Episodes

Charitable donations have tax benefits, but that’s not the primary reason you should be generous. In this episode, Stephen Stricklin is joined by Evan Lange, president of the Midwest Region for The Signatry. Evan shares what makes giving so great, looks at tax deductions individuals receive when they make a donation and explains what a donor advised fund is. Evan discusses: The primary motivation for why people give Giving appreciated property to charitable organizations Why you should be itemi...

What does it mean to be free to give, serve, and to enjoy life in retirement? In this episode, Stephen Stricklin explores the Wise Wealth mission statement and explains each component. He shares how Wise Wealth guides people to a happy retirement and what it means to be financially significant. Stephen discusses: Understanding what it means to be free to give and free to serve How the sequence of return risk can impact a happy retirement What is the driving force behind planning for financial s...

Welcome to a brand-new season of Simplify Your Retirement! In this episode, Stephen Stricklin recaps seasons 1 & 2 of Simplify Your Retirement to get you up-to-date and ready for season 3! Additionally, Paul Brock, COO for Wise Wealth is reintroduced as our new co-host. Don’t miss this first episode of our new season! Stephen discusses: A review of the different phases of your investment life; accumulation, preservation & distribution Why a paradigm shift is needed between each phase and which ...

So, you’ve implemented your documents, but now what? What do you need to do with your documents to be sure that when it comes time for someone to step in, they know how to access them? In this episode, Stephen Stricklin and Aaron Love dive into part two of the importance of planning tools! Aaron gives some insight into who you should involve with your planning and which documents will ensure that what you have planned for your future will actually happen. Aaron shares some personal stories that ...

When it comes to your financial documents, proper implementation can lead you to greater peace of mind. If you follow the right steps, this peace of mind is real, and not just imagined. In part one of this two part series, Stephen Stricklin sits down with Aaron Love, founder of Love Law Group, as they dive into the importance of following the right steps to implementing your documents. Stephen and Aaron speak on how to make sure your intentions are known and carried out as you desire. In this ep...

What goes into creating a good investment portfolio? How should you be comparing the investments you want to make? What are the risks? We can help you answer all of these questions! In this episode, Stephen Stricklin is joined with Ben Malik, vice president of Wise Wealth, as they talk about Ben’s experience with investing and the advice he has to offer. Ben walks us through the most important things you need to know about investing before you get into it. We discuss: The significance of the CF...

There are always things that could derail your financial plans, however, there are things you can be doing to avoid that from happening. In this episode, Stephen Stricklin is joined by Samantha Compton, financial advisor at Wise Wealth, as they discuss the risks involved throughout the three phases of investing. Stephen and Samantha provide you with solutions that you should be putting into place now so you are not surprised by anything in the future. We discuss: Learn what Samantha’s role is a...

Following the steps that we outline in this podcast will help you retire happier. How? In this episode, Stephen Stricklin sits down with Tom Hegna, an international economist, as they continue their conversation about Tom’s seven-step process to retire not just comfortable, but happy. Tom shares the last 3 steps of this process and provides insight into his own personal use of them! In this episode, we discuss: What notable PhDs say about guaranteed income & happiness Why you need to focus on p...

Following the steps that we outline in this podcast can actually lead you to retiring happier. How? In part one of this two-part series, Stephen Stricklin sits down with Tom Hegna, international economist, and author, as they begin to dissect the first four steps of Tom’s seven-step process! Tom shares how he uses this process for himself and advises you about why it is beneficial in leading to better retirement security. In this episode, you will learn: The key to happiness & longevity in reti...

Some of the most important decisions you will make about retirement actually come when you are retired. In this episode, Stephen Stricklin is joined with Waldean Wall, VP of Advanced Markets and Solutions at Allianz Life Insurance, as they dive into conversations about what planning looks like in the distribution phase. They aim to provide you with information that could help you make better informed decisions when it comes time to retire. In this episode, you will learn: The difference between...

Many times, people can forget to plan for inflation rates when it comes to retirement planning. In this episode, Stephen Stricklin dives into the topic of inflation rates and how they might sneak up on you when you retire. Stephen offers some insights of things you should be thinking about and how you can work towards your retirement goals with inflation in mind. In this episode, you will learn: How inflation works and what it looks like Why is senior CPI is higher Ways to mitigate the effects ...

We often hear the same questions from clients when it comes to Medicare and Medicare planning. We are here to help you answer some of these questions. In this episode, Stephen Stricklin is joined by Wise Wealth’s Paul Brock as they answer some of the most common things they hear from clients regarding Medicare, and aim to provide you with the information you need to reach your retirement goals. In this episode, you will learn: Two options you have when it comes to Medicare When you are able to ...

Many people have burning questions about Social Security but don’t know where to go to find the answers. In this episode, Stephen Stricklin is joined by Larry Kotlikoff, professor of economics at Boston University, and expert on all things Social Security, as they dive into some common questions around Social Security benefits to help you feel a little more prepared when planning for retirement. In this episode, you will learn: Details of Social Security in relation to retirement age The differ...

Are you looking for a long-term strategy that is both effective and valuable for your portfolio? Your answer is diversification! In this episode, Stephen Stricklin talks about diversification. He shares his expertise on what diversification is, what it isn’t, why it’s valuable and why it’s important to have a diversified portfolio. In this episode, you will learn: What diversification is and how it works Why diversification is valuable When you should diversify outside of your account with your...

Success comes from activity, not from analysis. Procrastination is one of the biggest reasons why people don’t move forward, rather maintaining the status quo, doing the same thing they’ve always done with the same results. In this episode, Stephen Stricklin discusses how procrastination can hold you back from reaching your full potential when it comes to financial planning. He shares how listeners can overcome procrastination through examples and insights he has gained through his experience. I...

Choosing the right financial advisor for you and your needs is key to developing your most effective plan. But how do you know who the right advisor is for you? What makes the different types of advisors different? In this episode, Stephen Stricklin dives into the importance of choosing the right financial advisor for you. He provides a full overview of the various types of advisors, the variety of licenses, their standards and how they get paid. The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation is o...

In typical retirement planning, your plan is designed to work for you until you either become incapacitated, or you pass away. But there are a few things that you can do to protect yourself and your legacy in the event that either of these things happen to you. In this episode, Stephen Stricklin addresses how to protect your retirement plan in the event of you becoming incapacitated during retirement or you pass away. He dives into the process of protecting your wealth and the importance of leav...

Once you have your specified amount set aside for emergencies and your income planned for retirement, what do you do with the rest of your money? In part three of this mini-series, Stephen Stricklin reveals the third bucket, diving into the role the growth bucket plays within your financial plan and in relation to the other buckets. He reveals the importance of investing based on your goals and the benefits gained after retirement. In this episode, you will learn: The role of the growth bucket ...

Planning for retirement requires knowledge of what you will need, and when you’ll need it. Do you really know how much your retirement will cost? In part two of this mini-series, Stephen Stricklin dives deep into the income bucket. He reveals the role it plays in retirement planning and how it works in relation to the other buckets. Discover the importance of planning when you will retire and how much retirement will cost. In this episode, you will learn: The role of the income bucket The impor...

One of the most common pieces of financial advice is that it’s important to diversify your portfolio. But did you know that there is a specific way that you should be strategically allocating funds when it comes to retirement income planning? In the first part of this three-part series, Stephen Stricklin reveals the three-bucket approach to retirement income planning. Stephen provides a holistic view of the approach, and dives into the first bucket, discussing the importance of liquid assets for...

Financial planning products and methods can only benefit you if they have a solid foundation. By building a foundation of knowledge of the principles of retirement income planning, you are able to guide your decision-making when it comes to planning for your future. In this episode, Stephen Stricklin dives into the importance of the five principles of retirement income planning, discussing how they should guide your financial decisions and the benefits they provide. In this episode, you will lea...

It can be hard to look beyond our personal biases. But how does bias impact our investment choices? In this episode, Stephen Stricklin dives into human bias and more importantly, investor behavior bias. Discover how personal bias can impact investment choices and reactions to the stock market. In this episode, you will learn: The relationship between human behavior and investing The difference between past market crashes and the current investor reactions How human bias can impact your portfoli...

Market volatility is a natural occurrence, one that can increase in risk the closer you are to retirement. In this episode of Simplify Your Retirement, Stephen Stricklin speaks about market volatility, different phases of investing and how volatility can impact your investments. In this episode, you will learn: The three phases of investing How your retirement timeline relates to market volatility The importance of remaining true to your financial plan What the real rate of return is on your in...

Have you taken healthcare costs or inflation into account when planning for retirement? In this episode of Simplify Your Retirement, Stephen Stricklin discusses the three aspects of retirement you need to plan for — healthcare, inflation and taxes. He shares the importance of understanding the price of healthcare in retirement, how inflation could impact your budget and why you need to review risks. In this episode, you will learn: What medical care costs in retirement How long-term care can im...