Financial and retirement planning guidance from Kansas City‘s Scott Dougan of Elevated Retirement Group. Scott Dougan founded Elevated Retirement Group in 2003 in order to fill a niche he felt was not being addressed properly in the retirement planning environment – helping retirees and pre-retirees in the Kansas City metro area find answers to issues that may affect the quality of life during their retirement. Scott is a Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) and holds a Series 65 Investment ...
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Sharing proven strategies for financial advisors to maximize time, profit and freedom. The co-founders of Emerging Advisor, a practice management and marketing company, Scott Dougan and Sean Lee join host Walter Storholt each week for engaging conversation about how to improve your financial advising practice one step at a time.
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Which of the 4 Annuity Types Should You Choose?
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When it comes to planning for retirement, annuities often come up as a topic of discussion. But what exactly are annuities, and how do they fit into your financial plan? Today we’re going to break down the four different types of annuities and explain their pros and cons to help you make the best decision on which one fits you the best. Here’s what…
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Social Security COLA Increase Estimate Announced for 2025
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People always want to know whether they’ll get a Social Security increase and if so, how much will it be in 2025? New government data shows that inflation is starting to subside, and that seems like it will have an impact on next year’s Social Security cost-of-living, or COLA, adjustment. Even though many retirees are still struggling with higher c…
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4 Ways You Could Pay More Taxes Than Planned
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So you think you've got it all figured out and you’re not going to give Uncle Sam a single dime more than you absolutely have to. Well, not so fast, my friend. On today's episode, we're going to give you four ways that you could pay more taxes than you had originally planned. A couple of these mi…
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The Retirement Equation: Controlling What We Can Control
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When it comes to planning for retirement, one of the most critical aspects to understand is control. Knowing what is within your control, what you have some control over, and what is entirely out of your control can make a significant difference in how you approach planning. Today we’re going to focus on the behavioral side of planning and discuss …
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Time to Take the Retirement Checklist Challenge
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Retirement planning can be overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Working through a checklist can ease your worries and give you confidence, but what should you have on that retirement checklist? Today Scott is going to share his Checklist Challenge, a comprehensive guide to ensure you're fully prepared for retirement. Find out which 34 essential…
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5 Critical Questions To Ask Your Financial Advisor
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Whether you're just starting out with a financial advisor or considering a change, it’s important to have some key questions in mind to help determine whether a particular advisor is a good fit for you and your finances. Today we’re going to give you five critical questions you need to ask to ensure you're getting the best…
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Protect Your Information: Our Cybersecurity Event with Ryan Fickel
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In today’s digital age, cybersecurity has become a critical concern for everyone, especially those planning for retirement. In this special edition of Your Retirement Elevated we’re sharing a video replay of our recent cybersecurity event with expert Ryan Fickel. Ryan is the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Advisor…
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Don’t Let the IRS End Up With Your Retirement Money
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The truth about retirement planning is that many people need a reality check when it comes to taxes and the impact they will have on their retirement money. Today we’re going to turn our attention to tax planning and how to keep most of your money from going to the IRS instead of the things you want to spend it on in retirement. Here’s what we cove…
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Mastering The 5 Key Areas of Your Financial Life
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What does a complete financial plan really look like? You’ve spent decades working hard, saving diligently, and now the golden years are on the horizon. But have you covered all of your bases? Listen in as Scott walks us through the 5 key areas of a complete financial plan in today’s episode- income planning, investment planning, tax planning, heal…
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Am I At Risk of Having My Identity Stolen or Being A Victim of Fraud?
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Today we’re going to cut through some of the fear by identifying the most common financial scams so you know what to be on the lookout for. We’ll also give you some tangible actions to take today to help safeguard your accounts. Are you at risk of having your identity stolen or becoming of fraud? We’ll break it all down with Scott in this video. He…
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7 Habits for Living an Exceptional Retirement
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Most people think retirement planning is all about the numbers. Will the assets I have accumulated – 401k/IRA, Social Security, real estate, pension, etc. – provide enough income in retirement to fund my lifestyle? Once you reach retirement, you’ll quickly realize there’s much more to preparing for the next chapter of life. Today we’re going to sha…
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Retirement is a journey, and like any journey, it has its phases. Understanding these phases is crucial to ensure that you can enjoy your golden years without financial stress. In this episode, we’ll take you through the the essential stages of retirement planning: the go-go, slow-go, and no-go years. Understanding these three stages will help you …
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Celebrating the Launch of our Brand New Book
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The long process of writing a book has finally wrapped up for Scott and we’re excited to be rolling it out very soon. In anticipation of the launch of Exceptional Retirement: Tools and Strategies for Retiring On Your Own Terms, we wanted to share some background on the book, the chapters that we think you’ll like most, and the personal stories that…
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Retirement Questions That Every Generation Should Be Asking
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Each generation is currently navigating a unique part of the retirement planning experience. With many baby boomers preparing for the transition into retirement and the early half of Generation Z taking their initial steps into the career field, these major life events come with a handful of financial planning questions. In today’s episode, we’ll s…
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Embracing the Unexpected: 9 Retirement Surprises Unveiled
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Are you prepared for the unexpected turns your retirement might take? In this episode of Your Retirement Elevated Podcast with Scott Dougan, we explore the surprising findings from a study by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. The study reveals a stark contrast between pre-retiree expectations and retiree realities, and we're here to e…
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Conquer FOBO: Making Decisions with Confidence
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Ever found yourself endlessly scrolling through options, unable to make a choice? You might be falling into the trap of FOBO: Fear of Better Options. It’s a psychological phenomenon where someone avoids making a decision out of the fear that there may be a better option out there. How can we identify it and work with …
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Are you ready to flip the switch from saving to spending as you approach retirement? Many people struggle with the transition and mindset shift that happens in retirement. In this episode, we’ll explore the delicate balance between money, happiness, and the art of spending wisely in your golden years. It's packed with insights on the psychological …
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Practical Strategies for Protecting Retirees Against Scams & Fraud
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On today's episode, we're going talk about scams and how they are more prevalent than you might think. In fact, just in 2022, there were more than 88,000 complaints of fraud that resulted in more than $3 billion in losses from people age 60+. Here are some of the questions we’ll tackle in this episode: Why are people aged 60 and over common targets…
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With Higher Interest Rates, Is “Lazy Money” Still A Concern In 2024?
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Is 'Lazy Money' still a concern in 2024's higher interest rate landscape? In this episode, we explore this question, examining how the recent rise in interest rates affects the money sitting in savings accounts, CDs, and conservative investments. Here's what we discuss in this episode: What are we talking about when we say, “lazy money?” The curren…
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Peak 65: Preparing for the Largest Retirement Surge Ever
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Today's magic number is 65. You know, unlike older retired Baby Boomers, the majority of peak 65ers don't have pensions, which used to help fill that gap left by Social Security. Well, our current retirement system is obsolete. It's time for a new retirement security framework. These were the words of Jason Fitchner, an executive director at the AL…
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With inflation adjustments and the phased implementation of the SECURE Act 2.0, there are some important retirement planning changes to pay attention to this year. From potential tax implications on Social Security benefits to alterations in retirement account rules, higher Medicare expenses, increased IRA contribution limits, and shifts in require…
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Focus on Systems Instead of Resolutions in 2024
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Happy New Year! Today we’re tossing the old hat of resolutions out the window, opting for something with a little more staying power: systems. Say goodbye to the fleeting motivation of New Year's resolutions and embrace the profound impact of incremental habits for long-term success in health, wealth, and personal growth. This episode draws on the …
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The 5 Types of Wealth & Why People Chase Only One at the Cost of Others
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What would you pay to have the freedom to do what you want, when you want, how you want? On today's episode, we're going to talk about the five types of wealth and why people chase only one at the cost of the others. Here are some of the questions we’ll tackle in this episode: Why being a time billionaire might be better than being a dollar billion…
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Get ready to rock to the rhythms of retirement wisdom in this week’s episode! We've put together the ultimate retirement planning playlist, featuring timeless lyrics that reflect various stages of the planning journey. Here’s how we’ll craft the perfect mixtape in this episode: Songs for the early stages of retirement planning, where having a dream…
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How To Successfully Climb The Retirement Mountain
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Ready for an adventure? Think of retirement planning as climbing a mountain. It's not just about the climb up; it's about preparing wisely, tackling the ups and downs, and even planning your way back down. Here’s some of what we’ll discuss in this episode: How to prepare for the climb with careful planning. The climb represents the accumulation pha…
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Latest Updates to Medicare with Cortney Dale
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We’re bringing you a special edition of the podcast today as we welcome Cortney Dale, CEO of Sunflower Insurance Solutions, to lead us through the latest updates on Medicare! She’ll discuss what's crucial for you to know as we approach 2024 and answer common questions that will help you make informed decisions about your Medicare elections in the m…
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Money Mistakes You’ll Regret and How to Avoid Them
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Do you ever wish you could foresee financial missteps before they happen? On today’s episode, we’re going to explore some real-life stories of regret and arm you with the do’s and don’ts to ensure that your money is working for you and not against you. Here’s some of what we’ll discuss in this episode: What it could cost you to pull money out of yo…
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In this episode, we’re going to unearth and tackle some of these hidden but essential questions about retirement. We all want to get good answers to our financial questions, but sometimes we have to know the right questions to ask. Here are some of the questions we’ll tackle in this episode: How much are my tax-deferred savings going to cost me in …
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There are some people who don’t care at all about leaving a financial legacy, but for those who do, it’s important to eliminate some of the common estate planning mistakes. In this episode, we cover topics ranging from poor expense planning to outdated beneficiary designations and family conflict triggers. We also shed light on some misconceptions …
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Are you nearing “retirement age?” If so, let’s explore that pivotal question you’ll soon face: Should you retire or continue working? We’ll unravel the intricacies of this decision, addressing both financial and emotional aspects, and help you find out if you’re truly ready to retire. Here's some of what we discuss in this episode: The concept of r…
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The 2023 Halftime Report with Mike Sorrentino
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Today we have a special edition of the show where Scott recently hosted a webinar for his clients and had Mike Sorrentino on to discuss some financial topics that are top of mind for many people right now. This conversation comes in the wake of the midpoint of 2023, sort of a mid-year or halftime report, if you will, and the topics that you're goin…
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Our whole practice revolves around helping people develop ways to make sure they have everything in order when it comes to these five areas of financial planning. Today we’re going to dive into these and provide a little more detail so that you’ll have a better understanding of what types of conversations we’re having with clients. We’ve also put t…
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Mastering Retirement Cash Flow: Understanding Changing Expenses
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In this episode, we’ll explore many of the expenses in your life that might drastically change (one way or another) in retirement. We’ll break those expenses down further to see which ones are the top priorities and analyze some of the other factors that impact your cash flow in retirement. Here's some of what we discuss in this episode: Breaking r…
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Retirement Rebels: Winning Your Financial Independence
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Celebrate the spirit of July 4th with our latest episode as we tackle the concept of Financial Independence. While the American colonists fought for freedom from British rule, we’re here to discuss what you’re striving to be independent from in your retirement. We’ll unveil the common foes you’ll face on the journey. And good news, no muskets are r…
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Crash Course: The Psychology of Investing in the Wake of Historic Market Crashes
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Have you ever wondered why you handle money the way you do? It turns out your financial behaviors can be traced back to your formative memories. In this episode, we explore how historic market crashes have left a lasting impact on our relationship with money. We’ll also contrast them with the way more recent crises have shaped our financial views a…
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A Comprehensive Dismantling Of 2023’s Top Social Security Myths
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In this episode, we'll be debunking common myths about Social Security and answering the questions you've been curious about. No matter what questions you have about Social Security, we are here to help guide you through this important step in your financial future. Today’s show should give you a pretty good overview. Here's some of what we discuss…
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You can’t talk about retirement without talking about income. There are seven streams of income you need to know about. In today’s episode, we’ll break them down for you and help you understand the pros and cons of each one. Join us for a critical discussion on creating a reliable, dependable income source in retirement and discover the importance …
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Five Facts You Need to Know About FDIC Insurance and Your IRA
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The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has been in the news recently as bank failures have made headlines. It's worth noting that the FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000, providing peace of mind to depositors who may be concerned about the safety of their funds. However, you may be wondering if your IRA is also protected by the FDIC, esp…
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How do millionaires invest their money? If you’ve ever wondered how they do it, today’s show is for you. From asset allocation to market timing and security selection, we’ll explain how millionaires handle these topics. Here's some of what we discuss in this episode: How do millionaires handle asset allocation? (5:09) Do millionaires time the marke…
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Entrusting your life savings to a financial advisor requires careful consideration and due diligence, especially when it comes to managing large IRAs. Before handing over your hard-earned nest egg, it's crucial to ensure that your advisor possesses the necessary expertise and experience to handle the responsibility. To help you navigate this, we've…
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Unpacking the Silicon Valley Bank Collapse
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As you have likely heard, the Silicon Valley Bank collapsed on Friday, March 10th, 2023, after a bank run- marking the largest bank failure in the U.S. in over a decade. With a lot of fear surrounding this topic, we are here to focus on the facts and give you a better understanding of what we know today. Here's some of what we discuss in this episo…
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Today’s show is going to feel like a healing therapy session. We're talking about how things could always be better. From human progress and value to happiness, we’ll cover some fascinating topics today. We are not psychologists or therapists, but we are fascinated by the human mind and the need to improve. It happens in all facets of our lives, bu…
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Retiring Early? Check Out Scott’s Do’s & Don’ts of 6 Secret Sources of Income
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If you’re thinking about retiring early, you’ll need to take a few extra steps in the planning process because you’ll be facing some additional challenges. But there are ways to navigate this by looking at all of the income options at your disposal. On today’s show, we’ll share Scott’s top do’s and don’ts of six secret sources of come. So much of y…
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SECURE Act 2.0 Webinar & In-Depth Discussion
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We’ve got a special edition of the podcast today, and it’s one you’re going to want to listen to. We’ve already spent some time on this show discussing SECURE Act 2.0 and we highlighted many of the planning opportunities it has created. But this is such an important piece of retirement legislation so we’re going even more in-depth on the subject. I…
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Financial Checklists and Important Birthdays
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A new year means many of us are looking for ways to improve our financial lives in 2023. Today we’re sharing a great checklist to give you areas of focus in order to be better prepared financially. If you’re nearing retirement, these are questions you want to think through and have a plan for before you make that transition. We’ll also share some i…
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SECURE 2.0 Act – Retirement Changes You Need to Know
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We’ve gone through all of these different SECURE 2.0 Act provisions, which touch on a range of planning items and dates so that you can really focus on what’s most important. This episode will help you get a better understanding of the changes, how they might impact you, and what planning opportunities you need to be aware of. Here's some of what w…
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Mailbag: Mortgages, Dividends and College
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It’s time for another mailbag episode, and we bet these questions (and our answers) will help many of you. This episode could really help if you’re looking to improve your financial situation and prepare for retirement. We will discuss whether to pay off your mortgage, what to do about dividends, and whether to prioritize paying for college or savi…
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It’s time to focus on the end of the year, especially taxes, which are a big topic of conversation. We spotlight this topic every December because it’s just that important. We do a year-end tax event each year and produce a white paper because having the right strategies to limit your tax bill can help reduce some of the anxiety around tax time. So…
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Do you have seller’s remorse? If you sell a stock and then regret it later, this might be you. We love talking about the behavioral side of finances and investing, and today’s show is all about that. The economy and markets have had a rough time this year, so we’ve seen more regret among investors who led with their feelings instead of facts. On th…
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What’s in your control, what’s outside your control, and how do those things influence your decision-making in your financial life? For instance, inflation is surging, the markets are down, and political warfare is holding strong. But rest assured, there are aspects you are still definitely in control of. We’ll explain how facts and logic are bette…
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