Paladin Financial Talk

Running a successful business doesn't always mean you're building personal wealth. Together, Nikki and Jeff discuss the importance of balancing reinvestment in a business with building personal wealth.

As we wrap up our six-part Social Security series, we explore how strategic claiming decisions can impact your retirement income, taxes, and long-term financial security. Through real-world examples, we discuss the benefits of delaying Social Security, coordinating benefits between spouses, and identifying tax-planning opportunities such as Roth conversions. We also explain why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach and how a personalized strategy can help you make the most of your benefits.

In this episode of Paladin Financial Talk, Host and Investment Advisor Representative Nikki Foley is joined by Featured Guest Jack Ekholm, CFP®, to break down how Social Security benefits are taxed and what that means for retirement planning. Together, they explore how other sources of income can impact Social Security taxation, why earning an additional dollar can sometimes trigger unexpected tax consequences, and strategies that may help manage those taxes.

Most people think of Social Security as a retirement benefit, but what happens if an unexpected illness or injury prevents you from working? Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can provide important financial protection, but qualifying for benefits isn't always straightforward.

In this episode of Paladin Financial Talk, Nikki Foley and Matt Bryant explain how SSDI works, who qualifies, and why understanding your coverage before a health crisis matters.

They discuss eligibility requirements, benefit calculations, the five-month waiting period, and potential benefits for spouses and children. They also explore why SSDI alone may not be enough and how emergency savings, private disability insurance, and financial planning can help protect your household.

Whether you're approaching retirement, still working, or helping a family member through a health challenge, this episode offers practical insight into an often-overlooked benefit.

In this episode of Paladin Financial Talk, Host and Investment Advisor Representative Nikki Foley is joined by fellow Investment Advisor Representative Jeff Quick to explore Social Security survivor and dependent benefits. Many families don't realize that Social Security can provide financial support to spouses and children following the death of a loved one—or that children may qualify for benefits when a parent retires. Together, they discuss who may qualify, how these benefits work, and why understanding them is an important part of protecting your family's financial future alongside life insurance and other risk management strategies.

In this episode of Paladin Financial Talk, Host and Investment Advisor Representative Nikki Foley is joined by Paladin Financial Owner Jeff Foley, CFP®, CTS, to break down Social Security worker retirement benefits—including how your benefit is calculated, when to claim, and what happens if you continue working. They also explore the Earnings Test, options for changing course after claiming, and how Social Security fits into your overall financial plan.

In this episode of Paladin Financial Talk, Investment Advisor Representative Ellie Robison hosts Jack Ekholm, CFP® to kick off a six-part series on Social Security. They break down the basics—from eligibility and the different types of benefits available to how benefits are calculated, funded, and what the future of Social Security could look like—giving you a foundation to make more informed decisions as part of your overall retirement plan.

Health Savings Accounts (HSA) can be one of the most powerful—and often overlooked—retirement planning tools. In this episode of Paladin Financial Talk, Host and Investment Advisor Representative Nikki Foley is joined by Featured Advisor Jack Ekholm CFP® to explore HSAs from a financial-planning perspective. HSAs are often introduced as a way to pay for current healthcare expenses—but their potential goes much further. Nikki and Jack break down who can contribute, the triple tax advantage, qualified medical expenses, Medicare considerations, investment opportunities, and common mistakes that can limit the long-term value of an HSA.

In this episode of Paladin Financial Talk, Host and Investment Advisor Representative Nikki Foley welcomes Kinsey Diment, Owner and Head Coach of Fit After 40, to explore how healthy choices don't just benefit your body—they can also benefit your finances. From daily movement and strength training to nutrition and other preventive health habits, we discuss practical steps you can take today that may help reduce future healthcare costs, protect your independence, and improve your quality of life as you age.

In this episode of Paladin Financial Talk, Host and Investment Advisor Representative Nikki Foley invites healthcare and Medicare industry professional Brian Eck to help make sense of a system that can often feel unnecessarily complicated.

Brian breaks down the language of health insurance—from premiums, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance to provider networks and out-of-pocket maximums—and explains how these pieces work together. He also includes important health insurance and Medicare deadlines and other trending health insurance headlines.