The Get Ready For The Future Show

AI insiders say there's a greater than 10% chance advanced AI could wipe out humanity — so why didn't the market even react? This week, AI whistleblowers went public with warnings that future AI systems carry more than a 10% chance of ending humanity. It's a heavy headline — and markets shrugged it off almost entirely, staying focused on inflation data, rate hikes, and the conflict with Iran instead. That's not the market being naive. History shows nobody predicts the future right, at the right time — not once in over a century has a "this changes everything" prediction actually ended the game. The common mistake is treating a doomsday headline as a reason to abandon a plan that's built on facts, not fear. If this week's AI headlines have you second-guessing your strategy, that's worth a conversation before you make any moves based on fear rather than a plan.

What does it actually take to build a succession plan for the business you've spent decades building? Call us at 866-653-PLAN (or 501-653-7355) or email [email protected] to talk through your own situation. On this episode: - Listener question from Russell, a 20-year HVAC company owner: "How do I even start thinking about an exit or succession plan?" - Guest Jason Curry, author of Finish Empty, on the drive and accountability underneath every succession plan If you're a business owner who keeps meaning to figure out your exit plan but there's always something more urgent, this is worth a conversation before the decision gets made for you. Join us and Jason Curry at Built to Endure, our free event for business owners, Friday, September 18, 9am–2:30pm at the DoubleTree Hotel, downtown Little Rock. Register at getreadyforthefuture.com/endure.

Is the bond market signaling a crisis, or just repricing to a new normal? The national debt just crossed $40 trillion, the 30-year Treasury yield hit 5.33% (its highest since 2007), and the deficit is running north of $2 trillion. The internet called it a crisis. But in the middle of it, the Treasury sold $183 billion of coupon debt across three auctions -- and buyers showed up. No auction tail, no dealers stuck holding unwanted bonds, and the bond market's own volatility gauge (the MOVE Index) hit its lowest level of the year. There is a real problem: net interest expense alone reached roughly $1 trillion in fiscal 2026 -- money spent just servicing debt. That's not nothing. But there's a difference between a legitimate long-term issue and a market that's actually breaking, and so far higher yields are bringing buyers in, not driving them away. If you're rebalancing a fixed-income allocation now that starting yields are meaningfully higher, this is worth a conversation before you decide how long to lock your money up.

This week: is the 4% rule still safe, getting ready for Medicare, forced Roth catch-up contributions, and where a $300 raise should go. Call us at 866-653-PLAN (866-653-7526) or email [email protected] to talk through your own situation. On this episode: - Karen (66, just retired): Our advisor always talked about the 4% rule — how much can we actually safely pull from our accounts each year? - Wanda (turning 65 in November): I keep hearing I need to "get ready for Medicare," but nobody's told me what that means. Where do I start? - Nolan: My company is forcing some of my 401(k) catch-up contributions into Roth next year. Why, and what do I need to do differently? - Chloe: I just got my first real raise, about $300 more a month. Should it go toward investing or something else? Helping families discover, protect, and share true financial independence. Got a question for next week's show? Text or leave a voicemail at 501-381-5228, or email [email protected]

Every September since 1950, the S&P 500 has averaged a negative return. Here's why — and what history says to do about it. Call us at 866-653-PLAN or book a time at getreadyforthefuture.com to talk through your own portfolio. September is the only month with a negative average return across the last 5, 10, and 20 years, and since 1950 (-0.6%). LPL Research calls this seasonality — a mix of tax-related selling, mutual fund fiscal year-ends, corporate buyback windows, and summer liquidity lulls that recur every year. In a midterm election year — like this one — the average drops further, to -0.8% since 1950. But October and November have historically bounced back hard: +3.0% and +2.7% on average. Selling out of fear risks missing that recovery entirely. If you're feeling nervous about market swings this month, this is worth a conversation before you make a portfolio decision based on the calendar.

Losing a spouse changes everything — including one of the most important, and least forgiving, financial decisions you'll ever make. This week on The Get Ready for the Future Show, we help a recent widow figure out how survivor Social Security benefits actually work, and why the "wait until 70" advice you've heard doesn't apply the same way here. Plus three more questions from listeners: Turning 73 next year — can charitable giving help offset the tax hit from your RMD? Just started making real money in your business — SEP-IRA or defined benefit plan, what's actually the right fit? $8,000 in credit card debt across three cards — snowball or avalanche, which one actually gets you to zero? Real questions, answered in plain English. Subscribe for more straight talk about retirement, investments, and your money. #retirementplanning #financialadvisor #socialsecurity #survivorbenefits #creditcarddebt #QCD #financialindependence

The U.S. national debt just hit $40 trillion — here's what that means for your money. Call us at 866-643-PLAN or book a time at getreadyforthefuture.com to talk through your own situation. The debt crossed $40 trillion on August 18, 2026 — up from $30 trillion just four and a half years earlier, and $20 trillion less than nine years ago. LPL data shows the government hasn't run a budget surplus in 25 years. The number economists watch most closely is debt-to-GDP, which is sitting at 123%, near an all-time high. History shows stocks and bonds have generally held up through periods of rising debt — recessions and bear markets have typically been triggered by something else, like the 2008 financial crisis or the COVID shutdown, not the debt level itself. The bigger risk is that neither party is moving to cut spending, which makes tax increases the most likely lever left to pull. If you're wondering how a rising national debt could affect your taxes, your investments, or your retirement plan, this is worth a conversation before you make any big financial moves.

What happens if the person who's always handled the money suddenly can't anymore? This week on The Get Ready for the Future Show, we tackle a question a lot of couples are afraid to ask out loud: what if I have to take over? Plus three more questions from listeners: • How much cash should you actually keep once you're living off your portfolio in retirement? • A $50,000 bonus: should it go to your 401(k), your mortgage, or a brokerage account? • Just started your first job with a 401(k) match? Here's how to pick your investments without overthinking it. Real questions, answered in plain English. Subscribe for more straight talk about retirement, investments, and your money. #retirementplanning #financialadvisor #socialsecurity #401k #financialindependence

Stocks have been on a historic 4-year run, but that could be about to change. Since 1990, the S&P 500 has dropped an average of 5.1% between August 18 and October 11 in every midterm election year, with the Nasdaq down nearly 7% and the Russell 2000 down almost 8% over that same stretch. Here's the good news: 12 months after the last 18 mid-term elections, the S&P 500 has been positive every single time. In this episode, we break down what the charts actually show, why uncertainty around Congress drives the pullback, and why the fundamentals still point higher long-term.

Miss one required withdrawal on an inherited IRA and the IRS can now hit you with a 25% penalty on top of the tax you already owe. On this episode: • The 10-year inherited IRA rule, finalized for 2025 — and exactly when annual withdrawals are required vs. optional • Why a Roth conversion can quietly double your Medicare premium two years later (IRMAA explained) • The life insurance gap costing 1 in 4 high-income households up to $400,000 in missing coverage • What to do with extra cash the month after your last debt payment — savings first, or invest? Have a money question? Email [email protected] and you could be our question of the week!

The S&P 500 just hit a record high of 7,758 — up 13% this year. So is it too expensive to buy now? Here's what 37 years of data actually says happens after the market hits a new high, why Warren Buffett has never cared about the S&P's record, and the one dot-com era example that shows why abandoning your plan over a headline can cost you more than the "expensive" market ever would. In this episode: - What history shows about buying at record highs (1988–2024) - Why the S&P's P/E ratio has investors watching valuations - The $10,000 investment from the 2000 peak — and what it's worth today - The 3 questions to ask before you change your investment plan Past performance is not indicative of future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice.

Waiting until RMDs force your hand could cost you a tax bracket you'll never see again. 💰 On this episode of The Get Ready for the Future Show, the GenWealth team tackles these four listener questions: • Should you do Roth conversions before RMDs kick in — even in a "low" bracket? • Why the first 5 years of retirement matter more than your average return • Is 60% of your net worth in one company stock too risky? • Do you need life insurance in your 20s with no kids or mortgage yet? Straight answers, no jargon. Got a money question? Email [email protected] — you could be our Question of the Week!

Retirees fear running out of money more than they fear death. That's not an exaggeration — it's what's driving a massive gap between what retirees have saved and what they're actually willing to spend. A married 65-year-old couple withdraws just 2.1% of their retirement savings a year. A single retiree: 1.9%. Meanwhile, 71% of workers say they'd be reluctant to touch their savings at all in retirement. There are two reasons for this "Just in Case" retirement mindset — and only one in five retirees have the one document that fixes it: a written retirement income plan. Scott Inman breaks down why the number you should be chasing isn't $1M or $2M — it's a monthly income number.

When should you and your spouse claim Social Security — and could getting it wrong cost you six figures over your lifetime? In this episode of The Get Ready for the Future Show, we answer two listener questions: 🔹 A couple heading into retirement can't agree on when each of them should start claiming Social Security — and why coordinating as a household (not two separate filings) can be worth well over $100,000 over a lifetime. 🔹 A couple weighing whether long-term care insurance is worth the cost — and why waiting to decide can end up costing far more than the coverage itself. Plus: a preview of our upcoming webinar, "2026 Mid-Year Outlook," featuring GenWealth Chief Investment Officer Andrew Beatty. Have a question for the show? Email [email protected] to have it answered on air!

For two years, AI stocks meant one thing: who's spending the most to build it. That's changing. Wall Street's asking a new question — who can actually turn AI into revenue? Alec breaks down the shift from AI infrastructure to AI monetization, and why it matters for the next phase of this market theme.

Your will might not decide as much as you think. This week on The Get Ready for the Future Show: a remarried caller learns his old 401(k) still names his ex-wife as beneficiary — and his will can't override it. We break down why beneficiary forms win every time, and what a five-minute account check could save your family from a costly mistake. Also this episode: a couple weighing whether to help their adult son with a house down payment without derailing their own retirement, a job-changer deciding what to do with an old 401(k), and a newlywed figuring out joint vs. separate accounts for the first time. Real questions. Real answers.

Governments are quietly deciding who controls the resources within their own borders — and it's already moving markets. It's called resource nationalism, and according to LPL's Head of Macro Strategy Kristian Kerr, it rarely stops with the commodity itself. It reshapes trade policy, capital flows, and the broader macro landscape. Since COVID, export bans have surged as countries abandoned decades of globalization to protect their own supply chains. In this episode of The Fastest Four Minutes in Finance, Scott Inman breaks down: • What resource nationalism actually means • Why commodity prices and energy/materials stocks could benefit • Why Latin America could see the biggest upside • Whether this is a permanent shift or a cycle we've seen before Bottom line: this trend highlights why diversification — and a financial advisor tracking these shifts — matters for your portfolio.

Growing your income without adjusting your tax strategy can cost you tens of thousands of dollars you didn't have to lose — plus three more retirement questions from our listeners this week. This week on Get Ready for the Future: ✅ RMDs at 73 or 75? Why the "right" age depends on your birth year, not a flat rule ✅ Does the month you retire actually matter? (Yes — here's why) ✅ S-corp vs. cash balance plan: the tax strategy combo growing businesses miss ✅ Why a Roth IRA is the smartest move in your first "real" job Have a money question? Email [email protected] — you could be next week's Question of the Week! #retirementplanning #financialadvisor #investing #financialindependence

Governments are quietly deciding who controls the resources within their own borders — and it's already moving markets. It's called resource nationalism, and according to LPL's Head of Macro Strategy Kristian Kerr, it rarely stops with the commodity itself. It reshapes trade policy, capital flows, and the broader macro landscape. Since COVID, export bans have surged as countries abandoned decades of globalization to protect their own supply chains. In this episode of The Fastest Four Minutes in Finance, Scott Inman breaks down: • What resource nationalism actually means • Why commodity prices and energy/materials stocks could benefit • Why Latin America could see the biggest upside • Whether this is a permanent shift or a cycle we've seen before Bottom line: this trend highlights why diversification — and a financial advisor tracking these shifts — matters for your portfolio.

Will your Medicare premium jump because of what you withdrew two years ago? 😳 This week's mailbag tackles the IRMAA surcharge trap, plus three more real questions from our listeners. In this episode: ✅ The Medicare premium increase most retirees don't see coming — and how IRMAA can add hundreds a month for high earners ✅ Should you claim Social Security at 62? The math married couples can't afford to skip ✅ The backdoor Roth pro-rata rule that can quietly wipe out your tax savings ✅ Building an emergency fund AND investing at the same time — yes, you can do both Got a question for the show? Email [email protected] — you could win a free GRFTFS tumbler as our Question of the Week!

Could the AI trade be entering a riskier new phase? LPL Research's 2026 Mid-Year Outlook keeps the bull case for stocks — but flags a real shift in the AI buildout. The five hyperscalers are set to spend $750 billion this year, and for the first time, they're not just paying with cash. Bond issuance from the group could hit $300 billion in 2026, up from $110 billion in 2025. LPL says that means the AI trade's next act won't be built on promise — it'll be judged on results. Scott Inman breaks it down.

With no pension in sight, millions of Americans are making a costly annuity mistake — and most don't know it until it's too late. This week we answer four listener questions: ✅ No pension? When an annuity actually makes sense — and when it doesn't. ✅ Your parents have a will from the 1980s. Here's why that could cost your family everything. ✅ One spouse is a spender. One is a saver. How do you retire together? ✅ What if you can afford to retire — but you're afraid you'll get bored? Real questions. Honest answers.

It was a war America wasn't supposed to win. 250 years ago this week, a handful of colonists with no army, no navy, and no real plan took on the most powerful empire on earth — and somehow won. What came after wasn't guaranteed either: limited government, individual liberty, the idea that rights come from God, not rulers. All of it had to be fought for first, and figured out after. Warren Buffett has said America's poor today live better than the richest man in the country did in his own childhood. That's not an accident — it's 250 years of decisions, sacrifice, and freedom compounding. This week, before the fireworks, it's worth asking: what are we doing with what we inherited?

Don't choose your retirement zip code based on weather alone — state taxes, healthcare costs, and Medicaid rules can quietly add $10,000 a year in expenses you didn't plan for. This week on Get Ready For The Future Show: 🔹 Penny's retirement relocation checklist — what to vet financially before you commit to a new state 🔹 Portfolio rebalancing: how years of drift can shift your 70/30 allocation to 85/15 without you noticing 🔹 No heirs? Jeffrey learns how to build a meaningful legacy through smart estate and charitable planning 🔹 Roth vs. Traditional 401(k): what SECURE 2.0 just changed that could affect which you choose Disclosure: Traditional IRA account owners have considerations to make before performing a Roth IRA conversion. These primarily include income tax consequences on the converted amount in the year of conversion, withdrawal limitations from a Roth IRA, and income limitations for future contributions to a Roth IRA. In addition, if you are required to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) in the year you convert, you must do so before converting to a Roth IRA.

6% of Americans made hardship withdrawals from their 401k in 2025 — a record high, and it's been climbing for 5 straight years. At the same time, participation rates hit 86% and average contributions are up. So why are so many people pulling money out? Scott breaks down the Vanguard 2025 How America Saves report — what the numbers actually mean, and the one question you should stop asking about your retirement savings.

Most people think their In-Plan Roth Rollover is set once the money moves over. It's not — and the 5-year rule works differently than you think. This week on Get Ready For The Future Show, the GenWealth team answers four real viewer questions: 🔹 Why your budgeting app isn't moving the needle — and what behavior change actually does 🔹 In-Plan Roth Rollover rules: does each $25K conversion start its own 5-year clock? (You asked — we answered) 🔹 Paid off your home at 60 — should that freed-up cash go to investments or savings? 🔹 I'm 50 and want to retire at 60. What exactly should I be doing for the next 10 years? GenWealth Financial Advisors | Arkansas's retirement planning specialists 📞 Ready to build your plan? Visit getreadyforthefuture.com

Will Social Security still be there when you retire — or will it be 22% less than you're counting on? The 2026 Social Security Trustees' Report moved the trust fund depletion date up to 2032 — one year sooner than last year's estimate. A nonpartisan watchdog says it's the worst shape the program has been in since 1983, with the 75-year funding shortfall now at its highest level since 1977. The fixes have been on the table for decades. But the longer Congress waits, the more painful they get — a 34% payroll tax hike today, 40% if they wait until 2034. And the current administration has no specific plan. Your retirement is on you. Social Security needs saving.

Don't let a single accident — in your pool, on your trampoline, or on the road — undo everything you've worked for. This week: four viewer questions every family needs answered. ✅ Does everyone actually need a trust — or is your sister overreacting? ✅ How much home and auto liability do you really need when cars cost $100,000? ✅ You inherited farmland in Arkansas — sell, lease, or hold it? ✅ Remarried with kids from a previous marriage? Here's how to protect them in your estate plan. Plus: umbrella policies, earthquake insurance, and the coverage gap small business owners almost always miss.

Did you know your 401(k) could hold up to $70,000 in annual contributions — not just $23,500? The Mega Backdoor Roth is one of the most powerful retirement tools available inside a workplace plan, and most employees have no idea it exists. This week, Crystal found out her employer just added it — we break down exactly what it is, who it's right for, and what to watch out for. Also this episode: how to simplify an overwhelming investment portfolio without losing performance, how to budget for international travel in retirement, and what adult children need to know when helping aging parents with finances and legal documents in their 80s. Real questions. Real answers. Every week on the Get Ready for the Future Show.

Only 1 in 3 stocks is actually beating the market right now — and history says that's a red flag. The S&P 500 is up 18% in just 39 trading sessions, and Q1 earnings are tracking at a massive 28% year-over-year growth rate. But LPL Chief Equity Strategist Jeff Buchbinder is flagging a warning sign buried inside the rally: stock outperformance levels are approaching historic lows. The last few times this happened, large-cap value and small-cap stocks outperformed over the next 1, 3, and 6 months — meaning the stocks leading today may not be leading tomorrow. If your portfolio is concentrated in big tech, this one's for you.

Is $900,000 enough to retire at 62? Most people focus on the savings number. The questions that actually matter are harder — and this episode answers four of them. • $900k saved, no debt, age 62 — can you retire next year? We run the real numbers, including the healthcare gap most people never see coming. • DIY taxes getting complicated? How to know when hiring a CPA pays for itself. • Annuitize your IRA or keep it invested? What you're actually trading away. • Charitable giving before retirement — why QCDs beat regular donations for most retirees. Submit your question: [email protected]

Dating in America just got a lot more expensive — and it's revealing something bigger about the state of personal finances in this country. The average cost of a first date has climbed to $189 in 2026, up 12.5% from last year — outpacing overall inflation. Millennials are spending an average of $252 per date, and social media is making expectations even more extreme. Meanwhile, the U.S. personal savings rate has dropped to 3.6% — the lowest since COVID — household debt sits at $18.8 trillion, and credit card balances have hit $1.25 trillion. Your personal finances are personal. Don't let social media make your money decisions for you.

Don't let financial habits from 10 years ago determine your wealth today. From outdated long-term care policies to untapped HSA power - small blind spots compound into big losses. This week on Get Ready For The Future Show: • Helping your adult kids invest in their 20s WITHOUT enabling bad habits • Walter's LTC policy hasn't been reviewed in 15 years - here's why that's a problem • Is your HSA secretly your most powerful retirement account? (Most people get this wrong) • Small business owner at 48 with no retirement plan? Here's exactly how to catch up Originally aired 5/23/2026

The doomsayers say stocks are overvalued. The data says something very different. As of May 8th, 447 S&P 500 companies reported Q1 earnings — 84% beat estimates, with average earnings growth of 26.8%. Meanwhile, the forward P/E ratio actually dropped nearly 4%, meaning stocks are cheaper today than they were at the start of the year. LPL Research Portfolio Strategist George Smith breaks down why the relationship between price and earnings is the most important dynamic in markets right now — and what it means for your long-term investing plan. The facts don't lie. Tune out the noise.

What if spending too little in early retirement is the real mistake? 👀 This week, four listeners asked the questions most people are afraid to bring up: ✅ Is spending more while you're healthy reckless — or just good planning? ✅ My spouse won't meet with a financial advisor. How do I bring her on board? ✅ I'm 66, just widowed, and my husband handled all the finances. Where do I begin? ✅ We want to move into a retirement community early. How do we run the real numbers? If any of these sound familiar, this one's for you. 📩 Submit your question: [email protected] #retirementplanning #financialadvisor #personalfinance #investing Originally Aired: 2026.05.16

In this week’s episode of The Get Ready For The Future Show, we tackle a pressing question: Is the stock market on the brink of a dot-com-level crash? Join me, Scott Inman, as I compare the current AI boom to the explosive growth of the internet in the 1990s. We’ll delve into the similarities and differences between these two tech revolutions and what they mean for investors today. Drawing insights from LPL Research, I’ll highlight key factors like stronger leadership, grounded valuations, and rational IPOs that differentiate the AI landscape from the past. While volatility is expected, I’ll explain why we believe this bull market still has significant momentum. Tune in to gain clarity on the future of technology investments and how to navigate these turbulent waters.

Are you in your 50s and still on autopilot with a target-date fund? You might be taking on more risk than you think — and missing the income plan you'll actually need. This week on The Fastest Four Minutes in Finance: ✅ Target-date funds — what they get right, and where they quietly fail after 50 ✅ Deferred compensation at 60: tax tool or future headache? ✅ No kids, no heirs — how to make sure your estate funds what matters most to you ✅ Two retirement dates, one household — how couples plan when timelines don't match "At some point, your portfolio stops being a scoreboard and starts being a paycheck." — that shift starts here. 📩 Got a question? Email us to be our next Question of the Week and win a GRFTFS tumbler! [email protected] #retirementplanning #financialadvisor #investing #financialindependence #targetdatefunds Originally Aired: 2026.04.29

Oil prices are down — so why is the physical market telling a completely different story? 🛢️ Since mid-March, actual barrel prices have been running significantly higher than futures prices. The Strait of Hormuz has seen barely 1.5 days of normal oil flow since March 1st. Japanese refiners started buying U.S. crude. Chinese buyers drove Vancouver shipments to record highs. Indian refiners grabbed whatever Venezuelan crude they could find. When sophisticated traders stop negotiating on price and just need barrels — that's not a Wall Street story. That's a supply crisis. Plus: the "death of the petrodollar" headlines are everywhere right now. We slow down and look at what the data actually says — and it's not what the headlines suggest. Georgia Stuart breaks it all down in under 4 minutes.