Retirement Equals Freedom

041: Annuities Part 2 - Because Some Is Never Enough!

Sometimes investment decisions (like saving for retirement) are black and white. No nuance or downsides. But when it comes to annuities, there are shades of grey that The Retirement Equals Freedom Podcast is here to help you understand. On this second of two parts, Host Josh Bretl shares FSR Wealth Strategies’ take on when, how and why certain annuities can make the perfect fit for clients whose portfolios need rounding out. You’ll learn about various types of vehicles to consider, what makes them appealing and potential pitfalls to avoid. Get to know the difference between immediate and deferred annuities and what distinguishes “protected income” buckets from “growth” buckets (from buckets of “fried chicken,” if – like Co-Host Dave Schmidt – you choose to go there!). You’ll also find out why Fixed Index Annuities have a lot to offer as a steady stream of low-risk income. If you’ve ever been intimidated (or put off) by the world of annuities, this is your invitation to take stock (on your own or with the help of a financial adviser) to determine whether they might make a good addition to your growing retirement nest egg. If you missed Part I of this series, click this link [https://fsrwealth.com/podcast/040-whats-annuities-got-to-do-with-it-part-1/] to listen to Episode 40, “What’s Annuities Got to Do With It?” If you haven’t already, please sign up for all the news you can use (+ lots of fun) at this link [https://fsrwealth.com/podcast/] for the Retirement Equals Freedom podcast newsletter. You might also want to join the conversation at our private Facebook group, which you’ll find here [https://www.facebook.com/groups/retirementequalsfreedom/]. Click here [https://fsrwealth.com/] to explore the services that FSR Wealth Strategies offers and schedule a discovery call with one of the team’s CPAs. When it comes to living your best life, it’s never too early to get started!

040: What’s Annuities Got to Do With It? - Part 1

Annuities! For years now they’ve been dissed, maligned and misunderstood … which is why we’re setting the record straight on this episode of Retirement Equals Freedom. Host Josh Bretl, owner of FSR Wealth Strategies, explains why this particular investment vehicle has gotten a bad rap (Co-Host Dave Schmidt can relate) and how to educate ourselves on the facts. As always, it comes down to taking a holistic look at your financial snapshot, including timelines, mix of investments and overall goals. Sure. When it comes to annuities, there are some very real downsides. But in addition to outlining those, Josh is also helping us get clear about the fact that it’s not a black and white situation. Or, to put it another way, as our host warns: “If you ever think something is always good, no matter what, you’ve got a problem. And if you think something is bad, no matter what, you’ve got a problem.” This episode will help anyone who has shut the door on annuities to reconsider them as an investment option – one featuring growth as well as safety. If you’re intrigued and want to know more, join us for an upcoming Part II that will take a closer look at what annuities offer, how they work and whether they might be just what you need to round out and grow your retirement nest egg. Trigger Warning: If you’re partial to water chestnuts or have ever worked at a fast-food drive-thru window, the views expressed by your co-hosts may be upsetting. Jokes, we're just having fun.

039: Choosing the Right Retirement Financial Advisor: A Checklist for Success

Clarity. Simplicity. Certainty. When it comes to turning our finances over to an expert, these are the three guiding lights that Host Josh Bretl, founder of FSR Wealth Strategies, wants us to keep in mind. Retirement planning represents a different phase of life and requires the right expertise, which is why this episode of Retirement Equals Freedom is focused on providing you an all-important checklist to consider before turning your valuable assets – and future well-being – over to a financial adviser. What are their credentials? Do they have solid knowledge of how to draw down assets – including how to sequence withdrawals and downstream tax implications? How about their style of communication and the quality of their team? These are just a few of the factors to consider before deciding to whom you want to entrust your hard-earned savings. If you’ve been planning all your life for a fabulous retirement, congratulations! But in order to get through the distribution phase of your journey, you’re going to want to have the right adviser in place. And after you listen to this episode, you’ll know just what you’re looking for as well as the right questions to ask. To put it another way (in the words of computer scientist Alan Kay): “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” FSR Wealth is all about helping you find the tools to do exactly that! Stay tuned for our next live episode of Java With Josh [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twvcnDYn40Q] on Wednesday, June 21st. And in the meanwhile, check out this pod link resource [https://pod.link/ref] for previous episodes of Retirement Equals Freedom and one-click access to your favorite platform for listening! If you haven’t already, please sign up for all the news you can use (+ lots of fun) at this link [https://fsrwealth.com/podcast/] for the Retirement Equals Freedom podcast newsletter. You might also want to join the conversation at our private Facebook group, which you’ll find here [https://www.facebook.com/groups/retirementequalsfreedom/]. Click here [https://fsrwealth.com/] to explore the services that FSR Wealth Strategies offers and schedule a discovery call with one of the team’s CPAs. When it comes to living your best life, it’s never too early to get started!

038: When It Comes to Taxes, It’s All in the Planning!

When it comes to Tax Prep versus Tax Planning? Hands down, planning is king! Host Josh Bretl, founder of FSR Wealth, is showing us the difference between putting together the info we need to file our taxes (always a short-term nuisance!) and positioning ourselves to minimize what we actually owe when April 15th rolls around (a long-term proposition). As you’ll learn on this episode of Retirement Equals Freedom, whatever stage of life you’re in – from raising young kids to enjoying those golden years – there are important tax implications. It’s about creating a proactive (and tax efficient!) strategy for investing, drawing down and managing your assets all along the way. Find out how IRAs, 529s, HSAs, RMDs, 401ks – the whole alphabet soup – are part of a holistic, tax-savvy vision for your abundant future! The show wraps with a quick-fire round of – you asked for it! – “Get to know Josh and Dave” (with apologies to Dave’s mother and Bambi) as well as a DR2R that is more deep dish (pizza) than deep thoughts. Speaking of deep thoughts, some of the subject matter we tackle can get pretty complex. If you’re wondering whether now is the time to consider hiring a professional, don’t miss our next episode! Josh will be running down the list of things to look for in a qualified financial planner. Episode Extras * Check out Jerry Palotta’s popular series of kids’ books, "Who Would Win?" [https://www.goodreads.com/series/303298-who-would-win]  * Interested in trying DIY tax prep? TurboTax [https://turbotax.intuit.com/] and H&R Block [https://www.hrblock.com/] are two of the biggies. * Click here [https://www.doorcounty.com/] if you would like to learn more about the Schmidt family vacation spot: Door County, Wisconsin [https://www.doorcounty.com/]. * R=F's new private Facebook group. [https://www.facebook.com/groups/retirementequalsfreedom/]Come hang out! Did you know you’re just one click away from a pod link resource [https://pod.link/ref] with all the latest and greatest about Retirement Equals Freedom? Click here [https://pod.link/ref]. If you haven’t already, please sign up for all the news you can use (+ lots of fun) at this link [https://fsrwealth.com/podcast/] for the Retirement Equals Freedom podcast newsletter. You might also want to join the conversation at our private Facebook group, which you’ll find here [https://www.facebook.com/groups/retirementequalsfreedom/]. Click here [https://fsrwealth.com/] to explore the services that FSR Wealth Strategies offers and schedule a discovery call with Josh. When it comes to living your best life, it’s never too early to get started!

037: Waking Up to Bank Failures and What It All Means

It’s been a bumpy ride for banks lately – but context is everything! That’s why Josh Bretl, our fearless host and founder of FSR Wealth Strategies, is here to decode the collapse in recent weeks of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic. When we talk about these bank failures and the role of the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.) in bailing them out, it’s important to understand the customer base of the institutions involved. You’ll learn on this episode of Retirement Equals Freedom about the three key factors that have driven topsy-turvy ledger sheets and exposure for banks in general – but most especially among those serving primarily high-tech players holding lots of cash. Interest rates at an all-time low converged with pandemic stimulus checks that produced a massive influx of cash deposits. What happened next (you’ll have to tune in!) had everything to do with how those deposits and other cash holdings were invested and what occurred when interest rates started to rise. Some banks – like those that specialize in serving the tech industry – have proved especially vulnerable. Risk mitigation is critical for just such situations, explains Josh, but you can rest assured that the banking system overall is fundamentally sound. And remember: any account with a balance of up to $250,000 will always be covered by the FDIC. It’s been a wake-up call for many of us who have been in an economic “dream state” the past 15 years, but there are fortunately lots of great financial planning strategies to help you navigate our new economic realities. Josh and his Co-Host, Dave Schmidt, also leave you with some bonus advice to help manage the stress: Be kind. Go out there and live your life. We can make the world a better place! Want to understand why it’s actually a bad thing for yields on investment vehicles like U.S. Treasury Bonds when interest rates go up? Listen to Episode 19 of Retirement Equals Freedom: "Do Bonds Have a Place in My Portfolio?" [https://fsrwealth.com/podcast/019-do-bonds-have-a-place-in-my-portfolio/] If you’re feeling queasy about the recent banking roller-coaster, now may be the time to chat with Josh directly. He and the team at FSR Wealth Strategies are dedicated to ensuring your personal finances are safe – and growing! Click here [https://fsrwealth.com/] to schedule your free 15-minute call. Finally, here are a few fun links to explore if you’d like to dive into our podcast community: * Sign up for FSR’s page-turner of a newsletter here [https://fsrwealth.com/podcast/]. * Join the R=F private Facebook group at this link [https://www.facebook.com/groups/retirementequalsfreedom/]. * Visit this pod link resource [https://pod.link/ref] to get one-click access to your favorite platform for listening to past episodes! * You haven’t read "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51074213-harry-potter-and-the-sorcerer-s-stone-harry-potter-book-1-minalima-e?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=9JFrrQuK4c&rank=1]? Book 1 is the very best! * Click here [https://apnews.com/article/first-republic-bank-silicon-valley-fdic-5ab48702b7136d42f73ac13e0a20955d] for more about the behind-the-scenes FDIC negotiations that brokered the deal for Chase Bank to take over First Republic.