SML Planning Minute
SML Planning Minute podcasts provide timely and thought-provoking financial ideas and concepts for individuals, families and business owners. Be sure to listen in! Simply click on a topic below to access a podcast. You can also subscribe to one of the many service providers to listen on the go.

Why Should 401(k) Plan Sponsors Start Tracking Part-Time Employees’ Hours
Episode 110 – Did you know that as of January 1, many employers are required to track the hours of their part-time employees? Find out why here. Continue Reading Why Should 401(k) Plan Sponsors Start Tracking Part-Time Employees’ Hours

Social Security and the Typical (and atypical) Married Couple
Episode 109 – For a married couple to get the most out of Social Security, the two spouses need to coordinate benefits with each other. This is true for both typical and atypical couples. Continue Reading Social Security and the Typical (and atypical) Married Couple

Do You Have a Guaranteed Retirement Income Source During Retirement?
Episode 108 – For many retirees, receiving a guaranteed lifetime retirement income from a company pension plan is no longer possible and Social Security isn’t enough. An annuity may be a solution. Continue Reading Do You Have a Guaranteed Retirement Income Source During Retirement?

Year-End COVID-19 Legislation, and Its Impact on 2021
Episode 107 - On December 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Listen to this podcast for a brief summary of some of the provisions of the law, including additional stimulus payments and unemployment...

Riders, Riders and More Riders
Episode 106 - In this episode we’ll cover some of the most popular and useful riders that you can add to your permanent life insurance program to tailor it to your specific needs. Learn just how critical this is in our latest podcast.Transcript of Podcast...

Behavioral Economics, and How it Affects Your Financial Decisions
Episode 105 - Behavioral economics has become a buzzword over the last few years. But understanding its role in making financial decisions can lead to a better outcome.Transcript of Podcast Episode 105Hello, this is Bill Rainaldi with another edition of...

Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts for 2020
Episode 104 – A Flexible Spending Account can be an excellent tool to help pay medical expenses. But did you know that the rules have changed in 2020? Continue Reading Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts for 2020

2020 Year-End Charitable Giving
Episode 103 – 2020 isn’t over yet, and there are still ways you can make an impact with year-end charitable giving. Continue Reading 2020 Year-End Charitable Giving

“A Different Approach to Debt” with Mark Willis
Episode 102 – Is it really a good idea to live debt-free? Our special guest—Mark Willis, CFP®—shares his thoughts in response to this question. Continue Reading “A Different Approach to Debt” with Mark Willis

Avoid These IRS and Social Security Scams Related to the Coronavirus Pandemic
Episode 101 – Phone scams involving people claiming to be from the IRS or Social Security Administration have been getting worse in recent years, and COVID has rapidly accelerated that trend. But there are some simple steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim. Continue Reading Avoid These IRS and Social Security Scams Related to the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Dangers of a Missing Beneficiary Designation
Episode 100 - Many people are under the mistaken impression that when they die, their will is going to dictate where all their assets go. Not necessarily. Certain types of assets, such as a pension plan or life insurance, are normally allocated based upon...

Growing With Your Life Insurance Policy
Episode 97 - Most consumers don’t understand the different types of life insurance available and the roles each plays. Purchasing a whole life insurance policy on a minor child is a great gift and wise planning strategy to protect the child’s insurability...

Why High Net Worth Clients Should Consider Implementing Their Estate Plan Before the End Of 2020
Episode 96 - With an uncertain election coming up, our wealthy clients may feel little urgency in updating their estate plans. But the time to act is now. High net worth clients should consider implementing their estate plan before the end of...

Supplementing Your Retirement Savings Using Life Insurance
Episode 95 - One overlooked option to help supplement your retirement savings is whole life Insurance. It helps protect your family at death, supplements retirement income, and can provide other lifetime benefits. Here’s how.Transcript of Podcast Episode...

A Good Reason to Wait
Episode 94 - What’s the best investment you can make for your retirement? For many future retirees, their best “investment” may be delaying collecting Social Security benefits.Transcript of Podcast Episode 94

SBA Loans and the Need for Life and Disability Insurance
Episode 82 - To start, stabilize or expand a business, one of the most common sources of funding has been the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”). SBA loans have many requirements, fees and prepayment penalties. A surprise to many borrowers is the...

Why Every Business Owner Needs a Business Succession Plan
Episode 81 - If you’re a small business owner, you’ve worked tirelessly to build your business. Your financial needs and those of your family are highly dependent upon it. So now is the time to make sure that you have a business succession plan for...

Retirement Income for Owners of Pass-Through Entity Businesses
Episode 79 - Owners of pass-through businesses have few options outside of personal savings and the sale of the business for retirement income, unless a qualified retirement plan is installed. There is, however, a simple option that we’ll...

Attracting and Retaining Top Talent with Executive Bonus Plans
Episode 78 - An Executive Bonus Plan is a flexible strategy to recruit and retain top employees with a unique benefit that helps them protect their family and to build up supplemental savings. We’ll examine how this works.Transcript of Podcast Episode 78

A Strategy to Hold Your Best Employees—Retention Bonus Plan
Episode 76 - A Retention Bonus Plan is a strategy to retain your best employees for a specified period of time with a unique monetary benefit. It builds loyalty and helps the employee supplement savings. We’ll examine how this works.Transcript of Podcast...