Tag: social security

What If I Go First? Planning for Your Spouse’s Financial Future (Part 1) (Ep. 21)

What If I Go First? Planning for Your Spouse’s Financial Future (Part 1) (Ep. 21)

Loss is difficult to consider, but planning for it is one of the most important acts of love for your family.

What happens to your spouse if you pass away unexpectedly? How can you ensure their financial stability and protect them from overwhelming decisions during an emotional time?

In this episode, Mark Taylan begins a two-part series on estate planning and financial preparedness. He walks through the three essential components every spouse needs to consider: income protection, simplicity in transition, and safeguarding against costly mistakes. Mark shares practical steps for creating a clear financial roadmap that protects your loved ones when they need it most.

Mark discusses:

  • How losing Social Security or pension income impacts household finances after a spouse passes away
  • Creating a comprehensive list of accounts, bills, and action items for the surviving spouse to follow
  • Why one person often serves as the family CFO, and what happens when that person is gone unexpectedly
  • Modern challenges like computer passwords and digital access that many couples overlook completely
  • The three key people to contact immediately, and how to prepare your spouse for a smooth transition
  • And more!

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

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

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!

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