When should you claim your Social Security benefits? What do benefits look like for teachers who contribute to Teacher Retirement Systems? What is the survivor step-up strategy? In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, we’ll dive into some of the more complex areas of Social Security that people need to know about but are rarely told.

• [1:48] Check out our website for some FREE resources
• [2:27] Should you claim sooner or later?
• [6:19] The way Social Security is taxed
• [8:51] The GPO or WEP rules for survivor benefits
• [12:17] The survivor step-up strategy
• [19:34] Cost-of-living adjustments
• [24:03] How the spousal benefit works

• 3 Steps to Retirement Planning
• Widows Move Forward on Their Own – But Not Alone
• Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment

• Email at: Gregg.gonzalez@lpl.com
• Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com
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Social Security can be difficult to understand. The rules can be difficult to decipher. Answers are nearly impossible to find. This leaves most people frustrated and confused.

In this episode, I’m going to separate the truths from the many rumors you often hear and help you build your knowledge about Social Security. My goal is for you to walk away more informed about your future. Don’t miss it.

• [0:34] Make sure you follow our YouTube channel!
• [4:17] How do you earn a Social Security check?
• [8:27] How does the spousal benefit work with credits?
• [11:43] How do spousal benefits work with ex-spouses?
• [13:26] How does the survivor benefit work?
• [16:04] Understanding your Social Security statement
• [18:03] Collecting your benefits while working
• [19:40] How benefits are allocated monthly
• [20:39] What if you want to collect benefits and work?
• [23:21] Suspending or stopping your Social Security benefits

• 3 Steps to Retirement Planning
• SSA: How You Become Eligible for Benefits
• SSA: Primary Insurance Amount
• SSA: Form W-4V
• SSA: Form 521

• Email at: Gregg.gonzalez@lpl.com
• Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com
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2024 has already been full of many in-depth conversations with current and prospective clients. There have been some common threads among most of those conversations. From those common threads, I’ve pulled five lessons that we can all learn and benefit from when planning for retirement. Listen to this episode of Retirement Made Easy to learn what they are!

• [2:41] Lesson #1: Be careful who you get advice from
• [8:42] Lesson #2: Invest in line with your risk tolerance
• [12:29] Lesson #3: Make sure you have the details right
• [16:18] Lesson #4: Don’t be overconfident
• [18:50] Lesson #5: Always ask, “What am I missing?”

• 3 Steps to Retirement Planning

• Email at: Gregg.gonzalez@lpl.com
• Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com
• Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com
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Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about 401K loans and whether or not they’re worth it. People are asking things like, “How do you take out the loan? How does paying it back work? Should we ever consider it? What are our other options?”

I’m a financial planner. My job is to give you all of the information necessary so you can make informed decisions. Because at the end of the day, these decisions are yours. So, in this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I’m going to give you the full picture and let you decide.

• [3:10] Check out our website for FREE resources
• [4:45] The basics of 401K loans
• [7:55] The risks of taking a 401K loan
• [14:06] Dipping into a Roth IRA
• [15:49] Alternatives to a 401K loan
• [19:34] Consider short-term and long-term goals

• 3 Steps to Retirement Planning
• Check out our website for FREE resources
• The 5-year Roth IRA rule
• Episode #118: 3 Types of Accounts You Want to Have to Save for Retirement

• Email at: Gregg.gonzalez@lpl.com
• Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com
• Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com
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People often ask me where they should retire. Should they relocate to a new city or state? Most people assume when they retire that they need to move to make the most of their income.

But the answer isn’t clear-cut. Everyone has different preferences. In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I’ll dive into some of the factors you should consider to make that decision.

I’ll also cover a few areas of retirement planning that have most people confused and shed some light on the situation. Don’t miss it!

• [1:58] The Mid-Year Market Outlook is coming in July!
• [2:57] Where is the best place to retire?
• [4:51] Factors that influence people to relocate
• [13:56] When do you have to take required minimum distributions?
• [16:48] Most people don’t understand Roth conversions
• [19:00] You are responsible for the outcome of your 401K

• 3 Steps to Retirement Planning
• SECURE 2.0 Act
• The Most Affordable U.S. States to Retire in 2024

• Email at: Gregg.gonzalez@lpl.com
• Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com
• Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com
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“I’m 60 years old and have $1 million saved. Do I have enough to retire?”

I had a conversation with someone who had saved over $1 million and had been told he could retire. So he did retire—and completely regretted it. He wishes someone had told him to wait longer. Sadly, $1 million doesn’t go that far anymore.

Too many people answering this question neglect to address all of the factors that influence whether or not you’ve saved enough to retire. In this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I’ll dive into some of the factors you need to consider in three different scenarios. Because you have to take into account far more than what you have saved.

• [3:49] Scenario #1: Retiring at 60 with $1 million saved
• [7:41] Scenario #2: Retiring at 60 with $1 million saved
• [12:53] Scenario #3: Retiring at 60 with $1 million saved
• [17:00] Why the answer is never as simple as yes or no

• 3 Steps to Retirement Planning

• Email at: Gregg.gonzalez@lpl.com
• Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com
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Over the last two months, we’ve had close to 8 people contact us to put together a retirement plan because they’re fearful of being downsized. If they got laid off, could they afford to retire? People are looking for peace of mind and a retirement plan helps cover the what-ifs in life.

Tom Hegna wrote the book, “Don’t Worry, Retire Happy.” In it, he brings up some good points when it comes to retirement planning and what to be aware of. I tweaked his methodology to make it my own. So in this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I’ll cover the 7 steps you need to have a secure retirement.

• [0:28] Why you need a retirement plan in place (and how we can help you)
• [6:11] Step #1: Get a retirement plan in place
• [8:05] Step #2: Maximize Social Security benefits and pensions
• [8:45] Step #3: Consider a hybrid retirement
• [10:40] Step #4: Account for inflation
• [14:51] Step #5: Protect your dollars from taxes
• [17:30] Step #6: Have a plan for long-term care
• [18:46] Step #7: Use your home equity wisely

• 3 Steps to Retirement Planning
• “Don’t Worry, Retire Happy"

• Email at: Gregg.gonzalez@lpl.com
• Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com
• Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com
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I’ve been helping people plan for their dream retirement for the last 16 years. I’ve nearly heard it all. I’ve had to tell people they can’t retire yet or that they have to save far more than they planned. The people who make these mistakes derail their retirement and jeopardize their success. I detail the top 7 mistakes I see that you’ll regret forever in this episode of the Retirement Made Easy Podcast!

• [4:05] Mistake #1: Borrowing from a 401k
• [8:06] Mistake #2: Planning to work indefinitely
• [10:37] Mistake #3: Buying a timeshare
• [12:02] Mistake #4: Delaying saving for retirement
• [14:33] Mistake #5: Diverting the money to your kids
• [19:28] Mistake #6: Avoiding investing in the stock market
• [24:20] Mistake #7: People that relocate on a whim

• 3 Steps to Retirement Planning
• 16 Retirement Mistakes You Will Regret Forever

• Email at: Gregg.gonzalez@lpl.com
• Podcast: https://RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com
• Website: https://StLouisFinancialAdvisor.com
• Follow Gregg on LinkedIn
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On Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts