Tag: Retirement Planning
Building a Business, Planning an Exit, and Finding Freedom with Stan Vuckovich (Ep. 17)

Building a Business, Planning an Exit, and Finding Freedom with Stan Vuckovich (Ep. 17)

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What does it take to build a business that lasts, then step away with purpose? 

For many owners, the harder question isn’t how to grow, it’s how to know what comes next.

In this episode, Kevin Swanson talks with Stan Vuckovich, Retired CEO at KBM-Hogue, about building a company through discipline, leadership, and long-term relationships. Stan shares how he grew through downturns, planned his exit, used surfing as a stress outlet, and found meaning in giving back after retirement.

Stan discusses:

  • How an early furniture job helped shape a lifelong entrepreneurial mindset
  • Why leadership during downturns requires sacrifice, presence, and shared commitment
  • How Vistage helped him think beyond daily work and plan for life after ownership
  • Why surfing became a grounding outlet during stressful business seasons
  • How retirement shifted his focus toward freedom, family, community, and giving back
  • And more!

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About our guest:

Stan spent his entire 41-year career at KBM Hogue, ultimately selling the office furniture company and retiring in 2023. During his career, Stan was able to leverage his sales and marketing focus to grow KBM from $8,000,000 in annual sales with 14 employees to $150,000,000 in sales out of 3 Northern California locations with a staff of 140 employees. At San José State, Stan was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, including serving as President in 1985. The Pikes were the largest fraternity at SJSU during the 80’s with a large contingent of alumni living in the Bay Area. Stan was a member of the San José Downtown Association board for a decade, including a 2-year term as board president. Stan feels SJSU provided him with an opportunity to connect and grow and created a great springboard for his career. He looks forward to giving back to the university through his work on the Tower Foundation Board.

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The Hard Conversations Around Aging Parents and Senior Care with Keri Landrum (Ep. 16)

The Hard Conversations Around Aging Parents and Senior Care with Keri Landrum (Ep. 16)

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Aging care decisions can feel urgent, emotional, and unclear, especially when safety and independence are both on the line.

How do families know when home is still safe, when help is needed, and what care option fits best?

In this episode, Kevin Swanson speaks with Keri Landrum, Owner and Assisted Living Placement Consultant at Next Steps for Seniors, about helping families make senior care decisions with clarity and compassion. Keri shares what often triggers the need for support, how she assesses care needs, and why each senior living option must match the person, not just the category.

Keri discusses:

  • How one health event can shift a family’s care plan from assumed to urgent
  • Why meeting the person matters more than relying only on paperwork
  • Signs that in-home care may no longer cover daily safety needs
  • How families can protect independence while still addressing red flags
  • Why cost, care needs, and community fit all matter in senior living choices
  • And more!

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Connect with Keri Landrum:

About our guest:

Keri Landrum is the owner of Next Steps for Seniors LLC and holds a Master’s Degree in Gerontology. With over 30 years of experience advocating for seniors in Santa Clara County, she helps individuals and families understand care options outside the home, including assisted living, memory care, and board and care. Through personal assessments, community tours, admission support, and follow-up visits, Keri focuses on finding the right fit based on each person’s care needs, location, budget, social factors, and preferred level of activity. Her work is rooted in individualized attention, compassion, and helping families make thoughtful decisions during often emotional transitions.

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Finding Financial Confidence Through Life’s Biggest Transitions with Shannon Corpuz (Ep. 15)

Finding Financial Confidence Through Life’s Biggest Transitions with Shannon Corpuz (Ep. 15)

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Big life changes can leave people feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, and afraid to make the wrong financial decisions.

How do you rebuild confidence when life suddenly looks different? And how can financial clarity help reduce stress and anxiety during major transitions?

In this episode, Kevin Swanson sits down with Shannon Corpuz, Financial Advisor at Potentia Wealth, to discuss the emotional side of financial planning and the importance of financial literacy. Shannon shares how her background in HR and ethical leadership shaped her approach to helping clients through divorce, widowhood, retirement, and career transitions. 

She also explains why empathy, education, and understanding are essential when guiding people toward financial confidence and long-term clarity.

Key takeaways:

  • Helping newly single clients rebuild confidence through education, planning, and emotional support
  • Why financial literacy reduces fear, uncertainty, and stress during major life transitions
  • Supporting women navigating careers, caregiving responsibilities, and financial independence
  • How empathy and understanding help create meaningful financial plans that clients can believe in
  • The connection between financial confidence, emotional wellbeing, and long-term peace of mind
  • And more!

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Connect with Shannon Corpuz:

About our guest:

Shannon Corpuz is a Financial Advisor at Potentia Wealth with more than a decade of wealth advisory experience and a 25-year background in human resources. She is passionate about helping clients build financial confidence through education, empathy, and thoughtful planning, especially during major life transitions like divorce, widowhood, retirement, and career changes. Shannon combines financial guidance with emotional understanding, helping clients feel informed and supported as they move forward. She also holds a master’s degree in Ethical Leadership and is dedicated to creating meaningful relationships built on trust, clarity, and compassion.

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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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