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  • She Inherited $1 Million. Then Everything Changed | EP 94
    Oct 22 2026
    What happens when you inherit $1 million but don't know what to do next? For one woman, a simple life insurance beneficiary change opened the door to a bigger conversation about retirement planning, financial security, inheritance planning, and protecting her family's future.In this episode of Make It Personal, host Mark welcomes Catherine Damron of Mutual of Omaha Advisors to share the story of Laura, a recently widowed mother, grandmother, and business owner who was navigating major financial decisions after losing her husband and mother.Laura had received a $1 million inheritance, but she wasn't sure how to make that money work for her retirement, her children, or future generations. She also had old 401(k) accounts, existing investments, and concerns about long-term care expenses after experiencing her mother's care needs firsthand.Through conversations with her financial advisor and attorneys, Laura explored annuity strategies, life insurance, retirement income planning, long-term care protection, and beneficiary updates. What began as a routine paperwork request developed into a coordinated financial plan designed around her goals.If you're managing an inheritance, preparing for retirement, navigating life after losing a spouse, or wondering how to protect your family's financial future, this real-life story offers valuable perspective on why financial clarity matters.What You'll Learn:→ How to approach a $1 million inheritance: Discover how Laura explored allocating half of her inheritance into a growth annuity, with the intention of later transitioning toward retirement income, while working with her financial and legal professionals.→ Why beneficiary reviews matter after major life changes: Learn how a simple life insurance beneficiary update became an opportunity to review Laura's broader financial picture, including her children, grandchildren, and legacy planning goals.→ How life insurance and long-term care planning can work together: Hear why Laura explored an indexed universal life insurance policy with long-term care benefits after witnessing the financial and emotional impact of her mother's care experience.→ Why financial clarity can be as important as financial assets: See how reviewing inherited money, old 401(k)s, retirement goals, business interests, and family protection helped Laura move from uncertainty toward greater peace of mind.Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page-2→ Download the Seven Principles eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitpersonal_podcast/→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors: https://www.facebook.com/MutualofOmahaAdvisorsFB→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/get-connected/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal--Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions. Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.
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    10 Min.
  • Think Like a CFO: Give Every Dollar a Job | EP 93
    Oct 15 2026
    Every dollar in your financial plan should have a job. Some money should pursue long-term growth. Some should remain accessible for emergencies and opportunities. Some should protect your family, and some should provide flexibility when life or financial markets change.In Episode 93 of Make It Personal, Mark Zagurski explains how to approach personal finance like a Chief Financial Officer. A successful CFO does not place every company dollar into the same strategy or judge every financial decision only by its potential return. Instead, they evaluate cash flow, liquidity, risk, growth, protection, and the need to preserve future options.That same CFO mindset can help individuals and families build a more intentional financial plan. Mark also explores where cash value life insurance may fit into that conversation. Life insurance is not designed to replace a stock portfolio, retirement account, or traditional investment. Its primary purpose is protection. Certain policies may also accumulate cash value that can provide an additional source of control, flexibility, or support for future goals.This episode is for anyone wondering whether every financial tool must compete for the highest return, or whether the better question is what specific problem each dollar is meant to solve.What You’ll Learn:→ You’ll learn how a CFO balances growth, cash flow, liquidity, risk, and financial flexibility instead of treating every dollar the same.→ You’ll understand why life insurance should not be evaluated as though it were a stock, retirement account, or traditional investment.→ You’ll discover how certain life insurance policies may build cash value and potentially provide another source of flexibility, access, or legacy planning.→ You’ll learn why costs, commitments, policy rules, and personal goals must be reviewed before deciding whether cash value life insurance has a role in your plan.Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page-2→ Download the Seven Principles eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitpersonal_podcast/→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors: https://www.facebook.com/MutualofOmahaAdvisorsFB→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/get-connected/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal--Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions. Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.
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    5 Min.
  • Your RMD Is Higher Than 4%, Should You Be Worried? | EP 92
    Oct 8 2026
    What happens when your required minimum distribution is higher than the amount your retirement plan says you can safely withdraw? Does that mean you are overspending, or putting yourself at risk of running out of money?For many retirees, a large RMD can feel like the IRS is forcing them to break the 4% rule or abandon their safe withdrawal strategy. But a required minimum distribution is a withdrawal requirement, not a spending requirement. Money may have to leave your traditional IRA or retirement account, but it does not have to leave your financial plan.In this episode of Make It Personal, we explain what to do when RMD rules and safe withdrawal guidelines appear to collide. You’ll learn why an RMD does not automatically increase your lifestyle spending, how excess distributions can be reinvested in a taxable brokerage account, and how proactive tax planning may help manage future required withdrawals.We also discuss partial Roth conversions, qualified charitable distributions, retirement taxes, and why flexible income planning matters more than following one rigid formula. Retirement rules may apply broadly, but your income needs, tax situation, goals, charitable priorities, and definition of financial security are personal.What You’ll Learn:→ Why withdrawal and spending are different: An RMD determines how much must be distributed from a qualifying retirement account. It does not require you to use the entire amount for living expenses.→ How to reinvest an excess RMD: When a distribution is larger than your spending needs, the remaining after-tax money may be invested in a taxable account so it can continue supporting your long-term plan.→ How earlier tax planning may help: Thoughtful partial Roth conversions before RMDs begin may reduce future pre-tax account balances and create additional tax diversification, although the conversion itself can generate taxable income.→ How charitable giving can satisfy an RMD: Eligible IRA owners may use qualified charitable distributions to send money directly to qualifying charities, satisfy part or all of an RMD, and support causes that reflect their values. (IRS)Your appropriate strategy depends on your accounts, income, tax bracket, Medicare considerations, estate plan, goals, and charitable intentions. Coordinate major retirement and tax decisions with qualified financial and tax professionals.Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page-2→ Download the Seven Principles eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitpersonal_podcast/→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors: https://www.facebook.com/MutualofOmahaAdvisorsFB→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/get-connected/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal--Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions. Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.
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    4 Min.
  • Why You Have to Qualify for Life Insurance | EP 91
    Oct 1 2026
    Life insurance is different from many other financial products. Having enough money to pay the premium does not necessarily mean you can obtain any amount of coverage you choose. Before a life insurance policy is issued, applicants generally go through underwriting, a process that evaluates both medical risk and whether the requested coverage makes financial sense.In Episode 91 of Make It Personal, Mark Zagurski explains why life insurance companies may review factors such as your age, health history, lifestyle, income, responsibilities, and financial goals. The purpose is not simply to complete paperwork. Life insurance represents a long-term promise to provide financial protection for the people and plans that depend on you.You will also learn why life insurance is intended to replace financial value rather than create an unexpected windfall, how major life events can change your coverage needs, and why the best time to explore your options may be before a health event occurs.Whether you recently got married, welcomed a child, purchased a home, changed careers, or took on new financial responsibilities, this episode will help you understand how life insurance underwriting fits into a broader financial plan, and why protecting your family is just as important as building wealth.What You’ll Learn→ You’ll learn why life insurance applicants may need to qualify both medically and financially before coverage is approved.→ You’ll understand how underwriting evaluates risk through factors such as age, medical history, lifestyle, income, responsibilities, and financial goals.→ You’ll discover why the amount of life insurance requested should align with the income, contributions, and obligations the coverage is intended to protect.→ You’ll learn why marriage, children, homeownership, career changes, and new responsibilities may be signs that it is time to review your life insurance strategy.Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page-2→ Download the Seven Principles eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitpersonal_podcast/→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors: https://www.facebook.com/MutualofOmahaAdvisorsFB→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/get-connected/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal--Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions. Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.
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    5 Min.
  • Making $3M a Year Didn’t Make Them Feel Secure | EP 90
    Sep 24 2026
    What if making more money did not actually make your financial life feel more secure? In this episode of Make It Personal, we share a real financial planning story about a high-income physician family earning over $3 million a year who still felt pressure from taxes, lifestyle creep, retirement planning, college savings, insurance decisions, and the fear that their income might not last forever.Mutual of Omaha advisor Franklin Mohri joins the show to explain how this family moved from feeling overwhelmed to building a clearer financial plan with better budgeting, advanced tax planning, retirement savings strategies, defined benefit plans, 401(k) planning, life insurance, disability protection, and long-term financial guardrails. This conversation is especially helpful for doctors, physicians, business owners, high-income professionals, and families who earn well but feel unsure about whether they are saving enough, spending too much, paying too much in taxes, or protecting their future. You’ll hear why true financial confidence does not come from income alone, but from knowing your lifestyle, risks, goals, and future are working together.You’ll Learn:→How a physician family earning over $3 million a year still struggled with taxes, spending, and uncertainty about their long-term financial future.→Why lifestyle creep can quietly become one of the biggest risks for high-income professionals, especially when income rises quickly.→How tax planning, retirement accounts, defined benefit plans, budgeting, life insurance, and disability insurance helped create structure and accountability.→Why working with a trusted financial advisor gave this family a clear framework for making major money decisions with more confidence.Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page-2→ Download the Seven Principles eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitpersonal_podcast/→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors: https://www.facebook.com/MutualofOmahaAdvisorsFB→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/get-connected/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal--Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions. Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.
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    21 Min.
  • Could the Social Security Fairness Act Raise Your Benefit? | EP 89
    Sep 17 2026
    Could the Social Security Fairness Act increase your monthly Social Security benefit, or change the retirement income plan you built years ago?For decades, the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset reduced Social Security benefits for many people who also received pensions from work that was not covered by Social Security. Teachers, firefighters, police officers, government employees, spouses, surviving spouses, and people who moved between public- and private-sector careers were often affected.Those two Social Security reduction rules are now gone for benefits payable from January 2024 forward. That means some retirees may receive a higher monthly benefit, a retroactive payment, or access to spousal or survivor benefits that were previously reduced. People who have not applied for benefits may also need to reconsider assumptions that influenced their original retirement strategy.In this episode of Make It Personal, we explain what changed, who may be affected, and why a retirement income plan built under the old Social Security rules deserves another look. Even when the change does not apply directly to you, it may affect a parent, spouse, colleague, client, teacher, firefighter, or former public employee in your life.What You’ll Learn:→ The rules that changed: Understand how the Windfall Elimination Provision affected a worker’s own Social Security retirement benefit and how the Government Pension Offset affected spousal and survivor benefits.→ Who may be affected: Learn why teachers, firefighters, government employees, pension recipients, spouses, widows, widowers, and people with both public- and private-sector work histories should review their eligibility.→ Why your retirement plan may have changed: See how a higher Social Security benefit could affect retirement income projections, withdrawal decisions, pension planning, taxes, and long-term cash flow.→ What to review next: Discover why it may be worth checking your Social Security record, requesting an updated benefit estimate, reviewing your claiming strategy, and discussing the change with a qualified advisor.Benefits depend on individual work records, pension history, eligibility, and claiming circumstances. Confirm your personal information directly with the Social Security Administration before making financial decisions.Connect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page-2→ Download the Seven Principles eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitpersonal_podcast/→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors: https://www.facebook.com/MutualofOmahaAdvisorsFB→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/get-connected/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal--Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions. Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.
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    4 Min.
  • The Financial Habits That Quietly Build Wealth | EP 88
    Sep 10 2026
    Every day, companies compete for your attention and encourage you to spend money. Buy now. Upgrade today. Take advantage of the limited-time offer. Consumer culture is built around transactions, but financial stability and long-term wealth are built through behavior.In Episode 88 of Make It Personal, Mark Zagurski explains why one perfect investment, clever financial hack, or major money decision is unlikely to transform your financial future. Lasting financial confidence usually comes from simple financial habits repeated over time: spending less than you earn, saving before you spend, living below your means, building an emergency fund, increasing retirement contributions, and following your financial plan instead of reacting to every market headline.You will also hear how Mark’s commitment to reaching a daily step goal taught him that motivation comes and goes, but consistent behavior remains. The same principle applies to personal finance. You do not build wealth by making one great decision. You build it by making the next good decision, and then repeating it.This episode is for anyone who feels financially behind, overwhelmed by consumer culture, or distracted by the search for the perfect investment. Your financial future may depend less on one major transaction and more on the small money choices you make every day.What You’ll Learn:→ You’ll learn why high income does not always create financial stability→ How consumer culture encourages spending instead of long-term wealth building→ Why consistent financial habits can matter more than extraordinary investment decisions→ How improving one repeatable money behavior can strengthen your financial confidence over timeConnect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page-2→ Download the Seven Principles eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitpersonal_podcast/→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors: https://www.facebook.com/MutualofOmahaAdvisorsFB→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/get-connected/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal--Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions. Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.
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    6 Min.
  • How to Use College Savings Without Costly Mistakes | EP 87
    Sep 3 2026
    You spent years saving for college. You made regular contributions, watched the account grow, and worked toward the goal of helping your child pay for higher education. Then the first college bill arrived, and a completely different set of financial planning questions began.How do you access your college savings? Which education expenses can the money cover? How should tuition, housing, meal plans, books, technology, fees, and scholarships work together? What receipts and financial records should you keep? And who can help you understand the withdrawal rules before you start using the account?In Episode 87 of Make It Personal, Mark Zagurski shares what his own family learned when their oldest child started college. The accumulation phase may be complete, but the utilization phase is just beginning. For parents preparing to pay college expenses, having money available is only one part of the plan. Using those savings thoughtfully, documenting expenses, coordinating scholarships, and getting guidance from a financial advisor or tax professional can be just as important as the years spent saving.This episode is for parents with a child in college, families approaching the first tuition payment, and anyone wondering how college savings fit into a larger financial plan.What You’ll Learn:→ You’ll learn why college planning has both an accumulation phase and a utilization phase→ Which education expenses families should review before withdrawing money→ How scholarships and college savings may need to be coordinated→ Why receipts, documentation, withdrawal timing, and professional guidance can matter once college beginsConnect with Mutual of Omaha Advisors through the following links:→ Download The Game of the Decade eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page-2→ Download the Seven Principles eBook: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/free-ebook-page?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makeitpersonal_podcast/→ Facebook - Mutual of Omaha Advisors: https://www.facebook.com/MutualofOmahaAdvisorsFB→ Sign Up For a Free Financial Strategy Meeting: https://makeitpersonalpodcast.com/get-connected/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=allplatforms&utm_mediacode=FCF&utm_campaign=makeitpersonal--Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult with the appropriate professional regarding your personal situation prior to making any financial decisions. Strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone. Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.
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    6 Min.