The Retirement Detective podcast is going on temporary hiatus while the podcast is renamed, re-branded, and re-launched. Stay subscribed for updates!

In this episode, we talk about four financial scams to be on the lookout for in 2024. We'll also talk about the #1 financial scam from 2023, according to the FTC. In addition, we'll talk about some basic cybersecurity and common sense steps you can take to protect yourself. We conclude with a discussion of a new financial scam that is on the rise this year.

In this episode, we discuss some important things to gather for your accountant at tax time that go beyond the forms you receive in the mail like 1099's and W-2's. For instance, we discuss the items needed to gather if you make 529 plan contributions, make qualified charitable distributions or make a 60 day IRA rollover. There are many items that simply require you to keep good notes and deliver those to your accountant - no form will arrive to explain it for you. We discuss several of these in this episode.

In this episode, we walk through four prudent steps to take if you receive a inheritance or other financial windfall. Initially, receiving a large sum of money suddenly can be overwhelming. We cover four key steps that include taking time to become mentally comfortable with the money before using it, focusing on pre-existing goals and more. In addition, we discuss why it might be helpful to include a CPA, a financial planner, and a mental health professional on your team as you navigate how best to utilize your newfound assets.

In this episode, Philip walks through the personal example of dealing with a water leak to illustrate the importance and peace of mind that comes with having adequate insurance coverage.

You'll get your investment 1099's by January 31st right? Wrong! In this episode, we discuss common 1099 myths - debunk them - and walk through the different 1099 forms you can expect to receive this tax season and when you'll receive them. Lastly, we'll discover why some investors may be forced to extend their tax filing each year!

In this episode, we discuss an important investing topic: risk. And specifically, an investor's tolerance for risk. In general, each person has a unique tolerance for risk and that should translate to a specific level of risk taken within their investment portfolio. We disucss the three elements of risk: risk appetite, ability to take risk and need to take risk and how they work together. Lastly, we discuss how you can tune in to your risk tolerance without necessarily taking a quiz or questionnaire to find out.

In this episode, we discuss how transferring securities from one brokerage (or custodian) to another works. Back in the 1960s and before, securities trades and transfers were done on paper. This led to a multitude of chaos, confusion, mistakes and investor costs. As a result, several entities were formed to centralize and standardize the settlement and transfer of securities - the more modern versions of which we still use today.