Episodes

When markets turn volatile, clients often start calling with questions and seeking answers. How you handle these conversations often determines whether clients stay the course or make emotional decisions that can hurt their long-term outcomes. Join host Kalem Mackey, CFP®, BPC, Executive Vice President and Partner at C2P, as he sits down with Stoyan Petev, Senior Vice President of Advanced Markets at C2P, and Mark Peterson, Director of BlackRock's Market and Portfolio Insights team, for an hones...

The retirement tax landscape has fundamentally shifted, and what once served as powerful wealth-building tools have now become potential financial landmines. Discover why America's IRA expert Ed Slott calls traditional retirement accounts "the worst assets on Earth" and learn the strategic moves advisors need to make before it's too late. Join host Dave Alison as he sits down with Ed Slott, CPA and founder of Ed Slott and Company, to explore how the SECURE Act transformed retirement planning and...

Women are living longer than ever with women outliving men by an average of five years, and half of all widows over 65 outliving their husbands by an additional 15 years.* This longevity creates unique planning challenges, as women face extended healthcare costs and a widening health-span gap. Join host Kirsten Schlumbohm, Vice President and Head of Annuity Sales at C2P, and panelists Ashley Ilardo, Regional Director and Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors, and Tiya Stanley, VP of Nation...

The Bucket Plan® strategy — a time-segmented approach that organizes assets into Now, Soon, and Later buckets — can provide both financial security and psychological confidence for clients, especially when in a volatile market environment. Join guest host Kalem Mackey, CFP®, BPC, Executive VP at C2P, as he interviews Dave Alison, Founding Partner of C2P and CEO of Alison Wealth Management, to discover how to create "Bucket Plans of Steel" that withstand major market uncertainty. Whether you're a...

Life insurance is often misunderstood, mismanaged, and mis-sold, yet it remains one of the most powerful tools in comprehensive financial planning. Join host Dave Alison as he interviews Dave Buckwald, founder and CEO of OneTeam Financial and partner at C2P, who shares his deeply personal journey shaped by the tragic events of 9/11. With over 30 years of experience guiding individuals, families, and business owners through comprehensive financial planning, Dave Buckwald reveals how to overcome c...

Upgrade your retirement planning with strategies built for longer lifespans. Join host Kirsten Schlumbohm, Vice President and head of Annuity Sales at C2P, as she interviews Jeannette Bajalia, a senior wealth manager at JL Smith Holistic Wealth Management with nearly two decades of experience specializing in elder care life transition planning. Learn how Jeannette adapted the traditional three-bucket approach of The Bucket Plan® to include a fourth bucket specifically allocated for healthcare pl...

Most financial advisory firm owners plan on an internal succession, but many delay the planning process, losing out on substantial profits and time saved both immediately and in the long run. Host Kirsten Schlumbohm, BPC, Vice President of Annuity Sales at C2P, and special guest, Kathryn, “Kem” Taylor, CBEC™, consultant at FP Transitions, team up to discuss the critical topic of timely succession planning. From G1 (founders) to G2 (next-generation owners) and even G3 advisors, they cover the cha...

How can advisors better support women in achieving financial confidence—especially during times of transition? Join host Kirsten Schlumbohm, Vice President and Head of Annuity Sales at C2P, for a heartfelt and tactical discussion with Grace Nicholson, founder of Akamai Advisors, and Lisa Chenet, financial fiduciary and advisor at CLP Financial Group. Together, they share practical strategies for guiding women through financial planning using The Bucket Plan®. From building clarity and confidence...

Do your clients call in a panic when the market drops, ready to abandon their long-term strategy based on the day’s headlines? In this episode, hosts, Dave Alison and Jason L Smith, reveal their proven playbook for turning market volatility from a practice threat into a potential growth opportunity. Discover how The Bucket Plan® gives clients the confidence to stay the course during uncertain times while creating natural openings for referrals and new assets. Listen as Jason shares real-world ex...

In this timely episode, host Dave Alison sits down with Dr. Apollo Lupescu, a 21-year veteran of Dimensional Fund Advisors, to address pressing investor concerns during periods of economic transition and policy change. From the potential impact of tariff policies to the concentration risk of tech giants, their conversation offers clear insights for financial advisors to help their clients navigate market volatility. Dr. Lupescu offers a balanced perspective on inflation expectations, global dive...

Discover how simplifying your language can lead to better client outcomes and practice growth. In this episode, host Dave Alison, is joined by Greg Hammer, President and CEO of Hammer Financial Group, who shares his expertise in client communication developed over his 20+ years in the industry. Hear how Hammer uses The Bucket Plan® to translate complex financial concepts into clear, relatable language that resonates with his clients. Tune in to learn practical language techniques that will help ...

Discover how to help your clients navigate the complex world of equity compensation and stock options with guidance from Greg Dillon, Principal and founding partner at OneTeam Financial and C2P Partner. Host Dave Alison explores critical strategies for leveraging stock options, managing tax implications, and avoiding common pitfalls that can cost clients millions in unnecessary taxes. Learn to distinguish between Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), Incentive Stock Options (ISOs), Non-Qualified Stock ...

Discover the crucial role of life insurance in financial planning, especially for high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals. In this episode, our guest host, Kirsten Schlumbohm, Vice President, Head of Annuity Sales at C2P, sits down with Stoyan Petev, CFA, CFP®, CLU, ChFc, Senior Vice President of Advanced Markets at C2P, and Walter C. Young III, national speaker and author. While Petev discusses life insurance as an asset class, estate equalization strategies, and premium financing, ...

Divorce made simple sounds like an oxymoron but it’s possible with financial and emotional guidance! Host Kirsten Schlumbohm lets special guest, Amy Colton, MBA, CDFA, financial advisor and CEO and founder of Your Divorce Made Simple, explain how in this comprehensive episode. Amy shares her journey from the technology and aesthetics industries to becoming a financial advisor and divorce mediator. Passionate about advocating for women, she discusses the unique challenges women face during major ...

As a financial advisor, planning for your clients' futures is second nature—but what about the future of your own business? Join guest host Kirsten Schlumbohm, Vice President, Head of Annuity Sales at C2P, as she welcomes father-daughter financial advisory duo Tim Bogart, CLU, CHFC, LIC, AIF®, and, Betsy Larson, WMCP®, BPC of Comprehensive Planning Strategies. Together, they discuss their real-world experience in multi-generational succession planning. They share the lessons learned, the steps t...

Discover how to transform Social Security planning from a basic retirement checkbox into a powerful strategic asset for your clients. Join host Dave Alison, CFP®, EA, BPC, President of Prosperity Capital Advisors and Alison Wealth Management, as he sits down with Ash Ahluwalia, CFP®, MBA, NSSA®, CSSCS, head of Social Security planning at OneTeam Financial, for a discussion on advanced Social Security optimization techniques. Learn why maximization isn't always the answer and how to integrate Soc...

As technology continues to evolve faster than we can keep up with, cyber-fraud threats evolve with it. Join host Matt Seitz, Chief Marketing Officer at C2P for an insightful discussion with Carrie Kerskie, author, and president of Kerskie Group LLC, on protecting sensitive client data and preventing digital fraud. As a licensed private investigator providing identity fraud and cyber threat risk management services, Carrie shares practical strategies for safeguarding client information and identi...

Want to spot tax-saving opportunities your competitors miss? Looking to stay ahead of tax law changes without getting overwhelmed? Join host Kalem Mackey, Executive Vice President at C2P, and guests, Dave Alison, CFP®, EA, BPC, President of Prosperity Capital Advisors and Alison Wealth Management, and Scott Kaup, CFP®, head of Kaup’s Financial Advisors, Inc., as they break down the benefits of staying sharp with your tax management expertise. Learn practical ways to turn complex tax strategies i...

In this episode of the Bucket Plan On-Demand Podcast, Dave Alison, CFP®️, EA, BPC, President and Founding Partner of C2P Enterprises, sits down with Dr. Daniel Crosby, Chief Behavioral Officer at Orion. They discuss Dr. Crosby's presentation "The Mind and the Market" and dive into how advisors think, how to help clients navigate the volatility in the market, and how to manage and maximize their investments. Dave and Dr. Crosby also discuss the behavioral aspect of The Bucket Plan and how emotion...

Only 36% of Generation Z consider themselves financially literate. Fortunately, there are resources and programs available for these younger generations to improve their net worth and avoid the pitfalls that come from a lack of financial education and guidance. Join guest host Kirsten Schlumbohm, Vice President, Head of Annuity Sales at C2P, with guest Joe'Mar Hooper, CEO of 3rd Decade, as they explore an innovative approach to serving young adults through financial education and mentorship. Lea...

In a market flooded with conflicting investment advice, how do you deliver portfolio strategies your clients can trust? Join host Jason L Smith and special guest Dr. Apollo Lupescu, Vice President of Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), for an insightful discussion on investment fundamentals and market dynamics. Informally known as the "Secretary of Explaining Stuff," Lupescu breaks down complex investment concepts into actionable insights, from global diversification to the psychology of market tim...

For many women, Social Security represents their largest retirement asset. Join host Kirsten Schlumbohm and guests Ash Ahluwalia, CFP®, MBA, NSSA®, CSSCS, head of Security Planning at OneTeam Financial, and Julie Manning, RICP®, CFF, a top advisor at C2P and the founder and CEO of Keystone Wealth Management, as they unveil essential strategies for maximizing Social Security benefits for women. Learn practical approaches for incorporating Social Security planning into your practice, discover valu...

Discover how leading financial advisors are revolutionizing their estate planning services with the Wealth.com platform and technology. Join host, Kalem Mackey, CFP®, BPC, to learn successful implementation strategies and client outcomes from guests, Sarah Soria, CFP®, CEO of Encompass Financial Planning, Anthony “Tony” Engrassia, LUTCF®, NSSA®, CFF ®, Owner of Wealth Management Strategies, and Dave Alison, CFP®, EA, BPC, President of Prosperity Capital Advisors and Alison Wealth Management. Lea...

Discover how leveraging simple analogies and relatable examples can transform your client communication and help prospects better understand the value of financial planning. Join host Dave Alison as he sits down with Greg Hammer, CEO and President of Hammer Financial Group, as they break down core communication strategies essential to implementing The Bucket Plan® process effectively. Resources: The Bucket Plan® book The Bucket Plan® audiobook The Bucket Plan® 1.0Training The Bucket Plan® ...