More Living with Jim Brogan

Jim Brogan
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More Living with Jim Brogan is recognized throughout East Tennessee as the leading source of information for those who are already retired or those who are nearing retirement. Each week, Jim and his expert guests discuss news and issues like lifestyle, freedom, health and fitness, financial planning, investments, and more. Brogan Financial is a federally registered investment advisor located in Knoxville, Tennessee. https://broganfinancial.com/radio/

  1. Sep 19

    Dolly Parton's Children Hospital with Adam Cook

    Show Notes In this episode, host Jim Brogan interviews Adam Cook, Chief Development and Public Affairs Officer at Dolly Parton Children's Hospital. They discuss the historic partnership between the hospital and Dolly Parton, exploring her profound legacy and global impact. Adam highlights the hospital's nearly 90-year history as Tennessee's only independent freestanding children's hospital, serving predominantly rural communities. The conversation covers expanding programs, including oncology, pediatric residency, and behavioral health initiatives. Adam also emphasizes the ongoing need for community support through donations and volunteering, with upcoming events like a tribute text-to-give campaign and the annual Fantasy of Trees fundraiser.here Automatically Transcribed With Podsqueeze Jim Brogan 00:00:02 You're tuned into more Living with Jim Brogan, broadcast live from the Brogan Financial studios at Newstalk 9087, where old fashioned values, expert knowledge and genuine understanding come together to give you the retirement straight talk you deserve. Jim's a former National Advisor of the year recipient and a financial educator, and he's here today to talk about how you can live out the best years of your life. Jim and the Brogan financial team have been helping retirees and retirees across the southeast for over 20 years in their pursuit of financial independence. You can reach them during the week at 865862 6800. So sit back, relax and get ready to learn because more living with Jim Brogan starts now. Speaker 2 00:00:45 Hello East Tennessee, welcome to For Living with Jim Brogan, where it's all about living the best years in your of your life, your ways. You listen to Newstalk 987 wonky. And you know, for nearly 90 years Children's Hospital has provided specialized, family centered care to children throughout East Tennessee and beyond. And of course, now it has its historic partnership with Dolly Parton. Speaker 2 00:01:11 So the hospital has entered into a new, exciting chapter. And of course, with her recent passing, I thought it was a great opportunity to talk a little bit more about her legacy and how she's impacting, Dolly Parton's children's Hospital. we are today honored to have Adam Cook with us in studio. He is chief development and public affairs officer at Dolly Parton Children's Hospital. And today, he's going to share what her involvement means for the hospital in our East Tennessee community. So highlight some of the important programs that donor support makes possible, and really explain how you, as a listener, can become involved. Talk about Dolly Parton's legacy. We'll also discuss charitable giving opportunities and how to be smart about how we give to maximize impact. So good morning, Adam. Welcome to More Living. Great to have you back with us. Adam Cook 00:02:05 Thank you. Good morning. Happy to be here. Speaker 2 00:02:07 Absolutely. So, first, before we dive too much into into Dolly's impact, let's talk about your role. tell us exactly what you do as chief development and public affairs officer. Adam Cook 00:02:20 Yeah, it's a long title. what I'm blessed to do is be out in the community constantly talking about and waving the flag of Dolly Parton Children's Hospital. For folks that are interested in providing philanthropic gifts, we want to always tell the story of the hospital. So that's our marketing in a communication piece. I get to oversee government relations and work with local, state and national elected officials and talk about issues that are important to to children and families and health care across Tennessee. And then finally, we have a fantastic network of over 350 volunteers that really keep our doors open. They come regularly with a smile on their face. Do everything from checking patients in to wayfinding. Our hospital, values those volunteers. I get to work with them as well. Speaker 2 00:03:07 Well, the impact that children's has made over the years has been quite incredible. A lot of people, I don't think, really realize how, how great it is to have Children's Hospital right here in Knoxville. Now, you entered into this new era becoming Dolly Parton Children's Hospital. Speaker 2 00:03:24 How did this historic partnership come together? Adam Cook 00:03:28 Well, it is historic, and even today, I'm still pinching myself that we have that name. as you know, children's hospitals have been around for nearly 90 years. We are the state's only independent, freestanding children's hospital. There's only 31 across the country and one in Knoxville. Yeah. Awesome. So we were blessed to be able to look for partners in this region that are like minded to offer our mission, vision and values are taking care of children regardless of ability to pay. We see about 63% Medicaid population in a very rural part of Tennessee. So we started. Speaker 2 00:04:04 That's a big number, 63%. Adam Cook 00:04:06 It's a big number, and it costs nearly over $1 million a day to keep the hospital doors open at Dolly children's. So when you couple that with Medicaid payments, that's why our nonprofit status is so important. Because regardless of ability to pay, you walk through our doors, you'll receive care, expert care. World class care. And now we say with our Dolly Parton connection. Adam Cook 00:04:26 World class care. With with love and compassion. So we were blessed to look for folks in this region that were like minded to what our mission and vision and values have always been. And as we started talking, Dolly Parton's name just kept coming up, and they had been partners with us in the past, but it was really an opportunity for us to revisit a partnership with them. Talk about the like mindedness that she has around children and families and and rural communities where she grew up and what we were trying to achieve at Children's Hospital. And the more we talked about their interests, they really aligned with our interest. And as you start getting like minded in your thinking, then you start talking about goals and vision. And that's when the opportunity came about for a this collaboration that is unlike any other. It's transformational to our community, our region, and we're blessed to be a part of it with Dolly Parton. Speaker 2 00:05:21 Yeah. Talk about the impact of working with her and her team and their passion for the community, as many of the things, even the rural communities and then impacting kids. Adam Cook 00:05:33 Dolly Parton's team is phenomenal. from day one, they have emulated what I've always thought of Dolly Parton kind, generous, thoughtful, driven towards a goal. they have worked hand in hand with us along the way through conversation, through finalization of this collaboration, even now upon her death. Ways that we can continue to partner. This is a legacy that Dolly Parton Children's Hospital vows proudly to continue to shine her light, in East Tennessee and beyond. They've been wonderful to work with. She was a fantastic delight, as you would expect. I've never met someone that has been that was so gracious, so kind, and was always interested in what was going on at the hospital. She was always sharing the importance of this collaboration with us. And, she made you feel, heard. She made you feel important. And we knew that that she was and will continue to be the right partner for us at Dolly children's. Speaker 2 00:06:44 You know, we one of the things that was really, really eye opening to me through this whole process recently with her passing is, I mean, we know at least a lot of most of us know in East Tennessee the impact that she's had. Speaker 2 00:06:59 To see how much she's impacted people all over the world, not just the country. I mean, it's unbelievable. Some of the things that we've seen online because of just how special of a person she was and how she gave back and how she her perspective on life. She all she wanted to do was be a star. And then she so much appreciated it. And then she gave back so much. it was just very eye opening to me to see that impact. And then of course, UT is wearing the sticker on the back of the helmet. I mean, the legacy is just amazing. Adam Cook 00:07:34 One of the things that excited me the most in the role that I have is when we started having these conversations, it was quickly shared with us. She wants to be known. Of course, she's well known. And like you said around the world about her philanthropy and her love of humanity and her love for children. And, you know, I've grown up listening to Dolly Parton. Everyone has their own Dolly Parton story, but it really hit home with me because as we were chatting with their team and with the dolly, they say, well, with this collaboration, we'll come a halo effect, where she goes, light goes, and I believe that. Adam Cook 00:08:07 But as we were sharing this information back in February with our board of directors, we have a fantastic pediatric, physician, Doctor Quintero, who works with cystic fibrosis, fibrosis patients and things like that from the country of Colombia. And she raised her hand. She said, I just got to tell you a personal story, and I know she'll let me share this, she said. As a teenage girl growing up in the country of Colombia, when my friends and I would get together, we would listen to Dolly Parton records. Speaker 2 00:08:35 Wow. Adam Cook 00:08:36 And that hit me then. Yes, to your point, Jim, she is such a jewel to this East Tennessee region, but she is all around the world. I think she was the most recognized individual internationally even this past year. So to be able to say she's our our gal from this part of the country, and now she's part of Children's Hospital. It's Dolly Parton Children's hospital. It's something that we are blessed with and are excited about for decades to come. Speaker 2 00:09:03 It really is. And, you know, you and your leadership is really emphasized that it's a lot more

  2. Sep 12

    Social Security with Hamilton Morales

    Show Notes In this episode of More Living with Jim Brogan, host Jim Brogan welcomes Hamilton Morales, a Social Security strategist with 25 years of experience, to break down the complexities of Social Security. They discuss when to claim benefits, how spousal, ex-spouse, and widow benefits work, and the impact of taxes and employment on payments. Hamilton emphasizes treating Social Security as an income asset and stresses the importance of a personalized retirement income plan. The episode also covers Medicare's IRMAA surcharges and clarifies misconceptions about recent legislative changes affecting Social Security taxation. Automatically Transcribed With Podsqueeze Speaker 1 00:00:02 You're tuned into more Living with Jim Brogan, broadcast live from the Brogan Financial studios at Newstalk 9087, where old fashioned values, expert knowledge and genuine understanding come together to give you the retirement straight talk you deserve. Jim's a former National Advisor of the year recipient and a financial educator, and he's here today to talk about how you can live out the best years of your life. Jim and the Brogan financial team have been helping retirees and retirees across the southeast for over 20 years in their pursuit of financial independence. You can reach them during the week at 865862 6800. So sit back, relax and get ready to learn because more living with Jim Brogan starts now. Speaker 2 00:00:45 Hello East Tennessee, welcome to More Living with Jim Brogan, where it's all about living the best years of your life, your way as you listen to Newstalk 987 Sky. And for many retirees, Social Security represents one of the few sources of income that you can count on for the rest of your life, but deciding when to claim understanding how your benefits are calculated. Speaker 2 00:01:11 Coordinating benefits between spouses. How to understanding how ex-spouse benefits work both with ex-spouse benefits and widow benefits, and knowing how income taxes are continued employment may affect your checks can make Social Security far more complicated than it at first appears on the surface, so the decisions you make surrounding Social Security can have consequences that can last for decades. We see statistics most people don't claim at the optimal time. I want to kind of dive into what does that really mean? Because because we don't know when we're going to die. Right. And so that affects all this. But how can how can these rules apply to your individual retirement strategy. It really is so important. So today our guest is Hamilton Morales. Hamilton is going to help us break down Social Security and clear up some common misconceptions, and discuss what individuals and couples should be thinking about as they approach retirement. Hamilton is a senior vice president with Financial Independence Group. He is a social security strategist. he's been in the industry for 25 years now. He's been both a producer, a financial planner, an investment specialist, and a wealth preservation consultant, someone I've known for, I guess. Speaker 2 00:02:30 Hamilton. What's it been? I've known you for about 14 years now. Speaker 3 00:02:34 That sounds about right. Speaker 2 00:02:36 Good morning. Hamilton. Welcome to your living. Tell. How are you doing today? Speaker 3 00:02:40 I'm doing great. And it's great to hear your voice. Jim. I hope you're doing well. Speaker 2 00:02:45 I am Hamilton. you know, you you've been in the industry for about 25 years. So how did you decide to focus on being the Social Security guy? Speaker 3 00:02:56 Yeah. So interesting story there in the the company that I work for we we help and support independent financial advisors and we try to do that in many different ways. And one of the ways that we wanted to do that is by helping financial advisors to help their clients with Social Security, because quite honestly, where do people go? You know, you could pick up the phone and call Social Security, but, if anybody has ever tried to do that, I hope you have a whole lot of time on your hands, and you're not even sure if you're going to get the right answers or not. Speaker 3 00:03:31 And so most people don't know where to go. And most financial advisors don't have a good working knowledge of how Social Security works. And so, about 11 years ago, I dove into Social Security and went through all the training and, became a national Social Security advisor and all these different things. So I could be that person that people like you can go to when they need answers to tough Social Security questions. Speaker 2 00:04:01 And you talked about calling Social Security. They're actually forbidden by law to provide advice. And a lot of people don't realize that they can give you they can answer questions, they can give you facts, but they cannot give advice. Right? Speaker 3 00:04:14 Yeah. Well, not only that, if you and here's here's what people don't understand if you don't ask the question correctly. So you may want an answer to something, but you ask it in such a way that's going to give you a different answer. Social security can't ask you. Well, do you really mean this or are you trying to get, you know, they can't have this conversation with you. Speaker 3 00:04:39 They can just only answer the question that you asked. Whereas with me or you, we can kind of dive in a little bit more and say, okay, well, what do you what do you really want to know? And let's go from there to make sure we give you the right answer. Speaker 2 00:04:55 Absolutely. let's, let's let's start big picture. Hamilton. there continues to be a lot of concern about the long term financial health of Social Security. And I don't want to spend too much time on this because we don't have a crystal ball. We don't know the future. how someone that is approaching retirement, how how do you advise them to approach those concerns when making a claiming decision? And should the possibility of future changes influence whether someone claims earlier? Speaker 3 00:05:26 Yeah. Great question. So twofold on that. Number one, I think everybody all your listeners have heard the term or the saying too big to fail. Well, Social Security is too big to fail. It is one of the largest, pieces of the federal budget. Speaker 3 00:05:44 And so for the federal government to allow that to collapse, I just don't see it happening now. What does that mean? Well, that means there's got to be some changes. When will those changes happen? Well, they better happen by 2033 or 2032, right? So for people who are looking at cleaning now, what I would tell them is first and foremost, this is the most important thing is you must have an income plan in place or to be working on an income plan, because how can you know for sure when the best time to turn Social Security on is for you in your particular situation? If you don't have a plan in place, you just can't. And so whatever that plan says, that's when you turn it on. And I would not give much thought to what's going to happen in the future, because typically the way these things work, once you have your your benefits turn on those people are going to be grandfathered in and you're not going to see much, if any changes for people who are already taking Social Security. Speaker 3 00:06:50 Those of us that are going to be taking it on later, that it's going to affect. Speaker 2 00:06:55 Yeah. One of the things I like to say Hamilton and you know, I don't know if you'll agree with this, but I you know, I think if somebody is over 60 years old, they're pretty safe. And I don't think they should be making election decisions based on concerns about Social Security viability in the future. I think if you're between 50 and 60, which I am, I think, we're kind of in this zone where maybe, you know, we may see some changes. We may not. Now, if you're under 50, I think there's probably going to be some fundamental changes. But even somebody like my daughter, who just got her MBA a year and a half ago and is working now, she's 26, I believe some level of Social Security will be available for her. It just may look different. What are your thoughts with what I just said. Speaker 3 00:07:42 Man? I think you hit the nail on the head and I completely agree. Speaker 3 00:07:45 I think those of us that are between 50 and 59, we just don't know. We're. Yeah, we're in that limbo stage. Those that are younger than that, I think they're going to see the big changes. things like, increased in full retirement age. I fully believe it's going to go to 70. The question is at what? What year are they going to be looking moving forward? Who's it going to affect? Yeah, absolutely. You know Jim, here's the biggest thing. And nothing against baby boomers love the baby boomers right. but unfortunately fortunately unfortunately depending on you look at it that the big issue right now because we have what what's the statistic like 10,000 baby boomers a day that are retiring. Okay, here's the issue. You've got these 10,000 a day that are retiring. We don't have enough people entering the workforce as they are exiting the workforce to, to to deal with that. And right now we're at a 3 to 1 ratio so that we have three workers paying into Social Security for every one person who's taking the benefit. Speaker 3 00:09:00 That is going to quickly go to 2 to 1 because of how many baby boomers that are retiring every day, versus how many people are going into the workforce paying into the system. So it's it's it's fairly bleak. Something's got to happen for sure. Speaker 2 00:09:16 Yeah. Back when Social Security is interesting, you bring that up back when Social Security was passed and it and it really started, they started cutting checks in 1940. It was like 42 to 1 or 43 to 1. So in other words, every one beneficiary taking Social Security, you had 40/40 people paying into the system. Now, as you said, it's it's it's less than 3

  3. Sep 5

    The Art of Editorial Cartooning with Charlie Daniel - Originally Aired on 09/14/2024

    Show Notes In this episode of More Living with Jim Brogan, host Jim Brogan interviews Charlie Daniel, a legendary editorial cartoonist whose six-decade career with Knoxville newspapers produced over 20,000 cartoons. Charlie shares stories about discovering his passion for cartooning, his time in the U.S. Marines, and creating the beloved comic strip Rosie's Diner. Now 94, he stays active by swimming four days a week and cherishing time with great-grandchildren. The episode also features a "Dollars and Cents" segment discussing the differences between wills and living trusts, highlighting the importance of proper estate planning and beneficiary designations. Automatically Transcribed With Podsqueeze Jim Brogan 00:00:03 You're tuned in to More Living with Jim Brogan, broadcast live from the Brogan Financial studios at Newstalk 9087, where old fashioned values, expert knowledge and genuine understanding come together to give you the retirement straight talk you deserve. Jim's a former National Advisor of the year recipient and a financial educator, and he's here today to talk about how you can live out the best years of your life. Jim and the Brogan financial team have been helping retirees and retirees across the southeast for over 20 years in their pursuit of financial independence. You can reach them during the week at 865862 6800. So sit back, relax and get ready to learn because More living with Jim Brogan starts now. Speaker 2 00:00:48 Hello, East Tennessee, and welcome to All Living with Jim Brogan, where it's all about living the best years of your life your way. You're listening to Newstalk 987. And you know, even though caricature, art and satire have existed all throughout human history, our modern notion of political cartoons only began to appear in 18th century Europe. Humor and satire in the form of editorial cartoons have long been used to convey what is happening, both in the community and the political landscape. Speaker 2 00:01:20 Knoxville legend Charlie Daniel is known for his work as an editorial cartoonist for over six decades. His editorial cartoons have been a commentary on what is happening in the world by capturing a moment in time, whether public, political or social, steeped in humor and satire. And, you know, I grew up in Knoxville, been here all my life. And as a kid growing up, I always loved. And then even as an adult, I kept, well, even more so as an adult because I understood the humor a little bit better. But it was always a highlight to see his cartoons. He was born in Richmond, Virginia. He grew up in Weldon, North Carolina. He was a private in the U.S. Marines. Thank you for your service, sir. And studied political science at the University of North Carolina, where he began drawing the daily Tar Heel campus newspaper in 1955. Charlie was hired by the Knoxville Journal in 1958, and thus began his profession as an editorial cartoonist, and when the journal closed in 1992, he did move over and was hired by the Knoxville News Sentinel, where he remained until retiring in early 2019. Speaker 2 00:02:28 Sir, it's a great honor to have you. Welcome to More Living. Charlie Daniel 00:02:32 Well, thank you, Jim. It's great. Great to be here. Speaker 2 00:02:34 It's great to have you. As I say, I remember, you know, all really almost all of my life. Flipping to the section of the paper looking for the comic strip as a kid, of course, you know, it was peanuts. Archie. Beetle Bailey were there to start my day. First off, Charlie, how did you get interested initially in drawing cartoons? Charlie Daniel 00:02:57 Oh, it's a God thing. It was just, And like you, I love the funny papers, and and I like to copy them. And that was my heart training with copying, Krazy Kat and Little Abner and Dick Tracy. And so it's just the opposite. Cartoonists are born. Not made. I always thought so. Speaker 2 00:03:20 So you, as a kid, just would start imitating and drawing those. Oh, yeah. Those same cartoons. Charlie Daniel 00:03:25 Definitely. Speaker 2 00:03:26 That's great. what is the difference? Talk to us about the difference between a regular cartoon or a comic strip versus an editorial cartoon. Charlie Daniel 00:03:37 Well, I personally think they all make, a social commentary. You know, Schulz was fantastic on making social commentary with peanuts, and he surreptitiously got, religion snuck in, and then he was fantastic. So I I don't, I don't I don't really see a great difference between them. Speaker 2 00:04:01 There's always a sliver even in the. Even in the what we would think of as the comic strip. Charlie Daniel 00:04:07 When. When I was in college, Pogo and Little Abner was totally social commentary. And, you know, I, I was greatly influenced by Walt Kelly and and Pogo. I, I came nowhere close to imitating his his great artistic style. I was more, in the line of, Schultz and and and Herriman and Krazy Kat. That kind of odd. But, I love the social commentary that that Walt Kelly did with with peanuts. Speaker 2 00:04:45 Absolutely. How in a typical week, how many cartoons would you typically draw, and then how many of those would actually make it to print? Charlie Daniel 00:04:56 I would usually do 3 or 4 ideas a day because there was so much going on. Charlie Daniel 00:05:03 You know, you look at the paper and, and you're just making comments about whatever's going on. And then I would, go in and and show them to the editor and we'd pick one the run the next day. So I, we figured out that I had actually published about well over 20,000 cartoons and, they they had the most of them. I had the UT library in there. I gave, whatever cartoons were left that hadn't already given away. I gave to UT library and they had digitizing them. So you can go online and and go back to 1958 and see some not too well drawn Cartoons, but. Speaker 2 00:05:57 Well, it's amazing. So if you drew 4 or 5 a day, you were in basically you got with your editor and you picked one of them. So what happened to all the others? Did you save all those others or did they end up in the trash bin? Charlie Daniel 00:06:11 Oh, I recycled them. Oh. Oh, yeah. They would be in the pile the next day too. Charlie Daniel 00:06:17 So basically the ones I like. Speaker 2 00:06:19 So editorial cartoons, they, they do have a certain look. And you said you mentioned yours is kind of your style is from the artistic side, a little bit more like Schulz. but it's a way to communicate what is happening in the community and in the world. What initially drew you to the newspapers? Was it was it literally the comic strips when you were a kid? Is that what really drew you in? Charlie Daniel 00:06:45 Oh. Oh, yeah. And then and then when I, I went in the Marines and I got out and got married and went back to, Chapel Hill. And, we moved in next door to a guy working his way through med school. His name was Jim Kiley, and one of the jobs he has was with the Daily Tar Heel. And he. He saw the doodles I kept doing because whenever I picked up a pen or pencil, I automatically start drawing. And so he took me down to the Daily Tar Heel, and they said if I would draw cartoons, they would run them. Charlie Daniel 00:07:28 And so the guy I was, I was in business school at the time. And then I decided, if I was going to draw, political cartoons, I maybe ought to know something. So I switched to, political science. And so the next three years, I drew cartoon for the Daily Tar Heel and and studied political science. Speaker 2 00:07:55 And it's not just artistic ability. I mean, you've really got to have a shrewd, you know, to do satire. Charlie Daniel 00:08:01 Oh. Speaker 2 00:08:02 Really? Charlie Daniel 00:08:03 Yeah. Yeah. I, I was I was once told by a cartoonist that the drawing is 10% and the idea is 90%. Speaker 2 00:08:12 Absolutely. Charlie Daniel 00:08:13 So, you know, if, if you've got great ideas and you draw sick people, it works. So. Speaker 2 00:08:20 Absolutely. I agree with that. Now as a freshman. Well, some people may not know about you as a freshman at North Carolina. You were you played football. Charlie Daniel 00:08:28 I originally went to Carolina on a football scholarship. And, you were supposed to keep your grades up to level A, and my grades were level C, and so I was I was getting drafted. Charlie Daniel 00:08:45 And so, this this marine gunny sergeant came in to the, induction Santa looking for a few good men. And my ego said, here I am. And the next thing I knew, I was a I was a marine and still I am so. Speaker 2 00:09:04 But in football you played offensive line. Charlie Daniel 00:09:07 I was very offensive lineman. Speaker 2 00:09:10 Yeah. You don't look. You don't look. Charlie Daniel 00:09:12 I was £195. Speaker 2 00:09:14 Offensive guard. Charlie Daniel 00:09:15 Yeah. Speaker 2 00:09:16 Yeah. Charlie Daniel 00:09:16 And I was good. Yeah. Speaker 2 00:09:19 You were crafty. Charlie Daniel 00:09:20 Yeah. Well back, back then, you know, gods were, about £200 or something and tackled the war 240 and now chilies are 240, so, Speaker 2 00:09:34 Yeah. Yeah, it is, it's it's amazing. but you had to be crafty, though, at 195 and, of course. What did they say? Low man wins. Charlie Daniel 00:09:43 Yeah, well, I was quick, too, you know. Speaker 2 00:09:45 I'll be. Charlie Daniel 00:09:46 It. Yeah. See, when I, I was good at the senior in high school, I went to Fort King and Military Academy to play football, and then I went a post-graduate year to play more football, and that's when I got scholarship offers from all over and I went to USC. Speaker 2 00:10:07 So after the freshman year, you got drafted, went to the Marine Corps. How long did you serve in the Marine Corps? Charlie Daniel 00:10:12 two years. Two. Speaker 2 00:10:13 And then you came back and went back to North Carolina? Charlie Daniel 00:10:15 Yeah, came back and got married

  4. Aug 29

    How to Plan for Uncertainty

    In this episode of More Living with Jim Brogan, financial advisor Jim Brogan shares practical strategies for navigating economic uncertainty in retirement. He covers the importance of maintaining a liquid emergency fund, recommending at least $20,000 or 5–10% of total assets in cash. Jim also emphasizes budgeting, tracking spending, and diversifying investments based on time horizons. Additional topics include managing debt—particularly mortgages and credit cards—and proactive tax planning, including Roth conversions. His overarching message: thoughtful preparation builds financial resilience, helping retirees maintain stability and peace of mind regardless of market conditions. utomatically Transcribed With Podsqueeze Jim Brogan 00:00:02 You're tuned into more Living with Jim Brogan, broadcast live from the Brogan Financial studios at Newstalk 9087, where old fashioned values, expert knowledge and genuine understanding come together to give you the retirement straight talk you deserve. Jim's a former National Advisor of the year recipient and a financial educator, and he's here today to talk about how you can live out the best years of your life. Jim and the Brogan financial team have been helping retirees and retirees across the southeast for over 20 years in their pursuit of financial independence. You can reach them during the week at 865862 6800. So sit back, relax and get ready to learn because More living with Jim Brogan starts now. Speaker 2 00:00:46 Hello East Tennessee, welcome to More Living with Jim Brogan, where it's all about living the best years of your life your way. You're listening to Newstalk 987 Waukee. And today I want to talk a little bit about uncertainty And you know, how can we plan for uncertainty? Uncertainty is a regular way of life. Especially when it comes to the economy in our and particularly the markets. Speaker 2 00:01:12 How do we plan for this to create a better financial future? You know, it's really become a new normal in today's economic landscape. We've had certainly market volatility. There are continued inflationary concerns. There are shifting job markets. And it has many people questioning their financial security. Recent economic indicators have sparked discussions about a potential recession, with market fluctuations and expert predictions making headlines. What do we make of that and where do we need to be cautious with how we interpret that? You know, whether a recession materializes or not. Building financial resilience is essential for navigating uncertain times. So by implementing strategic financial habits and making informed decisions. You can protect yourself from economic downturns while positioning yourself for growth when opportunity arises. So let's explore some practical strategies to reset your financial foundation, strengthen your economic resilience, and create a more secure future regardless of what the economy throws your way. So you know, today we're going to talk about recession ready strategies. How how do you prepare for financial uncertainty. We're going to talk about smart borrowing. Speaker 2 00:02:32 How do we manage debt before retirement and during retirement. And we'll talk about some tax planning tips. And how does that relate to things like Medicare premium and Social Security taxation. How's all that stuff connected in retirement? So let's dive in. Preparing for financial uncertainty and economic downturns. You know, it's interesting because a lot of the data out there, when we see survey data, how do you feel about the economy? You know, a lot of people seem to be very worried. we would call that soft data. You know, getting people's perceptions and opinions. We know investor sentiment is kind of low right now. We also know economic. When we look at economic indicators over time, things like, you know, consumer sentiment, really actually working an inverse relationship to what markets do. So usually when in other words, usually when consumer sentiment is low, usually it's followed by periods of economic prosperity and stock market growth. Now that doesn't mean that's what's going to happen this time. But we are seeing hard data support that consumer spending is strong. Speaker 2 00:03:55 Companies are making money. Now, it is true that the wealthiest are driving a lot of that economic growth. So there there are things to be thinking about, but how likely is it and what are the realities of recession? So first let's look at the data. Some of this soft data, as I mentioned it in our in a recent survey from a firm, a firm called a firm, it shows that 86% of respondents feel economic uncertainty, and 58%, however, do not think that the US will avoid recession. So in other words, the bulk of Americans think we are going to see a recession and they're driving those beliefs are driving. Half of those who took part in that poll to save cash for emergencies. And most people think that the uncertainty will last for the next ten months. And they're taking steps. Things like avoiding credit card interest. Focusing on elements of their finances that they control rather than external factors. So it's almost like Americans of all ages are actually adopting the kind of strict controls of their finances that retirees on a fixed income do all the time. Speaker 2 00:05:19 With a strong focus on avoiding surprise fees on purchases, controlling costs, wanting certainty on the timing and the amount of their bills. And so there's a lot of wisdom to be learned, I think, in considering. You know, how you prepare for retirement, even if you're 15, 20 years from retirement, you know, if you have a fixed income, how can you batten down the hatches, so to speak, and prepare for economic uncertainty? So let's go through a few essentials. One is the, of course, the emergency fund. Now in our working years, we call it an emergency fund. I like to call it rainy day money. You know, especially in retirement, because the purpose is a little bit different. You know, when you're in your working life, you're planning for emergencies. Like if you were to get laid off, you know, you're looking at, you know what? If earned income goes away for some period of time. When you're retired, you're earned. You you have no earned income. Speaker 2 00:06:23 And retirement is all about creating income certainty. Certainly Social Security is part of that. Investment income is part of that. How we structure investments to support income. The point is we're not worried about, you know, well, what if I get laid off and I have to look for new employment? We're planning for being permanently unemployed when we're retired and replacing our earned income with unearned income, which is what all these other income sources are in retirement. So when we're in our working years, you know, a good rule of thumb, you'll hear having at least having 3 to 6 months of living expenses in emergency cash. And I think those are pretty good numbers. I certainly would towards six months, especially if you're a dual income family. and if you're a single income household, frankly, you should really have more, because certainly a dual income has more margin. Usually, if one of you gets laid off, you should include some non-discretionary expenses in your calculations for your living expenses. I mean, you're going to, you know, you are going to tighten your budget, but you're, you know, you still have to you're still probably going to eat out some. Speaker 2 00:07:45 You're probably still going to, you know, drive and do different things. You may to take more, you know, more affordable Vacations and things like that. but you definitely are going to cut back. now, when you're, when you're retired. You know, I don't like thinking of it as how many months of expenses because you're not worried about losing or losing earned income. I like to think of it as a percentage of your total assets, and you're in specifically your investment assets. And a good rule of thumb is 5 to 10%. You know, 5% would be ideal. you know, if it's 5% of your life savings, you know, that's not a huge amount of money to be sitting in liquid investment alternatives, cash equivalents, that you can get to at any time. And cash equivalents. Now, you can get around 4% interest on high yield savings, government money markets, things like that. But a good rule of thumb 5%. If you have to go up to ten because you have a lower investment base. Speaker 2 00:08:57 I mean, I think every retiree ought to have probably 20,000 in emergency cash reserves. So I think of it in those kinds of terms. Likewise, if you've got a high net worth, it's okay to have 3 or 4% in cash reserves. Just make sure you're you're you are earning around 4%. It's not just all sitting there at a bank making absolutely nothing. Talk to your bank or your credit union. What do they offer in terms of high yield savings? Now this is a a little bit of a sticking point for me with banks because if they have high yield savings you can make around 4%. You know, why aren't they telling you about that? Why do you have to ask about it in order to find out about it? But bottom line is there is some simplicity with having your high yield savings, your emergency fund at wherever your banking relationship is. Now, the reality is there are some great resources. You know, online there are more and more proliferation of FDIC insured banks that are that don't have brick and mortar stores, their online banks there, as I say, they're FDIC insured, and you can easily move money back and forth between the online bank and your local bank or credit union. Speaker 2 00:10:23 So all of those things are are easy to do. One good resource for that is bank rate. Again, Bankrate.com. It'll tell you kind of what's going on around the country with interest rates, CD rates, treasuries, borrowing rates on mortgages and things like that. So that's a good resource. But the bottom line is

  5. Aug 22

    Long-Term Care with Alecia Barnette

    Show Notes In this episode of More Living with Jim Brogan, host Jim Brogan welcomes Alicia Barnett, Senior Vice President of the Care Planning Department at Financial Independence Group, to discuss long-term care planning. With nearly 30 years of experience, Alicia explains what long-term care involves, common misconceptions, and its emotional impact on families. The conversation covers care costs, Medicare and Medicaid limitations, and planning options including asset-based policies. Both emphasize that proactive planning protects not only finances but also family relationships, with Alicia noting that long-term care can tear families apart rather than bring them together. utomatically Transcribed With Podsqueeze Jim Brogan 00:00:02 You're tuned into more Living with Jim Brogan, broadcast live from the Brogan Financial studios at Newstalk 987, where old fashioned values, expert knowledge and genuine understanding come together to give you the retirement straight talk you deserve. Jim's a former National Advisor of the year recipient and a financial educator, and he's here today to talk about how you can live out the best years of your life. Jim and the Brogan financial team have been helping retirees and retirees across the southeast for over 20 years in their pursuit of financial independence. You can reach them during the week at 865862 6800. So sit back, relax and get ready to learn because More living with Jim Brogan starts now. Speaker 2 00:00:45 Hello East Tennessee, welcome to More Living with Jim Brogan, where it's all about living the best years of your life your way as you tune in to Newstalk 987. And today I'm going to talk about something that many families know they should plan for, but often we put it off until we forced. We're forced to deal with it, and that is having a true need for long term care. Speaker 2 00:01:10 What is long term care? What? What qualifies as it? How much can it cost? Who pays for it? And most importantly, how can you prepare now rather than having to make difficult decisions during a crisis today? Joining me is a long time friend of mine, Alicia Barnett. Alicia is senior vice president and care planning department for Financial Independence Group, a national company over in Charlotte, North Carolina. she's actually been into our office to speak with our clients, for client events. And she brings valuable experience and insight into long term care and the options available to individuals and families. Really one of the best I've ever heard talking about the needs and how to how to plan for those needs. Alicia. Good morning. Welcome to More Living. It's great to have you with us again. Alicia Barnett 00:02:02 Good morning Jim. Happy to be here. Speaker 2 00:02:05 Hope everything's going well over in Charlotte. Are you in Charlotte right now? Alicia Barnett 00:02:10 Sure am, yes, sir. Speaker 2 00:02:11 Okay, great. Well, before we dive in, tell our listeners a little about yourself and what led you to kind of focus on and the long term care space? Alicia Barnett 00:02:21 Absolutely, Jim, long term care is a passion of mine. Alicia Barnett 00:02:24 I've been in the industry for 29 years. my dad was in the health insurance business, and I always said I would never follow in his footsteps. But here I am, 29 years later. I have seen, family members, my own personal family members go through unexpected care needs. And it really drove me to want to try to help other people, because most people aren't prepared for the unexpected health care needs and the unexpected long term care event. And it's really been my passion to go out and help clients and financial professionals really figure out how to mitigate the risk when it comes to long term care planning. Speaker 2 00:03:04 You know, it's the landscape to me has changed a lot over the last 25 years, I know. And the reason I'm saying 25 years is that was when my parents were hitting 70. And back then, you know, a lot of people just wanted to avoid it, you know? My father was the same way it was. Well, Jim, I'm not I'm not going to need that. Speaker 2 00:03:26 I think that we it's gotten to the point where we all have been impacted by somebody we know and love, that has been impacted by the need for long term care. So do you deal with that as much as more anymore? As much anymore? Or is it more, you know, how do we everybody understands it's a real risk. And how do we plan for this? Speaker 4 00:03:47 I think a lot of people still think it won't happen to them, even though, certainly they've had experiences. And I think we're hearing more and more about long term care events within our own personal families, especially being in the sandwich generations. As an example, right now, my mom's 82, but I have 19 year old twin boys, so I'm seeing it firsthand with my mother. when you get old enough, you can sometimes become frail and need assistance. And I, you know, I'm in my prime working years. I'm sending my kids off to college and trying to, you know, manage both of those activities. Speaker 4 00:04:24 And I think we're seeing that all across the country. and, of course, 70% of us are going to need some type of care, and 1 in 5 will need care for five or more years. So it's front and center right now. I truly believe people are seeing it, and more and more are trying to plan against that risk and make sure their families don't go through what I've experienced in my lifetime. Speaker 2 00:04:46 Well, in our experience that as well, with both my parents, when my kids were right around, when my oldest child, was in middle school and then when my youngest child got into writers around high school and into college, each of them independently needed long term care. the 1 in 5 that need care for five or more years. I'm going to come back around to that because I think that's really worth diving into. But before we do, Alicia, when people hear the word or the term long term care, what exactly does that mean? Speaker 4 00:05:21 Well, usually the first thing people think of as nursing home, but that's not it at all. Speaker 4 00:05:25 It's it's about really needing assistance one day with your activities, a daily living. And that would be things like bathing and dressing and just getting around, transferring and moving one from one place to the other. Eating constant consonants and toileting. So it's really about having someone come in and help us when those things start to disappear, when we actually need care. Speaker 2 00:05:50 We cannot do those functions all on our own. Speaker 4 00:05:54 Oh absolutely not. Speaker 2 00:05:55 So what are some of the most common misconceptions or myth that you see when it comes to long term care? Speaker 4 00:06:02 I think the really the biggest myth or misconception is my family will take care of me. And I've always said this when I talk about long term care, as long term care doesn't bring families together at tears, families apart. And I say this jokingly when I talk about the myth of or misconception of my family will take care of me well. Do they? Do they know that? And again, it's kind of a joke, but. But it's not. Most people think that their family will step in. Speaker 4 00:06:30 And we love our parents, right? So we probably will. But typically it's the oldest child and closest proximity. if you're married, your spouse may take care of you, or maybe they feel obligated to, or their financial situation will dictate it. And you know that's better than anyone. But taking care of the chronically ill can make you chronically ill. So my mother took care of my stepdad for eight months a few years ago, and it nearly put her in the hospital. And of course, now she's not married. My my dad passed away. And if she needs assistance, it's going to be me. I live an hour away. I have an older brother who's ten minutes away, a sister who lives in the mountains, and she's about 4.5 hours away, and a little brother who's around five hours. Well, she got sick. And of course, I went down every day for two weeks to make sure my mom was okay, to make sure, you know, she had food and I could put my arms around her and give her a big hug. Speaker 4 00:07:27 Just, you know, be there for her during that illness. you know, ask me, Jim, how many times my older brother, who lived ten minutes away, went to go help mom? Zero times, you know, and I and I, you know, if he was here, he might throw a water bottle at me. But the truth is, typically one person takes on more more of the, the, the assistance than other. And it causes, it causes strife in the family. Right. You know, again, it doesn't bring families together. It tears families apart. what's what's it going to look like when we're sitting at the dinner table? When I'm actually taking care of mom? There might be some resentment there. It's really all about the family first and and the finances second, if that makes sense. Speaker 2 00:08:09 Well, well. And you just said you're. You know what you said about your brother. You said he'd throw a bottle at you. Well, water bottle. I know you're tongue in cheek, but but it it can tear families apart. Speaker 2 00:08:20 what typically causes someone to need. Like, does this usually happen from a major medical event, or does it usually happen gradually? Speaker 4 00:08:30 I you know, that's a loaded question. I think most of us know that if we live long enough, we might become frail and need care. So yes, you have things like strokes and, you know, medical events that may cause you to need assistance. But really, what we're seeing is we're we're living longer. We're living longer, healthier lives. And what that means is, if we live long enough, Eventually our bodies are going to give out. So it's more of a gradual thing, in my opinion, and in the most part. And certainly we're seeing a lot more cognitive issues. And, you know, in fact, 12, 12.7 million Americans are living

  6. Aug 15

    Your Health is Your Wealth

    Show Notes In this episode of More Living with Jim Brogan, host Jim Brogan welcomes Andrew Henderson, owner of Fitness Together in Knoxville, to discuss practical fitness strategies for adults, particularly retirees. Andrew shares insights on building lasting fitness habits, debunking myths like needing hour-long workouts, and emphasizing strength training, consistent movement, and proper sleep. He encourages listeners to start small, find enjoyable activities, and prioritize internal health markers over scale numbers. The conversation highlights how physical fitness directly supports independence, confidence, and overall quality of life—reinforcing Jim's core message that good health is essential to truly enjoying retirement. Automatically Transcribed With Podsqueeze Jim Brogan 00:00:02 You're tuned into more Living with Jim Brogan, broadcast live from the Brogan Financial studios at Newstalk 9087, where old fashioned values, expert knowledge and genuine understanding come together to give you the retirement straight talk you deserve. Jim's a former National Advisor of the year recipient and a financial educator, and he's here today to talk about how you can live out the best years of your life. Jim and the Brogan financial team have been helping retirees and retirees across the southeast for over 20 years in their pursuit of financial independence. You can reach them during the week at 865862 6800. So sit back, relax and get ready to learn because More living with Jim Brogan starts now. Jim Brogan 00:00:45 Hello East Tennessee, welcome to More Living with Jim Brogan, where it's all about living the best years of your life, your way. As you listen to Newstalk 987 w KCRW. You know, we all know we should exercise more. We should eat a little bit better, get more sleep, and take better care of ourselves. But knowing it and actually doing it are two very different things. Jim Brogan 00:01:11 And you know, your health is your wealth. So today we're going to make fitness simple. No crazy diets, no impossible workout routines, and no guilt, just practical advice that can help you feel stronger, have more energy, stay active as you get older, and hopefully enjoy life a whole lot more, which is really the central theme of this show. Living the best years of your life your way. Our guest today is my good friend Andrew Henderson. He is the owner of Fitness Together here in Knoxville. We're going to talk about what really works when it comes to getting healthy, and just as importantly, how to make it last. Andrew, it's great to have you with us. Thank you for coming in for calling in today. Andrew Henderson 00:01:55 Good morning Jim. Thanks for having me. Jim Brogan 00:01:57 Yes, sir. Andrew. Tell us a little bit about your story and your background. How did you get into fitness and and talk about starting up fitness together? I guess it's been what, 20 years? Almost. Andrew Henderson 00:02:10 Yeah. next year will be 20 years for the North Shore location. And the Farragut location was actually opened up 20 years, this year. So. Yep. It's been it's been a long ride. I can't believe it's been that that long, but, So, yeah, to answer your question, Jim, you know, I came to Knoxville, probably 30 years ago or so to start grad school, and, I was a starving graduate student and, took a little weekend class and personal training and started just by putting flyers up around campus and training people at the rec center or at apartment gyms and, you know, got hired on by a local gym and spent ten years there. I found that I really liked helping people. That's why I originally came to the sports psychology program, was to help others. But I found that personal training and fitness was really a way that I could do it in a hands on way for people who were already motivated to make a change. And so I've been the personal trainer for over 30 years now, and, it's about on how to do and, you know, I'm really fortunate. Andrew Henderson 00:03:14 We've got four studios, close to 20 trainers, over 300 clients in Knoxville. And, it's been a blessing. Jim Brogan 00:03:22 Well, you say it's the only thing you know how to do. I'd say you know how to run a business, too. Andrew Henderson 00:03:27 Yeah, well, I learned I learned that along the way, for sure, with some help. so. Yeah, you know, but I think because I had the background in training, I kind of knew how to look for other talented trainers and helped them develop. And, so, yeah, it's all part of the package for sure. Jim Brogan 00:03:45 So after working with so many different people over all these years, Andrew, what have you learned about why some people succeed at getting healthy while others struggle? Andrew Henderson 00:03:56 Well, that's a great question. I think a lot of it has to do with how mentally committed they are to to truly becoming healthy and realizing that shortcuts don't work in the long run. and also, I think having the support system around them, you know, having a family that encourages them, having a accountability. Andrew Henderson 00:04:18 Accountability. but but really understanding that, you know, the time and money that they spend in their fitness is truly an investment to add on quality and years to their lives. it's a certain mindset where if we can help them to create the habit of exercise and the discipline to do it on the days that they don't want to do it. those are the people who really get the most out of the program and who really are able to flip that switch and make that lifelong change. Jim Brogan 00:04:46 Andrew, what do you think most people get wrong about fitness? Multiple Speakers 00:04:53 I think some people. Andrew Henderson 00:04:55 Think it's something that they, they, they need to. To do for a certain amount of time they need to lose £20. Rather than they need to become a healthier person who exercises for the rest of their life. I think they look at the short term goal rather than understanding. They have to change their who they are as a person. In some ways, they have to become a person who exercises and eats healthy in order to lose the £20 and not gain it. Andrew Henderson 00:05:22 And more importantly, you know, be healthy for life. I think some people get fixated on on fads and gimmicks that come and go, rather than really buckling down and committing to to do the things that that we know work in the long run. Jim Brogan 00:05:36 You know, you mentioned the scale. I want to lose X number of pounds. Should we stop making the scale? The star of the fitness conversation. Andrew Henderson 00:05:45 Yeah, absolutely. I think, you know, there is an argument to be made that people who are overweight have higher risks for certain diseases, and we don't want that. But I think sometimes people get so hung up on the number on the scale that, they get discouraged too quickly if the number doesn't move. I think we look at things like blood pressure, body composition. blood lipid profiles, really true health indicators. Whereas the number on the scale can fluctuate up or down just 2 or £3 in a week due to water weight, due to, you know, time of the month for certain women. Andrew Henderson 00:06:22 So, you know, the number moves up and down on the scale. but what what we really need to focus on is the internal health. lean muscle mass, strength, flexibility, your heart health, your lungs, all the things that are going to allow you to be a healthy weight, to have to come first before we worry about the weight itself. Jim Brogan 00:06:42 I think that's extremely. Well. Say it. I mean, we know we have a in the United States. We have an obesity epidemic, but it's the other things. The focus just on the scale can really lead us and can lead to things like food disorders and all kinds of things. And and we'll get into fitness here before long, here in our next segment. But how do you know? How does someone know when being a little out of shape is actually starting to affect your quality of life? Multiple Speakers 00:07:14 I think, you know. Andrew Henderson 00:07:15 Because you're no longer able to do or no longer enjoy the things that you used to do. You know, for example, we have some clients who play tennis. Andrew Henderson 00:07:25 And so, you know, when they're so sore that they can't play the store for a week after they play a couple of matches of tennis, that's not good because they're less likely to want to do it again. Or people who are out of breath now by going up and down the stairs. So those are little signs, you know, maybe maybe your jeans don't fit anymore. so you don't feel quite as good in your clothing, and I think it can kind of turn into I think sometimes people get discouraged by that. And they. And then it becomes a bigger problem. I think that the key is to hey, if you are an extra £10, let's let's nip that in the bud. If you are out of breath when you're going up and down the stairs and that's not normal, let's do something about it now before it becomes a bigger problem. Don't don't let don't let it snowball. Jim Brogan 00:08:09 Andrew, when we talk about fitness, you know, the federal physical activity guidelines recommend that adults aim for 150 to 300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week, plus muscle strengthening activity at least two days per week. Jim Brogan 00:08:25 And that sounds like a lot. But when you really break it down, 150 minutes is roughly 22 minutes a day. So, Andrew, if 20 or 25 minutes a day can make a meaningful difference, why do we get why do so many of us still believe we need an hour in the gym? Multiple Speakers 00:08:45 I think I think people are. Andrew Henderson 00:08:49 To their own fault, perfectionists. They feel like it has to be the perfect workout. They have to get everything done. I think part of it's that I think part of it is, education. People still don't do the math. They think 150 minutes a week, but they don't

  7. Aug 8

    Protecting What You've Built

    More Living with Jim Brogan

  8. Aug 1

    Knoxville Today With Mayor Glenn Jacobs

    Show Notes In this episode of More Living with Jim Brogan, host Jim Brogan interviews outgoing Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, who reflects on his eight-year tenure. Jacobs highlights key accomplishments, including job creation, major economic development projects, and maintaining low property taxes. He discusses priorities like infrastructure, smart growth through the Advance Knox initiative, school improvements, and balancing public safety with privacy concerns around Flock cameras. Jacobs also addresses fiscal challenges facing his successor. The episode concludes with Jim Brogan's financial advice segment, emphasizing the importance of long-term investing and not reacting to market volatility. Automatically Transcribed With Podsqueeze Jim Brogan 00:00:02 You're tuned into more Living with Jim Brogan, broadcast live from the Brogan Financial studios at Newstalk 9087, where old fashioned values, expert knowledge and genuine understanding come together to give you the retirement straight talk you deserve. Jim's a former National Advisor of the year recipient and a financial educator, and he's here today to talk about how you can live out the best years of your life. Jim and the Brogan financial team have been helping retirees and retirees across the southeast for over 20 years in their pursuit of financial independence. You can reach them during the week at 865862 6800. So sit back, relax and get ready to learn because More living with Jim Brogan starts now. Speaker 2 00:00:45 Hello East Tennessee, welcome to More Living with Jim Brogan, where it's all about living the best years of your life your way. This is Newstalk 987, and I'm thrilled to be joined today by Knox County Mayor Glenn In Jacob's. We'll talk about the responsibility of the mayor's office as he finishes up his last month as Knox County mayor. We'll talk about his experiences, what's going on in Knox County, what many of the opportunities are, and many of the challenges that go with that as we move forward here in Knoxville. Speaker 2 00:01:19 good morning, Mayor Jacobs. Welcome to More Living. Glenn Jacobs 00:01:23 Good morning, Jen. Thanks for having me on. Speaker 2 00:01:25 It's great to have you. Mayor Jacobs, what has been the most rewarding part of serving as Knox County mayor? Glenn Jacobs 00:01:34 The most rewarding part is having that feeling that you've been a small part of something constructive. you know, I think about, for instance, the green heck deal with the biggest manufacturing economic development project in county history and being part of that, of keeping taxes low so that people can keep more money in their pocket. some of the stuff that has happened surrounding the school system. Education, literacy. Encouraging skilled trades. All of those things. it's give me that feeling that you've been part of something that's going to make a difference in people's lives. Obviously very small parts. There's a lot of other folks doing that work as well in a bigger way. But nevertheless, that's really cool. Speaker 2 00:02:22 Yeah, I think that's a great word that you're recognizing other people. as we get into this interview, I do want to get into some of the things that are going on with growth and low taxation and things like that. Speaker 2 00:02:32 First, I do want to ask you, mayor, what have you learned about leadership since becoming mayor? Glenn Jacobs 00:02:41 You have to lead by example and also be a servant leader. something that struck me as one day I was in a bad mood, and I came to the office and I realized that everybody knew that I was in a bad mood. And they take their cues off of me, so I always have to have to, you know, be projected. I think things are good. and I can't show that I'm upset about something or mad about something or down about something, because that has an impact on everybody's mood and therefore their productivity. And also, I consider leadership, especially after this. Really, servant leadership is the only thing that works. And what I mean by that is not only am I a public service servant in a sense that I'm serving the people of Knox County, but, you know, as mayor, I don't go out and mow the grass. I don't fill the potholes. I don't do many of the things that we associate with local government. Glenn Jacobs 00:03:32 It's the people on the ground that do that. And one of my primary responsibilities is to ensure that they have the tools and the ability to do their job. Speaker 2 00:03:43 Mayor. Glenn Jacobs 00:03:45 In a way, I'm serving them in that respect. Speaker 2 00:03:48 Absolutely. How how would you how have you been able to stay connected to the needs and concerns of of Knox County residents in your tenure? Glenn Jacobs 00:03:56 Yeah. for that's one of the really advantageous things about local government, I think when especially when you get to the federal government and your district is so big and you spend so much time saying, Washington, D.C., you know, it's it's a little bit more difficult because you just removed whereas in this case, I'm immersed, absolutely immersed in everything going on. So whether it's talking with people, whether it's looking at the news, whether it's folks calling in. All of those things keep you as mayor and as other local officials very much connected what's going on in the local community? In fact, that's for me personally. That's sort of been one of the things that's been most neat about this job is I've learned a lot of stuff that otherwise I never would have known if I hadn't been in this position. Speaker 2 00:04:42 Knox County growth over your eight years, Mayor Jacobs has really been exceptional, and we've been able to do that without raising property taxes. Advance Knox has been one of your major legacy initiatives. What are some of the biggest priorities in Knoxville right now as we move forward? Glenn Jacobs 00:05:00 Well, obviously infrastructure is a big one. The what we're trying to do is Advance Knox, and that will continue at the next mayor. We still have the Unified Development Ordinance, which is more down into the nuts and bolts of land use. But one of the one of the things that we're really trying to do is ensure that we're making better use of existing, existing infrastructure. What we've done in the past, because of our zoning and land use policies, it really encouraged urban sprawl, which results in higher infrastructure costs because it means more miles of road that we have to not only build, but also maintain. And all of those things. So what we're trying to do is really funnel residential growth into the arteries that already exist, the four lane state routes, so that we don't have to keep on building roads all over the place, like like we've done in the past, as well as encouraging Retail out in the county. Glenn Jacobs 00:05:56 Our former zoning did not allow for retail businesses in many parts of the county. And so you look at a place like Hardin Valley where we have all this urban sprawl. But because of the zoning, we also couldn't have services out there that people like restaurants, just stores, all those sorts of things. So really, when I was talking about a town town center model, that's what it is, is having more out in the the county. not only do people have to not have to drive as much, which has an impact on congestion, but also it helps the county with sales tax receipts as well as higher property taxes from commercial businesses. So a lot of what went into advanced Knox is actually the thought of if we can utilize our infrastructure better, encourage retail out in areas of the county that currently can't, don't have it, that would have a big impact on our fiscal situation going forward. And we saw that with the consultants who we worked with to develop the advanced NOx plan, there was about a $8 million swing. Glenn Jacobs 00:07:05 I think, between doing things that we currently are and doing things the way that we decided to do for the positive, by the way. So yeah, infrastructure, it's the biggest issue, I think, on everyone's mind. And that's not just in Knox County, that's really across the state and across the country. Another one is how do we take advantage of the innovation economy, all the things happening in Oak Ridge that has an impact on us, not only say with nuclear energy, but also things like computational science, just the entire innovation sector. One of the I mentioned greentech earlier, you know, the reason I'm so excited about greentech is that's going to provide economic opportunity for people on the east side of the county that didn't exist before. So it's the same thing that we look across the country. I think that everyone deals with. You know, everyone wants, they want safe neighborhoods. They want good roads, and they want good schools. And it's no different in Knox County. Speaker 2 00:08:03 Is it kind of threading a needle a little bit between that line, between growth and expansion versus recognizing residential areas? And how do you walk that tightrope? Glenn Jacobs 00:08:15 Well, yeah, that's what it is. Glenn Jacobs 00:08:17 And that's what Vance Knox was all about, was really trying to ensure that we kept the character of our community intact, while also accommodating the growth that's happening here. that we're a great place to live. And that's why the growth is happening. You know, if no one's telling people, hey, or forcing folks to move here, they're doing it on their own accord because we're a great place. And as much as that can sometimes cause issues and challenges, I look at other parts of the country that have real problems, and those places in the country are the places that people are trying to get out of to come to places like Knox County, Tennessee. Speaker 2 00:08:57 We're visiting with Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs as he wraps up his eight years in office. And we're talking about some of the great growth initiatives that

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More Living with Jim Brogan is recognized throughout East Tennessee as the leading source of information for those who are already retired or those who are nearing retirement. Each week, Jim and his expert guests discuss news and issues like lifestyle, freedom, health and fitness, financial planning, investments, and more. Brogan Financial is a federally registered investment advisor located in Knoxville, Tennessee. https://broganfinancial.com/radio/

Information

  • Creator
    Jim Brogan
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Brogan Financial
  • Show Website
    More Living with Jim Brogan