



What Can You Actually Control in Retirement Planning?
If no one knows how long they'll live, how do you know if your retirement savings will last long enough? In this episode of Money, Taxes & Freedom, Bryan and Shane Hopkins explore the balance between what retirees can and cannot control. From market volatility and inflation to taxes, longevity, and…

Is Gen X Trying to Figure Out Retirement the Hard Way?
Gen X learned to figure everything out on their own. But when it comes to retirement, is going it alone becoming a costly mistake? In this episode of Money, Taxes & Freedom, Bryan and Shane Hopkins discuss why many Gen Xers are entering retirement without a true financial plan. They explore the dif…

Who Are Your Financial Advisors When the Office Is Closed?
What happens when a father-son financial planning team trades market talk for fishing stories, family memories, and life lessons? In this special episode of Money, Taxes, and Freedom, Bryan and Shane Hopkins pull back the curtain on who they are beyond the office. From Shane's larger-than-life stor…

Are You Avoiding Financial Planning Because You Don't Know What to Expect?
Nervous about meeting with a financial advisor for the first time? You might be surprised to learn it's far more like a conversation than an interrogation. In this episode of Money, Taxes, and Freedom, Bryan and Shane Hopkins pull back the curtain on what really happens during a first meeting with …

What Money Conversations Should You Be Having with Adult Children?
The money conversation doesn’t end when your kids grow up, it just becomes more complex. In part two of this series, Bryan and Shane Hopkins build on their earlier discussion by exploring the financial conversations every parent should be having with adult children. From navigating college decision…

Are You Teaching Your Kids the Most Important Money Lesson?
What if the most valuable financial advice your kids ever receive… comes from you? In this episode, Bryan and Shane Hopkins explore the important money conversations every parent should be having with their children. From introducing basic concepts like earning and budgeting to teaching delayed gra…

Is the 60/40 Portfolio Still a Smart Strategy?
Are the “gold standard” rules of retirement planning quietly becoming outdated? In this episode of Money, Taxes, and Freedom, Bryan and Shane Hopkins revisit the traditional 60/40 portfolio and 4% withdrawal rule to see if they still hold up in today’s market. They explore why changing conditions, …

Are You Prepared for Today’s Smarter Scams?
What if the biggest threat to your retirement isn’t the market, but a single convincing scam? In this episode of Money, Taxes, and Freedom, Bryan and Shane Hopkins break down how modern fraud schemes are evolving and why retirees are frequent targets. They explore how scammers use urgency, emotion,…

Is the American Dream Slipping Away? Here’s the Reality
The American Dream now carries a shocking price tag—over $5 million—and many families are wondering how that changes retirement planning. In this episode of Money, Taxes & Freedom, Bryan and Shane Hopkins unpack what that number really means and why it looks different for every household. They expl…

Before You Claim Social Security, Hear This
Claiming Social Security without a plan can lead to costly surprises you never saw coming. In this episode of Money, Taxes & Freedom, Bryan and Shane Hopkins break down six critical things to understand before filing for Social Security. From knowing your benefit amount and coordinating healthcare …