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If you’ve been in your utility job for years and still don’t understand how your pension works, you’re not alone. In this episode, Steve takes a listener question from Lisa. She’s been working for 15 years and asked a commonly misunderstood question: What’s the difference between a cash balance pension and a traditional pension?

Tune in as Steve breaks down the key differences and why it matters!

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

📊 Traditional vs. cash balance pensions- what’s the difference?

💰 How a cash balance pension grows with guaranteed employer contributions and interest

🧠 Why your pension type should guide your 401k investment decisions

🛠️ Aligning your pension + 401k strategy

Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K: 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

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Wondering if you're actually on track for retirement? That’s the question Alex, a utility worker with 22 years of service, asked, and it sparked this helpful breakdown. Whether you’re early in your career or closing in on retirement, knowing where you stand is key to your financial future. The truth is, it’s not just about your 401k balance, it’s about how everything works together.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

🧮 What a retirement readiness score measures

💼 The value of a cash balance pension

📉 Hidden pitfalls of target date funds for utility employees

🧠 Why guessing your future income needs won’t cut it

Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K: 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

Send us a text

Ever wonder what other people talk about with their financial advisors? A new survey of nearly 400 experienced advisors reveals the biggest concerns, challenges, and financial goals their clients are facing today. From retirement planning and healthcare costs to working longer than expected, we’re breaking down the key takeaways and how they compare to what we see in our own client conversations.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

📊 Survey insights from 400+ advisors

💸 Outliving assets vs. chasing “your number”

🏥 Why healthcare is both overestimated and underestimated

🧓 Most people don’t work past 65 (even if they plan to)

👨‍👩‍👧 Supporting adult children: a hidden retirement risk

Fortune Magazine Article:

https://www.fa-mag.com/news/retirement-planning-survey-2024-80450.html

Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K: 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

Send us a text

The day President Trump took office, he announced plans to implement a 25 percent tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada. Additional tariff conversations have exploded since that day. How might this impact your personal finances and the economy? In this episode, we’ll take a closer look at the backstory of tariffs– what they are, why governments impose them, and the historical context of them.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

🧠 What a tariff actually is

🛒 How tariffs impact consumer prices

🏛 Why tariffs are not a "new" thing historically

💬 How global trade negotiations affect your portfolio

🛡 Smart steps retirement savers should take now

⏳ Why patience is still the best investment strategy

Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K: 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

Send us a text

Welcome to part 5 of our 7-part series, where we’re diving into the 7 principles of Powerhouse Financial Advisors!

Imagine this: your retirement portfolio is growing steadily, adjusting to market shifts, all without you lifting a finger. Sound too good to be true? Welcome to the world of managed portfolios. In this episode, Steve peels back the curtain on what “hands-off” investing really looks like, and how it can bring structure, strategy, and calm to your retirement planning.

If you're tired of guessing, rebalancing, or reacting to every market dip, this conversation explains how a professionally managed portfolio works, what makes it different from a basic index fund, and how active strategies can provide a smoother, more personalized investment experience. Steve also breaks down the emotional value of reducing volatility and why thoughtful management helps investors stay the course.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

📈 What a managed portfolio actually is

🧠 Active vs. passive management: pros and cons

🔁 The power of regular rebalancing

🧘‍♂️ How to reduce emotional investing decisions

🛠️ Who should consider a hands-off approach

Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K: 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

Send us a text

It’s been a volatile month. And if you’re feeling the pressure, you’re not alone. But how we respond in moments like this often has roots in the crashes we’ve lived through before. In this episode, we look at how past market meltdowns shaped investor psychology, how today’s chaos might be leaving its own mark, and what lessons we can take with us to navigate what’s next.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

📉 What past crashes taught us about fear and overconfidence

🧠 Why investor behavior often matters more than the market itself

📊 Lessons from the Great Depression, 1987, dot-com bubble, and more

💥 The long shadow of 2008 and how it still shapes mindset

📺 How today's “headline risk” is fueling modern market anxiety

Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K: 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

Send us a text

The headlines are loud, the markets are messy, and your gut might be telling you to do something - anything- right now. But what should you actually do when your portfolio takes a hit? Whether you’re feeling calm or full-on panicked, this conversation offers four practical questions to help you check in with your plan, reassess your risk, and avoid emotional mistakes.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

📊 How to gut-check your financial plan

⚖️ Aligning portfolio risk with real-life reactions

🛠 Smart strategies: rebalancing & tax-loss harvesting

📉 Common behaviors to avoid during downturns

💡 Why your plan should already expect volatility

Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K: 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

Send us a text

Tax season is here, but filing your 2024 return is just one piece of the puzzle. Now is also the perfect time to take advantage of new tax rules for 2025- before the year gets away from you

With higher standard deductions, increased retirement contribution limits, and updated HSA rules, there are plenty of opportunities to lower your tax bill and boost your savings. Tune in as we break down the key changes and how you can start planning now to make the most of them.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 – Intro

2:35 – Tax changes for 2025

5:35 – Invest more in your 401k

10:07 – IRA contribution limits

10:36 – HSA contribution limits

12:43 – The biggest needle mover

Get your copy of Power Up Your 401K: 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