Category Archives: Finance

Episode 9 –  What to Do If You Lose Your Income



Losing your job is scary. Not knowing where your next paycheck is coming from is scarier.

In this episode, Mike Klauke explains how he helps his clients prepare for the worst so they are never left wondering how to pay for everyday expenses.

In this episode, you will learn:

  • The first steps that Mike takes with a client who has lost their income
  • What short-term adjustments you should make in your expenses while you are looking for new employment
  • How a lump sum severance package will impact your taxes and how to maneuver that
  • How to deal with your retirement accounts when you lose your income
  • And more!

Tune in to hear Mike Klauke’s insight about what to do if you lose your income.

Resources:  Klauke Financial and Investment Services


Episode 8 – 7 Things You Should Know Before Starting Your 401(k)



One of the most popular and well-known retirement plans is the 401(k). However, if you don’t understand how to get started with your 401(k) — or how to make the most of it once you have one — then they can be confusing.

In this episode of Financial Heartbeat Podcast, Mike Klauke shares his insight about the seven things you should know before starting your 401(k).

In this episode, you will learn:

  • Why you should continually review your plan contributions to help bring your taxable income down
  • The role of the fiduciary when it comes to the mechanical planning in a retirement plan
  • How safe harbor plans help both the business owner and the employee
  • The benefits of profit sharing for both business owner and employee, and how profit sharing works
  • The importance of being able to explain your retirement plan to employees in a way that they understand
  • And more!

Tune in and learn how to use your 401(k) to its fullest potential!

Resources:  Klauke Investments and Insurance Services


Episode 7 – How to Pick the Best Retirement Plan for Your Business



Are you thinking about offering your employees a retirement plan?

Mike Klauke is here to help you pick the best retirement plan for your business. In this episode, Mike walks you through questions to ask yourself before committing to a plan and explains which options are available.

In this episode, you will learn:

  • Why Mike’s expertise as a business owner gives him a unique view on what would be best for his clients
  • Why the first question to ask yourself is “What can I afford?”
  • How to understand which plan is right for your business and employees
  • The difference between various retirement plans and how Mike works with you to get the most out of your plan for the lowest cost
  • And more!

Tune in to learn about business retirement plans and how to make them work for you!

Resources:  Klauke Investments and Insurance Services

 


Episode 6 – The Biggest Tax Conundrums From the 2018 Filing Season



The changes in 2018 tax laws were supposed to make filing your taxes simpler, but a lot of people were left more confused than ever.

In this episode of Financial Heartbeat Podcast, Mike Klauke uncovers the tax conundrums that happened to many American families when filing taxes this year.

In this episode, you will learn:

  • Why the size of your tax refund may not necessarily reflect the amount of taxes you paid in 2018
  • Why thinking of your tax return as a “forced savings” is problematic
  • Why you should find out if your plan is eligible for an HSA and prioritize funding that account
  • Tips to organize your finances in order to keep as much of your money as possible
  • How to maneuver tax changes as a business owner
  • And more!

Tune in with Mike Klauke and learn how to maneuver new tax laws to make the most of your money!

Resources: Klauke Investments and Insurance Services


Episode 5 – Retirement Planning Part 2: Retirement Fears



The thought of retirement, like all unknowns in life, can be scary. In part two of his series on retirement planning, Mike Klauke discusses the fears pre-retirees and retirees face throughout retirement — and how to combat them.

In this episode, you will learn:

  • How to financially prepare so you don’t outlive your money
  • The importance of reviewing your Medicare coverage annually, once you qualify, to ensure it is meeting your needs
  • How to plan for volatility when it comes to the rising cost of living
  • The difference between Mike’s “go-go,” slow-go,” and “no-go” stages of retirement
  • Why you will spend more money than you expect in the early years of retirement

Tune in now and overcome your retirement fears with Mike Klauke!

Resources:  Klauke Investments and Insurance Services |  Episode4: Is Now the Time to Retire?


Episode 4 – Is Now the Time to Retire?



Many factors contribute to the decision to retire.

In this episode of The Financial Heartbeat Podcast, Mike Klauke covers the biggest questions clients have about retirement, starting with, “Is this the time for me to retire?”

In this episode, you will learn:

  • The most popular questions clients ask Mike about timing their retirement
  • How a certain date or life event may impact the decision to retire (or not retire yet)
  • Why Mike says it’s important to have enough money saved to retire only once
  • How fear tends to affect people’s decisions to retire
  • The two most important things to look at when considering retirement

Tune in today and have your retirement questions answered by Mike Klauke!

Resources:  Klauke Investments and Insurance Services


Episode 3 – Meet Jerry Beyer of Big Boar Barbecue and More



Mike Klauke is a staple of the La Crosse, Wisconsin area, and in this episode of The Financial Heartbeat podcast, he sits down with another La Crosse institution, Jerry Beyer of Big Boar Barbecue and More!

In this episode, you will learn:

  • How Jerry came to live and work in the La Crosse area when he saw a need for his service
  • The process of opening his restaurant, from the beginning stages of a cook shack to a fully functioning barbecue restaurant
  • The ups and downs of opening a restaurant in an area that already supports local eateries
  • How Jerry gives back to the community through fundraiser campaigns
  • And more!

Get to know Jerry Beyer, founder of Big Boar Barbecue and More, in this episode of The Financial Heartbeat podcast!

Resources:  Klauke Investments and Insurance Services | Big Boar Barbecue and More


Episode 2 – Tackling Tax Preparation — with guest Tammy Becker of Becker Tax & Bookkeeping, LLC.



Now’s the time of year when we all start to think about the same thing: taxes.

Today, Mike Klauke sits down with his friend and colleague, Tammy Becker of Becker Tax and Bookkeeping, LLC, to talk all thing taxes. Mike and Tammy discuss how your 2018 taxes will differ from 2017, how Tammy got into tax preparation, and more.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why it’s important to call your tax preparer before you make any big financial decisions
  • The important information and documents to bring to your tax preparer to ensure you file with all your applicable returns
  • Why you might want to visit a tax preparer instead of filing your own taxes
  • How the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will affect your taxes and the way you file
  • Why it’s important to have questions prepared for your tax advisor
  • And more!

Join Mike and Tammy now for an informative conversation that will help you prepare for this year’s tax season!

Resources:  Klauke Investments and Insurance Services | Becker Tax & Bookkeeping, LLC


Episode 1 – Get to Know Mike Klauke



Welcome to The Financial Heartbeat podcast! In this inaugural episode, you’ll get to know your host, Mike Klauke, owner of Klauke Investment and Insurance Services. Find out what makes Mike tick, and what makes him an expert in the finance industry.

In this episode, you will learn:

  • How Mike got his start in the finance industry while he was a student at UW-Stevens Point
  • Why Mike loves working with small businesses and soon-to-be retirees
  • Why Mike is so involved in his community
  • About the financial philosophy that Mike and the Klauke team apply to their client relationships and personal lives
  • What Mike does for fun when he’s not working
  • And more!

Tune in now to learn how Mike and his team can help you redefine your retirement!

Resources: Klauke Investment and Insurance Services