Living Your Wealth, Today and Tomorrow

Infinity Financial Strategies
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Investing
  • Updated Biweekly

Hosted by Kelly Ennis, Founder and President of Infinity Financial Strategies, Living Your Wealth Today and Tomorrow is a podcast that explores enjoying the wealth you’ve built while planning for the future. If you’ve built your nest egg, always waiting for tomorrow to consider travel, free time, or a career pivot, this is for you! We’ll talk about strategies to minimize taxes, investing for the future, choosing a path to your work-optional life, and pursuing your future goals while enjoying your wealth today.

  1. 1d ago

    Beyond the Match: Vesting, Loans, and Accessing Your Retirement Money

    In this episode of Living Your Wealth: Today and Tomorrow, Kelly Ennis continues his series on employer retirement plans by examining the features that determine how money gets into your account and how you may be able to access it while still employed. Kelly breaks down common employer match formulas, explains how contribution timing and true-up provisions can affect the match you receive, and explores cliff and graded vesting schedules. He also compares retirement plan loans with in-service withdrawals, including their potential taxes, penalties, and trade-offs. The episode highlights why understanding the specific provisions in your employer’s plan can matter when making contribution, career, and financial decisions. [00:00:19] Introduction to the second episode in the employer retirement plan series [00:01:15] Money in, money out: match formulas, vesting schedules, loans, and in-service withdrawals [00:01:57] How employers choose which optional retirement plan features to offer [00:03:44] Understanding employer match formulas and why the specific structure matters [00:04:16] Dollar-for-dollar employer matches [00:04:32] Tiered match formulas and blended match rates [00:04:59] How stretch matches encourage higher employee contribution rates [00:05:49] Profit-sharing and non-elective employer contributions [00:06:18] How front-loading contributions can result in lost employer match dollars [00:07:11] How bonus timing can unintentionally accelerate annual retirement contributions [00:08:03] Why per-pay-period matching can create problems without a true-up provision [00:08:46] How a true-up provision can restore employer match dollars at year-end [00:09:13] Example of the potential cost of front-loading contributions without a true-up [00:10:32] Comparing evenly spaced and front-loaded contributions [00:13:32] How vesting determines what happens to employer contributions when you leave [00:14:09] How cliff vesting schedules work [00:14:35] How graded vesting schedules work [00:15:18] Finding your plan’s vesting schedule and understanding your current vested balance [00:16:02] What happens to unvested employer contributions when you leave [00:17:03] How vesting can affect the financial implications of changing jobs [00:18:19] Negotiating with a new employer to offset forfeited retirement benefits [00:19:15] Accessing retirement plan money while still employed [00:19:53] How retirement plan loans work [00:20:38] Potential advantages of borrowing from a retirement plan [00:21:46] Tax and investment-growth considerations of retirement plan loans [00:22:22] Risks of leaving an employer with an outstanding retirement plan loan [00:23:08] How in-service withdrawals differ from retirement plan loans [00:23:46] How employer plans can differ in their in-service withdrawal provisions [00:24:28] Comparing a $40,000 retirement plan loan with an in-service withdrawal [00:25:12] Taxes and potential penalties associated with an in-service withdrawal [00:26:28] Recap of match formulas, vesting, loans, and in-service withdrawals [00:26:51] Preview of Roth contributions, after-tax contributions, in-plan conversions, and investment options Links:   Follow Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ennis-cfp  Subscribe, review, and share the show to help others live their wealth today and tomorrow:  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfinityFinancialStrategies  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RKP0s0AO24KsLOqHe6ULD?si=f2f916d5f8964f2b   Key Points From This Episode

  2. 4d ago

    Beyond “Just Sign Up”: Understanding Your Employer Retirement Plan

    In this episode of Living Your Wealth: Today and Tomorrow, Kelly Ennis begins a four-part series examining employer retirement plans and how to decide whether they fit your financial situation. Kelly breaks down the fundamentals of 401(k), 403(b), and 457(b) plans, including their tax benefits, contribution limits, investment restrictions, and rules for accessing your money. He also explores the potential long-term impact of required minimum distributions, differences in 403(b) investment costs, and the unique early-access rules of governmental 457(b) plans. Through practical examples, Kelly shows why understanding the details of your specific plan is essential when deciding where your next dollar of savings should go.  Key Points From This Episode  [00:00:00] Show introduction  [00:00:20] Introducing the four-part series on employer retirement plans  [00:01:03] Why an employer retirement plan is a financial tool, not a measure of financial responsibility  [00:02:16] The roadmap for evaluating 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans throughout the series  [00:03:16] Key differences between 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans  [00:05:10] The central trade-off: tax benefits in exchange for restrictions on accessing and investing your money  [00:07:11] Factors that determine whether an employer retirement plan is the right tool for your next dollar of savings  [00:08:18] 2026 401(k) contribution limits, catch-up contributions, and employer matching  [00:10:19] Traditional versus Roth 401(k) contributions and the choice between paying taxes now or later  [00:11:34] How withdrawals from pre-tax retirement accounts are taxed as ordinary income  [00:12:59] Required minimum distributions and their potential impact on taxes and Medicare premiums  [00:14:34] Maria’s example and the long-term value of capturing an employer match  [00:15:46] How 403(b) plans differ from 401(k) plans  [00:16:24] How 403(b) investment menus, annuities, and fees can affect costs and liquidity  [00:17:41] Multiple-vendor 403(b) plans and the importance of comparing available options  [00:18:26] How different 403(b) cost structures can affect retirement savings over a 25-year career  [00:19:48] The 457(b) plan and its early-access distinction  [00:20:35] The separate contribution limit available when someone has both a 401(k) or 403(b) and a 457(b)  [00:21:13] The early-withdrawal penalty exception for governmental 457(b) plans  [00:22:27] Important differences between governmental and non-governmental 457 plans  [00:23:18] How 457(b) plans can offer greater flexibility after separation while restricting access during employment  [00:23:53] James’s early-retirement example and accessing a governmental 457(b) before age 59½  [00:24:50] How employer retirement plans can interact with a solo 401(k) for people with W-2 and self-employed income  [00:25:29] Previewing Episode 2 and its focus on how money gets into an employer plan and how it can be accessed      Links:     Follow Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ennis-cfp     Subscribe, review, and share the show to help others live their wealth today and tomorrow:     YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfinityFinancialStrategies     Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RKP0s0AO24KsLOqHe6ULD?si=f2f916d5f8964f2b

  3. Aug 22

    Your Wealth Shouldn't Be Graded on a Curve

    In this episode of Living Your Wealth: Today and Tomorrow, Kelly Ennis examines what the debate over grade inflation can teach us about measuring financial success. He explains the difference between grading on a curve and measuring mastery, then applies that distinction to wealth, lifestyle expectations, inflation, and financial planning. Kelly explores how social media, shifting comparison groups, and “context creep” can change what feels normal, even when your finances have improved. He also breaks down how to define “enough” based on financial stability, resilience, independence, and the life you actually want—rather than how your wealth compares with someone else’s._____________________________________________________________________[00:00:00] Introduction[00:01:09] Using grade inflation to examine the question of how much wealth is enough[00:03:26] Harvard’s grade distribution and the debate over whether grades should reflect mastery or ranking[00:06:23] Why retirement readiness depends on having enough, not outperforming a neighbor[00:09:43] How social media expands comparison groups and changes what feels financially normal[00:13:31] Distinguishing lifestyle improvement from lifestyle creep and “context creep”[00:16:37] Why personal financial goals are individual even though their prices are set by markets[00:20:18] How outperforming others can still leave you short of your own financial goals[00:21:27] Building a definition of enough through stability, resilience, independence, and choice[00:23:42] Building wealth beyond enough to create flexibility, generosity, resilience, and opportunity[00:27:53] Writing the “syllabus” for your financial life and honestly pricing your goals[00:30:25] How defining enough can either give you permission to spend or reveal financial weakness[00:35:06] The difference between financial ranking and financial masteryLinks: Follow Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ennis-cfp Subscribe, review, and share the show to help others live their wealth today and tomorrow: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfinityFinancialStrategies Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RKP0s0AO24KsLOqHe6ULD?si=f2f916d5f8964f2b

  4. Aug 1

    Social Security Isn’t Disappearing: What the 2032 Projection Really Means

    In this episode of Living Your Wealth: Today and Tomorrow, host Kelly Ennis addresses the concerns surrounding Social Security and the projected depletion of its retirement trust fund. Kelly explains how the pay-as-you-go system works, what the trust fund holds, and why depletion does not mean benefits will disappear. She reviews the 2026 Trustees report, the lessons of the 1983 reforms, and six potential policy changes lawmakers could consider. Kelly also provides different planning steps for current retirees, people approaching retirement, and younger workers, including stress-testing projected benefits and building financial flexibility.      ______________________________________________________________________    [00:00:00] Three different Social Security concerns for retirees, near-retirees, and younger workers  [00:02:00] How Social Security works as a pay-as-you-go program with a savings buffer  [00:03:34] How benefits are calculated using a worker’s highest 35 earning years  [00:06:35] What the Social Security trust funds hold and how Treasury securities work  [00:10:52] What the 2026 Trustees report says about the program’s long-term outlook  [00:11:27] Why projected trust fund depletion in 2032 does not mean benefits disappear  [00:14:36] How lawmakers addressed a similar Social Security funding crisis in the 1980s  [00:16:30] The size of the current funding gap and why waiting makes it harder to fix  [00:17:49] Six policy options for improving Social Security’s long-term solvency  [00:21:30] Planning guidance for people already receiving Social Security benefits  [00:23:03] How people nearing retirement can stress-test their plans with reduced benefits  [00:25:52] Why younger workers should treat Social Security as an income floor, not a foundation  [00:28:18] Practical steps to review your earnings record and test your retirement plan        Links:    Follow Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ennis-cfp   Subscribe, review, and share the show to help others live their wealth today and tomorrow:   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfinityFinancialStrategies   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RKP0s0AO24KsLOqHe6ULD?si=f2f916d5f8964f2b    Sources cited in this episode  2026 OASDI Trustees Report, Section II.A "Highlights" — depletion dates, percentages payable, 2025 income and cost, actuarial deficit, and solvency-gap illustrations: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/TR/2026/II_A_highlights.html  2026 OASDI Trustees Report, full report: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/TR/2026/  Trustees Report Summary: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/TRSUM/  SSA press release, June 9, 2026: https://www.ssa.gov/news/en/press/releases/2026-06-09.html  Contribution and Benefit Base (2026 wage cap, $184,500): https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/cbb.html  SSA 2026 Update fact sheet (payroll tax rates): https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10003.pdf  Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) formula — how the benefit is calculated: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/piaformula.html  Benefit Formula Bend Points (2026: $1,286 and $7,749): https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/bendpoints.html  Create or access your my Social Security account and earnings statement: https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/  Referenced legislation  Social Security Amendments of 1983, following the National Commission on Social Security Reform (the Greenspan Commission)  One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted July 4, 2025 — cited by the trustees as reducing future revenue from income taxation of benefits (discussed further in the year-end planning episode)

  5. Feb 28

    Beyond "We Don't Need That": Aligning Wealth with Experience

    In this episode of Living Your Wealth: Today and Tomorrow, Kelly Ennis, founder and president of Infinity Financial Strategies, explores what it truly means to live your wealth with intention. Through a simple but powerful story about a $21 parking decision, she examines how disciplined habits that built wealth can sometimes limit present-day experience. Kelly discusses friction points, time, energy, and alignment, encouraging listeners to evaluate spending not just by cost, but by impact. This episode challenges the automatic “we don’t need that” mindset and reframes responsible stewardship as thoughtful alignment between resources and what matters most.    ______________________________________________________________________    [00:00:00] Introduction to the concept of truly living your wealth  [00:02:16] The Connecticut-to-Florida trip and the $21 valet parking decision  [00:06:24] The snowy parking lot moment and the experiential cost of saving money  [00:08:33] The “we don’t need that” reflex and the DIY mindset  [00:11:08] Expanding prudence beyond finances to include time, energy, and experience  [00:12:04] Meal services and reducing mental load at home  [00:14:21] Hiring help as prioritization, not irresponsibility  [00:15:23] Evaluating friction points and the broader impact of spending decisions  [00:16:18] Time as a non-renewable resource and protecting energy  [00:17:54] Optimizing for overall experience versus lowest price  [00:19:27] Recalibrating work to support life priorities  [00:21:12] Wealth as optionality and small, intentional adjustments  [00:22:31] Modeling balanced stewardship for children  [00:24:05] A practical exercise to reconsider automatic spending refusals  [00:25:58] Alignment over extravagance: using money as a thoughtful tool      Links:    Follow Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ennis-cfp   Subscribe, review, and share the show to help others live their wealth today and tomorrow:   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfinityFinancialStrategies   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RKP0s0AO24KsLOqHe6ULD?si=f2f916d5f8964f2b    Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (⁠https://thepodcastconsultant.com⁠)

  6. 12/20/2025

    Timing Isn’t Luck: Planning with Purpose

    In this episode of Living Your Wealth: Today and Tomorrow, Kelly Ennis, founder and president of Infinity Financial Strategies, explores why when you take financial action matters just as much as what action you take. With the end-of-year deadline approaching, Kelly breaks down how timing can be used as a powerful tool—not just a constraint. She examines the real impacts of volatility, recovery time, income predictability, tax implications, and investment environment. From Roth conversions to required minimum distributions, Kelly explains how separating the decision from the action can improve outcomes and reduce stress. Learn how to structure your year with clarity and confidence, and make timing an intentional part of your financial strategy. ______________________________________________________________________ [00:00:00] Why year-end timing is more important than most people realize [00:01:04] Timing as a financial tool, not just a detail [00:01:52] Your financial life runs on a calendar, not in a vacuum [00:02:35] Good timing vs. poor timing: how it affects risk and outcomes [00:02:54] Matching timing to spending needs and dollar “jobs” [00:03:36] Risk capacity versus emotional risk tolerance [00:04:27] Why timeline is critical in handling investment volatility [00:05:10] The impact of market recovery time on financial actions [00:05:56] How much short-term loss can your portfolio handle? [00:06:44] Timing decisions for large financial actions and distributions [00:07:34] How tax implications affect timing—especially in Q4 [00:08:08] Key tax-sensitive actions that benefit from better year-end data [00:08:43] Tax optimization ≠ tax perfection [00:09:11] Evaluating whether your investment environment limits your options [00:09:48] Comparing employer plans vs. managed portfolios for RMDs [00:10:36] Separating the decision from the execution [00:11:07] Examples of actions that follow distinct timing windows [00:11:47] Making December a time of confirmations, not chaos [00:12:31] Annual structure: Plan, adjust, strategize, execute [00:13:29] Fourth quarter is for precision and clarity [00:14:00] Timing is intentional, not a guessing game [00:14:17] Reflecting on how timing supported your goals this year Links: Follow Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ennis-cfp Subscribe, review, and share the show to help others live their wealth today and tomorrow: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfinityFinancialStrategies Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RKP0s0AO24KsLOqHe6ULD?si=f2f916d5f8964f2b

  7. 11/18/2025

    AI in your Life

    In this episode of Living Your Wealth: Today and Tomorrow, Kelly Ennis, founder and president of Infinity Financial Strategies, unpacks the real-world role of artificial intelligence in our daily lives. From personalized travel planning to managing inbox overload, and even research for personal financial planning, Kelly shares both the power and the pitfalls of AI, revealing how it can become a helpful assistant—or a risky shortcut. Through practical examples and cautionary tales, this episode explains how context, privacy, and discernment are essential for using AI safely and effectively in your financial and personal routines.   Key Points From This Episode:  [00:00:00] Introduction to AI’s growing influence in everyday life [00:01:00] Common examples of embedded AI tools [00:01:42] Accessibility and rise of generative AI [00:03:00] Benefits vs. risks of using AI at home [00:03:23] Story illustrating the importance of context in AI prompts [00:06:22] Why vague questions lead to misleading results [00:07:34] Privacy considerations when using AI tools [00:08:48] The risk of vague financial questions to AI systems [00:11:22] AI’s knowledge cutoff and the danger of outdated information [00:13:25] Accuracy and bias in AI-generated responses [00:15:26] Using AI as a starting point, not a final authority [00:16:22] 13 practical ways AI can simplify daily life [00:25:05] Real-world story: using AI to plan a complex day in NYC [00:26:03] Real-world story: AI-assisted apartment move-in logistics [00:27:33] Responsible use: balancing convenience with caution [00:30:15] Final reflection on using AI to enhance intentional living      Links:  Learn more at: https://infinityfinancialstrategies.net   Follow Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ennis-cfp   Subscribe, review, and share the show to help others live their wealth today and tomorrow:   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfinityFinancialStrategies  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RKP0s0AO24KsLOqHe6ULD?si=f2f916d5f8964f2b

  8. 10/31/2025

    Roth conversions: controlling your future

    In this episode of Living Your Wealth: Today and Tomorrow, Kelly Ennis, founder and president of Infinity Financial Strategies, explores the powerful tax strategy of Roth conversions. Kelly breaks down the differences between traditional and Roth retirement accounts, outlines when and how conversions work, and highlights advanced approaches like backdoor and mega backdoor strategies. She shares how timing, income levels, and changing tax laws can all influence your financial outcomes. Tune in to learn how Roth conversions can help you reduce future tax burdens, increase flexibility, and build a more secure legacy.  Key Points From This Episode:  [00:00:18] Introduction to Roth conversions and why they matter. [00:00:46] Tax treatment of Roth vs. traditional retirement accounts. [00:02:02] The problem with large pre-tax balances and future tax risk. [00:04:07] Income limits for direct Roth contributions vs. conversions. [00:06:25] Having both Roth IRA and Roth 401k for future flexibility. [00:08:34] When IRA contributions become non-deductible. [00:10:20] Importance of proper tax reporting for backdoor Roths. [00:13:34] Why Roth conversions provide long-term tax control. [00:16:19] Required minimum distributions (RMDs) and their tax impact. [00:17:43] Taking advantage of today’s historically low tax rates. [00:19:01] Importance of timing and the five-year rules. [00:21:33] Tax rate history and today's lower tax environment. [00:23:06] Opportunity presented by current low tax rates. [00:24:26] Strategies for spreading conversions and managing IRMA. [00:25:57] Roth conversions as a tool for legacy planning. [00:28:43] Coordinating with your advisor and accountant. [00:30:29] Final message and encouragement to explore Roth options.  Links:  Learn more at: https://infinityfinancialstrategies.net   Follow Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ennis-cfp   Subscribe, review, and share the show to help others live their wealth today and tomorrow:   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfinityFinancialStrategies  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RKP0s0AO24KsLOqHe6ULD?si=f2f916d5f8964f2b

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Hosted by Kelly Ennis, Founder and President of Infinity Financial Strategies, Living Your Wealth Today and Tomorrow is a podcast that explores enjoying the wealth you’ve built while planning for the future. If you’ve built your nest egg, always waiting for tomorrow to consider travel, free time, or a career pivot, this is for you! We’ll talk about strategies to minimize taxes, investing for the future, choosing a path to your work-optional life, and pursuing your future goals while enjoying your wealth today.

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