Now that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 has been signed into law by President Trump, we can plan to make changes in how we spend, save, and give - or can we? John and Devin get into some of the specifics of the tax reform and how it may or may not...
If you listen to the news, you’ve probably heard some investment and financial planning industry folks make some wild predictions, and often those predictions don’t come true. In this week’s episode, Devin and John invited some friends to help...
Recorded live at FinCon from a 1974 Volkswagon Superbeetle, Devin and John are joined with Roger Whitney, the Retirement Answer Man, and Elle Martinez of CoupleMoney.com. The main topic? Divorce is the biggest threat to anyone’s financial...
Stacey’s financial advisor recommended 3-6 months of living expenses be in cash. She asks us how much she really needs. Ron from Portland wants to know what to do with his personal trust now that the beneficiaries are responsible adults. Does he...
People who are millionaires have respect for a dollar, and they cut expenses that don’t add value to their lives. Joe Saul-Sehy was a financial planner for 16 years, and he has observed some interesting things about how millionaires...
Things You Should Do Before The End Of The Year: Charitable contributions Harvest Investment Gains and Losses Required Minimum Distributions Sit Down And Review This Stuff With Your Tax Advisor There are a number of things you could do in the next...
Congress is moving fast through the process of changing our tax code. There are still lots of details to be ironed out, but one of the major provisions is a cut to the corporate tax rate. There is also a proposal to cap the tax rate on pass-through...
A reverse mortgage is an agreement that a bank or other financial institution will loan you money against the value of the house, and you don’t have to repay that money until the property transfers ownership, often due to death of the homeowner....
Devin and John explore the different ways that working can affect your Social Security benefit. Then John explains how and why a child may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) when the father was covered under a teacher’s retirement...
Clayton was shaped by the money experiences of his childhood, particularly his father’s job loss. After some financial challenges, Clayton and his wife decided to figure out how to build an income that isn’t tied to their jobs working for someone...
Part 2 of a series about Medicare. This time Devin and John tackle the costs of Medicare Part B, then go into Medicare D (prescription drug coverage). It’s important to understand how Medicare Part D work – it can be a little tricky. For more...
Understanding Medicare is an important part of your overall retirement planning, but it's so confusing and complicated! Devin and John share the different parts of Medicare and what they cover. More information can be found at
Devin and John answer listener questions you've sent in. Arlene wants to know what happens to her debts after she dies. John guesses she is probably asking whether her children will be responsible for those debts. It’s a good question! The short...
Chess involved both strategy and psychology - much like investing! Doug Goldstein, author of RICH AS A KING: How the Wisdom of Chess Can Make You a Grandmaster of Investing, joins Devin in a discussion about the way chess strategies can be applied to...
Most of us have a whole world of digital stuff out there, and some of it is important. You need a plan for how your survivors will access these accounts, whether you are disabled or dead. As our world becomes more and more digital, it...
If you've put together a little bit of money, or you have a regular stream of income, it's reasonable to be concerned about protecting those assets from lawsuits or other types of liability. Today, John explains some of the simple steps you can...
Devin and John talk about assigning people to act for you, and picking good stocks for your investments. First, Brenda has a question about naming a successor trustee for a trust she has set up. In many kinds of legal and estate planning documents,...
Dr. Brandon Renfro, a PhD in behavioral economics, talks about bonds: When they're right for you and when they should be reconsidered. Brandon does a great job of explaining different types of bonds, why they are considered a good investment, and how...
Social Security is an important source of income for older Americans, but it can also provide many benefits beyond retirement income. Life is full of risks, and Social Security helps provide some income for those who have faced these situations. Think...
There are few things worse than getting involved in a financial scam. Unfortunately, there are always some people who will abuse their professional status, and use their knowledge to rip people off. How can you avoid being scammed? Things to look for...
Listener Questions: Rob asks about sending the distributions from an Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA) to a charity. John discusses a couple of different scenarios and explains the possible tax benefits. He also includes ideas for...
Women often have different financial needs than men, and even more when there has been a change in their marital situation. This week, Devin and John talk with Russ Thorton of . Russ works with financial planning for women, with a particular...
Many current retirees have a background of military service. Benefits from military service can become a big part of the retirement planning picture, but it can be hard to know what benefits are available and how you can use them. In this...
So you find yourself retiring in a second marriage? This week’s episode is full of useful information and fascinating stories about one of the most complicated family situations: Second marriages. There is so much to consider: Social Security...