Putting together a financial plan is like building a house. You need a strong foundation to create the walls, roof and finishing touches. On this episode of the Make Retirement Work podcast, we give you step-by-step instructions to create a solid foundation and financial plan.

Read more and get additional financial resources here: http://makeretirementwork.com/418/ep-12-how-to-build-a-strong-financial-house/ 

On today's show: 

5:05 - The foundation = Your income plan

7:15 - The walls = Your investment plan

8:49 - The roof = Your insurance protections

11:05 - The finishing touches = Your estate plan

15:05 - Teaching kids about taxes

Today’s show is all about you. On this episode of the Make Retirement Work podcast, we take your questions about bonds, real estate investments and other financial queries.

Read more and get additional financial resources here: http://makeretirementwork.com/417/ep-11-qa-bonds-real-estate-and-other-financial-advice/ 

On today's show:

2:47 – Question 1: With so much market uncertainty, how do you feel about bonds?

5:37 – Question 2: What are your thoughts on REITs (Real Estate Investment Trust)?

10:57 – Question 3: Should I talk with my financial advisor about social security, life insurance or my legacy plan?

15:06 – Question 4: I’m 49 and want to retire when I’m 55. What should I do with my money for the next decade?

From the Federal Reserve to the New York Stock Exchange to the U.S. Department of Treasury, how much do you know about our country’s largest financial institutions? We take you on a trivia-filled history lesson and explain how they impact our lives.

Read more and get additional financial resources here: http://makeretirementwork.com/412/ep-10-a-trivia-filled-history-lesson-on-u-s-financial-institutions/ 

On today's show:

2:04 – What is the Federal Reserve?

6:41 – Most common role the Federal Reserve plays in our lives

8:23 – Trivia: How much U.S. currency is currently in circulation?

8:57 – What is the New York Stock Exchange?

12:08 – What is the S&P 500?

14:30 – What is the U.S. Department of Treasury?

16:40 – How does the Treasury differ from the Fed?

18:02 – Trivia: Why was the IRS created?

We’ve all experienced what a market crash feels like recently. Just when many of those memories of 2008 were beginning to fade, here comes 2020 with a harsh reminder. Who knows what the rest of the year will bring as we still await the upcoming election, but we do know that there will eventually be another market crash. So, what lessons can we take away from previous drops and apply to our finances now to make sure we don’t lose our shirts during the next crash?

Show notes & additional financial resources: http://makeretirementwork.com/405/ep-9-5-rules-to-survive-the-next-market-crash/ 

Today's show schedule: 

1:59 – What history has shown us about the market.  

3:48 – Something will come along to cause another downturn.

5:49 – Rule 1: Understand how much risk you’re exposed to.

7:26 – Rule 2: Protect some of the gains as you go.  

9:31 – Rule 3: Being sure that we’re diversified appropriately.

12:57 – Rule 4: Don’t try to time the market.

16:46 – Rule 5: Have a well-conceived plan in place so you don’t panic.

Everyone’s financial plan will consist of a different make-up but how long should you expect it to be when laid out on paper? Does a complicated plan mean it’s more comprehensive? Marc will take us through his planning process and explain what he typically provides clients.

Read more and get additional financial resources here: http://makeretirementwork.com/397/ep-8-are-complicated-portfolios-necessary/ 

Today's show schedule: 

0:54 – We’re now podcasting every week.

2:19 – There are one-pagers and then some really thick packets.

3:20 – Can you get a comprehensive plan on one page?

4:26 – What length do you typically see for a plan?

7:01 – Tell us about a time a new client came in with a complicated plan.  

8:50 – What about plans that were too simple?

10:53 – The setup Marc has in his office.

Trying to get answers to the questions you have about financial planning but not getting the information you hoped for? Taking a different approach and looking at things from a different perspective my give you the results you need. Today we’ll look at five common questions and Marc will tell us what you should really be asking.

Read more and get additional financial resources here: http://makeretirementwork.com/391/ep-7-are-you-asking-the-right-financial-questions/ 

Today's show schedule: 

0:50 – How much money do I need to have saved to retire?

2:22 – Should I get long-term care insurance or just roll the dice?

4:10 – How can I get the highest possible return on my money?

5:55 – Where can I pay the lowest fees for financial advice?

9:22 – What can I do to pay less in taxes this year?

Have you ever been on a road trip and ended up getting lost? The same happens in retirement planning for similar reasons. Let’s talk about why investors get off track and what steps you can take to get back on the path to retirement. 

Read more and get additional financial resources here: http://makeretirementwork.com/386/ep-6-are-you-getting-lost-in-retirement/ 

Today's show schedule: 

0:46 – What we’re talking about today.

1:03 – Having bad financial tools 

4:01 – Getting bad directions

6:45 – Not paying attention 

9:07 – How to get back on track if you’re lost. It begins by determining where you are.

11:03 – Now figure out where you want to go.

13:41 – Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Today we have a special episode featuring Mike Jacobson, President and CEO of NebraskaLand National Bank. He’ll help us understand what low rates mean to consumers, what investments make sense, and why CDs are still a solid option. Plus, we’ll give you the latest on PPP loans and explain what we’re seeing from a surging market.

Read more and get additional financial resources here: http://makeretirementwork.com/381/ep-5-update-on-loans-rates-the-market-with-mike-jacobson/ 

Check out NebraksaLand Bank here: https://nebraskalandbank.com/ 

Today's show schedule: 

1:01 – Things are getting busy in the bank.

2:05 – What do the low rates mean for customers? Let’s start with how we got to this point.

5:33 – When the market dropped, a lot of money moved to money market accounts and CDs.

7:53 – The concerns for the bank moving forward.

9:45 – Is there any place to go with short-term money?

12:46 – Why it’s important to look at a bank CD.

15:24 – The relationship Marc has with the bank.  

17:32 – An update on PPP loans.

20:54 – An alternative for the PPP loan.

22:02 – Info for Ag producers

23:35 – A market update. Why is it going up?

25:18 – We’re not out of the woods yet.

26:06 – One final note from Mike

A lot of advice for investors that don’t work with an advisor come in the form of general rules that people can follow. While many of these rules serve a purpose and provide direction, some of them are becoming more and more outdated over time. Let’s look at four financial rules that you might have heard and tell you why it might not be a good idea to follow them anymore.

Read more and get additional financial advice here: http://makeretirementwork.com/374/ep-4-4-financial-rules-that-might-be-outdated/ 

Today's show schedule: 

1:12 – The 4% rule

4:31 – The 10-5-3 rule

7:07 – General rule: Move from stocks to bonds as we get older.

8:49 – The million dollar rule

This summer’s Olympics in Tokyo have been postponed, but we can still host the Financial Planning Olympics. Let’s talk about the events that you should excel in with a good financial coach in your corner.

Read more and get additional financial resources here: http://makeretirementwork.com/363/ep-3-the-financial-planning-olympics/ 

Today's show schedule: 

0:27 – Marc is a sports fan but what about the Olympics?

1:52 – 1st event: The Inflation Marathon

3:55 – 2nd event: The Recession Hurdles

6:11 – 3rd event: The Hidden Fee Toss

9:35 – 4th event: The Portfolio Balance Beam