Big Picture Retirement

Jean Chatzky, financial editor of NBC's Today show, discusses her new book “AgeProof” about balancing your health and your wealth.  She shares some habits that can help you thrive, both financially and physically. Teamwork: Working with a partner can help you meet your financial goals and your health goals.  A running partner will motivate you to get out even when you don't feel like it.  Find a money partner to help you meet your financial goals. Automation: We know that saving money works best is when we put it on automatic pilot.  Do the same thing with your health!  Schedule your workouts.  Have two or three healthy, simple meals that you can just grab out of the refrigerator without thinking. Substitution: Small tweaks can turn bad habits into good habits.  We've all heard that you should swap out home-brewed coffee for expensive coffee shop habits.  How can you do the same thing with your health?  Rather than convincing yourself to quit a bad habit, figure out how you can adjust it. For more

Social Security benefits are confusing - even for those who work at the SS Office. Often, the person looking for advice is unsure of what information the SS Office needs - or how to communicate it to them. Nancy tells her story of being denied for Social Security benefits - and how Devin Carroll was able to provide her the advice and documentation to fight for her benefits. The difference was $500 a month in Nancy’s favor. Contact Devin for help with your Social Security Benefits at http://www.bigpictureretirement.net/about/devin-carroll

Death is never a pleasant topic. What is less pleasant is passing away suddenly with no planning in place and no way to help your family transition through the process. John walks us through 5 things to do after someone dies: What to do prior to death Immediately after a death Within a few days of a death The first 2 weeks after a death During the year after a death To download the checklist resource, visit http://www.bigpictureretirement.net  or http://rossandshoalmire.com

Did you know that a copy of a will may not hold up in Probate? John talks about the need to keep an original copy of the will up-to-date and in a safe place. Devin is asked if buying a rental property in retirement is a better idea than investing in the market. Download 3 Simple Steps to a Successful Retirement at http://www.bigpictureretirement.net/steps

Steve Chen created a retirement planning calculator that anyone can use. The inspiration came from personal experience. His mom needed help at retirement - but she didn't have enough assets to work with most financial planners. Steve from NewRetirement.com discusses financial planning needs for those who aren't "attractive" to financial planners. For more information, visit http://www.bigpictureretirement.net

Recessions and market declines are going to happen. What are the lessons we can learn from the Tech Bubble of 2000's and the Great Recession of 2008? Devin shares the 5 lessons he learned during the two most recent market declines while being a financial advisor: 1. Market declines are normal 2. No one can consistently predict market movements 3. The best days hang out with the bad days 4. This time is not different 5. The greatest threat to your portfolio return is not the market You can read more at http://socialsecurityintelligence.com/5-lessons-ive-learned-market-declines Do you know what to expect from a great Financial Advisor during market declines? Straightforward Advice Truthful Activity Proactive Support If you don't have an advisor who can help you through the downturns then contact us at http://www.bigpictureretirement.net

Non-Probate Transfers, Trusts, and how the Beneficiary Designation trumps any wishes you express in your Will. These are just a few of the things you NEED to understand so you can avoid making a major mistake with your estate planning. For more information, visit http://www.bigpictureretirement.net/21

Linda and her husband have been raising their grandchildren since birth. Both of the children’s parents are alive. Do the grandchildren qualify for Social Security?   Clyde asks if there is any situation where you would roll an IRA into a 401k? It is an unusual situation when this makes sense. Listen in to find out more. Notes from today's show can be found at http://www.bigpictureretirement.net

Experience is a great teacher. David Waldrop has more than 15 years of experience, the same as John and I. He comes on to share stories from his history - and how human emotions come into play when making investing decisions. For more information on how to work with us, visit http://www.bigpictureretirement.net

In Part 1 we covered credits, earnings limits, and more. In this episode we finish the series by talking about: Length of marriage rules Spousal Benefits vs Survivor Benefits How you are taxed on social security benefits and more. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, find it here: http://www.bigpictureretirement.net/episode-17-part-1-social-security-basics  

Part 1 in a 2-part series about what you need to know about Social Security. For more information, or to have a conversation with Devin Carroll or John Ross, visit http://www.bigpictureretirement.net  

Wanda wrote in to ask why she shouldn’t add a child to her checking account? Brenda retired from a company that offers a pension. She asks if it would be better to take the pension in a stream of payments or as a lump sum. Have a question? Send them in and we will try to answer it on the show. Email questions@bigpictureretirement.net  

Can we expect 3 rate increases this year? What could that mean for the market - or our savings? Andrew Comstock, Chief Investment Officer for Castlebar Asset Management, joins us again to recap the market's performance from the first quarter of 2017. Market Snapshot: DOW (DJI) opened at 19,782.86 on January 3rd and closed on March 31, 2017 at 20,663.22 S&P (GSPC) opened the year at 2,251.57 and closed on March 31st at 2,362.72   Visit http://bigpictureretirement.net for more

In the previous episode we talked about Wills: Why you need one and what to look out for so you do it right. But before you draft out your will, these are the things you need to consider: • Why you should never leave anyone $1. • Beneficiaries:  you should know who your people are • Why you need to specifically disinherit people who you don't want to receive anything. • Always anticipate that circumstances will change. • Questions your attorney needs to be asking • Why you might want to avoid making personal property bequests in your will. • Reference to tangible personal property. • Residuary Clause • Choosing an executor - and what is an executrix? • Do you want your executor to get a bond? Contact us for help with your Wills: http://www.bigpictureretirement.net  

According to a survey, 71% of Americans do not have a current Will - and half of Americans age 65 or older don't have a Will that is not up-to-date. ​In this episode we cover the common mistakes people make when drafting their final testaments and ​why Snoop Dogg isn't going to do one at all. This is part one of a series on Wills. We ask that you subscribe for free to receive the next episode automatically. There is no cost to do so, simply visit iTunes or subscribe on your Android device. You can even listen via our website. All resources and links can be found at http://bigpictureretirement.net  

Devin and John answer a question from Mitch about why the Social Security Office would not recognize his Power of Attorney statement. Charlotte is asking about ABLE accounts - tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities and their families. If you want us to address your question on the air, send them to questions@bigpictureretirement.net  

Roger Whitney, the Retirement Answerman, shares his approach to spending money on fun today while still being able to plan and save for tomorrow. He likens it to a teeter-totter, and reflects on things his mother taught before she passed away. Find more information or ask us a question at http://bigpictureretirement.net  

7 doable steps for making it easier to be organized with your retirement finances. One of the biggest hurdles to a successful retirement is getting - and staying - organized. It’s easy for account statements, legal forms and other important documents to pile up in some hidden away desk or drawer. Before long, things are messy. Not just physically messy, but mentally messy too. To accurately plan for an awesome retirement, you need to first clean up the mess. Topics we cover in today's episode: Streamline your accounts and Go Paperless Verify your Social Security Earnings have been recorded Create a Master File And John talks about the best way to store passwords. The answer may surprise you! For a complete description of the seven steps and list of important documents to keep safe, visit http://www.bigpictureretirement.net/finances-organized Have a question for the show? Send it to questions@bigpictureretirement.net  

What should you look for when hiring a legal advisor? In this episode we discuss the first question you need to ask a potential legal advisor, what to watch out for, and the benefits of paying a flat fee versus an hourly rate. For more information, visit http://bigpictureretirement.net  

Does an 18-year old need a Power of Attorney? You bet! We also discuss limitations for drawing Social Security benefits while working. If you have questions, email them to questions@bigpictureretirement.net