Your Retirement Elevated Podcast with Scott Dougan

Risk Tolerance: Preparing for Market Turbulence

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Some people love a thunderstorm, while others panic the moment clouds roll in. Markets work the same way and pretending you’re more comfortable with risk than you really can get expensive. Scott uses a weather lens to explain how preparation, not prediction, is what keeps retirement plans steady when volatility hits. When turbulence hits, preparation beats optimism every time.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
🌩️ The Forecast Isn’t the Weather - Why market predictions don’t change volatility but preparation does.
☀️ Calm Markets Can Fool You - Why risk feels easy during bull markets and terrifying during downturns.
🚧 Your “Uncle” Number - Defining the loss level that would cause emotional panic.
🛣️ Guardrails & Speed Limits - Matching your portfolio to your real tolerance and not theoretical confidence.
🛡️ Preparation Over Prediction - Building income stability so volatility doesn’t derail your retirement.
 
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📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit
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📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
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The Boat-Dragging Problem: How Old Strategies Can Hurt Your Retirement

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Most people don’t struggle in retirement because they made bad decisions, they struggle because they keep using the right tools for the wrong season. Scott shows how a simple story reveals why familiar strategies can quietly become obstacles over time. Inspired by a parable popularized by Sahil Bloom, the conversation reframes what real progress looks like later in life. Sometimes the hardest part of moving forward isn’t effort, it’s knowing what to finally set down.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
🚤 Boat Dragging Context: Why smart people feel stuck
📖 The Parable Explained: A tool becomes a burden
💼 Outdated Strategies: Accumulation mindsets linger
🔄 New Retirement Reality: Income, risk, and tax shifts
🧠 Psychological Impact: Fear, familiarity, and sunk cost
🛠️ Proactive Planning: Intentional subtraction and alignment
 
📞 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
 
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📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
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10 Common Retirement Myths And Why They’re Dangerous

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There’s no shortage of retirement advice out there, but not all of it is helpful, and some of it can quietly do real damage. Today, Scott walks through 10 of the most common retirement planning myths and explains why relying on them can derail an otherwise solid plan. Before assuming something is “just how retirement works,” it’s worth taking a closer look.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
📚 The “Thick Plan” Fallacy: Why bigger financial plans don’t automatically mean better outcomes
💑 Survivor Income Assumptions: A surviving spouse usually needs more income than expected
📉 Stocks vs. Bonds in Retirement: Age alone isn’t a reliable investment guide
🛑 Spending During Market Downturns: Why “just stop spending” isn’t a realistic strategy
🤯 Decision Fatigue in Retirement: Financial decisions often become more complex, not less
 
📞 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:
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An Economist Is Optimistic About 2026- Should You Be?

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After a year marked by volatility, uncertainty, and more than a few economic curveballs, it’s understandable if optimism doesn’t come easily. Today, Scott discusses a Bloomberg opinion column that argues the outlook for 2026 may be brighter than many people expect. A strong economy might lift markets, but a strong financial plan is what helps people stay confident no matter how the headlines turn out.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
💸 Consumer Cash – More money flowing to households
🏢 Business Growth – Increased capital and investment flexibility
📉 Lower Costs – Interest rates and energy easing pressure
🌍 Market Stability – Fewer shocks from tariffs and trade
 
📞 Call us: 913-393-4724
🌐 Visit our podcast website:  https://listentoscott.com/
 
📚🛠️ Check out Scott's book, Exceptional Retirement, and Retirement Toolkit
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📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
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2026 Financial Rule Changes You Can't Ignore

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What’s new in 2026 for retirees and pre-retirees? Retirement rules are changing, and your future could look different in 2026. Tune in to discover what’s new and how the latest shifts might impact your financial strategy. Scott also shares what’s driving conversations on benefits, taxes, and smart savings moves.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
📅 2026 Updates – Key changes affecting retirees and pre-retirees
💸 COLA & Medicare – Benefit increases offset by rising premiums
🧾 Senior Deduction – New tax breaks creating planning opportunities
🚀 Catch-Up Savings – Higher contribution limits for late-career workers
💼 Taxes & HSAs – Additional changes impacting health and tax strategy
 
📞 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:
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The Hidden Cost of Emotional Investing (And How to Avoid It)

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Smart, successful people don’t lose money because they lack intelligence. They lose money because they’re human. In this episode, Scott goes in-depth about the hidden cost of emotional investing and why fear, greed, and headlines often derail even well-built plans. Drawing on behavioral economics and real-world examples, the conversation explains how emotions quietly erode long-term results and what actually works instead.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
🧠 Behavioral Traps: Why emotions override logic in investing
🎢 Emotional Roller Coaster: Stress, volatility, and poor timing
📱 Fear & FOMO: Social media, headlines, and herd behavior
🔍 Investor Biases: Overconfidence, loss aversion, and regret
 
📞 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:
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The IRS Just Announced 2026 Tax Changes

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It’s official, the IRS has released the full set of 2026 tax numbers, and the changes may impact more than just your next return. Scott walks through what’s actually changed and how it may impact you and your future. The real opportunity isn’t just knowing the numbers, it’s knowing how to use them. Listen in to see how these updates can create meaningful planning advantages heading into 2026 and beyond.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
📋 2026 Overview: What the IRS finalized
📈 Contribution Limits: More room to save
🚫 IRA Phase-Outs: Income thresholds expanded
🧾 Standard Deduction: More income shielded
⬆️ Tax Brackets: Reducing bracket creep
🎯 Tax Efficiency: Smarter retirement planning
Check out Scott’s 2026 Tax Changes PDF here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17DkybXME97VvQQvV24nZPRhH_b6ed-ZU/view?usp=sharing
📞 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:
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New Trump Accounts Are Coming - Here’s How They Work

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A new type of government-backed savings account for children, commonly referred to as a Trump Account, is set to launch in 2026, and it’s already drawing attention from parents and grandparents alike. The details are still being finalized but Tyler Moison, CFP® joins the show to walk through what we know so far, how these accounts work, and what questions still need to be answered.
While this new program doesn’t replace thoughtful planning, it may become a valuable tool for families looking to build financial momentum for the next generation.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
👶 Who Qualifies for a Trump Account
📅 Enrollment & Launch Timeline
💰 Contribution Limits & Who Can Fund It
📈 Investment & Growth Structure
🧾 Taxes, Withdrawals & Qualified Uses
 
📞 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:
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Am I Behind In My Retirement Savings?

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What if you retire with only $1 million… are you behind? That question fuels a lot of unnecessary anxiety, especially when comparisons creep in from coworkers, siblings, or YouTube success stories. In this episode, Scott breaks down what determines whether you’re on track for retirement, and why your number isn’t a competition. More importantly, he walks through what to do next if you really are behind.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
🔍 Comparison Trap: anxiety created by measuring against others
🎯 Enough Defined: income and lifestyle matter more than totals
🏖️ Lifestyle Fit: spending choices shape retirement needs
⏳ Catch-Up Moves: saving more, adjusting plans, delaying timing
📊 Planning Role: structured process replaces fear with confidence
 
📞 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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5 Times You Should NOT Name Your Spouse as Beneficiary

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How can naming your spouse as beneficiary create unintentional tax problems? Most people assume naming their spouse as the IRA beneficiary is the safest and simplest option, but Scott explains why that isn’t always true. In this episode, he walks through several real-life situations where choosing a spouse can unintentionally (and negatively) impact taxes, fuel family conflict, or even jeopardize government benefits. 
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
💰 When They Already Have Enough: why extra inherited assets may create tax headaches
🛡️ Scam Protection: safeguarding vulnerable spouses from exploitation
💍 Remarriage Risks: preventing assets from accidentally going to a future spouse
👨‍👩‍👧 Blended Family Concerns: avoiding accidentally disinheriting your children
♿ Special Needs Situations: protecting government benefits with the right trust
 
Watch Scott’s videos to Protecting Yourself from Scams:
Beware of the Pig Butchering Financial Scam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PrGluJvaJE 
Am I At Risk of Having My Identity Stolen or Being A Victim of Fraud?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0MDdVGbBbg 
 
📞 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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