Don Sowa's MoneyTalk

Government programs are often complicated, and social security is a prime example. Donna and Nathan discuss some advanced social security questions, including whether claiming your social security benefit disqualifies...

The F.I.R.E. movement (Financially Independent, Retiring Early) is a growing lifestyle trend which emphasizes making extreme financial sacrifices today to set yourself up for an early retirement. Donna discusses some of...

Life is full of issues that are important, but not urgent, and one way to stop yourself from kicking the can down the road is through a well developed financial plan. Nathan discusses some of the key components of a...

Since the passing of the SECURE Act 2.0, the IRS age trigger for required minimum distributions has been raised to 73, but having a little extra time to grow your assets doesn’t necessarily mean there will be more money...

For this emerging generation of first-time homebuyers, it is becoming more common to see parents offering their kids a financial boost to even the playing field. Donna and Nathan discuss the pros and cons of gifting...

Buying a second home is on the retirement bucket list for many of us, but what looks good on paper doesn’t always pan out in reality. Donna discusses some considerations for those looking to purchase a second home in...

If you are one of the millions of Americans who doesn’t have a will, trust, or other estate planning tool in place, your assets are left at the mercy of the laws of the state in which you live, which can lead to...

Mortgage rates have crept back up to three-year highs, and the pressure that has plagued home buyers is now catching up to the other side of the transaction. Donna and Nathan discuss how home sellers are having to make...

Making mistakes just means you're human, and they can be a powerful learning tool, but survival depends on avoiding those mistakes that cannot be fixed. Donna and Nathan discuss four retirement mistakes that can't be...

With bond yields on the rise in 2026, we've seen renewed interest in active fixed income funds, but these funds can vary broadly in their risk exposure, and may not look as impressive relative to inflation. Donna and...

Henry Ford is credited for his innovative use of the assembly line, his obsession with maximizing efficiency, and creating the five day work week, but there’s a much darker layer to Ford’s legacy highlighted by abuse...

That 10 year stretch of time leading up to retirement is a critical period when your strategic retirement plan gets accelerated to get you to your goal, and how you choose to focus your efforts and resources will make...

When dealing with insurance companies it can often feel the chips are stacked against you, and it’s the insurance adjuster’s job to even the scales. Nathan welcomes Andy Gurczak, Founder and CEO of Allcity Adjusting...

Financial advisors live in a world of numbers, but when it comes to determining client suitability and risk tolerance, a fiduciary must go beyond the numbers to explore the qualitative factors that drive decision...

You have likely heard of the three primary US stock indices, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P500 and the Nasdaq, but many people don’t have a clear understanding of which they should be following, and when...