All Things Financial

Credit Score Basics: The 5 Factors, Common Myths, and Fast Ways to Improve Your FICO

Trey Peterson and Yelisey Kuts explain how credit scores affect the long-term cost of borrowing and outline the five main FICO factors: payment history (35%), credit utilization (30%), length of credit history, credit mix, and new inquiries. They share practical strategies such as keeping utilization under 30% (ideally under 10% for 800+ scores), paying on time, using auto-pay, spreading balances across cards, and asking for higher credit limits to lower utilization. They discuss how missed payments can drop scores significantly and remain for seven years, plus options like credit repair services and secured credit cards backed by cash to rebuild credit. They debunk myths including that checking your own score or carrying a balance helps, and note that closing old accounts can hurt scores while income does not affect credit score.  

00:00 Why Credit Matters 

01:13 Credit Cards Done Right 

02:52 Debt Stats and Score Basics 

04:21 Utilization Rules 

05:36 FICO Factors Explained 

06:28 Late Payments and Autopay 

08:10 Credit Mix and Repair 

09:36 Inquiries and Timing 

16:51 Rebuilding Credit Fast 

17:48 Common Credit Myths 

20:16 Simple Credit Checklist 

21:26 Wrap Up and Resources

Subscribe to the podcast: 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iIDj87... 

YouTube:    / @allthingsfinancialshow   

Trey C. Peterson and Yelisey Kuts provide an extensive level of knowledge and service in areas concerning retirement strategies, including tax strategy, investments, estate planning, life and long-term-care insurance, Social Security, and Medicare. A one-stop shop for all your retirement needs, visit https://atfwealth.com to learn more!

Contact us: https://atfwealth.com/contact-us 

Trey C. Peterson is a Retirement Planning Specialist with All Things Financial. Trey is a graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Corporate Communication. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in leadership. He is also a graduate of The National Institute of Christian Leadership.

Yelisey Kuts is a Fiduciary Wealth Advisor with All Things Financial. He holds a master’s degree in business from Oral Roberts University. Aside from being a financial advisor, Yelisey has taught classes on a wide range of retirement topics since 2015. 

At All Things Financial, our mission is simple—help individuals and families create lasting financial freedom. We take a personalized, strategic approach to every plan, aligning it with your goals, values, and vision for the future. https://atfwealth.com 

Why Money Matters: Patterns, Mistakes, and Retirement Fears | All Things Financial

00:00 Money Decisions as Patterns
00:53 First Money Mistakes
01:51 Debt and Depreciation Lessons
04:30 Early Money Mentors
07:05 DIY Retirement Pitfalls
09:33 Best Moves in Your 20s
11:39 Stretch vs Comfort Philosophy
17:18 Overrated Retirement Advice
18:23 Career Compounding and Fit
20:43 Tough Partner Decisions
22:27 Advisor Strengths Breakdown
25:38 Business Growth Surprises
28:43 Money Fears vs Reality
32:11 Planning for Peaceful Retirement

Trey C. Peterson and Yelisey Kuts provide an extensive level of knowledge and service in areas concerning retirement strategies, including tax strategy, investments, estate planning, life and long-term-care insurance, Social Security, and Medicare. A one-stop shop for all your retirement needs, visit https://atfwealth.com to learn more!

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Email Yelisey and Trey, and your topic might be featured in a future episode! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

Schedule a meeting with us:
Trey C. Peterson: [email protected]
Yelisey Kuts: [email protected]

Phone: (612) 286-0580
Contact us: https://atfwealth.com/contact-us

Trey C. Peterson is a Retirement Planning Specialist with All Things Financial. Trey is a graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Corporate Communication. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in leadership. He is also a graduate of The National Institute of Christian Leadership.

Yelisey Kuts is a Fiduciary Wealth Advisor with All Things Financial. He holds a master’s degree in business from Oral Roberts University. Aside from being a financial advisor, Yelisey has taught classes on a wide range of retirement topics since 2015.

At All Things Financial, our mission is simple—help individuals and families create lasting financial freedom. We take a personalized, strategic approach to every plan, aligning it with your goals, values, and vision for the future. https://atfwealth.com

How to Maximize Your Tax Refund- 3 Simple Steps

Trey Peterson and Yelisey Kuts break down three pillars of retirement tax planning for those in or nearing retirement: understanding your tax “buckets” (taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free/Roth) and why having multiple buckets creates flexibility; evaluating when Roth conversions make sense (especially to manage future RMDs, tax brackets, and timing) including a look at “mega backdoor” Roth opportunities in some 401(k)s; and building a tax-efficient income stream with a clear spend-down plan and order of withdrawals. They also caution listeners about IUL pitches, emphasizing fees, commissions, and the risk that illustrations don’t match reality, and encourage working with a retirement planning specialist to avoid costly mistakes.

00:00 Welcome and Overview

01:21 Tax Buckets Explained

03:57 Roth 401k Advantages

06:43 IUL Warning Signs

08:23 Roth Conversions Basics

11:19 Conversion Timing and Investing

13:16 Mega Backdoor Roth

14:38 Tax Efficient Income Plan

15:53 Withdrawal Order and Brackets

18:04 Specialist vs Generalist

21:22 Three Pillars Recap

21:53 Closing and Disclosures

Subscribe to the podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iIDj87...
YouTube:    / @allthingsfinancialshow  

Trey C. Peterson and Yelisey Kuts provide an extensive level of knowledge and service in areas concerning retirement strategies, including tax strategy, investments, estate planning, life and long-term-care insurance, Social Security, and Medicare. A one-stop shop for all your retirement needs, visit https://atfwealth.com to learn more!

Contact us: https://atfwealth.com/contact-us

At All Things Financial, our mission is simple—help individuals and families create lasting financial freedom. We take a personalized, strategic approach to every plan, aligning it with your goals, values, and vision for the future. https://atfwealth.com

How to Build a Winning Company Culture: Core Values, Leadership, and Morale | All Things Financial Podcast

00:00 Welcome and Culture Topic
01:16 What Culture Really Means
02:23 Core Values Must Be Lived
03:47 Hiring and Personal Chaos
04:57 Three Culture Pillars
05:58 Core Values at ATF
06:14 Alignment in Practice
09:01 Character vs Skill Fit
11:45 People Quit Managers
13:51 Integrity and Doing It Right
14:36 Hiring Slow Firing Fast
17:17 Leaders Create Culture
17:27 Fun and Morale Strategy
19:09 Belonging and Recognition
20:29 Low Budget Morale Ideas
22:39 What We Can Do Better
26:00 EQ and Leaving Home at Home
26:43 Recap and Closing
27:15 Disclosures

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Email Yelisey and Trey, and your topic might be featured in a future episode! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

Schedule a meeting with us:
Trey C. Peterson: [[email protected]]
Yelisey Kuts: [[email protected]]

Phone: (612) 286-0580
Contact us: https://atfwealth.com/contact-us

Trey C. Peterson is a Retirement Planning Specialist with All Things Financial. Trey is a graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Corporate Communication. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in leadership. He is also a graduate of The National Institute of Christian Leadership.

Yelisey Kuts is a Fiduciary Wealth Advisor with All Things Financial. He holds a master’s degree in business from Oral Roberts University. Aside from being a financial advisor, Yelisey has taught classes on a wide range of retirement topics since 2015.

At All Things Financial, our mission is simple—help individuals and families create lasting financial freedom. We take a personalized, strategic approach to every plan, aligning it with your goals, values, and vision for the future. https://atfwealth.com

Here's a caption draft for All About Annuities, following the same structure minus timestamps since those aren't available yet:

Are annuities a guaranteed paycheck for life, or a costly product that's misunderstood by most retirees?

In this episode, Trey and Yelisey break down everything you need to know about annuities and how they fit into a retirement strategy. They explain the different types of annuities, how they generate income, and the pros and cons that often get overlooked in the sales pitch. The conversation covers who annuities make sense for, common myths and misconceptions, fees and surrender charges to watch out for, and how to evaluate whether an annuity belongs in your overall financial plan.

Learn more about Trey C. Peterson, Yelisey Kuts, and All Things Financial: https://atfwealth.com

Subscribe to the podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1728281696
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iIDj87XpGTlEl9Qiu6wwi
YouTube: /@allthingsfinancialshow

Trey C. Peterson and Yelisey Kuts provide an extensive level of knowledge and service in areas concerning retirement strategies, including tax strategy, investments, estate planning, life and long-term-care insurance, Social Security, and Medicare. A one-stop shop for all your retirement needs, visit https://atfwealth.com to learn more!

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Email Yelisey and Trey, and your topic might be featured in a future episode! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

Schedule a meeting with us:
Trey C. Peterson: [email protected]
Yelisey Kuts: [email protected]

Phone: (612) 286-0580
Contact us: https://atfwealth.com/contact-us

Trey C. Peterson is a Retirement Planning Specialist with All Things Financial. Trey is a graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Corporate Communication. He is currently pursuing his master's degree in leadership. He is also a graduate of The National Institute of Christian Leadership.

Yelisey Kuts is a Fiduciary Wealth Advisor with All Things Financial. He holds a master's degree in business from Oral Roberts University. Aside from being a financial advisor, Yelisey has taught classes on a wide range of retirement topics since 2015.

At All Things Financial, our mission is simple—help individuals and families create lasting financial freedom. We take a personalized, strategic approach to every plan, aligning it with your goals, values, and vision for the future. https://atfwealth.com

 Finance 101: Investing for Dummies - How to Start, Beat Fear, and Harness Compounding

Trey Peterson and Yelisey Kuts share beginner-friendly investing lessons, emphasizing that the biggest risk is not investing and that starting early—even with small amounts—lets compounding work over time. Trey recounts learning investing fundamentals after entering retirement planning in 2015 and describes how consistent 401(k) contributions became rewarding as his balance grew. They discuss why people avoid investing, including fear, lack of education, sitting in cash too long, and loss aversion, and cite market history showing frequent intra-year dips yet many years ending positive. A client example highlights how over-correcting to a more conservative allocation in 2020 led to missed gains. They cover inflation’s differing impact on investors vs. non-investors, advocate index funds and dollar-cost averaging, and outline steps to begin: capture 401(k) matches, open a Roth IRA (noting income limits), and use low-cost diversified ETFs while automating contributions.

00:00 Welcome and Investing Basics
00:38 Trey’s Investing Origin Story
02:49 Compounding and Starting Early
07:35 Why People Avoid Investing
09:32 Market Timing and Volatility
10:57 Fear of Loss Mindset
12:46 Client Case Overcorrecting Risk
15:57 Inflation and Asset Protection
19:26 Core Concepts Indexing and DCA
21:01 How to Get Started Steps
22:09 ETF vs Mutual Fund Costs
23:02 Automate and Final Takeaways
23:31 Wrap Up and Disclosures

Subscribe to the podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1728281696
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iIDj87XpGTlEl9Qiu6wwi
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AllThingsFinancialShow?sub_confirmation=1

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Email Yelisey and Trey, and your topic might be featured in a future episode! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

Schedule a meeting with us:
Trey C. Peterson: [email protected]
Yelisey Kuts: [email protected]

Phone: (612) 286-0580
Contact us: https://atfwealth.com/contact-us

Trey C. Peterson is a Retirement Planning Specialist with All Things Financial. Trey is a graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Corporate Communication. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in leadership. He is also a graduate of The National Institute of Christian Leadership.

Yelisey Kuts is a Fiduciary Wealth Advisor with All Things Financial. He holds a master’s degree in business from Oral Roberts University. Aside from being a financial advisor, Yelisey has taught classes on a wide range of retirement topics since 2015.

At All Things Financial, our mission is simple—help individuals and families create lasting financial freedom. We take a personalized, strategic approach to every plan, aligning it with your goals, values, and vision for the future. https://atfwealth.com

Are you focusing too much on a single nest egg target instead of building a guaranteed, lifelong income stream? 

Retirement is one of the biggest financial and lifestyle transitions you may ever make, and this episode explains why it requires more than simply building a large nest egg. Trey and Yelisey walk through the importance of clarifying expenses, creating a smart income strategy, planning for healthcare costs, and understanding how retirement spending often changes in the first several years. You’ll hear why the best retirement plans are built around peace of mind, realistic lifestyle choices, and a clear strategy for turning savings into dependable income.

What you’ll learn in this episode: 

(00:19) How transitioning into retirement changes your relationship with work, paychecks, saving, and withdrawing money.

(00:54) Why retirement may last 20 to 30 years and why that longer runway should shape your planning.

(01:26) How retirees can turn investment accounts into a recurring paycheck with taxes withheld.

(03:02) Why retirement planning conversations should begin several years before you expect to retire.

(03:55) How to identify your income gap by comparing guaranteed income sources with real expenses.

(05:22) Why some people spend more in the early years of retirement instead of less.

(08:26) How shifting from a nest egg mindset to an income mindset can create more retirement confidence.

(17:23) Why healthcare costs, travel goals, and lifestyle expectations need to be built into the retirement plan.

Subscribe to the podcast: 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1728281696 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iIDj87XpGTlEl9Qiu6wwi 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@allthingsfinancialshow?sub_confirmation=1 

Trey C. Peterson and Yelisey Kuts provide an extensive level of knowledge and service in areas concerning retirement strategies, including tax strategy, investments, estate planning, life and long-term-care insurance, Social Security, and Medicare. A one-stop shop for all your retirement needs, visit https://atfwealth.com to learn more!

Contact us: https://atfwealth.com/contact-us 

Trey C. Peterson is a Retirement Planning Specialist with All Things Financial. Trey is a graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Corporate Communication. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in leadership. He is also a graduate of The National Institute of Christian Leadership.

Yelisey Kuts is a Fiduciary Wealth Advisor with All Things Financial. He holds a master’s degree in business from Oral Roberts University. Aside from being a financial advisor, Yelisey has taught classes on a wide range of retirement topics since 2015. 

At All Things Financial, our mission is simple—help individuals and families create lasting financial freedom. We take a personalized, strategic approach to every plan, aligning it with your goals, values, and vision for the future. https://atfwealth.com 

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/ 

Why does a significant increase in your salary rarely translate to a larger balance in your bank account?

In this episode, Trey and Yelisey unpack how lifestyle inflation can quietly erase financial progress, even when income increases. They explain how bigger homes, newer cars, expensive dinners, vacations, and social pressure can absorb raises before families have a chance to save or invest. The conversation offers practical ways to create margin, automate savings, set lifestyle limits, and make financial choices that support both present enjoyment and long-term peace.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

(00:00) Lifestyle inflation often begins as soon as income increases.

(01:08) A raise can disappear when savings and investment habits do not increase with income.

(02:01) An extra $500 to $600 per month can make a major difference in retirement outcomes.

(03:28) Families can balance saving for the future with creating meaningful experiences today.

(06:20) Spending tends to rise proportionately with income across different earning levels.

(07:30) Spending pressure can increase when you spend time with people who have more money.

(12:15) Housing and transportation costs are two of the biggest areas to control.

(19:18) How fixed expense limits, lifestyle ceilings, and automated saving can help fight lifestyle inflation.

Learn more about Trey C. Peterson, Yelisey Kuts, and All Things Financial: https://atfwealth.com

Subscribe to the podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1728281696

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iIDj87XpGTlEl9Qiu6wwi

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@allthingsfinancialshow?sub_confirmation=1

Trey C. Peterson and Yelisey Kuts provide an extensive level of knowledge and service in areas concerning retirement strategies, including tax strategy, investments, estate planning, life and long-term-care insurance, Social Security, and Medicare. A one-stop shop for all your retirement needs, visit https://atfwealth.com to learn more!

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Email Yelisey and Trey, and your topic might be featured in a future episode! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

Schedule a meeting with us:

Trey C. Peterson: [email protected]

Yelisey Kuts: [email protected]

Phone: (612) 286-0580

Contact us: https://atfwealth.com/contact-us

Trey C. Peterson is a Retirement Planning Specialist with All Things Financial. Trey is a graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Corporate Communication. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in leadership. He is also a graduate of The National Institute of Christian Leadership.

Yelisey Kuts is a Fiduciary Wealth Advisor with All Things Financial. He holds a master’s degree in business from Oral Roberts University. Aside from being a financial advisor, Yelisey has taught classes on a wide range of retirement topics since 2015.

At All Things Financial, our mission is simple—help individuals and families create lasting financial freedom. We take a personalized, strategic approach to every plan, aligning it with your goals, values, and vision for the future. https://atfwealth.com

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

When does a Roth conversion make sense for YOUR retirement plan?

In this episode, Trey and Yelisey continue their conversation on taxes in retirement by explaining how tax diversification can give retirees more flexibility and control. They walk through Roth contributions, Roth conversions, donor advised funds, qualified charitable distributions, and tax-loss harvesting while showing why each strategy depends on timing, income, and personal goals. The episode emphasizes the importance of coordinated advice so retirees can pay what they owe without accidentally creating avoidable tax problems.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

(01:29) Making contributions to an employer-sponsored plan can immediately lower your taxable income for that calendar year.

(02:11) Building tax diversification across pre-tax, post-tax, and Roth accounts gives you greater flexibility with your spend-down plan in retirement.

(04:53) A Roth conversion involves moving funds from a pre-tax account into a Roth account and paying the taxes upfront.

(07:04) Leaving your converted funds untouched for at least 10 years is highly recommended to realize a true financial benefit.

(11:27) The IRS eliminated the ability to use recharacterization to put money back if you over-convert your accounts.

(14:07) Utilizing a donor-advised fund allows you to bunch charitable contributions and secure an immediate year-one tax deduction.

(17:16) Qualified charitable distributions offer an above-the-line deduction that completely excludes up to $111,000 per person from taxable income starting at age 70 and a half.

Learn more about Trey C. Peterson, Yelisey Kuts, and All Things Financial: https://atfwealth.com

Subscribe to the podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1728281696

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iIDj87XpGTlEl9Qiu6wwi

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@allthingsfinancialshow?sub_confirmation=1

Trey C. Peterson and Yelisey Kuts provide an extensive level of knowledge and service in areas concerning retirement strategies, including tax strategy, investments, estate planning, life and long-term-care insurance, Social Security, and Medicare. A one-stop shop for all your retirement needs, visit https://atfwealth.com to learn more!

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Email Yelisey and Trey, and your topic might be featured in a future episode! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

Schedule a meeting with us:

Trey C. Peterson: [email protected]

Yelisey Kuts: [email protected]

Phone: (612) 286-0580

Contact us: https://atfwealth.com/contact-us

Trey C. Peterson is a Retirement Planning Specialist with All Things Financial. Trey is a graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Corporate Communication. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in leadership. He is also a graduate of The National Institute of Christian Leadership.

Yelisey Kuts is a Fiduciary Wealth Advisor with All Things Financial. He holds a master’s degree in business from Oral Roberts University. Aside from being a financial advisor, Yelisey has taught classes on a wide range of retirement topics since 2015.

At All Things Financial, our mission is simple—help individuals and families create lasting financial freedom. We take a personalized, strategic approach to every plan, aligning it with your goals, values, and vision for the future. https://atfwealth.com

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

Did you know there’s a specific order of withdrawals that can help maximize retirement savings?

Taxes can quietly become one of the biggest factors in how much retirement income investors and retirees actually keep. In this episode, Trey and Yelisey explain how Social Security taxation, withdrawal order, progressive tax brackets, RMDs, and account location can all affect a retirement plan. They also emphasize the value of proactive tax strategy so retirees can make informed decisions before small mistakes become expensive surprises.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

(01:52) Social Security benefits are subject to federal taxes depending on total income sources.

(03:00) Provisional income is the key calculation used to determine what percentage of Social Security is taxable.

(03:49) Taxation of Social Security has changed significantly since 1984, moving from tax-free to potentially 85% taxable.

(05:48) Most financial experts recommend a withdrawal sequence starting with brokerage accounts, followed by pre-tax accounts, and ending with Roth IRAs.

(09:12) Proper asset location involves placing higher-growth equities in Roth accounts while keeping safer assets in pre-tax vehicles.

(11:27) Required Minimum Distributions must be planned well in advance to avoid unexpected tax consequences.

(12:57) Excessive retirement income can lead to higher Medicare premiums and the loss of certain itemized medical deductions.

(15:46) New legislation introduced a temporary senior tax deduction of $6,000 for qualifying individuals aged 65 and older.

Learn more about Trey C. Peterson, Yelisey Kuts, and All Things Financial: https://atfwealth.com

Subscribe to the podcast:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1728281696

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iIDj87XpGTlEl9Qiu6wwi

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@allthingsfinancialshow?sub_confirmation=1

Trey C. Peterson and Yelisey Kuts provide an extensive level of knowledge and service in areas concerning retirement strategies, including tax strategy, investments, estate planning, life and long-term-care insurance, Social Security, and Medicare. A one-stop shop for all your retirement needs, visit https://atfwealth.com to learn more!

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Email Yelisey and Trey, and your topic might be featured in a future episode! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

Schedule a meeting with us:

Trey C. Peterson: [email protected]

Yelisey Kuts: [email protected]

Phone: (612) 286-0580

Contact us: https://atfwealth.com/contact-us

Trey C. Peterson is a Retirement Planning Specialist with All Things Financial. Trey is a graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Corporate Communication. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in leadership. He is also a graduate of The National Institute of Christian Leadership.

Yelisey Kuts is a Fiduciary Wealth Advisor with All Things Financial. He holds a master’s degree in business from Oral Roberts University. Aside from being a financial advisor, Yelisey has taught classes on a wide range of retirement topics since 2015.

At All Things Financial, our mission is simple—help individuals and families create lasting financial freedom. We take a personalized, strategic approach to every plan, aligning it with your goals, values, and vision for the future. https://atfwealth.com

This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/