Shows
Expert Network TeamE94: Aging plans with Annalee Kruger 2 of 2Learn some of the specifics of Annalee’s advice. Take, for example, a driving plan. What if mom and dad cannot drive anymore? Are they even safe to drive? Learn about some of the things to do to make a home senior safe. Learn about technologies that can help our elderly loved ones. Learn about ways to keep our bodies and brains healthy. Also hear some real-life stories of things gone wrong.The Expert Network Team consists of Karl Frank CFP®, financial planner at A&I Wealth Management, Nathan Merrill, attorney at Goodspeed and Merrill, and Jeff Kro...
2024-05-2237 minExpert Network TeamAging plans with Annalee Kruger 1 of 2Nathan Merrill, Karl Frank CFP®The majority of families who hire Annalee or one of her team members are in crisis. Their loved one, an elder, has had a decline in health and they are not ready. The communication between family members is struggling. And all of us, at some point in time, will not be able to speak up for ourselves when we need to. So it is good to find a guide, and this podcast provides some practical ways to choose one.The Expert Network Team consists of Karl Frank CFP®, financial planner at...
2024-05-0830 minExpert Network TeamE92: Corporate Transparency Act 2 of 2Learn enough details about the CTA so that you can take action. Learn about the exceptions to the Corporate Transparency Act, and see if you can avoid completing the requirements. Learn about the affected people, called company applicants. Learn about company applicants, learn about how one complies–the application process. Learn about risk management considerations, and put it all in perspective and make it real.The Expert Network Team consists of Karl Frank CFP®, financial planner at A&I Wealth Management, Nathan Merrill, attorney at Goodspeed and Merrill, and Jeff Krommendyk, managing principal at OneDigital insurance.
2024-04-2431 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 91: Corporate Transparency Act Part 1 of 2Sweeping new laws affect every business owner of nearly every size business in the USA. Nathan and Karl interview Charlston “Chase” DeGrood, an attorney at Goodspeed and Merrill, about the CTA: Corporate Transparency Act. All of us have to give up a lot of privacy and keep our information up to date or we face stiff fines. In a new Federal government database, the Feds are collecting ownership of companies, holding companies, and other legal entities, even if they have no financial affect. Even the person doing the work, regardless of their position in the company, must provide personal priv...
2024-04-0935 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 90: Tax Harvesting...Gains and LossesJoin Nathan Merrill and Karl Frank CFP® as they share ideas about tax harvesting. First, learn what it means to harvest a tax loss and how it benefits you. Then, learn about some risks you might not have thought about when you choose to do it. Plus, learn some good strategies and when this benefits you the most. After that, Karl and Nate flip the topic on its head and give you what could be a great idea you might not have thought about: harvesting the gains of your favorite investments!For more information, visit us at w...
2023-11-2818 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 84 - A Family Reunion Can Help Prepare the HeirsA Family Reunion Can Help Prepare Your HeirsNathan Merrill and Karl Frank, CFP talk about a fun way to help prepare the heirs–the family reunion! Here are a handful of fun and practical ideas to turn an event that has been the butt of many jokes, and funny movies, and turn it into something that could be impactful. Plus, it could prepare the heirs by giving them the stories and sharing the legacy of your family.First, ask why? Why do we have a family reunion? Get the buy-in from younger generations. Everyone needs to...
2023-08-2922 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 83 - A Good Inheritor of WealthA Good Inheritor of WealthNathan Merrill and Karl Frank, CFP discuss how to prepare an inheritor of wealth. Building off previous podcasts, we discuss some practical and fun actions we can take to help the next generations become the best versions of themselves they can be.Like training your kids to be good at golf, do you want them to start learning to play golf when young or old? Young!Similarly, do you want to prepare your heirs for their inheritance when they are young or old? Young!Financial education is important.Values, stories, ethics–th...
2023-08-1526 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 82 - Wealth as a DisruptorWealth is a Disruptor Nathan Merrill and Karl Frank, CFP say wealth is a disruptor. It could be a force for good or bad! First principles, how is money a disruptor? Help define the benefactor’s goalsThink about it from the inheritor’s sideNow think about it four generations out, what will they value? Likely not the money…Hear a story about a ranch in the family and another story that goes all the way back to Colonial Virginia. What do the relatives most value today?Learn the importance and usefulness of having a guideLearn a few techn...
2023-08-0123 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 81: What is a Family of Affinity and How Does it Affect my Estate Plan?Karl Frank, CFP and Nathan Merrill go back to first principles and discuss something that means the most to most of us: family. How do you transfer significant money to people who may or may not be part of your biological family?Learn how a “relational family” and a “family of affinity” are different. Learn some questions a financially successful person can ask.How do we get closer to our family? How do we keep them close?When you leave the money out of the conversation, you sometimes get closer to what is most important.On the other hand, avo...
2023-07-2524 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 80: Facilitating Important Family Conversations (Part 2)Karl Frank, CFP, Jeff Krommendyk and Nathan Merrill continue to interview Shawn Barberis, JD, who is an expert on facilitating important family conversations about legacy. Legacy is often discussed but rarely acted upon. Shawn shares some of the history of legacy conversations:How Shawn got into the business, and created the technology and processes.What the process looks like for new clients. This includes 30 minutes of homework for each and every family member, each and every month, for the first six months.The research on families who have successfully transferred the financial and non financial assets over generations.
2023-06-1329 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 79: Facilitating Important Family Conversations (Part 1)Karl Frank, CFP, Jeff Krommendyk and Nathan Merrill interview Shawn Barberis, JD, who is an expert on facilitating important family conversations about legacy. As Shawn says, legacy is often discussed but rarely acted upon. Shawn shares:How legacy is not quantitative, it is not measured in dollars. A legacy is qualitative. Shawn shares what he means by this and how he helps people find meaning.Why everyone, even the young people in a family, deserve a seat at the table during a family conversation about legacy.Everything goes wrong when the family goes wrong, the money, the businesses...
2023-05-3024 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 76: Insurance Rates are Rising but How Much and for how long?Karl Frank, CFP and Nathan Merrill quiz our insurance expert, Jeff Krommendyk, about how much insurance rates are rising, why and what can we do about it?What is happening with insurance rates and why?What can we do about it?Hard markets and soft marketsPutting it all into perspective, and some optimism that this might not last very long.Catastrophe: this is the primary reason rates are higher—we have had a number of catastrophes, this and…Low investment returns. Insurance companies have had lower investment returns, but that might be changing!For more information about thes...
2023-04-2533 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 75: How Rising Interest Rates affect Investment PlansJeff Krommendyk and Nathan Merrill ask Karl Frank, CFP about how rising interest rates affect the investment planning he recommends.What is happening with rates and why?Opportunities for growth and incomeExpected returns and how they matter for advanced tax planningA little bit about mutual funds and taxes and returnsSequence of returnsInflation, interest rates and…What recession? Who said we were having a recession anyway?In all seriousness, we discuss timely and timeless topics that may help put perspective on the craziness of our modern world.For more information about these topics, check out all ou...
2023-04-0425 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 74: How Rising Interest Rates affect Advanced Financial PlansKarl Frank, CFP and Jeff Krommendyk, ask Nathan Merrill about how rising interest rates affect advanced financial planning tools that he recommends.What is happening with rates and why?How do various charitable plans affected by rising rates?Which tax and charitable strategies are better today?What about changes in the US Federal Government and how does they affect my financial plans?We discuss charitable lead and charitable remainder trusts. For more information about these, check out our previous podcast:Podcast 39: Introduction to charitable giving
Expert Network team provides free consultations. Just mention that...
2023-03-2117 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 73: 2023 Tax Law Changes for Business Owners and Other EmployersKarl Frank, CFP and Nathan Merrill discuss the tax law changes that are most likely to affect business owners and other employers. At the end of 2022, Congress passed more than 90 changes to the tax laws and many of these affect employers, especially with retirement plans.Roth-a-mania, many new rules around after-tax retirement plans, most of them provide a long-term benefit of the tax-payerCinnamon roll: instead of a donut hole, which is a phrase used to describe a problem with Medicare, the cinnamon roll benefits folks aged 60 to 63Bribery, how employers can use low-dollar gift cards to incentivize workers...
2023-03-0728 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 72: 2023 Tax Law Changes for Individuals and FamiliesAt the end of 2022, Congress passed more than 90 changes to the tax laws. This podcast will cover the biggest changes that affect the largest number of individuals and families. Nathan Merrill tax attorney, interviews Karl Frank, CFP and discuss:New rules around required distributionsIRAs and 401k plan changesTax brackets and deductionsNew benefits for education plans—you can roll left over money into your own Roth IRANew types of Roth accountsMost of the changes at the end of 2022 are good news; they actually benefit taxpayers! We discuss some of the reasons Congress made changes, including changing demographics, po...
2023-02-2132 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 71: Marijuana Use And The Workplace: What Employers Need To KnowEmployers can enforce rules that prohibit employees from using marijuana both on-duty and off-duty. This may be surprising to residents of Colorado, where marijuana is legal. Special guests, Lauren Snow and John Sauer join Karl Frank, CFP and Nathan Merrill to answer questions and help business owners manage employees who use Cannabis.Is it permissible for employers to prohibit employees from using cannabis while not at work?What is the case law in Colorado? Does it protect or imperil employers or employees?Will Colorado change the law?What about the US Federal Government and will cannabis become legal?
2023-02-0734 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 68: Lifetime Learning for Business OwnersBios for Karl Frank, CFP, Jeff Krommendyk and Nathan Merrill.Learn more about the Expert Network Team’s process and free discovery meeting.
Expert Network team provides free consultations. Just mention that you listened to the podcast. Nathan Merrill, attorneyWorking with affluent families and entrepreneurs in implementing tax-efficient strategies and wealth preservationGoodspeed, Merrill(720) 473-7644nmerrill@goodspeedmerrill.comTaylor Smith, attorneyHelping affluent families build their legacy through complex estate planningGoodspeed Merrill(720) 512-2008tsmith@goodspeedmerrill.comwww.goo...
2022-11-0917 min
Expert Network TeamEpisode 67: Reasons for Optimism in a RecessionKarl Frank, CFP, and Nathan Merrill discuss the recession. It is important for business owners, executives and managers to remain positive. Here are some reasons why and how!What makes the news is not what mattersRecessions are usually mildBusiness owners have more choice and control than many people about how the recession affects them, their business and their stakeholdersOften, these are times when employees become more loyal and hiring becomes easierA healthy company may be able to gain market share during a recessionHere are some risks that good managers, executives and other employers can turn into...
2022-10-1820 min
Expert Network TeamEpisode 66: Dangers of Payroll (and Payroll Taxes) for EmployersKarl Frank, CFP and Nathan Merrill discuss a couple of real-life horror stories for employers: the underappreciated risks of payroll and payroll taxes!Learn what risks you face as a fiduciary for the Federal and State governmentsListen to a story about how Karl’s company had payroll, and three months of taxes, stolen…never to be recovered.Learn from Nathan as he shares a horror story from a person he cares aboutAvoid these big risks that business owners, executives and other fiduciaries face and how to avoid them!
Expert Network team provides free cons...
2022-10-1229 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 63: 7 Key questions to ask if you are going to exit your businessExit Planning Intake QuestionnaireKarl Frank, CFP, Jeff Krommendyk, and Nathan Merrill discuss exit planning. How can you exit your business in style? Answer these seven questions, and you will be off to a good start.Do you know your exact retirement goals and what it should take, in cash, to reach them?Do you know how much your business is worth today, in cash?Do you know the best way to maximize the income stream generated by your ownership interest?Do you know how to sell your business to a third party and pay the...
2022-08-1025 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 62: Economic Headwinds in 2022Karl Frank, CFP answers questions from Nathan Merrill about the economy and brings a positive perspective to the events of the world. We discuss inflation, interest rates, slowing economy, low unemployment, energy costs and more. With a little different perspective, one can see many of the challenges in today’s world as opportunities. In sum, pessimists may sound smart but optimists make money.
Learn more about Karl’s free discovery meeting here: https://www.assetsandincome.com/our-process-our-promise/
Learn more about Nathan Merrill here:
https://www.goodspeedmerrill.com/attorney/merrill-nathan/ Expert Network team provides free consultations. Just mention that you
listened to t...
2022-08-0234 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 61: Headwinds: How to Face Big Challenges with Nathan MerrillKarl Frank, CFP listens as Nathan Merrill opens up about some huge challenges he and his company are facing. Business owners of all walks of life face similar challenges, and may benefit from a conversation about:
*Circumstances and events that are slowing us down
*Catalysts–how big change is often masked as failure.
*Management changes, how to part ways and everyone wins.
*Redundancy, making ourselves less vulnerable to personnel changes.
*Embrace patience
*How a healthy culture of “not complaining” and “get stuff done” has a dark flip side…and how to avoid it!
*How to be ambitiously lazy
Learn more about Karl’s...
2022-07-2637 min
Expert Network TeamEpisode 53: End of Life Planning with Advanced Medical Directives and Living WillsJeff Krommendyk, Karl Frank, CFP and Nathan Merrill dive into a conversation about death and come out feeling inspired. No, really.Start with the legal documents.Move into the soft stuff which is WAY more important anyway.Provide some links and recommendations for practical planning and conversation starters.Learn the three fundamentals of an AMD (Advanced Medical Directive). We briefly cover the medical power of attorney too so that you can safely go into a conversation with an attorney, and not have your head spinning. We talk a little about the differences between state laws, and how...
2022-03-2928 min
Expert Network TeamEpisode 52: Panic at the Office Part 2 of 2Jeff Krommendyk, Karl Frank, CFP and Nathan Merrill are still experiencing panic at the office. Or rather, with all the heightened tensions around the world, we are noticing that we, our team members, our partners, clients, vendors are on edge.In the second of a two part series, we are getting real and provide practical advice to keep ourselves, and our teams, on track in “a time in our lives like no other.” How do we provide counsel to our team, family and friends?Recognize that the information we, and our team, takes in determines a grea...
2022-03-2221 min
Expert Network TeamEpisode 49: Business Owners Get Off The TreadmillBusiness Owners Get Off the TreadmillKarl Frank, CFP, Jeff Krommendyk, and Nathan Merrill get together and talk about getting burnt out making money.Is there some way we can work less hard and still make a living?Am I ready to retire? Can we re-imagine retirement?What about a way to build a business you never want to leave?What questions do you ask and what steps can you take to get your life back on track, and not just the business. Get out of the boxes you don’t belong in, and back into the...
2022-02-2226 min
Expert Network TeamEpisode 48: Not a New Normal, but Better in 2022!Karl Frank, CFP and Nathan Merrill discuss the state of small business at the beginning of 2022. The biggest trend of our time is Covid 19 and what will happen next?Will this be a pivot year–when we return to something more normal?Discuss the statistics around Covid 19 and how, in the macro scheme, things look better than they have in years. We also discuss why some numbers we may not trust.Risks we are tolerant of, and people, actions and other things we are less tolerant of, now that we have lived with Covid for a few years.We...
2022-02-1524 min
Expert Network TeamEpisode 47: Retirement Income Planning: How You Can Make Withdrawals from Your Investment Accounts in RetirementRetirement Income Planning: How You Can Make Withdrawals from Your Investment Accounts in RetirementSpecial guest Francois Giguere joins Karl Frank, CFP and Nathan Merrill to discuss the way that A&I Financial Services helps their clients set up a safe way to set up a steady retirement income from investment accounts. Many people cannot retire without a substantial investment portfolio. Many people depend upon those investments to provide the income they need during retirement. Listen and learn:- When should we start to plan for making wi...
2022-02-0835 min
Expert Network TeamEpisode 46: Making a Career Change, Advice from Francois Giguere, CFP(R)Special guest Francois Giguere joins Nathan Merrill, Karl Frank, CFP, Jeff Krommendyk, and Mike Miller, CPA to discuss an important and timely topic: how to make a career change.Francois is the former General Manager of the Colorado Avalanche. During his more than twenty year career, he helped move the franchise from Canada to Colorado, and then rose in the ranks to become the GM. He was with the team when they won the Stanley Cup twice!Francois was also fired from his job, and he is open about the devastating, but short-term impact of...
2022-01-1727 min
Expert Network TeamEpisode 45: Marshall Fire in Boulder and How All of Us Can Protect Ourselves in the FutureJeff Krommendyk, our home and auto insurance expert, teaches Karl Frank, CFP and Nathan Merrill about the Marshall Fire. Jeff has clients among the more than 1,000 homeowners who were devastated by the fires near Boulder at the end of 2021. Learn:What happens to the homeowners whose home were underinsured? Or who had no insurance at all?Who pays the mortgage and the car payment for a burnt-down home? How does the government help? What will insurance companies pay for?What about a total loss–what happens to the more than 900 homes burned to the ground?What are the thre...
2022-01-1129 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 44: Current State of the Markets with Cameron MorganSpecial guest Cameron Morgan joins Karl Frank, CFP, Jeff Krommendyk, Mike Miller, CPA and Nathan Merrill and gain useful and informative insights into today’s investment markets.
Is it a good time to be investing in equities when the SP500 is at an all-time high?
How much of the market’s rise is driven by the US Federal Reserve? And is it safe?
If I am worried about inflation, should I pay off debt?
Warren Buffet says I should be contrarian. If everyone says it is a good time to be in equities, should I wait until the markets crash?
What...
2021-12-0821 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 43: Two Ways to Get Free Money from Colorado to Pay for College and Other HacksSpecial guest Cameron Morgan joins Karl Frank, CFP, Jeff Krommendyk, Mike Miller, CPA and Nathan Merrill and gain a couple of great ideas to save money, or just plain old get free money, to pay for college.
Colorado families lose the unlimited State income tax deduction for contributions to 529 plans in 2021. However, there are two little-known secret ways to get free money from the State of Colorado to help pay for college. One helps parents and grandparents with younger age kids or grandkids, and the other helps pay for kids already in college.
First, learn about the $1,000 matching grant from...
2021-12-0136 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 43: Real Estate for Retirement IncomeReal Estate for Retirement Income Liner Notes
Join Karl Frank, CFP as he interviews Mike Miller, CPA and Nathan Merrill to talk about a very popular retirement income strategy: real estate. Today we are talking about the pros and cons and the ins and out of passive rental income. Karl is a rookie at owning commercial real estate and asks the experts, both of whom are income-producing real estate owners and have decades of experience counseling real estate investors. Here are just a few of the questions you can get answers to:
Should I own it or try to fix...
2021-11-2421 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 42: Retirement Income PrimerRetirement Income Primer
Join Mike Miller, CPA, Karl Frank, CFP and Nathan Merrill, attorney as they discuss retirement income. In today’s podcast, Nathan and Mike ask Karl questions about how to turn your retirement assets into retirement income. Some of the questions Karl answers include:
Should I invest using a 401k or a Roth and what is the difference?
What is my retirement number--how much do I need?
What happens to real estate, like my home, in retirement?
What about the sale of a business, a home or other large asset?
How do we plan for Medicare?
What are th...
2021-11-1728 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 40: What You Need to Know About Different Types of Retirement AccountsJoin Nathan Merrill, attorney, Mike Miller CPA and Karl Frank CFP as they lay out the fundamentals about retirement accounts. Learn the different ways that the money can be invested. Learn the different taxes, tax benefits. Learn why a retirement account eliminates the worry over capital gains tax. Learn the lingo and the law. In the podcast, we discuss the eligibility limits and make reference to this IRS web page:https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/new-income-ranges-for-ira-eligibility-in-2021Additionally, learn about the Roth conversion and whether you do or do not want to do one of these...
2021-11-0228 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 39: Introduction to Charitable Giving Rules and Good IdeasJoin Karl Frank CFP, Mike Miller CPA and Nathan Merrill, attorney, as they discuss charitable giving in a language all of us can understand. Learn about giving to people and giving to charities. Learn about the tax advantages and the estate tax advantages. Learn some practical advice about non-cash contributions. Learn how to maximize what you are already doing and not run into trouble with the IRS. Learn how to make a gift out of love and affection, and also be safe from trouble with the IRS. Finally, learn some of the lingo, like the DAF: donor advised fund...
2021-10-2724 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 36: How You May be Affected by the Tax Proposal called “American Families”Join all four members of the Expert Team: Nathan Merrill, Karl Frank CFP, Mike Miller CPA and Jeff Krommendyk. We discuss the recent tax plan and how this may affect regular people, not just the billionaires.Importantly, the proposal has not yet passed Congress so everything is subject to change. We discuss a few of the tax increases and losses for individuals. Some of the lost tax benefits include the after-tax Roth contribution, and subsequent Roth conversion. This way to go tax free is made illegal for all people regardless of income by the American F...
2021-10-0628 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 33: Books of Interest to the Expert TeamNathan Merrill and Karl Frank CFP discuss some books they have read that have made an out-size impact on their business and personal lives. With the obvious exclusion of the religious and political categories, we dive into educational and historical books that make an impact. Learn and laugh along side of two of our experts as we discuss some books you may have heard about, and others you may not. Some of the books are famous, like the Stephen Covey books, 7 Habits and First Things First and Principle Centered Leadership. Some are less than famous, like Executive’s Compass by Ja...
2021-08-0433 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 30: Qualified Charitable DistributionsIn this brief but informative podcast, Karl Frank, CFP, Mike Miller, CPA and Nathan Merrill, JD, discuss the QCD: Qualified Charitable Distribution. Learn the benefits and drawbacks of pulling money out of a retirement account and giving it to a charity. The Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a great way for someone to give money directly to a charity and avoid taxes. For people who file a Simple 1040 tax return, the QCD is often a great decision. It saves having to file a more complicated tax return and then itemize your tax deductions. Learn why wealthy people also enjoy the...
2021-06-1618 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 29: Company Culture During the Covid Era-Say What?Karl Frank CFP® interview Nathan Merrill and Jeff Krommendyk about how to build and strengthen company culture during the Covid-19 era. Before Covid—BC—culture was one thing. Now that we are in the Covid-19 era, everything is different. From handling working remotely to new technology, Jeff and Nate find opportunities and challenges. Come out of the podcast with 4 or 5 handy one-liners and good ideas to help you shape your company culture. Learn how to build community—and how it is different from culture. Learn why culture is a devotion. Challenges build identity. Identity helps you focus your efforts and find ne...
2021-06-0226 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 28: Biden's Big Estate Tax Plan- How Do You Anticipate and Plan for These Changes?Karl Frank CFP® and Nathan Merrill discuss Biden’s proposed estate tax plan changes. We describe what the President proposed and what this means for Americans. The increase may affect more people than ever before. The tax rate may be higher. And the loss of a benefit called the step-up in basis could be very expensive for families who have real estate, a family business, farm, or other assets. Nathan will talk in some detail about what we can do before the laws take effect. Learn about the risks that the laws will not change. And learn about ways to red...
2021-05-2605 minExpert Network TeamEpisode 27: Biden's Big Tax Plan Changes-How Do They Affect You?Karl Frank CFP® and Nathan Merrill discuss Biden’s proposed tax plan changes. This is the largest tax increase in US history, in dollar terms, and the second largest in history by percentage terms. Learn about the increased income tax. The long-term capital gains tax increased by the largest percentage in history. Learn about the estate tax increase and possible decrease in the estate tax exemption. This means a lot more people will be taxed a lot more upon death. Learn about the loss of a tax break called the step-up in cost basis. This tax, plus the others, could be...
2021-05-1931 min