Through The Noise

In this episode of the FMI Podcast, financial advisor Marlana Lancaster and founder David Elmore explore what it really means to retire well. They discuss why retirement requires purpose beyond work, common mistakes people make with 401(k)s, how to create sustainable income from retirement savings, and the hidden tax traps that can devastate long‑term plans. The conversation also covers Social Security taxation, withdrawal strategies, estate planning, the financial impact of helping children and grandchildren, managing fear and market volatility, and why thoughtful planning is essential as people live longer and retirement years stretch further than ever before.

0:00 – What Retirement Really Means

0:45 – The Importance of Purpose After Retirement

2:29 – Baby Boomers and the Retirement Wave

3:14 – What to Do With Your 401(k) at Retirement

3:58 – Why Cashing Out a 401(k) Is a Major Mistake

4:34 – Rolling a 401(k) Into an IRA Explained

6:14 – Creating Retirement Income Without Running Out

7:18 – The 5% Income Rule in Retirement

7:46 – Taxes and Social Security in Retirement

9:10 – Using Multiple “Buckets” of Retirement Money

10:24 – What Is Bracket Creep?

11:55 – Estate Planning and Updating Beneficiaries

13:42 – How Children and Grandchildren Can Impact Retirement

15:27 – Travel, Lifestyle Choices, and Budgeting in Retirement

16:48 – Fear, Market Volatility, and Protecting Your Money

18:18 – Inflation and the Risk of Sitting in Cash

19:41 – Why a Written Financial Plan Matters

20:25 – Living Longer and Planning for 30+ Years of Retirement

In this episode of the FMI Podcast, financial planners Marlana Lancaster and David Elmore discuss the fundamental principles of navigating market volatility. They address why market fluctuations are a normal, expected part of the investment cycle and explain the technical definition of a "correction". The conversation focuses on the importance of maintaining a long-term perspective, even when headlines or geopolitical events cause short-term uncertainty. The hosts share practical strategies for investors to manage their emotions, including the psychological benefits of limiting news consumption and the dangers of attempting to "time" the market. David also highlights the advantages of active management, explaining how downturns can provide opportunities to buy quality companies at under valued prices to help propel future portfolio growth.

00:00 – Introduction & current market context

00:27 – Geopolitical events (Iran conflict) and market impact

01:05 – Why market declines like this are normal

02:06 – What is a market correction?

02:42 – Why downturns feel worse than they are

03:08 – How advisors guide clients during volatility

03:29 – Turning off the news & emotional investing

03:59 – What a stock actually represents (ownership explained)

05:03 – Long-term strength of companies vs short-term noise

05:22 – Examples of real companies behind the market

06:21 – Role of government policy vs business fundamentals

07:11 – Should you get out of the market?

07:24 – Why timing the market doesn’t work

08:17 – Staying invested & active management strategy

08:44 – Buying opportunities during downturns (“on sale”)

09:04 – Dollar-cost averaging during volatility

09:24 – Limiting news consumption

09:42 – How often to check your portfolio

10:46 – Active management example (oil, Exxon, profits)

12:03 – The “brick through the window” analogy

13:09 – Recap: why you can’t time the market

13:43 – Missing recovery days and impact on returns

14:06 – Final thoughts & closing

In this episode of the FMI Podcast, Marlana Lancaster and David Elmore break down the alarming rise in financial scams and how they’re impacting everyday people. From AI voice impersonation to romance and cryptocurrency scams, they share real-life stories, warning signs, and practical ways to protect yourself and your loved ones. This conversation highlights just how sophisticated scams have become—and why awareness is your best defense.

(0:00) Introduction & Why Scams Are a Growing Threat

(1:21) Shocking Scam Statistics ($1.3B → $30B)

(2:13) AI Voice & Grandparent Scam Explained

(5:12) Where Scammers Operate (Global & Organized Crime)

(6:25) Romance Scams & Average Losses

(7:14) Real Story: $600K Crypto Romance Scam

(9:40) How Romance Scams Start (Social Media & Apps)

(10:10) Red Flags in Online Relationships

(11:30) Utility & Tech Support Scams

(13:01) Precious Metals & “Inheritance” Scams

(15:28) “No Free Lunch” Principle & Financial Wisdom

(17:24) IRS & Tax Identity Theft Scams

(19:50) Practical Tips to Avoid Being Scammed

(21:44) How Financial Firms Protect Client Assets

(23:36) Final Advice: Stay Alert & Help Others Stay Safe

*CORRECTION*: Energy credits for solar, heat pumps, windows/doors, etc. are available for 2025, but many went away if not installed by 12/31/25.

In this episode, David Elmore and Marlana Lancaster walk through the key tax law changes shaping the 2025 filing season. David and Marlana explain how these updates may increase refunds and reduce taxable income for many Americans.

They cover:

• Why many people are seeing bigger refunds this year
• Social Security taxation + the new $6,000 deduction for seniors
• How the overtime and tips tax breaks work
• SALT deduction limit increases
• New rules for auto loan interest on 2025 vehicle purchases
• What happened to energy‑efficient tax credits
• Major small‑business updates (Section 179, bonus depreciation, QBI)
• The power of Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)

As Kingdom Advisors, David and Marlana blend technical tax insight with a philosophy of abundant, generous, and tax‑efficient financial living.