planning

March Madness Retirement Lessons

It’s an annual tradition! Well, except for 2020 when the tournament was cancelled. But it’s time to look at the NCAA tournament and see what kind of financial planning lessons we can learn from it.

Obsolete Retirement Planning Ideas

Just like your iPhone or your computer can become obsolete and need to be replaced, the way that some people think about retirement is obsolete and needs to be replaced. Let’s talk about some outdated ideas that people still cling to.

You Say One Thing, But You Do Another

We’ve found that—for a lot of people—what they say and what they do don’t necessarily match. Let’s look at some examples in the financial world where you might be saying one thing, but your behavior indicates something different, and you don’t even realize it.

5 Most Common “Pain Points” In Your Financial Life

When it comes to financial planning, everybody has some kind of pain point. Those pain points are different for each person, but everyone has something that bothers them. Kyle tells us about some times where he’s helped clients through these frustrating areas.

Professional Focus

Since 2014, Kyle has helped pre-retirees reduce taxes, invest smarter, and retire on their terms. As MOKAN’s founder and principal advisor, he is our clients’ go-to partner for tax-efficient retirement planning and investment management. Whether he’s teaching a room full of pre-retirees at a retirement education class or visiting with clients one-on-one, his objective is to help others pursue their retirement goals in a way that supports their best interests.

Many of his clients previously worked with (what Kyle calls) “disguised financial advisors” who offered them a stack of statements, a diversified pie chart, hidden and confusing fee schedules—and no real plan. Kyle’s goal is to provide massive value to pre-retirees through comprehensive, tax-efficient retirement planning and investment management.

WHAT KYLE DOES DIFFERENTLY

Kyle believes the financial industry is structurally flawed, and consequently, pre-retirees are not properly educated or prepared for their transition into retirement. That’s why he takes a “K.I.S.S.” approach to planning—he makes everything as simple and straightforward as possible—meaning no surprises, no hidden fees, and no fancy jargon or investment terms.

PUBLICATIONS

Kyle has a distinct passion for retirement education, and from the start of his career, his objective has been to teach pre-retirees how to be proactive and take charge of their financial futures. In 2017, he founded Retire Ready Academy, an educational program that teaches pre-retirees and retirees about tax-efficient retirement planning, Social Security, and investment management. In 2020, he published his book, Retire Ready, and today he contributes regularly to Kiplinger and Rethinking 65.

THE KYLE NINE

Kyle lives in Overland Park with his beautiful (and incredibly patient) wife Amy and their three young children, Jovee, Jace, and Jordyn.
Kyle and Amy met while attending K-State but didn’t start dating until six years later when Amy was about to leave the country for two years.
Kyle’s dog Murphy once ate 24 chocolate-chip cookies in one sitting—and lived to tell the tale!
Kyle and Amy enjoy staying active and going to the gym together whenever possible. (Their biggest incentive? The gym’s free two-hour daycare.)
When thinking of a name for his first child, Kyle remembered a unique name from the Christmas movie, Elf—and now Jovee Hammerschmidt is the new head of the household.
Kyle has an incurable sweet tooth. He will never turn down a fresh batch of cookies or a trip to get ice cream.
Kyle is an avid Dallas Cowboys fan and tries to attend the Thanksgiving Day game every year. When he was 12, he had heart surgery in a Cowboys-sponsored hospital and got to visit the players.
His favorite date-night spots are Bristol and J. Gilbert’s.
Kyle’s favorite place in the world is his home.