As we wrap up the whirlwind that was 2024, many of you at home may be reflecting on the past year- both personally and as a whole. While you’re in that reflective mindset, it’s the perfect time to ask: Are your insurance policies still meeting your needs?

Join Charles as he explains the importance of an end-of-year insurance review. Whether it’s life insurance, health insurance, or long-term care insurance, it’s important to stay aware of any updates or adjustments that could impact your policies. You want to make sure that your insurance policies match up with your financial goals!

Plus, we’ll tackle a mailbag question about trying to time the market. Don’t miss this week’s insightful show!

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 – Intro

0:37 – Life insurance

2:25 – Making sure your insurance matches your legacy goals

3:52 – Long-term care

6:09 – Mailbag: why timing the market is a fool’s gambit

9:23 – Market volatility that could come with a new administration

Contact:

Phone Number: 480-513-1830

Website: https://pelletoncapital.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PelletonCapitalManagement

In this episode of Financial Choices Matter, Charles recounts a time when he and Sheri helped two sisters navigate a tough financial situation. After watching one of Charles’ webinars, the sisters sought his advice after a troubling annuity product was sold to them. Tune in as Charles explains how they fought for their clients' best interests, ultimately helping them get back nearly $1 million from a poor investment choice.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 – Intro

0:52 – The tale of two sisters

7:39 – Doing the right thing

10:02 – Working with the right professional

Resources for this episode:

Finra

https://www.finra.org/

Broker Check

https://brokercheck.finra.org/

Contact:

Phone Number: 480-513-1830

Website: https://pelletoncapital.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PelletonCapitalManagement

Inflation is one of those financial topics that can feel elusive and often misunderstood. Despite recent reports showing a decline in Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers, many of us still haven’t felt any real relief when it comes to our day-to-day expenses. Why does this disconnect exist? Listen in as Charles makes it easy to grasp the impact of inflation on everyday life.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 – Intro

1:07 – Milton Friedman’s monetary phenomenon example

4:55 – Government regulation and inflation

7:38 – Compounding effects of inflation

9:20 – Planning for inflation in retirement

Resources for this episode:

Money To Apples Charts

https://www.ftportfolios.com/Commentary/EconomicResearch/2024/10/24/three-on-thursday---inflation-simplified

Contact:

Phone Number: 480-513-1830

Website: https://pelletoncapital.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PelletonCapitalManagement

Obviously, we all have to pay taxes. But, depending on income levels, some people are paying more into the system than others. In this episode, Charles breaks down exactly who is paying what, using clear charts and visuals to make it easy to understand.

This can stir up a lot of frustration, especially if you or someone you know feels they’re shouldering more (or less) of the tax burden than they should. We’ll explore the sources of these frustrations and shed light on where tax dollars come from and how they’re distributed.

There’s a lot of valuable insight in this episode that you don’t want to miss, so enjoy the show!

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 – Intro

1:43 – Who is paying what

6:15 – Where the frustration is coming from

8:32 – Working with a tax professional

10:14 – The impact of tax efficiency on retirement

Are The Wealthy Paying Their Fair Share?

https://www.ftportfolios.com/Commentary/EconomicResearch/2024/10/10/three-on-thursday---are-the-wealthy-paying-their-fair-share

Contact:

Phone Number: 480-513-1830

Website: https://pelletoncapital.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PelletonCapitalManagement

Think of your financial future like a jigsaw puzzle. Each piece- whether it's taxes, insurance, retirement accounts, or estate planning- represents a critical part of your financial life. Without the box cover it’s hard to know how each piece fits.

Understanding how the pieces of your financial puzzle interact is key to achieving your long-term goals. That’s why having someone to help you put it all together who understands the big picture can be incredibly beneficial.

As you listen to this episode, consider how your own financial puzzle is coming together. Do you have a clear view of the box cover? Are there pieces that don't quite fit? Tune in and let’s explore this concept together!

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 – Intro

2:58 – The key pieces of the retirement puzzle

4:21 – The risks of DIYing your retirement

6:29 – Why you should talk to a professional

8:31 – Finding the right fit

11:41– Listener question

Contact:

Phone Number: 480-513-1830

Website: https://pelletoncapital.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PelletonCapitalManagement

Long-term care is a topic that often gets swept under the rug, but it is such a critical part of retirement planning. In this week’s episode, Charles and Marc discuss an article from Investment News that highlights some interesting statistics and misconceptions surrounding long-term care. Did you know that three out of four people will require some form of long-term care in their lifetime? Despite this, only a small percentage actually have long-term care insurance.

Charles explains how many people mistakenly confuse long-term care insurance with other types of coverage, like disability or health insurance, which can lead to expensive consequences later on. Join us as we explore the realities of long-term care needs and share practical advice on how to approach this important topic with your financial advisor.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 – Intro

1:09 – Long-term care misconceptions

5:22 – Average length of long-term care

8:13 – The importance of long-term care discussions

11:31 – Listener question about financial involvement

Resources for this episode:

Article from Investment News

https://digitaledition.investmentnews.com/articles/draining-the-pool-of-confusion-surrounding-long-term-care-insurance

Contact:

Phone Number: 480-513-1830

Website: https://pelletoncapital.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PelletonCapitalManagement

We’ve got another listener question episode for you today! Tune in as Charles answers a few questions from podcast listeners like you. In this week’s edition, a listener named Wendy asks if it's okay to have all her 401k money invested in American Funds or if she should diversify into other investments.

Charles also tackles a question about how aggressive one’s retirement savings goals should be to retire by 60. He explains how these goals can vary depending on your retirement timeline and shares what future factors you would need to consider. While the right savings amount differs for everyone, Charles walks us through the process of setting those goals.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

0:07 – Wendy asks “I rolled over a 401k to an advisor a couple of years ago, and he put all the money into something called American Funds. Is that an okay fund, or should I be invested in other things as well? Kind of feels like one thing seems a little weird. What are your thoughts?”

5:07 – Tony asks “I'm 50 years old. Would like to retire before I'm 60. I'm willing to save aggressively to make that happen. How do you determine how much you’ll need to save for something like that each month?”

Contact:

Phone Number: 480-513-1830

Website: https://pelletoncapital.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PelletonCapitalManagement

According to a recent survey by Bankrate, roughly 25% of Gen Zers and 21% of Millennials are not saving enough for emergencies. This statistic is alarming, considering that 44% of Americans said they couldn't cover a $1,000 emergency out of pocket. What’s causing this?

While some claim that inflation is to blame, Charles points out that one of the biggest obstacles to financial stability is financial illiteracy. The lack of financial education in American schools means that many young people feel ill-prepared to manage their finances. Let’s chat about creating healthy financial savings habits and what you can do to set yourself up for success.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 – Intro

0:49 – Gen Z and Millennial saving regrets

1:59 – The importance of financial literacy

5:20 – Being responsible over your actions

8:36 – Finding financial resources and advice

Check out the Bankrate article:

https://www.bankrate.com/investing/americans-biggest-financial-regrets-survey/

Contact:

Phone Number: 480-513-1830

Website: https://pelletoncapital.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PelletonCapitalManagement

Ever had that “light bulb” moment when everything just clicks? Retirement planning is full of them. Charles has had many clients experience these moments of clarity throughout the planning process, one of which he’s going to share with us today.

If you're ready to experience your own "aha" moment and take control of your retirement planning, reach out to Charles Scott and his team at Pelleton Capital Management.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 – Intro

0:34 – A memorable client experience

2:42 – What is the “aha” moment?

5:36 – Intellectually and emotionally owning your plan

Contact:

Phone Number: 480-513-1830

Website: https://pelletoncapital.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PelletonCapitalManagement

In this episode of Financial Choices Matter, Charles Scott tackles some common yet critical retirement planning questions from listeners. Charles offers insightful advice on managing portfolios, Social Security benefits, and the importance of risk allocation. He also delves into the pros and cons of consolidating old 401(k) plans and the complexities of having investments, taxes, and legal documents handled by the same firm.

Tune in to gain valuable knowledge that could help you make more informed financial decisions for a meaningful retirement.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

1:00 - Mary asks "My portfolio dropped quite a bit earlier this year and then recovered some. But it’s still down a bit from where it was at its peak. I’m retired and rely totally on this money for income because I haven’t started my Social Security. I’ve been wanting to wait until age 70 to start it, but now I’m wondering if I should take it now?"

6:20 - Patrick asks "I have two old 401Ks that I’ve been meaning to rollover for a while. I also have a third 401K with my current employer. Should I roll the old ones into the current 401K or into an IRA instead? It sure would be nice to have it all under one account to make the value look bigger!"

10:40 - Ronnie asks "Is it a good idea or bad idea to have my investments, taxes, and legal documents for my estate all handled by the same firm?"

Contact:

Phone Number: 480-513-1830

Website: https://pelletoncapital.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PelletonCapitalManagement