The Retirement Trainer

Between inflation, a possible recession, and bank failures, our economy feels chaotic right now. However, that doesn’t mean that now’s the time to panic. 

Instead, this is your opportunity to get a better understanding of these complex situations and make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your individual financial plan strong and healthy.

In today’s episode, we talk through how we arrived at this truly crazy moment in ou...

You worked hard. You built a life, had a career, and hit some milestones along the way–and now you’re retired. So what are you going to do? Now that you’ve got all this free time, what’s your plan or purpose now?

Today’s episode is all about answering one of the toughest questions we get asked: “What do I do now?” We dig into how it feels to retire, the power of feeling uncomfortable, and how to live your life with purpose and inte...

Ads for gold, silver, and other precious metals are everywhere. But even with the dollar coming off its high and inflation pushing over 7%, are they a good hedge? If so, what are you supposed to buy, and what should you avoid?

We’ve had lots of people asking us where they can purchase gold and silver. With that in mind, today’s episode is all about precious metals–and why the buyer should almost always beware. We discuss common pre...

When everything we buy costs more, every dollar in our pocket and our bank account is worth less. You can cut back on unnecessary expenses here and there, but there’s only so much you can do to cut back on groceries or gas.

That’s why factoring inflation into your retirement plan is so important right now. In today’s episode, we walk you through how to create an action plan to get you through this period of inflation, whether we’re...

Let’s face it, everyone has to face their own mortality at some point. But if you’ve planned ahead, your family and beneficiaries will thank you because settling an estate can be stressful when you’re starting from scratch.

Today’s episode is all about how to make legacy planning as simple as possible. We’ll walk you through what needs to be done to ensure that your family is looked after and cared for when that day comes.

Even tho...

As inflation soars, more and more people are dipping into their savings–or going into debt–to make ends meet.

While it may not be an emergency (yet!), it may be time to take a step back and assess your situation.

With that in mind, today’s episode is all about how to make sure that your money lasts. We’re talking about why it’s so easy to accidentally take on debt, how to put together a personal debt plan to eliminate the bad debt ...

No matter what financial shape you’re in right now, it’s never too late to find new ways to do better in the years to come. If you’re thinking about retiring (or trying to figure out if you still can retire), concerned about today’s economy, or simply want to make sure that everything is in place before you make that decision, this episode is for you.

Today, we dig into pensions, Social Security, insurance coverage, and much more. ...

If you’ve been watching the markets over the last few weeks, you probably have questions. Is the current market rally evidence that we’re experiencing a rebound, or are we still in a bear market?

Pundits love to share good news; they don’t love to talk about the underlying pressures that make markets act the way they do. This means that if you’re nearing retirement and keeping up with financial news, you may not have all the inform...

Our economy feels like a pretty uncertain place right now–especially if you’re approaching retirement age (or recently retired). Whether you’re reading the headlines or not, you’re probably feeling the effects of inflation and market volatility every single day.

And if you’re of retirement age, you were there for the hyperinflation of the 1970s, the dot-com bust of the 2000s, and the Great Recession, but that doesn’t mean that your...

On June 15th, the Federal Reserve decided to raise interest rates by 75 basis points.

Understandably, this leads to a lot of questions: how is this going to affect bonds and the stock markets? How will this impact the economy and employment? Will there be a recession?

No matter what happens, a comprehensive financial plan is your best defense in uncertain times.

In today’s episode, we discuss the impacts of the Fed’s decision, how ...

It's difficult to prepare for every worst-case scenario. When the most likely scenarios are considered, it can help avoid panic and overwhelm when the rough days rise to the surface. 

Imagine that you're on your way to an important business meeting or picking your spouse up from the airport when one of your tires suddenly goes flat. If you have a spare, you'll be a little late. If you don't, your entire day could be derailed. 

As w...

In case you haven’t noticed, we’re all on a roller coaster ride this year. As investors, it’s virtually impossible to predict what’s going to happen when it comes to leverage, supply chains, and rampant inflation.

However, we can do our research, ask questions, and do our best to make sense of what’s going on so we can best expect the unexpected. 

In today’s episode, we explore the history of market volatility (and where it comes f...

Rampant inflation seems like it’s here to stay for at least a while longer. Everyone’s feeling it at the grocery store, the gas pump, and seemingly everywhere else.

In part one of this two-part series, we’ll discuss why it’s happening and dive into how to make sure your retirement plan can sustain your lifestyle, even if costs continue to go up.

We’ll help you make sense of why the markets seem to be changing at the drop of a hat, ...

Inflation’s constantly in the news, and it’s easy to see why. When everything we buy costs more, each dollar in our pocket is worth less. And while it’s easy to cut back on some unnecessary expenses, no one wants to make severe changes to their lifestyle to cover simple costs like gas and groceries.

That’s why it’s so important to factor inflation into your retirement plan. While you can hope for the best, it certainly doesn’t hurt...

No one who was there remembers the lineups at the gas pumps in the 1970s with any fondness. And though we’re not seeing long gas lines yet, we are seeing extremely high gas prices, rampant inflation, and extremely volatile markets–what we not-so-fondly refer to as stagflation.

However, an energy or economic crisis doesn’t have to become a wealth crisis, and you can create a plan that helps you no matter where you are or what your f...

Back in the 1970s, we experienced a combination of economic stagnation and inflation. Energy prices were high and the stock market went up and down like a roller coaster, very similarly to what we’re experiencing right now. Back then, it was called stagflation–and we’re hearing that word more and more in 2022. Unfortunately, stagflation can have real impacts on your finances, especially if you’re retired or about to retire, and we’...

With the April 18th due date coming ever closer, the national debt ballooning, and inflation continuing to rise, today’s episode is all about how to take a holistic look at your tax and retirement plans togethe...

If you’re watching the financial news every day, you’re probably feeling a little unsettled. We’re in the midst of 40-year high inflation over 7% year-over-year. The Fed has announced three rate hikes when major firms are saying we need at least five to seven.

Cryptocurrency has gone through a series of even more extreme ups and downs, with investors experiencing swings from anywhere between 500 and 1,000 points.

All of this can be...

Cryptocurrency is in the news every day. We hear stories all the time of people making big money with crypto. Billionaires like Elon Musk can affect its value with a single tweet, and potential regulation could change the field very soon.

Having said that, the questions that we hear from our clients are still the same. “Should I invest in crypto? And what are the downsides?”

Today, we’re answering some of our most common client que...