Rockin’ Retirement with J’Neanne Theus

The Ins and Outs of Mutual Funds

Mutual funds have long been a popular investment option for people saving for retirement, but is the landscape changing? We’ll take a deep look into mutual funds, explain some key terminology, and discuss whether it’s a good option or not.
 
Show Notes and Additional Resources: https://theuswealthadvisors.com/2019/12/the-ins-and-outs-of-mutual-funds/ 
 
Today's Rundown: 
0:56 – It’s the final show of 2019.
2:07 – How many of your clients owned mutual funds when they first came to see you?
4:06 – How many of those clients actually understand those mutual funds?
5:08 – What is an expense ratio and why is it important?
9:21 – What about the term ‘loaded’? What does that mean?
12:36 – Are there tax issues to consider when investing in mutual funds?
15:19 – Do you use or recommend mutual funds? Where do they fit into your planning?
18:00 – Do people selling mutual funds adhere to the fiduciary standard?
19:46 – It’s important to remember that owning mutual funds doesn’t necessarily mean your diversified.

Ways That We Sabotage Our Retirement

There are so many parts of your financial life that are out of your control, so why would you sabotage your retirement by failing to handle the things that are within your control? Many people do this but you don’t need to be one of them. Let’s discuss some ways people sabotage their own financial health.
 
Show Notes: https://theuswealthadvisors.com/2019/12/ways-that-we-sabotage-our-retirement/ 
 
On This Episode: 
1:20 – Previewing the show today.
2:27 – In the News: The Social Security Administration announced a 1.6% cost of living adjustment that will be added to the 2020 monthly benefits.  
4:59 – Did you see this? A British man spent $30,000 in legal fees and court costs fighting a $100 speeding ticket. And he lost the case…
7:12 – Let’s talk about what we can do to avoid sabotaging our own retirement.
7:40 – Obsessing over the short term ups and downs. 10:28 – Starting Social Security at the wrong time.  
11:47 – Pretending like the risk of nursing home stay is so far in the future that you don’t need to worry about it right now.  
13:47 – Assuming just because you like your job now means you’ll enjoy it forever.
15:38 – Not identifying how much you need to spend for the rest of your life to enjoy the lifestyle you want.

Top 5 Misunderstandings About Social Security

Are you ready to start taking Social Security benefits? Do you feel knowledgeable on what strategies to put in place to make the most of it or are you falling for some of these common misconceptions when it comes to Social Security?
 
Show Notes: https://theuswealthadvisors.com/2019/11/top-5-misunderstandings-about-social-security/
 
On This Episode: 
2:50 - In the News: When looking at the presidential candidates for 2020, how might they impact the market?
7:24 - Did you see this: Couple arrested for spending $120,000 accidentally added to their bank account.
11:44 - Misunderstanding #1: Social Security is going broke.
14:29 - Misunderstanding #2: You should start Social Security as soon as possible.
15:40 - Misunderstanding #3: Delaying Social Security as long as possible is usually best.
16:57 - Misunderstanding #4: The Social Security Administration can help you choose the best strategy.
17:59 - Misunderstanding #5: You don’t have to pay taxes on Social Security.

Are You Having Awkward Financial Conversations?

Financial planning is more than just spreadsheets and dollar signs. It includes a lot of tough decisions and emotions that need to be communicated to your loved ones and advisor. Are you avoiding these awkward conversations when it comes to your finances?
 
Show Notes: https://theuswealthadvisors.com/2019/11/are-you-having-awkward-financial-conversations/
 
Today's Rundown: 
3:37 - In the News: Elizabeth Warren proposes $20.5 trillion health care plan.
12:59 - Sometimes planning your finances includes awkward conversations.
13:26 - What happens after the death of the first spouse?
15:30 - What happens if nursing home care is needed?
18:57 - Do you need to work longer than planned?
20:17 - Do your children understand your estate and legacy plan?
22:32 - How do you separate from an advisor that is nice but not a good fit?
26:53 - Getting to Know J’Neanne: What presentation could she give right now? 
29:00 - Mailbag: The roller coaster of the market drives me crazy. Does that mean I should get out of the market and invest in a different way?

What Will the Next Market Crash Look Like?

We know another downturn in the market is inevitable, but how long will it be until the next ‘crash’ happens? Will it hit us as hard as 2008? We’ll ask J’Neanne to give us her thoughts on the subject and what we can do as investors to prepare ourselves for that day.
On this episode: 
4:28 – What’s to come on today’s show.
5:25 – In the news: At what point will the 2020 election begin to impact the way investors behave?
10:17 – Introducing a new topic on the show, ‘Did You See This.’ In this first installment, we discuss a marriage dispute that includes the husband hacks into his wife’s bank account from space.
14:04 – Let’s begin our conversation on market crashes.
14:46 – What is J’Neanne telling clients about when it might happen? 
16:57 – Will the next crash be as severe as 2008?
18:22 – Even just a smaller correction can have an impact on someone retiring soon.
19:22 – The moves might seem larger but we’re in a higher place than 2008.
20:48 – Why don’t we just go to cash if we’re worried about a market crash?
24:07 – The key point people need to remember is the market isn’t static so there will be another upward turn after the drop.
26:58 – Mailbag question: It seems counterintuitive to move out of a house I paid off ten years ago but I’m about to retire and might move into a rental so I don’t have to worry about repairs and expenses. What do you think?
Show notes and additional resources: https://theuswealthadvisors.com/2019/10/what-will-the-next-market-crash-look-like/

Preparing for Retirement During Your Final Decade of Work

Whether you’ve been working on your retirement plan for years or just beginning to get around to it, your focus needs to increase as you approach the end of your working career. That final decade before retirement gives you the chance to get everything in order so you aren’t left scrambling. Today we’ll run through a list of items that you need to be paying attention to.
Today's rundown: 
2:25 – Previewing today’s show.
3:13 – In the news: A new trend in the wedding industry: wedding loans. What are J’Neanne’s thoughts.
7:40 – What J’Neanne told her daughter about spending when she got married.
11:30 – Moving into the main topic of what you should pay attention to during your final decade of work.
12:00 – First item: Decide what’s important to you.
13:50 – Item 2: Know your numbers.
14:43 – Next item: Estimate your income streams.
16:40 – Item 4: Get a handle on healthcare.   
18:45 – Final item: Think about how much your needs will change.
21:23 – When is the best time to go in and meet with an advisor to start running through these things?
23:55 – Getting to know J’Neanne: What is the most universally well-known movie that you’ve never seen.
26:49 – Storytime: Have you ever had someone take so long on a decision related to their investments that it ended up hurting them in the end?
29:11 – Mailbag question: I’m getting close to retirement but I’m worried about a market crash coming before I get to the finish line. Will I be okay for the next six months?
Get the full show notes and additional resources by clicking here: https://theuswealthadvisors.com/2019/10/preparing-for-retirement-during-your-final-decade-of-work/

Busting the Biggest Financial Myths – Part 2

In this series, we’ll look at some of the most widely believed financial myths and try to bust them wide open. There are many people that base their decisions on these myths and that’s scary. We want to make sure you aren’t making any mistakes based on misinformation.
Today's rundown:
2:14 – Introducing the topics for today’s show.
2:37 – In the news: Democratic presidential nominees proposing plans to forgive student loan debt. J’Neanne gives us her opinion and shares a solution she thinks could work.
9:11 – Time to continue the financial myth-busting series.  
9:31 – Recapping the myths we covered in part 1.   
9:50 – Myth: You’ll probably be in a lower tax bracket when you retire.
11:49 – Myth: Financial planning is much easier without an advisor now because of all the technology available.    
13:39 – J’Neanne shares a great example of why you need someone that can provide context.
14:42 – Myth: Longterm care is not going to happen to me.   
18:42 – Getting to know J’Neanne: If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with all that spare time?
20:35 – Mailbag question: I’ve seen a lot of growth in my 401k recently and I feel like I should take risk off the table by capturing these gains. But what happens if the market keeps rolling for a couple more years?
Check out the full show notes and get additional information by clicking here. 

Busting the Biggest Financial Myths – Part 1

In this series, we’ll look at some of the most widely believed financial myths and try to bust them wide open. There are many people that base their decisions on these myths and that’s scary. We want to make sure you aren’t making any mistakes based on misinformation.
Click here to see the full show notes.
Today's rundown:
2:03 – What’s in store on today’s episode.
2:39 – Quote of the month: “I made money the old fashioned way, I very was nice to a wealthy relative right before he died.”
4:20 – In the news headline: Uber Eats running a test program where they will use drone delivery.  
9:53 – Time to start the financial myth-busting series.   
10:44 – Myth 1: Shifting from stocks to bonds removes the volatility from your portfolio.
13:48 – Myth 2: Once you’re retired, life insurance is no longer necessary.   
16:35 – Myth 3: You will need less income once you retire.  
20:25 – Getting to know J’Neanne: Who is someone that always makes you laugh?
20:07 – Mailbag question: What kind of annual return should I be seeking on investments in retirement?

Scenarios That Create Urgency in Your Financial Plan

Even if we stay on top of our retirement planning, there are life events that shake up everything we’ve done or force us to rethink our path. In this episode, we identify some of those events that create a sense of urgency within us and discuss how to be best prepared if they happen to you.
Check out the full show notes for this episode here. 

What Does Financial Security Mean to You?

Nearly all of us have the same end game in mind, which is to make it to retirement and enjoy our lives in whatever way we choose. But how much we need in retirement varies from person to person. We all have our own definition of financial security, and today we’ll talk about some of those meanings.
If you'd like to see the show notes, click here.