In this episode of Friends Talk Money, we're joined by Phil Moeller, renowned journalist and co-author of Get What’s Yours: The Secrets to Maxing Out Your Social Security. Phil dives into all things Social Security—unpacking the latest changes, what they mean for you, and how to make smart decisions that can boost your retirement benefits.

Topics we cover:

• Key Social Security changes for 2025 and beyond
• How these updates may affect your benefits
• Strategies to optimize your Social Security claiming decisions
• Common mistakes to avoid when planning for retirement

• Social Security: True or False? (Terry Savage)
• Aging in America (Phil Moeller)
• Get What’s Yours (Phil Moeller)
• Social Security (SSA.gov)
• Do you have to pay taxes on your Social Security income? (Wealthramp)

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Ready to explore the world without breaking the bank? The Friends Talk Money crew sat down with Barbara Talisman from Talisman Travel Tribe, who shares her top tips for traveling the world on a shoestring budget! From finding cheap flights to scoring affordable accommodations, Barbara's got you covered. What's your go-to tip for saving money while traveling?

• Where’s Babz Homepage
• Best credit card for travel miles (Terry Savage)
• Medicare and travel (Terry Savage)
• The Senior Nomads
• Richard Eisenberg: How to travel solo in retirement — and save money while doing it (MarketWatch)

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Looking for help this tax season? The Friends Talk Money team welcomes IRS spokesperson Eric Smith to discuss important tax changes and tax planning strategies. As a trusted tax accountant for the IRS, Eric breaks down the difference between tax credits and deductions, and shares valuable insights into new tools ‘direct file’ and ‘free file’ and other crucial matters that could affect your finances. Listen for more informative tips on how you should navigate the complex world of taxes!

• Tax Time, Again - Terry Savage (Terry Savage)
• Welcome to Direct File | Direct File | Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• IRS Free File: Do your taxes for free | Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• Understanding your Form 1099-K (IRS)
• Tax relief for federally declared disaster areas (USA.gov)
• 10 Year-End Tax Planning Strategies to Consider Right Now (Wealthramp)

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Rebuilding your finances after a disaster can feel overwhelming, but you're not alone. The Friends Talk Money crew sits down to learn more from Wealthramp-network advisor Mitchell Freedman, CPA/PFS, who’s lived through this before himself. His personal and practical tips on preparing for and recovering from financial crises are invaluable. Mitch highlights how working with a fee-only fiduciary financial advisor can help those affected by a disaster recover financially. Listen to learn more!

• 8 Ways to Regain Your Financial Footing After a Natural Disaster (AARP)
• Post-Disaster Financial Planning: How to Protect Your Assets (Kiplinger)
• Quicken LifeHub (Terry Savage)
• Terry Savage on the financial effects of Hurricane Milton (WGN)

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Worried whether the stock market is too risky for your retirement money? You’re not alone! We’re going to help you decide how to sleep at night and still invest so you’re money’s working for you. Tune in as the Friends Talk Money team chats with Jim Stack from InvesTech Research to uncover smart strategies for navigating your retirement journey.

• InvesTech Research: "Safety-First" Investment Analysis
• Jim Stack's "Safety-First" Outlook (MoneyShow)
• Breaking Down The Future – Your Retirement Roadmap (Wealthramp)
• Terry Savage: What's in YOUR retirement plan? (Chicago Tribune)
• Are you planning for retirement all wrong? (MarketWatch)

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