Andy and Jonathan Vance from Vance Financial Planning share their thoughts on a handful of current events and "hot topics" relating to retirement planning. Specifically, they talk about: 

• Given current world affairs and their impacts on the markets, should you do anything different with your investments, or are there any other planning opportunities to consider ( 14:20 )
• Tax updates for 2026, and some recap of tax takeaways for 2025 now that the 2025 tax return season is mostly behind us ( 26:27 )
• Using in-kind gifts to family and friends to get rid of appreciated non-qualified assets you no longer want, but don't want to sell and realize the gains ( 38:45 )
• The importance of having a good grasp on your future expenses and how that impacts virtually all aspects of retirement planning ( 46:00 )
• The practicality of the "die with zero" concept, and how Monte Carlo can help try to put it into practice ( 1:00:48 )
• Questions to ask when interviewing a financial advisor ( 1:11:54 )
• Options for what to do with permanent life insurance policies or annuities you might no longer want, or are no longer in your best interest ( 1:23:10 )

Links in this episode:

• Vance Financial Planning website - https://www.vancefp.com
• Manuka Financial's article, 9 Questions to ask a Flat Fee (or any!) Financial Advisor as you Near Retirement - here

To send Andy questions to be addressed on future Q&A episodes, email andy@andypanko.com

• My company newsletter - Retirement Planning Insights
• Facebook group - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Taxes in Retirement)
• YouTube channel - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Retirement Planning Demystified)
• Retirement Planning Education website - www.RetirementPlanningEducation.com