Retire Texas Style!

If you have a traditional IRA or 401(k), you could run into a HUGE tax problem.  That’s why you hear people converting those funds to an after-tax Roth IRA a little bit at a time before retirement.  Financial author Ed Slott tells the Morningstar financial website that it enables you to take control of your tax planning, but how easy is it to do this?  At what age should someone consider making the conversion? Steve explains how he can help you with this process and keep more money in YOUR pocket and LESS in Uncle Sam's! 

Call Steve today for Tax Analysis! 

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An article in The Street warns that a lot of people are surprised at how big their tax bill is after they retire.  Why does this happen? And are there any steps we can take to lower that bill? Steve discusses the tax strategies he uses that can help put more money back in your pocket rather than Uncle Sam's! Plus, when you leave that 9-5, what do you do with your 401K? 

Call Steve today for your Complimentary Tax Analysis! 

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Sometimes a rocky economy is like a football game.  Market volatility, high inflation and the threat of recession can tackle even a good retirement plan and throw it for a huge loss.  So, is there a tool can withstand these threats?  Hear Steve explain how he can give your money purpose, all while protecting and grow your income in retirement - STOP THE FINANCIAL BLEEDING TODAY! 

Call Steve today for your very own customized income plan! 

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Will you spend more money earlier in retirement on fun stuff or will most of your spending come later things like healthcare? Hear how Steve can help you prepare for both! Then, ever wonder what your cat is saying to you?  There’s an app for that.  It’s called “MeowTalk.”  It uses artificial intelligence and algorithms to decode what the feline is communicating (like happy, resting, hunting, or mating call.)  One complaint about financial advisors is they sometimes communicate in a language no one understands.  How do you make sure retirement plans don’t get “lost in translation?”  

Steve can help you today with a complimentary Portfolio Review! 

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I saw an article that talked about the so-called financial planning ‘rules’ that should be abandoned.  One is the “60-40” portfolio split between stocks and bonds.  The other is the “4%” withdrawal rule (if a retiree withdraws 4% in their first year, and adjusts that for inflation every year after that, their money has good odds of lasting 30 years).  Do you agree?  Should we look at these as starting points in investing rather than hard-and-fast rules?  When the market is down, there might be a tax opportunity.  It comes when you offset any gains with some of your losses.  It’s called “tax loss harvesting.”  Can you explain more?  Do we have to wait until the end of the year to take advantage of it? According to a new paper from the Center for Retirement Research, there are 5 big retirement risks that people aren’t giving even attention. In order, they are:

• Longevity risk - Running out of money because you live so long
• Health risk - High medical expenses eating into your monthly income
• Market risk - Losing money in the stock market or the housing market
• Family risk - Divorce, the death of a spouse, or other family issues
• Policy risk - Taxes going up or Social Security benefits going down

The paper points to “stable lifetime income resources” to cover all these fears. How does your planning solve for all these issues?

Call Steve today for a Complimentary Portfolio Review! 

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When will we see the bottom of this market? Can we be successful with our retirement portfolio without having to resort to that kind of guesswork? What are the chances we could fall into recession in the next year?  Economists with Bloomberg say it’s 100% certain.  And it might hit sooner than later.  Hear how Steve can you help you build a financial bridge to get to the other side of this mess?   

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We’ve talked a lot about how the bond market is also having a horrible year.  That’s why many investors are seeking ideal bond replacements.  Sheryl Moore of WinkIntel.com believes you might consider an annuity. Hear Steve share his opinion and more.

The newest iPhone has a pretty cool feature called “crash detection.”  Just like it sounds, the phone detects various types of car crashes, then automatically calls 911.  But some riders of roller coasters are discovering that all the herky-jerky movements are also triggering calls to 911. When you’re analyzing a portfolio, what sets off your ‘crash detector?’

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The one thing we all wish we had more of is TIME. You know the saying, "There's not enough hours in the day!" I get it, we're all busy. BUT, if you don't take the time to PLAN for your retirement - who will?

Not all recessions are created equal.  But economist Lawrence White tells CBS News that the one thing they all have in common is they were triggered by certain events and sometimes a recession can trigger making financial decisions while emotion. 

Then, Steve talks about his process and what separates him from other financial advisors and how he can help YOU. 

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Q&A with YOU! 

Listener question from Tessa: Is this a good time to get out of the Market? And what are the benefits of doing Roth Conversion? Hear Steve's response and most importantly how he can help you protect your money from a volatile market!  

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Americans are trying to stretch their dollars amid high inflation, but they might be overlooking money they already have – gift cards!  A new survey (by CreditCards.com) found the average person has $175 in unused gift cards. (Check your wallets!) And if you don’t remember to cash them in, you’re leaving money on the table. You DONT want to leave money on the table in retirement and Steve can help you avoid this! 

Then, an article in Smart Asset asks an interesting question: “Do you actually need a lawyer, not a financial advisor?”  Their point is the advisor helps you protect your money with management, tax planning and insurance, while the attorney helps you protect your money with wills, trusts and estate planning.  If you picked one over the other, what could you be missing? Hear Steve explain how he can help you create an income plan with income for life! 

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