Episodes

Are you making the most of your IRAs to secure a bigger, bolder retirement? In this installment of The Retirement Engineer, Jim Kruzan CFP®, CRPC® dives into the world of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), uncovering the most common pitfalls that could derail your retirement savings. From the evolution of IRAs to innovative strategies for maximizing your retirement nest egg, this episode is packed with real-life stories and insights. Whether you’re an early career professional or nearing ret...

The threat of cybercrime and identity theft looms larger than ever, posing a significant risk to individuals’ financial security, especially as they approach retirement. This week, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, welcomes Jeff Lanza, a retired FBI agent with a wealth of experience in cyber security. Together, they dive into the critical and ever-evolving topic of cybercrime, which has become increasingly significant in our digital world. Jeff shares stories and guides us through identifying cyber threa...

Caring for an aging loved one is by no means an easy feat. Whether it is you, another family member, or an industry professional who is the one taking the wheel, we want to ensure they receive the care they deserve. In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, dives deep into the heart of family caregiving with returning guest Becky Eizen from Eizen Consulting Group, LLC. Together, they tackle the intricate world of long-term care, sharing personal experiences and helpful advice along the way. Beck...

Are you or a loved one facing the realities of aging? This week on The Retirement Engineer, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, is joined by Becky Eizen, founder and CEO of the Eizen Consulting Group. Together, they navigate the often-overlooked aspects of elder care. They explore the critical role of geriatric care managers and how to identify the early signs of aging while shedding light on the significance of involving loved ones in care discussions. By offering a deep look into the various forms of dem...

 Charitable giving not only feels good and leaves a positive impact on the world, but it can also provide financial advantages for retirees. In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, uncovers multiple strategies to weave charitable giving into your retirement and estate planning. Whether you want to maximize your tax benefits or leave a lasting legacy, get ready to learn how to make the most of your contributions and amplify your impact. Jim discusses: Biggest motivations to integrate charitab...

Are you passionate about making a difference? In light of Giving Tuesday and our 10th annual One Warm Coat Drive, we are taking a break from financial topics to discuss how to create a positive impact on people’s lives! In this heartwarming episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, is joined by Beth Amodio, president and CEO of One Warm Coat. They shed light on the importance of charitable giving, the joy it brings, and how One Warm Coat is driving nationwide impact — sharing warmth one coat at a time. ...

Between 50 and 72, there are significant birthdays that can impact your retirement finances. These age-based milestones can help you grow your retirement nest egg, avoid financial penalties, withdraw your retirement funds early, and more! In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, highlights seven legislative birthdays that every retiree or soon-to-be retiree should circle on their calendars. By the episode’s end, you’ll realize why planning your retirement cash flows is crucial before these mile...

Imagine a retirement where you’re free from the fear of rising, and sometimes unexpected, medical bills. In a world of ever-rising healthcare costs, a solid understanding of Medicare is a necessity! In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, unravels the intricacies of Medicare and paves the path for a more simplified Medicare experience. Whether you’re a decade away from retirement or just around the corner, you’ll learn actionable insights to save stress, time, and money. Jim discusses: The di...

Picture this: You’ve crafted the perfect retirement plan. You’ve dreamt about it, and it’s finally here. But then, life throws you a curveball. Suddenly, your well-laid path takes an unexpected detour! Even the most carefully crafted plans must adapt to changing circumstances. In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, shares practical strategies to get your retirement back on track. Jim discusses: Signs that your retirement may be off track Budgeting strategies to cut unnecessary expenses witho...

“When should I start taking Social Security?” “Can I claim spousal benefits? If yes, how much?” “How will my Social Security income be taxed?” These are some of the questions that many retirees (and soon-to-be retirees) struggle with! In this eye-opening episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explains the top five Social Security filing mistakes to avoid and how to make well-informed decisions that can potentially make or break your retirement! Jim discusses: Benefits of delaying Social Security unt...

Do you know what makes or breaks your retirement? The assumptions and financial choices that might seem trivial at first, but have a significant impact later down the road! In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, highlights 7 common retirement planning mistakes, drawing on decades of experience as a financial advisor. He also shares actionable ideas to avoid those mistakes. Jim discusses: How to budget for retirement without giving up the little joys in life Why you should never underestimate...

How can you save for retirement if you don’t know how much money you’ll need? It’s time to calculate your financial finish line so you don’t run out of money during retirement! In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, shares easy-to-follow methods and rules of thumb to estimate your retirement expenses and income — and what to do if you have no idea where to begin. Jim discusses: Key points to discuss with your spouse about your “dream retirement” Why you should categorize your retirement expe...

Did you know that the average cost of college in the United States is a staggering $35,551 per student per year, including books, supplies, and daily living expenses? That’s a hefty price tag that can leave many parents and students feeling overwhelmed. In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explores the world of 529 plans and how they can help fund your child’s education while prioritizing your retirement savings. Jim shares how these plans offer flexibility, with options for prepaid tuition...

Have you ever heard about the Health Savings Account (HSA) used in retirement planning? Simply put, if a 401(k) and a Roth IRA were to produce an offspring, it would be the HSA — because of its unique tax advantages that gives you the best of both accounts! In this insightful episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, makes a compelling case for Health Savings Accounts, especially when 401(k) plans have long been hailed as the go-to option for retirement. He explains how HSAs can help you achieve a bigge...

How much money do you need to have access to wealth management? In a world where wealth seems synonymous with exclusivity, it’s time to shatter the misconception that wealth management is reserved for the affluent few! In this eye-opening episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, empowers individuals at every stage of life to make informed decisions about their financial future, whether it’s planning for retirement, funding higher education, or conquering debt. Jim discusses: The invaluable power of ac...

Many people overlook relationship management in retirement planning, but it plays a crucial role in our Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula. In fact, we see it as the glue that holds the entire retirement planning process together! As we wrap up our thought-provoking mini-series, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, highlights the profound impact of nurturing meaningful connections and unveils key strategies for leveraging relationships to unlock an extraordinary retirement experience. Jim discusses: The sign...

In our previous episode, we talked about two key components of advanced planning, which is a crucial part of the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula. Now, it’s time to dive into wealth protection and charitable giving! In part three of our mini-series, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explains how to preserve your hard-earned wealth through a host of risk mitigation strategies. He also shares tools and tactics to make your charitable giving more tax-efficient. Jim discusses: Five types of risk mitigation ...

A critical piece of the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula is advanced planning. Advanced planning includes wealth enhancement, wealth transfer, wealth protection, and charitable giving. In part two of our mini-series, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explains ways to enhance your wealth outside of investment management and transfer it to your loved ones in a tax-efficient manner. Jim discusses: How to effectively mitigate your taxes over your lifetime (and not just in the near future!) How to use cash f...

A Bigger, Bolder Retirement is the sum of investment management, advanced planning, and relationship management. (We call it the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula!) In part one of our three-part series, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, dives into the investment management aspect of the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula and explains how capital growth and preservation can lead to greater experiences and opportunities in retirement. Jim discusses: How to reduce your total tax liability in retirement using ...

In the first three episodes, we introduced the idea of a bigger, bolder retirement, which involves “supersizing” your retirement — more assets, more opportunities, and more enjoyment. Now, it is time to lift the hood and understand the mechanics of a bigger, bolder retirement! In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explains how to improve your retirement income and generate better cash flow using the Bigger, Bolder Retirement Formula. Jim discusses: Strategies to improve your pension, Social...

At Kaydan Wealth Management, we specialize in providing advice and services to the mobility technology industry. But how is retirement planning different for this niche? Find out in this episode, as Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, Senior Wealth Advisor and Founder of Kaydan Wealth Management, talks about Kaydan Wealth Management’s customized retirement planning experience for engineers, scientists, and other professionals in the mobility technology industry. Jim discusses: What compelled him to choose...

You deserve the retirement you’ve worked hard for, sacrificing your time and money. With small changes over time, it may be possible to significantly improve your retirement experience and achieve a bigger, bolder retirement! In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, Senior Wealth Advisor and Founder of Kaydan Wealth Management, talks about the idea of “supersizing” your retirement — more assets, more opportunities, and more enjoyment. Jim discusses: How a McDonald’s drive-through experience sp...

Wealth management is not just for the wealthy. Everyone is entitled to their best retirement possible. Welcome to The Retirement Engineer — Your path to a Bigger, Bolder Retirement. In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, Senior Wealth Advisor and Founder of Kaydan Wealth Management, shares how his new podcast series is set to help people maximize their resources and engineer their best retirement. Jim discusses: What motivated him to enter the financial industry 40 years ago His professional...

Wealth management is not just for the wealthy. Everyone is entitled to their best retirement possible. Welcome to The Retirement Engineer with Jim Kruzan – Your Path to a Bigger, Bolder Retirement, brought to you by Kaydan Wealth Management, a firm that specializes in serving the mobility technology industry. In this podcast, we help you maximize your resources and engineer your best retirement through a process-driven approach, so you can get the little things right. Drawing from years of exper...