Power Your Retirement

Steve Smit
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Hosted by Steve Smit, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and founder of Powerhouse Financial Advisors, this podcast is designed to help employees of large publicly traded utility companies take control of their retirement planning. Steve, author of Power Up Your 401(k), shares insights on maximizing 401(k) options, navigating self-directed brokerage accounts, and creating a secure financial future. Tune in for practical advice, helpful resources, and strategies to power up your retirement! Subscribe and never miss an episode! Also available in video format on YouTube. For more information about Power Your Retirement, visit PowerhouseFinancialAdvisors.com or call 775-266-8867.

  1. 5D AGO

    The Love Story Behind Every Financial Plan

    Send a text 📱 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 ⚡ Get your no-cost Retirement Toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Steve has a little fun comparing a lifelong relationship to your financial journey. From the first spark all the way to ’til death do us part. Like any good relationship, your financial journey works best when you stay committed, adjust through different seasons, and ask for help when you need it. So, if your financial plan were a relationship, how healthy would it be right now? That’s a conversation worth having.  Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 🦋 Catching Butterflies: Early investing excitement and first financial steps 🍽️ First Date Decisions: Budgeting, goal setting, and initial risk-taking 💍 Going Steady & Proposal: Increasing sophistication, commitment, and shared planning 👶 Family & Future Planning: Growing responsibilities and long-term focus 🏡 Till Death Do Us Part: Estate planning and legacy conversations Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K in our toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html Follow along on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEE5ZkDedYTsKzkh2UxQ9Sg Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 Other ways to get in touch: Phone: (775) 266-8867 Our website: https://powerhousefinancialadvisors.com/ Email: info@powerhousefa.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powerhouse-financial-advisors/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PowerhouseFinancialAdvisors

    23 min

  2. FEB 12

    Mailbag: Extra Cash, Big Decisions, and the Truth About Tax-Free Retirement

    Send a text 📱 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 ⚡ Get your no-cost Retirement Toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html Paying off debt is a huge milestone, but what you do next can shape the rest of your retirement. In this episode, Steve tackles two common listener questions: how to wisely redirect extra cash after becoming debt-free, and whether “tax-free retirement income” is actually possible. If you’re trying to make smart retirement decisions, instead of emotional ones, this conversation is for you! Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 💸 Debt Management & Extra Income: Smart choices for newfound cash flow 🎉 Celebrating Debt Freedom: Why milestones matter before next steps 🧾 Tax-Free Retirement Income: What it really means (and doesn’t) 🔁 Roth Conversions & Tax Strategy: Paying taxes now vs. later 📞 Getting Guidance: When professional advice matters most Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K in our toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html Follow along on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEE5ZkDedYTsKzkh2UxQ9Sg Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 Other ways to get in touch: Phone: (775) 266-8867 Our website: https://powerhousefinancialadvisors.com/ Email: info@powerhousefa.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powerhouse-financial-advisors/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PowerhouseFinancialAdvisors

    10 min

  3. FEB 5

    At 55, Is It Too Late for a Roth 401(k)?

    Send a text 📱 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 ⚡ Get your no-cost Retirement Toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html One of the most important retirement decisions doesn’t show up on your paycheck; it shows up in how your contributions are taxed. That’s what prompted a recent listener question about whether 401(k) contributions should be Roth or traditional, and whether age changes the answer. The truth is, the right choice isn’t simply tax now versus tax later, but how each option fits into the bigger picture of your retirement plan. Today, Steve brings clarity to a decision many people second-guess. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: ⚖️ Roth vs. Traditional: Understanding the core difference 🧾 Contribution Basics: How each option is taxed ⏳ Age Factor: Why timing influences the decision 🔄 Tax Dynamics: Planning across changing brackets 🧩 Splitting Strategies: How to use both for flexibility Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K in our toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html Follow along on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEE5ZkDedYTsKzkh2UxQ9Sg Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 Other ways to get in touch: Phone: (775) 266-8867 Our website: https://powerhousefinancialadvisors.com/ Email: info@powerhousefa.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powerhouse-financial-advisors/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PowerhouseFinancialAdvisors

    14 min

  4. JAN 29

    10 Retirement Myths Too Many People Still Believe

    Send a text 📱 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 ⚡ Get your no-cost Retirement Toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html There’s no shortage of financial advice out there, and unfortunately, not all of it is good. Some of the most damaging retirement mistakes don’t come from reckless behavior, but from ideas that sound reasonable and get repeated often enough to feel true. Today, Steve busts some of the most common retirement planning myths and explains why believing them can quietly derail an otherwise solid plan. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 📄 Financial Plans – Why more doesn’t automatically mean better ⚖️ Estate & Spousal Assumptions – Where oversimplification causes problems 📉 Markets & Spending – The danger of reacting emotionally to volatility 🧾 Taxes & Social Security – Why retirement income often surprises people 🧠 Decision-Making in Retirement – Choices often get harder, not easier Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K in our toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html Follow along on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEE5ZkDedYTsKzkh2UxQ9Sg Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 Other ways to get in touch: Phone: (775) 266-8867 Our website: https://powerhousefinancialadvisors.com/ Email: info@powerhousefa.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powerhouse-financial-advisors/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PowerhouseFinancialAdvisors

    17 min

  5. JAN 22

    Is The Economy Set Up For A Better 2026?

    Send a text 📱 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 ⚡ Get your no-cost Retirement Toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html After a year filled with volatility and economic curveballs, it’s understandable why optimism about the economy may not come naturally for many people. Steve shares why one economist believes 2026 could be stronger than expected and offers his own perspective on whether that optimism is justified. A brighter outlook is encouraging, but Steve explains why a solid financial plan matters more than any single economic forecast. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 💵 Consumer Cash – Why households may have more money 💰 Extra Payments – Potential refunds and additional inflows 🏢 Business Growth – Increased capital and investment flexibility 📉 Lower Costs – Interest rates and energy easing pressure 🌍 Market Stability – Fewer shocks from tariffs and trade Bloomberg News opinion column by economist Allison Schrager Five Reasons To Be Optimistic About The 2026 Economy https://www.fa-mag.com/news/five-reasons-to-be-optimistic-about-the-2026-economy-85324.html?section=68 Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K in our toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html Follow along on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEE5ZkDedYTsKzkh2UxQ9Sg Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 Other ways to get in touch: Phone: (775) 266-8867 Our website: https://powerhousefinancialadvisors.com/ Email: info@powerhousefa.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powerhouse-financial-advisors/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PowerhouseFinancialAdvisors

    16 min

  6. JAN 15

    Financial Lessons from a Snow Day

    Send a text 📱 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 ⚡ Get your no-cost Retirement Toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html There’s something unforgettable about a snow day- unexpected, disruptive, and strangely freeing. In this episode, Steve borrows classic snow-day moments and turns them into practical lessons for building a stronger financial life. From preparation to patience, these metaphors reveal what really matters when conditions change. Because the best plans aren’t just built for sunny days. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: ☃️ Snow Day Memories: Why unexpected breaks teach us more than routine 🛷 Sledding Lessons: The effort it takes to build momentum 🏠 Staying Put in Storms: Knowing when not to react 🧥 Layering Up: Why diversification matters 🌨️ Enjoying the Moment: Making space for what you’ve built Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K in our toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html Follow along on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEE5ZkDedYTsKzkh2UxQ9Sg Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 Other ways to get in touch: Phone: (775) 266-8867 Our website: https://powerhousefinancialadvisors.com/ Email: info@powerhousefa.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powerhouse-financial-advisors/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PowerhouseFinancialAdvisors

    21 min

  7. JAN 8

    What’s Changing in 2026 (And Why It Matters to Your Money)

    Send a text 📱 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 ⚡ Get your no-cost Retirement Toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html A new year brings new rules, and some of the changes in 2026 could quietly impact your cash flow, taxes, and retirement strategy. In this episode, Steve walks through the most important updates affecting retirees and pre-retirees. While each change may seem small on its own, together they can meaningfully shift how your plan works, so tune in!  Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 🗓️ 2026 Overview: The financial changes setting the tone for the year 📈 COLA Update: What the Social Security adjustment really delivers 🏥 Medicare Premiums: Why higher costs still catch people off guard 🧾 Senior Tax Breaks: New deductions that may ease the burden 🚀 Catch-Up Contributions: Bigger saving opportunities near retirement Listen to Retirement Health Care Costs Just Jumped Again (2025 Update): https://www.buzzsprout.com/2416928/episodes/18289117 Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K in our toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html Follow along on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEE5ZkDedYTsKzkh2UxQ9Sg Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 Other ways to get in touch: Phone: (775) 266-8867 Our website: https://powerhousefinancialadvisors.com/ Email: info@powerhousefa.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powerhouse-financial-advisors/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PowerhouseFinancialAdvisors

    14 min

  8. 12/31/2025

    Your Year-End Retirement Planning Questions Answered

    Send a text 📱 Want expert help in planning for your financial future? Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 ⚡ Get your no-cost Retirement Toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html As we close out 2025 and look ahead to the new year, we’re answering listener questions in this special mailbag episode. From spending more in retirement to finding the right kind of financial guidance, this episode focuses on making confident, well-planned decisions. Steve explains why needing more income in retirement isn’t irresponsible if it’s intentional and feasible, how to plan for the more active “Go-Go Years,” and what to watch out for when professional advice starts to feel like a sales pitch. Here are some of the questions we discuss in this episode: 💼 Spending more in retirement- when it works and planning for it ✈️Planning for travel and fun during the Go-Go Years 🛑Recognizing product-driven advice vs. real planning 🎉Year-End Note: Perspective and gratitude Listen To "The 5 Retirement Questions Smart People Ask:" https://www.buzzsprout.com/2416928/episodes/18401922 Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K in our toolkit: https://keap.page/ngt919/toolkit.html Follow along on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEE5ZkDedYTsKzkh2UxQ9Sg Book your 401(k) Onboarding Meeting with Steve: https://calendly.com/steven-powerhouse-advisor/401-k-retirement-meeting-1-hour-clone?month=2024-12 Other ways to get in touch: Phone: (775) 266-8867 Our website: https://powerhousefinancialadvisors.com/ Email: info@powerhousefa.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powerhouse-financial-advisors/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PowerhouseFinancialAdvisors

    12 min
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About

Hosted by Steve Smit, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and founder of Powerhouse Financial Advisors, this podcast is designed to help employees of large publicly traded utility companies take control of their retirement planning. Steve, author of Power Up Your 401(k), shares insights on maximizing 401(k) options, navigating self-directed brokerage accounts, and creating a secure financial future. Tune in for practical advice, helpful resources, and strategies to power up your retirement! Subscribe and never miss an episode! Also available in video format on YouTube. For more information about Power Your Retirement, visit PowerhouseFinancialAdvisors.com or call 775-266-8867.

Information

  • Creator
    Steve Smit
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 © 2025 Power Your Retirement
  • Show Website
    Power Your Retirement