Your Retirement Elevated Podcast with Scott Dougan

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg

It’s official, the IRS has released the full set of 2026 tax numbers, and the changes may impact more than just your next return. Scott walks through what’s actually changed and how it may impact you and your future. The real opportunity isn’t just knowing the numbers, it’s knowing...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg

A new type of government-backed savings account for children, commonly referred to as a Trump Account, is set to launch in 2026, and it’s already drawing attention from parents and grandparents alike. The details are still being finalized but Tyler Moison, CFP® joins the show to wa...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg

What if you retire with only $1 million… are you behind? That question fuels a lot of unnecessary anxiety, especially when comparisons creep in from coworkers, siblings, or YouTube success stories. In this episode, Scott breaks down what determines whether you’re on track for retir...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg 

How can naming your spouse as beneficiary create unintentional tax problems? Most people assume naming their spouse as the IRA beneficiary is the safest and simplest option, but Scott explains why that isn’t always true. In this episode, he walks through several real-life situatio...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg

Most advisors are well-intentioned, but not all advisors are the right advisor for you. Scott breaks down the warning signs that often get overlooked when choosing—or staying with—a financial advisor. This conversation uncovers the habits, behaviors, and patterns that separate re...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg 

Thanksgiving has a much deeper story than the modern traditions we celebrate today. In this episode, Scott details how the holiday formed, who helped shape it, and why its meaning has shifted over time. It’s a reminder that gratitude, community, and shared purpose run through the ...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg 

For decades, retirees have based their spending on a simple idea: “The 4% Rule.” But new research, and even the rule’s original creator, suggests you may be able to spend significantly more without increasing your risk. Scott shares what’s changed, what still matters, and how to c...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg 

Retirement, as we know it, is a modern invention. But the very system designed to protect your future might now be holding you back. In this episode, Scott uncovers a powerful yet often hidden feature inside many 401(k) plans that can give you greater control, flexibility, and pro...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg

When it comes to investing for retirement, not all dollars belong in the same place, or even in the same world. In this episode, Scott explains the concept of the Three Investment Worlds: Protection & Savings, Growth & Potential, and the Hybrid space that bridges the two....

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg 

You’ve worked hard to build up your Roth IRA, but one small mistake could turn “tax-free” income into a tax surprise. In this episode, Scott walks through the five essential steps to make sure your Roth IRA withdrawals remain completely tax and penalty-free. Follow the rules, trac...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg 

This October, the Social Security Administration is expected to announce a 2.7% cost of living adjustment for 2026 now that sounds like good news, until you see what it really means in dollars and cents. Today, Scott breaks down what the new Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) really...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg 

A groundbreaking JP Morgan study just revealed something that could completely change the way we plan for retirement. Scott breaks down three of the biggest surprises revealed by new data from 280,000 households, showing that retirement spending doesn’t rise in a straight line, bu...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg 

Do you know which parts of your retirement plan are in your control, and which ones you’re leaving to chance? In this episode, Scott breaks down the “retirement equation,” a framework that helps you separate what you can control, what you can influence, and what’s completely out o...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg 

Saving for retirement is only half the battle, but the real challenge is turning those savings into income you can actually spend. The type of accounts you use will impact your taxes, your Social Security, and even your Medicare premiums. In this episode, Scott explains how spread...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg 

Imagine standing at the water's edge, eager to fish but instead obsessing over organizing your tackle box. Many retirees do the same with their finances, constantly adjusting their plan but never truly enjoying the fruits of their labor. In this episode, Scott explores a common pi...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg 

Well, you’re retired. Now what? Some people subscribe to the “first year rule” which says that the majority of your best retirement months will all take place in the first year of retirement. So how can you be strategic during that first year and set the tone in the right way, bot...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg 

Most people assume their beneficiary form tells the whole story when it comes to retirement accounts. But for 401(k)s and other ERISA-governed plans, one little known rule can completely override your wishes, and in one case, it shifted $3 million away from the intended heirs. Thi...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg 

Thinking about tapping into your retirement savings early? The IRS might have a 10% surprise waiting for you. Withdrawing money before age 59½ from a traditional IRA or 401(k) can trigger not just regular income taxes, but also hefty penalties. In this episode, Scott explains the ...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg 

Retirement is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll  ever make, but how do you know if you’re really ready? While there are countless details that matter, Scott is boiling it down to make it simple. In this episode, he covers the three key questions you need to ask yoursel...