My Retirement Clarity with Lee Perkins

Ep 90: 7 Money Resolutions For 2023

This is the time of year when everybody puts together various lists, whatever the list may be. A lot of times these lists are interesting and helpful, but others are really just marketing tactics.
Last year we did an episode “22 Resolutions for 2022”. This year’s list will consist of 7 financial resolutions that apply to everyone. If you do these seven things, you should notice a difference in your financial situation in 2023.
Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
Do you have text alerts set up for your credit cards? (4:10)
Do you know what you spend monthly? (7:13)
Do you have an income plan for after death? (15:26)
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: Talk With Lee

Ep 89: The Top 5 401(k) Mistakes You Need to Avoid

Saving in your 401(k) can be an easy and painless way to build your retirement savings. But because it’s so easy and painless, it can also be easy to ignore for long periods of time, which often leads to mistakes. We’ll cover at least the top 5 mistakes people make in their 401(k)s.
Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:
If you have changed jobs, listen here. (3:02)
Are you rebalancing your 401(k)? (5:57)
Are target date funds a no-brainer, or should you pass on them? (9:52)
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: Talk With Lee

Ep 88: 24 Things I’m a Big Fan Of

We all have likes and dislikes. As we get older, many of us find more and more things we tend to not be a big fan of, and it can be easy to fall into a negativity trap.
With that in mind, I decided to spend some time thinking about the things I am a big fan of. In this episode, I will be sharing some of my favorite things with you, some financial, and some not. As you listen, try to make a list of your own!
 
Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show:
Plan ahead of time so you retire while you can enjoy it. (2:13)
Let’s talk trucks. (4:20)
Why you shouldn’t check your retirement accounts daily. (10:29)
Three of my favorite Christmas movies. (12:44)
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: Talk With Lee

Ep 87: Making Smart Decisions During Major Life Events

Everyone makes poor decisions at some point in their life. Big life changes can make the chances of a mistake higher- specifically a financial mistake.
Let’s explore some of the things you should be thinking about to make smart financial decisions when you encounter some of the most significant events in your life.
 
Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show:
What to do if you find yourself in a new job or career. (3:40)
Here are some things you should consider when going through a divorce. (7:27)
An inheritance can be a blessing or a curse and here’s why. (10:22)
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: Talk With Lee

Ep 86: Did Charlie Brown Get Scammed?

There is a good chance you have seen, or at least heard of, Charlie Brown. On the Thanksgiving Special, there is a moment where Charlie Brown makes a mistake but keeps repeating it as if he is expecting a different result.
Unfortunately, many of us do this with our finances. Some even go as far as reaching out for help, but ultimately end up going back to their old ways. Listen to find out why and how you should avoid this.
 
Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show:
Let’s talk Thanksgiving; What are you thankful for? (8:56)
Have you seen Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving special? (2:33)
Sometimes we repeatedly make the same financial mistakes and don’t learn our lesson. (4:08)
What you can learn from a Strategy Meeting with us. (6:30)
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: Talk With Lee

Ep 85: Mailbag – Should I Pay Off My Rental Properties?

You have questions? Well, we have answers.
We have been getting a lot of listener questions the last few weeks, and many of them are questions I get from clients all of the time.
We will discuss financial scenarios from having multiple mortgages to whether or not you should pay for your children’s student loans.
 
Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show:
Should I pay off my mortgages on my rental properties if I have enough invested to pay them off? (3:23)
What to do when you’re paying a large tax bill on dividends. (4:49)
Should I pay for my kid’s student loans instead of retiring? (8:21)
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: Talk With Lee

Ep 84: What You Should Know About RMDs

What is an RMD? You've probably heard the acronym but how much do you know about required minimum distributions? There tends to be a lot of confusion surrounding RMDs, so today we will go over everything you should know.
The Required minimum distribution is the mandatory amount that everybody must take from their qualified accounts in the year they reach age 72. Let’s cover some of the key points to help you better understand RMDs.
 
Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show:
What is the purpose of an RMD? (4:26)
What are the qualified accounts for RMDs? (6:42)
Differences between RMDs and IRAs. (10:34)
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: Talk With Lee

Ep 83: 5 Potential Financial Problems

Just like the lights on your dashboard can indicate if something is wrong with your car (like low tire pressure or leaking oil), there are indicators in your financial life that might point out that you have a problem that needs to be addressed
You might have watched your parents retire in their early 60s and think that’s how it should still be for everyone.  But consider that you’ll likely live much longer than them, you probably don’t have the pension that they had, and the costs for your healthcare during your retirement years will dwarf their costs.  In this episode, we will shed light on potential financial problems that could hinder your retirement plan.
 
Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show:
Do you really know how much it will cost to fund your current lifestyle? (3:54)
Are you too hung up on your net worth, instead of the income you will be generating? (6:34)
Does the impact of current events on the market make you lose sleep over your portfolio? (15:03)
 
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithlee.com

Ep 82: Talking Retirement with LA Times Journalist Steve Lopez

We are excited to have Steve Lopez as our guest today. Steve is a journalist for the LA Times and is about to release a new book on retirement. We feel that a lot of what Steve writes about will resonate with our listeners.
Steve found himself facing a fork in the road: To retire, or not to retire? This fork in the road led him to write ‘Independence Day: What I Learned About Retirement from Some Who’ve Done It and Some Who Never Will’. During this journey, he spent a year interviewing people who had various experiences with retirement. Listen as he shares what he learned as he wrote his new book.
 
Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show:
Here you can learn about navigating life as an ‘empty nester’. (10:33)
Here are Steve’s thoughts on claiming Social Security early. (24:24)
Navigating your loss of identity in the eyes of others. (33:40)
 
Preorder Steve's book:
https://www.amazon.com/Independence-Day-Learned-About-Retirement-ebook/dp/B09N8RVS42
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithlee.com

Ep 81: Psychology and Retirement

We always talk about the money side of financial and retirement planning. But what about the mental aspect of that big life change? Today we’ll break down an article written by a Licensed Professional Counselor (Kate Schroeder) for Psychology Today, titled The Psychological Investment In Retirement.
 
Here is some of what you’ll learn on this show:
Few people consider the consequence of walking away from a life and routine that has likely defined them for decades. (2:51)
The author says that research shows the number one thing retirees struggle with is finding consistent, genuine, and lasting meaning. (5:49)
Just like saving money, the earlier you start the better… Engage with psychological growth before retirement; it’ll help you find deep and lasting meaning in life. (17:24)
 
Want to set up a meeting with us? Visit us here: http://talkwithlee.com