S4E28 – Financial Planning Headlines – June and July

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Welcome back to Kitchen Table Finance, the podcast where we serve up bite-sized financial advice to simplify your money and your life. Pull up a chair with hosts Dave Shotwell and Nick Nauta as they dive into the latest retirement and financial planning headlines from June and July.

You can also check out this episode on our YouTube Channel.

This episode is packed with insights drawn from real articles, client questions, and timely topics that matter for anyone preparing for or living in retirement.

What We Cover in This Episode

• Why family conversations matter
  Lessons from a Wall Street Journal piece on talking about death, money, and estate planning before it’s too late.

• Investment basics worth repeating
  A New York Times interview with Charlie Ellis reminds us that time—not timing—is the most powerful factor in investment success.

• Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
  Should you take them monthly or as a lump sum? We share the pros, cons, and common client approaches.

• The housing conundrum
  With today’s higher interest rates, is it wise to move, refinance, or rent in retirement?

• Long-term care concerns
  How facility bankruptcies and changes in ownership can affect your planning—and why evaluating stability is just as important as cost.

• Turning savings into income
  Exploring strategies beyond the “4% rule,” including how lifestyle, taxes, and inflation affect your drawdown plan.

• Helping adult children
  What happens if you want—or feel you need—to provide financial help to your kids, and how to plan for it without derailing your own retirement.

• Rethinking homeownership in retirement
  Why renting is becoming more common among retirees, and how flexibility can be a hidden benefit.

• What to ask a financial advisor
  From fiduciary status to technology, a fresh look at the questions you should ask before choosing an advisor.

• Top retirement fears
  Healthcare costs, inflation, market downturns, and recession worries—what surveys are showing and how planning can reduce stress.

• The long-term care insurance puzzle
  Christine Benz of Morningstar shares when it might make sense, and how peace of mind often factors into the decision.

Key Takeaway

From family conversations to navigating market fears, the headlines this summer remind us of one truth: a thoughtful plan brings confidence. The best step you can take is to prepare ahead and make sure your strategy is tailored to your life and goals.

If you come across an article you’d like us to review, send it our way at info@srbadvisors.com.

Let’s Talk
At Shotwell Rutter Baer, trust is the foundation of what we do. Whether you’re planning for retirement, managing investments, or building a financial strategy for your future, we’d love to see if we’re the right fit for you. Visit srbadvisors.com to learn more.

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