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In Memoriam – Celebrating the Lives Of those We Lost

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office, SLC Winter 2021, Winter 2021 by Scott Dougan

It is with great sadness that we reflect on some of the wonderful friends we lost this year. All of us at Elevated Retirement Group cherish our relationships with you as the highest purpose for our work. When we lose one of you, it affects us deeply. We hope you’ll join us in sharing our condolences with the families affected …

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Back to the Basics: The FIRE Movement

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office, Back to the Basics, SLC Winter 2021, Winter 2021 by Scott Dougan

There’s an exciting new movement among young professionals who aspire to retire from their careers early … very early. Called the FIRE Movement – or Financial Independence Retire Early – these folks are taking advantage of their high salaries and extremely frugal lifestyles to stockpile enough invested wealth to afford a retirement beginning in their 40s, and for many, in …

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Briefcase Study: From One Retiree To Another

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office, Briefcase Studies, SLC Winter 2021, Winter 2021 by Scott Dougan

Your retirement will likely look very different from that of just about anyone else’s. After all, you’re you and they’re them, right? And while I suppose that’s categorically true, there are quite a few similarities that we get to witness when talking with all of the folks we serve who’ve crossed that line into retirement from paid work. So, what …

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2021 Winter Newsletter: Kansas City

In Newsletters, Newsletters: Kansas City Office, Newsletters: Kansas City Office by Scott Dougan

ELEVATED INSIDER Have we turned a corner? The ongoing COVID saga seems to have shifted into another gear. While reported cases of the virus continue to rise, two vaccines are ready and being administered, which is some much needed light in this long and exhausting tunnel. We hope you’re feeling well and healthy and we also hope the country can …

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2020 Fall Newsletter: Kansas City

In Newsletters, Newsletters: Kansas City Office, Newsletters: Kansas City Office by Scott Dougan

ELEVATED INSIDER As the pandemic continues, the election coverage heats up, and the news cycle throbs with ‘this-is-all-important!’ furious excitement, do you know what feels comforting? The earth still moves steadily around the sun and summer turns into fall. The season change is a strangely comforting reminder that many things are still very normal despite the anxiety we’re feeling that …

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Save the Date: Registration Required

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Fall 2020, Tax Planning by Scott Dougan

Tuesday, November 10th 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm Year End Tax Planning Webinar You Will Learn… • Tax proposals for 2021 and how the S.E.C.U.R.E Act will dramatically affect the way your retirements accounts will be taxed at your death • Year-end tax planning opportunities to take advantage of by 12/31/2020 • How to create tax-free income in retirement • …

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Briefcase Study: Can The Financial Markets Be Trusted?

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office, Briefcase Studies, Fall 2020, SLC Fall 2020 by Scott Dougan

Quite often, I’ll receive a call or an email that goes something like this: “So-and-so on the news said the market is ripe for a big selloff in October or November, what do you think?” I hope you know by now that I always welcome the opportunity to help you with your questions. Keep them coming. This question in particular …

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Back to the Basics: Why it All Starts with Income Planning

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office, Back to the Basics, Fall 2020, SLC Fall 2020 by Scott Dougan

There are several questions that hopeful retirees are consistently asking as they seek to build a successful retirement. Some of these questions are: When can I retire? How much do we need? Will I have enough? What if there’s a major healthcare, stock market, or inflationary event that threatens what we’ve saved? While all of these questions are certainly different …

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Briefcase Study: If a Tree Falls In the Woods

In Articles, Articles: Kansas City Office, Articles: Salt Lake City Office, Briefcase Studies, SLC Summer 2020, Summer 2020 by Scott Dougan

If a Tree Falls In the Woods, and Other Election Year Thoughts During a recent meeting, and then at another meeting, and another…the question came up: “With an election coming up, what should we be doing about our investments?” Here we are, in the midst of a presidential election season, and we’re all searching for answers. People are asking themselves, …