Social Security

Where Are You Getting Advice?

In this episode, Angela discusses the importance of seeking sound advice and avoiding common pitfalls. She shares humorous anecdotes of bad advice and emphasizes the need to be cautious about the voices influencing our decisions. Angela highlights the significance of having a trusted team of professionals to address various aspects of life planning, including business, finances, and legacy.
Key Takeaways 💡
It is important to be mindful of the sources of advice we receive and how they impact our decisions, not only in faith but also in relationships, raising children, business, and financial matters. There is a lot of advice available on every topic, but it's crucial to discern whether it's accurate and appropriate for your specific situation, especially with the rise of AI and readily available information on the internet.
Relying solely on a single professional, even a trusted one, can lead to gaps and overlaps in financial plans because they may not have a holistic view or the necessary expertise in all areas. It is important to ensure that the professional is equipped with the right tools and knowledge to provide comprehensive guidance, as even well-intentioned professionals can give bad advice if they lack expertise in a particular area.
Bad advice from even skilled professionals can stem from two main reasons: they may not know what they don't know, leading them to offer advice outside their expertise, or the right questions are not being asked, resulting in a limited or biased perspective. For instance, asking a banker how to pay for a business succession plan may lead to solutions involving banking products, while a broader approach might consider tax benefits, insurance, or alternative funding methods.
As financial situations grow more complex, individuals outgrow the need for a single professional and require a team of experts, with a quarterback to lead the charge and coordinate efforts. The role of a life planner is to help individuals define what it means for them to live life on purpose, understand their future goals, current situation, family dynamics, and feelings about risk and money, and then identify the right professionals to involve at the appropriate times.
When seeking advice for business, money, or legacy matters, it's beneficial to consult with a life planner first to help formulate the right questions and avoid costly mistakes down the road. Life planners can help identify holes in financial plans, determine which professionals need to be involved, and ultimately guide individuals towards living life on purpose.

Family Support Checklist (Rebroadcast)

As a life planning firm, it is our mission to help you take the essential steps needed to face each of life’s stages with confidence and clarity. We were asked if we could compile a list of the things that need to be addressed on every level when you find it necessary to assume physical, emotional, and financial responsibility for your parents.

Have You Outgrown Your Advisor?

I believe one of the hardest things to do is find the “right fit” advisor for you and your family. Because of this, I thought I might take a minute to educate you a little about our industry.

When to Start Planning (Rebroadcast)

Angela was honored to be a guest on the Real Wealth podcast with Jim Silbernagel to share the benefits and pitfalls that could occur when starting a financial strategy later in life. Please enjoy this gem from our archive.

The 8 Life Planning Issues

Over 35 years of working in various fields of Life Planning has shown us that most people don’t plan to fail –they just fail to plan. And one reason behind this procrastination is that they are overwhelmed by the complexity of the task and don’t know where to start. We feel it is very important for every family to seek help and take the time to focus on the questions that need to be addressed. I encourage you to be proactive as opposed to reactive and live your life on Purpose!

Preventative Financial Care

Over 35 years of working in various fields of Life Planning has shown me that most people don’t plan to fail –they just fail to plan. I encourage you to be proactive as opposed to reactive and live your life on Purpose!

Do You Cut and Paste Your Decisions About Money? (Rebroadcast)

Think of your 3 favorite restaurants. Now imagine the head chef from each made his/her very best dish for you. Sounds splendid, right? Now imagine if you took a big bowl and mixed these three dishes together with a wire whisk. How does that sound? Not so good, right? So why do we do that with our money? We cut and paste every strategy that sounds good and mix it all together. No matter how superb each strategy may be, when you mix the 3 they may not mesh well together at all.

Social Security and Tax Increases

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 8.7% in 2023. You may also have to fork over some additional cash come tax time. It will be more important than ever before to work with your tax professional to know where you land.

When Should I Take My Social Security?

Social Security claiming strategies are much more complex than asking for your neighbor’s advice. Here are just some of the factors that could come into play with how to maximize not just your benefits, but your entire retirement.

The Griever’s To-Do List

If you love your family, you don't want to miss this week's episode. Planning is a gift. It is a gift of peace of mind and the ability to not just survive, but to thrive. Provide your family with the tools to take care of you and your wishes with confidence because you love them.

Spring Cleaning Your Financial House

Even though you think you have everything in order and in its place, your finances won’t stay stagnant. This means your financial house gets messy without you even knowing it. This week we take a look at some ways you can get a head start on your financial spring cleaning.

Blake Briscoe Interview

We were honored to have a sit down interview with Blake Briscoe, CPA and Jim Kennedy to talk about their new business partnership, Briscoe & Associates, LLC. For more information, check out: briscoeandassociates.com