Aaron Kowal shares how you can stress test your financial plan for major life events to help protect yourself and your family. Jeff joins to discuss what you need to know about retirement income and the IRS. Aaron touches on maximizing business liquidity and then wraps up the show with the power of gifting during your lifetime.

The Retirement Clinic-8-23-25 – Planning to Help Protect Yourself and Your Family

Jeff Kowal explains how getting older is better than it used to be and touches on retirement planning regrets. Chaunsy joins to discuss navigating healthcare insurance when you retire early and various planning options. Then Jeff wraps up the show with insights regarding the widow tax.

The Retirement Clinic-9-13-25 – Retirement Planning Regrets

Aaron Kowal opens the show with a discussion on the average retirement savings by age group and the saving challenges each generation faces. Then shares 6 tips to help preserve and grow the value of your investments. Later Jeff joins the show to discuss how much Americans say they need to comfortably retire and touches on a common regret many women investors have. And Aaron wraps up the show with benefits of utilizing dynasty 529 plans.

The Retirement Clinic-9-27-25 – Retirement Savings – How do you stack up?

The number of Americans living to age 100 is growing and expected to quadruple in the next 30 years. Kevin Jestice (President, Nationwide Retirement Solutions) and Kathy Bostjancic (Nationwide's Chief Economist) discuss the prospect of living longer and its impact on retirement planning. [NFM-23971M8]

Living longer, saving smarter

In this episode, we conclude the building block of delivery and provision of social protection from our social protection solar system. After discussing the role of informal workers’ organizations in the delivery of childcare and healthcare, in this third and final episode of the series, we will talk about the role of informal workers organizations in the delivery of social security benefit for workers in the informal economy. 

In Costa Rica, an innovative approach to social security has been implemented over the years by the national government to include rural workers and, more recently, informal urban workers. In this policy, grassroots workers’ organizations play a key role not only in the last mile delivery, but in several stages of the delivery chain. To learn more how Collective Social Insurance Agreements work in Costa Rica, their challenges and potential for expansion and replication, I talked to Fabio Durán.

Fabio is an economist and served as Head of the Public Finance, Actuarial and Statistics Unit at ILO’s Social Protection Department in Geneva, and has just retired as the ILO’s senior specialist in Social Protection and Economic Development for Central America and Mexico, in their office in Costa Rica.


Learn more:

*ILO Social Protection in Action Brief (2022). “Costa Rica: Extending mandatory contributory coverage to self-employed workers” https://www.social-protection.org/gimi/Media.action;jsessionid=f0DRZHXKIdUdf6eojX2c2lHKIAjQ_ly9Vx3-0XTMVPqdPICPNIgp!1393577045?id=19457#:~:text=These%20agreements%20are%20signed%20by,and%20medium%2D%20scale%20farmers%CA%BC%20organizations

*ILO Report (2013) – “Innovations in extending social insurance  coverage to independent workers” https://www.social-protection.org/gimi/gess/gess/RessourcePDF.action?ressource.ressourceId=42119 


#46 Expanding social security delivery to informal workers

On this edition of the Wealth Guardians Radio Show, Doug Ray and Brice Payne discuss four things about Social Security you should know but probably don't. 

November 01, 2025 - Think You Know Social Security? Think Again.

Aaron Kowal discusses key considerations for determining when you should take social security. Jeff Kowal joins the show to share reasons you may want to take social security early. Then Aaron touches on 10 tech tools that can help support your retirement lifestyle and wraps up the show with 401k contribution limits and catch-ups.

The Retirement Clinic-10-18-25 – Key Social Security Considerations

On WBAL News Now at 6, we examine the aftermath and impact of the federal government shutdown.  WBAL's White House Correspondent Christopher Salas reports on how various federal agencies are resuming normal operations.  Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott talks about his fellow Democrats who voted against the bill to end the shutdown.  WBAL's Chris Chicon reports on some small businesses near the Social Security Administration headquarters on how they were impacted by the shutdown.  NFIB Maryland President Mike O'Halloran talks about the national impact on small businesses.  98 Rock's Josh Spiegel offers commentary on the end of the shutdown.

WBAL News Now in Depth Shutdown Aftermath

Jeff Kowal opens the show by answering common IRA questions clients are asking financial advisors. Later Chaunsy Weisensel joins to discuss the lack of progress workers are making with retirement savings. Then Jeff touches on considerations for aging in place and wraps up the show why you need to look at total planning, not just what you have in stocks.

The Retirement Clinic-11-15-25 – IRA Questions and Distribution Rules

Discover How to Manage IRMAA, Avoid 401(k) Mistakes, and Make Your Giving Go Further! 

Unlock the secrets to smarter financial planning in this week’s episode of Dollars & Sense with Joel Garris! Joel breaks down three hot topics that can impact your wealth and peace of mind: 

IRMAA & Medicare Premiums: Confused about why your Social Security check is smaller? Learn what IRMAA is, how it affects your Medicare costs, and practical steps to challenge higher premiums if your income has changed. 

Philanthropy—More Than Just Generosity: Discover why charitable giving is a powerful tool for tax savings, strengthening family bonds, and building a lasting legacy. Get actionable strategies to weave philanthropy into your financial plan and avoid common mistakes advisors make. 

401(k) Rollovers Without Regrets: Considering a job change or retirement? Joel reveals the three most common (and costly) rollover mistakes—from missing deadlines to losing out on tax breaks—and how you can avoid them. 

Packed with easy-to-follow tips, eye-opening stats, and essential action steps, this episode is a must-listen for anyone planning for retirement, thinking about their legacy, or wanting to make smarter money decisions for themselves and their family. 

Overpaying  for Medicare? Plus, Impactful Philanthropy Strategies

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.

Globally, 2 billion people work in the informal economy. This means that 61% of workers rely on work that offers little pay and few protections. Women informal workers, such as domestic workers, home-based workers, street vendors and waste pickers are at the base of the economic pyramid with the highest risk of poverty.  Public policies and social protection schemes often do not consider these  workers, leaving them vulnerable to income losses and struggling to cope after an event or shock. In this monthly podcast we will discuss some of the most pressing issues related to social protection from the perspective of informal workers, including debates around the future of work, demographic changes and the informal economy, as well as  social services, like child care and health that can protect informal workers’ incomes. Subscribe to the “Informal Economy Podcast: Social Protection” to learn more about WIEGO’s cutting-edge research and hear from informal workers organisations about the debates, policies, successes and challenges they face in accessing and reforming social protection systems.

The Wealth Guardians Radio Show focuses on all things retirement planning and is hosted by Doug Ray, Brice Payne, and Garrett Ray. The show airs each Saturday morning at 9:30 on Greensboro, NC’s 94.5 WPTI FM and Winston Salem, NC's 96.7 WTOB FM/1470 AM.

Disclaimer: “Investment Advisory Services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC a SEC registered Investment Advisor. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the Commission nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Alphastar Capital Management, LLC and Wealth Guardians are independent entities. The firm only transacts business in states where it is properly registered, or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Insurance products and services offered through individually licensed and appointed agent in various jurisdictions.”

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