Money Matters by Allworth Financial

What happens when an early retirement success story hits an unexpected tax wall? In this episode of Money Matters, Scott and Pat dive straight into real-life retirement dilemmas, starting with a 55-year-old caller sitting on a $4M+ nest egg who was hit with a major tax surprise. Ron’s taxable brokerage account is generating $75,000 in unexpected annual capital gains distributions—threatening his Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance subsidies and throwing off his early retirement plans. Scott and Pat break down why "ripping off the Band-Aid," taking a one-time tax hit, and shifting to direct indexing might be the key to regaining control of his income. Also featured on this episode: Mark (Age 51): With over $2M saved and sights set on retiring in seven to eight years, Mark asks where to put extra cash after maxing out his pre-tax 401(k). Scott and Pat explain why paying down a 2.9% mortgage early is terrible math and why a Mega Backdoor Roth should take priority. Trouble Brewing in Life Insurance: Scott and Pat discuss private equity firms acquiring life insurance companies, the hidden solvency risks in fixed indexed annuities, and why the current environment shares eerie similarities to the Savings and Loan crisis.   Join Money Matters:  Get your most pressing financial questions answered by Allworth's co-founders Scott Hanson and Pat McClain. Call 833-99-WORTH. Or ask a question by clicking here.  You can also be on the air by emailing Scott and Pat at [email protected]. Download and rate our podcast here.

Worried about how the upcoming election will impact your investments? In this special bonus episode of Money Matters, Scott and Pat are joined by Apollo Lupescu, Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors (known as the "Secretary of Explaining Stuff"), to look past the political noise and examine what decades of market history actually reveal. In this episode, they discuss: Emotions vs. Evidence: Why politics triggers strong emotional reactions, and why successful investing requires separating those feelings from portfolio decisions. Midterms & Market History: What typically happens to the stock market during election months—and why the data going back to 1950 might surprise you. Presidents & Returns: A look at market performance across multiple administrations, from Nixon to Biden, and why policy is just one small ingredient in long-term corporate growth. The "Single-Party Control" Myth: The surprising return statistics behind periods when one political party controlled the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. Staying the Course: How having a financial plan and an objective advisor can protect your long-term wealth from short-term election anxiety.   Join Money Matters:  Get your most pressing financial questions answered by Allworth's co-founders Scott Hanson and Pat McClain. Call 833-99-WORTH. Or ask a question by clicking here.  You can also be on the air by emailing Scott and Pat at [email protected]. Download and rate our podcast here.

When your retirement savings cross the seven-figure mark, the simple strategies that got you there might actually cost you money in taxes. In this episode, Scott and Pat explain why a high earner with a $1.8M portfolio needs to move beyond basic target-date funds and ETFs into direct indexing—plus when to pay off low-interest debt, how to pass down wealth, and when you can finally afford to spend more. Scott and Pat also cover: The 3.25% Mortgage Dilemma: Should you accelerate payoff on low-interest debt when Treasuries yield 5%? Transitioning from Saving to Spending: A 36-year-old father with $1M saved asks if it’s safe to ease off contributions and start spending more. The "Bank of Mom and Dad": The financial and family dynamics of gifting or loaning money to adult children for high-cost home down payments. Real Estate & Tax Traps: Navigating capital gains, Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs), and term life insurance rules.   Join Money Matters:  Get your most pressing financial questions answered by Allworth's co-founders Scott Hanson and Pat McClain. Call 833-99-WORTH. Or ask a question by clicking here.  You can also be on the air by emailing Scott and Pat at [email protected]. Download and rate our podcast here.  

Is retiring at 55 with a $2M nest egg realistic? On this episode of Money Matters, Scott and Pat break down the numbers with a caller aiming for an early exit from the corporate grind. They discuss how to balance pre-tax 401(k)s, Roths, RSUs, and taxable brokerage accounts—plus how to front-load 529 plans without triggering unnecessary taxes. Scott and Pat also dive into: The Rise of Private Equity: What proposed SEC changes mean for everyday investors, and the hidden risks, lack of liquidity, and valuation pitfalls of alternative investments in 401(k) plans. Building a Multi-Generational Legacy: A caller asks how to pass down a $2M estate efficiently. The hosts discuss asset location, when Roth conversions make sense across generations, and navigating RMDs. Family Wealth Conversations: Why talking to your adult children about trustees and estate planning today prevents headaches tomorrow. Join Money Matters:  Get your most pressing financial questions answered by Allworth's co-founders Scott Hanson and Pat McClain. Call 833-99-WORTH. Or ask a question by clicking here.  You can also be on the air by emailing Scott and Pat at [email protected]. Download and rate our podcast here.

How do you turn a lifetime of saving into reliable, tax-smart retirement income? In this episode of Money Matters, Scott and Pat break down what investors with $1M+ need to know when transitioning from building wealth to generating income in today’s market. In this episode, Scott and Pat tackle real listener situations: -Caller Case Study 1: Retiring with a 401(k), a solid pension, and a paid-off home—how do you stress-test your plan against inflation and potential Social Security shifts? -Caller Case Study 2: Buying a second home in Texas while keeping California property—which accounts (cash, taxable gains, Roth, or traditional IRA) should you tap first to avoid costly tax traps? Plus, macro insights & portfolio strategy: -Stocks vs. Bonds: Why equity markets and bond yields are sending conflicting signals, and what record highs mean for your rebalancing plan. -The Psychology of Selling Winners: Why trimming top-performing assets is the hardest—and most critical—discipline for wealth preservation.   Join Money Matters:  Get your most pressing financial questions answered by Allworth's co-founders Scott Hanson and Pat McClain. Call 833-99-WORTH. Or ask a question by clicking here.  You can also be on the air by emailing Scott and Pat at [email protected]. Download and rate our podcast here.