Social Security is something we see taken out of each paycheck, but what does that mean exactly? And, will there be any money left in the Social Security coffer when you’re ready to retire? For many, the benefits, and when to take them, can be confusing. On this episode, we invite Joe Hendrix, of Mariner Wealth Advisors, to simplify this topic for us and offer considerations on your personal plan.

Many individuals who invest would like to know how their dollar is being put to work while in the market. Is it supporting a company who’s values align with their own? We turned a recent socially responsible investing webinar into our latest Your Life, Simplified podcast. Our host, George Fernandez along with the panel of Brad Rollins, vice president of investment operations, Ken Powell, senior equities portfolio manager and Andy Garrison, senior wealth advisor, discuss how you can align your values with your investing strategies, what opportunities are available and how you can take action. 

Even before the pandemic, working from home has become a norm in our society. Whether you do your job from a home office full-time, or have a temporary setup during an unexpected shift in your routine, there are impacts to your overall health that you should consider. We invite Samantha Cooper Cauthon, facility manager & physical therapist at Athletico, to join us in a discussion about ways to improve your workspace, routines to employ and other tips for working from home in a health-conscious manner.

Could stress and environmental factors be derailing our desire to lead a healthy life? On this episode, we invite Sheri Stinson, registered dietician, to discuss societal influences on our health and how nutritional needs ebb and flow based on outside stressors we face on a day-to-day basis. She also explores common errors made when setting weight loss goals, dieting fads, tips for success and how a healthy diet is only part of the puzzle when constructing a healthy lifestyle.

We live in a digital age where constantly sharing photos with friends and family over social media is the norm. Who else, besides friends and family, is seeing your posts? On this episode, Leah Plunkett, law professor and author of Sharenthood, speaks about the impact sharing information about your children online could have down the road. From privacy settings to location services and user agreements, Leah shares examples of the ways we may be over-sharenting and not know it. 

As we approach the holidays and gather with family, feelings of gratitude and sharing often arise. In thinking about ways to give back, we’ve invited Andy Garrison, of Mariner Wealth Advisors, to talk about how he’s helped his clients with impact investing. For those who are investing already but would like to make a difference while doing so, Andy shares how to think about putting dollars to work in a way that shapes the community and is socially responsible.

Most of us know at least the basics of softball, volleyball and lacrosse and that the team with the most points wins. Athletes Unlimited has introduced a new scoring model for professional athletes that goes beyond the points on the scoreboard. In this episode, Scott Sturgeon invites Haylie Wagner, a professional softball player with Athletes Unlimited, to share how they play differs from a typical softball game, her journey to becoming a professional athlete and what she’s learned along the way.

As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, we’d like to take a moment to celebrate a few individuals here at Mariner Wealth Advisors. In this episode, George Fernandez speaks to Valerie Escobar and Alejandro Zayas about the culture that influences who they are today and the financial experiences they’ve had along the way.

As we age – or face an event that results in disabilities – we all will have to make the important, and sometimes challenging, decision about Medicare. There can be a lot to unpack when considering the different coverage components and understanding what may be right for you. On this episode, we invite Joe Hendrix, of Mariner Wealth Advisors, to share with us how he breaks down these complexities for his clients.

After spending years building up a business, many people may hesitate when it comes time to sell off an asset that has become precious to them. Denise Logan, author of The Seller’s Journey, discusses aspects of selling a business and how this transaction goes much deeper than just monetary value. She shares experiences such as what can cause a deal to fall through, compromises to keep a deal alive and things to keep in mind if you’re approaching a selling point in your journey.

From family fun to competitive atmospheres, golf is a game that can be enjoyed by a wide variety of audiences. Not just a leisure activity, golf can have both physical and mental health benefits as well. For this episode, we invite pro golfer turned wealth consultant, Kevin Ward, to join us and share his knowledge of the game as well as tips for improvement.

Long-term care insurance is just for the elderly or chronically ill need, right? While those are common recipients of care, a stroke, sudden disability or other unexpected health issue can raise the need for care to those who may not have planned for it. Asking loved ones if they’re prepared for these situations can be equally difficult. So, we’ve invited Lindsey McCool, Ed Simms and Jerry Clark, of Mariner Wealth Advisors, to join us, share their experiences and help simplify the details of what can be a very complex subject.

When thinking of approaching retirement, common themes that come to mind are spending more time traveling, golfing or with family. However, the way you spend your time and money in retirement can have deeper complexities. On this episode, we invite Aaron Fulton of Mariner Wealth Advisors to share with us how he helps his clients comprehensively think about retirement.

Whether by choice or unexpected circumstances, most people have been on the hunt for a new job at one point in their lives, polished their resumes and brushed up on interviewing skills. However, how do you stand out from the crowd when the number of positions is limited or the market is oversaturated in candidates? We invite Karen Fenaroli of Fenaroli & Associates on to the show to share what she looks for as an executive headhunter and offer tips on how to improve your chances of landing that next job.

Many of us have experienced some level of stress when it comes to money, but some individuals experience symptoms of anxiety when they think about their accounts.On this episode, George Fernandez invites financial therapist, Lindsay Bryan-Podvin, to share what it means to have financial anxiety, different ways it can manifest and how she helps her clients through it.

SECURE Act, CARES Act, Small Business Loans and Paycheck Protection Program. There have certainly been many changes to the tax landscape recently. In this episode, Brian Leitner, George Fernandez and Scott Sturgeon take a look back at the legislative changes discuss what kind of impacts that may have for individual’s tax situations going forward.

Whether it is a government-issued, stay-at-home order, an unavoidable crisis or market turmoil, sometimes it can feel like control is out of your hands. In this episode, Brian Leitner and Scott Sturgeon discuss what you can do from the comfort of your home, in any situation, to help regain some sense of normalcy. 

As you practice precautions to help keep yourself and your family healthy, consider these additional safety tips. Dr. Chris Jenson, a former ER doctor who spent time with the CDC and is now an educator, joins us to help break down COVID-19 and what you should do to help protect yourself.

With drops in the markets over the last two weeks and the spread of the coronavirus, you may have concerns about your investments. We continue to watch the markets and urge against making impulsive actions. Hear what our Chief Investment Strategist Jeff Krumpelman has to say on the topic.

Whether couples have shared or separate accounts, it’s important to communicate about finances, values and goals. Having these discussions can result in reduced financial stress and an increase in satisfaction within their relationships. Sonya Lutter, Ph.D., director of School of Family Studies and Human Services at Kansas State University, joins us to help break down the intricacies of love and money and ways for couples to discuss finances.

On December 20, 2019, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act, or the SECURE Act, became law. While many of us have heard about this in the news, what may not have been immediately apparent is the significant impact this new law could have on your retirement plan and financial goals. Scott Sturgeon, of the Mariner Wealth Advisors practice management team joins us to help simplify the details and explain who is impacted in what way.

From stamps to cars and wine to fine art, there are thousands of different collections that enthusiasts buy and sell, but how do you know if your collection is better at accumulating value than dust? We’re joined by Laura Doyle, vice president, art, jewelry & valuable collections manager at Chubb, who shares her experience in helping her clients appraise, restore and preserve their collections. We explore what collectors just getting started should know, what insuring a collection looks like and how profoundly the provenance of an item can impact its value.

As we approach the end of the year, many of us are winding down for the holidays, traveling to spend time with family and reflecting on the year, and ultimately, setting resolutions for the new year. But is the end of the year or beginning of a new year the best time to set goals and resolutions? Chris Bixby, of Mariner Wealth Advisors, suggests a different approach. In this Episode of Your Life, Simplified, he suggests we spend this time of reflection as a way to set your goals in motion for the next year in a more thoughtful manner, planning out overarching themes and supporting milestones for each quarter to achieve those goals.

Sequence of returns risk is the possibility that an investor will have lower returns over time due to withdrawals made during low or negative return years. It may not be something thought about regularly, but it is something that everyone should consider, especially when planning for retirement. We’re joined by Justin Richter of Mariner Wealth Advisors who helps us understand what the overall impacts of taking distributions in a down market can look like over time and explain what strategies can be put in place to mitigate this risk.

Many people consider their tax situations when there is a filing deadline coming up, but the reality is, by taking a more comprehensive look at your tax plan, you can potentially improve your overall wealth plan. Ryan Drake of the Mariner Wealth Advisors tax planning and preparation group joins us to talk about common mistakes and opportunities he sees when speaking with clients. Additionally, he shares ways in which you could improve your tax situation before year end.

Estate planning is a topic often put off as a conversation that can be had in the future. However, do you know what would happen if you were to suddenly pass and you didn’t have an estate plan in place or if it was drafted incorrectly? Jadin Winberg of Mariner Wealth Advisors discusses some of the more common mistakes he has encountered with reviewing and discussing estate plans.

We’ve compiled your top financial questions and are dedicating this episode of Your Life, Simplified to providing answers. Discussing topics such as charitable giving, taxes, investments, risk management, retirement planning, education funding, enrolling in Medicare versus staying on your company’s healthcare plan after age 65, to finding an insurance policy when you have a pre-existing condition, our guests – Pat Kummer and George Fernandez - provide their views in an effort to help make finances, and the ensuing topics around it, less complicated.

The market has been a wild ride in 2019, and the volatility in price swings and investor psychology isn’t letting up. Despite current popular opinion that recession is imminent, we are reading the signs differently. Jeff Krumpelman, chief investment strategist of Mariner Wealth Advisors joins the show to discuss how he and his team views the market changes and why he urges investors to remain cautiously optimistic and focused on trends in data.

Women often take a backseat when it comes to long-term financial planning. They’re busy juggling family, career and professional goals, but it’s imperative that women take charge of their financial futures too. Jana Shoulders of Mariner Wealth Advisors joins us to discuss the importance of women being educated about their finances and finding a wealth advisor that holistically supports them.

Divorce can be a very difficult time, and with emotions running high, it can be beneficial to have someone advocating for you when it comes time to look at how to split your finances. We invite Megan Brozowski of Mariner Wealth Advisors to discuss how having an advisor, and specifically a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, can alleviate the burden of making those decisions on your own as well as running the numbers to know what you need to continue living your lifestyle.

Since their introduction, opioids have been an effective tool in pain management for many. Unfortunately, they have also been the path to powerful addiction for others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 130 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. Dr. Chris Jenson, a former ER doctor who spent time with the CDC and is now an educator, joins the podcast to discuss the opioid epidemic as a situation that could potentially affect any one of us.

As we grow older, we will all need to make choices regarding senior living. Whether you’re making decisions for your parents, a spouse, yourself or other loved ones, it is important to have a clear understanding of the housing options available. Choices can range from facilities with assisted living services or memory care to continuing care retirement communities (also known as life plan communities) to receiving assistance in your home, and each of these options has different implications for your health and finances. Join us as we talk with Sally Abrahms, an award-winning writer and nationally recognized expert on aging, as she shares her insights on trends in senior living that may influence your choice in housing options.

It’s no secret higher education tuition costs are rapidly rising. So when it comes to college planning your mind likely goes right to dollar signs. But there’s more to planning for college than just finances. Cozy Wittman of College Inside Track goes beyond loans and scholarships for an in-depth discussion on college planning considerations you may not be thinking about. 

Many of us have heard the adage about location being everything when it comes to real estate, but what else should you be thinking about? We invite real estate agent Mike O’Dell on to the show to discuss key decision points from both the buying and selling side. From strategic approaches on coming in with an offer on the buy side, to how to handle lowball offers on the sale of your home, Mike shares his experience on what he has seen work in the industry.

When it comes to filing your taxes, the rate at which your income is taxed can vary based on the state in which you live, or where your domicile is. In this episode, we invite Adam Kotz of Mariner Wealth Advisors to discuss how the IRS determines your domicile and things to keep in mind when you move to a different state. Additionally, we dive into what this means for individuals who own homes in multiple states.

New tax season, new tax laws. How do you decide whether you should choose a tax preparer or a tax consultant to help you file? Along with discussing the key differences in this selection, Ryan Drake and Erin Alexander of Mariner Wealth Advisors break down how filing has changed in the first year after the tax law update, and how that may impact the way you file and your refund. In addition, they discuss common filing mistakes and how to avoid them.

Financial windfalls come in a variety of forms, from winning the lottery to receiving an inheritance or even selling a business. Regardless of the sort of windfall received, there are some key pieces to keep in mind. On this episode, we ask Suzanne Wheeler of Mariner Wealth Advisors to share what she feels to be important considerations when handling new-found wealth. After taking a moment to step back and look at your situation, some decisions Suzanne recommends you make include deciding how the money should be allocated, if you’d like to donate to charity, how you can protect your assets and what changes should you make in your lifestyle.

We know that it is sometimes difficult to stick to those New Year’s resolutions, whether they be related to diet and exercise or saving and spending. So, we have invited George Fernandez and Andy Garrison of Mariner Wealth Advisors to have a conversation about what they are thinking about when planning financial goals for the year. Those planning topics include saving for your retirement, creating an appropriate spending plan, choosing the correct level of insurance coverage and selecting the right gym.

According to Game Plan Experts, there are, on average, 76,000 people killed and 174 billion dollars in average annual losses because of natural disasters every year. These numbers are so high because many people are not prepared for emergency situations like hurricanes, fires, tornadoes, flooding, earthquakes and other extreme weather. Today we invite Shawn Tipping to share his insights and speak to how his company helps people get prepared.

Throughout the life of our podcast, we have been asking you to send in any questions or thoughts you might have that you would like us to cover. In a segment we’re calling Mariner Mail, we have gone through some of these financial questions and invited Scott Voss and Jadin Winberg from Mariner Wealth Advisors to help answer them. Questions answered today include: We pay our daughter to do chores around the house, can she use these funds to contribute to an individual retirement account? My attorney who created my estate plan has died. Is there anything I need to do, how do I get copies of the documents and is it still in effect? Where should I be keeping important documents like my will? Will I have to pay estate tax when I pass? What’s the difference between a revocable and irrevocable trust? When assets are gifted, are there taxes associated with that gift – for either the recipient or giver of that gift? I’ve done my own taxes for years but have just received a letter from the IRS. What do I do? What are the most common mistakes in estate planning and tax preparation?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, American households spend approximately $500 a month on their automotive transportation. Over a 60-year period of time, that equates to roughly $360,000 – not a small expense by any means. And, let’s face it, buying a car can be overwhelming. In this podcast, our guest expert, John M. Vincent, an automotive consumer advice writer with U.S. News & World Report. John shares his knowledge to help you simplify the car buying process, deciding whether you should buy new, used or lease a car, financing, how to negotiate the best price, what to look for in a car, how to research a car and where to buy a car.

One in eight people are related to someone with special needs, according to Pew Research Center. There is a broad definition of special needs and it does not discriminate. If you have a family member with special needs, it’s important to adapt your financial plan. Depending on the severity of the special needs, parents may need to not only plan for their lifetime, but also that of their child or children. This podcast episode focuses on when and where you should start with special needs planning. In addition, items such as schooling, doctors, instructions for guardians and more are discussed to help you ensure you have the bases covered for someone with special needs. If you have questions or suggestions for future podcasts, please email us at [email protected]

We are all impacted by cybersecurity. This podcast includes answers to questions we have received, to help ensure your personal information is kept safe. Many firms spend a great deal of money to protect your data, but are you following steps to protect it too. With the recent data breaches of Facebook, Uber and Equifax, among others, it’s more important than ever to understand cybersecurity and protecting your personally identifiable information. From passwords, to your computer, to wi-fi and much more…this episode covers what you should think about the next time you get online. If you have questions you would like answered, email us at [email protected]  

The goal of this episode is to educate you on life insurance – why you need it, the role it can serve in your financial plan, the differences in types, and more. Most importantly, we want to simplify the context of life insurance so you can make an informed decision about your own wealth plan. According to the Life Insurance Market Research Association (LIMRA) and LifeHappens.org, three in five adults have life insurance, but 61 percent know they don’t have enough insurance, but think they can’t afford to buy more. Find out why life insurance is something you seriously need to consider as you evaluate how to navigate your financial future.  Questions for our host? Email us at [email protected]

For years, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) were thought of as “the cheap insurance” because consumers paid more out-of-pocket expenses, which resulted in lower premiums for both the consumer and the employer. How do you know if an HSA is a good fit for your medical insurance needs? First, analyze your medical spending habits. Are you a relatively healthy person, or a minimal spender on healthcare? Or, are you on many medications or make frequent trips to the doctor, which would make you a high spender. What are your views on investing? An HSA is an investment too. It’s designed to be a long-term investment. You can invest the funds in the account so they have the opportunity to grow. If you can afford it, let that account grow and pay cash out of pocket for your medical expenses. This podcast, with host Brian Leitner, will walk you through the pros and cons of an HSA, simplifying the decision on if it is right for you. Questions for our host? Email us at [email protected]

Shanna Hutcheson, a registered dietitian, talks about how you can improve your health through what you put in your body. She breaks down the pros and cons of the “fad” diets and detox methods out there today, such as Atkins, Keto, cleanses and Paleo, and why she doesn’t endorse any of them. She also explains that “carb” is not a four-letter word, the right carbs to eat daily and why it’s important to eat them every day. The timing behind when you should eat carbs and how to fuel your body before and after a workout is also discussed. Shanna gives tips on how to fill your plate in a healthy manner and portion control. Have a gluten allergy or avoid eating gluten? She provides tips on healthy foods to focus on in your daily diet. This podcast covers the gamut of health and nutrition topics and tips to simplify your healthy eating.  If you have questions or topics you would like us to cover, please email [email protected]

The good news is that whether you realize it or not, you already have an estate plan. Every state in the union provides a process that will pass on your assets upon your death, unless you’ve planned otherwise. The bad news is that it may not be the one you want. In our podcast, Simplifying the Estate Planning Process, Brian Leitner and George Fernandez from Mariner Wealth Advisors break down how to make sure your assets are passed on the right people at the right time and the right way. They take the legal-speak out of the discussion and make it simple. This podcast provides information to help ensure your wishes regarding your assets are considered…and simplifies the entire process. If you have questions or topics you would like us to cover, please email [email protected]

Research indicates that people will spend more time planning a vacation than they do their retirement plan. Why not make it easier? In our podcast, Travel Hacks To Simplify Your Life, guest Shiraz Dalal, a commercial pilot and a travel consultant, shares with host Brian Leitner travel tips and hacks that everyone should be aware of when planning their next vacation. These tips can save you time, money and frustration when you’re trying to book travel, hotels and excursions. Sometimes getting started with the planning is the hardest part. Shiraz also discusses seasons you should travel, when to use a travel agent and when to “do it yourself.” If you have questions or topics you would like us to cover, please email [email protected]