Macon Money Podcast

We are excited to have Steve Lopez as our guest today. Steve is a journalist for the LA Times and is about to release a new book on retirement. We feel that a lot of what Steve writes about will resonate with our listeners. Steve found himself facing a fork in the road: To retire, or not to retire? This fork in the road led him to write ‘Independence Day: What I Learned About Retirement from Some Who’ve Done It and Some Who Never Will’. During this journey, he spent a year interviewing people who had various experiences with retirement. Listen as he shares what he learned as he wrote his new book.   Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show: Here you can learn about navigating life as an ‘empty nester’. (10:33) Here are Steve’s thoughts on claiming Social Security early. (24:24) Navigating your loss of identity in the eyes of others. (33:40)   Preorder Steve's book: https://www.amazon.com/Independence-Day-Learned-About-Retirement-ebook/dp/B09N8RVS42 Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http

We always talk about the money side of financial and retirement planning. But what about the mental aspect of that big life change? Today we’ll break down an article written by a Licensed Professional Counselor (Kate Schroeder) for Psychology Today, titled The Psychological Investment In Retirement.   Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show: Few people consider the consequence of walking away from a life and routine that has likely defined them for decades. (2:51) The author says that research shows the number one thing retirees struggle with is finding consistent, genuine, and lasting meaning. (5:49) Just like saving money, the earlier you start the better… Engage with psychological growth before retirement; it’ll help you find deep and lasting meaning in life. (17:24)   Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithlee.com

Is owning a second home, now considered the American Dream? While it may not be an option for everyone, it seems to be a common goal for more people in the last 5-7 years. In this episode, we are going to go over some of the pros and cons of purchasing a second home. Not only has Lee been asked about purchasing a second home countless times, but he and his wife recently purchased a condo as a vacation home. Listen to hear his experience and see if it may be the right move for you, too.   Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show: Don’t underestimate the amount of time and energy that will go into maintaining your second home. (5:22) Here we discuss the ins and outs of Lee’s experience purchasing a condo as a second home. (10:26) How an HOA factored into his decision-making. (14:22)   Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithlee.com

We’re bombarded with ads each day in all forms of media. But have you ever taken a closer look at these messages? If we unpack some of these headlines and ads a little more, we can clearly understand what emotions they’re trying to elicit. More importantly, we can figure out what companies are trying to sell us. For this episode, we perused the internet for a couple of hours and kept track of various financial planning, investing and retirement ads we came across. Let’s pick apart these messages that popped up and see if it helps us become savvier savers.   Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show: “Invest like the 1%”…does the 1% have access to something we don’t? (2:34) “Secure your future” may sound like a good thing, but there is usually more to it. (8:29) When ads make it seem like the stock market is just a risky gamble. (12:26) “Replace your income for life” might be an ad for an annuity- annuities aren’t bad, but they aren’t for everyone. (17:04)   Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us he

Everyone’s journey to retirement tends to look a lot different, but there are still some fundamentals that everyone needs to pay attention to before taking that leap. You don’t want to be a few years from retirement before you question whether you have covered all your bases. In today’s episode, we will talk about six important steps in the retirement planning process, plus a bonus step that is often overlooked. Don’t leave anything up to chance, and make sure you actually have enough to live off of. Once you are sure you can retire and you finally approach those last days in the workforce, there are a few things you will need to consider preparing for life as a retiree.   Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show: Making sure your numbers add up and you have enough cash flow for retirement. (4:06) Choosing when to claim Social Security and assessing your other sources of income. (6:55) Now that you are sure you can retire, how do you inform your employer? (10:02) Navigating the emotional phases of reti

You’ve most likely heard plenty of “rules” you’re supposed to follow to retire successfully. Some of these rules are stated so confidently, you’d be crazy not to immediately accept them as fact. But we don’t mind the threat of being called crazy, so let’s dive into some of the most popular retirement “rules of thumb” to see if they truly lead us down the path of good financial guidance or run a chance of leading us astray.   Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show: Should you follow the rule of 100 to gauge how much risk you should be taking? (3:20) Is there an appropriate use of life insurance, or can you use it in other ways? (5:38) Should you use debt to build wealth? (8:01) Should I pay off my house early? (11:46)   Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithlee.com

How do you feel about free money? Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Maybe not.   Most people don’t understand that free money isn’t actually free and that someone else’s money is just being spent. Let’s explore what we know about “free” money, income taxes, and some recent changes the government is implementing.   Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show: Here are the three things you should do with the money you earn. (3:33) What happens when the government gives away free money. (7:44) The shocking statistic about who pays income taxes. (8:40) How forgiving student loans will affect taxpayers. (9:58) Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithlee.com

We’re all guilty of putting things off and waiting until it’s absolutely necessary to get them done. We see it all the time when it comes to money.   People have many reasons for procrastinating when it comes to putting a retirement plan together. Let’s explore some of those excuses and why they can be dangerous, and talk about how to overcome them.   Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show: Why you shouldn’t expect your retirement to go like your parents’ did.  (2:36) What to do if financial stuff stresses you out. (6:45) Is being too busy a good reason for putting off your finances? (9:34) What perfectionists can do if they struggle with the constant change in planning? (12:13) Set up a meeting: http://talkwithlee.com

When to claim Social Security is a question that’s been asked as long as the program has been around. The reason why we’re still answering this question is that the strategy will vary for every individual. No matter what you decide, this crucial piece of income planning will certainly be a big part of retirement so you want to get it right. For certain people, claiming as soon as you’re eligible at age 62 is the best option for retirement while others will want to wait as long as possible to maximize the benefit. Today we’ll try to simplify it all and lay out the considerations we go through to help our clients determine whether to delay Social Security or not.   Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show: How to determine what strategy is appropriate for you. (3:35) What’s the first consideration if you need the money but don’t want to claim benefits immediately? (5:28) How to maximize your benefits to get the largest payout. (6:20) Why Lee feels our future health is a primary factor for making the deci

Finding yourself between jobs can be frustrating—whether you were fired, laid off, or just had to step away of your own choosing. But it can also present some opportunities. Let’s discuss some of the challenges and opportunities that you need to consider if you’re between jobs. Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show: Why this might be a great chance to explore a career that you’ve always had an interest in. (2:07) Why some people use this as an opportunity to become their own boss and turn a hobby into a career. (4:13) Do you have a plan for how you’ll cover your health insurance when your employer is no longer paying for it? (6:55) Why you should be thinking about tax planning items that spring up from changing jobs. (13:00) For more, visit us online: http://myretirementclarity.com

On this episode, we’re going to get tax insights from local professional Steven Brewer, CPA, who specializes in working with business owners but is also very knowledgeable when it comes to individual tax planning. Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show: Lee’s first accounting class and why he immediately changed his major. (1:49) Where does Steven see taxes going in the future and how does that impact investing today? (6:00) The tax planning opportunities that most people look including a few specific to Georgia residents. (8:43) What can you do to prepare for the increasing tax environment that we’re in? (12:10) The things that trigger audits and when they typically happen. (17:15) Advice he would give business owners that want to be more proactive. (19:45)   Important Links: Website: myretirementclarity.com/podcast/ Call: 478-254-3550  

Don’t dread this as much as you hated hearing these words as a kid, but it’s time for a pop quiz! We’re putting retirement planning preparedness under the microscope with 5 critical questions to which you need to know the answers. So sharpen those pencils and let’s see how ready you are for retirement.   Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show: Some exciting news about the future of the show (1:51) How much income will you need in retirement compared to how much you’re making while working. (5:42) What’s the biggest fear for most retirees and how planning accounts for that. (8:24) What does a truly diversified portfolio look like and how can you achieve that within your retirement plan.  (12:30)   Hopefully you’ll pick up on something during the quiz that you didn’t know about before, but if you have questions about anything we discussed on the show, please reach out and we’ll be happy to talk to you about your financial situation.   Important Links: Website: myretirementclarity.com/podcast/ Call: 478

The bucket strategy is a commonly used plan when it comes to retirement. This allows you to allocate money for different goals and helps keep you calm when things are looking down. Lee will discuss what each bucket is for, some common investment vehicles for each of them, and how this might benefit you when putting together a plan.   Important Links: Website: myretirementclarity.com/podcast/ Call: 478-254-3550  

The market is down right now and has a lot of people panicking about what to do with their investments. But there are potential opportunities out there if you look closely. On this episode, we give 5 potential strategies you may be able to utilize during this time. Important Links: Website: myretirementclarity.com/podcast/ Call: 478-254-3550

There are plenty of external factors that often negatively influence our chances of having a successful retirement. But often, failure comes from within. On this episode, we’ll talk about some of the common ways people get in their own way when it comes to financial planning. Important Links: Website: myretirementclarity.com/podcast/ Call: 478-254-3550

On this episode of the podcast, we chat with Joe and Suzanne Best. Before retirement, Joe worked as a federal probation officer and Suzanne worked in the public education sector. Once retirement was a reality, they decided to move into a retirement community. We will talk with them about what their experience has been like and what their lifestyle looks like now. Important Links: Website: myretirementclarity.com/podcast/ Call: 478-254-3550

There are certain age milestones where you should really pay attention to your retirement planning progress. On this episode, we’ll look at the most important birthdays as you approach retirement and cover the exact things you should be checking off your to-do list at each age. Important Links: Website: myretirementclarity.com/podcast/ Call: 478-254-3550

Housing is a really important topic for a lot of retirees because, for many of us, it’s the biggest asset we’ll ever own or manage. We want to get that part of our financial equation correct, so it’s no surprise it takes up a nice slice of the retirement planning conversation. On this episode, we’ll cover some common housing questions from retirees and hopefully hit on an issue that might also be on your mind. Important Links: Website: myretirementclarity.com/podcast/ Call: 478-254-3550

When it comes to your money, you might have several different voices in your head— maybe the voice of greed, or the voice of fear, and sometimes the voice of wisdom. Let’s look at some things we might hear from the voice of greed so you know how to recognize it when you hear it… Important Links: Website: myretirementclarity.com/podcast/ Call: 478-254-3550

After listening to today’s episode, you’ll never attend another baseball game with the family and look at it the same way. We’re going to show you how taking some of baseball’s most basic principles can also lead to financial success in your retirement portfolio. So, grab your peanuts and crackerjacks and let’s take the financial field. Important Links: Website: myretirementclarity.com/podcast/ Call: 478-254-3550