Your Retirement Elevated Podcast with Scott Dougan

The 7 Real Risks to Your Retirement Plan

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?
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📞 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!
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📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
https://www.kiplinger.com/author/scott-m-dougan-rfc-investment-adviser
 
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Is 2025 a Bad Time to Retire? Here’s the Truth

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
 
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The 3 Levels of Retirement Readiness

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
 
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Parents: Stop Sacrificing Your Future For Your Adult Kids

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
 
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Why IRAs Are a Terrible Inheritance – And What You Can Do About It

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!
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Is This Time Different? A Historical Look at Market Volatility & Actionable Steps

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
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Are Traditional IRAs Really the Worst Asset to Own?

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
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5 Beliefs That Fool Retirement Savers The Most

April Fool’s Day is all about jokes and pranks, but when it comes to retirement planning, getting fooled can cost you real money. Today we’re going to unpack five common myths that trick retirees into making emotional or short-sighted decisions.
Here’s some of what we cover:
🎭 Don’t get fooled by “guaranteed high returns”
🕒 Social Security timing is more than just fear of missing out
💰 Tax burdens in retirement can be higher—not lower
💡 Being frugal isn't a retirement strategy—it’s a mindset
🏥 Relying on your kids for care isn’t a long-term plan
 
💼 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:
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The Risky Game of Picking Stock Winners

March Madness is here, and just like filling out a bracket, picking individual stocks feels exciting. But the odds of winning big are slim. Investors often chase stock picks the same way they bet on their favorite teams, but history shows most stocks underperform, just like most brackets get busted.
In this video, Scott breaks down the risky game of stock picking and how it compares to the unpredictability of March Madness.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
🏀 March Madness & Investing – Why picking stocks is just like picking brackets
📉 Most Stocks Underperform – The surprising truth from a 98-year study
📊 Company Stock Risks – Why overconcentration can hurt your retirement
🔄 Diversification Wins – How to create a balanced, long-term investment strategy
 
0:00 – Intro
2:44 – Almost $3B wagered
4:25 – Stock Study
5:14 – Most people lose
7:08 – Sustained success is difficult
11:02 – Picking favorites
14:38 – Penny stocks and crypto
 
💼 Want expert help in planning for your financial future?
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📞 Call us: 913-393-4724
 
📚 Get a FREE copy of our latest book, Exceptional Retirement!
Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/kiplinger-toolkit.html
 
🛠️ Check out our Retirement Toolkit
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🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more retirement insights!
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📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
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How to Navigate a Market Correctionn

Much like the weather, the stock market has its share of ups and downs. Those stormy days might feel unrelenting at times, but even in weeks filled with red, we can usually count on brighter days ahead. In this episode, Scott will provide some much-needed context for market corrections, explain how they differ from pullbacks and bear markets, and show you why staying calm is the best approach.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
📉 Pullback vs. Correction vs. Bear Market – What’s the difference?
⚠️ Why Market Corrections Happen –
💡 The biggest mistakes investors make in downturns
📊 Protecting Your Portfolio – How diversification & risk management help
 
0:00 – Intro
0:56 – What’s causing this volatility
5:35 – 3 types of market movements
8:21 – Market correction factors
13:00 – How does it impact you?
18:08 – 5 actionable items
 
Get our latest on market corrections here: https://listentoscott.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/UNDERSTANDING-MARKET-CORRECTIONS.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
 
📚 Get a FREE copy of our latest book, Exceptional Retirement!
Download here 👉 https://keap.page/bu413/kiplinger-toolkit.html
 
🛠️ Check out our Retirement Toolkit
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!
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