Your Retirement Elevated Podcast with Scott Dougan

This is Part 2 of our Hidden Risks series, and we’re shifting focus to one of the biggest long-term threats to your retirement: taxes. Some risks don’t hit all at once, they slowly wear down your plan over time. Scott breaks down how tax decisions shape your income, flexibility, and long-term outcomes. If Part 1 was about protecting your plan, this one is about keeping more of what you’ve built.

Here’s what we cover in this episode...

This is Part 1 of our Hidden Risks series, where we’re looking at the issues that can quietly derail a retirement plan if they’re not addressed. Most people focus on investments, but that’s only part of the picture. In this episode, Scott walks through the risks that don’t show up on a statement but can still have a major impact. It’s all about making sure your plan is built for real life, not just market performance.

Here’s what w...

Kansas City is about to take center stage as it hosts one of the biggest global events with the World Cup, and that spotlight brings a surge of opportunity. Homeowners are asking a simple but powerful question: can you rent out your home during the event and keep the income tax-free? It all points back to a little-known strategy called the Augusta Rule, a tax provision that sounds almost too good to be true, but isn’t as simple as ...

💼 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 buy life insurance once and never think about it again. But by the time you reach your 50s, the real question isn’t just what type you have, it’s whether you still need it at all. As your financial picture evolves, so should your approach to protection, coverage, and lo...

See the chart here: https://listentoscott.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GRAPHIC-Retirement-Age-vs-Death-scaled.png

A viral chart is making a bold claim: the later you retire, the shorter you live. It’s eye-catching, easy to share, and—at first glance—convincing. But like a lot of financial content online, it blends real-looking data with misleading conclusions designed to grab attention, not tell the full story. Today, Scott break...

Today, Scott’s going through the top things people are Googling about AI and retirement and giving you straight answers. The search bar doesn't lie. People are nervous, curious, and trying to figure out what AI means for the life they've spent decades building. Most of the answers are less dramatic than the questions suggest. But those questions are still worth working through with someone who understands your full financial pictur...

When most people picture retirement, they imagine fewer deadlines, fewer worries and hopefully fewer taxes. But many retirees are surprised to learn their tax bill can actually increase once they stop working. Scott walks through four retirement tax traps that catch people off guard and how proactive tax planning can help reduce lifetime taxes and protect retirement income.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

⏳ RMD Surprises: 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

AI headlines are everywhere right now: “jobs disappearing,” “work becoming optional,” and predictions that artificial intelligence will reshape the entire economy. Scott steps back from emotional headlines and looks at what the actual data suggests about AI and the workforce. The r...

💼 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 actually happens after your annual review meeting? Is your plan just sitting on a shelf, or is something happening behind the scenes? In this episode, Scott pulls back the curtain and walks through the firm’s annual service calendar, the intentional, season-by-season process t...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

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

Financial media loves simple answers: always do this or never do that. But real financial planning doesn’t work that way. Most of the biggest decisions people face in retirement live in the gray. Scott pulls back the curtain on the sensational advice dominating YouTube and financia...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

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

Some people love a thunderstorm, while others panic the moment clouds roll in. Markets work the same way and pretending you’re more comfortable with risk than you really can get expensive. Scott uses a weather lens to explain how preparation, not prediction, is what keeps retiremen...

💼 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 don’t struggle in retirement because they made bad decisions, they struggle because they keep using the right tools for the wrong season. Scott shows how a simple story reveals why familiar strategies can quietly become obstacles over time. Inspired by a parable popular...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

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

There’s no shortage of retirement advice out there, but not all of it is helpful, and some of it can quietly do real damage. Today, Scott walks through 10 of the most common retirement planning myths and explains why relying on them can derail an otherwise solid plan. Before assumi...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

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

After a year marked by volatility, uncertainty, and more than a few economic curveballs, it’s understandable if optimism doesn’t come easily. Today, Scott discusses a Bloomberg opinion column that argues the outlook for 2026 may be brighter than many people expect. A strong economy...

💼 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’s new in 2026 for retirees and pre-retirees? Retirement rules are changing, and your future could look different in 2026. Tune in to discover what’s new and how the latest shifts might impact your financial strategy. Scott also shares what’s driving conversations on benefits, ...

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

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

Smart, successful people don’t lose money because they lack intelligence. They lose money because they’re human. In this episode, Scott goes in-depth about the hidden cost of emotional investing and why fear, greed, and headlines often derail even well-built plans. Drawing on behav...

💼 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...