Category: Financial Advisor

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7 Smart Giving Strategies for Family and Charities Before Year-End (Ep. 78)

7 Smart Giving Strategies for Family and Charities Before Year-End (Ep. 78)

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The holiday season often inspires generosity, but how you give can make a big difference for both your loved ones and your finances.

In this episode, I explore seven actionable gifting strategies you can use before the year ends to support your children, grandchildren, and favorite charities while also being mindful of tax planning opportunities. I walk through practical examples to help you give with purpose and joy.

Keypoints:

  • The $19,000 annual gift exclusion and how it works with lifetime estate tax limits
  • Gifting appreciated assets like stocks to family or charities to reduce taxes
  • Paying tuition and medical bills directly to providers without gift tax concerns
  • Leveraging 529 accounts, custodial accounts, and new temporary Trump accounts
  • Charitable giving strategies, including qualified charitable distributions and donor-advised funds
  • And more!

Resources:

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Preserving Family Stories and Legacies with Zoe Martin (Ep. 77)

Preserving Family Stories and Legacies with Zoe Martin (Ep. 77)

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Our financial legacy is important, but our stories and memories are priceless. 

This time, we go beyond numbers to focus on preserving the voices, photos, and experiences that define a family’s history.

In this episode, I sit down with Zoe Martin, founder of The Zoe Martin, to talk about the importance of capturing family stories and portraits before it’s too late. She shares her deeply personal journey that inspired her work and offers practical ways anyone can start preserving their legacy today.

Zoe discusses:

  • The personal story of her sister’s passing and how it inspired her mission to record life stories
  • Why families shouldn’t wait to capture stories and memories before they fade
  • The role of legacy in retirement and estate planning beyond finances
  • Practical advice on how to start recording family stories, even with simple tools like a phone
  • The unique process she offers families, from multi-generational portraits to legacy video interviews
  • And more!

Resources:

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Connect with Zoe Martin: 

About our Guest: 

Zoe Martin is a personal historian who’s passionate about helping people and organizations preserve their most important stories. With a heart for visual and narrative storytelling, she creates portraits and videos that document people’s lives into lasting treasures, including heirloom albums, custom wall art, coffee table books, and life story videos.

As a guest on various podcasts and community stages, Zoe shares her insights on why it’s so important to capture and preserve legacies while we still can. Her passion for storytelling is deeply personal, inspired by the memory of her late sister, Kristina. A portion of every project supports The Bridge Breast Network, which provides breast cancer resources to underserved communities in the DFW area.

Zoe’s work helps clients reflect on their lives, strengthen relationships, and leave a meaningful legacy for future generations by encouraging people to make every moment matter. Because Moments Become Memories™

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Rebuilding After Abuse: Finding Strength with Dr. Brooke Jones (Ep. 76)

Rebuilding After Abuse: Finding Strength with Dr. Brooke Jones (Ep. 76)

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What if your most painful experiences could become the foundation for new strength and hope?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Brooke Jones, Founder of Stronger Women, to talk about her journey of survival, recovery, and empowerment. She shares her story of leaving abuse, the challenges women face when trying to rebuild their lives, and the importance of financial independence. Together, we uncover how resilience, faith, and hope can transform even the darkest moments into a brighter future.

Dr. Brooke Jones discusses:

  • Her personal journey from surviving abuse to founding Stronger Women
  • How isolation and dependency often mark the beginning of abusive relationships
  • Why leaving abuse often means giving up nearly everything, including financial stability
  • How the science of hope helps women move from surviving to thriving
  • The ripple effects of domestic violence on families, children, and communities
  • And more!

Resources:

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Connect with Dr. Brooke Jones: 

About Stronger Women

Survivors often move on, but are left overwhelmed by shame, fear, low self-esteem and powerlessness. Because LOVE has always come with a promise – and then pain – survivors; feel disconnected and even pain when they hear the word Love, especially the notion, “God loves you.”

Every Stronger session is written for survivors by survivors. This insight an integral piece to understanding the survivors’ journey from hurt to healing through restorative and prevention programs.

The Stronger healing model combines proven curriculum, the power of small groups, and ongoing development of practical tools to restore survivors.

Stronger focuses on exponential growth by equipping certified facilitators to launch restorative healing groups in their local community, church and organization.

As survivors tell their stories, they begin to heal from trauma in a safe and supportive setting. Participants gain: Increased self-awareness, renewed thought patterns, develop healthier coping mechanisms, build resilience, improved self-esteem, establish healthy boundaries, improve family and parenting skills, improved communication skills, and healthier relationships.

We believe it is critical to provide practical tools so everyone can walk alongside these survivors in their healing journey with respect and dignity.

About Dr. Brooke Jones:

Dr. Brooke Jones is a national and international speaker on topics of global oppression of women, domestic & gender based violence and human trafficking. Brooke is wife to Rick, mom of two young kids, and is a two-decade survivor of domestic violence and aggravated stalking.

Brooke earned her Bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship, her Master’s degree in Education and in 2016 received an Honorary Doctorate degree in Theology to recognize her contribution and impact through the Stronger Women programs.

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Year-End Tax Planning Checklist for 2025 (Ep. 75)

Year-End Tax Planning Checklist for 2025 (Ep. 75)

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The final months of the year are the perfect time to review your finances and take action before December 31st. 

New tax laws bring both opportunities and risks, making this year’s planning even more important.

In this episode, I walk through my year-end tax planning checklist to help you understand the key areas that can impact your retirement, your taxes, and your long-term goals. I explain how to approach contributions, distributions, and deductions strategically while also touching on family gifting and estate considerations.

Key points:

  • Why reviewing your tax plan in October and November helps maximize opportunities before the year ends
  • How to use retirement accounts, Roth IRAs, and HSAs to reduce taxes and grow long-term wealth
  • The importance of required minimum distributions (RMDs) and qualified charitable distributions (QCDs)
  • Family gifting strategies and the unique advantages of 529 contributions
  • Deduction changes, charitable giving rules, and new provisions under the current tax law
  • And more!

Resources:

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Roth IRA earnings grow tax-free, and qualified withdrawals are also tax-free, provided certain conditions are met (e.g., the account has been open for at least 5 years and you are age 59½ or older, or meet another qualifying condition). Eligibility to contribute to a Roth IRA phases out at higher income levels. Non-qualified withdrawals of earnings may be subject to income taxes and a 10% early withdrawal penalty. Converting a traditional IRA or other tax-deferred account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event and may increase your current-year tax liability. Roth conversions cannot be undone.

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Social Security Claiming Strategies: Beyond the Breakeven Calculator (Ep. 74)

Social Security Claiming Strategies: Beyond the Breakeven Calculator (Ep. 74)

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Deciding when to start Social Security is more than a math equation. It’s about balancing life expectancy, risk tolerance, and long-term income needs.

In this episode, I explore the trade-offs of claiming early versus delaying for larger benefits. I explain how investing early benefits might change the picture, why survivor benefits matter, and how taxes and policy changes could influence your strategy. This conversation highlights the importance of tailoring the decision to your unique situation.

Key Points:

  • Why breakeven calculators don’t tell the full story about Social Security timing
  • The potential of investing early benefits into accounts like a Roth IRA
  • How spousal benefits and survivor planning influence claiming strategies
  • The role of taxes, risk tolerance, and other income sources in the decision
  • Possible future adjustments Congress may make to Social Security rules
  • And more

Resources:

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Roth IRAs and Retirement: What You Need to Know (Ep. 73)

Roth IRAs and Retirement: What You Need to Know (Ep. 73)

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Roth IRAs can feel confusing—but when you understand how they work, they can become one of the most powerful tools in your retirement plan.

In this episode, you’ll discover how Roth IRAs may give you more control over your taxes in retirement, create flexibility for future withdrawals, and help protect your income for the long run.

We’ll cover the basics—what Roth IRAs are (and aren’t), how the rules for contributions, conversions, and withdrawals really work, and why Congress has been pushing Roth accounts more in recent years. You’ll also hear how Roth IRAs may help you avoid hidden tax traps like higher Medicare premiums or unexpected Social Security taxes.

Key takeaways:

  • Why Roth IRAs are not investments themselves, but tax-advantaged account types that act like umbrellas shielding money from future taxes
  • How Congress is encouraging Roth contributions through Secure Act 2.0, giving retirees long-term tax-free opportunities
  • The importance of tax diversification, comparing it to and even elevating it above portfolio diversification
  • Four ways to fund Roth accounts: contributions, conversions, rollovers, and backdoor strategies
  • The five-year rule, distribution order, and how Roth IRAs can help control tax brackets, Medicare premiums, and Social Security taxation
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake: 

Roth IRA earnings grow tax-free, and qualified withdrawals are also tax-free, provided certain conditions are met (e.g., the account has been open for at least 5 years and you are age 59½ or older, or meet another qualifying condition). Eligibility to contribute to a Roth IRA phases out at higher income levels. For 2025, contributions begin to phase out at a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of approximately $150,000 for single filers and $236,000 for married couples filing jointly. Non-qualified withdrawals of earnings may be subject to income taxes and a 10% early withdrawal penalty. Converting a traditional IRA or other tax-deferred account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event and may increase your current-year tax liability. Roth conversions cannot be undone.

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Exit Planning for Business Owners: Preparing Financially, Personally, and for Legacy (Ep. 72)

Exit Planning for Business Owners: Preparing Financially, Personally, and for Legacy (Ep. 72)

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Exiting a business is more than just a financial transaction. It’s a life transition that can affect family, legacy, and the future you envision.

In this episode, I sit down with Renita Wolf, MBA, founder and CEO of Poe Wolf Partners, to discuss how business owners can thoughtfully plan for a smooth and meaningful exit. We explore the importance of preparation, both financial and emotional, and what truly defines a successful transition.

Renita discusses:

  • Why over 80% of businesses never sell, and how to avoid being in that group
  • How emotions and identity play a big role in preparing for life after selling a business
  • The importance of early planning and cleaning up financials before going to market
  • How family members can influence and support exit readiness
  • Why a successful exit is about freedom, legacy, and choices, not just the sale price
  • And more!

Resources:

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About Poe Wolf Partners:

Poe Wolf Partners is a boutique advisory firm that helps middle-market business owners, particularly those with companies generating between $10 million and $100 million in revenue, prepare for and navigate business exits. We specialize in aligning financial outcomes with personal and legacy goals, so owners can exit confidently and on their own terms.

About Renita Wolf:

Renita Wolf is the founder and principal advisor at Poe Wolf Partners, a boutique exit planning firm serving middle-market business owners. With a background in corporate finance and M&A at Fortune 50 companies like Wells Fargo, HP, and Cray Research, Renita brings over 20 years of strategic and financial expertise to business transitions.

At Poe Wolf Partners, she guides owners through complex exit planning, helping them define a clear vision, build a tailored strategy, and assemble the right advisory team. Renita’s approach is holistic and client-focused, addressing not just the financial side of an exit, but the personal, emotional, and legacy-driven aspects as well.

She is especially passionate about supporting women business owners and those navigating life transitions, such as widowhood or divorce, to ensure they exit their businesses with confidence and clarity.

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Can I Stop My Social Security Benefits If I Go Back to Work? A Listener Case Study (Ep. 71)

Can I Stop My Social Security Benefits If I Go Back to Work? A Listener Case Study (Ep. 71)

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Retirement rarely unfolds exactly as planned, especially when unexpected life changes occur.

In this episode, I share a real listener’s story involving Social Security, divorce, and the possibility of going back to work. I walk through step-by-step strategies to help women understand their Social Security options and prepare for future benefits.

Key points:

  • How to determine whether Social Security payments are based on personal or spousal benefits
  • The rules for withdrawing a Social Security application within 12 months (Form SSA-521) and the repayment requirements
  • The earnings test and how going back to work before full retirement age can reduce or later recalculate benefits
  • How additional work years can replace low-earning years and improve future Social Security benefits
  • The differences between ex-spousal benefits, survivor benefits, and how remarriage affects eligibility
  • And more!

Resources:

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Planning Beyond Documents: Building Support as a Solo Senior with Kathy McNair (Ep. 70)

Planning Beyond Documents: Building Support as a Solo Senior with Kathy McNair (Ep. 70)

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Too often, retirement planning focuses only on documents, but what happens when you don’t have the right people to rely on?

In this episode, I sit down with elder law attorney and founder of Solo Allies, Kathy McNair, to talk about the unique needs of solo seniors and why legal paperwork alone isn’t enough. We explore how to choose the right people for critical roles, when to consider professional support, and how to build a community for peace of mind in retirement.

Kathy discusses:

  • The difference between an estate planning attorney and an elder law attorney
  • What it really means to be a solo senior and why planning matters
  • Why “Planning + People = Peace of Mind” is a critical formula for aging well
  • How to choose and prepare a power of attorney, and what happens when you don’t
  • Resources, tools, and community programs like Solo Allies and the Aging Allies Club
  • And more!

Resources:

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Connect with Kathy McNair: 

About our Guest: 

Kathy McNair is an elder law attorney with over 25 years of experience serving seniors. She is the founder of Senior Solutions LLC in Boston and the national resource platform Solo Allies, dedicated to helping solo agers—those without reliable family support—plan for their legal, financial, and personal well-being.

Kathy is also the creator of the Aging Allies Club, a small-group planning program designed to provide both legal tools and meaningful connections. She frequently speaks to community groups and has written The Solo Senior’s Guide to Thrive, a practical guide to aging with independence and security.

Appointed by Governor Deval Patrick in 2008, she served 15 years as a Public Administrator of Suffolk County, managing estates with no known heirs. She also serves on the Board of Directors at McNamara House, an affordable senior housing community in Boston.

Kathy earned her J.D. from Boston College Law School and her bachelor’s in psychology from St. Lawrence University.

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Navigating Life After Loss – Part 3: Planning Your First Year with Clarity and Care (Ep. 69)

Navigating Life After Loss – Part 3: Planning Your First Year with Clarity and Care (Ep. 69)

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The first year after losing a spouse brings overwhelming emotions alongside important decisions. Knowing what needs immediate attention versus what can wait can make the difference between added stress and thoughtful progress.

In Part 3 of our Navigating Life After Loss series, I share how to approach both urgent and long-term planning after the loss of a spouse. I explain which financial and lifestyle choices deserve early focus, how tax planning can protect your future, and why building a supportive foundation is essential. Together, we look at practical ways to move forward with clarity and confidence.

Key takeaways include:

  • The impact of pre-death planning, wills, estate plans, and beneficiary designations on easing stress after loss
  • The key financial updates in the first year, including executors, trustees, Social Security timing, and income sources
  • How tax filing status changes after a spouse’s passing, and strategies like Roth conversions and capital gains harvesting
  • Rebuilding a financial foundation through account consolidation, investment updates, and income planning
  • The importance of lifestyle and emotional choices, such as housing, community support, and designing the next chapter of life
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Eric Blake: 

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