Tag: Financial Planning
The Power of Tax Pro Formas with Dylan Stewart (Ep. 29)

The Power of Tax Pro Formas with Dylan Stewart (Ep. 29)

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Have you ever wished you could predict your tax bill before it arrives?

Tax pro formas could help you do just that.

Join Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, and returning guest Dylan Stewart, CFP®, CPA, for an enlightening discussion about the often overlooked strategy of using tax pro formas in financial planning. Learn how to anticipate tax liabilities, make informed decisions, and optimize your financial strategy to build upon your wealth and create the retirement you desire.

Talking points include: 

  • How tax pro formas work and fit into financial planning as a whole
  • How to use a tax pro forma to avoid unexpected tax liabilities
  • The downsides of AI in this space and the importance of accurate data collection for building a strong tax pro forma
  • The importance of holistic tax planning, the integration of Roth conversions, and reviewing your tax history
  • Common tax pro forma mistakes and how to avoid them
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Jim Kruzan: 

Connect with Dylan Stewart:

About Our Guest: 

Dylan Stewart, CFP®, CPA, serves as a Wealth Advisor at Kaydan Wealth Management, offering comprehensive wealth management and guiding clients through the Evolutionary Wealth Process. As a member of the Investment Policy Committee and collaborator with Senior Wealth Advisors, he plays a pivotal role in shaping and maintaining client financial strategies.

“I love helping clients feel safe and secure by helping them achieve their financial goals and dreams.”

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Navigating Retirement Healthcare Pre and Post-Medicare with Darren Brennan, CFP®, CRPC® (Ep. 25)

Navigating Retirement Healthcare Pre and Post-Medicare with Darren Brennan, CFP®, CRPC® (Ep. 25)

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Did you know that today, a couple aged 65 is expected to spend about $315,000 on healthcare costs throughout retirement?

That is a lot of money! Have you taken the time to plan for these expenses? 

This week on The Retirement Engineer, Jim Kruzan is joined by Darren Brennan, Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor at Kaydan Wealth Management to unravel the complexities of planning for healthcare costs in retirement.

Jim and Darren’s conversation covers the critical considerations surrounding Medicare, COBRA insurance, and other healthcare funding strategies as you approach this pivotal phase of life. 

So, tune in and discover what it takes to create a robust financial plan that accounts for healthcare expenses, allowing you to enjoy your golden years with less stress.

Episode talking points include: 

  • Strategies for managing healthcare costs before and after qualifying for Medicare
  • The role of COBRA insurance and how it could fit into your retirement planning
  • Innovative funding strategies, including Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Roth IRAs, to cover healthcare gaps
  • The importance of planning for long-term care and the different options available 
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Jim Kruzan: 

Connect with Darren Brennan:

About our Guest: 

Darren Brennan is a CFP®, CRPC® at Kaydan Wealth Management, responsible for delivering the full spectrum of wealth management to clients. He is a key member of Kaydan Wealth Management’s Investment Policy Committee. Darren also supports the Senior Wealth Advisor with the creation and maintenance of client financial plans.

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Do Our Loved Ones Need Extra Support? The Value of Family Connection — Part I with Becky Eizen (Ep. 20)

Do Our Loved Ones Need Extra Support? The Value of Family Connection — Part I with Becky Eizen (Ep. 20)

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Are you or a loved one facing the realities of aging?

This week on The Retirement Engineer, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, is joined by Becky Eizen, founder and CEO of the Eizen Consulting Group. 

Together, they navigate the often-overlooked aspects of elder care. They explore the critical role of geriatric care managers and how to identify the early signs of aging while shedding light on the significance of involving loved ones in care discussions. 

By offering a deep look into the various forms of dementia and clarifying the difference between Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), this episode aims to empower you with the necessary tools for thoughtful planning and informed decision-making, guiding you to honor and fulfill the wishes of our aging loved ones with dignity and respect.

Jim and Becky discuss: 

  • The role and responsibilities of geriatric care managers
  • The distinction between ADLs and IADLs
  • How to find a geriatric care manager
  • Signs of aging and decline in elderly loved ones and how to approach professional help 
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Becky Eizen:

Connect with Jim Kruzan: 

About our Guest: 

Becky Eizen received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and her Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) with an emphasis in Marketing from Georgia State University in Atlanta.

Becky has always had a passion for helping others. She began her career in the field of geriatrics over 20 years ago. She developed and implemented a program for older adults seeking to house people and assist them so that they can remain in their homes as independently as possible.

As a Geriatric Care Manager, Becky has worked closely with clients and their families to make the best decisions possible. She understands the importance of geriatric care management and knows that it can truly have a positive impact on a person’s quality of life. She is also keenly aware of the stress that caring for older adults can have on a family. 

Becky is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), and a Certified Alzheimer’s and Dementia Disease Trainer (CADDCT). She is passionate about caring for the aging population and their families and speaks frequently to groups about the aging process. 

In 2020, she established Eizen Consulting Group, LLC,  to continue to serve clients and families as they navigate the aging process. She also became a Board-Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA) in May 2021.

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Podcast Image showing the title "Is Wealth Management Only for the Wealthy?"
Is Wealth Management Only for the Wealthy? (Ep. 9)

Is Wealth Management Only for the Wealthy? (Ep. 9)

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How much money do you need to have access to wealth management?

In a world where wealth seems synonymous with exclusivity, it’s time to shatter the misconception that wealth management is reserved for the affluent few!

In this eye-opening episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, empowers individuals at every stage of life to make informed decisions about their financial future, whether it’s planning for retirement, funding higher education, or conquering debt.

Jim discusses:

  • The invaluable power of accessible wealth management
  • 5 stages of wealth creation to navigate life’s most important events
  • How Kaydan Wealth Management’s suite of scalable services makes wealth management easily accessible
  • Why early career choices, seemingly unrelated, may morph into large deficits later in life
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Jim Kruzan: 

About Your Host: 

Balancing the responsibilities of Founder and Senior Wealth Advisor puts Jim in a unique position at Kaydan Wealth Management. As the Founder, Jim is responsible for guiding the direction of the firm’s moral compass and ensuring the entire team is advancing its mission statement. As Senior Wealth Advisor, he manages the firm’s largest and most complex client relationships and is also hands-on with the development of comprehensive, process-driven wealth solutions.

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Podcast Image showing the title "Breaking Down the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula, Part 4: Relationship Management"
Breaking Down the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula, Part 4: Relationship Management (Ep. 8)

Breaking Down the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula, Part 4: Relationship Management (Ep. 8)

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Many people overlook relationship management in retirement planning, but it plays a crucial role in our Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula.

In fact, we see it as the glue that holds the entire retirement planning process together!

As we wrap up our thought-provoking mini-series, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, highlights the profound impact of nurturing meaningful connections and unveils key strategies for leveraging relationships to unlock an extraordinary retirement experience.

Jim discusses:

  • The significance of the “who, what, where, when, why, and how” in client relationship management
  • Why you should work with an advisor who shares your values
  • How we engage outside expertise in financial and retirement planning
  • How relationship management may improve your bottom line (based on research)
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Jim Kruzan: 

About Your Host: 

Balancing the responsibilities of Founder and Senior Wealth Advisor puts Jim in a unique position at Kaydan Wealth Management. As the Founder, Jim is responsible for guiding the direction of the firm’s moral compass and ensuring the entire team is advancing its mission statement. As Senior Wealth Advisor, he manages the firm’s largest and most complex client relationships and is also hands-on with the development of comprehensive, process-driven wealth solutions.

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Podcast Image showing the title "Breaking Down the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula, Part 3: Wealth Protection and Charitable Giving"
Breaking Down the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula, Part 3: Wealth Protection and Charitable Giving (Ep. 7)

Breaking Down the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula, Part 3: Wealth Protection and Charitable Giving (Ep. 7)

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In our previous episode, we talked about two key components of advanced planning, which is a crucial part of the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula.

Now, it’s time to dive into wealth protection and charitable giving!

In part three of our mini-series, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explains how to preserve your hard-earned wealth through a host of risk mitigation strategies. He also shares tools and tactics to make your charitable giving more tax-efficient.

Jim discusses: 

  • Five types of risk mitigation strategies (with relatable examples!)
  • How to mitigate risk beyond investments (your home, car, retirement income, etc.)
  • How “bunching” of charitable gifts is a significant tax-saver for charitably-inclined people
  • The tax benefits of Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) for people over 70½-years-old
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Jim Kruzan: 

About Your Host: 

Balancing the responsibilities of Founder and Senior Wealth Advisor puts Jim in a unique position at Kaydan Wealth Management. As the Founder, Jim is responsible for guiding the direction of the firm’s moral compass and ensuring the entire team is advancing its mission statement. As Senior Wealth Advisor, he manages the firm’s largest and most complex client relationships and is also hands-on with the development of comprehensive, process-driven wealth solutions.

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Breaking Down the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula, Part 2: Wealth Enhancement and Transfer (Ep. 6)

Breaking Down the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula, Part 2: Wealth Enhancement and Transfer (Ep. 6)

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A critical piece of the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula is advanced planning.

Advanced planning includes wealth enhancement, wealth transfer, wealth protection, and charitable giving.

In part two of our mini-series, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explains ways to enhance your wealth outside of investment management and transfer it to your loved ones in a tax-efficient manner.

Jim discusses: 

  • How to effectively mitigate your taxes over your lifetime (and not just in the near future!)
  • How to use cash flow planning to meet your needs at different stages of retirement
  • Key wealth transfer issues (and how to deal with them)
  • The meaning of “asset titlement” and how it helps improve wealth transfer
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Jim Kruzan: 

About Your Host: 

Balancing the responsibilities of Founder and Senior Wealth Advisor puts Jim in a unique position at Kaydan Wealth Management. As the Founder, Jim is responsible for guiding the direction of the firm’s moral compass and ensuring the entire team is advancing its mission statement. As Senior Wealth Advisor, he manages the firm’s largest and most complex client relationships and is also hands-on with the development of comprehensive, process-driven wealth solutions.

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Breaking Down the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula, Part 1: Investment Management (Ep. 5)

Breaking Down the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula, Part 1: Investment Management (Ep. 5)

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A Bigger, Bolder Retirement is the sum of investment management, advanced planning, and relationship management. (We call it the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula!)

In part one of our three-part series, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, dives into the investment management aspect of the Bigger Bolder Retirement Formula and explains how capital growth and preservation can lead to greater experiences and opportunities in retirement.

Jim discusses: 

  • How to reduce your total tax liability in retirement using asset location
  • Benefits of using varying investment strategies for different accounts (instead of a one-size-fits-all model)
  • Why IRA accounts can act as the rudder to your retirement portfolio
  • Economic conditions where active management might be helpful
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Jim Kruzan: 

About Your Host: 

Balancing the responsibilities of Founder and Senior Wealth Advisor puts Jim in a unique position at Kaydan Wealth Management. As the Founder, Jim is responsible for guiding the direction of the firm’s moral compass and ensuring the entire team is advancing its mission statement. As Senior Wealth Advisor, he manages the firm’s largest and most complex client relationships and is also hands-on with the development of comprehensive, process-driven wealth solutions.

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Mechanics of a Bigger, Bolder Retirement (Ep. 4)

Mechanics of a Bigger, Bolder Retirement (Ep. 4)

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In the first three episodes, we introduced the idea of a bigger, bolder retirement, which involves “supersizing” your retirement — more assets, more opportunities, and more enjoyment.

Now, it is time to lift the hood and understand the mechanics of a bigger, bolder retirement!

In this episode, Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, explains how to improve your retirement income and generate better cash flow using the Bigger, Bolder Retirement Formula.

Jim discusses: 

  • Strategies to improve your pension, Social Security, and investment income
  • How to harvest your accumulated wealth in a tax-efficient manner
  • A brief overview of effective investment management, advanced planning, and relationship management
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Jim Kruzan: 

About Your Host: 

Balancing the responsibilities of Founder and Senior Wealth Advisor puts Jim in a unique position at Kaydan Wealth Management. As the Founder, Jim is responsible for guiding the direction of the firm’s moral compass and ensuring the entire team is advancing its mission statement. As Senior Wealth Advisor, he manages the firm’s largest and most complex client relationships and is also hands-on with the development of comprehensive, process-driven wealth solutions.

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Retirement Planning for the Mobility Technology Industry (Ep. 3)

Retirement Planning for the Mobility Technology Industry (Ep. 3)

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At Kaydan Wealth Management, we specialize in providing advice and services to the mobility technology industry.

But how is retirement planning different for this niche?

Find out in this episode, as Jim Kruzan, CFP®, CRPC®, Senior Wealth Advisor and Founder of Kaydan Wealth Management, talks about Kaydan Wealth Management’s customized retirement planning experience for engineers, scientists, and other professionals in the mobility technology industry.

Jim discusses:

  • What compelled him to choose the mobility technology industry as a niche
  • What financial advisors and engineers have in common (making them a good fit to work together)
  • Common pain points within the mobility technology industry — with examples
  • Evaluating opportunities on your career runway and learning how to “game the system” even when there are some disruptions in the industry
  • And more

Resources:

Connect with Jim Kruzan: 

About Your Host:

Balancing the responsibilities of Founder and Senior Wealth Advisor puts Jim in a unique position at Kaydan Wealth Management. As the Founder, Jim is responsible for guiding the direction of the firm’s moral compass and ensuring the entire team is advancing its mission statement. As Senior Wealth Advisor, he manages the firm’s largest and most complex client relationships and is also hands-on with the development of comprehensive, process-driven wealth solutions.

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