Expert Financial Advice

950+ Free Videos. Real Expert Advice.

FinStream.TV is your trusted source for financial education. Watch certified professionals—CFPs, CPAs, and attorneys—share proven strategies to help you build wealth, reduce debt, and secure your future.

Retirement Planning
401(k)s, IRAs & more
Smart Borrowing
Mortgages & auto loans
Credit & Budgeting
Build your score & save
Tax & Estate
Planning for the future

Watch free on: Amazon Fire TV • Roku • Android TV • Google Play • YouTube

Most Recent Videos

The Medicare Choice You Can't Undo (Medigap vs Advantage Reality)

The Medicare Choice You Can't Undo (Medigap vs Advantage Reality)

In 46 states, enrolling in Medicare Advantage at 65 can permanently lock you out of Medigap. In this episode of FinStream's Decoding Your Money, Katy Votava joins Bob Powell to break down the hidden $12,000 stop-loss risk and how dropped plans trigger guaranteed rights. It is one of the most dangerous assumptions retirees make when turning 65: “I’ll just take the zero-premium Medicare Advantage plan now while I’m healthy. If I get sick down the road, I’ll switch over to original Medicare and Medigap.” In 46 states, you can’t. Unless you live in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, or Maine, your initial six-month open enrollment window at age 65 is your only guaranteed shot at getting Medigap without health questions. Once that window closes, insurers can subject you to medical underwriting. If you develop cancer, heart disease, or a chronic illness, private supplemental carriers can—and routinely do—reject your application. In my latest conversation with Medicare expert Katy Votava, Ph.D. (author of Making the Most of Medicare), we unpacked the true math behind the healthcare decumulation ledger: • The $12,000 Stop-Loss Reality: Why paying ~$2,300 a year for Medigap Plan G caps your total out-of-pocket medical exposure at roughly $5,200, while a “zero-premium” Advantage plan can expose you to more than $12,000 once serious illness strikes. • The Cancellation Golden Ticket: Why the recent wave of insurers dropping Medicare Advantage plans across counties actually triggers a rare federal privilege to buy Medigap with zero health questions. • The Paradox of Choice: Why Medigap plans offering fewer benefits (like Plan B) are often more expensive than comprehensive Plan G. • The 63-Day Moving Trap: Why moving to Florida or Texas without updating your coverage within 63 days can leave you completely uninsurable. Before you or a client finalize open enrollment paperwork before December 7, understand the long-term trade-offs. Try our free MedigapLens too to compare Medicare Supplement Plans @ https://www.finstream.tv/medigaplens/

Should You Retire in New Hampshire?

Should You Retire in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire is famous for its "Live Free or Die" motto, and for retirees, it can look like an absolute tax paradise: zero state income tax on pensions, 401(k)s, or Social Security, no general sales tax, and no state estate tax. Plus, its former tax on interest and dividends has been eliminated. But does that mean moving to New Hampshire will actually lower your cost of living? In this interview, Robert Powell, CFP®, sits down with Jim Guarino, CPA/PFS, Managing Director at Baker Newman Noyes, to break down the total tax burden of retiring in the Granite State—and why steep property taxes and seasonal living costs catch so many out-of-state movers by surprise. Key Discussion Points: 00:00 - Introduction: Is New Hampshire a Retiree Tax Haven? 01:10 - The "Big Three" Perks: No Income Tax, No Sales Tax, No Estate Tax 02:40 - The Catch: Real Estate Taxes at 1.5% to 2%+ of Assessed Value 04:15 - Running a Consulting Practice in Retirement? The BPT & BET Traps 05:35 - Beyond Taxes: Heating Bills, Roof Raking, and Rural Transportation 07:10 - The Portfolio Perk: How Ending the Interest/Dividends Tax Unlocks National Muni Bonds 09:20 - Healthcare Access & Proximity to Boston/Portland 10:45 - How New Hampshire Compares to Its Five New England Neighbors CORE STRATEGIC TAKEAWAYS: • The Property Tax Offset: Because New Hampshire levies no general income or sales tax, municipalities fund services largely through real estate taxes—often running 1.5% to over 2% of home market valuation. • Municipal Bond Flexibility: Because there is no state income or interest/dividends tax, retirees don't have to restrict fixed-income sleeves to in-state municipal bonds; they can buy higher-yielding tax-exempt munis nationwide without state-level penalties. • Check Small Business Levies: Retirees operating side consulting or gig businesses grossing over $109,000 may trigger New Hampshire’s 7.5% Business Profits Tax (BPT) and Business Enterprise Tax (BET). • Evaluate Total Friction: Savings on state income taxes can easily be absorbed by snow removal, winter fuel/heating, and private transportation expenses in rural communities. Subscribe to stay informed on retirement relocation, state tax strategies, and portfolio decumulation. #RetirementPlanning #NewHampshire #StateTaxes #PropertyTaxes #PersonalFinance #Investing #Relocation #FinancialPlanning ```

Medicare Alert: 193 Counties Lose Medicare Advantage Plans - What to Do

Medicare Alert: 193 Counties Lose Medicare Advantage Plans - What to Do

A new analysis from KFF reveals that residents of 193 counties will have no Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plan available for general enrollment in 2027—a sharp increase from 123 counties in 2026. This sudden pullback affects roughly 638,000 Medicare beneficiaries across 16 states. In this interview, Robert Powell, CFP®, sits down with Jae Oh, CFP®, author of "Maximize Your Medicare," to unpack what this market contraction means for affected retirees and explain the critical federal safety nets in place. Key Discussion Points: 00:00 - Introduction: The KFF County-Level Analysis 01:10 - 193 Counties Affected: Why Insurers Are Pulling Back 02:25 - The Federal Safety Net: Guaranteed-Issue Medigap Acceptance 03:55 - Why Original Medicare Alone Leaves You Exposed to Uncapped Medical Bills 05:20 - Overlooked Prescription Relief: The "Extra Help" (LIS) Program 07:00 - Deadlines & Notices: Why You Have Until December 31 to Pick a Replacement 08:40 - Navigating the Medicare.gov Plan Finder KEY STRATEGIC TAKEAWAYS: • The 193-County Desert: KFF data shows a 57% increase in counties with zero general-enrollment MA-PD plans, concentrated across rural areas in 16 states. • Guaranteed-Issue Rights: If your Medicare Advantage plan withdraws from your county, federal regulations guarantee you the right to purchase certain Medigap policies without medical underwriting or denial for pre-existing conditions. • Beware Uncapped Costs: Returning solely to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) leaves you exposed with no annual out-of-pocket maximum, making a Medigap policy and standalone Part D essential. • The Dec. 31 Exception: While general open enrollment closes Dec. 7, enrollees whose plans terminate at year-end receive an extended window through Dec. 31 to finalize standalone Part D drug coverage. Subscribe to stay informed on retirement planning, Medicare optimization, and Social Security strategies. #Medicare #MedicareAdvantage #KFF #Medigap #RetirementPlanning #HealthcareCosts #PartD #OpenEnrollment #PersonalFinance

Decoding Your Money (View all)

The Ultimate Year-End Tax & Wealth Planning Checklist with John Nerserian: DYM Ep13

The Ultimate Year-End Tax & Wealth Planning Checklist with John Nerserian: DYM Ep13

Year-end planning shouldn’t be a reactive scramble in the final days of December. By taking an intentional, checklist-driven approach across taxes, investments, retirement accounts, and estate planning, you can significantly reduce your lifetime tax bill and avoid costly missed opportunities. In this episode, host Bob Powell sits down with longtime friend and wealth planning expert John Nersesian, founder of Nersesian Wealth Education, to break down essential proactive strategies before the calendar flips. In this episode, we cover: Proactive Tax Bracket Management: Marginal rate awareness, bracket stuffing, and managing phase-outs under new tax laws (including SALT caps, Senior Deductions, and QBI). Smart Investment Moves: Tax-loss harvesting rules, navigating the 61-day wash sale window, stock option exercise timing, and the emotional discipline of portfolio rebalancing. Retirement Optimization: Maximizing 401(k) and IRA limits, traditional vs. Roth decisions, utilizing Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as supplemental retirement vehicles, and executing strategic Roth conversions. Distribution & Program Rules: Mandatory RMD timing and penalty reductions, Social Security claiming coordination, and Medicare enrollment choices. Legacy & Philanthropy: Annual gift tax exclusions, 5-year front-loading for 529 plans, "bunching" charitable deductions to beat the standard deduction, and utilizing Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs).

How To Protect Your Kids From Scammers

How To Protect Your Kids From Scammers

In this clip from FinStream's Decoding Your Money Podcast, Nina and Professor Milligan discuss the significance of defining financial goals and the vital need for scam prevention, especially for children in today's digital world. Tune in for essential insights! #FinancialLiteracy #ScamPrevention

Are Your Kids Learning Money from You or TikTok?

Are Your Kids Learning Money from You or TikTok?

Learn how to teach kids about money: earning, spending, saving, investing, and avoiding scams through everyday conversations.

Free Personal Finance Newsletter

Become A FinStreamer! Register for our free weekly eNewsletter with access to exclusive content and programming.

Latest Financial Planning Articles

Latest News