Hosts Rob and Kristin Castello share practical insights on evaluating real estate as a passive income stream—covering the numbers, the pitfalls, and common misconceptions from rapid home appreciation during the pandemic years. Learn about the true costs, time commitments, and the less obvious tax implications of rental ownership, including depreciation, passive loss rules, and how to plan for those tricky negative returns.  

Switching gears, the show breaks down the recent surge in Social Security retirement claims, explores the impact of the 2025 Fairness Act, and discusses strategies current and future retirees can adopt as the trust fund faces depletion. The hosts emphasize that Social Security alone may not be enough for a comfortable retirement, stressing the need for comprehensive planning that considers mental and emotional readiness alongside financial security. 

This episode is packed with knowledge for anyone considering real estate investment or concerned about their retirement outlook in a changing economic landscape. 

Property Investments, Social Security Shake-Ups & the Future of Retirement Benefits

Jeff Kowal and Aaron Spitzner share new reporting updates for 2025 qualified charitable distributions, discuss how much Americans are saving for retirement and determining how much they may need in retirement. Then Jeff and Aaron wrap things up by touching on five common financial mistakes people make when getting divorced.

The Retirement Clinic-6-14-25 – Are your saving enough for retirement?

We break down the wild swings of Q2 2025 markets (did you know it was the first time since 1938 the S&P 500 was both up AND down 10%+ in a single quarter?! 🤯), explain what the massive new tax bill really means for your wallet (spoiler: most 2017 tax cuts are here to stay 🏛️💸), and dive into the 10 ways to fail at retirement—based on the latest AARP insights. Are you ready to dodge the biggest hazards to your money, health, and happiness? 

Plus: key stats, smart portfolio strategies, and the essential conversations you need before you retire. Whether you’re investing, planning, or just want to stay ahead of the game, this episode is for you! 
Listen now for actionable advice, surprising facts, and all the numbers you need to know to make the most of your money. 

#TaxPlanning #RetirementReady #MarketUpdate #FinancialWellness #DollarsAndSense #AARP #InvestSmart #PersonalFinance #TaxBill #RetirementTips #MoneyMatters 💰📊🧓 

Q2 Market Surprises, New Tax Law Details & The 10 Biggest Retirement Pitfalls

Aaron Kowal discusses how you can lower taxes in retirement without lowering your lifestyle, examines how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act influences succession planning, and wraps things up with how you can transfer wealth without turning your kids into brats.

The Retirement Clinic-7-19-25 – Lower Taxes in Retirement

Welcome to The Weekly Top 3 - our look at the top 3 things on our mind here at Alaskans for Sustainable Budgets - for the week of August 18, 2025.

This week, our top 3 issues are these: 1) we explain why the EIA's new oil price forecast suggests Alaska is on the precipice of slipping back into a steep, deficit-driven budgetary position for the remainder of FY26 and into FY27 (campaign year 2026) (2:16); 2) we explain why the growing problem with Social Security is likely to have a significant impact on Alaska (21:44); and 3) we explain how a recent proposal from the FNSB would only make the state's K-12 funding issue even worse (41:88).

The Weekly Top 3 (8.18.2025)

Ready to make the most of your taxes in 2025 and beyond? In this value-packed episode of Dollar & Sense, Joel and Kristin break down the latest game-changing updates to tax deductions, with a spotlight on the new senior deduction and major changes for charitable contributions. Discover how seniors can benefit from a $6,000 deduction—even if they're not yet on Social Security—and learn the income thresholds you need to know to qualify. 

The hosts also unravel the new opportunities for charitable giving, including a $1,000 deduction for everyone, the upcoming AGI floor of 0.5% for itemized deductions, and smart strategies to maximize your benefits before the rules shift in 2026. From increased state and local tax caps to permanent bonus depreciation for businesses, this episode is full of essential tips for making the most of your money at tax time. Tune in and get ahead of your financial game—your future self will thank you! 

Unlocking Tax Deductions to your Advantage

Department of Government Efficiency members stored a copy of a massive Social Security Administration database in a “vulnerable” custom cloud environment, putting more than 300 million people’s personal information at risk, the agency’s chief data officer said in a new whistleblower complaint. The complaint, filed with Congress on Tuesday, revealed new concerns from CDO Charles Borges about “serious data security lapses” allegedly involving DOGE officials working at the SSA. According to the complaint, those officials, under the direction of SSA Chief Information Officer Aram Moghaddassi, granted themselves permission to copy Americans’ Social Security information onto a cloud server with no verified oversight, violating agency protocols.  The Government Accountability Project wrote on behalf of Borges in the complaint that the “vulnerable cloud environment is effectively a live copy of the entire country’s Social Security information from the Numerical Identification System (NUMIDENT) database, that apparently lacks any security oversight from SSA or tracking to determine who is accessing or has accessed the copy of this data.” The NUMIDENT data includes all the information applicants use for a Social Security card, including their name, phone number, address, place and date of birth, parents’ names and Social Security numbers along with other personal information. The complaint warned: “Should bad actors gain access to this cloud environment, Americans may be susceptible to widespread identity theft, may lose vital healthcare and food benefits, and the government may be responsible for re-issuing every American a new Social Security Number at great cost.”

Adele Merritt is out as the top IT official at the National Institutes of Health after roughly eight months in the role, again changing up the leadership in the position. Merritt was first announced as the new chief information officer in December after most recently serving as CIO of the intelligence community. At the time she took on the position, the role hadn’t had a permanent official in roughly two years. Merritt’s departure comes as the Trump administration has sought to reduce the federal workforce and reshape federal agencies, including HHS. In March, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy announced plans to cut 10,000 workers from the agency on top of 10,000 who had already left via incentivized resignation and retirement offers from the administration. A recent ProPublica analysis of HHS’s public directory found that the health agency has lost roughly 18% of its workforce since January. 

The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon.
If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Social Security's chief data officer blows the whistle on DOGE; Adele Merrit resigns as NIH's CIO

What really happens when one spouse passes away? In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Arrin Wray break down one of retirement’s most difficult—but essential—topics: preparing financially and legally for the loss of a spouse.

You’ll learn:

- The must-have estate documents (wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives)

- The “pour-over” provision that helps families avoid probate nightmares

- How Social Security, pensions, and taxes change for a surviving spouse

- Why compensation clauses and unclear distribution instructions can tear families apart

- Steps to protect income, minimize taxes, and create a smooth transition

Planning ahead means your spouse and children are cared for—and your legacy is preserved without unnecessary stress or conflict.

👉 Listen now and discover how math-based planning can give you and your loved ones peace of mind. 

Learn more at https://deckerretirementplanning.com/

We are financial advisors, not attorneys. Always speak to a qualified attorney for legal advice. 

Planning for Surviving Spouses: Estate Documents, Income Shifts, and Avoiding Costly Mistakes | Episode 138

Ready to supercharge your retirement strategy? In this episode of "Dollars and Sense," host Joel Garris tackles two of the biggest questions facing today's retirees: how to check off the 5 essential boxes for early retirement, and how to demystify Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) so you can keep more of what you’ve earned. 

Discover the crucial steps you must take if you’re dreaming of leaving the workforce before age 65 — from navigating health insurance to maximizing your retirement contributions, deciding the best time to claim Social Security, and the importance of vanquishing high-interest debt. Then, get the inside scoop on RMDs: what they are, why they matter, how rule changes could impact your withdrawal strategy, and smart ways to avoid costly tax surprises. 

If you want to retire with confidence, avoid common pitfalls, and make sense of the latest financial rules, this episode delivers expert advice, practical tips, and a lively conversation designed to empower your financial future. Tune in now and set yourself up for retirement success! 

Your roadmap to retiring early and mastering Required Minimum Distributions

Ross Winklbauer, President of the Board of the Wisconsin Alliance of Retired Americans, reminds us that Social Security isn't just for retired people, but supports people with disabilities, children who have lost parents, and more. Winklbauer talks about the obvious means to fund the program for future years by raising or removing the $170K cap on earnings on which individuals pay into Social Security. The Alliance is holding rallies in a number of cities in Wisconsin, with a rally scheduled for Madison (at the S.S. office at 6011 Odana Rd) at noon on September 4, 2025.

buzz-9-3-25-Ross-Winklbauer

A podcast covering the latest news & trends facing top government leaders on topics such as technology, management & workforce. Hosted by Billy Mitchell on FedScoop and released Monday-Friday.

Dollars & Sense with Joel Garris of Nelson Financial Planning is Central Florida's longest-running radio program. Joel is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, a Certified Financial Fiduciary and a former corporate attorney who changes lives through successful planning.

Visit www.NelsonFinancialPlanning.com or call 407-629-6477 to schedule a free one on one conversation.

Offering securities through Nelson Ivest Brokerage Services, Inc, Member FINRA, MSRB & SIPC. Please note that these broadcasts are intended for general informational purposes only as individual situations may vary. The views expressed are those of the speaker and are subject to change at any time. Statements made should not be relied upon as a recommendation or solicitation. When discussed, past performance is no guarantee or indication of future results.

Listener-sponsored, volunteer-powered, noncommercial community radio broadcasting to south-central Wisconsin at 89.9 FM and online at wortfm.org via our studios in Madison. 

We provide an outlet for communication, education, free expression, entertainment, training and access for the purpose of sharing music, information, news, and cultural experiences, and strive to give people underrepresented elsewhere in traditional media a voice. 

NOTE: Most of the content posted at this time are news stories or talk shows. 

MUSICIANS:  We NEVER look on our SoundCloud for music submissions, so it's not a very efficient way to contact us. Please go to www.wortfm.org and click on Music --> Music Submissions for our submission info and guidelines. Thanks and we look forward to hearing your music!

Safer Retirement Radio is where you can get the transparency you deserve®. Whether you are currently retired or plan to retire soon, this show is full of retirement tips that can help you get thousands of extra dollars in and out of your retirement.



Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP®️ certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™️ certification mark, and the CFP®️ certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

With retirement just around the corner, you need a partner you can trust to help navigate the ins and outs of retirement planning.  Whether you’re looking for a final push heading into your retirement, retirement asset management and consolidation, or assistance in transferring business assets to retirement assets, our team’s focus is on helping you realize your vision.

You can listen to the Kowal Investment Group - now Creative Planning, "Retirement Clinic" podcasts, with retirement and investment planning tips and news right here on Soundcloud. **This is a previously recorded show.**

New tracks tagged #Social Security