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

Retirement Clarity: Turning Savings into a Real Plan (Ep. 45)

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 withdrawal strategies can impact retirement outcomes.  Jim also shares why timing, especially within the final decade before retirement, can shape long-term income, taxes, and overall financial confidence. Key takeaways: * Why many savers lack confidence despite years of consistent contributions and strong account balances * How traditional probability models can miss key factors like taxes, income flow, and real life outcomes * The importance of coordinating accounts to create efficient and sustainable retirement income * How tax planning over decades can significantly change long-term retirement results * Why the 5 to 10 years before retirement is critical for making meaningful financial adjustments * And more! Resources: * Learn more about our Retirement Readiness Report here! [https://calendly.com/steven-wszelaki/retirement-readiness-intro-call?back=1] * Employee Benefit Research Institute [https://www.ebri.org/] Connect with Jim Kruzan:  * (800) 638-6900 * Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.kaydanwealthmanagement.com/] * LinkedIn: Jim Kruzan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameskruzan/] * LinkedIn: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kaydan-wealth-management/] * Facebook: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.facebook.com/KaydanWealthManagement/] * Instagram: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.instagram.com/kaydanwealth/] * YouTube: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.youtube.com/user/Kruzan81D] * Twitter: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://twitter.com/KaydanWealth]

The Three Chapters of Retirement and How Spending Changes Over Time (Ep. 44)

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 how spending often starts higher, settles into a steadier rhythm, and then rises again as health and housing needs change. Jim also shares how a retirement plan can be built around changing cash flow, not just fixed income, so people can enjoy more experiences early on without losing sight of future care costs. Key takeaways: * Why retirement spending often follows a smile pattern instead of rising in a straight line year after year * How the early retirement years can support travel, hobbies, and family experiences without defaulting to fear * Why the middle years often bring steadier routines, lower discretionary spending, and housing decisions * How health care, home care, and assisted living can sharply raise costs in the final retirement chapter * Why planning around changing cash flow can better reflect real retirement life than static income models * And more! Resources: *  Schedule a Retirement Readiness Intro Call [https://calendly.com/steven-wszelaki/retirement-readiness-intro-call] *  The Impact Of Decreasing Retirement Spending On Safe Withdrawal Rates [https://www.kitces.com/blog/safe-withdrawal-rates-with-decreasing-retirement-spending/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Connect with Jim Kruzan:  * (800) 638-6900 * Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.kaydanwealthmanagement.com/] * LinkedIn: Jim Kruzan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameskruzan/] * LinkedIn: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kaydan-wealth-management/] * Facebook: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.facebook.com/KaydanWealthManagement/] * Instagram: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.instagram.com/kaydanwealth/] * YouTube: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.youtube.com/user/Kruzan81D] * Twitter: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://twitter.com/KaydanWealth]

Paying for School Without Sacrificing Retirement – Part 2 (Ep. 43)

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 protect your future, and the conversations parents and students need to start earlier than ever. What to expect in this episode: * Who qualifies for the $1,000 Trump Savings Account, and is it worth it? * Why ABLE accounts can be a game-changer for families with disabilities * How 401(k) loans and student debt delay retirement goals * The single biggest mistake families make when juggling tuition and retirement * And more! Resources: * Paying for School Without Sacrificing Retirement – Part I (Ep. 42) * One Big Beautiful Bill Act [https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1] * Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) [https://www.savingforcollege.com/article/student-loan-repayment-assistance-plan-rap] * Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Plan [https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/ibr-plan] * Federal Student Loan Repayment Plans [https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans] * Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 [https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/833] * Michigan Scholarship and Grant Programs [https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/programs] * How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Will Reshape 529 Plans [https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/retirement-planning/how-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-could-reshape-529-plans] * 10 Things to Know About the Trump Savings Account [https://www.morningstar.com/financial-advisors/10-things-know-about-trump-savings-account] * Achieving A Better Life Experience (ABLE) Account Overview [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/able-account.asp] Connect with Jim Kruzan:  * (800) 638-6900 * Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.kaydanwealthmanagement.com/] * LinkedIn: Jim Kruzan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameskruzan/] * LinkedIn: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kaydan-wealth-management/] * Facebook: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.facebook.com/KaydanWealthManagement/] * Instagram: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.instagram.com/kaydanwealth/] * YouTube: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.youtube.com/user/Kruzan81D] * Twitter: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://twitter.com/KaydanWealth] Publishing Tags:

New Rules, New Strategies: The OBBBA & Education Planning – Part I (Ep. 42)

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 your retirement strategy. From expanded Pell Grants and FAFSA shifts to 529 ownership strategies and lifetime borrowing caps, Jim unpacks what’s changing and how to plan with clarity, not guesswork. Here’s what you’ll learn: * How new student loan rules can affect long-term cash flow * Why 529 ownership decisions can influence aid eligibility * The ripple effects of tuition planning on retirement savings * What the Education Choice for Children Act could mean for families * And more! Resources: * One Big Beautiful Bill Act [https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1] * Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) [https://www.savingforcollege.com/article/student-loan-repayment-assistance-plan-rap] * Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Plan [https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/ibr-plan] * Federal Student Loan Repayment Plans [https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans] * Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025 [https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/833] * Michigan Scholarship and Grant Programs [https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/programs] * How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Will Reshape 529 Plans [https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/retirement-planning/how-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-could-reshape-529-plans] * 10 Things to Know About the Trump Savings Account [https://www.morningstar.com/financial-advisors/10-things-know-about-trump-savings-account] * Achieving A Better Life Experience (ABLE) Account Overview [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/able-account.asp] Connect with Jim Kruzan:  * (800) 638-6900 * Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.kaydanwealthmanagement.com/] * LinkedIn: Jim Kruzan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameskruzan/] * LinkedIn: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kaydan-wealth-management/] * Facebook: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.facebook.com/KaydanWealthManagement/] * Instagram: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.instagram.com/kaydanwealth/] * YouTube: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.youtube.com/user/Kruzan81D] * Twitter: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://twitter.com/KaydanWealth]

The Insurance Gap That Could Wreck Your Retirement Plan with Mike Kane (Ep. 41)

You can do everything right, save consistently, invest wisely, build a retirement plan, and still be one accident away from financial devastation.  Why? Because many of us unknowingly overlook one critical piece of protection: uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). In this episode of The Retirement Engineer, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, sits down with Mike Kane, a Personal Injury Attorney and Former U.S. Marine, to break down how this often-skipped coverage works, who it helps protect, and why so many people, even financially savvy ones, miss it. What to expect: * What UM/UIM coverage actually does (and doesn’t do) * Why high-income professionals are often underprotected * Real stories from accident victims caught off guard * How to take action with your insurance agent, today * And more! Resources: * One in three drivers doesn’t have enough car insurance [https://www.cnbc.com/select/one-in-three-drivers-doesnt-have-enough-car-insurance/] Connect with Jim Kruzan:  * (800) 638-6900 * Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.kaydanwealthmanagement.com/] * LinkedIn: Jim Kruzan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameskruzan/] * LinkedIn: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kaydan-wealth-management/] * Facebook: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.facebook.com/KaydanWealthManagement/] * Instagram: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.instagram.com/kaydanwealth/] * YouTube: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://www.youtube.com/user/Kruzan81D] * Twitter: Kaydan Wealth Management [https://twitter.com/KaydanWealth] Connect With Mike Kane: * LinkedIn: Michael Kane [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelpkane/] * Kane Trial Law [https://www.kanetrial.com/] About Our Guest:  Mike Kane is a Colorado personal injury lawyer specializing in car accidents [https://www.kanetrial.com/auto-accidents], truck accidents [https://www.kanetrial.com/truck-accidents], and catastrophic personal injury litigation. He also represents victims of sexual assault [https://www.kanetrial.com/sexual-abuse] against institutions and individuals. Mr. Kane has spent his entire career helping the vulnerable fight back against the powerful. A third-generation lawyer and Colorado native, he is a former US Marine who served a tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After leaving the military, he returned home and served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Arapahoe and Douglas County DA’s Offices. He then entered civil practice and has focused exclusively on the representation of injured plaintiffs.