Roth Conversions & Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD's)
Release Date: 05/08/2025
The Truth About Annuities: Types of Annuities & How They Work | Pt. 1
Wisdom for Your Wisdom Years
In the first part of a three-part miniseries about annuities, Matt breaks down the different types of annuities and how they work. Matt frequently works with new clients who have annuities, and are unsure how exactly they work or how they fit into their financial plan (if they fit in at all). Unfortunately for many, annuities not only aren't a good fit for their circumstances, they can also carry high costs and heavy penalties for exiting early. In this series, Matt will teach you the basics of how annuities work, when and where they can fit into a portfolio, and important pitfalls to watch...
info_outline
Personal Finance 101: What You Need to Know in Your 20's and Beyond
Wisdom for Your Wisdom Years
In today's episode, Matt brings on his intern Matt Reynolds (another Matt!) to ask him a series of questions about personal finance and investing. Emergency funds, IRA's, 401(k), index funds and much more -- Matt gives a crash course in all the major concepts and investment vehicles you need to know to get started on the right foot in your financial life. As Matt emphasizes, it's not about getting everything right or saving a bunch of money right off the bat. It's about building good habits, getting in the habit of putting money away for the future while you're young so that it becomes...
info_outline
How Do Investment Funds Work? Understanding ETF's, Mutual Funds, and More with Jeromey Thornton of Avantis Investors
Wisdom for Your Wisdom Years
In today's episode, Matt chats with Jeromey Thornton, Senior Investment Director at Avantis Investments, about the inner workings of the investing and portfolio management industry. Jeromey explains how the investment funds you invest in are set up, how they operate, and what kind of strategies they use to differentiate themselves in the market. He also explains how the exchange traded fund, or ETF, came into being, how it differs from a mutual fund, and the tax implications of capital gains and losses in each. Jeromey Thornton Avantis Investments: Follow Matt Murphy Web: ...
info_outline
Understanding Medicaid and VA Benefits in Retirement with Estate Attorney Jodi Murphy
Wisdom for Your Wisdom Years
There are a number of benefits available to retirees through Medicaid and, for veterans, the VA. Understanding what you qualify for, how to apply, and how to best manage your assets and retirement income to maximize your benefits can be VERY confusing and complicated. In today's episode estate attorney Jodi Murphy returns to the podcast to help you navigate the minefield of retirement benefits, and understand what steps you need to take to plan wisely for you and your family's retirement. Book a consult with Jodi: Web: Email: Follow Matt Murphy Web: Newsletter: ...
info_outline
Tackling the Big Beautiful Bill with CPA Abbie McGuire
Wisdom for Your Wisdom Years
In today's episode, Matt invites his CPA and frequent collaborator Abbie McGuire to talk about a the tax implications of the Big Beautiful Bill in detail, including changes to the standard deduction, estimated tax payments, new temporary tax deductions, and more. They also discuss why it's important to build a relationship with your tax provider and plan ahead for future tax changes by engaging with them throughout the year, not just during tax season! Simple things like reviewing your W-4 each year can help you avoid unforeseen tax bills at the end of the year, and help you gather the...
info_outline
How to Find a Trustworthy Advisor: Know Your Fiduciaries!
Wisdom for Your Wisdom Years
The industry of financial advice is filled with both good and bad actors, and it can be difficult to determine which advisors can be trusted, especially if you have limited knowledge of financial jargon and industry practices. It's important how different advisors structure their practice, how they get paid, and what incentives they have for selling investment products. A key term is fiduciary, an advisor who is professionally and legally bound to act in the clients best interest. Other financial advisors are held to a lower standard, and often have incentives to sell you certain...
info_outline
Bringing Kids and Families Together Through Golf: US Kids Golf with John Kim
Wisdom for Your Wisdom Years
Golf is a game that can bring people together, but it can also bring families together in a powerful way. To that end, US Kids Golf has a mission to create opportunities for kids to learn to play golf, form bonds with other kids, and create lasting memories on the golf course. John Kim is the Senior Director of Communications and Foundaton Relations at US Kids Golf, and has seen firsthand how those tight communal bonds are formed on the course. He joins the podcast today to talk about why he left a lucrative career as a producer for PGA tournament coverage to work with kids and create...
info_outline
How is Social Security Taxed? How the BBB Changes SS and Retirement Tax Strategy
Wisdom for Your Wisdom Years
As a follow up to episodes #7 and #8 on the Big Beautiful Bill and the numerous implications it has on retirement and taxes, in today's episode Matt clarifies how Social Security income is taxed. He breaks down the important concepts to understand for SS taxation, including the difference between adjusted gross income and provisional income, and the brackets for single and married filing jointly tax payers. He outlines a few important strategies for managing your income and withdrawals in retirement, as well as the new senior deductions coming into effect in 2026. Follow Matt...
info_outline
Don't Be Like Prince! Planning Wisely for the End with Estate Attorney Jodi Murphy
Wisdom for Your Wisdom Years
The artist known as Prince died in 2016, leaving behind a substantial estate including real estate, a vast catalog of released and unreleased music, and publishing rights... with no will in place or plans for how the estate should be divided up amongst his heirs. This is a surprisingly common occurence, and while you may not have an estate like Prince valued in the hundreds of millions, a little bit of planning and foresight can save your family and other loved ones a mountain of headache while they are grieving your death. In today's episode, Matt brings on estate attorney Jodi Murphy...
info_outline
What Does Benetas Mean Anyway? Financial Wellness Put Into Practice
Wisdom for Your Wisdom Years
Matt gets frequent questions about the name "Benetas" in Benetas Wealth. It's a made up word, a portmanteau of the Latin bene, meaning wellness or rightness, and -tas, a suffix indicating a state of being. But it's meaning runs deep. Benetas is a state of wellbeing, in particular a state of financial wellbeing which radiates into the rest of life. Matt believes in helping people achieve financial wellbeing not only so they can be secure in retirement, but so that they can live more fully and be generous with their wealth. Follow Matt Murphy Web: Newsletter: ...
info_outlineRoth IRA's have some notable advantages, one being their tax advantaged status. Roth distributions are tax-free providing certain conditions are met. Savvy seniors can manage their tax burden by using Roth IRA's and managing their adjusted gross income. Certified Financial Planner Matt Murphy lays out a strategy for converting funds in traditional and other retirement accounts to Roth IRA's, and using qualified charitable distributions (QCD's), to manage your tax burden in retirement and help your retirement funds stretch further.
Follow Matt Murphy
Web: https://www.benetaswealth.com
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jb7SNc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmurphycfp
Advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser.
This material is intended for informational/educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or investment product. Please contact your financial professional for more information specific to your situation.
Investments are subject to risk, including the loss of principal. Some investments are not suitable for all investors, and there is no guarantee that any investing goal will be met. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to market volatility, including
the risks of their underlying investments. They are not individually redeemable from the fund and are bought and sold at the current market price, which may be above or below their net asset value.