Tag: Retirement Planning
Medicare Made Simple: Understanding Coverage, Costs, and IRMAA with Julie Brajenovich (Ep. 11)

Medicare Made Simple: Understanding Coverage, Costs, and IRMAA with Julie Brajenovich (Ep. 11)

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Medicare enrollment feels overwhelming even for financially confident individuals. With 11,000 people turning 65 daily, the complexity of choosing the right plan, understanding hidden costs, and maintaining access to care creates real anxiety.

In this episode, Kevin Swanson and Todd Barney sit down with Julie Brajenovich, Agency Owner at Senior Life Matters, Inc., to demystify the Medicare process. Julie walks through initial enrollment periods, the difference between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, how IRMAA impacts costs based on income from two years prior, and why annual review matters as doctors retire and medical groups change. She explains why working with an independent agent costs nothing out of pocket while providing access to all available plans instead of just one carrier’s offerings.

Julie discusses:

  • Why Medicare creates anxiety regardless of financial status, and how early planning alleviates overwhelm
  • The HSA contribution penalty timeline and when to sign up for Medicare Part A versus delaying Part B
  • How Medicare Advantage plans work county by county, while supplements offer nationwide flexibility
  • Why IRMAA lookback periods catch retirees off guard, and how to appeal incorrect income assessments
  • The critical importance of annual plan reviews as access to care becomes increasingly challenging

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Connect with Julie Brajenovich:

About our guest:

Julie Brajenovich is the Agency Owner of Senior Life Matters, Inc., where she specializes in helping clients navigate the complexities of Medicare enrollment and planning. With her motto “Medicare Made Simple,” Julie works to demystify a system that overwhelms even financially confident individuals approaching retirement. Licensed in 10 states and leading a large team of agents, she provides independent guidance across all available Medicare plans without charging clients for her services. Julie’s approach focuses on early planning, understanding individual healthcare needs, and providing year-round support to ensure clients maintain appropriate coverage as their situations evolve. Her expertise includes Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, IRMAA planning, and helping clients maintain access to care during annual enrollment periods.

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Planning for Dementia Before It’s Too Late with The Dementia Whisperer, Laura Wayman (Ep. 3)

Planning for Dementia Before It’s Too Late with The Dementia Whisperer, Laura Wayman (Ep. 3)

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What if your most important financial plan isn’t about growth, but caregiving?

In this emotionally powerful episode, hosts Kevin Swanson and Todd Barney sit down with The Dementia Whisperer, Laura Wayman, to explore how dementia reshapes families financially, emotionally, and spiritually. 

With over 20 years of experience, Laura shares wisdom on how to spot early warning signs, navigate denial, create “positive action statements,” and prepare for the profound role reversal that caregiving demands.

What to expect:

  • Why dementia symptoms are more than memory loss
  • How to use emotional intelligence to protect dignity
  • Financial implications of long-term care and what insurance doesn’t cover
  • How to preserve family stories and legacy before it’s too late
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Potentia Wealth:

Connect with Laura Wayman:

About Our Guest:

Laura Wayman helps families and professionals deal with one of the most horrific illnesses of our time.

She is the author of “A Loving Approach to Dementia Care,” (now in its third edition, a 36-Hour Day Book), published by Johns Hopkins University Press. She has more than a decade of experience in and a strong dedication to quality aging. She is a professional dementia care consultant, trainer, the CEO of The Dementia Whisperers and a speaker on dementia and issues of aging.

Prior to becoming a full-time professional speaker, Laura was a successful entrepreneur. She built a senior care empire from the ground up, relying on her deep understanding of the crushing responsibility a family or professional caregiver faces in the demanding role of providing dementia care to a loved one or client.

For more information on Laura’s resources and training services for family caregivers and professional caregivers, visit laurawayman.com. 

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