Business Innovators Radio - Interview with Owen Edwards, with Edwards Investments-Gaining Confidence in Your Financial Future

Episode Date: September 3, 2025

Owen Edwards was born and raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where he continues to live and serve his community through his financial advisory practice. With nearly 30 years of experience, he is dedicated to empowering individuals and families to achieve financial freedom through education—bringing clarity to complex choices and guiding them toward confident, informed decisions. Owen is a Certified Financial Fiduciary® and holds a Certificate in Financial Planning from Boston University.Ready for clarity and confidence in your retirement plan? Schedule a complimentary consultation today.Learn more: https://edwardsinvestments.com/Advisory services are offered through Royal Fund Management, LLC, Royal Fund Management LLC is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC and only transacts business in states where it is properly registered or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the Commission nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Insurance products offered through Edwards investments LLC. Insurance guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing company. The adviser is paid commissions on the sale of insurance products.Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saundershttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-owen-edwards-with-edwards-investments-gaining-confidence-in-your-financial-future

Welcome to influential entrepreneurs, bringing you interviews with elite business leaders and experts, sharing tips and strategies for elevating your business to the next level. Here's your host, Mike Saunders. Hello and welcome to this episode of influential entrepreneurs. This is Mike Saunders, the authority positioning coach. Today we have back with us, Owen Edwards, with Edwards investments, and we'll be talking about gaining confidence in your financial future. Oh, and welcome back to the program. Thank you, Mike. Appreciate it.

Thanks for having me back. You know, probably if you were to ask 100 people on the street, how confident are you about your financial future? Boy, we'd get some pretty amazing answers. So I know that this is a really powerful topic because your financial future envelop so many different things, from income to retirement, to taxes, to the economy, inflation. There are just so many things that can be incorporated. Where do you start when you're talking with your clients about gaining confidence in your financial future? You know, like I think a lot of times people think, I just would check the box that I'm uncertain.

So how do you kind of start the conversation to help them change their thinking and transform from uncertainty into clarity? It's a great question. The key for moving from guesswork to a written integrated plan. Most people, they have accounts, they have statements, they have investments, but they don't have a coordinated strategy, whether it comes to income or growth. And when they see this stuff clearly in a written integrated plan, it gives them peace of mind. What income is guaranteed, how their investments can supplement that income, how taxes and inflation are addressed. Then they suddenly move from, well, I hope this works to I know exactly how. this works. And that clarity is what builds lasting confidence and peace of mind for the client.

You know, and probably if you were to kind of peel back the curtain and say, here's what a plan would look like, there's a lot of buckets like you were mentioning there. And there's probably several of the buckets that when you're talking to your clients, they're like, oh, I'd never thought of how that impact. It's almost like a domino effect. You know, like, ooh, if this turned out negative, then that's going to have this whole domino effect affecting the next bucket, the next pillar of the next thing. So have you seen that in building these plans where you see someone maybe holding on too tight to, yeah, but my money's always been in the market. And you're like, yeah, but you're at an age where we need to start getting it out of the market that's volatile,

only getting into some more secure, you know, returns. Yeah, bucket planning is important. And I use that term and I use that strategy for clients and education and transparency or everything for these people. And just like someone you just mentioned that, well, this is always, worked for me. But now they're at a different age and they're closer to retirement. People, they don't want to be told what to do. They want to understand why. And as for me, I was literally going to say that. You probably have some people that go into some advisors and they walk out going, he just kind of fit a square peg in a round hole. And you are teaching me and helping me understand. And so I was, when you use the word transparency, what are

some examples of how transparency would help, meaning like you might go, hey, you know, typically we like to see people start moving out of the markets around age, so and so, but could there be some times where you go, yeah, but you know, in all transparency, in your case, this could work to kind of extend it out a little bit because every plan is different for every client. You do not have a cookie cutter template that you just dole out to everybody. But talk a little bit more about education and transparency. Right, Mike. There's rules of thumb, but they could be dangerous. So every written integrated plan is tailor made for the client because everyone's situation is slightly different. And again, they don't like to be told what to do. They want to understand why. And our job as fiduciaries, our responsibility

is to put the client's interests first, but also explain the strategies. We do the planning together. And it's very important that they understand and see that in this situation, in their situation, and why the rule of thumb they heard about doesn't make sense for them. And then the light bulb goes off and they understand. When the client understands the fees and the risks and the tradeoffs and nothing is hidden, that's when real trust will develop. Transparency takes away the fear of what am I missing and replaces it with confidence that they're making informed decisions alongside a trusted partner who's guiding them along the way.

You know, in the industry, you know, when you stay on top of, you know, happenings in the industry, I've heard this phrase because you've used to trust a couple times that we're in a trust deficit because everything, you know, from online to AI to advisors or people in positions of authority, you know, abusing their power. People, we tend to distrust people. So talk a little bit about your approach to being that fiduciary because I feel like sometimes people have heard that word fiduciary and they don't realize how stringent that it is holding your feet to the fire so that your clients are treated right. Correct. And just in my heart, I've always been a fiduciary for my clients to put their best interests first because I'm from a small town and I'm going to see these people in the grocery store or I have to deal with them at their annual client review next year and I need to be able to look. them in the eye. And you just need to be able to sleep at night and look at yourself in the mirror in the morning. So to be held to the fiduciary standard, it's great. But I took an extra step and became a certified financial fiduciary, which I'm quite proud of. And that gives people a peace of mind that

they know that legally and ethically, I have to put their interests first, which I have done anyway, even before I became certified. But now that I am, people like that credential and they like that. Yeah. And trust is formed and built over time. And they say, sit with me in the beginning. We get that plan together. And, you know, not everything I suggest benefits my business. I mean, benefits the client. I could make a move or tell them to do XYZ and I don't get paid to do that, but it's what's best for them. And that's what I need to instill in their plan. And that builds trust from clients. So what's an example of something that you may see would benefit a client and you're making a recommendation because it's best for

them, but it might not benefit you? What would that look like? Maybe something in their current 401k that, you know, as long as you work there and you're of a certain age, the money stays there and they're employed there and until they separate from employment or retire. And I'm happy to help people rebalance and make sure they're getting the most out of their current plan that is at their company that I really have nothing to do with other than the holistic planning that I'm providing for them and to make sure that when retirement comes, whether it's 10 years, years or 25 years from now that they got the most out of that plan why they had it. Yeah.

And there's probably also some types of financial products that might benefit them that doesn't really benefit you per se because I think in the industry, the industry gets a black eye when they realize that, oh, you were only pushing this because it benefited you personally or you as a company. So that fiduciary is where that ties in. And there are legalities that, you know, if you cross that line, it comes down. on Owen Edwards. And so not only do you care and you see people as humans and want to do the right thing, but there's a standard that you're held to. So I think that's really good to bring clarity

to that word fiduciary. So that's really, really powerful. So when someone is thinking about, okay, now I need, I want that written plan. You know, I want something, you know, in place. How can someone assess if they're really ready for retirement beyond just, I think I'm good because I've got X number of dollars in the bank. You got it. I mean, it's not just about the size of the nest egg. It's about the confidence in the plan. And someone is truly prepared if they have their essential expenses covered by a reliable

income. There's peace of mind right there. And then their portfolio is stress tested. We do that against market downturns inflation and longevity just to make sure that if and when the worst happens, that they're prepared for it and that we've been there and done that. and they know how taxes and inflation will affect them year by year. And emotionally, they feel better in the peace of mind instead of anxiety.

In other words, being prepared means not only having enough the size of the nest egg, as we said, but also having confidence to spend and enjoy it, which is really what matters. And I think having that plan in place, that written plan in place, that I think you've mentioned this, but you alluded to the fact that it's holistic. It's not just, oh, here's the plan for. And then if some other advisor comes behind it, it goes, yeah, but you left out and you left out and you left out. So having a plan that is holistic and addresses everything from mitigating any taxes to making sure that there's protections in there. But making sure that also that you're reviewing it and adjusting as needed because I think that sometimes people tend to go, I've got that plan in place.

you know, kind of like, oh, I wrote my will four decades ago when the kids were still two. Yes. Life happens and things change. And the annual reviews are key. And whenever there's a big change on my side, in the markets, in the bonds and the annuity markets, or in their lives that we need to connect on that and adjust the plans as needed. But at least once a year sit down to say, what was our plan? We're at step one.

we're in year one. What did we see? Where are we? And what, if any, adjustments we need to make for the next year? Yeah. Do we need to tweak or not? And if there are adjustments, it doesn't mean, oh, the plan was wrong. It just means at that moment of time, we put that plan together with what we knew, but we didn't know inflation was going to go up, down, or all around, or we didn't know whatever the case is. So always check, always check. What are some of the things that would help build that confidence in the financial future, that someone could feel like, okay, I'm doing you. We mentioned taxes, and I know that sometimes people go, yeah, I got to pay taxes on that 401k or that, that IRA. Do you ever see the need to look at the possibility of a Roth conversion? When does that come up as a possibility?

It's always a possibility, and you always need to look at it. It may not be the right fit that year, but there is a thing called required minimum distributions, which Sam is tapping his foot because, again, these accounts, are tax deferred. They're not tax-free. So when you reach a certain age, you have to take a minimum out. And some people don't need it and don't want it, but there are severe penalties if you don't. And if you have the time towards the end of each year when you have an idea of what your income is going to be, there are opportunities for tax-efficient Roth conversions. And the reason that's key is because the Roth is still a qualified account. It's an IRA, but it's the only qualified

account that does not have required minimum distributions. And it doesn't have any taxes. And that's why there are no required minimum distributions because Uncle Sam isn't getting any tax money from it. So every year it's worth looking at some years you may convert, you know, $6,000. Some years might be $60,000, but it depends on your portfolio and your income that year. And then the time you have, if you're 50, you're in a stronger position than if you're 65, I had a lady just recently who's facing her first RMD, and I just started working with her. and her first RMD is this year, and it's sizable, and it's going to throw her because it affects your taxes on Social Security. And she lives in Montana, which taxes Social Security at the federal level, but even worse.

And we won't get into the whole tax thing, but it taxes the full amount of the Social Security. Her required minimum distribution is going to make all of her Social Security taxable. So what can she do? Now, Roth conversions, aren't... don't make the most sense for her because she's right up against the RMD. And I just started talking to her a month ago. If I had started planning with her 10 years ago, she would not be in this position. Yeah.

And again, it gets back to what you said several times. You don't have one plan that you just dole out to everybody. Everyone's different. Everyone has nuances. Everyone has goals or age limitations or whatever the case is. So let's see what that plan should look like. So when you're looking at working with a client and you're thinking about that financial future, what are some of the strategies that you're kind of watching to see if it would fit in?

We've talked about RMDs and Roth conversions, but what other strategies could help retirees feel secure about their retirement? A few that standout. You mentioned it before, bucket planning. I call it that. That's what a lot of people call. You have your short term. You have your midterm and you have your long-term income sources so that you're never, forced to sell in a bad market or you're never put in a position where you can't get out of it.

You're ready for it. Tax diversification. Balancing pre-tax and Roth and taxable accounts to keep more income after taxes because it's not what you earn. That's what you keep. Yeah. Healthcare and contingency planning, having a plan for medical or long-term care costs. So that surprises don't derail your whole retirement because one incident, if you weren't ready, for it can really cause a burden. And periodic reviews, we talked about that updating the plan regularly to adjust for life changes, markets, or tax loss shifts. I mean, I check in with my clients regularly.

We sit down once a year. But when major events happen on my side or their side, we bring them to each other. And I tell my clients, hey, if something major happens in your life, if there's an expense that you didn't anticipate or a special need situation, that you bring it to me and we adjust the plan and we button it up right then and there. And at worst, it comes up in the annual review. But these strategies, they're not just about chasing the highest return or about products. They're about creating peace of mind. When people feel secure that their plan is working, they can finally focus on what retirement should be about. And that's family and travel and experiences and

living in life they've worked so hard for. You know, I think it's, you know, it's like these transitions and periods, you know, you start off and you're like trying to grow, grow, grow. And then you try to get to a certain age where it's like, okay, you probably need to shift out of growth into kind of maintaining and security and let's not lose money. And then you get to the point we're talking about right here where it's like when you have this plan in place that has been dialed in and working great, getting that confidence for your retirement just gives you that deep peace of mind and you don't need to fear turning the news on to hear about the markets or opening your retirement portfolio statements going, oh, my goodness,

I can't believe because you know you've got everything dialed in. And that gives you quality of life. It gives you longevity and all of those things. And I think that that's such a huge gift that, you know, people like you might think, oh, I'm helping people with a retirement. But in reality, you're helping people with their overall outlook and perspective on life, too. Correct. The quality of life is a peace of mind leads to that. And I enjoy bringing that peace of mind. to them. Again, with people, they bring me all these statements and they have no, they have accounts here or there. They don't know if they have enough. They don't know about sequence of returns or income or taxes and to provide them with the plan. It's truly a pleasure when you just, you see the weight lifted from them and they feel confident in that. And as the years go by, when something happens, when I had a client for a long time and something major happens in the market, they know they're ready for it. And said, remember we talked about this? We should, stress just for this. And here's where we make the shift. And I see, man, thank you. Yep, because then you're not making a decision under duress. You had planned for it to like,

okay, if this happens, we're going to go ahead and go this direction and then you bring it back up. Like, okay, it's time to make that shift. Okay. Versus, oh, my word, the sky's falling. We need to, you know, run and make some plans. And then you feel frantic. So what a, what a huge gift that is for your clients at Owen. And if someone is interested in reaching out connecting with you, what's the best way they could do that? Well, I do have a website, and they could go on there, and my contact information is in there. My website is Edwardsinvestments.com, one word, my last name, Edwards, and the word investments with an S.com, or they could email me directly. I'm happy to do that too. And my email address is my first name,

Owen, O-W-E-N, at Edwardsinvestments.com. Excellent. Well, thank you so much for coming back on. It's been a real pleasure chatting with you again. Thanks again, Mike. Thanks for having me back anytime. Appreciate it. You've been listening to Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saunders. To learn more about the resources mentioned on today's show or listen to past episodes, visit www. www.Influentialentrepreneursradio.com.