The Retirement Engineer with Jim Kruzan - Your Path to a Bigger, Bolder Retireme

Have you ever looked at the stock market and wondered why it seems to tell a completely different story than your own finances? When headlines point to economic strength but everyday expenses keep rising, it’s natural to question which picture reflects reality. In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explains why economic data and personal financial experience don’t always move together. He explores how inflation, interest rates, corporate profits, consumer confidence, and market behavior each

Have you ever wondered why your taxes or Medicare costs seem to increase even when tax rates haven’t changed? Small planning decisions can have a much bigger financial impact than many retirees realize. In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explains five often overlooked tax rules that can quietly increase retirement costs over time. He breaks down Medicare premium surcharges, Social Security taxation, payroll taxes, home sale capital gains, and the hidden impact of income thresholds that ha

Many people are saving consistently, yet still feel uncertain about their future. What if the issue is not how much you’ve saved, but how well everything works together? In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, introduces a Retirement Readiness Report developed by his team at Kaydan Wealth Management, designed to bring all the moving pieces of a financial plan into one clear view. He explains why clarity matters more than accumulation alone, and how disconnected accounts, tax exposure, and with

Retirement is rarely one long, predictable stretch. Spending, priorities, and daily life can shift more than many people expect, which is why a more realistic framework can make planning feel less stressful. What if the real challenge is not just having enough money, but knowing when and how to use it well? In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explains why retirement should be viewed in three chapters instead of one flat timeline. He breaks down the go-go, go-slow, and later years, showing

What’s the real cost of education when your retirement is on the line? In part two of this series, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, breaks down the financial tradeoffs hidden in today’s education planning landscape from brand-new Trump Savings Accounts to long-term student loan debt, and how poorly timed withdrawals could sabotage your retirement timeline. With decades of experience guiding families through these complex intersections, Jim offers clear insight into what to prioritize, how to help protec

For many families, education and retirement happen on the same financial timeline. The dollars that help a child chase their dreams can just as easily be the dollars that shape your future. That’s why recent education reforms deserve your attention, whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or planning for your own education journey. In part one of this special two-part series, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explores how the new “One Big Beautiful Bill” reshapes education funding and why it matters for yo