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2023 Summer Newsletter: Salt Lake City

In Newsletters, Newsletters: Salt Lake City Office, Newsletters: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

Thank you to everyone who joined us on June 30th to package meals for the hungry. Working with Rise Against Hunger we were able to package 25,000 meals to be sent overseas to countries in desperate need of food and other assistance. This organization is near and dear to me personally. Almost nine years ago I lost a close friend …

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Calculate How Much Money You’ll Need to Retire

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

Planning done well should feel like a state of flow. Money flows in, money flows out; the rate of this flow is determined by your chosen lifestyle. Ideally, your lifestyle conforms naturally to your desires and needs, as they shift with your health and interests. Thus your accumulated assets should provide you with enough income (flow in) to match your …

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Are You A Vagabond?

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

There’s a term being used that began with the millennials: ‘lifestyle design.’ While there’s no single definition, it roughly translates to designing the work-life balance that is ideal for you. By being intentional about making work fit your lifestyle aspirations, and vice-versa, the outcome of lifestyle design is one where there’s a sense of balance achieved. As an example, there’s …

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Are You Settling, and What Is It Costing You?

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

In discussion with retirement planning clients, I’m often reminded that the best outcomes to challenges and opportunities are generally realized after asking the right questions. And since we all only have one shot at living a great life, there’s a fair amount of responsibility I feel in learning how to ask great questions, which hopefully lead to better outcomes. With …

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How Do You Know When It’s Time to Retire?

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

Retirement means something a bit different to everyone. To some, it’s a financial finish line. To others, retirement represents a transition from paid work to volunteer work. Whatever it means to you and those close to you, retirement happens, whether by choice or by force. As a person nears ‘retirement age’, a litany of decisions arise that must be carefully …

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Can There Be a Retirement Planning Formula?

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

For years, I’ve been on a quest to determine the optimum set of inputs to design the ideal retirement plan. And while the topic of formulas may not appeal to you, I hope you’re somewhat comforted that it does hold some appeal for me, a retirement planning guy. I’ve thought much about the ideal blend of guaranteed income sources, risk-based …

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2023 Spring Newsletter: Salt Lake City

In Newsletters, Newsletters: Salt Lake City Office, Newsletters: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

Spring has finally arrived! It typically signifies births and new beginnings. However, for our family, this spring brings with it a few big endings. Our oldest, Coraline, will be graduating eighth grade next month, ending her middle school years and sending her towards high school with a summer full of practices and preparations for Fall. I can honestly say that …

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Selling Discontent

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office by Scott Dougan

I’m susceptible and I’ll bet you are too. It’s deafening when you begin to hear it; its influence is almost overwhelming once you begin to feel it. What is this force that’s being used to keep you perpetually off-balance? Allow me to offer a few examples: if you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind. If you’re eating that, you’re getting …