Can't Take It With You

Medicare planning is complex, and people often receive a confusing flurry of insurance marketing material when they turn 65. In today's episode, we talk to Medicare expert Dana Lasman. Dana explains the basics of Medicare in an understandable way so you can make sense of your options.

Dana reviews: •⁠  ⁠Medicare eligibility and how to enroll •⁠  ⁠⁠Unbiased resources for evaluating the different Medicare options •⁠  ⁠⁠The different parts of Medicare – A, B, C, D and all the way to N. What do these letters stand for? •⁠  ⁠⁠Original Medicare v. Medicare Advantage •⁠  ⁠⁠The components of medical expenses when on Medicare -- i.e. premiums, co-pays, co-insurance, deductible and max out of pocket cost?

It's great to earn a big bonus, receive a vesting of company stock, or achieve a profitable business year. Unfortunately, without good tax planning, extra income and insufficient withholdings can result in a big tax bill and/or penalties. In this episode, Joe Pachuca, CPA, discusses how proactive tax strategy can avoid unpleasant surprises from the IRS. Joe shares his insights about:

• Common reasons that clients may owe a large surprise tax bill
• The importance of proactive tax planning
• How estimated taxes work and when they are due
• Paying taxes immediately v. reserving funds in a high-yield account to earn interest until the tax deadline
• How CPAs help clients calculate, prepare for, and pay estimated taxes
• Guest: Joe Pachuca at [email protected]

There are many ways to increase business value. Owners often focus on the tangibles, but the intangibles are equally important. In this episode, business coach Dan Dowdy highlights the importance of cultivating a team and its core values. Dan shares his insights about:

• Finding and retaining top-performing team members
• Building a positive company culture
• Creating career paths for growth
• Practical ways to promote accountability and track results, including score cards, position agreements and Key Performance Indicators
• Using technology and social media to build a top team
• Guest: Dan Dowdy at builtforthetrades.com

College consultant Marina Glava discusses key strategies for the increasingly competitive world of college admissions. Marina also shares how students can make the most of their high school years to identify their academic interests. Marina offers details on these topics:

• Strategies for navigating the new "test optional" landscape.
• The level of importance that admissions officials give to extracurricular involvement.
• Determining high school students' skills and interests (and how to align those with a plan of study).
• Key actions that high school students should take in their freshman through junior years.
• How "passion projects" can make a student more appealing to the most selective colleges.

Guest: Marina Glava at marinaglava.com

Matt is joined by Andrew Beer of Dynamic Beta Investments (DBi) to explore the world of managed futures. In this episode we cover:

• Managed Futures 101
  • What is a futures contract?
  • What are managed futures strategies?
• The role managed futures can serve in a broader portfolio including the case for a long-term allocation
• The challenges of investing in such a diverse space
• DBi’s innovative product solution to address those challenges

Estate planning attorney, Kyle Robbins, helps us understand how the probate process actually works (in Texas, but the big concepts apply elsewhere), and what the Executor of an estate should expect to experience. Most people don't learn about this until they have been assigned the Executor of a loved one's estate. Learn about it now so you can make the right decision for your family.

• What happens if you don't have a Will?
• What happens if you do have a Will?
• What if your Will wasn't created in your State?
• How does a Living Trust impact your estate plan? 

Guest: Kyle Robbins at https://www.robbinsestatelaw.com/

Matt is joined by Phil McInnis, Chief Investment Strategist for Avantis Investors, to explore the story and strategy behind the newest investment manager to our client portfolio lineup. In this episode we cover:

• Avantis' founding and why Phil personally embarked on a new career journey
• Defining Systematic Investing
• Avantis' valuation-centric philosophy to portfolio construction
• How do we attempt to buy more for less?
• Avantis' holistic approach to value and why a broader view is critical
• Is goodwill no good?
• Sifting through measures of company profitability
• How Avantis can fit in the context of a broader portfolio

 

Kevin goes deep into the topic of credit cards with colleague, John Toungate, a self-taught expert with plenty of real life examples to share.

• How credit cards impact credit scores
• Strategies to improve credit scores using credit cards
• Using the 'soft benefits' of credit cards
• Strategies to maximize cash rewards
• When does it make sense to pay annual fees?
• When is it worth it to get the unlimited 'black card'?

Derek Ripp meets with Gary Zimmerman of MaxMyInterest to discuss the fragility of banks, risks to cash depositors, and strategies to reduce risk and optimize yield on cash in bank accounts.

·       Cash is King or Cash is Trash?

·       What should investors learn from the Silicon Valley Bank fiasco?

·       What is the risk to cash beyond FDIC limits?

·       How MaxMyInterest provides FDIC covered accounts on large deposits

·       Fighting the effects of inflation on cash

·       Actively managing savings accounts for higher yields

Veteran mortgage professional, Russ Laing of Vista Lending, joins us with insight about the dramatic changes in mortgage lending since rates more than doubled in the past year, and what borrowers can do to improve their terms on new mortgages.

• Has the market really cooled off?
• How do lenders make money?
• Why are jumbo rates often so different from conventional rates?
• How ominous are current mortgage statistics?
• What can a borrower do to drive down the interest rate they receive?
• What should self-employed borrowers know about how lenders look at income?
• How to think about buying points?
• Which mortgage products have become useful again?
• What drives mortgage interest rates?
• Will blockchain technology ever disrupt the industry?