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A top retirement podcast dedicated to helping you: Reduce Taxes | Make Work Optional | Maximize Retirement Income | Invest Confidently | Optimize Stock Compensation | Help Future Generations Scott Sierens, financial advisor at Sierens Financial Group, will provide thoughts, strategies, and ideas on each episode to help you thrive in life, wealth and retirement. The goal is to take complex financial subjects and make them simple and easy to understand so you can feel confident to take action, ...
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In today's episode, we delve into a critical aspect of retirement planning that can significantly impact your financial future – Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). Whether you've stashed your savings in a 401(k), 403(b), 457, IRA, SEP IRA, or simple IRA, understanding RMDs is crucial, especially if you're approaching your seventies. Join us as …
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Are you expecting an inheritance, or planning to pass down assets to your loved ones? It's crucial to understand the potential tax implications that come with it. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the world of inheritance taxes. Key discussion points in this episode: If you inherit real estate, the property's value is adjusted to its current …
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Many say that age is just a number, but when it comes to retirement planning, age means much more than that. Join us in this insightful episode as we delve into the world of financial milestones that can significantly impact your retirement planning. From age 50 to 75, we uncover the strategies, opportunities, and pitfalls tied to these pivotal yea…
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We’re back with another mailbag episode today! Join us as we tackle a range of topics- from navigating investments during significant life changes to figuring out a retirement travel spending amount, this episode covers a lot of ground. Scott is here to answer your questions, so stick around to see what you can learn. Here are the questions we’ll a…
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Recent headlines are buzzing with talk of inflation, recession, and their potential impact on your retirement plans. Should you be concerned? In this episode, Scott takes you through a comprehensive breakdown of these headlines and what they truly mean for your financial future. By understanding how inflation, recession, and Social Security interpl…
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Scott recently came across an article that discussed 8 ways the richest Americans avoid paying taxes. While many might think that these strategies wouldn’t apply to their financial situation, we’re going to discuss how you can apply these tactics to potentially reduce your taxes. Stay tuned as Scott breaks down these 8 strategies! Here are the 8 st…
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In today’s episode, we’re diving into three often underestimated issues that could significantly impact your retirement plan. With valuable insight and practical strategies, Scott sheds light on how to overcome these challenges and secure a smoother financial future. Here are some key takeaways from this episode: Longevity's Wake-Up Call: Drawing f…
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Money can't buy love, but it can certainly start some spicy debates between you and your better half. In this episode, we explore five money minefields that can test even the most solid relationships in retirement. Listen in as Scott shares some tips on how to resolve some of these common financial sources of tension and emphasizes the importance o…
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We’re back with another mailbag episode for today’s show! We’re here to answer financial questions from listeners just like you. Stick around and see what strategies you can learn from today’s show. Eddie is 62 and hates his job but is making a great income. He asks if it would be a mistake to walk away from this job before retirement. Catherine as…
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The journey to retirement can be turbulent, but with the right tools and knowledge, you can navigate this path with confidence. In today’s mailbag episode, we answer some listener questions about handling retirement contributions, fearing a recession, and banking on an inheritance for your retirement. Tune in as Scott discusses the importance of pl…
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Who are you learning from when it comes to making sure your retirement plan is successful? If you’re of the age that your mom and dad retired 20 or 30 years ago, the world was a much different place when they walked away from their paychecks. Let’s talk about how things are different now… Here's what we’ll discuss in this episode: It’s okay to work…
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Don’t get us wrong. In many cases, your 401(k) can be your best investment vehicle, offering numerous benefits and tax advantages and many times a 100% return on some of your contributions (also known as an employer match). However, it's important to recognize that it might not always be the optimal choice for everyone. Join us in this thought-prov…
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It’s the last week of the month, so we’re diving into the listener mailbag for today’s episode! Tune in as Scott answers some listener questions that have recently been sent into the show and see what knowledge you can gain from them. Stick around, because these strategies could be useful for your life or help you avoid financial mistakes in the fu…
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We commonly get asked if life insurance is needed in retirement. With many advertisements and commercials emphasizing the importance of life insurance, this can be an understandably confusing topic. So, in today’s episode, we’re going to talk about the purpose of life insurance, explore the circumstances that warrant its need, and discuss what you …
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Who wouldn’t want extra cash in their pocket without having to pay taxes to the IRS? In today’s episode, Scott dives into the topic of getting more tax-free gains and shares valuable strategies for growing your wealth without paying hefty taxes. From contributing to a Roth 401(k) or SEP Roth to utilizing the backdoor Roth IRA process, Scott provide…
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No one enjoys making mistakes, as they can result in wasted time and money and cause significant stress and frustration. In the complex world of retirement planning, there are countless pitfalls one could fall into if you aren’t properly prepared. In this episode, we’re going talk about the top 5 money mistakes that Scott often sees in retirement p…
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In this episode, we dive into a common question: Can you work and receive a wage income while collecting Social Security? The answer may surprise you, as it's yes, maybe, and no. Join us as we explore each response in detail, discussing whether your benefits would be reduced and uncovering ways to reclaim any deductions. Additionally, we'll discuss…
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In today’s episode, we continue discussing and answering listener questions we’ve received. Scott will answer questions on paying off your home mortgage, navigating retirement discussions with your partner, and leaving behind an inheritance for your children. Listen in as you may find yourself asking a similar question, in a similar scenario, or ab…
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Effective retirement planning involves not only knowing your sources of income, such as Social Security but also having a clear understanding of the expenses that will be incurred from that income. It's very important to consider all potential costs to ensure a comfortable retirement. In Scott’s experience, there is one cost that many individuals t…
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In today's episode, we are going to look at the results of the 2023 Retirement Confidence Survey. Join us as Scott unpacks these surprising statistics, shares his takeaways, and reveals the insights they provide when it comes to retirement planning. Whether you are nearing retirement or have already retired, this episode is packed with valuable inf…
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Retirement can come with a lot of tax questions and concerns. From understanding the tax implications of withdrawing from your retirement accounts to minimizing taxes on investment income, it can be overwhelming. In today’s episode, we’ll break down the 7 tax questions that people approaching retirement are asking. Here are a few lessons that we’ll…
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We’re going to dive into some listener questions today! In this mailbag episode, we’ll discuss the differences between Roth conversions and Roth contributions and clarify which of these options have income limits. We will also explore what to do if your 401k contributions are already maxed out. We’ll then wrap up with an insightful discussion on sp…
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To celebrate our 100th episode of the podcast, we’re going to share 10 lessons from retirees to help you and your retirement plan. These tips will help you build wealth, reduce stress during the planning process and retire with confidence. So, whether you’re retired or not, this episode will be packed with valuable lessons for folks of all ages. He…
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When it comes to saving for retirement, many people automatically turn to the 401(k) as their go-to account. But is it really the best option for everyone? While the 401(k) is certainly a powerful tool, it may not be the best choice for all your retirement savings. In this episode, we'll explore the pros and cons of 401(k) plans and introduce alter…
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Finding yourself between jobs can be frustrating. Whether you were fired, laid off, or just had to step away of your own choosing, change can feel challenging, but can also present exciting opportunities. In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about changing careers and cover five financial planning considerations when transitioning into a new job…
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In this episode, we’re opening up the listener mailbag to answer questions about distributions that you might need to take from an inheritance, combining old 401ks into an IRA, and how to invest for inflation and how to invest if you’re on the doorstep of retirement. Here’s some of what you’ll learn on this episode: An explanation of what inflation…
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Did you know the government is going to force you to take money out of some of your retirement accounts as you get older, even if you don’t want to? In today’s episode, we talk about what required minimum distributions are, why they exist and when they might start for you. Ignoring them could lead to major taxes issues down the road that might be d…
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If you’re looking for some last-minute tax tips before filing your 2022 taxes, this episode is for you. We’re going to talk about strategies you can utilize to reduce your taxes for last year or utilize to get some tax-free money growing for your future. Here’s some of what you’ll learn on this episode: The first strategy is being able to make cont…
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Whenever we first start talking to someone about what they’re going to need for retirement, we usually hear some of the same answers. They’ll name some of the basics like mortgage and utilities and then run through the fun stuff like travel and hobbies. But too often, there are five expenses that people typically miss when planning for their retire…
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Even if you’ve been saving your money and investing for a long time it’s easy to make rookie mistakes. On this episode, we’ll cover some of the top rookie mistakes we see people make, illustrate how to avoid them or how to fix them if you’ve already made some mistakes in your financial life. Here’s more of what you’ll learn on this episode: First m…
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Today we’re going to open up the mailbag to answer your financial questions and we’ll be covering some great income, tax and investing topics. We hope this episode provides some great information that you can take and implement into your financial plan to help you build wealth and retire with confidence. Here’s more of what you’ll learn on this epi…
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You’ve worked hard for your savings and investments, and we’ve found that most people want to make sure that those funds pass on to someone that’s important to them when they pass. In this episode, Scott will address five, unfortunately, common beneficiary mistakes. These could cost you and your loved ones dearly, and end up spoiling an otherwise w…
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On this episode the Your Life, Your Money Podcast, Scott Sierens delves into why he believes there are three key questions that everyone should be asking themselves in order to ensure that they are properly preparing for retirement. These questions cover some of the most critical elements of the retirement planning process and are essential for any…
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Market volatility became the norm in 2022. Are we in for more of the same in 2023? In this episode, we’ll share some of the predictions being made by some big industry names for the upcoming year. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: Here are the expert predictions for 2023. (2:13) What do I think about these predictions? (7:48) Here’s…
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In the first part of this two-part series, we detailed the changes coming to required minimum distributions and Roth accounts. In this episode, we’ll work our way through more of the planning items in SECURE Act 2.0, including spousal IRAs, qualified charitable distributions, catch-up contributions, emergency savings accounts, and required minimum …
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Another round of retirement changes are on the way after President Biden signed a spending bill in December 2022 that included the SECURE Act 2.0. Retirees and pre-retirees need to understand what this legislation means, how it might impact you, and what planning opportunities this could open up. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: Ba…
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It’s time to open up the mailbag again and answer some of your financial questions on the podcast, and we have a few really good ones to tackle today. Whether you’re in retirement or getting close, there will be some good information that we think you’ll relate to with your own financial planning. So a few of the things we’ll address in this episod…
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Having a million dollars saved for retirement isn’t providing the type of confidence that it used to for pre-retirees, and many people feel like they’ll need a little luck to be successful in retirement. Is that really the case and what’s a more realistic target number today? We’ll take a look at a recent article detailing the fears many Americans …
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Today’s show is all about answering your financial questions and we have four great ones for you that cover a few important topics. We’re going to answer questions about annuities, which is a product that not everyone understands. We’ll also talk about what to do if you come into a surplus of income, whether that’s from a work bonus, inheritance or…
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Saving in your 401(k) can be an easy and painless way to build your retirement savings. But because it’s so easy and painless, it can also be easy to ignore for long periods of time, which often leads to mistakes. In this episode, we’ll cover at least the top 5 mistakes people make in their 401(k)s. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:…
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The one constant in life is change, and there are frequent changes that you have to be aware of to make sure you’re getting the most out of your retirement plan. Here are five changes to the retirement landscape that you should be aware of in 2023. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: Details on the new 401(k) limit increases and why i…
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Today’s episode will be all about your questions as we dive into our mailbag to cover three different scenarios. Each of these is great and we’ll spend time tackling each topic in depth. We’ll first talk about when you should shift your investing strategy to a conservative approach. Then we’ll help someone work through which assets would be better …
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Today we’re going to be sharing the five secrets for experiencing satisfaction in retirement. Who doesn’t want to get to a place where they’ve achieved fulfillment in one’s wishes, expectations, and needs? That’s what we work to do each and every day with our clients and will use this episode to help you improve your situation. If you can key in on…
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If you’re on Medicare or will be switching over to it soon, this episode will be extremely valuable for you. We’ve invited Christee from the team here to join the show to talk to us about this healthcare program. We’ll go through all of the key aspects of Medicare today as well as tell you why consumers should be careful regarding the advertisement…
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As we approach the end of the year, saving money on taxes becomes a bigger focus for many people. Today we’re focusing on some of the most common retirement planning questions about taxes. We’ll talk about mistakes to avoid and how a proper plan can make a significant difference in your tax savings. Check out today’s show to find out how our advice…
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Today we’re joined by Ben Sullivan, CFA® and vice president at AE Wealth Management. Ben will share his thoughts about why the market is down, whether we’re heading into a recession, and what could help turn this all around. It’s been a tough year, but our goal is to help you thrive in wealth in retirement. Check out today’s show to find out how ou…
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Just like we prepare our houses and lawns for the winter, we need to do the same for our finances. A lot of financial institutions have a Dec. 31 deadline to take action, so we want to make sure you’re prepared. Today is part 2 of our year-end retirement and tax strategy planning series. We’ll share more strategies you should consider before the en…
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Buying a home is often the largest purchase someone makes over the course of their lifetime so finding ways to do that as efficiently as possible could really benefit you financially in the future. Today we’re talking with Michael Bischof, regional vice president for mortgage lending at Guaranteed Rate, to get his expert tips and insight into finan…
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Are you prepared for year-end and tax strategy planning? This puts you in the best position possible before the end of the year to help maximize your retirement and minimize your overall tax burden. We can walk you through spousal IRAs, Roth conversions, and how to save on taxes for required minimum distributions. We’re also sharing the No. 1 more …
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There are plenty of decisions that you’ll make in the retirement planning process that can’t be undone, so you want to make sure that you make the right call. In this episode, we’ll explain why these important decisions can’t be undone. Here’s a little of what you’ll learn in this episode: Wall Street’s prediction of the stock market's direction is…
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