The Confident Retirement

Latest Episodes:

Ep 101: A voyage into the mind of a Social Security Jedi Master (Fan Fave) May 11, 2023

Show notes

In this fan-favorite episode, Kris Flammang talks with Martha Shedden.

When Martha Shedden read and learned about Social Security options available to retirees, she was shocked at the choices one could make that have long-term negative consequences. Today, she considers it a privilege and reward to help people understand and make personalized choices to get the most from their benefits.

She is on a mission to educate financial professionals and retirees on the details of Social Security income planning, the foundation and first step to creating a financially secure retirement plan. Today, Martha is President and Co-founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, NARSSA, which provides online education and training for financial professionals to become Registered Social Security Analysts.

The training program provides professionals with a thorough knowledge of the Social Security program and trains them how to analyze clients’ claiming options to get their maximized Social Security income by filing for benefits at the optimal time. The modules provide CE/CPE units for NASBA, the CFP Board, and the IRS.

Martha is the absolute go-to expert who understands all the details of how and when to claim benefits. Highlights of our conversation include:

Explaining the misconceptions of how much money is at stake.
It’s a personalized decision based on one’s working situation, health and so much more.
Understanding survivor benefits and when to claim.
Qualifications for being able to collect.
Using software to better understand the numbers.
The future of Social Security.

Enjoy the this fan-favorite episode!

Connect with Martha:

Website: https://www.sheddensocialsecurity.com

Connect with Kris

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter:@kflammang

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 100: Fan Fave: Retirement Plan Considerations in Divorce May 04, 2023

Show notes

An experienced Chicagoland area family law mediator and litigator and immigration law practitioner. Graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Psychology and Political Science, and completed Juris Doctor degree at the DePaul University College of Law in 2000. Practicing law for 22 years, including mediation, contested divorce litigation, preparing prenuptial (premarital)/postnuptial, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDRO’s) and Qualified Illinois Domestic Relations Orders (QILDRO’s). Serving as court appointed Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) and Child Representative. Immigrated from Poland as a child, married with 3 children. Fluent in Polish and conversational in Spanish. Tom is licensed to practice by the State of Illinois.

Listen to this classic episode of The Confident Retirement with Thomas Miller about retirement plan considerations in divorce.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

How did Thomas decide on what areas of law to focus on.
What is a Qualified Domestic Relations Order?
What is the ideal client?
What is a divorce decree?
Pre and post nuptial agreements.
What’s happening with the public divorce rate?

Connect with Thomas:

https://www.thomaspmiller.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 099: Fan Fave: Medicare Straight Talk From MedicareDave Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

Fan Favorite

Dave Silver had invested in real estate and when the markets crashed, he looked for a new career. His strength in sales comes from being knowledgeable in the product he represents, Medicare Insurance Plan options. Dave is a licensed insurance agent specializing in Medicare for almost 10 years.

In our conversation, we discuss all things Medicare from Parts A and B, Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage and Part D Drug plans. This is an episode you’ll want to listen to more than once for yourself or for helping your parents.

Highlights from our conversation include:

The challenge of getting the correct, honest information from clients.

The misinformation clients received about Medicare because it doesn’t apply to their individual situation.

Explaining Medicare, parts A and B.

The complications of Medicare part B if still employed.

Medicare Supplement Plans from A through N.

How people are penalized when not applying in the correct time and age periods.

Medicare Advantage Plans are not Supplement Plans.

How Plans and drug benefits vary from State to State.

Enjoy the show!

Connect with David:

Website: https://www.davesilverinsurance.com/

Connect with Kris:

Website: https://www.lpfadvisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-flammang-lpfadv/

Twitter:@kflammang

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 098: Riding the Flat Fee Estate Planning Wave Apr 20, 2023

Show notes

Ashly Guernaccini founded atCAUSE Law Office because she knows good legal representation is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Her practice is focused on business law, specifically contract law, business transactions, dispute resolution, business formation, and labor law. Ashly received her B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh and went on to receive her Doctor of Law Degree from Duquesne University School of Law. She spent over ten years as in-house counsel for large, nonprofit healthcare providers, managing their legal departments and overseeing regulatory compliance, trademark protection, labor and employment law administration, contract management, and many more legal and business functions.

While Ashly is already a member of the Pennsylvania Bar, she joined the Florida Bar in 2020 to start helping small business owners in Pinellas County with all of their legal needs. Ashly can explain complex legal matters in a way that those who know nothing of the law can understand. She's very efficient and great at time management, which saves clients money on legal fees. Ashly takes pride in really getting to know the people and businesses she services, and firmly believes that building a strong relationship is the foundation from which the magic happens. atCAUSE Law Office is here to make Florida business law affordable and easy to understand.

Listen to this informative The Confident Retirement episode with Ashly Guernaccini about estate planning.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

Why having a comprehensive estate plan is important.
The biggest blind spot in estate planning.
The importance of funding a trust.
Misconceptions about the legal profession.
Why Ashly decided to go into law, and advice to her younger self.

Connect with Ashly:

https://www.atcauselaw.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 097: Family Law Georgia Style Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

Dodie is the owner of Sachs Family Law, PC located in Suwanee, Georgia. Dodie has been practicing in Gwinnett County, Georgia since she graduated from Tulane Law School in 2004. Dodie loves being a divorce attorney. Family law is one of the few areas of the law where we work to build a better future for our clients and the parties in a case, instead of focusing only on problems that occurred in the past.

Dodie is committed to helping the legal profession and the local community. She is a Past President of the Gwinnett County Bar Association and was the Secretary for the Gwinnett County Chapter of the Georgia Association for Women Lawyers. She has been an active volunteer with Gwinnett Legal Aid since 2004. She is the recipient of the 2014 Volunteer of the Year Award for the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, which is an award selected by all of Atlanta Legal Aid that serves the seven metro Atlanta counties, and the 2015 Volunteer of the Year for Gwinnett Legal Aid. She developed the Family Law Information Class, in partnership with Gwinnett Legal Aid, to teach people how to represent themselves in their family law cases. In 2015, she was selected to participate in the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL) Leadership Academy Class, and the 2021 GAWL Leadership Academy 2.0. She has served as a mentor for the Transition into Law Practice Program and is a frequent speaker at Continuing Legal Educations Classes on trial advocacy and family law issues.

Listen to this informative The Confident Retirement episode with Dodi Sachs about family law.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

What led Dodi to where she is today.
Working with clients who are going through a divorce.
Managing client expectations and emotions during the divorce process.
Enforcement of a court’s orders.
Helping with the adoption process.
Changing your legal name.

Connect with Dodie:

http://www.sachsfamilylaw.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 096: Core Estate Planning For All! Mar 23, 2023

Show notes

Jeffrey Katz started his law practice in 2000 after working as a solo tax accountant and CPA. Now, he's recognized by SuperLawyers as amongst the Top 5 percent of tax and estate lawyers in Maryland and Washington, DC. Over the last 20 years, he’s prepared over 5,000 estate plans and has administered over $100 million in estates and trust assets. He also runs an estate planning software company (which he founded), writes for Bloomberg and has appeared on several news shows and legal podcasts.

Listen to this informative The Confident Retirement episode with Jeffrey Katz about his estate planning practice.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

What led Jeffrey to where he is today.
Determining the core focus of his firm’s services.
How simple estate plans can be complicated.
Identifying your assets and liabilities.
Managing client expectations and emotions.
The biggest obstacles for the future of the practice.

Connect with Jeffrey:

https://www.jdkatz.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 095: A Divorce Discussion Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

Cary Jacobson, Esquire is the founder and managing partner of Jacobson Family Law. Cary has been practicing law for nearly a decade, having successfully represented clients in all facets of family law proceedings including separation, divorce, custody, child support, post-divorce enforcement, and other family law related matters.

Through her experience litigating family law matters, Cary has found that the conflict associated with litigation often tears a family apart making it toxic for children and their parents. However, as a certified mediator and collaborative divorce attorney, Cary has also seen how these forms of alternative dispute resolution can lead to and foster successful co-parenting arrangements.

Cary has chosen to dedicate her practice to working with clients who wish to resolve their family disputes without court intervention. She assists clients in choosing between mediation, collaborative divorce or separation agreements in order to keep drama out of their divorce.

Listen to this informative The Confident Retirement episode with Cary Jacobson about Cary’s commitment to keeping the drama out of divorce.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

How did Cary decide to pursue a law career?
What made her pursue family law?
What are the biggest fears surrounding divorce?
What does alternative dispute resolution mean?
How do you prepare a separation agreement?
What are collaborative professional’s groups?

Connect with Cary:

https://jacobsonfamilylaw.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 094: Fairness vs Legality in Divorce Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

Ronald R. Petroff was born in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated high school from the University School in Hunting Valley, Ohio. He attended Vanderbilt University as an undergraduate where he earned a bachelor’s degree and double majored in Political Science and American History. He graduated cum laude and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Mr. Petroff then attended The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law where he earned a certificate in Alternate Dispute Resolution and was a member of the National Labor and Employment Law Moot Court Team. Mr. Petroff also was a member of the National Trial Competition Team. Mr. Petroff earned a CALI Excellence for the Future Award for his perfect score in the class, Criminal Law in the Boardroom.

In 2017, Mr. Petroff was named as a Columbus Business First 40 Under 40 Honoree, an honor bestowed upon members of the business community who have achieved great professional and personal milestones.

Mr. Petroff is fluent in Russian and is passionate about giving back to the community. After several years living in the Arena District, Mr. Petroff settled in New Albany with his family. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, S.C.U.B.A. Diving, theater, tennis, and cheering on all of Cleveland’s professional sports teams. Mr. Petroff is also passionate about his two alma maters, the Ohio State Buckeyes and Vanderbilt Commodores.

Listen to this informative The Confident Retirement episode with Ronald Petroff about being a second-generation immigrant and his path to success.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

Culture shock, politics, and language barrier.
Deciding whether to do the big firm path.
Misconceptions about no fault divorce.
The difference between fairness and legality.
The importance of setting expectations.
Unique challenges of minor kids involved in divorce.

Connect with Ronald:

https://www.mcnairpetroff.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 093: With Divorce, There’s a Better Way Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

Wendy practiced family law exclusively for 15 years. In that time, she became a partner in 5 years, a managing partner in 10, and then “went solo” at 13. However, she knew there was something more for her. In true Wendy fashion, she applied some sparkle & GRIT to her own life and made a leap of faith to become a certified life coach so that she could help her professional comrades beat the burnout, feel heard, and find success in a way that feels good to them. Women who life coach with Wendy say that she “transforms their habits and outlook on life.”

Today you will see Wendy coaching clients 1:1, coaching small firms; running her group sparkle & GRIT; speaking at events; and mediating family law disputes.

Listen to this informative The Confident Retirement episode with Wendy Meadows about divorce collaboration.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show:

What’s the difference between litigation and mediation?
How to de-stress the mediation process.
Trust your instincts.
Life after divorce.
How to overcome self-limiting beliefs.
Being done is better than being perfect.

Connect with Wendy:

https://www.wendymeadowslaw.com/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ep 092: Kid’s Protection Plans for Guardianship Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

Renee Decker practices law as a trusted advisor to families, to help them stay out of court and out of conflict during the difficult time after an injury, death, or disability of a loved one. She enjoys cultivating relationships with her clients to help guide them through the often-confusing puzzle of financial and legal decisions that come with creating estate plans, seeing a loved one’s assets through probate, or helping a loved one through guardianship to protect their financial, physical, and mental well-being. Her practice includes estate planning, special needs planning, probate and estate administration, guardianship, trust administration and business succession planning.

Renee is a member of Wealth Counsel, Elder Counsel, and the Hillsborough County Bar Association. She is also a member of the Florida Bar Speaker’s Bureau, through which she provides education to the public on the importance of estate and incapacity planning.

Listen to this informative The Confident Retirement episode with Renee Decker about improving the estate planning process.

Here is what to expect on this week’s show: