Power Your Retirement
Power Your Retirement
Steve Smit
Hosted by Steve Smit, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and founder of Powerhouse Financial Advisors, this podcast is designed to help employees of large publicly traded utility companies take control of their retirement planning. Steve, author of Power Up Your 401(k), shares insights on maximizing 401(k) options, navigating self-directed brokerage accounts, and creating a secure financial future. Tune in for practical advice, helpful resources, and strategies to power up your retirement! Subscribe and never miss an episode! Also available in video format on YouTube. For more information about Power Your Retirement, visit PowerhouseFinancialAdvisors.com or call 775-266-8867.
4 Questions to Ask Yourself During a Market Drop
Send us a text The headlines are loud, the markets are messy, and your gut might be telling you to do something - anything- right now. But what should you actually do when your portfolio takes a hit? Whether you’re feeling calm or full-on panicked, this conversation offers four practical questions to help you check in with your plan, reassess your risk, and avoid emotional mistakes. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 📊 How to gut-check your financial plan ⚖️ Aligning portfo...
Apr 9, 2025
16 min
Key 2025 Tax Breaks & Adjustment Opportunities
Send us a text Tax season is here, but filing your 2024 return is just one piece of the puzzle. Now is also the perfect time to take advantage of new tax rules for 2025- before the year gets away from you With higher standard deductions, increased retirement contribution limits, and updated HSA rules, there are plenty of opportunities to lower your tax bill and boost your savings. Tune in as we break down the key changes and how you can start planning now to make the most of them. Here’s some...
Apr 3, 2025
17 min
Beliefs That Fool Retirement Savers The Most
Send us a text April Fool’s Day is all about jokes and pranks, but when it comes to retirement planning, getting fooled can cost you real money. Today, we’re uncovering the beliefs that fool retirees and pre-retirees into making bad financial moves. We’ll cover some of the most common myths that can derail your retirement plans and explain why they might not be as true as they seem. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 0:00 – Intro 3:05 – Claiming Social Security ASAP 5:11 – Gettin...
Mar 27, 2025
18 min
March Madness and Stocks: The Risky Game of Picking Winners
Send us a text March Madness is here, and just like filling out a bracket, picking individual stocks can feel like a thrilling gamble. But the odds of winning big are slim. In fact, history shows that most stock picks, like most brackets, end up busted. Many investors can’t resist chasing big wins, even though diversification is a smarter play. One economist, Hendrik Bessembinder, analyzed the returns of nearly a century of stock performance. Let’s compare what he found to March Madness histo...
Mar 20, 2025
19 min
Choosing the Right Investments for Your Goals
Send us a text Welcome to part 4 of our 7-part series, where we’re diving into the 7 principles of Powerhouse Financial Advisors! In today’s episode, we’re diving into what it really means to choose the right investments for your goals. We’re going beyond the basics of ‘target-date funds’ and talking about how to customize your portfolio for your unique situation. Tune in as Steve walks through the potential downsides of relying on default investment options, and why aligning your portf...
Mar 13, 2025
17 min
The Value of Professional Financial Guidance
Send us a text Welcome to part 3 of our 7-part series, where we’re diving into the 7 principles of Powerhouse Financial Advisors! In today’s episode, we’re talking about the value of professional guidance and how having a trusted advisor can help you see the full picture, manage emotions, and avoid costly mistakes in your financial life. Steve shares real-world examples of how fear-driven decisions- like pulling money out of the market at the wrong time- can derail retirement plans, and how a...
Mar 6, 2025
16 min
Managing Risk in Your Retirement Journey
Send us a text Welcome to part 2 of our 7-part series, where we’re diving into the 7 principles of Powerhouse Financial Advisors! Today’s episode is all about the importance of balancing risk, especially as retirement approaches. Steve and Walter discuss how different risks can impact retirement savings and why a risk management strategy can make a difference in building a resilient plan. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 0:00 – Intro 0:58 – Misconceptions about risk 3:16 – Mana...
Feb 27, 2025
16 min
Building a Strong Foundation for Retirement
Send us a text Welcome to our new 7-part series, where we’re diving into the 7 principles of Powerhouse Financial Advisors! In this episode, Steve and Walter kick things off by breaking down what it really takes to build a rock-solid foundation for retirement. Many people approach retirement planning by simply checking the boxes on their 401K options, often overlooking the bigger picture- a well-structured financial strategy. Join us as we explore why contributing to a 401K alone may not be e...
Feb 20, 2025
12 min
Power Up Your 401K: Chapter 7 Recap
Send us a text We’ve reached the final chapter of Power Up Your 401K! Steve wraps up the book with a powerful message about living life with an open hand- a philosophy shaped by his roots on the farm, which we’ll explore today. As we reflect on this chapter, we’ll also discuss the importance of finding purpose in retirement, as Steve has found that retirees who stay active and engaged lead happier, longer lives. Tune in for a great conversation on living intentionally and passing on a legacy ...
Jan 17, 2025
8 min
Power Up Your 401K Chapter 7: Enjoy Every Minute With An Open Hand
Send us a text Over the next several weeks, we’ll be reading through Steve’s book, Power Up Your 401k, one chapter at a time. In today’s episode, we’ll tackle Chapter 7: Enjoy Every Minute With An Open Hand. As we conclude this read-along, Steve highlights the value of living with an open hand, both in our finances and in life. He explains how a well-structured financial plan not only provides security but also makes it easier to live a life of generosity and fulfillment. Listen in as he shar...
Jan 17, 2025
9 min
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