Month: September 2025
Money Is Emotional: Aligning Finances With What Matters Most (Ep. 13)

Money Is Emotional: Aligning Finances With What Matters Most (Ep. 13)

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Money is never just about numbers. It is about emotions, values, and the stories that shape our financial choices.

In this episode of Beyond the Dollar Signs: Financial Clarity, Mark Taylan explores why understanding the emotional side of money is essential to building clarity and confidence in financial decisions. He explains how emotions influence everything from risk tolerance to spending habits, often more than numbers or charts ever could. Tune in to hear practical tools, real client stories, and strategies that align money with what truly matters most.

Mark discusses:

  • How childhood experiences and family backgrounds influence financial behavior
  • Ways couples uncover hidden differences in their views on risk and money
  • Practical tools, like risk questionnaires, to create alignment and reduce conflict
  • The importance of designing layered strategies that balance emotions with long-term goals
  • Real client stories about market timing and overspending in retirement
  • The advisor’s role as a “financial gatekeeper
  • And more

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Life Insurance Simplified: Protecting Your Assets and Loved Ones (Ep. 12)

Life Insurance Simplified: Protecting Your Assets and Loved Ones (Ep. 12)

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Life insurance is a conversation many avoid, but it’s one of the most important tools for protecting your loved ones and the life you’ve built.

In this episode, Mark Taylan sits down with Dorotea Tuzon, a State Farm Agent from Northern California, for a candid conversation on life insurance; how it works, why it matters, and the real stories that prove its value. Dorotea offers practical tips on finding coverage that truly fits your life.

Key highlights include:

  • How to protect both your assets and your family’s financial stability
  • The differences between term and permanent insurance, and when each makes sense
  • The role of income replacement in your coverage plan
  • Real client stories that highlight the impact of getting insured at the right time

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Connect with Dorotea Tuzon:

About Our Guest: Dorotea Tuzon is a State Farm Agent based in Mota, California. With over eight years in the insurance industry, she leads a team serving thousands of clients, helping them protect what matters most through customized coverage and ongoing guidance.

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Smart Tax Moves for High Earners Nearing Retirement (Ep. 11)

Smart Tax Moves for High Earners Nearing Retirement (Ep. 11)

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You’ve worked hard, built wealth, and saved diligently, so why does retirement suddenly feel like a tax trap?

In this episode of Beyond the Dollar Signs, host Mark Taylan breaks down one of the most misunderstood parts of retirement planning for high-income earners: the surprising tax implications of success. From pensions and Social Security stacking up in your highest tax bracket to strategies that can help reduce unnecessary taxes, Mark offers a clear-eyed look at how to keep more of what you’ve built.

Key takeaways include:

  • Why many retirees are not in a lower tax bracket and what to do about it
  • Direct indexing: what it is, how it works, and who it’s best for
  • How Roth conversions may reduce lifetime tax burdens
  • Why IRMAA and Medicare surcharges catch so many retirees off guard
  • And more!

Connect with Mark Taylan: 

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