Our 2 Cents – Episode #122 The Financial Truths in Grandma’s Wisdom You’ve probably heard these expressions and idioms at some point in your life, perhaps from a wise Grandmother even, but today we’re looking at them through a financial lens. But before we do that, we’re diving into a bit of a “smorgasbord” of current events in the investing world. Smorgasbord What to make of the recent CPI and inflation data What this could mean for the possibility of […]

Our 2 Cents – Episode #121 Year-End Planning Checklist The year is wrapping up and it’s got us thinking about 10 somewhat nerdy, but ultimately important, “end-of-year planning” tasks to put on your radar. Then we’re tackling two listener questions about life insurance! Year-End Planning Checklist: Observe the impacts of sequence of returns, if you’re taking income Double check your planned retirement date to confirm if it is still realistic Calculate your withdrawal rate percentage Review CARES Act distributions and […]

Our 2 Cents – Episode #120 Retirement Fact or Fiction Welcome back to a new episode of the Our 2 Cents podcast! This week, Gabriel puts Steve’s retirement knowledge to the test with a fun game of Retirement Fact or Fiction. Read below for hints at the quiz questions and tune in to see how many Steve gets correct! Retirement Fact or Fiction: An ______ retirement is not realistic for many Relocation is the ______ for retirees It is unlikely […]

Our 2 Cents – Episode #119 Preparing for the Retirement Marathon Inspired by Steve’s recent visit to NYC during the New York City Marathon, we’re looking at preparing for retirement as one would prepare for a marathon. From all the preparation to do in advance of the race, to maintaining a proper pace, and making it to the finish line, we’re covering the entire journey on this week’s podcast episode. Preparing for the Retirement Marathon: Things you do ahead of […]

Our 2 Cents – Episode #118 Is the Grass Greener? This week’s episode of the Our 2 Cents podcast features a thought-provoking topic about making financial decisions and comparing what you’re doing to what else might be out there. Then we answer a couple questions from listeners of ours, and Steve and Gabe are answering an interesting “Get to Know Us” question too. Is the Grass Greener?: Should you be doing something different with your portfolio when the market is […]

Our 2 Cents – Episode #117 Financial Warning Indicators Like the lights that pop up on your car’s dashboard to tell you something is wrong, there are warning signs that can indicate potential trouble in your financial life too. On today’s episode, Steve and Gabriel are discussing things to watch for to spot potential problems ahead. Plus, they’re sharing some quick hits and answering a listener question. Gabriel’s ‘Quick Hits’: Social Security COLA for 2023 is the most since 1981 […]

Our 2 Cents – Episode #116 Sharing Stories: When Emotions Impact Your Planning The gross national debt is inching close to an important statutory ceiling and Steve and Gabriel are here to break down what that all means on this new episode of Our 2 Cents. They’re also sharing real experiences when their clients’ emotions took over the the driver’s seat in their financial planning. $31,000,000,000,000 and Counting: Congress has placed a “cap” on how much the government can borrow, […]

Our 2 Cents – Episode #115 The Rollercoaster Ride We’re back again on the Our 2 Cents podcast! Gabriel and Steve are putting a different spin on talking about recent market behavior by sharing some do’s and don’ts when considering your options. Next, they’re drawing comparisons between the world of retirement planning and America’s favorite sport to watch: Football. The Rollercoaster Ride: What options are available to you as we ride out this rollercoaster market ride? Do nothing? Abandon your […]

Our 2 Cents – Episode #114 What’s Hiding in the Fine Print? On today’s episode of Our 2 Cents, we’re delving in to the world of the fine print, and what hidden or not-so-hidden information you should pay attention to. But before we get to that, we are talking about the interest rate hike we saw last week and the continued efforts to reduce inflation. Three 75-Basis-Point Interest Rate Hikes in a Row: The Fed raised interest rates yet again […]