The 4 Retirement Futures & Smart Gifting Strategies – In the Know with Craig Bolanos

In this episode of In the Know with Craig Bolanos, we discuss the four potential retirement futures you must plan for, including expected, feared, disciplined, and transformed retirement. We also cover advanced gifting strategies, tax-efficient wealth transfer, and how to create income and flexibility in retirement. Whether you’re a retiree, pre-retiree, or investor, this episode will help you future-proof your retirement plan and make smarter financial decisions for your family. About In the Know with Craig Bolanos Hosted by Craig Bolanos, Co-Founder and Wealth Advisor of VestGen Wealth Partners, this radio show brings you practical insights on investment, market trends, and strategies to help you get retired and stay retired. Learn More & Connect Visit: https://hubs.ly/Q04bGylJ0 Follow VestGen on LinkedIn: https://hubs.ly/Q04bGvmy0 Listen to more episodes: https://hubs.ly/Q04bKNtl0 00:00 – Show Intro & Disclosures 00:20 – Welcome to In the Know 01:00 – Why Retirement Planning Must Be Holistic 02:00 – The 4 Retirement Futures Overview 02:20 – Future #1: Expected Retirement (Planning Basics) 04:00 – Future #2: Feared Retirement (Job Loss, Health Risks) 06:30 – Contingency Planning: Plan B, C & D 08:00 – Future #3: Disciplined Retirement (Spending vs Saving) 09:30 – Why Retirees Struggle to Spend Their Money 10:30 – Gifting During Your Lifetime vs At Death 12:00 – Future #4: Transformed Retirement (Life Surprises) 13:30 – Gray Divorce & Late-Life Changes 15:00 – Cash Flow Planning vs Goals-Based Planning 16:00 – Guardrails Strategy for Retirement Spending 17:30 – The Problem with Online Retirement Calculators 19:00 – Inflation, Longevity & Market Assumptions 20:00 – Multi-Generational Planning Explained 21:00 – Random Acts of Kindness (RAKs) & Family Support 22:30 – Gifting Strategies: Roth IRAs, 529 Plans & Trump Accounts 24:30 – Structured Gifting & Annual Gift Exclusion 26:30 – Tax-Efficient Gifting with Appreciated Assets 28:30 – Lifetime Gift Exemption Explai

Added 14 Apr 2026