EGSI Financial - Podcast Details

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The Retirement TrainerMarket Volatility: What the Markets Are Telling UsFear of missing out is a real thing. Everyone is looking for 15-20% returns and this can prompt people to make risky decisions–especially when it comes to retirement. Right now, we have a bull market in the S&P, volatility is low and tech is back on the rise. So, is it time to go all-in, or should investors beware? Today, we’re talking about why our markets seem so crazy, the resurgence of big tech in the wake of AI, and why all of this reaffirms the importance of having a solid financial plan...2023-06-2819 min

The Retirement TrainerConsumer Credit and Rising Debt: Managing Your Spending in Today’s EconomyConsumer credit is at an all-time high. Credit card debt is pushing $1.25 trillion and headed upwards. Inflation’s high, consumer spending is high, and employers are cutting good jobs with benefits. Even if you’re steadily employed or running a healthy business and your personal debts are manageable, these macroeconomic factors can still affect you. In today’s episode, we walk through why other people’s spending impacts our overall quality of life, how to get the best possible deals when you make a big purchase in this economy, and what to do about any lingering...2023-06-2118 min

The Retirement TrainerSaving with Pretax Contributions or Roth Accounts and Minimizing Your Tax LiabilitiesAfter a brief hiatus, we’re back with a timely episode to answer a popular question: Is it better to save with pretax dollars or a Roth? Inflation continues to be an issue in today’s economy, which is why it’s so important to make every dollar count. Everything is more expensive now, and saving for retirement is not a one-size-fits-all plan because everyone’s situation is different. In today’s episode, we’ll explain the difference between saving with pretax contributions or a Roth, how using your savings for vacations or emergencies can impact your...2023-05-2621 min

The Retirement TrainerMaking Sense of The Debt Bubble and Rising Default RatesBetween inflation, a possible recession, and bank failures, our economy feels chaotic right now. However, that doesn’t mean that now’s the time to panic. Instead, this is your opportunity to get a better understanding of these complex situations and make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your individual financial plan strong and healthy. In today’s episode, we talk through how we arrived at this truly crazy moment in our economy, the consequences of untenable debt and years of bad fiscal policy, and how to approach your own finances when our leade...2023-03-2223 min

The Retirement TrainerWhat Is Your Plan as a Retiree?You worked hard. You built a life, had a career, and hit some milestones along the way–and now you’re retired. So what are you going to do? Now that you’ve got all this free time, what’s your plan or purpose now? Today’s episode is all about answering one of the toughest questions we get asked: “What do I do now?” We dig into how it feels to retire, the power of feeling uncomfortable, and how to live your life with purpose and intention in the years and decades to come. In this podcast...2023-02-2115 min

The Retirement TrainerHedging with Precious Metals: Buyer BewareAds for gold, silver, and other precious metals are everywhere. But even with the dollar coming off its high and inflation pushing over 7%, are they a good hedge? If so, what are you supposed to buy, and what should you avoid? We’ve had lots of people asking us where they can purchase gold and silver. With that in mind, today’s episode is all about precious metals–and why the buyer should almost always beware. We discuss common precious metals scams, whether these assets should be a part of your portfolio, and safer ways to make these...2022-12-2222 min

The Retirement TrainerAction Steps to Account for Inflation in Your Financial PlanWhen everything we buy costs more, every dollar in our pocket and our bank account is worth less. You can cut back on unnecessary expenses here and there, but there’s only so much you can do to cut back on groceries or gas. That’s why factoring inflation into your retirement plan is so important right now. In today’s episode, we walk you through how to create an action plan to get you through this period of inflation, whether we’re officially in a recession or not. In this podcast interview, you’ll learn:...2022-12-1422 min

The Retirement TrainerThe Survivor Checklist for Your Estate Planning NeedsLet’s face it, everyone has to face their own mortality at some point. But if you’ve planned ahead, your family and beneficiaries will thank you because settling an estate can be stressful when you’re starting from scratch. Today’s episode is all about how to make legacy planning as simple as possible. We’ll walk you through what needs to be done to ensure that your family is looked after and cared for when that day comes. Even though you can’t plan for everything, you can give them a great head start–which...2022-10-0621 min

The Retirement TrainerManaging Your Debts with a Personal Debt PlanAs inflation soars, more and more people are dipping into their savings–or going into debt–to make ends meet. While it may not be an emergency (yet!), it may be time to take a step back and assess your situation. With that in mind, today’s episode is all about how to make sure that your money lasts. We’re talking about why it’s so easy to accidentally take on debt, how to put together a personal debt plan to eliminate the bad debt you may hold right now, and what you can do from he...2022-09-0918 min

The Retirement TrainerThe Retirement Checklist for Your Financial PlanNo matter what financial shape you’re in right now, it’s never too late to find new ways to do better in the years to come. If you’re thinking about retiring (or trying to figure out if you still can retire), concerned about today’s economy, or simply want to make sure that everything is in place before you make that decision, this episode is for you. Today, we dig into pensions, Social Security, insurance coverage, and much more. You’ll learn about when to start working with a financial planner, how to do the math, and...2022-09-0722 min

The Retirement TrainerHow to Avoid Drinking the Market Rally Kool-AidIf you’ve been watching the markets over the last few weeks, you probably have questions. Is the current market rally evidence that we’re experiencing a rebound, or are we still in a bear market? Pundits love to share good news; they don’t love to talk about the underlying pressures that make markets act the way they do. This means that if you’re nearing retirement and keeping up with financial news, you may not have all the information or tools you need to make sure your retirement plan is in the best shape possible. To...2022-07-2920 min

The Retirement Trainer072: How to Avoid FOMO When Markets Are VolatileOur economy feels like a pretty uncertain place right now–especially if you’re approaching retirement age (or recently retired). Whether you’re reading the headlines or not, you’re probably feeling the effects of inflation and market volatility every single day. And if you’re of retirement age, you were there for the hyperinflation of the 1970s, the dot-com bust of the 2000s, and the Great Recession, but that doesn’t mean that your portfolio is currently suited to the moment at hand. In today’s episode, we’re talking about the countless financial products and opt...2022-07-2721 min

The Retirement TrainerHow Comprehensive Financial Planning Protects Your LifestyleOn June 15th, the Federal Reserve decided to raise interest rates by 75 basis points. Understandably, this leads to a lot of questions: how is this going to affect bonds and the stock markets? How will this impact the economy and employment? Will there be a recession? No matter what happens, a comprehensive financial plan is your best defense in uncertain times. In today’s episode, we discuss the impacts of the Fed’s decision, how to create a risk budget and reserves to prevent needing to sell at a loss, and how to crea...2022-06-3021 min

The Retirement TrainerHow to Make Your Retirement Plan Recession-ProofIt's difficult to prepare for every worst-case scenario. When the most likely scenarios are considered, it can help avoid panic and overwhelm when the rough days rise to the surface. Imagine that you're on your way to an important business meeting or picking your spouse up from the airport when one of your tires suddenly goes flat. If you have a spare, you'll be a little late. If you don't, your entire day could be derailed. As we all know, life can be unpredictable. And if you're taking too many risks with your investment portfolio, or...2022-06-2425 min

The Retirement TrainerThe Market Roller Coaster Ride: Preparing for the UnexpectedIn case you haven’t noticed, we’re all on a roller coaster ride this year. As investors, it’s virtually impossible to predict what’s going to happen when it comes to leverage, supply chains, and rampant inflation. However, we can do our research, ask questions, and do our best to make sense of what’s going on so we can best expect the unexpected. In today’s episode, we explore the history of market volatility (and where it comes from), what makes our current economic moment unique, and how to ensure your plan will carry yo...2022-05-2731 min

The Retirement TrainerWill Inflation Lead to a Recession? (Part 2)Rampant inflation seems like it’s here to stay for at least a while longer. Everyone’s feeling it at the grocery store, the gas pump, and seemingly everywhere else. In part one of this two-part series, we’ll discuss why it’s happening and dive into how to make sure your retirement plan can sustain your lifestyle, even if costs continue to go up. We’ll help you make sense of why the markets seem to be changing at the drop of a hat, why emotional investing is all but guaranteed to hurt you, and how a...2022-04-2917 min

The Retirement TrainerWill Inflation Lead to a Recession? (Part 1)Inflation’s constantly in the news, and it’s easy to see why. When everything we buy costs more, each dollar in our pocket is worth less. And while it’s easy to cut back on some unnecessary expenses, no one wants to make severe changes to their lifestyle to cover simple costs like gas and groceries. That’s why it’s so important to factor inflation into your retirement plan. While you can hope for the best, it certainly doesn’t hurt to prepare for the worst so that you’re prepared for a potential recession. In today...2022-04-2823 min

The Retirement TrainerHow To Avoid Letting an Energy Crisis Become a Wealth CrisisNo one who was there remembers the lineups at the gas pumps in the 1970s with any fondness. And though we’re not seeing long gas lines yet, we are seeing extremely high gas prices, rampant inflation, and extremely volatile markets–what we not-so-fondly refer to as stagflation. However, an energy or economic crisis doesn’t have to become a wealth crisis, and you can create a plan that helps you no matter where you are or what your future holds. In this episode, we’re talking about how to prepare–and protect–yourself from massive energ...2022-03-2919 min

The Retirement TrainerWhy Stagflation Makes Financial Planning More Important Than EverBack in the 1970s, we experienced a combination of economic stagnation and inflation. Energy prices were high and the stock market went up and down like a roller coaster, very similarly to what we’re experiencing right now. Back then, it was called stagflation–and we’re hearing that word more and more in 2022. Unfortunately, stagflation can have real impacts on your finances, especially if you’re retired or about to retire, and we’re likely to see high inflation for some time to come. In today’s episode, we discuss why our current economy is directly tied to Russ...2022-03-2120 min

The Retirement TrainerWhy Tax Time is the Perfect Time to Review Your Retirement PlanTax season is about much more than just how much money you owe the IRS each year. It’s also a golden opportunity to review your investment strategy, your estate plan, and what your taxes will look like in the years to come. With the April 18th due date coming ever closer, the national debt ballooning, and inflation continuing to rise, today’s episode is all about how to take a holistic look at your tax and retirement plans together. You’ll learn why taxes are all but certain to go up soon–and what you can do right n...2022-03-0422 min

The Retirement TrainerWeathering Market Downturns and the Future of CryptocurrenciesIf you’re watching the financial news every day, you’re probably feeling a little unsettled. We’re in the midst of 40-year high inflation over 7% year-over-year. The Fed has announced three rate hikes when major firms are saying we need at least five to seven. Cryptocurrency has gone through a series of even more extreme ups and downs, with investors experiencing swings from anywhere between 500 and 1,000 points. All of this can be extremely daunting, especially if you’re on the verge of retirement (or recently retired). You want your portfolio to be able to keep you...2022-02-2529 min

The Retirement TrainerThe Pros and Cons of Investing in CryptocurrencyCryptocurrency is in the news every day. We hear stories all the time of people making big money with crypto. Billionaires like Elon Musk can affect its value with a single tweet, and potential regulation could change the field very soon. Having said that, the questions that we hear from our clients are still the same. “Should I invest in crypto? And what are the downsides?” Today, we’re answering some of our most common client questions about cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a better understa...2022-01-2826 min

The Retirement Trainerhttps://theretirementtrainer.com/61If there is one thing that is very obvious about the near future, it’s that we’re living in very unpredictable times. Who would’ve thought we would still be in the middle of a pandemic? And who could’ve imagined interest rates to still be as low as they are now? Simply put, you can’t always know what’s going to happen–and you need to be able to be prepared, no matter what comes your way. In today’s episode, we talk about what’s going on with a market that’s constantly up and...2022-01-2114 min

The Retirement TrainerWrapping Up 2021 and Planning for the FutureIf you think back to where you were a year ago, you were probably excited for life to get back to some kind of normal. As we have come to find out, this year proved to be full of surprises with ongoing labor shortages, disrupted supply chains, and high inflation. With that in mind, we know we can’t predict the future–but we can help you create a plan to weather the coming storm and achieve your goals, no matter what happens in the world. Today’s episode is all about what needs to go on...2021-12-1730 min

The Retirement TrainerCreating a Year-End Checklist for Your Financial PlanWe’re all busy this time of year–not just with holiday parties and shopping for gifts, but with a number of major financial deadlines. On top of that, it’s also time to look back at how you did financially in 2021 and create a plan to take you into 2022 and beyond. Whether you’re giving to charity, making contributions to retirement accounts, or preparing for inflation to best protect your wealth, today’s episode is for you. We’re talking about what your year-end financial checklist should look like and how to craft a retirement strategy suited to yo...2021-12-1029 min

The Retirement TrainerBuilding a Budget that Benefits YouIt’s the holidays–and that means we’re gearing up for Black Friday deals, Christmas gifts, and more. Giving (and receiving) gifts can be a whole lot of fun–but it’s also one of the easiest times of the year to overspend, rack up credit card debt, and make financial decisions that feel better in the moment than they do in the long run. With that in mind, today’s episode is all about how to set an effective budget. We’re talking about why budgeting gets so contentious, how to eliminate conflict through budget...2021-11-1829 min

The Retirement TrainerHow Epcon Communities Kept People Safe While Running an Essential BusinessNanette Pfister is the VP of Sales for Epcon Communities, a community planning company operating in 29 states across the country. They’re a hugely successful franchise business with over 150 corporate employees, and as a housing provider, they were an essential business over the course of the COVID-19 crisis. Today, Nanette joins the podcast to talk about how they weathered the shutdowns, tips for how to sell homes virtually, and why they’re poised to hit all-time sales records and achievements for 2021. In this podcast interview, you’ll learn: How Epcon Communities rapidly became adept at virt...2021-11-1228 min

The Retirement TrainerWhy Community Banks Matter with Fred DeBiasi of Valley Central BankToday, we’re talking to Fred DeBiasi. He’s the CEO of Valley Central Bank, a community bank here in Ohio. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he’s shifted his business model and worked to deliver a different kind of consumer experience in the face of a wide array of challenges. In his words, Valley Central experienced a triple whammy: an intense merger in August 2019, the COVID pandemic, and the PPP lending rush. Throughout all of it, they were able to continue serving their clients and emerged in great shape on the other side. In thi...2021-10-2931 min

The Retirement TrainerMaking Sense of Rising InflationWe’re all living with inflation. We’re watching prices climb out of control, whether we’re at the grocery store or doing our holiday shopping. It’s everywhere. It’s hard not to notice that gas is up over $1.25 a gallon when you’re filling up the gas tank. So, as you watch your costs balloon, what can you do to protect your finances and best take care of yourself and your family? Today, we’re talking about all the factors at play: what’s causing rampant inflation, how inflation has affected us in the past, and the things y...2021-10-2118 min

The Retirement TrainerA Positive Perspective on Financial PreppingIn the last few years, we’ve all heard about preppers–people who have outfitted their basements with emergency supplies, like food and water. The fact that it’s suddenly become hard to find products like paper towels, toilet paper, and even bottled water has prompted this topic to rear its head all over again. But what if we told you that financial prepping was also hugely important, especially as we enter into our next phase in life and into retirement? In today’s episode, and in the wake of a truly strange time in our econo...2021-09-3018 min

The Retirement TrainerHow to Prepare for Rising Tax Debt and InflationOnce again, the tax bill is coming–and the biggest asset for so many Americans, with the exception of their real estate, is a pre-tax retirement plan. This could be a 401(k), a 403(b), a thrift savings plan, an IRA, or something else. And no matter what people say, their biggest expense is not healthcare–it’s taxes. Taxes go up as retirees withdraw retirement income, they affect Medicare B, C, and D premiums, and they’re all but inevitably going up. In today’s episode, we discuss a number of issues: how Congress has failed to s...2021-09-2318 min

The Retirement Trainer5 Steps to Starting a New BusinessHere at The Retirement Trainer, we’ve spent the last few months focused on giving back to small businesses. Along the way, you’ve been asking us two questions more than any other: “What’s most important as a business owner,” and “how can I start a new business of my own?” If you’re a small business owner (or want to launch one), today’s episode is especially for you. We start from the very beginning, walk you through a five-step process, discuss the importance of creating a plan for succession (even if you plan to stay a part of the...2021-08-2528 min

The Retirement TrainerMaking Sense of Real Estate Markets with King Flips, Core Ohio, and Muirfield Realty PartnersAt the halfway point in 2021, the real estate markets continue to be as crazy as ever in almost every part of the country, with no signs of slowing down. There’s a good chance you’ve heard stories about someone’s house selling for a huge amount over the asking price to someone willing to pay cash. Bidding wars are rampant, and finding rentals is a challenge. And anyone who does want to sell is worried about being unable to find something else to rent or buy! To help us make sense of this, we have three guests...2021-08-0546 min

The Retirement TrainerHow The Flip Kings Are Keeping Up with the Construction BoomSome people flip houses–others, like Rudy Tirado and Misty Linn, flip businesses. As the owners and founders of Flip Kings, they’ve not only flipped nearly 75 houses in two years– they’ve also built a big portfolio of ventures in Columbus, Ohio, including several bars and restaurants. To make all this happen, they’re employing hundreds of dedicated staff members, keeping up with exploding demand, and managing the massive costs that have come with the unprecedented boom in construction this summer. In today’s conversation, we sit down with the Flip Kings to talk about how they...2021-07-1538 min

The Retirement TrainerHow Scholl’s Landscaping and Design is Navigating the Post-COVID LandscapeScholl’s Landscaping and Design, located in Columbus, Ohio, was shut down for only a few weeks in March of 2020, but their journey back to any sort of “normal” has been a fascinating one. Despite significant success, they’re now facing issues including labor shortages, supply chain issues, and skyrocketing costs for materials. In today’s episode, we ask business owner Jordan Scholl an important question: with every job taking a little longer and being a little more expensive to complete, what should you do? Jordan walks us through how his business is navigating the post-COVID world–and explains...2021-06-2432 min

The Retirement TrainerHow the Knapp Veterinary Hospital Handled Unprecedented Demand for Pet CareOver the course of the last year, demand for veterinary care has exploded. No one in the industry can remember being this busy, and this growth has come with plenty of positives, but some very real challenges as well. Knapp Veterinary Hospital, here in Columbus, Ohio, has faced massive demand, but also had to cancel and postpone lots of important visits and procedures. As the world reopens, they continue to handle that demand and the animals in their care, while passionately serving their community and continuing to build their legacy. Today, owner Dr. Robert Knapp...2021-06-1033 min

The Retirement TrainerHow the Winchester Chiropractic Institute Stayed True to their Patients in 2020The Winchester Institute of Chiropractic Health and Wellness, here in Dublin, Ohio, stayed open as an essential business–even at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a team of chiropractors, massage therapists and exercise physiologists, they’re able to deliver a combination of supplementation, functional medicine, and rehabilitation for a total wellbeing experience. Dr. Dana Winchester faced many challenges in order to keep her business afloat and her patients safe over the course of 2020. By having all the proper processes and procedures in place, she was able to make it through the year and emerge even stron...2021-05-2837 min

The Retirement TrainerAdding The Human Touch at Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa with Chris AmatosWhen everything shut down due to Covid-19 in March 2020, the uncertainty was crippling for many businesses. In this episode, you’ll hear how Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa was able to turn lemons into lemonade thanks to their membership-based business. Located in the Lewis Center in Columbus, Ohio, this outpost of a well-known franchise provides customers with high quality massages and facials at extremely affordable prices. And with the stress and anxiety that a lot of people were dealing with last year, having a business that couldn’t be replaced by internet shopping proved to be very...2021-05-1432 min

The Retirement TrainerAquarium Adventure: The Key to Succeeding in Business for 24 Years!Bill and Sandy Wymard own and operate Aquarium Adventure in Hilliard, Ohio. Guests can see fish from all over the world in their public aquarium, take home fish for their own aquariums, and purchase retail merchandise as well. Aquarium Adventure has carved out a truly unique niche for themselves as a specialty retailer with loyal, long-term customers and employees. When the COVID crisis hit, they needed to stay open, going the extra mile to keep their customers safe as they bought supplies to keep their fish healthy and fed. Today, Bill and Sandy join the...2021-04-2931 min

The Retirement TrainerDefying the Odds Through Teamwork & Community with Chris JonesIron Pony is one of the largest motorcycle dealerships in the Midwest. They grew from a NAPA auto parts store into a thriving business selling parts, apparel, accessories, vehicles, and more. The company has never stopped evolving, and this proved true again in 2020, when they didn’t just survive, but thrived, over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, Chris joins the podcast to tell the story of how he went from dreaming of owning a business to becoming an entrepreneur, the value of honesty and transparency in everything you do, and how teamwork and co...2021-04-2236 min

The Retirement TrainerThriving as a Small Business in a Global Pandemic with Todd Hayes2020 has been one of the toughest years in history for small businesses. Many companies have needed to pivot, change their entire operational model, and adopt and adapt to new technologies in order to keep the lights on. However, a number of businesses didn’t just survive over the last year - they thrived. One of them is Columbus Car Audio. For over 40 years, they have customized and accessorized motorcycles, cars, boats, and buses. In fact, they even once installed a stereo in a canoe. Today, company president Todd Hays joins the podcast to discuss how he k...2021-03-3131 min

The Retirement TrainerSmart Tax Strategies for Individuals Entering RetirementFor years, the conventional wisdom has been to grow your assets tax-deferred while you work, then pay taxes on that money when you’ve entered a lower tax bracket. Unfortunately, that wisdom has gone out the window. Why? It’s simple: America’s massive unfunded liabilities in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the interest on the national debt. Taxes are all but guaranteed to go up in the years to come, and this makes having a real tax strategy - and not just a tax plan - more important than ever before. In this episode, we dis...2021-03-1918 min

The Retirement TrainerWomen in RetirementWhy is it important for women to have a written income plan? Why is it more important for women than men? It’s simple: 80% of all men die married, while 80% of women are single when they pass away. To make matters worse, 50% of all women die broke. Women need more than someone who charges them a fee to manage their investments. They need someone who can provide them with answers to tough questions, who can help them understand how their spouse’s financial situation applies to them, and how to address problems relating to taxes and inflation. 2021-03-0520 min

The Retirement TrainerHealth & Wealth: Why Both Are So Important - Part 2Staying in shape has a huge impact not just on your physical health, but your mental and financial health as well. If you want to make changes, you probably have some big questions: how do I get in shape? And what’s the connection between health and wealth? Joining us to help answer these questions is Alex White, who is back for round 2 on the podcast! Alex is the co-founder of Peak Human Performance in Columbus, Ohio, where he creates customized private training plans for active people including nutrition coaching, mental performance, Pilates, weightlifting, and small group tr...2021-01-2940 min

The Retirement TrainerHealth & Wealth: Why Both Are So ImportantEvery new year, people make resolutions to lose weight or just get in shape. So, what does that have to do with retirement? It’s simple: working out can be a stress reliever, can help us get healthier, and allows us to be more productive. And being healthier later in life gives us more time, strength, and energy to do all the things we said we were going to do before we retired. Joining me today to talk about this is Alex White, co-founder of Peak Human Performance. Alex creates personalized, athletic-based approaches to tra...2021-01-1534 min

The Retirement TrainerCharitable Givings - Part 2In the first part of this series, Pat Puhl joined the podcast to talk about operating a sustainable nonprofit in 2020, what he did to ensure that their entire calendar’s worth of fundraising didn’t need to be scrapped or canceled, and the many potential tax benefits available to you when you give to charity. If you haven’t yet, click here to listen – we highly recommend you do so before you dig into today's. In this episode, Pat and I continue our conversation. We talk about the impact of the Trump tax code and COVID-19 on nonprofit...2020-12-3014 min

The Retirement TrainerCharitable Giving with Pat Puhl - Part 1Charitable giving is more important now than ever before. The challenges, setbacks, and losses caused by COVID-19 have affected not just families and businesses, but the organizations they support as well. That said, there are a lot of people out there who are rising to the occasion and doing good. One of them is Pat Puhl, who is a co-founder of Families For a Cure, which helps families in need in Columbus, Ohio by supporting cancer research and patient care programs. Today, Pat returns to the podcast to talk about operating a sustainable nonprofit in 2020, w...2020-12-2330 min

The Retirement TrainerHow Does a 401k Plan Work?Business owners have a lot of choices when it comes to providing employee benefits, and one of the biggest benefits available is the 401(k). However, many employers don’t know how they work, what their liability is, or how to protect themselves. If you’ve had a job with benefits, you’ve likely had a 401(k), but implementing one as an employer is another story entirely. Today, we’re walking through everything that you need to know as an employer about how 401(k) plans work, how to implement them, and why it’s so important to have an advisor...2020-11-2631 min

The Retirement TrainerHow To Protect Your 401(k)For many people, the 401(k) is one of the biggest parts of their retirement portfolios. In times of great uncertainty, and especially of market volatility, many want to know how to protect their most valuable assets. Especially after the Great Recession of 2008, it’s easy to want to make rash decisions. However, it is a great time to assess your overall risk and understand how best to protect your money - and yourself. Everyone’s situation is different. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to retirement planning, and every family likely needs to take different approaches and positions to ensu...2020-11-0518 min

The Retirement TrainerTaxes in Retirement: Part 2In the previous episode of this podcast, we explored what taxes currently mean for retirees - and why taxes are the most expensive thing in almost every retirement plan. If you save the wrong way, you’ll be penalized for it. If you were so lucky as to live to be 115 years old, you’d be required to withdraw 50% of your pre-tax retirement accounts each year - and no matter what age you are, your required minimum distributions can lead to massive tax spikes. Today, we get at the heart of why your pre-tax investments are so...2020-10-2217 min

The Retirement TrainerTaxes In Retirement: Part 1Taxes are the single biggest expense that people have in retirement. Everyone wants to have a plan in place to deal with them, but few know how to do it well. When you retire, paying taxes on Social Security and even on ordinary income can be voluntary, but only if you have the right plan in place. With the national debt rapidly rising and no predictable budget set by Congress for several years in a row, personal planning has gotten more important than ever. Today, in the first part of a two-part series, we take a...2020-10-1620 min

The Retirement TrainerHow to Best Utilize Life InsuranceMany people buy the wrong life insurance products. It’s easy to make bad decisions when you don’t have a concrete financial plan in place, and as a result, you may end up purchasing products that don’t cover all your needs. There are no “bad” or “good” types of life insurance products. There are simply insurance products that do or don’t serve you, and a proper financial plan ensures that you and your family have access to the right coverage when you need it. In today’s episode, we walk through the basic types of life...2020-10-0120 min

The Retirement TrainerTarget Date Funds & Age-Based InvestingWe are all living in one of the craziest, most volatile markets in history. To get through it, you need a plan, and that plan needs to change over the course of your life to ensure you conserve when you need to, have cash flow, and can make transitions with confidence and ease. These are the core concepts of age-based investing - looking at risk as part of your plan to achieve safety, income, and growth. Today, we explore target date funds and how to use them as you age to reduce your risk over...2020-09-2320 min

The Retirement TrainerAnnuities Part 2: The Good, The Bad, and The UglyIn last week’s episode, we started a deep dive into annuities: what they are, how they work, and why they might (or might not) make sense in your retirement portfolio. If you haven’t yet, we recommend you listen to that episode first, then come back to today’s. More than anything else, you need to remember that whether you’re talking about stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, or, yes, annuities, there’s good and bad in everything. You need to make sure that you’re using the right tool for your situation and your family, becau...2020-09-0319 min

The Retirement TrainerAnnuities: The Good, The Bad, and The UglyWhen many people think of annuities, they say, “Oh my gosh, that’s horrible.” Many people either love or hate them, but this is almost never the right perspective to take. Why is this? It’s simple: many financial planners can’t clearly explain where it makes sense to use annuities or make sense of the complicated industry terms surrounding them. Annuities are one of many investing tools available - just like stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. You have to have the right tools to get to where you want to go, and you need to underst...2020-08-2731 min

The Retirement TrainerReducing Mortgage Debt & DownsizingAs you transition into retirement, you’re likely looking to understand how to reduce mortgage debt and downsize without burning through your savings. There are lots of ways to do it, and lots of important questions to ask along the way. This is more true right now than ever before. With housing markets as hot as they are, it’s become very easy to downsize and end up spending more each month. It’s critical that you do your homework, meet with your advisor and CPA, and determine exactly which tools are best suited to your s...2020-08-1817 min

The Retirement TrainerWhat You Should Know About Paying For CollegeIf you have kids, no matter what financial shape you and your family are in, you’re probably wondering how you’re going to pay for college. You’re probably wondering what your options are. You may need to know what the FAFSA is, what scholarships are available, and if they’re needs or merit-based. You’re also probably astounded by the cost of college. It has risen eight times more than wages have over the last several decades. Furthermore, with colleges and universities in many parts of the world not able to reopen, many students are trying to...2020-07-2328 min

The Retirement TrainerHow the CARES Act Impacts Loans & WithdrawalsOver the years, people have been able to take hardship withdrawals and loans against retirement plans to cover emergency medical expenses, tuition, rent, mortgage payments, repairs, funerals, and other sudden and unexpected costs. However, the rules regarding these withdrawals and loans, the amount of money available to you, and the penalties for taking this money are extraordinarily complicated - and the CARES Act has changed many of these terms. You need to be able to take advantage of them the right way to avoid negatively impacting your retirement. Today, we dig into changing rules and...2020-07-0929 min

The Retirement TrainerHow to Protect Yourself Against Market Volatility in RetirementMarket volatility is real, and we’ve seen it in full force this year. On multiple occasions, we’ve seen markets swing over 6 percent in just one day of trading. Things are changing minute by minute, and the COVID-19 crisis has created a pattern of ongoing economic and political unrest that we’re unlikely to emerge from in the near future. If you have decades left to build wealth and plan your retirement, this may not bother you. However, if you’re in retirement, or about to retire, it’s another story. You’re probably asking, “How can I protect...2020-06-2519 min

The Retirement TrainerWhat Do I Do With My Old 401K?If you and your spouse have worked multiple jobs over the course of your life, you may have old 401(k) plans with former employers scattered all over the place. In fact, we’ve worked with clients with over a dozen plans sitting around that haven’t been seen, updated, or touched at all in years - or even decades. These zombie 401(k)s can turn into substantial tax bills and IRS penalties if you’re not careful, and there are lots of ways to do serious harm to your retirement fund if you make a wrong move. ...2020-06-1119 min

The Retirement TrainerWhat You Need to Know About the COVID-19 Stimulus with Doug MayrOur country’s response to the COVID-19 crisis seems to be changing not just day-by-day, but minute-by-minute. Between the CARES Act, the stimulus package, PPP loans, the HEROES Act recently passed in the House, and other forms of financial relief, it’s never been harder to make sense of what’s available - or how to take advantage of it. Helping me navigate the COVID-19 stimulus is Doug Mayr. Doug is a Managing Partner at BHM, a regional CPA firm here in Columbus. We have a number of mutual clients, and I often rely on him as a grea...2020-05-2828 min

The Retirement TrainerAre We in a Recession?As the COVID-19 pandemic continues all across the world, we’ve seen some of the most discouraging jobs and unemployment reports in recent history. A lot of investors are worried right now, and it’s easy to jump to the worst possible conclusions. While this is certainly a crisis, for many people, it’s also a navigable one - and there are definitely things you should and shouldn’t do over the next few months, no matter how the markets react to news, both good and bad. In today’s episode of the podcast, we discuss wh...2020-05-1413 min

The Retirement TrainerCOVID-19 and What It Means for Your RetirementAfter an 11 year bull run, the crisis caused by the COVID-19 has proven to be the real deal from both a health and economic perspective. After over a month of binge watching our favorite TV shows and reading and watching the news, everyone is concerned. There is a lot of weight on our shoulders right now as Americans, and as we oversee financial plans for people transitioning into retirement at this moment, it’s go time. You need a plan to keep you safe, provide you with income, and grow on your terms, and we’re here to h...2020-04-3020 min

The Retirement TrainerTalking About the SECURE Act with Logan PhillipsToday we're digging in a bit deeper and talking more about The SECURE Act with estate planning attorney, Logan Phillips. The thing that the SECURE Act did was really change retirement planning for people. Logan says it benefits individuals who are saving for retirement, while it kind of hurts the individuals who they plan to leave their retirement to. Those saving for retirement, get to save for longer before they have to start taking those required minimum distributions. Learn more about what this all means and how it impacts you during today's conversation!2020-03-1224 min

The Retirement TrainerWhat You Need to Know about the SECURE ActThe SECURE Act, also known as the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019, came into effect on January 1st, 2020. Designed to make it easier for Americans to access tax-advantaged accounts and stop people from outliving their assets, it made another round of sweeping, monumental changes to the tax code. This means that even if you’ve just created what you think is a robust, thoughtful retirement plan, it’s time to review everything again and make sure that you’re taking advantage of all of the available opportunities. Today, we dig into the go...2020-03-0319 min

The Retirement Trainer[REPLAY] 7 Common Retirement Mistakes That You Can AvoidHow you can the take financial regrets of others, and turn them into a preventative education for you.2020-02-1022 min

The Retirement Trainer[REPLAY] Can You Avoid Taxes In Retirement - If So, How?What's the deal with the year 2025? And other tips to protect yourself from rising taxes.2020-01-2025 min

The Retirement Trainer[REPLAY] When Did Retirement Become So Hard?It seemed easier for our parents and grandparents. Now, the effort required to prepare for a happy retirement has practically become a second job. How can "uncomplicate" how complicated retirement has become?2020-01-1316 min

The Retirement TrainerA Non-Profit Insider Explains How Your Donated Dollar Is Put To WorkEd talks with Pat Puhl, President of “Families For A Cure,” about growing from a single golf tournament to licensed nonprofit that’s raised over $1 Million for cancer research and patient care programs.2019-12-0225 min

The Retirement TrainerThe $7 BILLION Drop In Donations To Charities, And How You Can HelpRather than ways to save and keep more of your money, we’re talking about the importance and benefits of giving it away.2019-11-2523 min

The Retirement TrainerYou Know You Want To Avoid Probate Court, But Do You Know Why - Legacy Planning, Part 2Ed chats with attorney Logan Philipps, on ways to better protect yourself, your family and your assets by building a proper estate plan.2019-11-1846 min

The Retirement TrainerEstate Plans Are NOT Just For The Wealthy - Legacy Planning, Part 1Understanding what you have, who you want to leave those things to, and how you want those things to be received, is as important a plan as figuring out your retirement income, yet most of us neglect this area of planning. How to start thinking ahead about what you want to leave behind. 2019-11-1124 min

The Retirement TrainerWhen Someone You Love Needs Assisted LivingIn a candid conversation, Ed chats with Evan DuBro - founder and CEO of Our Family Home and advocate for those affected by Alzheimer’s and Dementia - about personal family struggles with these diseases while also offering valuable information on Long Term Care planning.2019-11-0444 min

The Retirement Trainer70% Of Retirees Will Need This Kind Of Care, Are You CoveredPolices seem expensive and options complicated, but there are new options emerging for Long Term Care. Ed explains some things you need to know.2019-10-2823 min

The Retirement TrainerShould You REALLY Move Into That Smaller HouseRetirement Pitfalls: they're different than mistakes. Here's what to keep in mind.2019-10-2115 min

The Retirement TrainerThe Portfolio X-Ray: What Is It, Who Needs It, & WhyUncover the gremlins that could be hiding in your assets!2019-10-1420 min

The Retirement TrainerCan You Avoid Taxes In Retirement - If So, HowWhat's the deal with the year 2025? And other tips to protect yourself from rising taxes.2019-10-0725 min

The Retirement Trainer5 Key Financial Areas You Should Focus OnThe Retirement Fitness Plan™ is a 5-Step plan that Ed designed himself to help you get to, and through, retirement.2019-09-3028 min

The Retirement TrainerHow Much Money Will You Need$500,000…$1 million…$5 MILLION? How can you begin to determine how much you actually need in your nest egg?2019-09-2316 min

The Retirement Trainer7 Common Retirement Mistakes That You Can AvoidHow you can the take financial regrets of others, and turn them into a preventative education for you.2019-09-1622 min

The Retirement TrainerThe 4 Biggest Retirement Worries: Part 2Last week we began the conversation to reduce your anxiety about running out of money, and healthcare costs. This week, we resume the discussion of what’s got you worried about retirement, and what you can do to ease your anxiety.2019-09-0214 min

The Retirement TrainerThe 4 Biggest Retirement Worries: Part 1What are the biggest worries we have about retirement, and how can we ease them? Laying out some simple financial groundwork now, can make a BIG difference in helping you be less stressed later!2019-08-2618 min

The Retirement TrainerWhen Did Retirement Become So HardIt seemed easier for our parents and grandparents. Now, the effort required to prepare for a happy retirement has practically become a second job. How can "uncomplicate" how complicated retirement has become?2019-08-1916 min

VIP IGNITE LIVE - PodcastVIP Ignite E:247 Internationally Trained Actor Ugur Egsi Joins VIP IgniteWhat movie did you see that sparked a dream in you to become a part of the entertainment industry?On this episode of the VIP Ignite podcast, your host Deneen White is excited to introduce you to Ugur Egsi aka Atlas Gunes. When Atlas was nine years old, he saw The Neverending Story and E.T. and knew, after watching those two movies, what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. In his 30's, he decided that it was time to put aside his 9-5 and start pursuing his goal of being an actor. He spent 4 years study...2019-08-0729 min