Time, Talent, Treasure Radio

In this episode of Time, Talent, Treasure Radio, host Ben Taatjes sits down with financial advisor Claire Molden to explore her journey into financial planning the passion that drives her work. Claire shares how earning her Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) certification has deepened her technical expertise across key areas of financial planning, equipping her to provide more comprehensive, informed guidance and serve her clients at an even higher level.

In an industry that is constantly evolving, continued learning and professional education are essential to serving clients well. In this episode, host Ben Taatjes and financial planner Jim Smith discuss the importance of staying current, continuing to learn, and pursuing professional growth throughout a career in financial planning. They explore how ongoing education not only strengthens their knowledge and ability to serve clients but also reflects a deeper commitment to stewardship and the responsibility that comes with helping others navigate important financial decisions. Ben and Jim also share how their understanding of stewardship has evolved over time and what it means to faithfully steward the knowledge, opportunities, and responsibilities entrusted to them today.

In this weeks episode, financial planner and enrolled agent Jim Smith joins host Ben Taatjes to share the story of how Smith Financial Services and Taatjes Financial Group came together. They reflect on the shared values of faith, family, and stewardship that have shaped their work and discuss how those values have provided a foundation for a meaningful partnership and a shared commitment to serving others well.

In this episode of Time, Talent, Treasure Radio, host Ben Taatjes and financial advisor Johann Smith wrap up our Medicare conversation with a unique perspective drawn from three areas of his experience: financial planning, tax preparation as an enrolled agent, and Medicare Insurance. Johann breaks down the four parts of the Medicare puzzle and explains why it's important to thoughtfully consider each one when making coverage decisions. He also shares why having a trusted person help navigate the process can be valuable, especially when financial, tax, and healthcare considerations intersect.

Strategy is key when it comes to Medicare. In this episode, host Ben Taatjes and President & Chief Grother Officer Mike Kobs briefly explore the Medicare enrollment process and some of the surprises people may encounter after signing up. They discuss the importance of understanding your options and asking the right questions before enrolling, as well as how working with someone who can help you think through those decisions ahead of time can make a difference.

This week, host Ben Taatjes and Certified Financial Planner Claire Molden continue the conversation on Medicare, this time from a tax and planning perspective. Claire explains what the Income-Related Monthly Adjusted Amount (IRMAA) is, how it is determined by your income, and how your modified adjusted gross income can affect your Medicare premiums. Together, they explore important planning considerations to help you better understand how your income today can impact your Medicare costs in the future.

In this episode of Time, Talent, Treasure Radio, host Ben Taatjes and President & Chief Growth Office Mike Kobs begin our month-long series surrounding Medicare and Social Security. They explain the importance of having a professional who will help you navigate your specific situation and if and when it makes most sense to sign up for either.

What does it look like to entrust your children? In this week's episode, host Ben Taatjes explains moving from being a manager of what your children steward, to becoming an advisor. He shares what his and his wife's goals are for their children's stewardship of money, education, abilities, relationships, and opportunities - and why allowing children to experience consequences can be an important part of helping them grow into wise stewards. The goal isn't simply to manage what our children have been given, but to help them become capable, confident stewards for themselves.

In this episode of Time, Talent, Treasure Radio, host Ben Taatjes is joined by Claire Molden, Financial Advisor, to explore how we can raise the next generation of stewards by helping our children learn from their money mistakes. Drawing from her personal experience raising her boys, Claire shares valuable insights on teaching children to navigate financial decisions and explains why making small mistakes early in life can help prevent bigger challenges down the road. Together, Claire and Ben discuss how children learn by watching the way we steward our own money through giving, spending, and saving—and how the habits we model today can shape their relationship with money for years to come.

In this episode of Time, Talent, Treasure Radio, host Ben Taatjes is joined by Kendra Peterson, Financial Advisor, to kick off the Raising the Next Steward series. Kendra shares her personal experiences raising her young daughters and discusses practical ways she incorporates financial education into their lives from an early age. Together, Ben and Kendra emphasize that some of the most important lessons about stewardship begin at home. By teaching children the value of money, the importance of working for what they have, and the responsibility that comes with managing resources, parents can help cultivate a lifelong appreciation for intentional and thoughtful stewardship.