front window because
it allowed us to see cars a mile away coming
down the lane. We could see the lights bobbing up
(25:23):
and down because the road was rocky. The bobbing would
tell us how far away the car was, so we
could gauge when our folks were coming home. Once they
were spotted, we would have about two minutes to clean.
Sometimes we had to lock the back door to give
ourselves an extra minute. There was a path to improvement
for me, a path that went onward and upward. I'm
(25:46):
sure there's also a way out for others today. However,
I don't think the way out is by fundamentally transforming
our government into a quasi communist, bloated bureaucracy in which
we have to share the wealth with everyone. We weren't
told that anyone was going to share his or her
wealth with us when we were growing up. We were
(26:06):
told we had to get a job. I don't recall
President Obama ever having a job. He never mentioned it.
He just kept going to different schools funded in part
by Saudi Prince, various grants and evermore loans that he
couldn't pay back until he was finally elected to the
Senate in Illinois. I could be wrong, but I seriously
believe there was some sort of disconnect there.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
Discover safe Money Strategies with Kelly Kelly and her team
called Kelly Financial at eighty eight eight hundred one eighty
one or visit Kelly Financial dot org.
Speaker 9 (26:52):
All opinions expressed by the host guests for employees of
Kelly Financial Services are solely their own and do not
reflect the opinions of Kelly Financial Services.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Information has been obtained from source is deemed to be reliable,
but their accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. The information
provided as general in nature and is not intended to
be specific investment, tax, or legal advice.
Speaker 9 (27:07):
It is always advisable to consult a professional before making
a financial decision.