SML Planning Minute

SML’s Planning Minute will provide brief yet thought-provoking financial planning ideas for individuals, families, business owners and executives. Topics cover a broad range of issues including personal financial planning, retirement planning, life insurance protection planning, estate tax and liquidity planning, business planning, business succession planning, and more.

Even with Medicare, the Cost of Health Care Can Be Shocking

Episode 353 - People might think that health care is cheaper once you’re covered by Medicare. Maybe, but the cost of health care in retirement is higher than many people think. A recent study by Fidelity gives us some real numbers.

10-14
07:04

Can You Save Too Much for Retirement? – Revisited

Episode 352 - Is it possible to save too much for retirement? Some have argued that the answer is yes, but with caveats.

10-07
07:07

Mistakes People Make When Things Are Going Well

Episode 351 - People make financial mistakes all the time, in good times and bad. What are some of the things that people get wrong when things are going well? In a recent article from ThinkAdvisor, author Bryce Sanders outlined what he believes are some of the errors people tend to make when things are looking rosy.

09-30
06:42

Avoiding a Conservatorship

Episode 350 - Conservatorships have been in the news quite a bit over the last few years. What exactly is it, and how do you avoid having to deal with one?

09-23
07:58

The Role of Optimism in Retirement Planning

Episode 349 - Being an optimist has been shown to increase your overall well-being. But in a recent article in Think Advisor, author Michael Finke suggests that optimism can also help with your retirement planning efforts.

09-16
06:35

Teaching Your Kids What You Wish You Had Learned With Hannah Kesler

Episode 348 - Are there things you wished you had learned about money when you were a kid? In today’s episode, special guest Hannah Kesler talks about some of her ideas on how to raise children to become financially savvy adults.

09-09
24:46

Are You an Independent Contractor?

Episode 347 - The U.S. Department of Labor’s constantly changing rules on classifying workers as either independent contractors or employees is creating confusion among employers. What’s the current status?

09-02
08:52

Does It Make Sense to Reject an Inheritance?

Episode 346 - Does it ever make sense to reject an inheritance? On some occasions, a “qualified disclaimer” can give you a chance to do the right thing, or to avoid a major headache.

08-26
07:12

Six Big Mistakes People Make with Their Wills Revisited

Episode 345 - Just having a will is not enough. You need to get the details right. Here are 6 big mistakes we see people making when they structure their wills.

08-19
07:50

One Big Beautiful Bill and What It Means to You

Episode 344 - The One Big Beautiful Bill, or OBBB, is now law. The OBBB extended many provisions created in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or TCJA. We’ll review and summarize some of the key aspects of the OBBB as it pertains to extended TCJA provisions impacting individuals, families and businesses.ration or LLC? What type is best for you?

08-12
24:12

What Happens When You Get Audited?

Episode 343 - No one enjoys receiving a letter from the IRS, especially when they open it and realize that their return is being reviewed. The odds are longer than most people realize, but what should you do if this happens to you?

08-05
08:27

Thinking of Collecting Social Security Early? Not So Fast.

Episode 342 - Thinking of collecting your Social Security at age 62? Watch out for the “Excess Earnings Test.” It’s a bit more complicated than you may realize.

07-29
08:23

Practical Estate Planning Ideas for “Middle Tier” Families

Episode 341 - News flash: Estate planning is not for just the wealthy. Here are some ideas put forward in a recent article by renowned estate attorney Jonathan Blattmachr, especially for what he describes as “middle tier clients,” which he defines as people whose wealth does not exceed the available exemptions.

07-22
08:45

Want to Be an Effective Business Leader? Learn How to Listen.

Episode 340 - Actively listening to what someone else is saying can be incredibly hard, but it comes with enormous benefits. How do effective leaders manage it?

07-15
07:12

Thirteen Celebrity Estate Planning Lessons Revisited

Episode 339 - The rich and famous are prone to estate planning mistakes. Today we look at some real world examples, and the lessons we can all learn from all of them.

07-08
11:26

Six Reasons Single People Need Life Insurance Too

Episode 338 - Do single people really need life insurance? Here are six good reasons why they might.

06-24
07:17

The Epidemic of Gray Divorce

Episode 337 - The rate of gray divorce—defined as divorce after the age of 50 following a long-term marriage—has increased in recent years. The financial impact can be especially difficult for women.

06-17
07:05

Financial Considerations When You Become an Empty Nester

Episode 336 - Being an empty nester undoubtedly creates challenges you might never have thought of. Here are some tips about what you may encounter, and how to deal with them.

06-10
06:23

Four Trending Scams to Stay Ahead of

Episode 335 - Financial criminals are a crafty bunch. Just when you figure out what they are doing, they change tactics. Here are four trending scams to stay ahead of.

06-03
07:47

Selecting the Right Entity for Your New Business

Episode 334 - Just starting a business? Do you understand the differences between a sole proprietorship, partnership, C corporation, S corporation or LLC? What type is best for you?

05-27
07:56

Recommend Channels