Are you prepared for the financial future you envision? In this episode of Buried in Work, host Jared Rizzi delves into essential estate planning strategies with Steven Wagner, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (SEPA) with over 30 years of expertise. Estate planning is a crucial step toward financial stability and peace of mind, yet it can often feel overwhelming. Whether you’re approaching retirement or just beginning to plan for the future, having a solid strategy can secure wealth transfer, address challenges like inflation and longevity, and ensure a smooth transition of assets.

Steven shares his insights on the financial tools that matter most—such as wills, living trusts, and life insurance—and the importance of creating a legacy that aligns with your values. Join us as we explore practical estate planning tips to make your financial future more secure and manageable.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand Wealth Transfer Tools: Learn how wills, living trusts, and life insurance play a crucial role in transferring wealth and protecting your family’s legacy.

• Plan for Longevity and Inflation: Discover strategies to address the growing challenge of outliving your retirement savings and adapting to changing interest rates.

• Estate Planning for Small Business Owners: Learn how to prepare for business continuity and ensure a smooth succession plan to protect your business and loved ones.

• Find the Right Financial Advisor: Steven shares what to look for in a financial advisor, focusing on a holistic approach to estate and financial planning.

Show Links:

• Connect with Steven Wagner: Visit his website to learn more on making wise financial decisions at https://iwaplan.com/

If you found this episode helpful, please consider subscribing to Buried in Work, leaving a review, or sharing it with a friend. For more estate planning resources, visit buriedinwork.com. Your support helps us continue bringing expert insights to help you simplify estate planning and secure your financial future.

What if your dream retirement plan could be derailed by a single overlooked detail? In this episode of Buried in Work, host Adam Zuckerman interviews financial planning expert Gregory Kurinec, founder of Pennant Planning, who shares crucial steps to achieve a secure and fulfilling retirement. Gregory, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) with years of experience in retirement and estate planning, guides listeners through everything from setting impactful retirement goals and managing assets to tax-saving strategies, Medicare choices, and preparing an estate that aligns with your values. This episode is a must-listen for anyone wanting to simplify complex financial topics and protect their legacy. Gregory also discusses his nonprofit, Gene's Journey for Hope, which supports families affected by cancer, adding a heartfelt perspective on community support.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬:

• Starting with Goals: Why clearly defining your retirement goals lays the groundwork for effective financial planning.

• Organizing Assets and Legacy: How taking inventory of your assets and planning your estate can give you and your family peace of mind.

• Retirement Tax Strategies: Insights on Roth conversions, charitable distributions, and tax-efficient tactics to maximize retirement income.

• Medicare Planning: Understand the key differences between Medicare Advantage and original Medicare to ensure you’re covered as you age.

• Reliable Income Streams: Ways to create dependable retirement income using Social Security, annuities, and flexible withdrawal strategies.

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞'𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞:

Gregory’s nonprofit, Gene's Journey for Hope, honors his mother’s memory by providing flexible financial support to local families affected by cancer, allowing them to focus on what matters most during tough times. For more information or to donate, visit genesjourneyforhope.org.

Show Links:

• Pennant Planning: To learn more about Gregory's services or to explore retirement planning strategies, visit pennantplanning.com.

• Visit Buried in Work for more episodes and resources at https://buriedinwork.com/

Don’t miss out on future episodes! Subscribe to the Buried in Work podcast to get expert tips and insights from professionals in the estate planning industry.

Are you unknowingly making financial missteps in divorce that could cost you for years to come? In this episode of Buried in Work, host Adam Zuckerman welcomes Jamie Lima, founder of Woodson Wealth Management and Allegiant Divorce Solutions. Jamie shares his journey through a financially and emotionally complex divorce that inspired him to help others avoid common financial pitfalls during divorce. As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), Jamie explains the critical role of financial analysis in divorce settlements, emphasizing the importance of sound asset division, understanding tax implications, and the value of early financial planning. Jamie provides practical advice on protecting assets, planning for future financial needs, and making empowered decisions in divorce proceedings.

As you listen, you will gain valuable insights into the role of a CDFA, the common financial mistakes in divorces, the impact of financial abuse, and key steps to establish a stable post-divorce financial foundation. This episode offers essential advice for anyone facing divorce or looking to understand its long-term financial implications.

Key Takeaways:

• CDFA vs. CFP: Jamie explains the distinct roles of Certified Divorce Financial Analysts and Certified Financial Planners in managing life-long financial stability and addressing immediate divorce-related needs.

• Financial Abuse Awareness: Jamie discusses common signs of financial control in relationships and how divorce can reveal financial inequities.

• Asset Division and Tax Strategy: Avoiding costly mistakes in asset division, such as overlooking the after-tax value of 401(k)s vs. home equity, is essential for a fair settlement.

• Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements: Jamie emphasizes the importance of prenuptial agreements as “marriage insurance” to secure assets and prevent lengthy legal disputes.

• Post-Divorce Estate Planning: Updating beneficiaries, creating a new will, and preparing essential estate documents are vital steps to ensure financial legacy protection.Having a buy-sell agreement is essential for business owners to ensure a smooth transition and avoid potential conflicts.

• Planning for the future and having a succession plan in place provides peace of mind for business owners and their key players.

Show Links:

• Connect with Jamie Lima: Visit Allegiant Divorce Solutions to explore how Jamie’s team can support you during divorce proceedings at https://allegiantds.com/ or head over to Woodson Wealth Management for broader wealth management and financial planning services at https://woodsonwm.com/

• Visit Buried in Work for more episodes and resources at https://buriedinwork.com/

Don’t miss out on future episodes! Subscribe to the Buried in Work podcast to get expert tips and insights from professionals in the estate planning industry.

Is your business truly prepared for the future, or are you unknowingly giving up control of your cash flow? In this eye-opening episode of Buried in Work, host Adam Zuckerman sits down with Tim Yurek, founder and CEO of Tier One Capital, to discuss the critical importance of business succession planning, financial efficiency, and how to take control of your financial future.

With over 35 years of experience in financial consulting, Tim shares practical insights on business succession, key person retention, and how business owners can maximize their cash flow. Through real-world examples and personal stories, Tim explains the power of life insurance policies as financial tools and how understanding cash flow management can help business owners avoid common pitfalls. Whether you’re a small business owner or preparing for estate planning, this episode delivers strategies you can apply today.

Key Takeaways:

• Being in control of your money and cash flow is crucial for financial success.

• Small business owners often struggle with cash flow issues, which can have a negative impact on their health and longevity.

• The five major areas that small business owners need to focus on are taxes, real estate payments, education funding, retirement funding, and major capital purchases.

• Timothy Yurick's four-step strategy for solving cash flow issues involves finding the money, identifying where control of money is being given up, stopping ineffective financial habits, and utilizing cash flow efficiently.

• Examples of how the strategy has helped business owners include extending amortization schedules, borrowing against life insurance cash value, and reallocating funds to solve business planning problems. Over two-thirds of small business owners want to have a succession or exit strategy, but only 17% have a documented plan that has been communicated to all key players.

• Cash flow optimization involves identifying where control is being given up, stopping inefficient use of money, putting money in a place with complete liquidity and control, and borrowing money from oneself and paying interest back to oneself.

• Cash value life insurance can be used as a funding solution for business planning problems and can be leveraged to run and grow a business.

• Business owners should consider getting a business valuation to determine the size of the problem and the cost of the solution for succession or exit planning.

• Having a buy-sell agreement is essential for business owners to ensure a smooth transition and avoid potential conflicts.

• Planning for the future and having a succession plan in place provides peace of mind for business owners and their key players.

Show Links:

• Tier 1 Capital: Visit Tim’s website to learn more about Tim Yurek and his financial strategies at https://tier1capital.com/

• Free Report: Download the “Six Critical Questions for Business Succession” report to start planning for your business’s future here: https://tier1capital.com/special-focus-report/

• Visit Buried in Work for more episodes and resources.

Don’t miss out on future episodes! Subscribe to the Buried in Work podcast to get expert tips and insights from professionals in the estate planning industry.

What drives someone to turn personal tragedy into a lifelong mission of helping others? In this insightful episode of Buried in Work, host Jared Rizzi interviews Danielle Knapp, CEO of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, to explore her powerful journey into funeral service. After the sudden and traumatic loss of her father, Danielle found her calling in helping families navigate grief and end-of-life planning. She opens up about her emotional and professional challenges, the transformative power of empathy, and the remarkable work funeral directors do behind the scenes. The episode also features a compelling discussion on the documentary Flight 232, which showcases the dedication of funeral directors during a mass casualty event.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬:

• Danielle Knapp’s path into funeral service started after the tragic death of her father, which deeply shaped her purpose.

• Funeral directors are often overlooked for the emotional weight they carry while helping families through the hardest moments.

• A behind-the-scenes look at the Flight 232 documentary, focusing on funeral directors as first responders in the aftermath of a tragedy.

• The importance of turning grief into empathy and how Danielle channels that energy into supporting families.

• Insight into how conversations about death and end-of-life planning can ease the burden on families.

Show links:

• Visit Buried in Work for more episodes and resources at https://buriedinwork.com/.

• For more about Danielle Knapp’s work, visit Iowa Funeral Directors Association at https://iafda.org/

Don’t miss out on future episodes! Subscribe to the Buried in Work podcast to get expert tips and insights from professionals in the estate planning industry.

Are you struggling to find enough time to plan your estate or tackle important end-of-life tasks? You're not alone! In this episode, host Adam Zuckerman chats with time management expert David Buck, author of The Time Optimized Life and founder of Kairos Management Solutions. Together, they explore how time optimization, rather than traditional time management, can simplify complex processes like estate planning and managing end-of-life tasks. Learn how to overcome distractions, defeat procrastination, and structure your time more effectively to make estate administration easier and less stressful.

Key Takeaways:

• Time Management vs. Time Optimization: Discover the crucial difference and how being proactive with your time can help you achieve more with less effort.

• Tackle Distractions: David shares actionable strategies to minimize distractions in everyday life, including practical steps like "quarantining" your phone.

• Overcoming Procrastination: Find out why we procrastinate and how breaking tasks into smaller steps can help you start and finish your estate planning.

• Using Calendars for Success: David emphasizes the importance of planning your schedule two weeks in advance and keeping it flexible enough to adapt.

• Estate Planning Made Simple: Learn how breaking down estate planning into manageable steps can reduce overwhelm and help you get started today.

Show links:

• Visit David’s website at Visit infinitylifestyledesign.com

• Take the FREE Time Management Analysis (TMA) assessment https://infinitylifestyledesign.com/tma/

• Order The Optimized-Life Book: https://infinitylifestyledesign.com/the-time-optimized-life-book/

• Visit Buried in Work for more episodes and resources.

Don’t miss out on future episodes! Subscribe to the Buried in Work podcast to get expert tips and insights from professionals in the estate planning industry.

Are you truly prepared to secure your financial future and leave behind a lasting legacy? In this episode of the Buried in Work podcast, host Adam Zuckerman talks with Peter Culver, co-founder of Freedom Family Office, about how to simplify estate planning and ensure your family’s future is protected. Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, or someone seeking financial security, Peter shares expert insights on tax reduction strategies, wealth management, and the crucial role of life insurance in estate planning. Learn how to use life insurance to safeguard your assets, reduce taxes, and ensure a seamless wealth transfer to your heirs. This episode is packed with actionable tips to help you protect your wealth, create an effective estate plan, and build a financial legacy that lasts.

Key Takeaways:

• Freedom Family Office Approach: Focusing on business owners, Freedom Family Office provides financial planning, investment management, tax reduction strategies, and estate planning, all with a personalized vision of creating an "ideal life."

• Estate Planning Simplified: Peter breaks down the essential steps to prepare a comprehensive estate plan that ensures your family's future is secure, including the critical role of having a will and how life insurance can be used as an estate planning tool.

• Tax Reduction Strategies: Learn why reducing taxes can be more effective in growing wealth than finding high-return investments, and how even those with moderate incomes can take advantage of these strategies.

• Avoiding Common Mistakes: Peter shares practical advice on avoiding common estate planning mistakes, such as neglecting to update wills or creating inadequate buy-sell agreements for business owners.

• Living Rich Beyond Money: Peter emphasizes that true wealth is about more than just financial assets—it's about living a life aligned with your personal values and ensuring your legacy reflects that.

Show links:

• Connect with Peter Culver: peter@freedomfamilyoffice.com

• Website: https://freedomfamilyoffice.com/

• Visit Buried in Work for more resources about Estate Planning at https://buriedinwork.com/

Don’t miss out on future episodes! Subscribe to the Buried in Work podcast to get expert tips and insights from professionals in the estate planning industry.

In this insightful episode of the Buried in Work podcast, host Adam Zuckerman interviews Timothy Clifford, founder of Core Wealth Consultants and a certified financial planner, who shares his decades of expertise in wealth management and estate planning. From his early career on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to developing the innovative tool, Plan Assist, Tim has helped countless individuals build sustainable wealth. Tim discusses the essential differences between making money and accumulating wealth, key financial decisions that impact long-term success, and how proper estate planning simplifies end-of-life tasks.

Discover the importance of living within your means, maximizing your 401(k), seeking counsel, and diversifying assets for a secure financial future. Tim provides practical, actionable insights for those looking to take control of their financial destiny. Plus, he shares how his Plan Assist tool can guide you through building a wealth strategy that stands the test of time. Whether you're just starting or are well into your financial journey, this episode has something valuable for everyone.

Key Takeaways:

• From Trading to Wealth Management: Tim’s journey from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange to founding Core Wealth Consultants.

• Key Financial Decisions: The difference between earning money and building wealth.

• Plan Assist: Tim’s tool to help individuals simplify their financial planning and estate management.

• Living Within Your Means: Why financial discipline is crucial to long-term wealth.

• Diversification: More than just stocks—diversifying income streams and tax liabilities for a secure retirement.

• Seek Counsel: How both informal and formal counsel can impact your financial success.

Show links:

• Check out Tim’s Plan Assist tool and download his free guide at https://www.planassist.com/

• Visit Buried in Work for more episodes and resources at https://buriedinwork.com/