We have a great retirement planning assessment / checklist for you to kick off the new year on today's podcast episode! But before we dive into that, we're discussing the debt ceiling which was on track to be reached Thursday, and what that can mean for the U.S. economy going forward.

1. The Looming Debt Ceiling:
   • Why the debt is continuing to climb to this limit.
   • Why just raising the debt ceiling is difficult.
   • So why not just do away with the debt limit altogether?
   • And what might happen if this doesn't get resolved?
2. New Year Planning Checklist:
   • Do I need to make changes to my planned income this year?
   • Should I take Social Security in 2023?
   • Do I have a plan to handle market volatility?
   • What's my plan for excess cash this year to help offset the effects of inflation?
   • Should I reassess my core financial priorities?