Your Retirement Elevated Podcast with Scott Dougan
Financial and retirement planning guidance from Kansas City‘s Scott Dougan of Elevated Retirement Group. Scott Dougan founded Elevated Retirement Group in 2003 in order to fill a niche he felt was not being addressed properly in the retirement planning environment – helping retirees and pre-retirees in the Kansas City metro area find answers to issues that may affect the quality of life during their retirement. Scott is a Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) and holds a Series 65 Investment Adviser Representative license, which holds him to the fiduciary standard. He also holds insurance licenses in Kansas, Missouri and other states.
Episodes
7 hours ago
7 hours ago
A lot of people believe that everything should go into a trust once you’ve set it up, and while that sounds logical, the answer is actually no. Not everything belongs in your trust, and getting it wrong could lead to headaches, probate delays, or even tax trouble. So today, we’ve invited estate planning attorney Connor Kelley to break down the four big ones you want to be careful with: retirement accounts, vehicles, life insurance, and checking accounts.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
📜 Why IRAs and 401(k)s don’t belong in your trust🚗 The surprising reasons to keep vehicles out of it💸 How to handle life insurance the smart way🏦 What to do with your checking account instead of retitling it👨👩⚖️ The benefit of working with a coordinated financial and legal team
Learn more about the Kelley Law Firm: https://www.yourestateplan-kc.com/
💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?
Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg
📞 Call us: 913-393-4724
🌐 Visit our podcast website: https://listentoscott.com/
📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit
Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!
🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1
📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser
📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!
https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/
#retirement #retirementplanning
Thursday May 29, 2025
You Don’t Really Want a Financial Plan
Thursday May 29, 2025
Thursday May 29, 2025
Most people walk into a financial advisor’s office asking for more income or a better plan. But what they’re really searching for is something deeper: peace of mind, clarity, and the ability to live life on their terms. In this episode, Scott challenges the conventional approach to planning and reveals the real reason people seek financial guidance in the first place.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
🗺️ Find clarity, not just paperwork
❤️ Your why > your wallet
🏡 Plan for your real life
⚠️ That uneasy feeling? It's trying to tell you something
😌 Peace of mind > perfect numbers
💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?
Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg
📞 Call us: 913-393-4724
🌐 Visit our podcast website: https://listentoscott.com/
📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit
Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!
🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1
📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser
📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!
https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/
#retirement #retirementplanning
Thursday May 22, 2025
Your Emotions Might Matter More Than Math
Thursday May 22, 2025
Thursday May 22, 2025
What if I told you the key to financial success isn’t how smart you are with numbers, but how well you understand your own emotions? One of the most talked-about money books out there, The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel, might change the way you think about money, and we’re going to dive into the key concepts in this video.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
🧠 Understanding emotional drivers of money decisions
🎯 Why “enough” is a moving target and how to stop chasing it
🎯 Being reasonable beats being perfectly rational
⚠️ Building plans that survive real-life curveballs
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel, available on Amazon.com: https://shorturl.at/OaSuM
💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?
Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg
📞 Call us: 913-393-4724
🌐 Visit our podcast website: https://listentoscott.com/
📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit
Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!
🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1
📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser
📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!
https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/
#retirement #retirementplanning
Thursday May 15, 2025
The 7 Real Risks to Your Retirement Plan
Thursday May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
When most people think about retirement risks, they picture a stock market crash. But the truth is, the biggest threats to your financial future are often the ones you never saw coming. In this episode, Scott unpacks seven real risks that can quietly derail even the most well-planned retirement. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about volatility.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
🔥 Inflation + interest rates = lifestyle erosion
💰 Tax traps that could silently drain your retirement
💡 How diversification helps, but doesn’t solve everything
💵 Liquidity matters more than ever during market stress
💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?
Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg
📞 Call us: 913-393-4724
🌐 Visit our podcast website: https://listentoscott.com/
📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit
Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!
🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1
📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser
📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!
https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/
#retirement #retirementplanning
Thursday May 08, 2025
Is 2025 a Bad Time to Retire? Here’s the Truth
Thursday May 08, 2025
Thursday May 08, 2025
You’ve had 2025 circled on your calendar for years, but now, with rising inflation, market volatility, and economic uncertainty, you’re asking the big question: Is 2025 still a good time to retire? In this episode, Scott breaks down what really matters when making the retirement leap and why the media headlines shouldn’t dictate your financial future. If you’re feeling pressure to postpone your plans, this conversation offers clarity, calm, and a better decision-making framework.
Key Points We Cover:
🧘 Stay calm, retirement success starts with a clear assessment
📉 Understand your true risk tolerance and volatility exposure
🧺 Why diversification isn’t just about having “lots of stuff”
🏦 How to structure your income for stability and confidence
📆 Why 2025 may not be the problem, your plan might be
💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?
Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg
📞 Call us: 913-393-4724
🌐 Visit our podcast website: https://listentoscott.com/
📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit
Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!
🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1
📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser
📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!
https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/
#retirement #retirementplanning
Thursday May 01, 2025
The 3 Levels of Retirement Readiness
Thursday May 01, 2025
Thursday May 01, 2025
Most people think a full bank account means full retirement readiness, but it’s just the beginning. In this episode, Scott outlines the three essential keys you must consider before retirement. These points will help you determine whether you're set for a smooth, confident transition or if there are gaps you still need to address.
Find out how to assess your readiness using our practical 1–10 scoring system to help you identify exactly where you stand.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
📊 Three critical levels of retirement readiness
🏖️ Why financial plans need lifestyle plans, too
📝 How to self-assess with the 1–10 system
📈 Real client stories of smooth (and rocky) retirement transitions
Read the Retirement Manifesto Article: https://www.theretirementmanifesto.com/3-levels-of-retirement-readiness-where-do-you-stand/
Check out the scale for assessing your plan: https://listentoscott.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Assement-Document-PDF-Version.pdf
💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?
Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg
📞 Call us: 913-393-4724
🌐 Visit our podcast website: https://listentoscott.com/
📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit
Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!
🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1
📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser
📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!
https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/
#retirement #retirementplanning
Thursday Apr 24, 2025
Parents: Stop Sacrificing Your Future For Your Adult Kids
Thursday Apr 24, 2025
Thursday Apr 24, 2025
Half of parents are still paying their grown kids' bills (almost $1,500/month, on average), and it’s putting their own retirement at risk. The ‘Bank of Mom and Dad’ is open for business… but for how much longer? In this episode, Scott breaks down the rising trend of parents financially supporting Gen Z and millennial children, even into their 30s and 40s, and the often-overlooked danger it poses to long-term financial security.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
💸 The emotional toll of helping too much
📉 Why some parents are delaying retirement
🚨 Red flags that it’s gone too far
📊 What to do when support turns into dependency
Check out the Fortune article: https://fortune.com/2025/03/26/millennial-gen-z-adult-children-parents-monthly-payments-retirement/
💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?
Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg
📞 Call us: 913-393-4724
🌐 Visit our podcast website: https://listentoscott.com/
📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit
Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!
🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1
📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser
📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!
https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/
#retirement #retirementplanning
Thursday Apr 17, 2025
Why IRAs Are a Terrible Inheritance – And What You Can Do About It
Thursday Apr 17, 2025
Thursday Apr 17, 2025
You’ve spent years saving in your IRA, but what if we told you it could be the worst asset to leave to your kids? In this episode, Scott uncovers a critical issue with your retirement plan: inherited IRAs.
Why does nationally recognized IRA expert, Ed Slott, call traditional IRAs “the worst asset to pass on to your kids?” We’ll break it all down for you and explain how you may be leaving a massive tax bill for your heirs.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
🔥 The IRA Time Bomb: Why Your Nest Egg Could Blow Up
📣 Ed Slott’s Bold Warning
💥 The SECURE Act & 10-Year Rule
⛓ Why IRAs Are Now a Burden to Heirs
🔄 Roth IRAs: A Better Legacy Tool
💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?
Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg
📞 Call us: 913-393-4724
🌐 Visit our podcast website: https://listentoscott.com/
📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit
Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!
🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1
📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser
📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!
https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/
#retirement #retirementplanning
Tuesday Apr 08, 2025
Tuesday Apr 08, 2025
The headlines are loud, the markets are messy, and your gut might be telling you to do something, anything. But what should you actually do when your portfolio takes a hit like we’ve seen in recent days and weeks? If you’ve felt your stress levels rise, you’re not alone. Today we’ll try to help ease those emotions and the natural inclination to start making changes to your investment strategy.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
📉 What to do (and not do) when the market drops
🧠 Why emotion is the biggest threat to your portfolio
📊 Market history since 1970—what it teaches us
🕰️ How missing just a few days can derail decades of growth
🧺 The “4-Bucket” plan that brings clarity during chaos
💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?
Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg
📞 Call us: 913-393-4724
🌐 Visit our podcast website: https://listentoscott.com/
📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit
Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!
🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1
📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser
📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!
https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/
#retirement #retirementplanning
Thursday Apr 03, 2025
Are Traditional IRAs Really the Worst Asset to Own?
Thursday Apr 03, 2025
Thursday Apr 03, 2025
Retirees have leveraged the traditional IRA for decades to invest and save, but is it still the best tool for today’s retirement landscape? IRA expert Ed Slott recently called the traditional IRA “the worst possible asset to own,” which is a bold statement.
If this is true, when did it all change, and what are some better options? In this episode, we’ll explore the validity of this statement and have a real conversation about investing and taxes.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
📜 The SECURE Act killed the Stretch IRA for most beneficiaries
💣 Large IRAs = tax time bombs for heirs in peak earning years
🔁 Roth IRAs can provide tax-free income and reduce RMD headaches
🧠 Layered tax strategies can help reduce your long-term liability
💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?
Apply for a consultation here 👉 https://calendly.com/erg-kc/introductory-phone-call-with-erg
📞 Call us: 913-393-4724
🌐 Visit our podcast website: https://listentoscott.com/
📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit
Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/exceptional-retirement-youtube.html
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!
🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1
📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser
📌 Follow us for expert retirement planning tips!
https://www.facebook.com/elevatedretirementgroupkc/
#retirement #retirementplanning