More Living with Jim Brogan

Where's The Beef With Jim Simpson This episode originally aired on June 15, 2024. In this episode of "More Living with Jim Brogan," Jim Brogan welcomes Jim Simpson, owner of Simpson’s Meats, for a lively discussion on grilling, smoking, and selecting quality meats. Simpson shares insights from his family’s long history in cattle farming, explains beef grading and sourcing, and offers expert tips on preparing steaks and brisket. The episode also covers local food partnerships, restaurant operations, and practical advice for summer cooking. Blending culinary expertise with Brogan’s financial wisdom, the show encourages listeners to enjoy good food and smart retirement planning for a fulfilling life. Transcript: Automatically Transcribed With Podsqueeze Jim Brogan 00:00:03 You're tuned in to More Living with Jim Brogan, broadcast live from the Brogan Financial studios at Newstalk 9087, where old fashioned values, expert knowledge and genuine understanding come together to give you the retirement straight talk you deserve. Jim's a former National Advisor of the year recipient and a financial educator, and he's here today to talk about how you can live out the best years of your life. Jim and the Brogan financial team have been helping retirees and retirees across the southeast for over 20 years in their pursuit of financial independence. You can reach them during the week at 865862 6800. So sit back, relax and get ready to learn because More living with Jim Brogan starts now. Jim Brogan 00:00:47 Welcome to More Learning with Jim Brogan this morning, where it's all about living the best years of your life your way as you listen to Newstalk 98 seven. It's definitely summer. It's heating up. And you know, one of my favorite things about the summer is outdoor cooking. It's officially grilling season and smoking season. it's kind of funny because up until the pandemic, I didn't really smoke much meat. Jim Brogan 00:01:12 And then, but I got a smoker about six months before the pandemic and the pandemic hit. And now it's like my biggest hobby. I just absolutely love it. and most of the recipes, though, when we start talking about enjoying summertime with family and friends and fellowship, it's all around meat. Whether you love to cook beef or chicken or seafood or veggies, just about every anything can be cooked on a grill or a smoker. And so I'm really excited to spend the hour talking about one of my favorite things, which is me. And I have a old friend of mine in the studio with me, Jim Simpson. Jim is the owner of Simpson's Meat, their local butcher shop located off Level Road in West Knoxville. Jim's family has been in the cattle and farming business since 1888, and certainly brings a wealth of knowledge about all things meat. Good morning Jim. Welcome to More Living. Jim Simpson 00:02:06 Good morning. Thanks for having us. Jim Brogan 00:02:07 Yeah. 1888. Jim Simpson 00:02:09 Yes, sir. That was my great grandfather, John Simpson. Jim Simpson 00:02:13 That kind of settled down in the Athens area. and then, of course, my grandfather, Earl Simpson, continued, that legacy. And then, of course, my dad took over. And now my brother and I are, are at the helm of running the farm. Jim Brogan 00:02:27 And, it started out as a dairy, dairy farm, dairy farm? Jim Simpson 00:02:31 Yes, sir. We were we were full blown dairy, producing grade-A milk up until the late 60s. And that's when our grandfather started to transition over, to just beef. Jim Brogan 00:02:43 So did you always know you were going to go in the family business? Jim Simpson 00:02:47 no, sir. my background was more on the financial side, up until, 2012. And we started looking at opportunities of how to sustain the farming operation and how to go direct with our meats, and that's what we did. Jim Brogan 00:03:04 Yeah, as a matter of fact, we were talking there off air before we came on air that, when I started Brogan Financial in 2001. Right. Hard to believe it's been almost 23 years. Jim Brogan 00:03:15 Right? well, no, it has been 20 years. Is this month in 2001, we worked out the same building. Jim Simpson 00:03:21 That's correct. Yeah, we were in banking. I was in the banking business for 18 years. And then, like I said, we had an opportunity to get a relationship started with Whole Foods. in 2011, 2012, supplying them directly. And that's when I transitioned away from banking and went back to the family farm. Jim Brogan 00:03:41 Now, when it comes to meat, Jim, you know, we there's been documentaries. There's all this stuff about how meat is processed in the United States, right. So talk to us a little bit about where the beef comes from and how how it raised, how important is it? And how do you raise your cattle? Jim Simpson 00:03:57 Right? Right. I think there's a lot there that that that stress is a big factor in quality of beef. and anytime that you can prevent cattle from going through the normal chains, the normal process of being put on a truck and transported, to one farm and then transported to a finishing yard. Jim Simpson 00:04:17 Anytime you can avoid that stress, you're, you're you are actually improving the quality of your meat. And we firmly believe that. So all the cattle that we raise in the farms that participate in our program in Tennessee, this these cattle are maintained on, on individual farms and until time of harvest. And at that point we move those to a processing facility in Kentucky. And we do that on a weekly basis. And then we bring the meat back to our USDA cut shop in Knoxville for further processing. Jim Brogan 00:04:46 So talk about like our all your do you get all your cattle from Tennessee Tennessee farms. Jim Simpson 00:04:52 No we do not. We have we have an also have a. We have four participating farms in Tennessee that actually grow in finished cattle for us, that we pick up on a weekly basis. We also have a relationship with a farm out of Texas called 44 farms. And how we got started with them was they probably have. They're the largest Angus breeder in the state of Texas, and they have some of the most the premier Angus genetics. Jim Simpson 00:05:17 And that's one of the things we also focus on is genetics. Because if you don't if you start with good beef, good genetics, you have an opportunity to to end with good beef, a much better opportunity. So we started partnering with them and buying bulls for them to use in our Tennessee herds. And from that, what happened was they started saying, well, you know, if you guys are going to use our bulls, why don't you start buying our beef? And so we do also market their beef here in Tennessee as well. We actually get beef from them on a weekly basis. And it's a same genetics, the same hormone, antibiotic free, all the same claims that we're selling there in our shop. Jim Brogan 00:05:52 Now you said USDA. Yes. So does all your stuff come with the USDA grade? Jim Simpson 00:05:58 That's correct. Not a grade. We're not our. The local Tennessee beef is not technically graded. What we get from 44 farms is graded, but it all is all USDA certified and stamped. Jim Simpson 00:06:10 Correct. Jim Brogan 00:06:11 So let's talk about the different cut, the different grades. Jim Simpson 00:06:14 Yes. Jim Brogan 00:06:15 Yeah. Right. I guess there's you know there's choice. There's prime there's select, there's standard. There's all kinds of. Yes. talk about the difference from one cut to the next. How big of a difference I mean are typically by choice. Jim Simpson 00:06:27 Right. You're I mean, in most of the cuts visually you're going to be able to obviously see the difference between a choice and a prime and the marbling of the steaks. Okay. in a, in a filet, are you going to be able to tell that much difference in the eating experience if it's cooked properly? Probably not. Jim Brogan 00:06:44 So the more fat would be in the meat. Jim Simpson 00:06:47 That is correct. Jim Brogan 00:06:48 So the more leaner cuts you're not really going to notice much difference. Jim Simpson 00:06:51 That's correct. That's correct. And I tell folks all the time, I think going choice is the safest route, because there are certain cattle that have been fed too long where you get into yield grade fours and fives, and they're able to call those cattle prime when they're graded at the finishing facility. Jim Simpson 00:07:09 And then when you get the steak, it's almost too fatty. You get you get into having gristle in that steak. And that's not a good eating experience. Jim Brogan 00:07:16 So I guess what they grade it based on, they, they look at a particular specific muscle and see how much fat content there is in that muscle. Jim Simpson 00:07:23 That's correct. They're looking at the ribeye. They cut the ribeye at the seventh bone. And then they they that's where the grading is all done. Jim Brogan 00:07:30 So is it in the breeding and the genetics. Is that what makes the biggest difference. Jim Simpson 00:07:34 From the start. I we are a firm believer. I mean there's lots of different varying opinions that you can feed cattle to a grade. But to me, if you want the right type of marbling, then you need to really push for the proper genetics. I would also mention here too that we have another relationship here locally with the farm in Lewisville called 16 Peaks. And they actually raise a Wagyu. It's a red Wagyu. It's called Akashi beef. Jim Simpson 00:08:00 And that's a growing relationship where we're starting to harvest more and more cattle. And they really have, really fine tune the process of really giving us a, a prime product. That's a great eating experience. Jim Brogan 00:08:14 Yeah. And that would be a that's an American walk, right? Jim Simpson 00:08:17 That's correct. Jim Brogan 00:08:18 Yes. Yeah. So talk about the difference in true Japanese versus American. Jim Simpson 00:08:21 Well it's all there. All the genetics came from Japan at one time. So the A

In this episode of "More Living with Jim Brogan," Jim Brogan discusses four critical areas where retirement financial plans can fail: insurance coverage, beneficiary designations and asset titling, fraud and scam prevention, and emergency fund management. He explains how overlooked details in these areas can undermine decades of planning, and offers practical advice on regular insurance reviews, updating estate documents, protecting against scams, and maintaining a robust emergency fund. The episode emphasizes proactive, ongoing management as key to securing financial independence and peace of mind in retirement. Transcription: Jim Brogan 00:00:02 You're tuned into more Living with Jim Brogan, broadcast live from the Brogan Financial studios at Newstalk 98 seven, where old fashioned values, expert knowledge and genuine understanding come together to give you the retirement straight talk you deserve. Jim's a former National Advisor of the year recipient and a financial educator, and he's here today to talk about how you can live out the best years of your life. Jim and the Brogan financial team have been helping retirees and retirees across the southeast for over 20 years in their pursuit of financial independence. You can reach them during the week at 865862 6800. So sit back, relax and get ready to learn, because more living with Jim Brogan starts now. Speaker 2 00:00:45 Hello East Tennessee, welcome to More Living with Jim Brogan, where it's all about living the best years of your life, your ways. You listen to Newstalk 98 seven, woke. Speaker 3 00:00:56 Up and you know you've worked hard to build your financial foundation. saving for retirement, building wealth, planning for the future. But all that progress can be undone by avoidable mistakes, from whether it's inadequate insurance coverages to outdated beneficiary designations, from sophisticated scams targeting retirees to emergency funds that aren't quite adequate for today's challenges. Speaker 3 00:01:23 These gaps in your financial plan that are often overlooked can derail decades of careful work. Now, the good news is, most of these problems are preventable with the right knowledge and proactive planning. And so today, we're discussing four critical areas where even well-planned finances can fall apart. Insurance coverages, beneficiary designations and how we title our assets. Fraud and scam prevention and how we started. How we handle our emergency fund. So let's dive into to how to protect the plan that you work so hard to build. We'll ask. We'll answer common questions about protecting your financial plan, and we'll discuss solutions to help you avoid the mistakes that can derail even the best laid plans. So let's start with an insurance review and and covering, or closing your coverage gaps before they end up costing you. You know, insurance is one of those things we all have, but few of us really review it regularly. You know, we set it and forget it, and we hope we never need it. You know, we don't hope to have a claim on our homeowners insurance as an example. Speaker 3 00:02:41 however, insurance markets have changed dramatically in recent years. And what worked for you five years ago or even last year for that matter, may no longer provide adequate protection. You know, we see soaring premiums. There are expiring subsidies in terms of the ACA, the Affordable Care Act, or the Obamacare as it's commonly called, and their coverage gaps many don't know exist. Today's insurance landscape does need your attention. So let's let's discuss today. While reviewing your insurance coverage is critical in 2026. So first off, let's talk about health insurance. The enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expired at the end of 2025, and average premiums more than doubled from just under $900 a month to over $1,900 per month. For people that are receiving a government subsidy. About 7.3 million people are expected to drop their ACA coverage that they get in the marketplace. 5 million people will likely go uninsured rather than find coverage somewhere else, and young, healthy people dropping coverage creates a potential death spiral for the marketplace. I mean, think about this. Speaker 3 00:04:07 It's often younger, healthier people that that drop their coverage and that makes it, you know, the the older and more sick a population is that's being covered for insurance, the higher those costs are. You know, insurance is about the law of large numbers. When you start taking out younger, healthier people, it's completely changes that dynamic. And then when you have more people going off of insurance, then we have more people uninsured that go into emergency rooms, that have accidents, that have things that come up, and ultimately that creates stress on our health care system. Now other insurances are rising. auto insurance premiums were up 12% in 2025, and that was more than 50% higher than they were in 2020. So in five short years, auto insurance has gone up over 50%. Full coverage auto insurance increased for the average household almost $2,700 a month a year. Excuse me? 47% of homeowners reported a premium increase in 2025. And rate increases are happening at really a record pace. things we haven't really seen in decades. Speaker 3 00:05:35 So, you know, health insurance. Let's start with health insurance premiums. Health insurance premiums for employer coverage reached $27,000 for family coverage $27,000 a year. So that's pretty dang high. nearly 30% of policyholders switch carriers in the past five years. A comparison shopping allows an apples to apples policy comparison now. You know, if you're working for an employer. Most people, they're covered for through their health insurance, you know, through their employer. And so you don't have a lot of control over those things. Now, if you do have control, you should absolutely be shopping your health insurance on a regular basis. You should also look at payment options. You know, sometimes paying for your premium annually instead of monthly can yield some pretty deep discounts. but we have to also understand where policies exclude things. you know, Medicare doesn't cover everything. that's a very common thing. most people cover their gaps with either a medigap plan or Medicare Advantage plan. So we get that people get supplements and there are still holes depending on which supplement you get. Speaker 3 00:07:01 You know, travel insurance. Many, many people buy travel insurance, especially when they you know, we have a lot of clients that go on overseas trips, go on river cruises in Europe, things like that, and travel insurance. There are a lot of it has a lot of exclusions that people don't really understand. So it it's critically important if we're going to pay for insurance to understand what we're paying for. You know, long term care insurance has become more and more expensive. And in many cases it's just unavailable. So we really should be looking at all of these things and what coverage covers and what it doesn't cover. I know, you know, with things like homeowner's insurance, one thing I've learned over the last 4 or 5 years is insurers are terrified of water damage. And so there are typically limits on your coverage as what those benefits will cover if there's water damage or if there's mold and mildew damage. There are a lot of exclusions, with your auto insurance and and I'm not a licensed insurance agent for auto and homeowners. Speaker 3 00:08:17 So let's be clear here. But with your auto insurance, you know, do you have a gap in your coverage? If you buy a brand new car and you drive it off the lot, you know, it goes down $10,000 in value oftentimes, or let's say significantly, depending on, you know, how how you know, the value of the car you bought. But then if you turn around and have a significant accident, you may not have enough coverage to cover that. There could be a gap in what the insurance company thinks the car is worth versus what you just paid for it. You know, if you have significant damage to your car. Will your insurance company pay to replace parts that are made by your OEM, your original equipment manufacturer? Or are they going to use cheaper aftermarket parts? So all of these things are important, and these are all conversations you should be having with your insurance agent. What is covered? What is not covered? What limitations are there for things like flooding, water damage, all kinds of things. Speaker 3 00:09:27 So this is just really important to consider. You know, insurance provides a foundation for financial security. And when you're uninsured, a single unexpected event, whether it be a health care crisis, if it be property damage, a liability claim, you know, if you're sued, you get in a car accident or somebody gets injured at your home. It can wipe out years of savings. And when you're paying for coverage you don't need, you're wasting money that could be working harder elsewhere. So the insurance landscape has changed dramatically over the past 5 or 6 years. There have been premium increases. Changes in the subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, coverage, modifications that may have created gaps in your protection, like water damage and things like that. So, you know, you need to perform regular, comprehensive insurance reviews at least every couple of years to ensure that you have the right coverage at the right price. And honestly, every year when your insurance renews is a great time to be talking to your insurance agent, about these kind of things. Speaker 3 00:10:36 So I do want to just mention before we end this discussion about insurance, about liability, you know, let's let's talk about our car insurance in particular. You know, we have limits on our car insurance. And what if you get sued for more than that limit? you know, umbrella policies that then kick in an umbrella is like a a policy that then kicks in. If your coverage limits are n

In this episode of "More Living with Jim Brogan," Jim welcomes cardiologist Dr. Jeff Johnson to discuss heart health for Heart Health Month. They cover prevention, early warning signs, screening tools like coronary calcium scoring, and the importance of diet and exercise. Dr. Johnson shares insights on balancing nutrition, the value of enjoyable physical activity, and new technological advances in cardiology, including AI and noninvasive imaging. The episode emphasizes moderation, proactive screening, and lifestyle choices for heart health, encouraging listeners to live their best years with awareness, joy, and informed decisions. __ Transcript: Jim Brogan 00:00:02 You're tuned into more Living with Jim Brogan, broadcast live from the Brogan Financial studios at Newstalk 9087, where old fashioned values, expert knowledge and genuine understanding come together to give you the retirement straight talk you deserve. Jim's a former National Advisor of the year recipient and a financial educator, and he's here today to talk about how you can live out the best years of your life. Jim and the Brogan financial team have been helping retirees and retirees across the southeast for over 20 years in their pursuit of financial independence. You can reach them during the week at 865862 6800. So sit back, relax and get ready to learn because more living with Jim Brogan starts now. Speaker 2 00:00:47 Hello, East Tennessee, and welcome to More Living with Jim Brogan, where it's all about living the best years of your life your way. As you listen to Newstalk 98 seven Waukee. Jim Brogan 00:00:58 It's February and of course February is Heart Health Month, and heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. But of course, we know in many ways it's preventable. Jim Brogan 00:01:09 Care and prevention is getting better and better. longtime friend of the show, Doctor Jeff Johnson. He's a cardiologist who over at University Cardiology. He's on with us again today to help us better understand heart health. From prevention and early warning signs to the latest advancements in treatment. So whether you're focused on improving your lifestyle or managing an existing condition, this is a conversation that could truly save a life. Good morning, Doctor Johnson. Welcome to More Living. Jeff Johnson 00:01:40 Good morning Jim. It's good to be back on with you. Jim Brogan 00:01:43 Great to have you back on. let's talk about your background first. What what first inspired you, Jeff, to pursue cardiology and what keeps you passionate about it today? Jeff Johnson 00:01:56 Well, that's an interesting story. I'll try to make a long story short, but I got a job in my hometown of Cleveland, Tennessee, at the home hospital that is still there today. As an orderly, we don't call them orderly anymore, I don't think, but really as an attendant. But there's a mentor there who was an internist and started the large internal medicine group there, and he was passionate about cardiology. Jeff Johnson 00:02:22 And so I would spend some time with him in the evenings listening to him talk about different things. And, one evening he said to me, Jeff, I think you should go to medical school and come back and be Cleveland, Tennessee's first cardiologist. and it really was almost prophetic. I changed the direction of my life and did do that. I practiced with Chattanooga Heart, and we opened the Cleveland office 20, oh, more than 25 years ago because I've been in Knoxville for 25 years. and, Yeah. I went to medical school knowing exactly that's what I wanted to do. And the heart, you know, connects with emotions and life. People talk about their heart. Today, people talk about a broken heart. People talk about a cheerful heart. I've always appreciated the symbolism there. And speaking like you're dealing with the real person when taking care of their heart. Jim Brogan 00:03:21 Jeff, for listeners who may not, I mean, there's some misconception about cardiologists. So talk a little bit about what you do on a daily basis and maybe even what you do not do. Jeff Johnson 00:03:31 I can easily answer that. We see a lot of patients for various symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, blood pressure issues, management of risk factors that I'm sure that we'll probably talk about during this segment. We sometimes do procedures, non-invasive procedures such as echocardiogram or stress testing, CT scan of the heart. And then we do invasive procedures such as heart catheterization. Cardiologists also do ablation of things like atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias, and cardiologists also place stents. I don't know of any cardiologist that does all of that. I don't do all of that. I do a lot of what I just mentioned. The one thing that we don't do is when we do a heart catheterization and recommend bypass surgery, or valve replacement surgery or valve repair surgery, the patient will look at me and say, no, you're going to do this right? And I say, oh no, no, no, no, I am not a cardiac surgeon. I'm going to find a cardiac surgeon for you who will do that. Jeff Johnson 00:04:35 And I'll work in tandem with him or her and get you through this. And then honestly, the surgeons, once they get you through the procedure, they turn you back over to the cardiologist for the rest of your life. So I think that. Jim Brogan 00:04:48 So really the. Jeff Johnson 00:04:48 Cardiac sometimes. Jim Brogan 00:04:50 Yeah. The cardiologist you're managing all of the of the patient's heart health. But then you have other specialists that can sometimes be involved. What makes it, in your view, what makes practicing cardiology? I mean, your university cardiology over at the University of Tennessee. Practicing over there at UT. What makes that unique compared to other institutions in your view? Jeff Johnson 00:05:14 Well, we're we're a teaching hospital. We call it the academic medical center for the region. And that allows us to teach fellows and residents and even medical students who come over from UT and Memphis. That is one unique aspect of what I do. And one of the reasons 25 years ago that I came to UT. And then the other thing, though, is, this is not always a good thing, but I know all hospitals in town are busy. Jeff Johnson 00:05:43 I know all hospitals in town are filled to capacity, but at UT the floodgates just need to stay open and we see a wide variety of patients. We see all sorts of pathology and all opportunities for learning, as we say, but also to grow and develop and to be better and to try to stay on top of the field for our patients. So there's never a dull day. At UT Medical Center is something that I like to say. Jim Brogan 00:06:16 Yeah, I'm sure that's the case. This is a heart health month. We're visiting with Doctor Jeff Johnson over at University Cardiology. Let's get into heart disease itself. Jeff, what is one misconception that people often have about heart disease? Jeff Johnson 00:06:34 I think that when people think about heart disease, they think about heart disease. And we take care of this, such as chest pain and heart attack or acute myocardial infarction and taking care of them in their setting. And we do do that. I think what people don't realize is that heart disease can be very silent, and I'm sure that we may end up talking about this. Jeff Johnson 00:06:59 We know that plaque development in the coronary arteries can be very early in life. We also know that people can be born with valvular heart disease, and we also know that your heart can be perfectly structurally normal, and you can still have arrhythmias that cause palpitations or heart racing episodes, and in extreme cases, passing out episodes. And we see those in college students often, or even high school students. So the misconception is that it's an old person's disease and it's just heart attacks and blockage. But it can be so much more, including valvular heart disease, even congenital heart disease and arrhythmias. And then, of course, now that we've had people with all of our amazing, wonderful technology that has evolved, even in my career lifetime, we have patients living older and longer. And so heart failure has basically become a pandemic to even epidemic across this country and around the world. So there's so much more than what people typically think of the chest pain, the heart attacks. there's more to heart disease than that. Jim Brogan 00:08:09 Well, I think your word there that it you know, it does it it develops over time. It's kind of like, I like, you know, people say cholesterol is a silent killer because it just kind of sneaks up over you on it, sneaks up on you over time along those lines. What are some of the most important early warning signs of heart problems that people tend to ignore or block out or say, that's not that sure. That's not what that is. Jeff Johnson 00:08:35 I think even in the absence of symptoms, if you have a very strong family history, I think that once you reach and there is no established guideline of this that I'm aware of, whether it's 21 years of age or 30 years of age if you have a strikingly strong family history. Meaning? Your mother or your father had their first heart attack and their 20s, 30s, 40s. I think that even with no symptoms, once you reach adult age, some sort of screening ought to be done either with your primary care physician or with your primary care physician in conjunction with a cardiologist. Jeff Johnson 00:09:14 I think that especially in the setting of risk factors such as a family history, or if your blood pressure is high, or if you're overweight, or if you're a diabetic and you have any of those symptoms that I mentioned, such as chest pain or shortness of breath or extreme fatigue. I think starting with a primary care physician first or coming straight to a cardiologist is certainly very reasonable. We always say we'd rather check it out and make sure

In this episode of "More Living with Jim Brogan," Jim celebrates the 40th anniversary of The Love Kitchen, a Knoxville nonprofit founded by sisters Helen and Ellen to feed those in need. Joined by Ernie Roberts, Board President, and Martin Riggins, Executive Director, the discussion highlights the organization’s growth, volunteer spirit, and ongoing fight against food insecurity. The guests share personal stories, reflect on the founders’ legacy, and encourage community involvement, while Jim also offers financial insights. The episode honors four decades of compassion, resilience, and service to the Knoxville community. Automatically Transcribed With Podsqueeze Jim Brogan 00:00:02 You're tuned into more Living with Jim Brogan, broadcast live from the Brogan Financial studios at Newstalk 9087, where old fashioned values, expert knowledge and genuine understanding come together to give you the retirement straight talk you deserve. Jim's a former National Advisor of the year recipient and a financial educator, and he's here today to talk about how you can live out the best years of your life. Jim and the Brogan financial team have been helping retirees and retirees across the southeast for over 20 years in their pursuit of financial independence. You can reach them during the week at 865862 6800. So sit back, relax and get ready to learn, because More living with Jim Brogan starts now. Speaker 2 00:00:45 Welcome to More Living with Jim Brogan, where it's all about living the best years of your life your way. This is Newstalk 98 seven, Woking. We're honored today to highlight one of our community's most cherished institutions, The Love Kitchen. believe it or not. 40 years ago today, on Valentine's Day, 1986 is when this got started. And joining us in studio today are two incredible leaders caring for the legacy of founders Ellen and Helen. Speaker 2 00:01:16 And that is executive director of The Love Kitchen Martin and president of the board Ernie. And they're here to show the share the story behind this remarkable organization, the impact of its mission, how they continue serving thousands in our community with dignity, passion and love. So it's a conversation about service, about legacy and the power of showing up for one another. So we're going to kind of dive right in here. So again we've got Ernie Roberts. He's president of the board and we've got Martin Riggins. He's the executive director. And as I said, it started 40 years ago today. Right? I mean, when when we were. Ernie Roberts 00:01:50 To the day. Speaker 2 00:01:51 To the day. So when we were talking about what shows we could have in the month of February and we realized this was on Valentine's Day and we always do a heart health show because it's, you know, Heart Health Month. And we're doing that next week. Ernie Roberts 00:02:04 Good, good. Speaker 2 00:02:05 But then we were like, oh man, we got to have on the Love Kitchen. Speaker 2 00:02:08 So we appreciate y'all having on. So talk about the birth of the Love Kitchen. And I mean it seems obvious but it started on Valentine's Day. So is that where the name comes from. Tell us a little bit about the the the founding side of this. Ernie Roberts 00:02:22 I think with the Love Kitchen itself that I can't honestly say that was it, but I'm sure it certainly went along with Valentine's Day. And the two sisters, Helen and Ellen, just exemplified love, love, love out of it. You can just see it anytime. First time I met them, it was like hug, hug on both sides and I'm going like I was a little overwhelmed, you know? But the the story was, you know, that they just poured out. They really anyone was a welcome stranger, a new person in their lives and stuff. They were always awesome about that. And the fact that it happened, it was probably without any fanfare because they may have had, I don't know, Martin. How many was about. Ernie Roberts 00:03:00 Did they do 22. I was going to say 22 meals. Speaker 2 00:03:04 Or 22 meals the very first day in 1986. Ernie Roberts 00:03:07 And now it's grown and their vision and the story goes, Helen went and woke up Ellen because God had appeared to her in a dream. He said, she said, sis, we're going to we're going to feed people. And Ellen, of course, being Ellen was kind of the more the nuts and bolts person says, go back to bed, sis. It's like, you know, whatever. So but they, you know, that's kind of the story they would tell, you know, about how they got the thing going. But Helen had that vision and she really they retired. They both had been nurses and they were both retired at that time. Speaker 2 00:03:41 So their inspiration was we just want to feed and help people. Ernie Roberts 00:03:44 And they felt like, you know, God was pushing it because it's been a faith based organization. Speaker 2 00:03:49 Yes. And we'll get to that a little bit later. so the word the, the, you know, the title, The Love Kitchen, I mean, it is kind of ironic. Speaker 2 00:03:58 It started on Valentine's Day, but the reality is that's what their lives were about. Absolutely right. Ernie Roberts 00:04:03 Yeah. And Martin can vouch for that, too. You know, I was going to say Martin. Martin was kind of hogging the mic here. Speaker 2 00:04:09 Martin, tell us about your journey and how long have you been with the Love Kitchen as executive director? Martin Riggins 00:04:14 Well, as executive director, officially, I think it was probably about August of 2022, but in the beginning of or the end of late 2021, the beginning of 2022 is when I kind of started doing it. my brother, Patrick Riggins, who used to have a show here on 98, 87. he was the previous executive director and board president and everything. And, we lost him in December of 2021, to a heart attack. And so I kind of the one of the ladies on the board said, hey, can you come over and help us? And, I'm pretty good at figuring stuff out. And so I went over there and I sat down at Patrick's computer, and I tried to figure out how he did what he did. Martin Riggins 00:05:00 And after about 6 or 8 months, the board said, hey, would you like to be the executive director? And I said, sure. And you know that that's how I'm here. But now I knew the sisters way back when, and I would help Patrick out on, you know, informal ways. You know, since back 2007, 2008 at least. And he would say, can you come help me do this or that? I've mopped the floors there, I've mowed the yard. I've I've been a janitor. I've been a fixit guy. I've done it all down there. And, you know, it kind of just gets into your blood after a while. And one of the ladies on the board, I was referring to Susan. She said, you know, Martin, the love kitchen sucks you in. And it does. As you start coming down there and going down there, more and more, you see what's going on. You see what happens every day. You see. Speaker 2 00:05:50 The impact. Martin Riggins 00:05:51 Yes. And you know, you you want to stay with it. Speaker 2 00:05:55 And, Ernie, how long have you been to tell? About your little. A little bit about your journey. Ernie Roberts 00:05:59 My journey there was. It was a very much, I don't know, more random, maybe feel per se, that I wound up dropping. I'd heard about Helen and Ellen. I remember Jackie Brown at the new center. I worked with the empty Stocking Fund and still do, but they, When Jackie would talk about. Well, we're going to keep this because whatever's left over from our distribution, because not everything was picked up on distribution day, and we had to move out of the Jacob building pretty quick. She said, we'll deliver that to the Love Kitchen. That's the love kitchen. And that's, you know, that's where I first had my first hearing of the words. And then I heard a little bit about Helen and Ellen, but I never met them. So I go over I was music, I was going to be an interim 2 or 3 weeks music director at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church. Speaker 2 00:06:45 So you're a musician by trade? Ernie Roberts 00:06:47 I, I sing a little, you know. Martin Riggins 00:06:49 Because. Speaker 2 00:06:50 You know, my undergraduate degree was music education. Yeah. My wife and I met singing, so. Ernie Roberts 00:06:54 Well, I will say also that I'm going to put it on a quick plug. Cheap, cheap. Here it is. But I'm right now singing with Barbara Seville. I'm in the men's chorus for for Barbara Seville, with the Knoxville Opera. Speaker 2 00:07:03 Company. Ernie Roberts 00:07:04 Playing next weekend. So life is a little busy. That's great. But back to the thing. I was asked to come in and do I to help them out. And that was all random too, because the lady Jean Minot at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church happened to be at a cookout that my mom and my aunt, and she was a friend of my aunt. Mom didn't know her, but they she kept brought her along for a July 4th kick out. And that's where I met them. And she she said, how would you like to. Ernie Roberts 00:07:30 We need an interim music person. I'm going off on what? Yeah, just. You just met me here. Whatever. So anyway, that's where I met Helen and Helen. Helen was in the choir. Ellen was out front. And so at the end of the service, they both, you know, wanted to get a hug and, you know, that's that's just they way they were, you know, when they met you and they like you. Whatever. And I guess I was likable these enough. So that was it was interesting because it took me probably a year or two before I ever even went into Love Kitchen. I had worked with Ellen, both of them at church, and I stayed at church. By the way, I'm still there at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, you know, and that's what the longest interim position probably ever happened, because this was about, I think, 2002, 2003, because it was after nine over 11. It happened in 2000. Speaker 2 00:08:13 You've been involved for quite some time. Ernie Roberts 00:08:14 I've been I've been there with them. And then a couple of years later,

In this episode of "More Living with Jim Brogan," Jim Brogan and guest David Wagner discuss the current financial landscape, focusing on retirement planning, market trends, and economic policy. They explore the impact of inflation, Federal Reserve actions, and government debt on investors, emphasizing the importance of long-term planning over chasing returns. The conversation highlights the role of technology investment, the challenges of U.S. fiscal policy, and strategies for navigating volatility, encouraging listeners to stay informed, patient, and focused on comprehensive financial planning for a secure retirement. Automatically Transcribed With Podsqueeze Jim Brogan 00:00:02 You're tuned into more Living with Jim Brogan, broadcast live from the Brogan Financial studios at Newstalk 9087, where old fashioned values, expert knowledge and genuine understanding come together to give you the retirement straight talk you deserve. Jim's a former National Advisor of the year recipient and a financial educator, and he's here today to talk about how you can live out the best years of your life. Jim and the Brogan financial team have been helping retirees and retirees across the southeast for over 20 years in their pursuit of financial independence. You can reach them during the week at 865862 6800. So sit back, relax and get ready to learn because more living with Jim Brogan starts now. Jim Brogan 00:00:46 Hello East Tennessee, welcome to More Living with Jim Brogan, where it's all about living the best part years of your life your way. This is Newstalk 98 seven Wookey. And you know, as we look forward, we're really kind of looking out into 20, 2026. Future years. What do things look like? Economically, how would that affect the markets? All of these things. Jim Brogan 00:01:07 And I think to to understand all that, we also have to have a good we have to be able to look in the rearview mirror. But then ultimately what's most important is how do we view out the the windshield in the front and adjust to likely things to come down the road? So certainly I get asked a lot of questions. So we're going to really dive into markets today. We're going to look at the Federal Reserve and the new nominee for chairman of the fed, and answer your questions about how you can evolve in these changing market conditions. So we're going to take a look at three key areas shaping the financial landscape. So we'll look at the markets. We'll look at AI. We'll look at are we in a bubble. We're going to talk about the fed. And then we are going to talk about the political cycle. Because we now are in a midterm election year. we'll talk about what's happening, and what is the broader political timeline and how does politics really affect the markets? So each of these can plan and play its own role in understanding, having a good view of all of them can help us with the context of today's headlines. Jim Brogan 00:02:12 And to be careful, we don't overreact to short term news. joining us today is David Wagner, friend of the show, great friend of our company at Broken Financial and a very dear friend of mine and my wife's DD. he's head of equities and portfolio manager at Actis Capital. He's a member of the firm's investment committee. He oversees equity research and selection, evaluates macro level trends, and helps guide views on the current market environment. You may have seen him regularly on CNBC, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, and in Barron's. So he brings just a world of experience for a relatively young guy in his 30s. He's just an encyclopedia on markets. Good morning David. Welcome to More Living. David Wagner 00:02:54 Jim Brogan, thanks so much for having me. You know You know, Jim. Today is a very special day. Do you know why? Today is a special day. Jim Brogan 00:03:01 I do because I have two degrees from the University of Tennessee. And where are your degrees from? David Wagner. David Wagner 00:03:10 I think for your show, I have to say, unfortunately, from the University of Kentucky. Jim Brogan 00:03:16 That's exactly right. So we have a big game. You invited me up there, but I have other commitments. But, I'll be watching the game this evening for sure. David, let's just kind of let's start talking about the markets. you know, we've we've come off three good years now on the stock market after the bear market in 2022. what's your outlook? It's more and more talk about bubbles. are we in a bubble? Especially an AI bubble. You had a very interesting article this week that you put out on your website, about this issue. Talk to us. What can we expect in 2026? David Wagner 00:03:55 Yeah. Jim. Juan. Thanks for having me. I think one of the key questions for 2026 is going to be determined by this advanced computing, this artificial narrative that that's very much out there. Obviously, this market, it's in the third year of its bull market rally. And just for context, Jim, the average bull market tends to last about five years. But not only that, from a time duration standpoint, the average like we can look at it from a percentage return standpoint. David Wagner 00:04:25 And since this bull market started back in October of 2022, the markets rallied almost 100%. But also put that in context. The average bull market tends to have a return closer to 170 and 180% before we see some type of recession. So, you know, Jim, when we always talk, people always ask like, Dave, what inning do you think this this market is in? So let's just say any one is at the beginning of a new business cycle, while any nine is closer towards the end of a business cycle. And it's just so very hard to pinpoint, Jim. But if you look at it from the duration standpoint or the price return standpoint, you know, it tells you that this bull market could definitely have a little bit more legs moving forward into the future. And I would add actually. Go ahead Jen. Jim Brogan 00:05:13 Well, I was just going to say talk a little bit too about, you know, where we are with corporate earnings and growth projections for GDP here in the United States. David Wagner 00:05:22 Yes. We're absolutely, absolutely kicking above our weight class from a GDP growth perspective, from an earnings perspective, but also from a consumer spending perspective. And I think, you know, Jim, over the last month, I've gotten a lot of questions like David in January, the S\&P 500, which is kind of the North Star, the benchmark for returns here in the United States, had a return of about 1.5%. They go how did the market have a positive return during a month where there was just so much political jargon, jaw boning, headlines galore. Obviously with Maduro in Venezuela, we had the Greenland effects. We had geopolitics. There is each day, Jim, and its own in the trade was its own ecosystem with new headlines. And so people ask me like, how did the market have such a strong return in a month with all of this noise? Well, Jim, you've heard one of my sayings before, and it's that everyone believes that complex problems require complex solutions. And me and you both disagree with that. David Wagner 00:06:21 We believe that complex problems are best solved by simple solutions. And while people believe that the market is heavily complex in general, it's really not. It's very simplistic. And, you know, the market tends to have great or strong returns when corporate earnings are strong, when you're having strong GDP growth and when consumer spending is performing very well. And we're seeing all of those right now for context, like the market tends to grow earnings on average 8 to 9% per year. Well Jim I think we've had like six straight quarters of growth of over 10%. So we have unbelievable growth in this market right now. But I would I would say that a lot of the growth that we have seen, it's been on the back. It's kind of hitched its wagon to this overall artificial intelligence trade. There's just been so much CapEx really poured into this market. But Jim, at the end of the day, you know, I firmly believe that, you know, as we'll probably talk about later in the show, that midterm election year, they do tend to be a little bit more volatile than average. David Wagner 00:07:19 But given, you know, the amount of monetary stimulus we have coming into this market, monetary stimulus is obviously, you know, more has more to do with the fed. We have so much fiscal stimulus coming in from the one big, beautiful bill out of Washington, D.C. and the amount of spending that we're getting on the hyper CapEx side for advanced computing, it's just absolutely not slowing down. We learned that this week. So I'd say that the path of least resistance for this market is likely to be higher. Jim Brogan 00:07:44 Well, that's pretty interesting. And you certainly see people on TV, many that say valuations are high volatility could spike. talk a little bit about I mean, one of the we know that we can't time markets. People know that. people are still increasingly worried that it just can't keep going up, can it? But it's a real danger. I mean, one of the real keys to successful investing is that you're invested when we have these booms and to be invested when we have the booms, since we don't know when they're going to come. Jim Brogan 00:08:17 We also have to be invested in the buzz. Can you talk a little bit about the importance of staying invested and and having a longer term outlook when it comes to being an investor and not a speculator? David Wagner 00:08:30 Yeah, that's one of the best things that you can use in investing. You always talk about arbitrage, and that's basically just having the ability to be more successful in the future. And I think the best arbitrage that an investor can have is to your point, Jim, is through time. And I always say this to a lot of our different partners that it pays to be a rational optimist. So what I would mean by that is pessimism about the long term. It simply doe

In this episode of "More Living with Jim Brogan," Jim Brogan offers practical financial advice for retirees and those nearing retirement on how to reset their finances for 2026. Key topics include managing cash flow, creating realistic budgets, automating savings, maximizing returns on cash, tax-efficient investing, and adapting to new retirement contribution rules. Brogan also discusses stress testing investment portfolios for market volatility and planning sustainable retirement income to outpace inflation, empowering listeners to build lasting financial security and enjoy their best years. Automatically Transcribed With Podsqueeze Jim Brogan 00:00:03 Your Turned into Boy Living with Jim Brogan, broadcast live from the Brogan Financial studios at Newstalk 98 seven, where old fashioned values, expert knowledge and genuine understanding come together to give you the retirement straight talk you deserve. Jim's a former National Advisor of the year recipient and a financial educator, and he's here today to talk about how you can live out the best years of your life. Jim and the Brogan financial team have been helping retirees and retirees across the southeast for over 20 years in their pursuit of financial independence. You can reach them during the week at 865862 6800. So sit back, relax and get ready to learn because more living with Jim Brogan starts now. Speaker 2 00:00:46 Hello East Tennessee, welcome to More Living with Jim Brogan, where it's all about living the best years of your life, your way. As you listen to Newstalk 98 seven Walker. Please be careful out. good bit of snow. luckily, it's a dry snow, so just I think the main arteries are doing okay, but just stay in tune to reports and if you can stay hunkered down in your home, you know the new year gives us a chance to reset. Speaker 2 00:01:12 We can take a fresh look at our finances and build a plan that can really go the distance. So whether you're approaching retirement or already enjoying it, 2026 presents opportunities where you can strengthen your financial foundation. From optimizing cash flow to stress testing your portfolio against uncertainty. This is the time to make strategic moves that set you up for success. So today we're talking about four critical areas getting your cash flow under control. Understanding your budget. Making smart tax moves early in the year, ensuring your portfolio can weather market volatility, and finally checking in on your retirement income strategy for great topics to dive into for 2026. So we're going to explore how you can create a money reset that can build lasting security, will answer common questions about resetting your finances, and discuss solutions to help you build a stronger financial future. Now is the time to take control of your money. So let's start with cash flow. You know, when we when we think about financial planning, many of us are on state straight to investments, retirement accounts. Speaker 2 00:02:28 Should you buy this fund or that stock or that bond? But the real foundation of financial success is something far, more, far more fundamental. And it's cash flow. You know, whether you run a business, manage a household, or are transitioning into retirement. Understanding and optimizing your cash flow can make the difference between financial stress and financial confidence. And so today we're going to talk about why this is essential for everyone including Affluent planet families as we reset for 2026. You know, I would say that mastering cash flow is arguably the hardest part of all of personal finance in order to master cash flow. Obviously you have to know what you're spending. So there's a two pronged concept. Knowing what it costs to fund your lifestyle, and understanding what you can consistently save and invest. So the second part of that is for those that are not retired yet. Now when you retire, you're not going to be saving investing money anymore. At least most people are not. There are some exceptions, but it's that knowing what it costs to fund your lifestyle, even and and wealthy individuals can really face cashflow challenges when their wealth is tied up in assets rather than liquid cash. Speaker 2 00:03:49 Especially if you own a business, you know your your business asset may be you're far and away your largest asset, but it's not liquid. So without discipline around cash flow, unforeseen events may force you to tap investments earlier than you planned. So one good rule of thumb. Number one, you've got to get your arms around what you're spending. And I think the easiest way to do that is to just track your spending. You know, first off, you could go back to 2025 and you could look at look at your checking account, how much money is coming into your checking account and then how much money is going out. That can kind of give you a big picture. Another great rule of thumb is just start tracking it now. Start January 1st if you can. And look at okay tracking your spending. Where is it going? One of the big parts I find out is, you know, when people come in to see us, if they're still working and they're in their maybe their last 5 to 10 years before they retire. Speaker 2 00:04:57 They're looking at their gross income. And they're they're creating budgets off of gross income. But but gross income is not what's actually providing cash flow. You know, if you've got significant deductions going into your 401 K or 403 B, you know, you're that's not part of your of your cash flow. You've got deductions for health insurance, other insurance items. You have payroll taxes. You know, payroll tax is a significant expense item that goes away when we're retired. And that's 7.65% off every paycheck, up to about $160,000. So that's significant. So it's better to look at how much is actually hitting your bank account, and then how much of that money are you actually spending. That's where you've got to start. And you know, most people when they come in my office, they can tell me how much is hitting their bank account net of those deductions from their paycheck, and then they can tell me whether their bank account is growing or shrinking. Are they spending all that money? So it's not too hard to find out. Speaker 2 00:06:11 to kind of get a good idea for what your budget is and for what you're spending. Now, one good rule of thumb is to, you know, after you pay your essential bills, divide your remaining money into three parts. One third could be for savings, and this could be both your emergency fund and short term goals. Then you could look at one third for everyday spending. This would be groceries, dining out, entertainment, budget, travel, things like that. And then ideally one third for investing, which would be for longer term financial security. 401 says IRAs, brokerage accounts, things that you would be doing for long term growth, and then you can have flexibility to adjust based on priorities like paying off debt or building emergency reserves. So a couple of things to think about for 2026. Create and stick to a realistic budget and just understand where the money is going. Look at what the net deposits are in your checking account, and then how much of that is going out the door. Speaker 2 00:07:19 That'll give you a great idea for what your your true income needs are when you retire. Also, think about automating your savings and investment plan to ensure consistency. Automation is great. Having a certain amount deducted. Now most of us do that with our paychecks, right? We're automatically contributing to our 401 K. You can also do that with your emergency fund. With non IRA investments you can automate that and have X number of dollars automatically a month deducted straight from your checking account and going into your investments. I think it's a great idea to do that shortly after you receive your your paycheck so that it's done, and then you have to live on what's left. review some thoughtless regular spending to find opportunities. this is something that you should work on at least once a quarter, I think. Look at things like subscriptions, things that you're paying every month that maybe you don't need to be paying every month. And then, determine your savings amounts based on your actual cash flow. Then also take an inventory of your personal interest rate environment. Speaker 2 00:08:31 What is your cash that's sitting around? What is it actually doing for you? So review your situation. follow the look at the Federal Reserve. What is the Federal Reserve interest rate adjustments? What are those being made? You know, interest rates have come down steadily over the last several months, but a high yield savings you can still get. 3.3, 3.4, maybe 3.5%. The inflation rate is in the low threes. So you're at least keeping up with inflation. You know assess whether you're maximizing returns on your cash holdings. You just shouldn't have a lot of money sitting at the bank in a checking or savings account not making anything. I know that you've got to have some cash in there, especially in a checking account. But, you know, most banks in the area, if you're not making anything on excess cash, talk to them about high yield savings because they should offer you high yield savings. You ought to be able to at least get get over three. Now, one good resource for excess cash that we direct our clients to is Bankrate.com. Speaker 2 00:09:38 Again, Bankrate.com. They have many, many banks on there. they're typically going to be non brick and mortar banks. they're going to be banks that are you know, more online, but they're they're FDIC insured names, many of them names you've heard of. But you can usually set it up to link it directly with your checking account and just send money back and forth. So it's it's it's liquid. I mean, it might take 24 hours to wire it and have it in your bank account. So it's not quite as liquid as just going to, you know, writing a check or go

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