Last year, Americans donated $558 million to charities. 69% of those donations come from individuals. They also donated 4.1 billion hours to charities. If you are someone making a donation to a charity, you need to know how they can help you reduce your taxes. One way to do that is through a donor-advised fund. What is a donor-advised fund? How does it work? Should you consider using one for charitable giving? I’ll cover the details in this episode.

What could a Trump White House and Republican-controlled Congress mean for your finances? In this episode, we break down the potential tax changes—from individual tax brackets to business deductions and state taxes—that could impact your bottom line. Tune in to understand the areas with low, moderate, and high potential for change and what steps you should consider if you live in a high-tax state.

How does Medicare Open Enrollment work? Do you need a supplement plan? How do you choose between a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan? Navigating these questions can be overwhelming. That’s why Danielle Roberts—co-founder of Boomer Benefits and the author of “10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make”—joins me in this episode to help you avoid common pitfalls during Medicare Open Enrollment.

On November 8th, 2024, Medicare announced that in 2025, Medicare Part B will cost $185 per month per person—an increase of about $10.30 from 2024. Keep in mind, if your income is above a certain point, you’ll have to pay an “Income-Related Monthly Adjusted Amount,” or “IRMAA” tax. Is there a way to avoid paying the IRMAA surcharge? I share some strategies in this episode of Retire with Ryan.

In this episode, we’re diving into the often-overlooked tax benefits of 529 plans. Most people know that 529 plans can help cover college expenses, but there are other valuable perks beyond just tuition savings. From paying down student loans to making the most of tax deferral advantages, this episode breaks down five key tax benefits you may not be aware of. Let me help you maximize the potential of your 529 plan.

The S&P 500 is having another stellar year, yet small-cap stocks—representing the smallest publicly traded companies in the United States—haven't performed as well. While this might seem like a downside, it can also present unique opportunities for investors. In this episode, we’ll dive into the pros and cons of investing in small-cap stocks, the potential growth they offer, and how you can get started.

The 2024 election is just days away, and soon you'll have your final chance to cast your vote. With so much at stake, many are anxious about how the markets might respond based on who takes the White House. In this episode of Retire with Ryan, I’ll dive into what we could expect from a Trump or Harris presidency—and explain why, no matter the outcome, it shouldn't drastically change your investment strategy.

In some states, probate is avoidable. However, in many states, you can avoid having your estate go through the probate process. I recently went through the probate process when my grandfather passed away and I helped my father settle his estate. It is far easier for your family to settle your estate once you’re gone if it doesn’t go through probate. So, in this episode, I’ll cover 7 things you can do to keep your estate from landing in probate.

Protecting your finances from hackers is more critical than ever. Cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated, accessing sensitive information like social security numbers and attempting to steal directly from financial accounts. I recently experienced this firsthand when someone impersonated one of my clients. The fraudster knew my client’s social security number and tried to withdraw funds under the guise of an emergency. Fortunately, we were suspicious and confirmed the scam before any money was lost. This encounter highlights the importance of being proactive about securing your accounts. That’s why, in this episode, I’ll share seven essential Steps to protect your Schwab accounts from hackers.

Age 59 ½ is the magic age at which you can start taking distributions from retirement accounts without a penalty. This listener is wondering if he can convert part of his IRA to a Roth IRA even though he’s not 59 ½. And if he goes ahead with the conversion, will it be subject to the 10% penalty? Listen to this episode to find out.

It can be overwhelming to think about what you can do to minimize your tax burden. That’s why, in last week’s episode, we covered 7 year-end tax moves for retirees. This week, we’ll tackle what those nearing retirement need to dive into at the end of every calendar year. We all need to be mindful of how our decisions impact our tax burden and this is a great place to start!

Tax planning—and anything related to taxes, in general—isn’t most people’s favorite topic. But because we’re getting toward the end of the year, it’s actually a great time to think about tax planning and all of its benefits. In this episode of Retire with Ryan, I’ll share 7 things you should think about that can (and will) help save you money in retirement.

What financial steps do you need to take during a divorce? How do you figure out what life will look like on the other side? How does splitting your assets actually work? Renée C. Bauer—an experienced family law attorney and mediator—joins me in this conversation to help flesh out the details.