Planned Solutions

Planned Solutions
  • 5.0 (8)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED SEMIMONTHLY

Planned Solutions is an Independent Financial Planning Firm - looking out for our client's best interests. With over 30 years in the financial planning business, we at Planned Solutions will help guide you to a secure financial future. At Planned Solutions, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional will sit down with you, review your current situation and work with you to develop an individualized financial plan and implement an asset management strategy. We are very familiar with the range of options available today – investment opportunities, savings, pension plans and insurance products – and will help you identify which choices are best suited for both you and your family’s goals. Financial planning, retirement planning, investment management, estate planning, insurance analysis, and tax planning and preparation are our specialties. Please give us a call for a complimentary initial consultation, where we will discuss your goals and help design a plan of action.

  1. Stock Market Opens the Year Strong And 2026 Tax Updates

    JAN 29

    Stock Market Opens the Year Strong And 2026 Tax Updates

    In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, the US stock market has started the year strong with the S&P 500 returning nearly 1.4% in just 11 trading days. However, the US large-cap index has underperformed foreign stocks, which led major index returns in 2025, and small- and mid-sized stocks, which lagged in 2025 but started 2026 strong with an 8.0% rate of return. The strong returns in the foreign market may be a sign of a continued trend favoring non-US investments, while the strong returns in small/midcap returns may be a sign of a healthy stock market rally in the US. Tax season is not just a time to look backward to the prior tax year, but also a good opportunity to look forward to planning for the current tax year. This may include changing tax withholdings for 2026 to either cover any projected shortfall or to reduce tax withholdings if a large refund is expected. This may be especially important this tax season, as several changes to the tax law may result in larger projected refunds than in the past. Additionally, the new tax law provisions offer tax benefits for some employees who receive tip income and/or who work overtime. However, the reporting requirements for this income do not go into effect until the 2026 tax year. Therefore, employees who believe they may qualify may need to prove their deductions by referencing their pay stubs for the year in addition to their Form W-2. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - The new year is a good time for review and renewal. In that spirit, Planned Solutions held an all-hands offsite meeting to discuss our core values and what is important to us going forward. Shannon recently reached an impressive milestone. He has been working with Planned Solutions for 25 years! Needless to say, during his tenure, Shannon has had a big impact on Planned Solutions and is a big reason for the company’s success over that time. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Katie@PlannedSolutions.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠Shannon@PlannedSolutions.co⁠m⁠WEBSITE:⁠www.PlannedSolutions.com

    25 min
  2. How Proper Estate Planning Saves Time, Money, and Stress

    JAN 15

    How Proper Estate Planning Saves Time, Money, and Stress

    In this episode of the Planned Solutions Podcast, we explore critical financial planning topics that can have a lasting impact on your wealth, legacy, and peace of mind—starting with estate planning, an area where many financial plans fall short. While creating an estate plan can feel time-consuming or costly, failing to plan often results in far greater expenses, court involvement, and stress for loved ones. We discuss why investing time and money in proper estate planning can lead to long-term savings, smoother transitions, and confidence in the event of death or disability. We also reflect on the retirement of legendary investor Warren Buffett, who stepped down from Berkshire Hathaway at the end of 2025. Buffett’s disciplined, common-sense, and fundamentally sound investment philosophy has shaped generations of investors and advisors. In this episode, we examine the lessons his career offers investment managers and individuals who want to build wealth the right way—ethically, patiently, and with clarity. Additionally, we take a closer look at Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) and their evolving role in estate tax planning. While higher federal estate tax exemptions have reduced their popularity, ILITs can still provide meaningful benefits for individuals with potentially large estates. We wrap up with insights from the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board, including important reminders for preparing your 2025 income tax return, gathering essential tax documents like Forms 1098 and 1099, and navigating the growing shift toward online tax forms. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Before preparing your 2025 income tax return(s), it is important to make sure that you have all tax forms and other tax information that you need. In some cases, this may mean being patient until all your investment forms have been issued. In other cases, it may mean being careful to thoroughly go through your mail looking for tax forms. For example, mortgage companies often send out Form 1098, which reports the interest paid during the year, with the monthly mortgage statement. So, it is important to sort through all the pages in the mailing to see if your tax form was included with the most recent statement. Also, more and more companies are posting tax forms online rather than mailing them. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Katie@PlannedSolutions.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170, Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: ⁠(916) 361-0100⁠ or ⁠(800) 750-2111⁠E-MAIL: ⁠⁠Shannon@PlannedSolutions.co⁠m⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:⁠www.PlannedSolutions.com

    27 min
  3. •What YOU Need to Know About Market Assumptions, Beware Survey Data and Headlines & Q4 State Estimated Tax Payments

    JAN 1

    •What YOU Need to Know About Market Assumptions, Beware Survey Data and Headlines & Q4 State Estimated Tax Payments

    In this episode of the Planned Solutions podcast, Many financial models are communicated to the public as if they are completely factual. However, the accuracy of these modelsrequires that the assumptions at the heart of these models hold true, which does not always happen. This can cause investors and business decision makers to put too much confidence in the output of financial models because they donot understand the flaws in these models’ assumptions. The future is uncertain; it can be modeled, but the model output is only as good as the assumptions used for the model. There appears to be a divide between how the US economy and financial markets are actually performing and how people feel about it. This has led to a big divergence in quantifiable economic data and the economic survey results that track how people are feeling. The result is headlines, based on survey data results, that paint a very different picture than what economists are actually seeing. The expansion of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction from $10,000 per year to $40,000 per year may change tax strategy for some taxpayers. Taxpayers who have not maxed out the $40,000 limit for 2025 and are likely to itemize their deductions may benefit from paying any state estimated tax payments due before year-end to claim the deduction in 2025 rather than making the payment when it is due on January 15th, 2026. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - As a reminder, financial planners are not allowed to conduct business using mediums of communication that cannot be efficiently captured and archived. This most typically applies to text messages sent to a planner’s personal phone. We agree that this seems excessive given that text messages are a common form of communication, but often, government regulations do not keep up with societal changes. . Cybersecurity is a hot topic as incidents of cybercrime continue to increase. Planned Solutions invests a lot of time and effort to make sure our systems are as safe and secure as possible and to safeguard our clients’ information using industry best practices. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Katie@PlannedSolutions.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠Shannon@PlannedSolutions.com⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

    33 min
  4. Conceptualizing the AI Landscape & Bitcoin Selloff Explained — What Investors Must Know

    12/18/2025

    Conceptualizing the AI Landscape & Bitcoin Selloff Explained — What Investors Must Know

    In this episode of the Planned Solutions podcast, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is nothing new. In fact, the term dates back to the 1950s, and many AI solutions have been implemented since then. The difference between then and now is that the capabilities, and therefore the investment in AI, have accelerated, leading to a period of rapid change. This follows the pattern of many other technological advancements, including the internet, which was invented well before the technological capabilities and societal norms were in place to enable mass adoption. Bitcoin prices have declined by 33% from its high in early October. This loss of wealth may be adversely impacting the US stock market as risky investors, those more inclined to invest in cryptocurrencies, may be taking losses on Bitcoin, which causes them to de-risk other assets, including riskier stock holdings. Also, companies that supply cryptocurrency companies or investors may be repricing as well. The annual gift tax exclusion amount remains $19,000 for 2026. This allows anyone to give anyone else a gift up to $19,000 without having to report it. The lifetime gift and estate tax exemption for 2026 will be $15 million per person. This is the total amount that can be gifted (over and above the annual exclusion amount) or left to heirs at death without paying gift or estate tax. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - With the holidays quickly approaching, we want to make sure you are aware of our holiday schedule for this year. Planned Solutions will be closed on December 24th, December 25th, December 26th, and January 1st. Given the above holiday schedule, as well as the holiday schedule of many of the companies that we work with, we ask that any forms or other requests that must be completed before year-end be submitted as soon as possible. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Katie@PlannedSolutions.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠Shannon@PlannedSolutions.com⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

    28 min
  5. What Does the Job Market Really Look Like Now?

    12/04/2025

    What Does the Job Market Really Look Like Now?

    In this episode of the Planned Solutions podcast, with the reopening of the federal government, the Department of Labor is once again publishing jobs data. The most recent reports show that the job market remains reasonably strong and may be accelerating after a brief period of weakness earlier in the year. The US economy added 119,000 jobs in September, the unemployment rate ticked up but remains fairly low, and initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, the forward-looking indicator, remain at low levels. The IRS increased the standard deduction that taxpayers are allowed to use to shelter income from taxation for 2026. In addition, the limitation on the amount of State and Local Taxes (SALT) that can be claimed as an itemized deduction was increased. So, going forward, taxpayers will need to pay closer attention to whether they will benefit from claiming the standard deduction or should itemize their deductions. Retirement plan contribution limits will increase in 2026 in most cases. Therefore, those who seek to contribute the maximum amount allowable under the law should make sure to adjust their contributions to ensure that they will contribute the maximum amount by the end of the 2026 tax year. In addition, some new rules for taxpayers age 60-63 will be implemented, which may impact the amount that those taxpayers may contribute for 2026. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - A client recently used Planned Solutions tickets to take his son to the Kings game. His son was excited to see one of his favorite players, Domantas Sabonis, play live. They got there early and were fortunate enough to run into Sabonis coming out of the tunnel. The Kings’ star was gracious enough to take a picture and sign the young man’s hat. What a great heart-warming moment. Go Kings! Carter and Matt both sat for the Certified Financial Planner ® exam recently. After years of studying and hours of preparing for the exam, we are excited to announce that they both passed. Now they just need to complete the required number of hours working in financial planning to fulfill the requirements to hold the Certified Financial Planner ® designation. Great jobguys! To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Katie@PlannedSolutions.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠Shannon@PlannedSolutions.com⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

    27 min
  6. The Shocking Truth About Manufacturing vs Service Sector Growth

    11/20/2025

    The Shocking Truth About Manufacturing vs Service Sector Growth

    In this episode of the Planned Solutions podcast, with the official government economic data currently unavailable, the private data sources are getting more attention. This includes the ISM reports on the manufacturing and services sectors in the US. These reports show that the manufacturing sector is contracting at a slow pace, while the services sector is growing at a slow pace. Given that the US is primarily a services-centric economy, the whole of this data is slightly positive. However, this data is based on surveys, which have become decreasingly useful over time. The advantages of using a private fiduciary rather than tasking friends or family with the difficult job of overseeing the administration of a trust and/or will have made this option increasingly popular. Private fiduciaries bring a professionalism to the tasks of making financial and health care decisions for an individual without the influence of family dynamics that can sometimes make the process even more difficult. The Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026 will be 2.8%, a number in line with the official inflation statistics. However, Medicare premiums will increase 11.6% which means the average Social Security recipient will see their take-home Social Security benefit increase by much less than the 2.8% COLA. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Daryl, Carter, and Matt recently attended a Pension and 401k Seminar hosted by a local Third-Party Administrator. This is an annual event that we look forward to so that we can stay up to date with current Retirement Plan rules and limits. This is the 400th newsletter Planned Solutions has produced since we started publishing our own newsletter in-house over 15 years ago. If you are enjoying the newsletter or have some feedback on how we can improve it, please feel free to let us know. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Katie@PlannedSolutions.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠Shannon@PlannedSolutions.com⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com ⁠Intro 00:00 Institution for Supply Management Reports 01:46 Private Fiduciaries 11:09 Social Security Updates 16:45 Bulletin Board 19:42

    26 min
  7. What's REALLY Happening with Inflation Right Now?

    11/06/2025

    What's REALLY Happening with Inflation Right Now?

    In this episode of the Planned Solutions podcast, even with the federal government shutdown, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported the September inflation data. The headline inflation rate rose slightly from 2.9% in August to 3.0% in September, but continues to show signs that inflation has stabilized in the 2-3% level. The impact of tariffs remains uncertain as the annual numbers are low but recent months have been elevated. Shelter prices show the opposite, with higher annual numbers but lower monthly numbers in consecutive reports. Despite a high level of political, economic, and financial uncertainty, US businesses continue to report strong earnings. Second-quarter earnings increased 11%. So far, 85% of companies that have reported for the third quarter have beaten their earnings expectations. Now, analysts estimate that earnings will increase 18% year-over-year in the third quarter. Medicare open enrollment started on October 15th and runs until December 7th. This is the time period that individuals can make changes to their Medicare insurance plans. Those who are happy with their current plan do not need to take any action. Those who are not happy with their current plan because they want to see different providers, had a change in their health status, or want to switch to a lower cost plan, should take action to review their options during open enrollment. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - Chase and Daryl attended the Financial Planning Association of Northern California Winter Symposium. This year, the program consisted of a presentation on the costs of aging and how to prepare clients for those costs, a panel discussion on the benefits of working with a private fiduciary, and the need for succession planning within financial planning firms. Matt traveled to Philadelphia to attend an in-person program to prepare him to take the Certified Financial Planner exam. This is after Carter attended a similar event in Southern California. With the exam date in November approaching quickly, they are both cramming to be as prepared as possible. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Katie@PlannedSolutions.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠Shannon@PlannedSolutions.com⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

    25 min
  8. Why Is Gold So Valuable Right Now?

    10/23/2025

    Why Is Gold So Valuable Right Now?

    In this episode of the Planned Solutions podcast, Gold prices have surged in recent years, causing some to ask: What is driving the increase in prices? While there is no single factor alone that is driving the demand for gold, there are several possible reasons why gold prices have increased. These trends may also reverse, which could make buying gold at such elevated levels very risky, as many of the investment manias of the past that led to sharp increases in prices also led to equally sharp corrections. The US government is entering its third week of the government shutdown. So far, the impact of the shutdown has been fairly limited, with some areas impacted more than others, but the impact will likely grow if the shutdown continues. Most important are the upcoming payroll deadlines for the military and other federal workers, which make up a meaningful amount of US employment and consumer spending. Recent tax law changes include a provision that will allow taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 in interest on a loan for the purchase of a new vehicle. However, vehicles must meet the provisions of the law to qualify. In addition, higher-income taxpayers will not be eligible, as the deduction begins to phase out at higher income levels. Plus, a look at the Planned Solutions Incorporated Office Bulletin Board - The Harlan D. Wood and Debbie Druivenga Memorial Cancer Charity Golf Tournament was once again a big success! The tournament was full of new twists, including a professional long driver on Hole 15 that helped raise additional funds for cancer charities. The dinner was great as always, and the staff at Rancho Murieta Country Club did a great job of making everyone feel welcome. More importantly, this year we raised over $10,890 for cancer charities, bringing our cumulative total to $189,199. We would like to thank everyone who supported the event this year, and in past years, by attending the tournament, bidding on auction items, and contributing to cancer charities. We look forward to next year, when hopefully we will be able to continue to grow the tournament and the donations raised for cancer charities. To subscribe to the Personal Finance Review (the written form of all the content we discuss on the podcast), please e-mail ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Katie@PlannedSolutions.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Chase Armer's book- Financial Planning Insights is now available at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Planning-Insights-Decades-Planner/dp/1098306279⁠⁠ ⁠ Planned Solutions, Inc.ADDRESS: 1130 Iron Point Road, Suite 170 Folsom, CA 95630 PHONE: (916) 361-0100 or (800) 750-2111E-MAIL: ⁠Shannon@PlannedSolutions.com⁠ FAX: (916) 361-0191WEBSITE:www.PlannedSolutions.com

    23 min
See All (98)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Planned Solutions is an Independent Financial Planning Firm - looking out for our client's best interests. With over 30 years in the financial planning business, we at Planned Solutions will help guide you to a secure financial future. At Planned Solutions, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional will sit down with you, review your current situation and work with you to develop an individualized financial plan and implement an asset management strategy. We are very familiar with the range of options available today – investment opportunities, savings, pension plans and insurance products – and will help you identify which choices are best suited for both you and your family’s goals. Financial planning, retirement planning, investment management, estate planning, insurance analysis, and tax planning and preparation are our specialties. Please give us a call for a complimentary initial consultation, where we will discuss your goals and help design a plan of action.

Information

  • Creator
    Planned Solutions
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Planned Solutions
  • Show Website
    Planned Solutions