Your Retirement Elevated Podcast with Scott Dougan

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Financial media loves simple answers: always do this or never do that. But real financial planning doesn’t work that way. Most of the biggest decisions people face in retirement live in the gray. Scott pulls back the curtain on the sensational advice dominating YouTube and financial media. Instead of chasing rigid rules, he explains why thoughtful coordination across multiple planning areas produces better outcomes.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

💸 Roth Conversions: Context matters more than slogans

📈 Social Security Timing: Optimization vs. maximization

🏡 Paying Off the House: Emotional security vs. liquidity

🎯 Advisor or DIY: Complexity determines the answer

💰 Inheritance Decisions: Intentional legacy vs. lifestyle flexibility

📞 Call us: 913-393-4724

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

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

Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html

🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!

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📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:

https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser

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Some people love a thunderstorm, while others panic the moment clouds roll in. Markets work the same way and pretending you’re more comfortable with risk than you really can get expensive. Scott uses a weather lens to explain how preparation, not prediction, is what keeps retirement plans steady when volatility hits. When turbulence hits, preparation beats optimism every time.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

🌩️ The Forecast Isn’t the Weather - Why market predictions don’t change volatility but preparation does.

☀️ Calm Markets Can Fool You - Why risk feels easy during bull markets and terrifying during downturns.

🚧 Your “Uncle” Number - Defining the loss level that would cause emotional panic.

🛣️ Guardrails & Speed Limits - Matching your portfolio to your real tolerance and not theoretical confidence.

🛡️ Preparation Over Prediction - Building income stability so volatility doesn’t derail your retirement.

📞 Call us: 913-393-4724

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

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

Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html

🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!

🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1

📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:

https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser

📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!

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Most people don’t struggle in retirement because they made bad decisions, they struggle because they keep using the right tools for the wrong season. Scott shows how a simple story reveals why familiar strategies can quietly become obstacles over time. Inspired by a parable popularized by Sahil Bloom, the conversation reframes what real progress looks like later in life. Sometimes the hardest part of moving forward isn’t effort, it’s knowing what to finally set down.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

🚤 Boat Dragging Context: Why smart people feel stuck

📖 The Parable Explained: A tool becomes a burden

💼 Outdated Strategies: Accumulation mindsets linger

🔄 New Retirement Reality: Income, risk, and tax shifts

🧠 Psychological Impact: Fear, familiarity, and sunk cost

🛠️ Proactive Planning: Intentional subtraction and alignment

📞 Call us: 913-393-4724

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

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

Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html

🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!

🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1

📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:

https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser

📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!

https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/

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💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

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There’s no shortage of retirement advice out there, but not all of it is helpful, and some of it can quietly do real damage. Today, Scott walks through 10 of the most common retirement planning myths and explains why relying on them can derail an otherwise solid plan. Before assuming something is “just how retirement works,” it’s worth taking a closer look.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

📚 The “Thick Plan” Fallacy: Why bigger financial plans don’t automatically mean better outcomes

💑 Survivor Income Assumptions: A surviving spouse usually needs more income than expected

📉 Stocks vs. Bonds in Retirement: Age alone isn’t a reliable investment guide

🛑 Spending During Market Downturns: Why “just stop spending” isn’t a realistic strategy

🤯 Decision Fatigue in Retirement: Financial decisions often become more complex, not less

📞 Call us: 913-393-4724

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

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

Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html

🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!

🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1

📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:

https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser

📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!

https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/

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💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

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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

📞 Call us: 913-393-4724

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

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

Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html

🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!

🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1

📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:

https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser

📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!

https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/

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💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

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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

Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html

🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!

🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1

📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:

https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser

📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!

https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/

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💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg

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

Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html

🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!

🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1

📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:

https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser

📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!

https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/

#retirement #retirementplanning

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg

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

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

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

Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html

🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!

🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1

📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:

https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser

📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!

https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/

#retirement #retirementplanning

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg

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

Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html

🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!

🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1

📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:

https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser

📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!

https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/

#retirement #retirementplanning

💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?

Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg

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

Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html

🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!

🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1

📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:

https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser

📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!

https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/

#retirement #retirementplanning