Smart Money Questions

Episode #60: Legal Documents You Need In Your Retirement Plan

Legal documents are confusing and typically come with a lot of complex vocabulary. Matt sorts through the jargon and explains why they're so important.
 
For detailed show notes, a corresponding blog post, and access to mentioned resources, click this link: http://www.smartmoneyquestions.com/podcastposts/episode-60-legal-documents/

Episode #59: Getting Started: A Financial Plan's First Steps

Putting A financial plan together can be overwhelming. We'll show you how to take the first steps toward getting started.
 
For detailed show notes, a corresponding blog post, and access to mentioned resources, click here.

Episode #58: What Are You Going To Do In Retirement?

Retirement planning requires more than financial preparation. Matt details why it's important to set personal goals in retirement.
For detailed show notes, a corresponding blog post, and access to mentioned resources, click here.

Mailbag: Office Buildings, Whole Life, Financial Empowerment

Some great mailbag questions this week. Saul in Florida wants to know if he should sell off his office building and invest the assets. Marie in Pennsylvania is curious if three whole life policies is too much. Hank in Texas wants to know if he should put all his money in Roth from now on. And Samantha in Maryland's mom has a lot of money at her disposal. But she has no confidence to spend any of it. How can she feel more empowered to use the money without losing it or wasting it? Matt has answers to all of this week's smart money questions.

You Got What?

We've all heard the phrase about having too many cooks in the kitchen. On this podcast, Matt tells us about a time a client revealed to him that they had four different financial advisors. It prompted Matt to say, "You got what?" He'll tell us why having that many advisors can lead you down the wrong path.

The Important Things You Should Know About 401k Rollovers

We often talk about the importance of not leaving a 401k with your old company after you no longer work there. Let’s explore some of the benefits of a 401k rollover, why you might want to move it to an IRA, what the tax implications are and some of the other essential things to consider.

Fear Of Running Out Vs Spending It

Matt gives us another solo podcast. This time, his thoughts are on how to ensure a worry-free retirement where someone can spend for their lifestyle without fear of running out of money.

Mailbag: IRA Losses, Unemployed Conversions, Severance, "Financial Guys"

The mailbag is full of good questions this week. Two of them touch on IRA issues. One person is concerned about recent losses in their portfolio while another is trying to figure out if now's the time to do a Roth conversion while in between careers. Bill might get to stop working a year early. Should he? And a great question from Kent. Should he push his friend in the pool for the financial advice he recently gave him?

Side Thought: Should You Pay Off A Mortgage With An IRA?

Is it possible to pay off your mortgage with the balance of your IRA? Is it wise? Matt talks about a recent situation where this idea was broached. He'll seek to take the emotion out of the conversation and approach the conversation from a logical perspective.

Helping Out With Parents

Matt shares a personal story about having to help his parents through a difficult time. He'll also tell us about some of the scenarios his clients have faced over the years and offer you some ideas on how to best prepare for tough situations you and your parents might face.