Simplify Your Retirement

This season we want to bring on our clients and share some of their stories of giving. In this episode, Stephen Stricklin is joined by his client Bob. Bob and his wife Charlene are one of Wise Wealth’s clients involved in charitable giving. Stephen provides an overview of how qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) and required minimum distributions (RMDs) work in relation to charitable giving. Bob shares some of his personal stories about giving and how QCDs & RMDs tie into the overall conversation. Stephen & Bob discuss: Individual retirement accounts (IRAs), qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), and required minimum distributions (RMDs) and how they work Bob shares his experiences dealing with IRAs, QCDs, RMDs and charitable giving Why Bob and his wife Charlene take advantage of qualified charitable distributions And more Resources:  https://kcscholars.org/  S3: Episode 3 - What It Means To Give With Evan Lange Connect With Stephen Stricklin: [email protected]  816-246-9473 WiseWealth.com Simplify Your Retirement  Stephen Stricklin on LinkedIn

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 itemizing your deductions Using donor advised funds  Best funds to use for Charitable Donations after age 72 How to experience the joy, peace and purpose of giving And more Connect With Evan Lange: [email protected] 913-310-0279 Thesignatry.com Evan Lange on LinkedIn Connect With Stephen Stricklin: [email protected]  816-246-9473 WiseWealth.com Simplify Your Retirement  Stephen Stricklin on LinkedIn About Our Guest: Evan Lange serves as the President of the Midwest Region for The Signatry. He works closely with financial advisors, attorneys, and business owners to develop strategies to minimize tax liability and maximize charitable giving. Evan is a licensed attorney and practiced law at top firms in Kansas City prior to joining The Signatry.

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 success The Wise Wealth mission statement And more Resources:  Season 1, Episode 5 Season 2, Episode 7 Season 2, Episode 8 Connect With Stephen Stricklin: [email protected] 816-246-9473 WiseWealth.com Simplify Your Retirement Stephen Stricklin on LinkedIn

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 phases have the most risk Understanding all the challenges and risks specific to the stage of your investment life Risks associated to each phase; inflation, average vs real rate of return; sequence of return, healthcare, taxes, long term-care Requirements of a sound retirement plan Discussion of various industry experts included in season 2 that complete the planning process What to look forward to with season 3 And more Resources:  Season 1, Episode 5 Season 1, Episode 8 Season 1, Episode 9 Season 1, Episode 10 Season 2, Episode 3 Connect With Stephen Stricklin: [email protected]  816-246-9473 WiseWealth.com Simplify Your Retirement  Stephen Stricklin on LinkedIn

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 emphasize the importance of storing your documents correctly.  You will learn: Ways in which you can store your documents and include the right people   How you can leave behind virtual assets, financial assets and messages to your family  What you can do now to avoid probate in the future   The importance of planning so your assets go where you want them to go   And more! Tune in now as Stephen and Aaron continue their discussion of the importance of document implementation!  Resources: Wise Wealth | Simplify Your Retirement | Stephen Stricklin | Aaron Love | Love Law Group

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 episode, you will learn: What causes Trust planning to fail How to make sure all planning documents get implemented Why you need a will even if it does not avoid probate Living wills, advance healthcare directives and how to make your wishes known The difference between healthcare & financial powers of attorney  Documents that every single person needs to have And more! Tune in now to begin your journey of understanding what really goes into the proper implementation of your planning tools with Stephen and Aaron!  Resources: Wise Wealth | Simplify Your Retirement | Stephen Stricklin | Aaron Love | Love Law Group

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 CFA designation and how Ben uses his to manage investment portfolios Building an optimal investment portfolio The basics of the modern portfolio theory  How to evaluate portfolios to a comparable benchmark Ben’s thoughts on the biggest impacts on an investor’s returns (asset allocation, time, investor behavior) Learn about biblically responsible/values driven investing And more! Tune in now to meet Ben Malick and gain a better understanding of what really lies in the risk of investing.  Resources: Wise Wealth | Simplify Your Retirement | Stephen Stricklin | Ben Malick

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 at Wise Wealth and her areas of expertise Identifying the three phases of investing, and understanding what phase you are in Life and health risks specific to each phase that can undermine financial success Protect from these risks to you can achieve financial significance, where you can be free to give, serve and enjoy like never before What are the benefits of permanent life insurance And more! Tune in now to equip yourself with information that could help prevent you from getting off track with your goals.  Resources: Wise Wealth | Simplify Your Retirement | Stephen Stricklin | Samantha Compton | Wise Women

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 planning for long-term care  How to use your home equity wisely The investment vehicle that can provide tax benefits, long-term care benefits, death benefits, and tax-free lifetime income  And more! Tune in now to part two of the seven steps to a happier retirement with Tom Hegna!  Resources: Wise Wealth | Simplify Your Retirement | Stephen Stricklin | Tom Hegna | Tom Hegna’s Website | Seven Steps to Retirement Security Part One 

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 retirement How to get the most for the least in retirement   What is a hybrid retirement? Why you should maximize your Social Security Protecting yourself against inflation And more! Tune in now for part one of this two-part series where we help you discover Tom Hegna’s seven-step process to retirement security!  Resources: Wise Wealth | Simplify Your Retirement | Stephen Stricklin | Tom Hegna | TomHegna.com