Category: Finances
When the Economy Feels Different Than Your Reality (Ep. 47)

When the Economy Feels Different Than Your Reality (Ep. 47)

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Have you ever looked at the stock market and wondered why it seems to tell a completely different story than your own finances?

When headlines point to economic strength but everyday expenses keep rising, it’s natural to question which picture reflects reality.

In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explains why economic data and personal financial experience don’t always move together. He explores how inflation, interest rates, corporate profits, consumer confidence, and market behavior each measure different parts of the economy. Jim also explains why corporate earnings deserve additional context, how periods of innovation can fuel investor optimism, and which economic indicators may be most useful when making long-term retirement and investment decisions.

Key takeaways:

  • Why stock market gains and personal financial experiences can point in completely different directions
  • How inflation and interest rates influence both household finances and long-term investment returns
  • Why periods of innovation often create cycles of excitement followed by market corrections
  • Why corporate earnings don’t always present a consistent picture across different time periods
  • Which economic indicators deserve closer attention when planning for retirement
  • And more!

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Five Hidden Retirement Taxes That Can Cost You More Than You Expect (Ep. 46)

Five Hidden Retirement Taxes That Can Cost You More Than You Expect (Ep. 46)

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Have you ever wondered why your taxes or Medicare costs seem to increase even when tax rates haven’t changed? 

Small planning decisions can have a much bigger financial impact than many retirees realize.

In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explains five often overlooked tax rules that can quietly increase retirement costs over time. He breaks down Medicare premium surcharges, Social Security taxation, payroll taxes, home sale capital gains, and the hidden impact of income thresholds that haven’t kept pace with inflation. 

Jim also shares practical planning ideas to help retirees and pre-retirees make more informed decisions about Medicare, withdrawals, income, and taxes before unexpected costs arise.

Key takeaways:

  • How Medicare premium surcharges increase as income crosses fixed thresholds that haven’t changed with inflation
  • Why surviving spouses often face higher Medicare costs because filing thresholds change after a spouse passes away
  • How selling a highly appreciated home can create unexpected capital gains even after available exclusions apply
  • Why Roth conversions, retirement withdrawals, and investment income should be coordinated before year-end
  • How proactive tax planning can help reduce avoidable costs without changing your long-term retirement goals
  • And more!

Continue Your Retirement Planning

Curious how these retirement tax rules could affect your own financial plan?

Watch our free, 20-minute Engineering Your Best Retirement webinar to learn about the key decisions that can impact your retirement. You’ll also discover how our personalized Retirement Readiness Report helps individuals evaluate their retirement readiness and learn how to request yours for free.

Register for the Webinar / Watch On Demand

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Disclosure: This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered tax, legal, or accounting advice. Tax laws are subject to change, and individual circumstances vary. Please consult your tax professional or other qualified advisor regarding your specific situation. 

Sources: 

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Retirement Clarity: Turning Savings into a Real Plan (Ep. 45)

Retirement Clarity: Turning Savings into a Real Plan (Ep. 45)

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Many people are saving consistently, yet still feel uncertain about their future.

What if the issue is not how much you’ve saved, but how well everything works together?

In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, introduces a Retirement Readiness Report developed by his team at Kaydan Wealth Management, designed to bring all the moving pieces of a financial plan into one clear view. He explains why clarity matters more than accumulation alone, and how disconnected accounts, tax exposure, and withdrawal strategies can impact retirement outcomes. 

Jim also shares why timing, especially within the final decade before retirement, can shape long-term income, taxes, and overall financial confidence.

Key takeaways:

  • Why many savers lack confidence despite years of consistent contributions and strong account balances
  • How traditional probability models can miss key factors like taxes, income flow, and real life outcomes
  • The importance of coordinating accounts to create efficient and sustainable retirement income
  • How tax planning over decades can significantly change long-term retirement results
  • Why the 5 to 10 years before retirement is critical for making meaningful financial adjustments
  • And more!

Resources:

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The Three Chapters of Retirement and How Spending Changes Over Time (Ep. 44)

The Three Chapters of Retirement and How Spending Changes Over Time (Ep. 44)

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Retirement is rarely one long, predictable stretch. Spending, priorities, and daily life can shift more than many people expect, which is why a more realistic framework can make planning feel less stressful.

What if the real challenge is not just having enough money, but knowing when and how to use it well?

In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explains why retirement should be viewed in three chapters instead of one flat timeline. He breaks down the go-go, go-slow, and later years, showing how spending often starts higher, settles into a steadier rhythm, and then rises again as health and housing needs change. Jim also shares how a retirement plan can be built around changing cash flow, not just fixed income, so people can enjoy more experiences early on without losing sight of future care costs.

Key takeaways:

  • Why retirement spending often follows a smile pattern instead of rising in a straight line year after year
  • How the early retirement years can support travel, hobbies, and family experiences without defaulting to fear
  • Why the middle years often bring steadier routines, lower discretionary spending, and housing decisions
  • How health care, home care, and assisted living can sharply raise costs in the final retirement chapter
  • Why planning around changing cash flow can better reflect real retirement life than static income models
  • And more!

Resources:

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New Rules, New Strategies: The OBBBA & Education Planning – Part I (Ep. 42)

New Rules, New Strategies: The OBBBA & Education Planning – Part I (Ep. 42)

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For many families, education and retirement happen on the same financial timeline. 

The dollars that help a child chase their dreams can just as easily be the dollars that shape your future. That’s why recent education reforms deserve your attention, whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or planning for your own education journey.

In part one of this special two-part series, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explores how the new “One Big Beautiful Bill” reshapes education funding and why it matters for your retirement strategy. From expanded Pell Grants and FAFSA shifts to 529 ownership strategies and lifetime borrowing caps, Jim unpacks what’s changing and how to plan with clarity, not guesswork.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • How new student loan rules can affect long-term cash flow
  • Why 529 ownership decisions can influence aid eligibility
  • The ripple effects of tuition planning on retirement savings
  • What the Education Choice for Children Act could mean for families
  • And more!

Resources:

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The Insurance Gap That Could Wreck Your Retirement Plan with Mike Kane (Ep. 41)

The Insurance Gap That Could Wreck Your Retirement Plan with Mike Kane (Ep. 41)

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You can do everything right, save consistently, invest wisely, build a retirement plan, and still be one accident away from financial devastation. 

Why? Because many of us unknowingly overlook one critical piece of protection: uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM).

In this episode of The Retirement Engineer, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, sits down with Mike Kane, a Personal Injury Attorney and Former U.S. Marine, to break down how this often-skipped coverage works, who it helps protect, and why so many people, even financially savvy ones, miss it.

What to expect:

  • What UM/UIM coverage actually does (and doesn’t do)
  • Why high-income professionals are often underprotected
  • Real stories from accident victims caught off guard
  • How to take action with your insurance agent, today
  • And more!

Resources:

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Connect With Mike Kane:

About Our Guest: 

Mike Kane is a Colorado personal injury lawyer specializing in car accidents, truck accidents, and catastrophic personal injury litigation. He also represents victims of sexual assault against institutions and individuals.

Mr. Kane has spent his entire career helping the vulnerable fight back against the powerful. A third-generation lawyer and Colorado native, he is a former US Marine who served a tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After leaving the military, he returned home and served as a Deputy District Attorney in the Arapahoe and Douglas County DA’s Offices. He then entered civil practice and has focused exclusively on the representation of injured plaintiffs.

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Feeling The Market Jitters? Here’s How To Take Control (Ep. 39)

Feeling The Market Jitters? Here’s How To Take Control (Ep. 39)

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When markets drop, most people freeze or flee. But what if the smartest move isn’t to retreat, but to go on offense?

In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®,  unpacks why volatile markets can be a gift to strategic investors who know how to capitalize on short-term fear for long-term gain.

Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®,  walks listeners through how understanding market patterns, managing risk, and applying proactive investment tactics can turn turbulence into opportunity. Whether you’re accumulating wealth or distributing it in retirement, this episode explains why downturns don’t need to derail your plan—in fact, they might be just what your portfolio needs.

Here’s what you can expect from this release:

  • Why market volatility is not only normal, but expected, and how understanding this can help you avoid emotional decisions
  • Why downturns can create ideal conditions for Roth conversions and how to execute them strategically
  • Why rebalancing during market declines can improve long-term returns by systematically buying low and selling high
  • Why dollar-cost averaging and front-loading investment contributions can turn volatility into an advantage
  • And more!

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5 Signs You Should Ditch DIY Retirement Planning (Ep. 38)

5 Signs You Should Ditch DIY Retirement Planning (Ep. 38)

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What are the clear signs it’s time to stop DIYing your retirement planning? 

Here are the five indicators that call for professional guidance.

Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, unravels the complexities of retirement planning. With his wealth of experience, he explores when it’s best to transition from self-management to professional advice. 

This episode offers universal insights for anyone considering a DIY approach to retirement planning.

Key discussion points include:

  • The complexities of growing income and savings [00:01:21]
  • The challenge of managing time as life grows busier [00:04:09]
  • Emotional influences on financial decisions [00:08:32]
  • Understanding the unknown pitfalls in planning [00:12:27]
  • The value of getting professional help as you approach retirement [00:16:14]
  • And more!

Resources:

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