Your Retirement Elevated Podcast with Scott Dougan

This Changes EVERYTHING About Retirement Spending

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A groundbreaking JP Morgan study just revealed something that could completely change the way we plan for retirement. Scott breaks down three of the biggest surprises revealed by new data from 280,000 households, showing that retirement spending doesn’t rise in a straight line, but bends, dips, and shifts over time. Planning for real life and ditching the outdated assumptions will help you create more freedom and confidence in retirement.
Three New Spending Surprises, JP Morgan 2025 Study: https://listentoscott.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Retirement-Spending-Suprises-JP-Morgan-2025.pdf 
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
📊 New Data Drop: JP Morgan’s study on 280,000 households
💸 Spending Curve: Why expenses rise, fall, and shift with age
⚖️ Inflation Myth: Real spending grows slower than expected
🔁 Partial Retirement: How working longer affects spending
💰 Smart Strategy: Buckets, cash reserves, and liquidity for curveballs
 
📞 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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The Retirement Equation: Control What You Can, Plan for What You Can’t

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Do you know which parts of your retirement plan are in your control, and which ones you’re leaving to chance? In this episode, Scott breaks down the “retirement equation,” a framework that helps you separate what you can control, what you can influence, and what’s completely out of your hands.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
➗ What the “retirement equation” really means
📊 Asset allocation & location, how to get them right
🕰️ The role of work duration and phasing into retirement
🏃‍♂️ Longevity: what you can and can’t influence
📉 Market returns and tax laws: why they’re outside your control
 
📞 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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Why Diversified Sources of Retirement Income Matter More Than You Think

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Saving for retirement is only half the battle, but the real challenge is turning those savings into income you can actually spend. The type of accounts you use will impact your taxes, your Social Security, and even your Medicare premiums. In this episode, Scott explains how spreading money across different account types can give retirees more control, more flexibility, and less tax stress.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
📊 How diversified buckets reduce taxes and create options
📉 Every dollar taken out can trigger ripple effects
 🏥 HSAs and the triple-tax advantage
💰Pre-tax vs Roth: taxed later or tax-free
🚨 91% of retiree savings sit in pre-tax accounts—and why that’s risky
 
📞 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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Fishing vs. Playing Tackle Box: How to Stop Over-Planning and Start Enjoying Retirement

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Imagine standing at the water's edge, eager to fish but instead obsessing over organizing your tackle box. Many retirees do the same with their finances, constantly adjusting their plan but never truly enjoying the fruits of their labor. In this episode, Scott explores a common pitfall many retirees fall into: the "tackle box trap." Over-planning might feel comfortable, but it often delays the very experiences you’ve been saving for.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
🧳 Signs you’re wasting time over-planning
🔑 How to build a plan you can trust and enjoy peace of mind
🌄 Don’t wait for “perfection,” embrace adventure now
🤝 Confidence often comes from having expert guidance, so don’t DIY
 
📞 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 5 Must-Do’s In Year One of Retirement

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Well, you’re retired. Now what? Some people subscribe to the “first year rule” which says that the majority of your best retirement months will all take place in the first year of retirement. So how can you be strategic during that first year and set the tone in the right way, both emotionally and financially? In this episode, Scott breaks down the five must-do’s in year one of retirement that go far beyond just managing your portfolio.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
✈️ Balance enjoyment with financial responsibility in the “go-go years”
💸 Set up a retirement paycheck, not just random withdrawals
🧭 The importance of routines, hobbies, or volunteering
💪 Assess and Strengthen Your Health
 
📞 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 $3 Million ERISA Trap: Are You Making This Retirement Mistake?

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Most people assume their beneficiary form tells the whole story when it comes to retirement accounts. But for 401(k)s and other ERISA-governed plans, one little known rule can completely override your wishes, and in one case, it shifted $3 million away from the intended heirs. This story is a powerful reminder that overlooking the fine print can cost your family dearly.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
⚖️ The Martinez case as a cautionary tale
💔 Remarriage without updates can redirect 401(k)
🚨 Common assumption: “Beneficiary forms trump everything” isn’t always true
🔄 Life changes are a good time for a beneficiary review
🛡️ Difference between IRAs and ERISA plans
 
📞 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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How to Avoid Early Withdrawal Penalties

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Thinking about tapping into your retirement savings early? The IRS might have a 10% surprise waiting for you. Withdrawing money before age 59½ from a traditional IRA or 401(k) can trigger not just regular income taxes, but also hefty penalties. In this episode, Scott explains the rules around early withdrawals and why understanding them can save you thousands.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
💸 The 10% IRS penalty trap explained
⏳ Why 59½ is the magic age to remember
🏠 Key exceptions: home purchase, education, medical expenses
🛠️ Planning strategies like the Rule of 55 and 72
🔑 Why preparation prevents regret later in retirement
 
📞 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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How to Tell If You’re Actually Ready to Retire (3 Questions to Find Out)

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Retirement is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll  ever make, but how do you know if you’re really ready? While there are countless details that matter, Scott is boiling it down to make it simple. In this episode, he covers the three key questions you need to ask yourself to find out if you’re ready to hang it up without looking back. Can you confidently answer these three questions? If so, you might be ready to retire.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
💰 How to get honest with how much you really spend
🏦 Turning your portfolio into a reliable paycheck
🚐 Structuring your go-go, slow-go, and no-go years
⚠️ The three tripwires: taxes, healthcare, and market surprises
📉 Sequence of returns risk and “reverse dollar cost averaging”
 
📞 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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3 Ways Retirees Accidentally Overspend in Their First 5 Years (and How to Avoid It)

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The first five years of retirement can shape your financial future more than any other stage. Overspending often isn’t about recklessness, it’s about good intentions made at the wrong time. In these early years, small choices can snowball into big setbacks, from home upgrades to long-awaited dream vacations. In this episode, Scott covers the three most common ways retirees overspend in the first five years, and how to avoid sabotaging your long-term security.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
🎉 Retirement celebrations that cost more than expected
🔨 Home projects that snowball past the budget
👨‍👩‍👧 Helping kids without derailing your plan
💰 How poorly timed spending can bump your tax bill
✅ Mapping out your first five years so you can spend freely without 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!
🔔 http://youtube.com/@erg-kc?sub_confirmation=1 
 
📰 Read our latest articles on Kiplinger:
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Trump Accounts Explained: The New $1,000 Child Savings Benefit (And What Most Are Getting Wrong)

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There's a brand-new savings account just for kids created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and the media is already getting it wrong. It’s called the Trump Account, and it might just be the most misunderstood part of the new law. In this episode, Scott breaks down exactly what these accounts are, who qualifies, how contributions work, and the timelines parents and grandparents need to know.
Here’s what we cover in this episode:
🍼 Who qualifies for the $1,000 government deposit
💵 Annual limits, timelines, and contribution rules
📈 The compounding potential over a lifetime
🛠 How parents, grandparents, and employers can contribute
🔍 Key misconceptions the media is getting wrong
 
📞 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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