Finishing Well

Join Certified Financial Planner Hans Scheil and Host Robby Dilmore for an essential conversation about one of the most important financial and healthcare decisions you'll make in retirement. In this episode of Finishing Well, Hans breaks down the seven key things everyone should know about Medicare before enrolling or making changes to their coverage.

From understanding the critical differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage to avoiding costly enrollment penalties, navigating Part D prescription drug coverage, understanding IRMAA income surcharges, and knowing when you can make changes during Medicare enrollment periods, this episode provides practical guidance to help you make informed decisions with confidence.

Whether you're approaching age 65, already enrolled in Medicare, or helping a loved one through the process, this discussion offers valuable insights that could save you money, reduce stress, and ensure you have the coverage you need when it matters most. Learn why education is your greatest asset when planning for healthcare in retirement—and discover how making the right choices today can protect both your health and your financial future.

Visit cardinalguide.com to access free retirement resources, browse our complete library of episodes, and connect with the Finishing Well ministry. Together, we're helping people honor God by finishing well.

In this episode of Finishing Well, Certified Financial Planner Hans Scheil and host Robby Dilmore unpack one of the most misunderstood areas of retirement planning: Social Security spousal benefits. While many people focus only on maximizing their own benefit, Hans explains why the smartest strategy often comes from looking at Social Security as a household decision rather than an individual one.

Through practical, real-life examples, you'll discover how spouses, surviving spouses, and even divorced individuals may qualify for benefits they never realized were available. Hans illustrates how proper timing and claiming strategies can significantly increase lifetime income, helping couples create greater financial security while reducing unnecessary taxes and preserving retirement savings. If you're married, widowed, divorced, or approaching retirement, this conversation could help you avoid costly mistakes and better understand how your Social Security decisions affect both you and your family. Don't leave money on the table—learn how thoughtful planning today can make a lasting difference throughout retirement.

Visit cardinalguide.com to access free retirement resources, browse our complete library of episodes, and connect with the Finishing Well ministry. Together, we're helping people honor God by finishing well.

In retirement, taxes don't just affect your annual return—they influence nearly every financial decision you make. In this episode of Finishing Well, Hans and host Robbie explore why tax planning is one of the most overlooked, yet most important, aspects of a successful retirement strategy.

Using a real-life case study, they walk through how taxes impact the "Seven Worries of Retirement," including Social Security, Medicare, long-term care, required minimum distributions (RMDs), Roth conversions, estate planning, and charitable giving. You'll discover how proactive planning today can potentially reduce lifetime taxes, preserve more wealth for your family, and help you avoid costly surprises later in retirement.

Whether you're approaching retirement or already enjoying it, this conversation offers practical, biblically grounded financial wisdom to help you make informed decisions and keep more of what you've worked so hard to earn.

Visit cardinalguide.com to access free retirement resources, browse our complete library of episodes, and connect with the Finishing Well ministry. Together, we're helping people honor God by finishing well.

Discover why Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuities (MYGAs) are becoming an increasingly popular option for retirees and conservative investors looking for stability in an uncertain financial landscape. In this episode of Finishing Well, certified financial planner Hans Scheil and host Robby Dilmore explain how MYGAs work, how they compare to traditional bank CDs, and why they may offer an attractive combination of guaranteed interest rates, tax-deferred growth, and financial security when used as part of a well-rounded retirement plan.

Hans and the team discuss the importance of choosing highly rated insurance companies, the advantages of creating a MYGA ladder, options for generating monthly income, and how these products can help diversify the fixed-income portion of a retirement portfolio. They also address common concerns about safety, liquidity, penalties, and how MYGAs fit alongside IRAs and other retirement assets.

Visit cardinalguide.com to access free retirement resources, browse our complete library of episodes, and connect with the Finishing Well ministry. Together, we're helping people honor God by finishing well.

In this episode of Finishing Well, certified financial planner Hans Scheil and host Robby Dilmore break down the new IRC Section 530A Savings Accounts for Children, also known as Trump Accounts, and explains how these new accounts could provide a powerful financial head start for the next generation. Hans and Robbie explore who qualifies, how eligible children can receive government-funded contributions, and how some families may also benefit from additional private foundation incentives.

You'll learn who can open these accounts, contribution limits, investment guidelines, withdrawal rules, and how these new savings vehicles compare to traditional options like 529 education plans and UGMA/UTMA accounts. Whether you're a parent, grandparent, or simply looking for ways to help build a stronger financial future for your family, this episode offers practical insights into making the most of this unique opportunity.

Visit cardinalguide.com to access free retirement resources, browse our complete library of episodes, and connect with the Finishing Well ministry. Together, we're helping people honor God by finishing well.

In this episode of Finishing Well, Hans Scheil and host Robby Dilmore unpack one of the most misunderstood aspects of long-term care planning: tax-qualified long-term care insurance under IRS Code 7702B. While the topic may sound technical, the conversation reveals how these IRS guidelines were actually designed to protect families by ensuring long-term care benefits can be received tax-free when they're needed most.

Hans explains the simple but critical qualifications for filing a long-term care claim, walks through the six Activities of Daily Living, and shares practical insights from helping his own mother navigate Alzheimer's care. The discussion also explores the differences between traditional tax-qualified long-term care policies, hybrid policies, and life insurance with chronic illness riders (101G), helping listeners understand which solutions may best fit their family's needs.

Visit cardinalguide.com to access free retirement resources, browse our complete library of episodes, and connect with the Finishing Well ministry. Together, we're helping people honor God by finishing well.

When it comes to Medicare, one of the biggest decisions you'll make is choosing between Original Medicare with a Plan G Supplement and a Medicare Advantage plan. But what's the real difference—and which option is right for you?

In this episode of Finishing Well, Certified Financial Planner Hans Scheil and host Robby Dimore break down the key distinctions between these two popular Medicare paths. As Annual Enrollment approaches, Hans explains how each option works, what costs you can expect, and why the decision is about much more than monthly premiums. From deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses to provider networks, pre-authorizations, and access to specialized care, this conversation equips you with the knowledge you need to make an informed choice.

Visit cardinalguide.com to access free retirement resources, browse our complete library of episodes, and connect with the Finishing Well ministry. Together, we're helping people honor God by finishing well.

When should you claim Social Security? It's one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make—and the right answer isn't the same for everyone.

In this episode of Finishing Well, certified financial planner Hans Scheil and host Robby Dilmore breaks down the seven essential factors everyone should understand before filing for Social Security. From choosing the best age to claim benefits to understanding spousal benefits, cost-of-living adjustments, taxes, and survivor planning, Hans explains how these key decisions can impact not only your retirement income but your family's financial future as well.

Whether you're approaching retirement, already collecting benefits, or helping a loved one navigate the process, this practical conversation offers valuable insights to help you make informed, confident decisions. Discover why timing matters, how a well-thought-out strategy can maximize lifetime benefits, and why Social Security planning should never be treated as a one-size-fits-all decision.

Visit cardinalguide.com to access free retirement resources, browse our complete library of episodes, and connect with the Finishing Well ministry. Together, we're helping people honor God by finishing well.

Most people focus on reducing this year's tax bill—but what if you could create a strategy that reduces taxes over your entire lifetime while leaving more for the people you love?

In this episode of Finishing Well, Certified Financial Planner Hans Scheil and host Robby Dilmore explore eight practical, biblically-minded strategies designed to help you become a wiser steward of the resources God has entrusted to you. From Roth conversions and Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) to charitable giving, Medicare IRMAA planning, and preparing for the "widow's penalty," you'll discover why thoughtful planning today can make a lasting impact on future generations.

Whether you're approaching retirement or already enjoying it, this conversation offers valuable insights that could help you minimize unnecessary taxes, maximize your legacy, and provide greater financial confidence for your family.

Visit cardinalguide.com to access free retirement resources, browse our complete library of episodes, and connect with the Finishing Well ministry. Together, we're helping people honor God by finishing well.

No one likes to think about losing a spouse—but having a plan is one of the greatest acts of love you can leave behind.

In this episode of Finishing Well, Certified Financial Planner Hans Scheil and co-host Robbie Dilmore explore the critical financial and estate planning decisions every married couple should make before it's too late. Drawing inspiration from King David's careful preparation for Solomon, they discuss how thoughtful planning can protect the surviving spouse while creating a lasting legacy for future generations.

You'll learn how the loss of a spouse impacts Social Security, Medicare, taxes, IRAs, long-term care, investments, and estate planning—and why proactive strategies like Roth conversions, beneficiary reviews, and life insurance can make all the difference. Whether you're in a first marriage, a blended family, or simply want peace of mind, this conversation offers practical wisdom rooted in biblical principles.

Because the best estate plan isn't just about passing on possessions—it's about caring for the people you love most.