Retire SMART Podcast

What does it take to deliver consistent, high-level financial advice? In this episode, David and Director of Wealth Management, Josh Cheatle, break down their unique training system, collaborative planning process, and why no single advisor works alone. The result: faster learning, smarter strategies, and a better experience for every client.

Kicking off with basketball tournament hype and Midwest momentum, the conversation quickly turns to bigger stakes—geopolitics, market swings, and investor behavior. As headlines around Iran and market corrections intensify, we break down what’s noise versus what actually matters for your portfolio. A must-listen for keeping perspective in unpredictable times.

We kick things off with a nod to Midwest grit—after Nebraska ranks among the top states for work ethic—and dive into why that reputation is attracting major investment, including massive new data center projects from companies like Google. But with growth comes big questions: energy demand, infrastructure, and whether taxpayers truly benefit.

Will the Federal Reserve be dissolved or absorbed into the treasury department? How concerned should we be about projections that social security and Medicare have less than a decade of solvency remaining? And is now a good time to buy a new car? David Brooks has answers to these questions in today’s Q&A episode.

Today, we welcome back Financial Advisor, Sean Swanson. From “travel” and “brackets” to “slam dunks” and “second-half adjustments,” we translate court-side concepts into real-world strategies for retirement, tax planning, and avoiding costly mistakes. It’s a fun, insightful conversation that shows how the right game plan—on or off the court—can make all the difference.

We start with a little plug-in for “Tax Madness”—a series of high octane videos, breaking down a bracket of 64 everyday taxes to determine which one Americans hate the most. Then we shift to the global stage, unpacking rising tensions in the Middle East, oil market volatility, and what it could mean for the economy here at home. Plus, we dive into inflation data, warning signs in credit markets, and whether comparisons to 2008 hold any real weight.

In this episode, we tackle a major local headline as Omaha considers a new downtown stadium project—and what it could mean for taxpayers, businesses, and the future of the city. From there, we shift to national trends, breaking down interstate migration, tax policy shifts, and why high earners and major companies are relocating across the country. Plus, we explore new wealth-building opportunities for the next generation, including emerging account strategies that could dramatically impact long-term financial security.

During this time of geopolitical unrest and war, what is Retire SMART doing to prepare their clients’ portfolios? If China and Japan are selling American debt, how will that affect our investments? And how far will Nebraska go in the NCAA tournament? David Brooks has answers to these questions in today’s Q&A episode.

Today, we sit down with estate planning attorney Colin Kastrick to break down the critical decisions business owners can’t afford to get wrong—from entity selection to buying and selling a business the right way. We also dive into powerful tax strategies around charitable giving, including how donor-advised funds can maximize impact while minimizing tax liability. If you want to keep more of what you earn and build smarter long-term wealth, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

David and Chip break down rising geopolitical tensions and what they really mean for global oil markets, from tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz to the surprising signals coming out of futures pricing. Then, they zoom out to the big picture—exploring how AI, shifting labor trends, and demographics could reshape productivity and the future of work. Plus, a look at tax policy headlines and a cautionary tale on wealth, as even a $100 million career doesn’t guarantee financial security.