Radio Shows

Lawmakers have enacted six major bills, costing about $5.3 trillion, to help manage the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate the economic burden on families and businesses. Most of us have succumbed to an inevitable tax rate increase. But that’s not the scary part. What’s more concerning is our acceptance of it. Our society is the proverbial “frog in boiling water” as we slowly but surely lose control over how the government allocates money. Guess who is suffering the most? It’s the folks you’d least expect … the savers! And they have a big money problem that can be summed up in two words – CAPTIAL GAINS.

Whether you are trying to sell your business, a family farm or stocks, the taxes on capital gains could be significant. Tune in today to listen to Dennis and guest CPA Jon Sluis as they talk about big money problems and what to do about them.

Whether you want to retire or are being forced to retire, the real question is, “How do you make it happen?” This is our favorite question! Technically, you can start collecting Social Security at age 62, but should you? Between your company plan, real estate investments, IRAs and stocks, and everything in between, you might have forgotten about a few things. We are here to give you the full list!

Join Dennis and Heidi today as they review the Forbes “Top 10 Retirement Tips for 2021.”

It takes a lot of discipline and motivation to be self-employed. It’s not for the faint of heart. Some of you knew your entire life you’d be “on your own,” while many of you fell into it like one finds a pothole in spring. JUST KIDDING! But seriously, it might have been a jolting move.

And whether you’re just beginning or have been at it for decades, it never gets easier to save.

“Locking up money” when living with an unpredictable income is difficult, to say the least.

But, as you know, YOU MUST keep saving for your retirement!

Join Dennis and Heidi today as they give you options and strategies to save. They’ll also discuss ways to help you get into the habit of paying your future first.

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it 100 times … your retirement is your responsibility. Long gone are the days of simple planning where one could count on their pension, Social Security and savings to fund their “golden years.” Most folks who are counting on Social Security to save them will be sorely disappointed, as it is meant to supplement your retirement, not fund it.

By 2035, the number of Americans 65 and older will increase from approximately 56 million today to more than 78 million. There are currently 2.8 workers for each Social Security beneficiary. By 2035, that number will decrease to 2.3 covered workers.

There is no time to “hope” it all works out. Now is the time to plan. Thankfully, the Social Security Administration is taking extra measures to teach you how to take advantage of your benefits.

So, you want to be a millionaire? According to Kiplinger, in order to be considered one, you’ll need investable assets of $1 million or more, excluding the value of real estate, employer-sponsored retirement plans and business partnerships. Michigan ranks 26th in the U.S. for concentration of millionaires at 5.97%. Turns out, we are actually well-stocked with billionaires!

So, what does it take to climb the money ladder? It’s more about habits than income. Today, Heidi and Dennis will share the 19 Things Rich People Rarely Do. They will also unpack some money mindsets that keep people stuck.

Did you know that 26% of taxpayers itemize charitable deductions on their tax returns? And yet, most advisors don’t ask their clients if they want to include it in their financial planning. How unfortunate! There are many financial benefits for giving, but mostly … it’s good for the heart. MacKenzie Scott (ex-wife of Jeff Bezos) donated nearly $6 billion to about 500 nonprofits last year! Most of us aren’t at that level of giving, but we can have the same intention and plan just as carefully.

Today, Dennis and Heidi will discuss the 8 Types of Charitable Giving and share personal stories of how giving has affected them personally.

Since “Tax Day” has been delayed (for most of us), what other certainty of life should we talk about? Death, of course! For obvious reasons, it’s a reality none of us wants to face. However, it’s also very important to discuss this topic as part of your financial planning process. You don’t want to leave your family guessing … you want to leave them with a plan!

Today, Dennis and Heidi will discuss how assets transfer at death, the importance of naming beneficiaries and tax strategies for your portfolio.

Most of the time when I (Shea) tell folks that I work in retirement planning, they nod and say something to the effect of, “Sounds kinda boring!” Honestly, at first, I too thought it would be boring … but I was wrong. There’s not a day that goes by where a client can’t be helped in some way. Not only are people’s lives complex, but their accounts are too. The rules and regulations have changed quite a bit over the last five years, and there are five big changes to be aware of if you’re thinking of retirement soon.

We’re here for you to help take the mystery out of retirement so that you can actually enjoy it!

The past year has made it difficult to find the silver linings on the darkest of days. The headlines have been so ominous that, according to most of our clients, they just can’t watch the news anymore. We get it. So here’s some good news: According to Fidelity, retirement savings accounts reached record high levels in 2020. Money market funds in the United States, including retail and institutional funds, both taxable and tax-free, have increased $615 billion (to $4.39 trillion) over the last 12 months through March 12, 2021, an average increase of $12 billion per week (Source: Investment Company Institute).

If this pandemic has done anything, it’s woken us up to pay attention and get serious about where our money is going. According to InvestmentNews, 82% of Americans say COVID-19 affected their retirement plans. We are going to dig into that stat and offer prudent advice as you plan. For better or for worse, here we are and there’s no time like the present to make a plan.

What does excess money in the economy and the potential rise in interest rates say about future inflation? We thought you’d never ask!

In fact, there are a lot of questions we thought you’d never ask, because since 2020, things have gotten a bit complicated as the Fed continually attempts to “balance the economy.” We’ll do our best to answer those questions. Our hope is to help put the pieces together for you today so that you can make educated decisions about your current financial situation and retirement.