Dekker Financial Show

Are you ready to take control of your finances during life's most pivotal moments? In this episode, we’ll dive into the complex world of financial decision-making during key life events. From the excitement of marriage and the joy of welcoming a new child to the challenges of divorce and the loss of a loved one, we'll provide practical tips and guidance to help you make informed decisions and maintain financial stability. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: How will you handle money in your marriage? (2:54)How can job shifts change your finances? (13:38)How will you handle finances if you lose a loved one? (22:40) Visit us online: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/

We have a special guest for you this week. Dustin Schanaker is a partner at Fowler St. Clair, and he heads up the probate and estate planning team. We’ve been working with him for years and highly recommend him. Dustin has been an attorney at Fowler St. Clair since passing the bar exam in 2014. In this episode, Dustin breaks down the essential components of estate planning. He discusses who is a good candidate for estate planning and debunks some common misconceptions that surround end-of-life decision-making. He also highlights the importance of proactively preparing for end-of-life choices, signing and witnessing estate planning documents correctly and periodically reviewing one's estate plan. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: How did Dustin get into estate planning? (1:41)What does an estate plan include? (6:35)Who is a good candidate for an estate plan? (11:50) Learn more about Dustin: https://fowlerstclair.com/ Visit us online: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/

We have a very special episode for you today. We are talking with Virg Christoffels, Meredith’s brother, and Adam’s uncle. Virg may be family, but that’s not the sole reason we’re featuring him in today’s episode. Virg is the founder of Christoffels Hair Restoration in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and is now one of the leading hair loss studios in the world. You’ll love this conversation and will come away with a lot of business tips and words to live by! Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: Virg shares the book he wrote, Do Life Big. (1:31)Don’t cheat yourself when it comes to taxes. (7:23)Why you need to prioritize your life. (15:01) Get your copy of Do Life Big: https://www.amazon.com/Do-Life-Big-Spinning-Finances/dp/1949550583 Visit us online: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/

We’re excited to have a guest with us today, Cristi McMurdie of the Tempe-based McMurdie Law & Mediation. She is the president and sole partner of the firm and has served clients since 1995. McMurdie Law provides expert conflict resolution, mediation, collaborative representation, full representation, and limited scope representation for family law cases. From mediation to building a support group, she’ll break down what’s most important when divorcing your spouse in this episode. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: Where to begin when you’re going through a divorce? (3:13)How do you build a support group when you’re divorcing? (8:01)What’s the difference between collaboration, arbitration, and mediation? (15:13) Learn more about Cristi: https://mcmurdielaw.com/about-mcmurdie-law/ Visit us online: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/

Have you ever wondered if the Social Security system will run out of money before you retire? Or if claiming benefits as soon as you're eligible is the best decision for your financial future? In this episode, we'll be debunking common myths about Social Security and answering the questions you've been curious about. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: Myth: The Social Security Administration will help you make decisions. (2:17)Myth: You won’t have to pay taxes on Social Security. (7:44)Myth: You should claim Social Security as soon as possible. (14:03) Visit us online: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/

Are you aware that not all retirement accounts are created equal? It's crucial to understand the purpose and advantages of each type of account to make the best choice for your future. In this episode, we'll delve into the different types of retirement accounts, including 401(k)s, IRAs, Roths, and several other examples. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: What are 401(k)s, 403(b)s, & 457 plans? (8:04)What are the limits of Roths? (15:55)How do HSAs and FSAs work? (20:20) Visit us online: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/

In this episode, we explore the retirement expenses that most people tend to forget, including skyrocketing medical bills, unexpected travel costs, taxes, and much more. We'll discuss practical tips and strategies to help you plan for these expenses and ensure a secure and comfortable retirement. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: A great Bill Murray quote that teaches children about taxes. (1:05) Medical expenses often cost you more than you expect. (3:29) Examples of unexpected travel expenses that often pop up. (8:02) Providing financial support for both your parents and your children, which can eat into retirement. (10:44) Are you prepared for an increase in taxes? (13:44) Does your plan account for inflation? (19:50) Visit us online: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/

Retirement can come with a lot of tax questions and concerns. From understanding the tax implications of withdrawing from your retirement accounts to minimizing taxes on investment income, it can be overwhelming. On today’s episode, we’ll break down the top 10 tax questions retirees are asking in 2023. Here’s some of what we’ll share in this episode: What are the tax implications of withdrawing money from my retirement accounts? (3:25) Does the taxation of my pension income differ from other forms of income? (7:29) Are there any tax deductions or credits available for retirees? (11:05) Visit us online: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/

After being discussed in Congress for nearly a year and a half, the SECURE Act 2.0 passed in January. On today’s show, we’ll explain what you need to know and learn four ways the new changes might impact you. Here’s some of what we’ll share in this episode: The Required Minimum Distribution age has been pushed back again. (3:00) What’s happening with the special catch-up contribution? (8:07) Now the 529 Plan has a Roth option. (11:53) Visit us online: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/

With every new year, many of us spend some time setting new goals, benchmarks, and desired milestones to achieve in the months ahead. On today’s show, we’ll explore some of our personal and professional goals for 2023 and explore what might be some worthwhile goals for you to add to your list. We’re excited to open and share our own financial challenges and successes in this podcast. Here’s some of what we’ll share in this episode: (1:16)(11:08)(18:56) Visit us online: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/

Another year is upon us and it’s a great time to ask yourself 10 questions to assess how ready you are for retirement to kick off 2023. If you’re retiring this year, it’s essential to have some concrete answers to these questions. If you’re still a few years from the milestone, tune in so you can start thinking about these critical conversations. Here’s just some of what we’ll dive into inn this episode: (3:08)(9:33)(16:20) Visit us online: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/

Sometimes it might seem like talking to your financial advisor feels like talking to a therapist, and that’s OK. Today we’re discussing some scenarios where it’s almost inevitable that a talk with your advisor seems like a counseling session. Whether you’re getting a divorce or having career difficulties, your financial advisor should be there to help guide you through the financial transition. On today’s show, we’ll share: (2:47)(8:29)(16:47) Listen to more of our conversation in the podcast or reach out to us to talk about your financial situation and goals. Visit us online: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/ Call us: 480-897-1067

Saving in your 401(k) can be an easy and painless way to build your retirement savings. But because it’s so easy and painless, it can also be easy to ignore for long periods of time, which often leads to mistakes. Let’s make sure you stay on the right track with your 401(k) so this episode will identify five key mistakes that people make with this retirement account. On today’s show, we’ll share: (8:18)(11:51)(15:59) Visit us online: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/ Call us: 480-897-1067

You need to make smart decisions during major life events, and we are here to help guide you. Whether it's a job change or divorce, we recommend taking your time to work everything out. Most people like to think that they always make decisions based on logic and facts, but the truth is that emotions usually play a role for all of us in the decision-making process. We’ll explain how to handle big changes the right way. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: (3:22)(9:11)(13:30) Want to get in touch? Book an appointment online here: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/book-appointment

If you’ve ever wanted to just learn a little more about investing in the stock market, this episode is for you. We’re going to cover some of those terms you’ve probably heard before, but perhaps never truly knew what they meant. From the bid-ask spread in the stock market to bull and bear markets, we’ll explain some hot topics you need to know. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: (2:04)(11:22)(16:29) Want to get in touch? Book an appointment online here: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/book-appointment

As we approach the end of the year, saving money on taxes becomes a bigger focus for many people. Today we’re focusing on some of the most common retirement planning questions about taxes. We’ll talk about mistakes to avoid and how a proper plan can make a significant difference in your tax savings. We’ll also explain why a tax deduction is not a dollar for dollar reduction. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: (3:12)(6:40)(12:30) Want to get in touch? Book an appointment online here: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/book-appointment

Most people like to think that they always make decisions based on logic and facts, but the truth is that emotions usually play a role for all of us in the decision-making process. On today’s show, we’ll share what types of emotions are likely to drive financial decisions and some mistakes we've seen people make. We want to help you be in control of your emotions and your financial future. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: (2:33)(7:42)(13:12) Want to get in touch? Book an appointment online here: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/book-appointment

It’s been said that “the sales brochure giveth and the fine print taketh away.” When you look at documents, how often do you read the fine print? Many people don’t. In this episode, we’ll talk about some of the things we hear from people when they don’t pay enough attention to the fine print. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: (2:46)(8:18)(11:38) Want to get in touch? Book an appointment online here: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/book-appointment

Want to know the secrets to experiencing satisfaction in retirement? We’ve discovered five key situations to which your financial plan needs to lead you. If you can key in on these five points, you’ll have a high chance to achieve retirement satisfaction. Though satisfaction in retirement will likely vary from person to person, there are some things you’ll want to check off your “Retirement To-Do” list. Let’s dissect each topic so you can have a happier transition into retirement. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: (7:39)(13:48)(23:39)(28:04) Want to get in touch? Book an appointment online here: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/book-appointment

Being a good advisor isn’t about winning a popularity contest or just saying the same things that everyone else in the industry says, it’s about giving the best advice that you can for each individual situation. On today’s show, we’re going to peel back the curtain to discuss some areas where a good financial advisor’s opinions might go against the grain with mainstream ideas in the industry. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: (2:32)(6:54)(11:55)(25:14) Want to get in touch? Book an appointment online here: https://www.dekkerfinancial.com/book-appointment