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What is rebalancing a portfolio and is it necessary?

You need to take advantage of good years in the market to weather the bad years. Why should you pull back your market exposure now?

A new study shows some advisors are out of touch with their client needs. How do you make sure you and your advisor are on the same page?

While the account balance in your 401(k) or IRA looks good, it’s not the real number you will bring to retirement.

So it’s not your thing to keep up with the latest changes in the tax laws? That’s ok, Bruce is, and it could help your retirement planning.

If women statistically live longer than men, should they have their own portfolio with a higher risk level so their money will last longer?

When asked, “what is your biggest fear about retirement?”, the #1 answer has been the same for many years. But this year, it’s different.

The markets tend to be rocky in the fall, but all the talk of tax hikes may add another layer of uncertainty. Will a market correction damage your retirement lifestyle? Time to do something about it.

Look at how much you have saved. Now imagine your tax bill as that same number. It’s true for many people. Is there something you can do about it?

Here it comes. The plan to pay for all the stimulus spending is taking shape. How long before they come for your retirement money?

When should you start to dip into your 401(k)? Many people are using Uncle Sam’s guidelines when they don’t need to.

There is a point where investors get to in a falling market where they panic and sell everything. How do you determine your "freak-out" factor, and how do you avoid reaching it?

If you want to move towards a “tax free” retirement, how long before you retire should that process begin?

More and more, people in their 60s have looked at the new reality of the workplace OR have found new freedom by working at home. They are now asking, “Can I retire early?”

When do you need financial help? Is it an age? Is it an amount of money? There is an uneasiness right now that could be your cue to see an advisor.

Schwab did a nationwide survey asking, “Where do you need financial help?”

An article in "Market Watch" says that converting your 401(k) money over to a Roth isn’t worth it. Bruce says, “Run the numbers.”

What are the unknowns in your financial life that you are looking to solve? See if they are the same things on our list.

President Biden wants to invest 80 billion dollars in the IRS to beef up their ability to audit and collect taxes. What kind of investment will you make to keep your retirement money?

Why is this the most challenging era ever to plan for retirement?

Could the money you send down to your heirs be taxed at 83 percent? That’s a new proposal in Congress!

There is a proposal to bring the capital gains tax up to your income tax bracket. What would that do to you in retirement?

When your doctor puts you through a stress test, they are looking for failure points. You can do the same with your retirement plan.

Many advisors have a set menu of tools you can use for retirement planning. What if you could order off the menu?

The market is up, and so are the number of new ideas for taxes. Coincidence?

Are you a bargain shopper? Are you always looking for a discount? There are savings to be had in retirement planning, if you know where to look.

There is an incredible amount of new money pouring into stocks. Should that concern us?

A study was done about what the Super Wealthy view as important regarding their money. It might surprise you.

One survey says Americans lose 307 billion dollars a year because of things they don’t know. Are you missing something in your retirement planning?

The 401(k) and the IRA each have their advantages and disadvantages. Let’s put them head to head.

Is your retirement account and its success connected to the market? Is there a need for some diversification?

Is your financial plan built to stand the test of time? Bruce Smith has evaluated many plans at many stages of life. What did he find?

How do you know what time to pull money off the table without being a market timer?

Are you so afraid of losing money that it’s hurting your chances of retirement success? Is there a middle road between too conservative and too risky?

They’ve already taxed your paycheck for Social Security. Can they tax you again? The answer is YES!

People were asked about living to 100. Those who said they didn’t want to, had a very interesting reason.

There are so many different titles of people to help you with your money. How do you know which one is right for you?

Bruce’s new book “The Power of Tax Freedom Planning and Management” will be available soon. Here we discuss the 10 benefits he outlines in the book.  

Bruce is an Ed Slott 'Master Elite Financial Advisor'. What does that mean and why does Ed say you can choose how you want to pay taxes?

When is the best time to take a profit? When there is one. Is this the time to make a decision with your retirement accounts?

Boomers will pass down over 36 trillion dollars over the next 10 years. Who will benefit the most?

A record number of people have a million dollars in their 401k accounts. Although they may not actually be millionaires. Joe Pat Roop explains why and how you can stay closer to that million-dollar mark. 

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The Dow is up 9,000 points since March. How did you do?

Most people pay their taxes on Uncle Sam’s schedule. Is there another way to legally pay fewer taxes in retirement?

They tell you to “pay taxes later” on that 401(k) and IRA. But paying taxes later may also mean paying taxes longer.

In the military, you train during the calm times to be ready during the tough times. Can we say the same thing about retirement planning?

Everyone wants to be a millionaire, right? In retirement there is a number that is more surprisingly important than your account balance.

If you took all your financial data and plugged it into a computer program, can it give you a reliable answer to the question, "Have I saved enough for retirement?"

How many times have you had a moment of discovery and said “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?” It could be a good thing. Like finding a new restaurant. However, it could also be the moment when you discover that an important part of your retirement is missing.

They offered us a 401(k) when the pension went away. When it comes to the tax benefit, one politician wants to change the rules.

You can go with the Government tax plan or a personalized tax plan. Which do you think will keep more money in your pocket?

The IRS says there are billions of dollars people pay every year on taxes that could be saved. How can you avoid that trap?

Paying high taxes used to be a sign of great financial success. But is there something you are missing?

Many pensions are under-funded. To turn the tide, a pension in California is trying to hit new “highs.”.

The 401(k) came along to help those of us who didn’t have pensions. But now that boomers are using it, are there some fatal flaws?

California has a creative way to retrieve the money they paid for pandemic aid. Will it trickle down to the rest of the country?

There’s been a lot of funny moments with Steve Martin over the years, but there’s nothing funny about how one of his routines affects our retirement.

Is Monopoly a game of luck or skill? What about retirement planning? Can you build your financial future on more than just a roll of the dice?

Can you look at your investments and retirement accounts and say, “I’ll just wait until this is over”?

A new survey looked at retirees over more than 20 years and found half of them didn’t have the income they hoped. What happened and how can you avoid it?

Investment Fees pull away at your retirement nest egg. People are getting wise to it and are not happy about it. Is Wall Street starting to listen?

Wealthy people have a tax strategy before the November election. Should you do the same?

Suzi Orman says you’re crazy if you put your money in a 401(k). Have things changed so much that the 401(k) is no longer a good place to save for retirement?

The Chairman of the Fed sees it. Many money managers see it. Why is it that investors can’t see the risk in this market?

Social Security is funded primarily through payroll deductions. What has all the unemployment done to the future of the program?

The bad economic news keeps coming in, but the market keeps going up. How is this possible, and is it a warning sign?

Congress has made sweeping changes in the last 6 months about how you will treat your IRAs and 401(k)s. Is your plan keeping up?

If you are checking your retirement accounts regularly what does that say about you? Is there a way that you can ease some of that anxiety?

Warren Buffett says he’s sitting on billions in cash right now looking for a good place to invest, but can’t find one. What should that say to you?

It’s possible your shopping habits, recreational activities and work environment may be changed forever with Covid-19. One analyst says this will change Capitalism forever.

Having a financial plan means testing for all kinds of ups and downs in the economy. How has your plan fared so far?

Holding a stock because it pays a dividend has been an income strategy for years. But what happens if that company reduces or can no longer pay that dividend?

If what has happened over the last month has put doubt about whether you can retire, now is the time to talk about your financial plan.

You are sheltered at home, watching your retirement money take a huge hit. How do you get help and what do you do?

It may have taken you 5 years to recover your 2008 losses, can we reduce that after this current market drop?

Wall Street flipped a “Circuit Breaker” recently to stop dramatic losses. Do you have a “Circuit breaker” in your portfolio?

The Corona Virus, Super Tuesday, and a surprise cut by the Fed have the market swinging by over 1,000 points a day. If you are close to retirement, do you really want to be on this roller coaster?

Termites work unseen over time and when you discover them they usually have done a lot of damage. Is there something in your retirement plan doing the same thing?

We brought in an article this week that says a good financial advisor goes “Beyond the Basics.” What are the basics, and what should we expect beyond that?

Pick a number…or pick a percentage. Is that the way to figure out how much you can spend each month in retirement?

Those close to retirement, and IN retirement and paying the bulk of taxes in this country. That may come as a surprise for those about to go on a fixed income.

Is there money to be “found” in your portfolio? Bruce talks about how with smarter tax, fee and risk management, there may be money for your retirement that you never knew you had.

What is a stock market melt up and what might be the danger to the retirement saver?

As your 401k balance got bigger in 2019 it probably didn’t change anything about you. But there is someone who views you in a whole different light.

At the end of 2019 Congress passed “The Secure Act.” There are some big changes that you need to know about if you have an IRA or 401k.

It’s common for people to ask, “How much do I need for retirement?” The internet is full of ideas, and those ideas are constantly changing.

You need to sift through the advice you hear on the financial networks to see if it’s right for you. The question is: Is this advice good for anyone getting ready for retirement?

There’s a new study that says of all the services women use, they are most unsatisfied with financial services. Why is that?

I your financial advisor looks at you and says, “You’re gonna be fine,” don’t believe him.

Converting some of your taxable money to tax free money sounds good, but are you a good candidate for this strategy?

What do you think is more dangerous to your retirement: Losses or lower returns?

Bruce weighs in on one of the more outlandish predictions we’ve heard lately, plus the results of your politics influencing your investing.

Fidelity reports a record number of people pulling out of the market and going into CDs. Is this smart, overly cautious, or misguided? Bruce discusses the alternatives with better risk management.

You may not know it but Judge Judy is one of the highest paid women on TV, and we can learn something from her “No BS” approach.

What do you think your biggest retirement expense will be? Will it be food, housing, fun or something else? You might be surprised.

GE announced it is freezing pensions for 20 thousand employees and offering buy out for 100 thousand others. If you are looking forward to a pension check, what do you need to know?

There is always an excuse to avoid talking about your money and planning for the future. Bruce talks to those of you who say: “I don’t have time,” “I don’t understand it,” “I hate it,” “I do it myself,” and “I don’t have enough money to justify a financial advisor.”   

What happens if the year you retire the market takes an ugly turn? Can you prepare for that?

Bruce has told many stories of how he has helped clients increase their potential lifetime retirement benefits by 100 thousand dollars or more. Your question might be the same as many who come into the office. Can it work for me?