New Retirement Radio With Dennis Prout Podcast

When taxes decline, many questions typically arise. In the case of the State of Michigan rolling back the retirement tax, copious amounts of questions and confusion seemed to reign. Today on New Retirement Radio, we will discuss the graduated change in the tax. For all Michigan taxpayers, the income tax rate dropped to 4.05% in 2023, down from 4.25% in 2022. Pension income for public servants like police officers and firefighters, state troopers and others will be fully exempt from paying state income tax in 2023. Others who receive a pension may face a graduated change in their tax through 2026. This is a big change and will have a significant impact on all Michigan residents! So be nice to your tax preparer, as they may ultimately play a more important role for you going forward! Next, Nathan will discuss less well-known benefits of life insurance policies, including utilizing cash values at or near retirement. Last, Deann brings the stats on taxes as well as stories of fishing for salmon.    Tune in a

The new economy continues to show itself to us. While (of course) we cannot guess the future, the present certainly cannot be discounted as to what it provides in terms of usable information. What indicators can tell us how the economy is doing? Are those who are most pessimistic wrong? Do we maintain or change our holdings given the reality of rising short-term interest rates and what seems like increasing risk in our markets? On today’s show, we’ll investigate what these indicators are and give our best in terms of real strategy to assist you in allocating your portfolio for an uncertain future. We’ll also learn some of the new rules for retirement accounts. Heidi will shed light on how to use today’s relatively lower taxes to your advantage. And Deann will weigh in on the economic front.  Tune in and take control! 

The September 2023 edition of Ed Slott’s newsletter comes with stories and insights about elder abuse, where scammers within families steal retirement account funds, resulting in significant losses as well as tax penalties. This is another example of why accountability needs to prevail within families, especially when larger retirement account balances are involved. Of course, on top of the losses are the significant issues related to family and the difficulty in many cases of ever getting these funds returned. On today’s show, we’ll discuss what to do to arm yourself and your loved ones against this threat. Also, Heidi will discuss how to avoid scams and scammers, and how cyber security plays a key role in protecting yourself. Deann joins us as well to bring the stats related to our subject and shed more light and learning on this.  Tune in and take control!

Too much cash! Who would have ever thought this would be a problem? Given how rates for conservative fixed income investments – including CDs, Treasury Bills and all the rest – have risen so dramatically, the pressure to get out of low-yielding money market and savings accounts has risen significantly. Investors who rushed for the exits last year and plowed trillions into money market funds, now around $5 trillion, may be wondering if it’s time to retrace a bit. With so much to talk about and so little time, on today’s show, we’ll discuss what you might want to consider and how to cash in on today’s higher rates. We’ll also discuss how to get attractive income options, and what exactly those are. Heidi will discuss the article “The Five Biggest Mistakes People Make When Picking a Medicare Plan.” How complex can it be? You may be surprised! Last, Deann has the stats to bring as well as to where and how interest rates and the economy are showing up. We look forward to the show and your questions. Tune in and

On our August 10 New Retirement Radio show, a caller asked about a recent article by Ray Dalio in The Wall Street Journal. Dalio has written and spoken extensively about the economy, including his November 2021 book, Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order, which I think is a research masterpiece and have discussed on previous radio shows. The caller’s question piqued my interest in revisiting Dalio, so today we will discuss his take on the current economic situation as discussed by Spencer Jakab in the August 12 issue of The Wall Street Journal. Given Dalio’s experience in running the world’s largest hedge fund, we think you’ll find his comments pertinent and interesting. Then Heidi will weigh in on saving and planning for retirement by Generation Xers (people born between 1965 and 1980). Given their unique challenges, the advice may be helpful to us all in planning through our own set of circumstances. And Deann will share all stats wise and wonderful to add to the conversation! Tune in and t

Jon Sluis, CPA, joins us today to help us catch up on 2023 tax law changes as well as look out for future adjustments we need to be aware of. As you know, proper tax planning requires being aware of not only what’s new, but what has changed from the previous year. And you guessed it … there are lots of changes and updates for 2023 you need to know about. New retirement provisions that recently took effect will make a difference for your long-term planning. We will also discuss the impact of staying up-to-date on beneficiary designations to allow for maximum flexibility in the settlement of your retirement accounts. As we’ve seen with our own clients’ accounts, custodians of IRAs and other retirement accounts who are not aware of the current provisions within the law may negatively affect you and your loved ones. Your bottom line can be impacted by these tactics, so tune in and take control!

The morning haze has made for some beautiful sunrises here in Northern Michigan recently. However, a similar type of “haze” continues to envelop our current economic situation. Are we in for a soft landing? What about interest rates, recession and the business cycle? Housing prices are another big unknown, with many professionals weighing in on the current housing market. On today’s show, we’ll continue the conversation about the current economy, even looking at whether global temperatures affect economic growth. Heidi will discuss the younger person’s use of summer earnings to start a Roth IRA, and how that might benefit your child or grandchild, and help them learn about the long-term benefits of starting a saving mindset. Last, Deann discusses a recent article in The Wall Street Journal about Northern Michigan and the stats surrounding the economy as well. Tune in and take control!

In a May 2023 Kiplinger article, Chris Abeyta, in discussing the transition from asset growth to income and protection, warns us of the “Retirement Hazard Zone” – the four to five years right after the pivotal age of 59½ that can greatly impact the rest of your retirement. In essence, Abeyta cautions readers to take action to protect their nest egg from significant losses while still growing it. Part of this equation deals with the reality that, for some, they need to take income from their portfolio. For others, it’s about the need for greater preservation as their mindsets have changed. And for a few, it’s about strategic allocation and utilizing diversification to its maximum potential while limiting downside risk in a volatile market environment. Regardless of your situation, on today’s show we will discuss the “why” and “how” of the three phases of your retirement journey. Next, Heidi will discuss the IRS RMD (required minimum distribution) waiver for non-spouse beneficiary IRA accounts, as well as a

The beautiful summer weather seems to have everyone in a trance of warmth, ice cream, sandy beaches and the great outdoors (including the bugs)! Today, we’ll talk about the power of being a contrarian in a world that seems more confusing by the day. Included in this will be historical examples of those with very big voices who have been very wrong about the future. One example is the current residential housing market, which has stumped so many to continue strong despite ever-rising interest rates. Another is the continuing Fed attempts to rein in the economy with ever-widening interest rates, only hurting itself and our very own dollar in the process, and the future statistics on what that could look like. Next, Heidi will discuss mid-year frequently asked questions about Social Security planning for retirement. This includes what we might possibly see on adjustments to Social Security to control the cost. All of this, including great stats from Deann to bolster and add to the conversation.  Tune in and ta

In a recent article in Kiplinger, Chris Abeyta explains how your retirement journey breaks down into three phases. Phase 2: “The Retirement Hazard Zone,” are the four to five years right after turning the pivotal age of 59-1⁄2. According to Abeyta, this is the time to take action to protect your nest egg from significant losses while still growing it. Part of the equation deals with the reality that for some, they need to take income from their portfolio. For others, it’s about the need for greater preservation as their mindsets have changed. For a few, it’s about strategic allocation and utilizing diversification to its maximum potential while limiting downside risk in a volatile market environment. Regardless of where you fall, we will discuss the why and how of the three phases of your retirement journey. Next, Heidi will cover a very timely article from Andy Ives of the Ed Slott team about what and how to deal with a retirement account when an owner dies. As a beneficiary, we’ll discuss the steps you wi

How many times have you heard the phrase, “Talk is cheap”? We even alluded to this on last week’s show regarding the market’s response to Fed Chair Jeremy Powell’s proclamation that rates would begin to rise at the Fed’s July meeting on the 25th and 26th. On this week’s show, we’ll continue to discuss the rate environment and its impact on the economy. Why? Because the implications are very important and dynamically changing. What camp are we in? Currently, we agree with Simon White of Bloomberg who recently had this to say: “Rising global rate expectations are likely to be disappointed as slowing inflation significantly tightens real rates through the rest of the year, allowing central banks to deliver fewer rate hikes than predicted.” Currently, the stock and bond markets appear to be signaling this very outcome, and we think this continues to be a great subject to stay on top of with you, our listening audience! Heidi will also discuss the difference between Treasury Bills and Bonds and the two critical

So, you’d like to retire? Before taking the plunge, there’s a lot you need to think about. What are the common and not so common issues and financial hurdles for pre-retirees and retirees alike? What are the steps to consider or adjustments you have to make to move the needle in your direction in the face of a volatile economic environment? We’ll discuss these issues and more as we review several articles giving insight from the financial standpoint as well as practical input from our many years spent with clients and pondering these very same issues.  Next, Heidi will review and discuss this month’s Social Security Advisor article titled, “Harsh Reality: Americans Do Not Understand Social Security.” Many stats and results will follow pointing up the importance of understanding the impacts, inflation and the financial benefits of learning more about you and your loved ones’ options for taking Social Security benefits. Last, Deann will take us into the stats side to continue the conversation and shed more li

Have you ever felt the need to know more? Like you’re missing out on crucial news and information … especially for your financial well-being? While this can sound like a tall order, today’s show will be all about giving you the current, prevailing economic conditions. While we can only guess where the resultant markets might lead, we can glean more information to help in our decision making. We’ll discuss some of the current stats and information that you probably haven’t heard or perhaps even been able to process. Heidi will also review recent article in which workers are claiming they’ll need more than $1 million to retire comfortably. Workers are scrambling to make that figure a reality, and we will discuss how you might achieve that goal. And Deann will have plenty of stats to bolster this and add to the storyline. Tune in and take control!

Whether it’s by phone, email or text message, it seems like the number of scam artists out there trying to get your money or personal information is at epidemic proportions. And thinking that “this only happens to the older set” could not be further from the truth … no one is immune. Another issue we’ve heard from our connections in the banking sector is that those taken in by these scams are utterly embarrassed and, as such, are unwilling to discuss this issue and allow the education one gets from others with similar life experiences. Today, we’ll discuss the scam explosion that’s occurring and how to protect yourself. We’re on a mission to inform and expose this terrible crime foisted on so many. And the confusion and complexity of today’s financial world doesn’t help matters either. We’ll discuss not only the fact set surrounding how today’s very sophisticated scams occur, but also the psychological attitudes that surround the experience of those while they are in these situations to shed as much light as

There has been a lot of press lately about the future of AI, or Artificial Intelligence. Understandably, most are concerned about its impact on our lives – historically, socially and economically. Regarding investments, how do we navigate the companies involved in this advancing technology? What are some of the possible dangers that will be part of our new world. Some have likened this new technological revolution to the impact the railroads had on our nation about 150 years ago. The question always becomes, “Should I be worried?” and “What are the opportunities?” While we can never know all the dangers associated, on today’s show we’ll discuss what AI is, how it works and what it might mean to us. We’ll also discuss the companies involved that we are aware of and the opportunity they have in this new environment. Next (and you heard it here first!) Nathan will explain why the Roth IRA may not always be a good idea. Given that we are always talking up Roth accounts, you might be surprised at this! Lastly, De

You may have heard the song “If” by the ’70s group Bread. The beginning lyrics are: “If a picture paints a thousand words, then why can’t I paint you? The words will never show the you I’ve come to know.” Unfortunately, we can’t even come close to turning a traditional IRA into a ballad, but we can perhaps help you to soar a bit higher than you thought possible by using the most highly taxed account you own for a higher purpose: charitable giving. In essence, how could you leverage a highly taxable asset to do the good you can help others accomplish more readily than you can on your own? On today’s show, we’ll discuss an article Dennis wrote for Ed Slott’s newsletter called “Why Leaving an IRA to Charity Makes Sense.” We’ll review all the benefits and options for gifting some or all your IRA to charity. Then Heidi will follow with Vanguard’s outlook for financial markets and their perspective on everything from inflation to markets here and around the world. Deann, of course, will include stats to keep the

On today’s show, we’re diving into all things Roth IRA. Heidi will discuss the benefits of a Roth conversion, including a benefit most of us haven’t considered, a conversion as a gift to your beneficiaries. We will compare the possible outcome for traditional IRA beneficiary versus the possible outcome for Roth IRA beneficiary, so you can determine what’s best for you and your loved ones. Heidi will also cover some intriguing questions and helpful answers regarding inherited Roth IRA RMDs. This is timely and helpful information for those who might inherit a Roth IRA someday. We welcome Nathan Prout to the show! He will be sharing the basics about annuities and how they can fit into an IRA. You’ll find the information helpful in determining whether an annuity is right for you. And Deann will offer us many pertinent stats related to the current economy and you! So, tune in and take control!

While we often discuss the financial realities of retirement and generating income or growth in an efficient manner while being aware of tax and other risks, we very rarely discuss the emotional aspects of retiring which, of course, can be huge. Are you ready to leave your career for something new and unchartered? Have you allowed yourself the time and preparation to prepare for the non-financial aspects of retirement? We have lots of great questions and areas to shed light on your situation, whether you are thinking of retiring or already retired. Also, Heidi will cover the details of HSA plans for pre- and post-retirees who have access to this significant tax-advantaged account. And Deann will offer us many pertinent stats related to the current economy and you! Tune in and take control!

You’ve heard of settling an estate from the attorney’s perspective. Today, we’ll discuss settling an estate from a financial advisor’s perspective. Settling an estate involves much more than merely settling assets. Generally, it also includes filing the last will and testament, paying bills and taxes, filing the deceased’s final tax returns, distributing property and filing the final account. We will discuss what typically is the biggest dollar item in the estate and the mechanics involved in handling it. Our goal is to help you save time, money (potentially thousands of dollars in taxes) and, of course, stress. Given the complexity of today’s accounts, their tax benefits as well as other cost of disbursal, this is information you will want to know! Also, Heidi will share updates on Social Security, and Deann will provide the stats related to estates to help us along!  Tune in and take control!

Market gyrations are always unnerving, and today’s markets are no exception. Today, we’re going to discuss Fed Chairman Jay Powell’s recent quotes from his Jackson Hole, Wyoming speech and why we think the stock market responded as it did. Though the reality of the world in which we live is ever-changing, we can, at the same time, discuss what you can do about it, as well as consider why these are especially important times to make changes. We’re all trying to save money for a future goal or set of goals. Helping you (and us) remember or think more clearly about what that goal is will be an important part of our program this week. As we enter school season, Heidi will be comparing 529 plans vs. Roth IRAs as a tool for funding our children’s education costs, and how these tools can work for both you and for them. Deann will have the stats of the week, too, to add to the mix! Tune in and take control!