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After a year marked by volatility, uncertainty, and more than a few economic curveballs, it’s understandable if optimism doesn’t come easily. Today, Scott discusses a Bloomberg opinion column that argues the outlook for 2026 may be brighter than many people expect. A strong economy might lift markets, but a strong financial plan is what helps people stay confident no matter how the headlines turn out.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

💸 Consumer Cash – More money flowing to households

🏢 Business Growth – Increased capital and investment flexibility

📉 Lower Costs – Interest rates and energy easing pressure

🌍 Market Stability – Fewer shocks from tariffs and trade

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What’s new in 2026 for retirees and pre-retirees? Retirement rules are changing, and your future could look different in 2026. Tune in to discover what’s new and how the latest shifts might impact your financial strategy. Scott also shares what’s driving conversations on benefits, taxes, and smart savings moves.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

📅 2026 Updates – Key changes affecting retirees and pre-retirees

💸 COLA & Medicare – Benefit increases offset by rising premiums

🧾 Senior Deduction – New tax breaks creating planning opportunities

🚀 Catch-Up Savings – Higher contribution limits for late-career workers

💼 Taxes & HSAs – Additional changes impacting health and tax strategy

📞 Call us: 913-393-4724

🌐 Visit our podcast website:  https://listentoscott.com/

📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit

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Smart, successful people don’t lose money because they lack intelligence. They lose money because they’re human. In this episode, Scott goes in-depth about the hidden cost of emotional investing and why fear, greed, and headlines often derail even well-built plans. Drawing on behavioral economics and real-world examples, the conversation explains how emotions quietly erode long-term results and what actually works instead.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

🧠 Behavioral Traps: Why emotions override logic in investing

🎢 Emotional Roller Coaster: Stress, volatility, and poor timing

📱 Fear & FOMO: Social media, headlines, and herd behavior

🔍 Investor Biases: Overconfidence, loss aversion, and regret

📞 Call us: 913-393-4724

🌐 Visit our podcast website:  https://listentoscott.com/

📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit

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It’s official, the IRS has released the full set of 2026 tax numbers, and the changes may impact more than just your next return. Scott walks through what’s actually changed and how it may impact you and your future. The real opportunity isn’t just knowing the numbers, it’s knowing how to use them. Listen in to see how these updates can create meaningful planning advantages heading into 2026 and beyond.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

📋 2026 Overview: What the IRS finalized

📈 Contribution Limits: More room to save

🚫 IRA Phase-Outs: Income thresholds expanded

🧾 Standard Deduction: More income shielded

⬆️ Tax Brackets: Reducing bracket creep

🎯 Tax Efficiency: Smarter retirement planning

Check out Scott’s 2026 Tax Changes PDF here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17DkybXME97VvQQvV24nZPRhH_b6ed-ZU/view?usp=sharing

📞 Call us: 913-393-4724

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A new type of government-backed savings account for children, commonly referred to as a Trump Account, is set to launch in 2026, and it’s already drawing attention from parents and grandparents alike. The details are still being finalized but Tyler Moison, CFP® joins the show to walk through what we know so far, how these accounts work, and what questions still need to be answered.

While this new program doesn’t replace thoughtful planning, it may become a valuable tool for families looking to build financial momentum for the next generation.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

👶 Who Qualifies for a Trump Account

📅 Enrollment & Launch Timeline

💰 Contribution Limits & Who Can Fund It

📈 Investment & Growth Structure

🧾 Taxes, Withdrawals & Qualified Uses

📞 Call us: 913-393-4724

🌐 Visit our podcast website:  https://listentoscott.com/

📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit

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What if you retire with only $1 million… are you behind? That question fuels a lot of unnecessary anxiety, especially when comparisons creep in from coworkers, siblings, or YouTube success stories. In this episode, Scott breaks down what determines whether you’re on track for retirement, and why your number isn’t a competition. More importantly, he walks through what to do next if you really are behind.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

🔍 Comparison Trap: anxiety created by measuring against others

🎯 Enough Defined: income and lifestyle matter more than totals

🏖️ Lifestyle Fit: spending choices shape retirement needs

⏳ Catch-Up Moves: saving more, adjusting plans, delaying timing

📊 Planning Role: structured process replaces fear with confidence

📞 Call us: 913-393-4724

🌐 Visit our podcast website:  https://listentoscott.com/

📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit

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How can naming your spouse as beneficiary create unintentional tax problems? Most people assume naming their spouse as the IRA beneficiary is the safest and simplest option, but Scott explains why that isn’t always true. In this episode, he walks through several real-life situations where choosing a spouse can unintentionally (and negatively) impact taxes, fuel family conflict, or even jeopardize government benefits. 

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

💰 When They Already Have Enough: why extra inherited assets may create tax headaches

🛡️ Scam Protection: safeguarding vulnerable spouses from exploitation

💍 Remarriage Risks: preventing assets from accidentally going to a future spouse

👨‍👩‍👧 Blended Family Concerns: avoiding accidentally disinheriting your children

♿ Special Needs Situations: protecting government benefits with the right trust

Watch Scott’s videos to Protecting Yourself from Scams:

Beware of the Pig Butchering Financial Scam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PrGluJvaJE 

Am I At Risk of Having My Identity Stolen or Being A Victim of Fraud?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0MDdVGbBbg 

📞 Call us: 913-393-4724

🌐 Visit our podcast website:  https://listentoscott.com/

📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit

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Most advisors are well-intentioned, but not all advisors are the right advisor for you. Scott breaks down the warning signs that often get overlooked when choosing—or staying with—a financial advisor. This conversation uncovers the habits, behaviors, and patterns that separate real planners from product-pushers and pretenders. It’s a straightforward guide designed to help you protect your money, trust your advisor, and feel confident in your long-term plan. And by the end, you’ll know the red flag most people miss until it’s far too late.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

🔄 The Job Hopper: advisors who bounce from firm to firm

📦 One-Size-Fits-All Planning: when every client gets the same solution

💼 Always in Sales Mode: constant pitching instead of real planning

❓ No Information Gathering: watch out when advisors make recommendations without learning your goals

📵 Radio Silence: advisors who disappear after the paperwork is signed

🎬 Clickbait gurus: solo advisors with no support team

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Thanksgiving has a much deeper story than the modern traditions we celebrate today. In this episode, Scott details how the holiday formed, who helped shape it, and why its meaning has shifted over time. It’s a reminder that gratitude, community, and shared purpose run through the heart of Thanksgiving, even as the holiday continues evolving.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

🦃 Origins of Thanksgiving: how the holiday’s earliest traditions came together

📜 Sarah Josepha Hale & Lincoln: the unlikely duo who helped formalize the holiday

🏠 Modern Meaning: how Thanksgiving became what it is today

💰 Compensation Transparency: addressing conflicts of interest clearly and openly

🙏 Gratitude as Practice: why Thanksgiving still matters far beyond its historical roots

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For decades, retirees have based their spending on a simple idea: “The 4% Rule.” But new research, and even the rule’s original creator, suggests you may be able to spend significantly more without increasing your risk. Scott shares what’s changed, what still matters, and how to customize your safe withdrawal rate based on your goals, tax situation, and lifestyle.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

📜 Where It Started: the true history of the 4% rule

⚙️ What Changes the Math: market assumptions, inflation, and personal factors

🧩 Custom Strategies: why withdrawal rates must be tailored

🏛️ Legacy Decisions: how your goals shape your spending rate

🧭 Your Responsibility: modern retirement requires active planning

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