Smart, Simple Wealth

"Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today." That's a famous Mark Twain quote and it also seems to perfectly describe life in 2020. What can happen is certainly happening this year. And that's not the only wise and intriguing saying Mark Twain ever had. Let's explore some of Twain's favorite quotes and see what they can teach us about money and finances. We'll also answer a question from Leo about trusts as part of an estate and financial plan. Important Links: Quraishi Law Firm: https://quraishilaw.com/ Wealth Protection Toolkit: https://go.quraishilaw.com/toolkit-new Smart, Simple Wealth Book: https://go.quraishilaw.com/freebook

We talk all the time about how people need to give their dollars purpose or set goals for their retirement and even specifically for certain investments. But let’s dive deeper into what different goals look like for various folks approaching retirement. How do you determine if a goal is realistic or out of reach? We’ll tackle that conversation with plenty of examples on this episode. Important Links: Quraishi Law Firm: https://quraishilaw.com/ Wealth Protection Toolkit: https://go.quraishilaw.com/toolkit-new Smart, Simple Wealth Book: https://go.quraishilaw.com/freebook

The $2 trillion coronavirus (COVID-19) economic stimulus bill was signed into law on March 27, 2020 aimed to provide relief and opportunities for individuals and businesses impacted negatively by the current pandemic. On this episode, Carrie will cover some of the key provisions in the bill and how you can take advantage of them. Important Links: Quraishi Law Firm: https://quraishilaw.com/ Wealth Protection Toolkit: https://go.quraishilaw.com/toolkit-new Smart, Simple Wealth Book: https://go.quraishilaw.com/freebook

Different people have different levels of desire when it comes to finding their retirement date. Let’s explore these different levels of desire, as indicated by the statements people might make, and discuss how we’d help someone at these different levels. Important Links: Quraishi Law Firm: https://quraishilaw.com/ Wealth Protection Toolkit: https://go.quraishilaw.com/toolkit-new Smart, Simple Wealth Book: https://go.quraishilaw.com/freebook

Sometimes people say they don’t want to retire…and sometimes they really mean it. Other times it’s just a defense mechanism to compensate for the fact that they feel like they can’t retire. So, let’s explore some of the possible meanings behind the statement, “I don’t want to retire.” We'll also answer a listener's question about inheriting a good bit of cash and whether it's wise to turn around and invest those dollars immediately. Important Links: Quraishi Law Firm: https://quraishilaw.com/ Wealth Protection Toolkit: https://go.quraishilaw.com/toolkit-new

We spend a lot of time talking about the importance of good financial and legal advice, but today we’re going to discuss some places where you should not be going to get this type of advice. We'll also answer a listener question about the appropriate amount of risk for a retiree. Important Links: Quraishi Law Firm: https://quraishilaw.com/ Wealth Protection Toolkit: https://go.quraishilaw.com/toolkit-new

Simple mistakes can sometimes lead to larger regrets in retirement. On today’s show, we’ll explore some of the things you can do to avoid living with regret in retirement. Important Links: Quraishi Law Firm: https://quraishilaw.com/ Wealth Protection Toolkit: https://go.quraishilaw.com/toolkit-new

While there are some factors that are different for everyone in retirement planning, there are also constants that affect everyone, no matter the specifics of your situation. How do we plan around these constants? Important Links: Quraishi Law Firm: https://quraishilaw.com/ Wealth Protection Toolkit: https://go.quraishilaw.com/toolkit-new

Very often we see a broker or advisor who’s doing a less than stellar job, but folks continue to work with him or her simply because they feel that he or she is a nice guy/gal. Let’s talk about the ridiculousness of actual statements we’ve heard from clients and why it’s important for people to get help and advice that they really need, instead of just maintaining a relationship for strictly personal reasons. Important Links: Quraishi Law Firm: https://quraishilaw.com/ Wealth Protection Toolkit: https://go.quraishilaw.com/toolkit-new

As we get into the 2nd half of 2019, there are several planning items you might want to run a quick checkup on, especially if you’re a retiree or pre-retiree, to make sure you’re still on the right financial track. Are you focusing on the right things? Listen to today’s podcast to find out. We'll also answer Emily's question about what the different designations mean for financial advisors. Important Links: Quraishi Law Firm: https://quraishilaw.com/ Wealth Protection Toolkit: https://go.quraishilaw.com/toolkit-new

Consider all the time you have spent or will spend building your business – and then consider how much energy you have spent on how to protect it or protect your family from it. Unfortunately, many small business owners don’t give much thought to asset protection until it’s too late – when a suit is filed, a divorce happens or a creditor comes after them. On today's show, we'll give small business owners 5 tips to help protect assets. Important Links: Quraishi Law Firm: https://quraishilaw.com/ Wealth Protection Toolkit: https://go.quraishilaw.com/toolkit-new

"The consequences of this bill will be devastating to people who have worked hard their entire lives, played by the rules, and accumulated significant amounts of money in their IRAs and retirement plans." That's a direct quote from Carrie in this week's program. Congress is in the midst of passing the SECURE Act, which brings some small benefits to retirees, but also contains some major impacts that could shake the foundation of an ill-executed legacy plan. We'll cover the ins and outs of the bill's implications on the show.

There are plenty of proverbs and axioms that aren’t meant to be about money, but we can easily learn a financial lesson from them anyway. We’ll show you the hidden money meanings behind some of these popular sayings. We'll also answer a listener question about strategies to avoid exposure to estate taxes.

Planning isn’t just about preserving and passing on your financial wealth and property in the event of your death or incapacity. When done right, it equates to sharing your family’s stories, values, life lessons, and experiences, so your legacy carries on long after you (and your money) are gone. On this podcast, we'll cover some of the tips and tools you can use to help create a meaningful legacy plan. We'll also answer a listener's question about whether it's wise to take social security while you're still working.

Hopefully your famous last words in life won’t be “Hey y’all, watch this!” And in the financial world, there’s quite a few phrases that you don’t want to be your famous last words either…

As summer rounds the corner and we start planning vacations and road trips, Carrie has some tips that can also apply to your financial and estate planning future. We'll also find out about Carrie's favorite movies, as well as answer a question from the mailbag about marrying into debt.

Most of us enjoy gossiping about celebrities, but today we'll talk about them and learn some really importand do's and don'ts when it comes to estate planning. We'll learn from the mistakes (and good decisions) of celebrities like Paul Walker, Muhammed Ali, Heath Ledger and more. Mary has a great question about the difference between a will and a living will. Want to learn something new about your host, Carrie? You'll be surprised to learn what skill she hasn't mastered yet.

When it comes to estate planning, naming your legal guardians for your minor children in the event something happens to you and your spouse is probably one of the hardest, but most important, decisions you’ll make. On today's podcast, we'll cover the 6 critical steps you should follow to select and name the right guardians for kids. We'll also answer Lou's question about being in a different tax bracket in retirement. And we'll have some fun asking Carrie about what kinds of clothing she used to wear that now makes her chuckle.

Talking about money can be hard for some people, so it's sometimes useful to have good questions to help get the conversation rolling. Let's go over some helpful icebreakers and see if they get you in the proper mindset to plan for your retirement future.

When it comes to financial planning, everybody has some kind of pain point. Those pain points are different for each person, but everyone has something that bothers them. Let's talk about some times where Carrie has helped her clients through some of these common pain points.