Ever wonder if your employer's 401(k) match can grow tax-free like your Roth contributions? You’re not alone, and thanks to a recent law change, the answer might surprise you.

In this episode of Make It Personal, we tackle a smart question from Jennifer about how employer contributions work when you’re saving into a Roth 401(k). For years, the rules were straightforward: your contributions could be Roth, but your employer's match? Always pre-tax. But with the SECURE 2.0 Act, the game has changed, and many people don’t realize what’s now possible.

Key takeaways:

→ Employer matches used to only go into traditional 401(k)s, now they can go into Roth if your plan allows.

→ Roth matches are taxed upfront but can grow tax-free, just like your own Roth contributions.

→ Many employers haven’t adopted the new option yet, it’s not automatic.

→ The tax treatment of your match can have ripple effects on your future income, RMDs, and Medicare costs.

→ If Roth matching isn’t available, other tools like Roth IRAs, backdoor Roths, or cash-value life insurance might help.

“Retirement planning isn’t just about checking boxes in your 401(k). It’s about understanding your options, and having a strategy when the plan rules don’t give you every tool you want.”

If this episode sparked questions about your own plan, hit subscribe and share this episode with a friend. And if you’re ready for a personalized review, reach out to your Mutual of Omaha advisor to design a retirement strategy that fits your future.

Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:

→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page-2

→ Download the Seven Principles eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal

→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitpersonal_podcast/

→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors: https://www.facebook.com/MutualofOmahaAdvisorsFB

→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/get-connected/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal

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Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions.  Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone.   Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.

What really happens the day after your last day of work? One retiree opens up about the surprises, joys, and real-life challenges of life after 42 years on the job.

Rick gives us a deeply honest look at his first year of retirement, not the highlight-reel version, but the real one. From relearning how to structure his days to facing the emotional shift of losing his professional identity, Rick walks us through the highs, lows, and everything in between. You'll hear what surprised him financially, what kept him grounded, and the two questions he believes everyone should answer before they retire.

In this episode, you'll learn:

→ Why identity can be harder to let go of than the job itself

→ How Rick found purpose (and 70 rounds of golf!) in the first year

→ The financial mindset shift from saving to spending

→ The unexpected emotional and relational impacts of retirement

→ What he’d do differently, and what he’s most excited about for year two

“You have to answer two questions: Have you had enough? And do you have enough?”

Whether you're years away from retirement or it's right around the corner, this episode is packed with wisdom from someone who's been there.

If this episode sparked something in you, share it with a friend or loved one who’s nearing retirement. Then, subscribe and leave a review, it helps others find the show and make their financial future personal.

Visit www.makeitpersonalpodcast.com for tools, advisors, and more ways to plan for the retirement you actually want.

Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:

→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page-2

→ Download the Seven Principles eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal

→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitpersonal_podcast/

→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors: https://www.facebook.com/MutualofOmahaAdvisorsFB

→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/get-connected/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal

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Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions.  Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone.   Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.

You’re helping everyone, but who’s helping you?

If you’re a Gen Xer, you might feel like the glue holding it all together, launching kids, checking in on aging parents, grinding at work, and still trying to save for your own retirement. This episode dives into the invisible load so many Gen Xers carry, and what it’s costing them.

In this episode of Make It Personal, we unpack the quiet sacrifices Gen Xers make in the name of love, and how those choices are impacting long-term financial health. Drawing on fresh research from LIMRA and the Alliance for Lifetime Income, we explore how caregiving, financial support for adult kids and parents, and rising healthcare costs are reshaping retirement planning for this unique generation.

Key Takeaways:

→ More than half of Gen Xers say supporting loved ones is cutting into their own retirement savings.

→ Delaying your own financial care could mean needing help later, from the very people you’re supporting now.

→ Caregiving isn’t just emotional, it’s a financial wildcard few plan for.

→ Planning doesn’t erase emotion, but it does prevent panic.

→ Your retirement depends more on predictability than market performance.

"What would it look like if I cared for myself with the same energy I give to others?"

Subscribe now, and if this episode hit close to home, share it with someone walking a similar path. Then journal your own “Make It Personal” moment, what does caring for you really look like?

Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:

→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook

→ Download the Seven Principles eBook

→ Instagram

→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors

→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting

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Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions.  Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone.   Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.

If you're in retirement, or approaching it, you know about Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). The IRS says you have to start withdrawing money from your retirement accounts. But what if you don’t actually need the money right now? What if it feels more like a tax trap than a reward for decades of saving? You're not alone, and you’re not stuck.

In this episode of Make It Personal, we tackle the often-confusing world of RMDs with a refreshing mindset shift: what if these “required” withdrawals could actually work for you? Host Mark Zagurski breaks down eight clear, actionable strategies to put your RMD money to smart, purposeful use, whether you're focused on legacy, giving, or simply staying tax-efficient.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:

→ Reinvest RMDs in a taxable account to stay in control of your tax bill

→ Use RMDs to fund a Roth IRA, and why that’s a legacy game-changer

→ Make charitable donations that reduce your taxes and boost your impact

→ Gift money in tax-smart ways to support loved ones or big milestones

→ Leverage RMDs for long-term care or insurance planning with purpose

“The IRS may require you to take the money out, but what you do with it is entirely your choice.”

Listen now and take one small step toward a retirement that’s not just secure, but meaningful.

Don’t forget to subscribe, share with a friend facing their own RMD questions, and journal one strategy that feels right for you.

Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:

→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook

→ Download the Seven Principles eBook

→ Instagram

→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors

→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting

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Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions.  Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone.   Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.

Roth or traditional: how do you choose? If you've ever wondered when it's time to shift from a traditional 401(k) to a Roth, you're not alone. In this listener-led episode of Make It Personal, we tackle a smart, real-life question from Nicholle about taxes, timing, and how to plan ahead for retirement without getting stuck in a higher tax bracket down the road.



In this episode, you’ll learn:

→ The core difference between Roth and traditional 401(k)s

→ When future taxes could outweigh today’s tax savings

→ How RMD age changes impact your long-term tax planning

→ Why your total income picture matters more than rules of thumb

→ The value of pairing good content with personalized advice

"AI can educate you. Content can guide you. But an advisor helps you apply it to your life."

Got a money question? Send it in to [email protected] or comment wherever you're listening. And if you're ready to see how this applies to your future, connect with a Mutual of Omaha advisor at www.makeitpersonalpodcast.com. Don’t just learn - Make It Personal.

Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:

→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook

→ Download the Seven Principles eBook

→ Instagram

→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors

→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting

--

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions.  Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone.   Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.

You planned, saved, and sacrificed for decades, so why is spending in retirement so hard?



After a lifetime of discipline and diligent saving, retirement arrives… and with it, an unexpected emotional hurdle: switching from saving to spending. Not because the numbers don’t add up, but because the mindset does. In this episode of Make It Personal, we dive deep into one of retirement’s most overlooked challenges: the emotional transition from wealth-building to wealth-using.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

→ Why spending after decades of saving triggers anxiety, even when you’re financially prepared

→ How your identity as a saver can make it hard to embrace retirement freedom

→ The “battery” analogy that helps reframe the role of your savings

→ Four proven strategies to move from fear to confidence

→ Why purposeful spending is the next chapter of disciplined living

Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:

→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook

→ Download the Seven Principles eBook

→ Instagram

→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors

→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting

--

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions.  Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone.   Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.

They did it, the Bridstons paid off their home in Southern California. No loan. No mortgage. Just freedom.

But what happens after the big goal is reached? In this episode of Make It Personal, we explore the surprising truth about life after paying off your house, and why the hardest (and most important) financial planning starts after the last payment.

→ Why financial freedom isn’t the same as financial finish line

→ The hidden costs that remain even after your home is paid off

→ The blind spots most families miss: life insurance, disability coverage, and education planning

→ How to prepare for the three phases of retirement: Go-Go, Slow-Go, and No-Go years

→ How to avoid sequence of returns risk and plan for sustainable retirement income

Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:

→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook

→ Download the Seven Principles eBook

→ Instagram

→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors

→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting

--

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions.  Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone.   Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.

→ Why your brain is wired to crave instant rewards (and how to retrain it)

→ The real cost of “quick comfort”, in time, focus, and money

→ 3 practical tools to break the cycle: The 10-Minute Rule, mindful consumption, and vision anchoring

→ How to balance joy today with peace of mind tomorrow

→ A healthier approach to discipline that still leaves room for fun

Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:

→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook

→ Download the Seven Principles eBook

→ Instagram

→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors

→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting

--

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions.  Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone.   Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.

If your money could work for you while you sleep, would you let it?



In this episode, you’ll learn how to start investing, even if you’ve never bought a single stock or still think you’re “bad with money.” This is your beginner-friendly roadmap to build wealth confidently, one simple, personal step at a time.

What You’ll Learn / Highlights

→ Why saving alone rarely builds wealth, and how compounding does (investing for beginners)

→ Which account to use first (401(k) match), and when to choose Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, or a brokerage

→ The owner mindset vs. trader mindset—why “own great companies” wins long term

→ Common rookie mistakes (chasing hot sectors) and how to avoid panic during volatility

Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:

→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook

→ Download the Seven Principles eBook

→ Instagram

→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors

→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting

--

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions.  Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone.   Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.

Want to retire together on your timeline and still build generational wealth? This episode breaks down a real couple’s plan, cars, handbags, pension choices, and all, to show exactly what works. For professionals who earn well but want a coordinated retirement plan that actually lasts.

What You’ll Learn / Highlights

→ The simple math behind a 7-year retirement target, and why “savings only” falls short.

→ How to shift from high-yield saving to true ownership (investing with purpose vs “dabbling”).

→ The hidden risk of single-life pension choices and how to protect a younger spouse.

→ Why estate documents (will/trust) are step zero for generational wealth.

→ The “protection stack” that makes a plan self-completing (life, DI, LTC)

Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:

→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook

→ Download the Seven Principles eBook

→ Instagram

→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors

→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting

--

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. 

This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions.  Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone.   Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.