Our 2 Cents

A pilot, a captain, and a school bus driver? Listen in to this week's episode of Our 2 Cents to find out what Steve's retirement might look like one day. Also in this episode are key retirement timing and career considerations, important components of a custom-tailored retirement plan, and more!
Retire or Work Longer - Which is the Right Choice?:

• Have you considered being a "retired worker"? We explore why down-shifting, yet still working in retirement is a popular option.
• What are the financial and social impacts of semi-retirement and full retirement?
• This one thing should be the driving factor in your decision. What is it?

Ways to Customize Your Retirement Plan:

• You need a retirement plan that "fits" you. We talk about why a custom-tailored approach is so important to your success.
• A variety of factors go into customizing your plan, we look at:
• Income Sequencing
• Retirement Age
• Risk
• Insurance Coverage
• And more!
• What does it mean to have an efficient plan, and why is it important?

Listener Question:

• "I've been very blessed and probably have more money than I will need in my lifetime. Should I start giving away money to my kids and grandkids now so they won't have to worry so much about paying estate taxes or high probate costs?" - Rick

Retirement planning means different things to different people. Have you given thought to what it means for you personally? That's the focus of this week's episode of Our 2 Cents. Plus, more in-depth questions for getting to know Steve and Gabriel!
1,000 People, 5 Words: How Do You Imagine "Life After Career?:

• With 900+ different words provided, only 28 counted for 1/2 of the responses. Can you guess what the most popular ones are?
• How did the responses differ from male and female respondents?
• What words would you use when thinking about your life after your career? Hit reply and let us know!

Get to Know Steve and Gabriel - Deep Dive Edition!:

• Growing up, who was influential in shaping the way you view money and wealth?
• How did you get into the financial business?
• Have any people in the financial industry had an impact on you?
• What would you consider the most gratifying part of your job?
• If you could change anything about the way people plan for retirement, what would you change?

Welcome back to another new episode of the Our 2 Cents podcast. We're leaving the financial numbers and statistics out of the conversation today, and focusing on the ways people truly think about money and how that may shift with age. Let's dive right in!
Age and Wisdom: How Do They Play into Financial Planning?:

• With age comes more experience, observation, and understanding. How can this shape the way you look at money?
• We've gathered lots of experience over the years, what can our experience help teach you?
• Could your goals for your money change as you age?
• We look at things people said they wish they would have known about or done differently after gaining more wisdom as they've aged.

Listener Questions:

• "I've heard of something called a 'Robo-Advisor,' can you tell me what that is? - Karen
• "Investing seems simple to me. Why don't you just buy dividend paying stocks and live off the dividends and that way you never need to dip into your principal?" - William

Get to Know Steve and Gabriel:

• What is your favorite fast-food restaurant?

After a few weeks off, Steve and Gabriel are back with a brand new episode of the Our 2 Cents podcast. They are talking about retirement spending habits, cracking a few jokes and answering listener questions on the show today. Tune in now to hear it all!
The Art and Science of Decumulation:

• What do you need to know about spending down your money successfully in retirement?
• What are the problems with spending down your life savings? And what makes people afraid to spend?
• We'll discuss ways to determine where to take money from to spend in retirement, and who can help you decide.

Corny Financial Advisor Jokes:

• We're sharing some laughs and explaining the hidden meaning behind some financial jokes.

Listener Questions:

• "If interest rates finally start going back up, should I change how I am saving? Right now, I've taken my money out of the bank and invested it because interest rates are so low." - James
• "My husband and I argue about money almost everyday because we haven't done a great job of planning for retirement and it's starting to stress us out a little. Is that normal?" - Patty

Steve and Gabriel discuss how retirement has changed over the years on this week's episode of Our 2 Cents. They also dive into the inflation fears percolating lately and what the media's role has been in creating those fears. Listen now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!
Not Your Father's Retirement:

• Retirement today looks much different than it once did, but what all has really changed?
• We're seeing a new movement among working adults these days. What is the FIRE movement all about?
• Costlier, longer and, self-directed retirements create big challenges. We'll share how can you plan to manage these potential retirement pains.

The Fear Mongers Want You Worried About Inflation:

• Is rising inflation unusual? And should you actually be worried about it?
• The so-called "Fear Mongers" of the media want you to be concerned about inflation, we share why that is.
• How can you achieve peace-of-mind amidst economic uncertainty?

Getting to Know Steve and Gabriel:

• What is a good habit you have now that you wish you started much sooner in your life?
• During what era of your life were you the coolest? 😎

The Our 2 Cents podcast is back with a brand new episode this week. Steve and Gabriel have a lot to cover regarding stock market headlines and creating the most efficient investment portfolios. Listen in now!
What to Do if You Have Any "Market Jitters":

• Are doom and gloom headlines & predictions making you worried about a stock market drop?
• What is the media trying to do by using click-bait headlines and creating fear & concern?
• Cash Drag: what is it, and how does it impact your portfolio?

The Efficient Frontier:

• What is the Efficient Frontier, and how can you know if your portfolio is on it?
• Is it possible to get more for less when it comes to investing?
• Portfolio diversification, asset allocation & how to maximize returns with the least amount of risk.

Quote of the Month:

• "Retirement is wonderful if you have 2 essentials..."
• Hear what the essentials are, and if Gabriel and Steve agree with them or not.

There's a lot to be excited about today! It is Gabriel's birthday 🎉 and there's a brand new episode of the Our 2 Cents podcast! Check below for a peek at what Steve and Gabriel are discussing on the show.
Financial Advisor "Code Speak":

• When an advisor tells you something, are you ever left wondering what they really mean?
• Hearing phrases like "It's just a minor correction," "It's just a paper loss," or all kinds of technical and complicated jargon can quickly become extremely confusing.
• And what about all that "Alphabet Soup" we see... what does it all mean?

Things to Do After 50 for a Healthier Brain:

• We share some everyday habits you can implement to keep your brain sharp as you age.
• How can regular exercise, a Mediterranean diet, and more sleep help boost your brain health? We'll explain how!

This week's episode is all about answering questions! First, Gabriel and Steve begin by discussing some great questions submitted by our listeners. Then they switch gears to answer a couple of fun questions about themselves.
Listener Questions:

• "Is it a bad idea to go after my dream home before I retire, if it then means I will have a mortgage?" - Marie
• "My divorce will be final in about a month. I always paid the bills but was never really involved in the retirement planning. Where should I start?" - Lisa
• "My mother passed away and I am the executor of her will and estate. She left her house to me, but my sister is living in it and I want to sell it. What should I do?" - Bill
• "I watched your Scoop video on Social Security and want to know, what are the income tax consequences on Social Security? - Jeff

Getting to Know Steve and Gabriel:

• If you were abducted by aliens, would you rather be put in an alien zoo exhibit or in a traveling alien circus?
• Who would you choose to narrate your life?

Steve and Gabriel are thrilled to be back in the saddle this week recording an all-new episode of the Our 2 Cents podcast. Here's what they're talking about today:
Is Elon Musk Breaking Up with Bitcoin?:

• Elon recently announced Tesla will no longer accept Bitcoin as payment, what could this mean for the future of cryptocurrency?
• With more than 4,000 different coins on the market, some with wild and funny names and others based internet memes, are any cryptocurrencies legitimately worth investing in?

Annual "Money Doctor" Checkups:

• You go to the doctor for your annual health checkup, but what about an annual money checkup?
• If you're "feeling fine" with regards to your portfolio, do you still need to have an annual checkup?

Does More Money = More Problems?:

• Is there any truth to the saying "More Money, More Problems?"
• Even if you are financially set for life, should you still have your money working for you and continuing to grow?
• Why you should be giving your money the attention it deserves

This week's podcast episode is a fun one! First we look at how the cost of living in different cities around the U.S. can vary quite drastically, then we jump into some fun quotes, and end the show by putting Steve and Gabriel on the spot.
How Far Does $1 Million Go in Different Places of the Country?:

• If you retire in this city, your $1 million might only last you 8-9 years. Can you guess the city?
• Have you ran your numbers to see if you can retire in your dream city?
• How much will you need to retire comfortably? Surprise—it's not a simple answer!

Timeless Quotes from Will Rogers:

• These quotes are just as applicable today as they were way back then.
• From life lessons, to taxes, and being truly satisfied. We're covering great quotes that will really make you think.

The Personal Side - Getting to Know Steve and Gabriel:

• What is something you'll never do again?
• What is a song or artist that people would be surprised to find out you like?
• If all jobs had the same pay and the same hours, what job would you want to have?