Make It Personal Podcast

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Is there really a “right age” to claim Social Security?

It’s one of the biggest decisions you’ll make as you approach retirement, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Play #4 in our “Game of the Decade” series zooms in on how to optimize your Social Security benefits and why this move could make or break your financial security in retirement.

In this episode, Mark Zagurski, Dire...

Download The Game of the Decade eBook

In this episode, Mark Zagurski tackles Play #3 of the Seven Plays series: mastering the do’s and don’ts of retirement taxes. Taxes can be one of the biggest expenses in retirement, especially with pre-tax accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs. Mark explains the importance of asset location, strategically choosing taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts to minimize tax liability. He debu...

Download The Game of the Decade eBook

Mark Zagurski explores Play #2 of the Seven Plays series: determining how much money you need in retirement. He challenges the conventional rule of thumb of replacing 70-80% of pre-retirement income, citing Morningstar research showing replacement rates vary from 54% to 87% based on lifestyle and expenses. Mark discusses the “go-go,” “slow-go,” and “no-go” phases of retirement and how expenses l...

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In this episode, Mark Zagurski dives into Play #1 of the Seven Plays series: maximizing the five years before and after retirement, dubbed the "Game of the Decade." He explains the shift from the accumulation phase (saving an...

Download The Game of the Decade eBook

Mark Zagurski introduces the eBook The Game of the Decade: Seven Plays for Winning the Most Important Ten Years to Retirement Success, targeting pre-retirees who need a personalized action plan. He outlines the seven plays: maximizing the five years before and after retirement, determining retirement income needs, managing taxes, optimizing Social Security, planning for early retirement, ...

Download the Seven Principles eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal 

In this episode, Mark Zagurski shares a personal story about his grandmother to underscore the importance of planning for long-term care, which 70% of 65-year-olds will need. He outlines four options to manage these costs: paying out of poc...

Download the Seven Principles eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal 

Mark Zagurski, a proud Gen Xer, dives into the four critical ages for Generation X (born 1965–1980) in retirement planning: 50, 59½, 62, and 73. As Gen Xers juggle peak earning years with expenses like mortgages and kids’ education, Mark hi...

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In this episode, Mark Zagurski tackles the hotly debated question: should you pay off your mortgage before retirement? With nearly 20% of homes in major U.S. metros owned by people 65 and older still carrying mortgages, this decision carri...

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In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast, Mark Zagurski explores two time-tested strategies, life insurance and annuities, that act as a form of “crowdfunding” to secure your financial future and that of your family. While mo...

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In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast, host Mark Zagurski tackles one of the most common, and important, questions people ask: Do I really need a financial advisor? With so much financial content flooding the internet, from talki...

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In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast, host Mark Zagurski tackles one of the most overlooked yet critical components of financial planning: assumptions. Every solid financial plan relies on a mix of facts, like your age an...

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In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast, host Mark Zagurski takes a lighthearted but impactful look at a growing financial trap many of us fall into: subscription creep. With humor, a nod to classic Gen X TV, and real-world data, M...

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In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast, host Mark Zagurski tackles one of the most confusing and critical aspects of retirement: planning for healthcare. With nearly 99% of retirees age 65 and older qualifying for Medicare, unders...

In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast, Mark Zagurski takes recent college graduates, and those advising them, through the essential first steps to financial success after graduation. From ancient graduation traditions like diplomas and gowns to the more modern tradition of student loan debt, this episode highlights both the history and the current challenges facing today’s grads.

With student debt averaging over $29,000 an...

In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast, Mark wraps up the two-part series on the 10 most important financial decisions that shape your long-term success. Building on last week’s exploration of education, career, budgeting, and saving, this episode tackles the next five pivotal choices that deepen and secure your financial foundation.

Mark revisits the crucial difference between saving and investing, explaining why both are ...

In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast, the team dives into one of life’s most overwhelming and yet critical arenas: financial decision-making. Host Mark walks listeners through the sheer volume of choices we make daily, estimated at 35,000 per day, and zooms in on the 10 most important financial decisions that shape long-term success. This episode kicks off with the first five, helping listeners break down complex topics ...

In this episode of the Make It Personal Podcast, host Mark Zagurski pulls back the curtain on DIY financial planning. With over 30 years of experience in insurance, investments, and strategic communication, Mark takes you on a journey into what today’s internet really says about "doing it yourself" when it comes to finances—and why that might not be your best move.

From Google searches to Reddit threads, from 9 steps to 12, from Mik...

In this episode, Mark Zagurski tackles a crucial financial question sparked by a conversation with his video producer—Is the Roth IRA the gold standard? With nearly 30 years of experience in training and developing financial advisors at Mutual of Omaha Advisors, Mark breaks down the differences between Roth and Traditional IRAs, explaining the advantages and trade-offs of each.

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of:

• How th...

Time moves fast, and for parents, the reality is stark—by the time a child turns 18, 80-90% of your time together has already passed. This episode dives deep into the importance of family vacations, financial planning, and balancing present experiences with future security.

Drawing from studies on childhood memories, vacation spending statistics, and financial planning insights, host Mark Zagurski explores:

• Why family vacations cr...