Countdown to Retirement with Gregg MacInnis

Do You Need a ‘Bigger Retirement Boat?’

The 50th anniversary of the movie ‘Jaws’ brings memories of one of its famous lines, “We’re going to need a bigger boat.”  The same can be true in retirement planning.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis talks about the symptoms that can lead to leakage in your retirement boat and the lifelines that can help repair th...

How Can You ‘Weatherproof’ Your Retirement Plan?

Hurricane season reminds us that if you don’t take precautions until there are warnings, it could be too late.  This same can be true in retirement planning.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis talks about ways to ‘weatherproof’ your savings, including safeguarding income sources, reviewing risk tolerance and addressing ...

The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ – Part 2

We continue our conversation on President Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains what has changed with charitable donations, auto loan interest deductions and covers the introduction of the new ‘Trump Accounts.’  Gregg also explains his view of tax planning for retirement &n...

How Does the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Affect Your Retirement?

Congress recently signed off on President Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’  So what does that mean for your retirement?  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis tells us what hasn’t changed – including lower tax brackets and a higher standard deduction – and what is different.  He also discusses h...

Timing is Everything When It Comes to Claiming Social Security

There has been a surge of people claiming Social Security at the earliest age of 62.  Why?  They’re afraid the “government is going to run out of money.”  But in this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis debunks that perception and explains what careful timing your benefits means for your monthly check, your spouse’s ...

Signs You Might Want to Switch Your Financial Advisor

Is your financial advisor not returning your calls or doing maintenance on your portfolio?  Are they not providing your other needs like tax and estate planning?  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis offers the reasons you might want to change advisors and why it’s okay to seek a second opinion about your retirement future.

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Are You Prepared for Longevity Risk in Retirement?

It’s a fact – people are living longer.  And many can underestimate how much money they’ll need to make their retirement last their entire lifespan.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg Macinnis talks about what’s in his longevity ‘toolbox,’ including guaranteed income, ‘safe’ money outside the market, tax plan...

Can I Retire This Year?

It’s one of the biggest questions that people ask when they hit their 60s – can I retire this year?  But answering takes a thorough examination of your assets.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains what boxes he checks off to determine whether it’s possible and touches on how he helps the transition from a saving mindset to spending comfortably in re...

When It Comes to Social Security, Don't Panic - Plan It

Within ten years, Social Security's Trust Fund is expected to run dry.  If Congress does nothing, benefits could be cut as much as 20 percent.  No wonder so many are claiming Social Security early at age 62 even though that leads to lower monthly checks.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains strategies you can use to help off a pos...

When Should You Make the Move to a Roth Conversion?

The most thrilling part of a horse race is the homestretch when you need to make your move before the finish line.  It’s like taxes in retirement.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis talks about the advantages of a Roth conversion in which you pay taxes now and withdraw the money tax-free later.  And even more important, when to make th...

Legacy Planning Take Aways from the Deaths of Gene Hackman and His Caregiver Wife

We all were saddened by the shocking deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his caregiver wife Betsy.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis talks about the legacy planning strategies we can learn from the tragedy.  Caregivers who look after loved ones can also suffer when it comes to their own retirement planning.  And G...

Listen to This Before You Attend a Steakhouse Retirement Seminar

Those who reach retirement age are often flooded with invites to retirement seminars at a restaurant.  But not all seminars are created equal.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis tells us what warning signs to watch out for and how his seminars are intended to educate, not sell any investment products.

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Retirement is Complicated – Why Not Hire a Financial Advisor?

There are so many complexities about retirement – how to stack your 401(k), when to claim Social Security and what investments to make in the market.  It can be overwhelming!  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains how choosing the right financial advisor can not only help make things simpler but also take into account o...

How the Three Stages of Your Financial Life Can Drive Your Retirement

Did you know there are three stages to your financial life?  They are called accumulation, preservation and distribution.  The first two – saving and safeguarding money – feed into the third, which funds your retirement.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains how he can help you stay on track throughout all...

Don’t Hire the Wrong Financial Advisor

Hiring a financial advisor is one of the most important decisions you will make in the years leading up to retirement.  And sometimes the person you find doesn’t work out in the long run.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis runs down possible red flags that you may have hired the wrong person and what to consider when seeking a second opinion.

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Creating a Clear Retirement Roadmap

Do you get irritated when another driver doesn’t use their turn signal?  The same can be true in your retirement planning.  In this case, your turn signal begins with a retirement vision with many details to follow.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis brings up four important points to reach that goal.

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Are You Prepared for Longevity Risk in Retirement?

The number one fear in retirement is running out of money.  It’s called longevity risk.  You could roll the dice and see what happens with your savings.  Or you could prepare.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains strategies including when you claim Social Security benefits, taking advantage of annuities and preparing for the...

Annuities Mean Retirement Income

Once upon a time, companies took the responsibility of planning their employees’ retirements with pensions.  But when those became too troublesome to manage, they pivoted to 401(k) savings plans, leaving retirement strategies to workers.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains how annuities can fill the guaranteed income gap left by the absence of pension...

Consider a Roth Conversion Whether the Trump Tax Cuts Are Renewed or Not

With Donald Trump winning the election, he’s pledged to extend the tax cuts he helped usher in back in 2017.  They are scheduled to sunset at the end of 2025.  In this episode of Countdown to Retirement, Gregg MacInnis explains how a Roth Conversion is still the smartest move in your long-term financial plan to generate tax-free income.

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