Your Retirement Elevated Podcast with Scott Dougan

Ready for an adventure? Think of retirement planning as climbing a mountain. It's not just about the climb up; it's about preparing wisely, tackling the ups and downs, and even planning your way back down.

Here’s some of what we’ll discuss in this episode:

• How to prepare for the climb with careful planning.
• The climb represents the accumulation phase where you’re actively saving and investing.
• The goals and milestones that yo...

We’re bringing you a special edition of the podcast today as we welcome Cortney Dale, CEO of Sunflower Insurance Solutions, to lead us through the latest updates on Medicare! She’ll discuss what's crucial for you to know as we approach 2024 and answer common questions that will help you make informed decisions about your Medicare elections in the months and years ahead. Listen in as she breaks down its four parts (A,B,C,D) and how ...

Do you ever wish you could foresee financial missteps before they happen? On today’s episode, we’re going to explore some real-life stories of regret and arm you with the do’s and don’ts to ensure that your money is working for you and not against you.

Here’s some of what we’ll discuss in this episode:

• What it could cost you to pull money out of your IRAs early.
• People often fall into the trap of ‘lifestyle creep’ and will in...

In this episode, we’re going to unearth and tackle some of these hidden but essential questions about retirement. We all want to get good answers to our financial questions, but sometimes we have to know the right questions to ask.

Here are some of the questions we’ll tackle in this episode:

• How much are my tax-deferred savings going to cost me in taxes come retirement?
• How much can I withdraw from my savings each year?
• Shou...

There are some people who don’t care at all about leaving a financial legacy, but for those who do, it’s important to eliminate some of the common estate planning mistakes.

In this episode, we cover topics ranging from poor expense planning to outdated beneficiary designations and family conflict triggers. We also shed light on some misconceptions about transferring real estate and explain the impact of tax implications on your est...

Are you nearing “retirement age?” If so, let’s explore that pivotal question you’ll soon face: Should you retire or continue working? We’ll unravel the intricacies of this decision, addressing both financial and emotional aspects, and help you find out if you’re truly ready to retire.

Here's some of what we discuss in this episode:

• The concept of retirement h...

Today we have a special edition of the show where Scott recently hosted a webinar for his clients and had Mike Sorrentino on to discuss some financial topics that are top of mind for many people right now.

This conversation comes in the wake of the midpoint of 2023, sort of a mid-year or halftime report, if you will, and the topics that you're going to hear from this webinar include the housing market, inflation, stock market, and ...

Our whole practice revolves around helping people develop ways to make sure they have everything in order when it comes to these five areas of financial planning. Today we’re going to dive into these and provide a little more detail so that you’ll have a better understanding of what types of conversations we’re having with clients.

We’ve also put together this PDF for you that gives you a nice breakdown of all five:

https://listent...

In this episode, we’ll explore many of the expenses in your life that might drastically change (one way or another) in retirement. We’ll break those expenses down further to see which ones are the top priorities and analyze some of the other factors that impact your cash flow in retirement.

Here's some of what we discuss in this episode:

• Breaking retirement down into three phases to better understand spending. (4:49)
• What are...

Celebrate the spirit of July 4th with our latest episode as we tackle the concept of Financial Independence. While the American colonists fought for freedom from British rule, we’re here to discuss what you’re striving to be independent from in your retirement. We’ll unveil the common foes you’ll face on the journey. And good news, no muskets are required for these battles.

Here's some of what we discuss in this episode:

• How ...

Have you ever wondered why you handle money the way you do? It turns out your financial behaviors can be traced back to your formative memories. In this episode, we explore how historic market crashes have left a lasting impact on our relationship with money. We’ll also contrast them with the way more recent crises have shaped our financial views and decisions in the short term.

Here's some of what we discuss in this episode:

In this episode, we'll be debunking common myths about Social Security and answering the questions you've been curious about. No matter what questions you have about Social Security, we are here to help guide you through this important step in your financial future. Today’s show should give you a pretty good overview.

Here's some of what we discuss in this episode:

• Myth: The Social Security Administration will help you make d...

You can’t talk about retirement without talking about income. There are seven streams of income you need to know about. In today’s episode, we’ll break them down for you and help you understand the pros and cons of each one. Join us for a critical discussion on creating a reliable, dependable income source in retirement and discover the importance of having a diversified financial plan. 

Here's some of what we discuss in this epi...

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has been in the news recently as bank failures have made headlines. It's worth noting that the FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000, providing peace of mind to depositors who may be concerned about the safety of their funds. However, you may be wondering if your IRA is also protected by the FDIC, especially in light of recent news coverage. In this episode, we’ll answer your question...

How do millionaires invest their money? If you’ve ever wondered how they do it, today’s show is for you. From asset allocation to market timing and security selection, we’ll explain how millionaires handle these topics. 

Here's some of what we discuss in this episode:

• How do millionaires handle asset allocation? (5:09)
• Do millionaires time the market? (8:38)
• How do millionaires diversify their investments? (11:08)

Wa...

Entrusting your life savings to a financial advisor requires careful consideration and due diligence, especially when it comes to managing large IRAs. Before handing over your hard-earned nest egg, it's crucial to ensure that your advisor possesses the necessary expertise and experience to handle the responsibility. To help you navigate this, we've compiled a list of ten crucial questions to ask your advisor about IRAs.

Here are ...

As you have likely heard, the Silicon Valley Bank collapsed on Friday, March 10th, 2023, after a bank run- marking the largest bank failure in the U.S. in over a decade. With a lot of fear surrounding this topic, we are here to focus on the facts and give you a better understanding of what we know today.

Here's some of what we discuss in this episode:

• What we know about the Silicon Valley bank failure right now (2:57)
• Unpacki...

Today’s show is going to feel like a healing therapy session. We're talking about how things could always be better. From human progress and value to happiness, we’ll cover some fascinating topics today.

We are not psychologists or therapists, but we are fascinated by the human mind and the need to improve. It happens in all facets of our lives, but money always seems to drive that desire to want more.

Here's some of what we discus...

If you’re thinking about retiring early, you’ll need to take a few extra steps in the planning process because you’ll be facing some additional challenges. But there are ways to navigate this by looking at all of the income options at your disposal.

On today’s show, we’ll share Scott’s top do’s and don’ts of six secret sources of come. So much of your success will depend on your income plan and this episode will lay out some ways t...