New Retirement Radio With Dennis Prout Podcast

As prospects for a government shutdown increase, people, especially investors, want to know what a shutdown might mean for the stock market. In addition, you might be asking, “How far into my life does the Federal government need to intrude?” This is what we’ll ask and ponder on today’s show. If not for the fact that it’s loud, noisy and newsy at that. The center stage seems to be taken up with, among other things, whether the government will shut down. The axiom, “Don’t watch while the sausage is being made, just enjoy the product of the mix,” comes to mind. We all know our legislative body’s work can be ugly, but hopefully the outcome will be better than the predictions would indicate. We’ll also go into the details of "whither" interest rates and the very real impact that will have on your pocket. So fun, we know. Tune and take control while we explore the adventure of life and your finances! 

For months now, everyone’s been talking about the Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) signed into law on July 4th of this year. At nearly 900 pages long, the OBBBA brings quite a few changes to U.S. tax laws. Though some of these changes are big, others, eh, not so big. But one thing’s for sure, this law adds a new layer of complexity that could cause headaches for many taxpayers in the years ahead. On today’s show, we’re joined by local CPA Jon Sluis to break down this big, beautiful piece of legislation and explain how these new policies could impact you. We’ll take a look at the new senior deductions, the raised estate tax threshold, and two major changes affecting many today – no tax on tips and no tax on overtime. And if we’ve got time, we’ll see what else we can dig into regarding the OBBBA. So, join us for this big, beautiful hour … won’t you? Tune in and take control! 

On today’s show, we pause to remember a day that forever changed our nation – September 11, 2001. We dedicate this show to the nearly 3,000 innocent lives lost, the unwavering bravery of our first responders, the strength of our armed forces, and the countless acts of courage and compassion that rose from the ashes of tragedy that day. Today, we are honored to welcome Ms. Heather Cartwright, retired Director of the Federal Crimes Victims Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. On that fateful morning, she was on the front lines in Washington, D.C., coordinating critical support for victims and their families in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. Ms. Cartwright will share an extraordinary, behind-the-scenes account of how our nation responded, not just with force, but with humanity. Her powerful story offers a rare and moving glimpse into the heart of our government’s efforts during one of the darkest days in American history and the relationships cultivated in the face of devastation that continue to

Dennis will start today’s show with an article from Capital Group discussing why the U.S. economy could stay resilient. The argument is that the economic tailwind expected from tech companies pouring billions into AI will eventually be seen in additional bottom-line revenue increases adding to real earnings. Next, Nathan will discuss the article, “Are Tariffs the Solution to America’s Debt Problem?” by Lawrence Gillum of LPL Financial. This article will delve into the known financial realities regarding the tariff situation as well as the impacts they will tend to have. Last, Hiedi will review the new investment options being proposed for 401(k) plans, which would allow private equity investments to be made by individual investors. The dangers could be significant with the realities of potential loss rising dramatically with these new options. There’s so much to talk about! As always, Beth Shier will weigh in with the stats to round it out and bring it all home. Tune in and take control!

The information explosion continues, not only on the world political front, but also in the areas of tax and investment. On today’s show, we are joining in the rush to disseminate usable information, specific to, you guessed it, taxes and investments! This will include new statistical information about Social Security, which Heidi Cartwright will share, and how the Big Beautiful Bill will impact retirement accounts, which Nathan Prout will discuss. Dennis will share the six signs that indicate you might be ready to retire. This may include information and opinion from Dennis himself in his own experience consulting with retirees. We’re excited to share this information with you and, honestly, wish we had more time. We will do our best to cover it all. Tune in and take control!

With the stock market hitting all-time highs (as measured by the Dow Jones Industrial Average), the question of “How high is too high?” must be begged. Since everyone is eager to know (including us), we’ve pulled out the heavy research engines to see what they might tell us. Given we are the all-knowing, all-seeing types, we’re waiting with bated breath to share all of our newfound secrets. What is next, pray tell? And what do you think? We’ll talk about dangers and opportunities as we delve into the trove of information that can help us, and you get a clue. With the help of our economist, and his research acquired from various well-known sources as well as Capital Group, we’re hoping you will think twice about tuning today (or our Saturday rebroadcast) and consider how you might profit. We would love to hear from you as we discuss and disseminate. As always, Beth Shier will weigh in with the stats to bring it all home. Tune in and take control!

It’s summertime (thank you very much!) and a little smoke, too, for those who don’t have time to sit around a campfire. What a dynamic market we’re in … and a dynamic world as well. While you probably hear plenty on the political front, our consultants are churning out more information for us to learn from and disseminate to you, our listeners. As we reviewed the material for the upcoming radio show, we were amazed with the amount of information we had at our fingertips from long-held sources, including Ed Slott and Capital Group. The highlight was the material on the “seven reasons to name a trust as IRA beneficiary.” For those with IRA beneficiary questions, this material may prove extremely helpful. We’ll also discuss the mid-year outlook on the economy, and look forward to your questions! Tune in and take control! 

On today’s show, we are thrilled to be joined by special guest, Lacey Edgecomb, Director of the Grand Traverse County Senior Center Network. Lacey is here to share a bit about the rich history of the Senior Center, as well as the many incredible ways the Center continues to serve and connect with our community. What began in the 1960s as a small Adult Activity Club has grown into the thriving, welcoming hub we all recognize today along Grandview Parkway, a place full of energy, connection and purpose. In partnership with the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners, the Senior Center Network is dedicated to creating vibrant spaces where older adults feel valued, supported and inspired. From Traverse City to Interlochen, and Kingsley to Fife Lake, their mission is to offer meaningful opportunities for personal growth, lifelong learning and genuine connection. Please join us in welcoming Lacey as we take a closer look at one of the true gems of Grand Traverse County. Tune in and take control… of your connec

For those of you who missed last week’s show, we gave a 5,000-foot overview of the newly signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), a sweeping piece of legislation aligned with many of the priorities of the current Trump administration. Today, we’re zooming our focus in a bit on its impact on Social Security taxation. There have been some big misunderstandings and mischaracterizations around Social Security and the OBBBA, and today, we would like to clear some of that up for you. We’ll also discuss the new trend of Micro-Retirement, where young professionals are “hitting the pause button” to rethink, recharge and reinvent themselves. It’s a different world out there! Tradition, in some areas like the workplace, is falling to the wayside to make room for more creative and encompassing solutions for employee satisfaction and retention. Employees and employers are rethinking what it means to work well and live better. Is it a smart solution or just a fad? You decide. Tune in and take control!

Over the July 4th holiday weekend, while you were grilling burgers and watching fireworks, President Trump signed his landmark, One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law after some back and forth between the House and Senate. While this budget package includes many changes, on today’s show we’ll be touching on a few aspects of this new legislation and some sweeping impacts on tax and spending that will no doubt leave its mark on the U.S. economy. But in what capacity? We’ll discuss how we may expect to see these provisions show up, show off and throw down in the years ahead. Then, if we have time, we’ll shift gears to grandparenting in 2025. There’s an old proverb that says, “Grandchildren are the crown on the aged.” We’ll talk about some fun facts, financial planning strategies and helpful hints to consider while investing in the next generation. Tune in and take control!

We’ve all heard the famous words of American statesman Benjamin Franklin: “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” While we often tackle the topic of taxes on this show, today we’re turning our attention to the other certainty – death – and why it’s not as grim as it sounds when approached with intention. We’re joined by Nicole Westrick from Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home for an honest and thoughtful conversation about pre-planning. While the idea of planning for the end of life might feel a little uncomfortable at first, it can actually be one of the most empowering and compassionate decisions you make – for yourself and for those you love. Nicole will share insights on how pre-planning brings peace of mind, ensures your wishes are known, and becomes a true gift to your family during a difficult time. So take a deep breath, lean in and join us for this meaningful conversation. Tune in and take control … of your story!

Think retirement planning starts at 65? Think again! The most successful retirees start well before that magic number. On today’s show, we’ll dive into the nine key milestones that you’ll want to keep on your radar and on your calendar. From boosting your savings with catch-up contributions to avoiding costly Medicare penalties, timing is everything. We’ll also talk about CSR (Claim-Suspend-Restart), the powerful Social Security strategy that can help boost your guaranteed lifetime income. Who knew that claiming Social Security isn’t just a oneand-done decision? So, whether you're just starting to think about retirement or you're already counting down the months, this is the info you need to stay one step ahead – and retire with confidence. Stick with us … your future self will thank you! Tune in and take control! 

No, not marriage – we’re talking about retirement. On today’s show, we’re diving into the so-called “honeymoon phase” of retirement, that first year that can set the tone for those golden years you’ve been working and saving for. Planning, purpose and a few smart routines can make all the difference. We’ll also discuss your most valuable asset (some might say) … your home. More specifically, someone else’s home they may have left to you. From tax tables and capital gains to cost basis and tricky decisions, we’ve got a lot to discuss! But we’re here to break it down. Got questions? We love hearing from you!  Tune in and take control!

On this week’s show, Heidi will review the most frequently asked questions about Social Security from Heather Schreiber’s Social Security Advisor newsletter through Ed Slott. These questions are not simple, but they are oh so very important! We remain the sleuths of all things financial, constantly ferreting out the answers to the questions you’ve always wanted to know but may have been too afraid to ask. Next, Dennis will discuss the most recent “hot topic” regarding the economy – higher uncertainty, lower growth. Many advisors and economists are wondering when both certainty and growth will begin to rise. Because we attempt to provide all the answers to life that you’ve always wanted to know, we’ll continue our best efforts this week as well … Ha! Tune in and take control!

Many of your kind comments regarding last week’s show were very well received. Thank you! We always appreciate your input, and your questions regarding the SECURE Act and its impact on distributions for beneficiary IRAs were fantastic. On this week’s show, stats on the economy and what experts are saying about market valuations will be front and center. Also, Heidi will discuss an incapacity/emergency checklist that was presented at a recent Slott conference we attended a couple weeks ago in Atlanta, Georgia. This checklist is very practical and an exceptional reference source for you and your loved ones as you age. We are grateful for the many partners and advisors that disseminate information for us to share with you all!  Tune in and take control this Thursday or Saturday!

On today’s show, we’re diving into two hot-button issues that can impact your retirement security. First up: inherited IRAs. We’ll unravel the complex and evolving rules around Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for inherited IRAs under the SECURE Act – essential knowledge as key IRS regulations are set to expire while others are set to begin. We’ll also break down what the SECURE Act means to you and how to avoid costly mistakes. Trust us, it’s more confusing than ever, but we’re going to help you make sense of it all! Next, we’ll take a look at one of the fastest-growing scams targeting seniors today and discuss practices to help protect yourself, your loved ones and secure a healthy financial future. Don’t miss out. Tune in and take control!

Just when you thought your retirement planning was safe and secure … we attended an Ed Slott tax conference and hear about the latest tax planning issues and opportunities related to retirement accounts. All of this is a great reminder of the growing complexity, and the growing assets within these plans, that can make mistakes or opportunities that much more valuable for us (and you) to be aware of. One such example with many twists and turns took the Slott organization one full year to resolve, but they wound up saving an individual hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary taxes and penalties. Other points less onerous, but equally good to know, are the new reporting requirements by custodians to notify participants and the IRS of QCDs processed from IRA accounts. We’ll also discuss the potential opportunities in international equities as highlighted in detail by Capital Group. So much to talk about, and so much more to know! We think this will be a fun and informative show. Tune in and take control!

Significant fluctuations in the stock market, along with increasing discussions about a potential recession, can certainly unnerve most investors. Some, however, view this as an opportunity, while others resort to panicked decisions that create even more unnecessary pain. Clearly, it is important for all of us retirement account savers to identify potential opportunities and avoid mistakes. On today’s show, we’ll review Ed Slott’s May newsletter, which touches upon this very issue, and talk about handling fluctuations as well as opportunities you might want to take advantage of given today’s realities. There’s lots to talk about this week, so we hope you can join us! If not, the podcast is available through our website, proutfinancialdesign.com, under the heading “Radio Shows.” Tune in and take control!

Today’s show will feature special guest Bob Simpson, the star of the local Social Security scene who kept his shirt on and was still famous. The fact that we were able to lure him out of his recent retirement to come on and speak to us about Social Security is a gift in and of itself, which we think you’ll love! We’ll review all the goings on with Social Security. Then, we’ll catch you up on the realities of Social Security, how to navigate the questions of collecting, and how to get your benefits when the time comes for you to retire! What more could you ask for? And we’d love to hear from you. Bob had decades to learn his craft and is excited to share all the latest. Tune in and take control!

Trying to ascertain the direction of the current economy and the stock market is not an easily ascertainable thing. And, yes, I’ve purposely used “ascertain” twice in the previous sentence to help make the point that even the experts are puzzled by the conflagration of stats that are coming out. Sometimes, history can help us. Other times, numbers are pointing to the fact that the S&P 500 is now down 10% this year and is a relatively significant amount historically. While its average decline is 13.8%, the number of times the market has declined 10% or more since 1928 has only occurred 33 times. On today’s show, there’s lots to talk about with the stats, and Heidi will be discussing the article on Social Security by Heather Schreiber titled “5 Golden Nuggets: Warnings and Winning Moves.” Speaking of uncertainty, Social Security is in the spotlight, and we think it is a good time to discuss it in more detail. We’ll highlight information and answer your questions as they arise. Tune in and take control!