If you've put together a little bit of money, or you have a regular stream of income, it's reasonable to be concerned about protecting those assets from lawsuits or other types of liability. Today, John explains some of the simple steps you can...
Devin and John talk about assigning people to act for you, and picking good stocks for your investments. First, Brenda has a question about naming a successor trustee for a trust she has set up. In many kinds of legal and estate planning documents,...
Dr. Brandon Renfro, a PhD in behavioral economics, talks about bonds: When they're right for you and when they should be reconsidered. Brandon does a great job of explaining different types of bonds, why they are considered a good investment, and how...
Social Security is an important source of income for older Americans, but it can also provide many benefits beyond retirement income. Life is full of risks, and Social Security helps provide some income for those who have faced these situations. Think...
There are few things worse than getting involved in a financial scam. Unfortunately, there are always some people who will abuse their professional status, and use their knowledge to rip people off. How can you avoid being scammed? Things to look for...
Listener Questions: Rob asks about sending the distributions from an Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA) to a charity. John discusses a couple of different scenarios and explains the possible tax benefits. He also includes ideas for...
Women often have different financial needs than men, and even more when there has been a change in their marital situation. This week, Devin and John talk with Russ Thorton of . Russ works with financial planning for women, with a particular...
Many current retirees have a background of military service. Benefits from military service can become a big part of the retirement planning picture, but it can be hard to know what benefits are available and how you can use them. In this...
So you find yourself retiring in a second marriage? This week’s episode is full of useful information and fascinating stories about one of the most complicated family situations: Second marriages. There is so much to consider: Social Security...
John shares the stories of when, and why, you would disinherits a spouse. Devin gives advice to Kim who wants to know how to say “no” to her adult children’s request for money. For more great advice about how to avoid BIG MISTAKES when planning...
We are half way through the year and it's time to review the market performance with Andrew Comstock from . Market Snapshot: DOW (DJI) opened at 20,665.17 on April 3, 2017 and closed at 21,287.03 on June 29, 2017. The S&P opened at 2,362.34 on...
, financial editor of NBC's Today show, discusses her new book “AgeProof” about balancing your health and your wealth. She shares some habits that can help you thrive, both financially and physically. Teamwork: Working with a partner can...
Social Security benefits are confusing - even for those who work at the SS Office. Often, the person looking for advice is unsure of what information the SS Office needs - or how to communicate it to them. Nancy tells her story of being denied for...
Death is never a pleasant topic. What is less pleasant is passing away suddenly with no planning in place and no way to help your family transition through the process. John walks us through 5 things to do after someone dies: What to do prior to...
Did you know that a copy of a will may not hold up in Probate? John talks about the need to keep an original copy of the will up-to-date and in a safe place. Devin is asked if buying a rental property in retirement is a better idea than investing in...
Steve Chen created a retirement planning calculator that anyone can use. The inspiration came from personal experience. His mom needed help at retirement - but she didn't have enough assets to work with most financial planners. Steve from...
Recessions and market declines are going to happen. What are the lessons we can learn from the Tech Bubble of 2000's and the Great Recession of 2008? Devin shares the 5 lessons he learned during the two most recent market declines while being a...
Non-Probate Transfers, Trusts, and how the Beneficiary Designation trumps any wishes you express in your Will. These are just a few of the things you NEED to understand so you can avoid making a major mistake with your estate planning. For more...
Linda and her husband have been raising their grandchildren since birth. Both of the children’s parents are alive. Do the grandchildren qualify for Social Security? Clyde asks if there is any situation where you would roll an IRA into a 401k?...
Experience is a great teacher. David Waldrop has more than 15 years of experience, the same as John and I. He comes on to share stories from his history - and how human emotions come into play when making investing decisions. For more information on...
In Part 1 we covered credits, earnings limits, and more. In this episode we finish the series by talking about: Length of marriage rules Spousal Benefits vs Survivor Benefits How you are taxed on social security benefits and more. If you haven’t...
Part 1 in a 2-part series about what you need to know about Social Security. For more information, or to have a conversation with Devin Carroll or John Ross, visit
Wanda wrote in to ask why she shouldn’t add a child to her checking account? Brenda retired from a company that offers a pension. She asks if it would be better to take the pension in a stream of payments or as a lump sum. Have a question? Send them...
Can we expect 3 rate increases this year? What could that mean for the market - or our savings? Andrew Comstock, Chief Investment Officer for , joins us again to recap the market's performance from the first quarter of 2017. Market Snapshot: DOW (DJI)...