Brent Meyer, Founder of SafeMoney.com, sits down with Paul R. Lowe, founder of TriMark3 Insurance, to discuss his relationship-based, experience-driven approach to retirement planning. With a strong focus on integrity, client education, and safe financial strategies, Paul helps families navigate the ups and downs of life with confidence and clarity.
In this Spotlight Series interview, Brent Meyer, Founder of SafeMoney.com, speaks with Paul R. Lowe of TriMark3 Insurance about his decades-long commitment to helping others achieve financial peace of mind. From Million Dollar Round Table recognition to a lifetime of service-oriented values, Paul shares how personal connection, practical guidance, and safe options help clients build a retirement they can trust.
Brent Meyer: Paul, thank you for joining us for this edition of the SafeMoney.com Spotlight Series. Let’s start with your approach—what guides the way you help people prepare for retirement?
Paul R. Lowe: I’ve always had a heart for helping others. With years of experience in the financial industry, I’ve learned that listening first is key. Retirement planning isn’t about pushing products—it’s about people. When you take the time to understand someone’s goals, needs, and concerns, the right solutions follow. Read More
Brent Meyer, Founder of SafeMoney.com, sits down with the team at Guardian Investment Advisors to explore their comprehensive, education-first approach to retirement planning. With a commitment to fiduciary standards and personalized guidance, Guardian helps clients not just retire—but retire confidently.
In this Spotlight Series interview, Brent Meyer, Founder of SafeMoney.com, speaks with the team at Guardian Investment Advisors about their values-driven, education-first philosophy in helping clients navigate retirement. With a commitment to the fiduciary standard and a focus on comprehensive, personalized financial strategies, Guardian stands out for its ability to help clients not just get to retirement—but thrive in it.Read More
Brent Meyer, Founder of SafeMoney.com, sits down with Marlene Woodyard, Principal Owner of Woodyard Insurance Group, to explore how her holistic, values-based approach is helping pre-retirees and retirees across South Carolina navigate retirement with confidence. With a deep commitment to client education and financial empowerment, Marlene shares what sets her team apart—and why planning for tomorrow starts with understanding what matters most today.
In this Spotlight Series interview, Brent Meyer, Founder of SafeMoney.com, speaks with Marlene Woodyard, Principal Owner of Woodyard Insurance Group, about her holistic, values-driven approach to retirement planning. With expertise in Medicare, long-term care, estate strategies, and guaranteed income solutions, Marlene shares how she helps clients align their financial plans with their personal goals. Through education, integrity, and personalized guidance, Marlene empowers individuals to “Plan more. Worry less.™️” and face retirement with lasting confidence and clarity.Read More
Kevin M. Smith, founder of KMS Safe Money Solutions, shares how his fiduciary, education-driven approach helps clients reduce taxes, plan for healthcare, and retire with confidence. In this exclusive Spotlight Series interview, Kevin explains why ethics, ongoing education, and personalized planning are the foundation of a successful retirement.
In this Spotlight Series interview, Brent Meyer, Founder of SafeMoney.com, speaks with Kevin M. Smith, founder of KMS SafeMoney Solutions, about his fiduciary, education-first approach to retirement planning. With a deep understanding of tax reduction, healthcare planning, and income protection, Kevin shares how he helps clients retire with confidence and clarity. Through ongoing education, ethical guidance, and truly personalized strategies, Kevin empowers individuals to make informed decisions and protect their financial future—without pressure or confusion.Read More
Interview by Brent Meyer, Founder of SafeMoney.com
In this Spotlight Series interview, Brent Meyer, Founder of SafeMoney.com, speaks with Carl Wyllie, President of Hartland Benefits Inc., about his honest, research-driven approach to retirement planning. With over 30 years of experience helping Nebraskans prepare for the future, Carl shares how he empowers clients through education, personalized strategies, and a deep commitment to doing what’s right. From lottery winners to market crash survivors, Carl’s stories reveal the power of planning with integrity, realism, and long-term care at heart. Read More
Interview by Brent Meyer, Founder of SafeMoney.com
In this Spotlight Series interview, Brent Meyer, Founder of SafeMoney.com, speaks with Frank Passmore, founder of Certified Planners Group, LLC, about his faith-based approach to retirement planning. With nearly 30 years of experience and over 2,000 families served, Frank shares how he helps retirees and pre-retirees reduce market risk, plan for long-term care needs, and create lasting income—while staying true to his core values of trust, transparency, and prayerful guidance.Read More
An Interview with Steven Suib, RICP® — Protecting Retirement Income with Purpose
Brent Meyer, Founder of SafeMoney.com, sits down with Steven Suib, RICP®, founder of Preservation Wealth Management, to discuss how he helps pre-retirees and retirees navigate today’s complex financial landscape. With decades of experience, a fiduciary standard of care, and a results-driven income planning approach, Steven shares his mission to protect the retirement income his clients rely on—while empowering them to enjoy the lifestyle they’ve worked so hard to build.
Brent Meyer: Steven, thanks for joining us. Let’s start with your overall approach. What kind of clients do you typically work with, and how do you help them?
Steven Suib: Thanks, Brent—it’s great to be here. I work with individuals and couples who are either already retired or approaching retirement. Most of them are looking to reduce market exposure, but they still want their money to grow in a way that supports their long-term goals. That’s where our approach comes in—we combine safe money strategies with market-based solutions to help create dependable income streams that are designed to last a lifetime and grow with inflation. Read More
Brent Meyer, founder of SafeMoney, interviews Derick S. Buckley, a certified IFW financial professional and the principal of The Buckley Insurance Group, LLC. In this discussion, they delve into Derick’s unique approach to retirement planning, his commitment to client success, and his insights on the industry.
Spotlight interview with Brent Meyer and Derick Buckley
Brent Meyer: Derick, thank you for joining me today. Let’s start with your retirement planning philosophy. What’s the core principle that drives your approach?
Derick Buckley: Thank you, Brent. Our philosophy is simple: financial education goes beyond numbers. It’s about helping people ‘Get There’ and live their best lives in retirement. We strive to provide clear, unbiased, fact-based financial guidance and solutions that allow our clients to enjoy retirement without the stress of running out of money.
Brent Meyer: That’s a powerful vision. Your agency is well-regarded for its client-first approach. Can you tell us about your experience and the reputation you’ve built? Read More
👤Authored by Terry Coleman, a financial expert with extensive experience in retirement planning and annuities. Discover more about my background and expertise here.
Retirement planning is like managing a farming operation—it requires careful consideration, strategy, and a good understanding of the market dynamics. Just as a farmer decides when to buy or sell cattle based on market conditions, investors must determine the best strategies to protect and grow their retirement savings. Annuities are a crucial tool in this regard, providing guaranteed income and mitigating risks like inflation, taxes, long-term care costs, and market volatility. But with various types of annuities available, deciding which is right for you can be overwhelming. This article will explore different types of annuities and why they might be the best fit for your retirement needs, focusing on guaranteed growth, zero market risk, life income, and legacy planning.
Understanding the Basics: What is an Annuity?
An annuity is a financial product that provides a steady stream of income, typically during retirement. It involves a contract with an insurance company where you pay a lump sum or series of payments in exchange for periodic payments that can last for a specific number of years or the rest of your life. The primary appeal of annuities is the promise of a guaranteed income, which can help you navigate financial uncertainties like inflation, taxes, and long-term care costs.
The Accumulation Phase: Setting the Stage for Retirement
Think of the accumulation phase as the period when a farmer invests in his herd, buying cows when prices are low and selling when they are high. During this phase, which usually spans most of your working years, you can afford to take some risks to grow your savings. However, as you approach retirement—typically three to five years out—it’s crucial to shift your focus from high-risk, high-reward investments to more moderate or conservative assets. This transition is akin to the farmer deciding to hold onto his herd and invest in their upkeep when beef prices drop.
This is where annuities come into play, particularly fixed annuities and indexed annuities. Fixed annuities offer a predictable, guaranteed return, shielding your investment from market volatility—a vital feature for those nearing retirement who can’t afford to lose their hard-earned savings. Indexed annuities, on the other hand, provide a balance between risk and reward by linking returns to a market index like the S&P 500. This allows for some growth potential while still offering zero market risk—your principal investment is protected even if the market takes a downturn. Read More
Find planning for retirement a little daunting — and perhaps frustrating? To help boil things down, we are bringing experts from all corners of the retirement and insurance spaces to give you high-level insights for your financial confidence and security. In this SafeMoney.com Spotlight Series interview, Kim O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer of the Federation of Americans for Consumer Choice (FACC), joins us to talk about retirement trends, annuities, life insurance, long-term care, and evolving regulations affecting insurance products.
This is a wide-ranging interview talking about all of the choices available to you, past and upcoming innovations in the annuity and insurance markets, how satisfied that annuity and insurance customers truly are with their policies, how you can build a truly well-diversified plan to handle today’s hard-to-predict risks, and much more!
Start a Conversation About Your Retirement What-Ifs
Start a Conversation About Your Retirement What-Ifs
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What Independent Guidance Does for You
What Independent Guidance
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Stories from Others
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