A few key factors determine if a person will have an enjoyable retirement or a sluggish one.
Many seniors worry about loosing their purpose in retirement and being bored, others look forward to the trips and unlimited free time.
In this episode, Greg sits down with Lindsay Troxell, Head Coach of Our Coaching Initiative, to explore the emotional and practical aspects of retirement planning.
Join Greg and Lindsay as they delve into the intricacies of pre-retirement financial planning and the transition into retirement life.
Lindsay discusses:
Strategies for managing energy levels to thrive in retirement
The importance of addressing emotional concerns during the transition to retirement
The role of identity and purpose in retirement planning
Resources available for both consumers and financial advisors navigating retirement planning
Lindsay Troxwell is a Certified Life Coach and International speaker changing the landscape of financial services. Since 2005, Lindsay Troxell has worked thousands of teams across the United States and in Europe with a focus on practice management, business development, client experience, team dynamics, and mindset.
Debt is one of the biggest challenges facing many people today. It can limit your choices, reduce your savings, and stress you out.
But what if there was a way to get rid of your debt faster and easier than you ever thought possible?
This week, Greg DuPont is joined by Adam Carroll, Professional Speaker & Founder of The Shred Method, to explore how the Shred Method can help achieve debt freedom in 3 to 7 years. They emphasize the importance of financial discipline and managing discretionary income to accelerate debt repayment, not just for mortgages but also for other loans.
Adam discusses:
● The Shred Method as a unique tool for achieving debt freedom within 3 to 7 years
● How to use money more effectively through the Shred Method
● The effectiveness of leveraging a home equity line of credit to pay off mortgage
● Exactly what type of consumers could find the Shred Method helpful
● The effectiveness of the Shred Method in tackling student loan debt and its role in building equity
● And more!
Adam Carroll has decades of experience working with families and business owners who are interested in creating massive efficiencies when it comes to their income and wealth building capacity. With an unwavering commitment to helping people make the most of the money they make, while limiting risk, reducing tax liabilities, and increasing liquidity, Adam Carroll has spent 15 years helping people do more with the money they make. He is an internationally recognized financial literacy expert, author of three Amazon best-sellers, a two-time TED talk speaker with over 6 million views on YouTube and TED.com, and is the creator of the Broke, Busted & Disgusted documentary which aired on CNBC and is shown in hundreds of high schools and colleges across the country. He is the host of the Build A Bigger Life podcast, the curator of MasteryOfMoney.com and founder of The Shred Method™.
For countless Americans, debt is the most significant problem preventing them from living the life they want and retiring comfortably.
If you stay awake at night stressing about your mortgage and student loans, you’re not alone. Luckily, there are better ways to pay off debt than Dave Ramsey’s strict ‘debt snowball’.
In this eye-opening episode of Your Financial Advocate, host Greg DuPont is joined by Tracey Spikes, Sr. Executive Distribution and Development Officer of the SMART Advisor Network. Tracy illuminates the path to financial liberation through the Debt Free for Life program, sharing insights from personal experience and professional practice.
Tracey discusses:
The psychological aspects of debt and its ramifications on financial health
His personal experience paying of a staggering $600,000 in debt in just six and half years
The differences between effective interest cost and APR
An inside look at how the Debt Free for Life program crafts bespoke solutions aligning with individual fiscal circumstances
Tracey Spikes believes debt and taxes are two of the greatest detractors to wealth accumulation and spendable income that Americans face today. He’s studied income in America extensively and came to the shocking conclusion that well over 50% of what we earn over our lifetime goes to paying taxes and/or interest.
It’s for these reasons he uses the Smart Advisor Tools suite of software that includes Debt Free 4 Life™️ and Tax Smart 4 Life™️ as part of his advisory work with clients, and trains similarly-minded advisors.
DF4L is a debt elimination app utilizing risk management based products, like life insurance, to modify a “snowball” approach to debt elimination and cash flow management.
Real estate is one of the most popular forms of investment. It offers a variety of benefits, such as income generation, capital appreciation, tax efficiency, and diversification.
However, real estate investing also comes with its own challenges, such as finding the right properties, managing them effectively, and navigating the complex legal and financial aspects.
That is why investors must be well educated in this field in order to provide the proper guidance to their clients.
Greg DuPont sits down with Taylor Vick, Managing Director at Blue Ridge Asset Management, to explore the ins and outs of real estate investing. Taylor shares his expertise on various types of real estate investments and the benefits of using self-directed IRAs. He also covers strategies for leveraging tax benefits to enhance investment returns.
Taylor discusses:
The wealth-building potential and steady income real estate offers
The liquidity aspect of real estate investments
The tax advantages of real estate investment
Exploring asset management, 1031 exchanges, and diversification strategies for real estate investments
Insights on real estate deals in the current market with higher interest rates and strategies for future potential refinancing
Incorporating real estate into trusts for estate planning to transfer valuable assets and minimize estate taxes
Taylor Vick has pursued a passionate commitment to the real estate investment community in and around the upstate for decades. Obtaining his CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation, Taylor continued to drive his passion for real estate investing at a high level pursuing the most advanced training, traveling the globe attending industry-leading conferences, and continuing to stay at the leading edge of the investment world each and every day. His tenacity for reaching industry-leading milestones for Blue Ridge has shown year after year, including an increasingly growing total of $150+ million in real estate funds managed.
As Principal and Managing Director, Taylor has a wide range of industry expertise and involvement including private company investments, acquisitions, commercial loans, agency debt, insurance company loans, non-recourse financings, 1031 exchanges, leases with purchase options, originating mortgage notes to buyers, receiving mortgage notes from sellers, contract assessments and equity cash-out refinancing among a variety of strategies that lead the industry in both performance and success.
Taylor’s success is not only driven by the impressive numbers, tenacity, and hunger to lead the industry but in the relational side of Blue Ridge. With an investor-first mindset, Taylor prioritizes investor relationships as the foundation of Blue Ridge’s advancement in the industry and the ever-growing investor client list is proof of his unwavering relational commitment.
You can also find Taylor involved heavily in supporting local community missions, organizations, and events as his local roots remain strong in supporting the upstate’s growth surge sustainably.
Life insurance is more than just a way to protect your loved ones in case of your death. It has the potential to be a powerful tool to enhance your wealth, optimize your taxes, and secure your financial future.
However, not all life insurance policies are created equal, and many people are unaware of the hidden risks and opportunities that lie within their contracts.
In this episode, Greg DuPont sits down with David Kottler, ‘The Life Insurance Doctor’, to explore the power of life insurance as a wealth protection tool. They touch on the concept of “DOA” (Dead on Arrival) and the critical issues that lead to policy lapses. David shares real-life success stories where he helped clients maximize retirement income and avoid financial loss.
Greg and David discuss:
David’s background as The Life Insurance Doctor
The waste that occurs with life insurance policies and the importance of a policy review to eliminate this waste
The three critical problems that lead to life insurance lapses: design flaws, omission to fund the policy properly, and a lack of professional review
David Kottler has helped clients generate over $10MM of cash and tax benefits in the past 12 months utilizing his “True Value” Life Insurance Review Process. Clients need advocates for their life insurance portfolios to both bring the needed information regarding their rights and values as well as uncovering hidden problems and resolving them. Life insurance is a complicated contract with many nuances that most clients and advisors are not aware of.
It is gratifying for him to be in a position to help such clients and enable them to meet their family and legacy goals through his work. His passion is philanthropy. There is a great need for education and guidance for high net-worth clients who wish to align their life goals with their hard-earned wealth to enable them to understand the “Why” component of their planning. His objectives are to collaborate with clients and his strategic relationships to produce the best results for them financially and philanthropically.
Welcome to an eye-opening exploration of what’s really happening with the markets as we usher in 2024. If you thought 2023 was a rollercoaster, prepare yourself for what this year has in store. In this episode, Greg dives into the unexpected twists and turns that shaped our economy last year, how the market is performing now, and what experts predict is yet to come.
Whether you’re managing your own portfolio or just curious about your financial future, understanding market dynamics gives you the power to make informed decisions and stay one step ahead. Knowledge is an investor’s best asset.
Greg discusses:
How the U.S. managed to sidestep a dreaded recession in 2023
The forces that propel market performance
What’s impacting GDP and the job market in Q1
What the economic experts foresee for 2024 and beyond
How to protect yourself from market turbulence
And more!
View the full presentation (with slides) on YouTube:
Choosing the right index for your investment goals can be a daunting task, especially when there are millions of options available.
How do you know which one is best suited for your risk tolerance, time horizon, and expected returns? How do you evaluate the performance and design of different indexes and ETFs?
These are some of the questions that many investors face when they enter the world of index-linked products.
In this episode, Greg DuPont chats with Laurence Black, Founder of The Index Standard®, a company that rates and evaluates ETFs and indices used in the insurance and structured product space. They explore the challenge of choosing the right index among the many available and the importance of forward-looking due diligence. Laurence emphasizes the need for diversification and preparing for unforeseen events in the investment world.
Together they discuss:
The importance of taking a forward-looking approach when choosing an index
The Index Standard’s three-step forecasting process
The significance of diversification in dealing with unknown risks and protecting oneself in the investment world
The benefits of exchange traded funds (ETFs) compared to mutual funds
How The Index Standard evaluates and categorizes the largest index-linked ETFs based on their robustness and design
The valuable insights you’ll gain from the training with Laurence, simplifying the complexity of insurance indices for informed decision-making
Laurence Black is the founder of The Index Standard® and an index advisor to Robert J. Shiller, Sterling Professor of Economics at Yale University.
Before founding The Index Standard®, Laurence was Managing Director and Head of Quantitative Indices and Strategies at Barclays, where he oversaw the development of the Barclays index family. In addition to designing some of the first smart beta/factor indices, Laurence spearheaded Barclays’ index partnerships with Professors Robert Shiller and Nouriel Roubini, as well as Novus Partners.
Before Barclays, Laurence was Head of Indices at ABN AMRO in London, where he successfully launched indices with well-known investors such as Jim Rogers and Joel Greenblatt. Before ABN AMRO, Laurence worked at Lehman Brothers, Deutsche Bank, and Credit Suisse.
Laurence holds an MBA from the University of Warwick and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Cape Town. When not thinking about financial matters, he can mostly be found on a tennis court.
Family-owned businesses are beneficial to the economy in more ways than one, but there can be challenges along the way. Especially when there is a pandemic and a recession involved.
Overcoming these challenges and passing the business down from one generation to the next is no easy feat.
In this episode, Greg DuPont chats with Don Kirkham, vice president of Kirkham Building System, about what it’s like to work in a family-owned business that has passed through multiple generations. Additionally, Don explains what Kirkham Building System does regarding pole-framed construction and how the process works.
Don discusses:
A brief description of his background and what he does for his family’s business – Kirkham Building System
Why pole-framed construction is more cost-effective than traditional construction
How supply chain issues have affected the industry
Kirkham Building System’s costs and the process of working with them
How the National Frame Building Association can help you find the right builder in your jurisdiction
How their family business has passed through multiple generations and the benefits they have derived from it
Don Kirkham, is the fourth generation of Kirkhams to work in the post-frame building industry. Don started with his father’s company in 1991 working as a crewman in the summers. He remembers the hard work in the hot summers as a time of learning and great experience. He then worked his way up, learning all the facets of the trade. He served as a planner and sales representative while attending OSU. After college Don became the Sub-Contractor Coordinator and worked closely with General Foreman. He continued on and became General Foreman coordinating the efforts of the entire construction department. Don has also been the company Safety Officer. From 2008 to 2012 Don left the industry and became the Service Advisor for a successful Automotive Shop in Westerville, where he developed the personal fortitude to work closely with many customers. In October 2012, Don returned to KBSI to lead business development and proudly worked alongside his father to continue the tradition of quality and experience that is KBSI.
Don is an avid reader and believes personal development is essential. He continues his education through safety training, personal studies, seminars, and reading. Don lives in Powell, OH with his wife. His son and daughter also both work for KBSI.
As our parents age, sometimes it’s necessary to find a place where their quality of life will be better.
Many difficulties can arise in this process, such as the financial part and the emotional conversations we need to have with them.
In this episode of Your Financial Advocate, Greg DuPont is joined by Sarah Dixon, community relations director at Bluebird Retirement Community, to talk about the transition from in-home care to an assisted facility and how we can have these tough conversations when it comes to helping our parents.
Sarah discusses:
Her background in healthcare and how she got introduced to the hospitality industry
The transition from working in large corporations to a privately owned business
The different ways families approach assisted living facilities
The different levels of assistance care
The financial preparation needed before applying for an assisted care space
Things to consider when families are searching for facilities
A few details about Bluebird’s dementia care unit
How should conversations about transitioning to a specialized facility should be tackled
Education is an essential part of life and college is a necessity for most of us to build a successful career.
Hence, families should prepare financially for the process of applying to college and not wait until the last minute.
In this episode of Your Financial Advocate, Greg DuPont chats with Ann Garcia, author of How to Pay for College, about different ways to save for college and important things to know while financing tuition payments as we are on the verge of FAFSA season.
Ann discusses:
What motivated her to write the book: How to Pay for College
A brief overview of the financial aid process
Her tips for families who don’t know how to start the process of college
Why open a 529 plan and contribute to it constantly.
Why approximately a quarter of students are not applying for any financial aid
The college planning process information you can find on her website
The importance of parents being involved in the entire education process of their children
Ann Garcia is a CFP® and owner of Independent Progressive Advisors, a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor in Portland, Oregon, and the author of How to Pay for College and The College Financial Lady blog. Her blog has approximately 15,000 subscribers in various media. In addition, she is regularly in national media (New York Times, US News & World Report) on college planning. She earned a BA from the University of California.