Providing retirement and tax solutions since 1987
No one knows everything, especially when it comes to getting right all the financial aspects of a successful retirement. It takes a team of professionals, each with specialized knowledge to make sure you are doing the best you can with the resources you have.
Our firm boasts over 75 years of combined industry experience and has one simple goal—to help our clients live more enjoyable lives with a little help from smarter planning.
Roger Shumaker
President
Some financial firms don’t allow their representatives to give tax advice.
This is something Roger learned after beginning his career in 1987 and rising to the position of regional manager by 1993 at a large financial firm. That’s why, in 1996, he left and formed a truly independent firm that became The Retirement Team, so clients could receive unbiased guidance, not only on investments, but everything that plays a role in a successful retirement plan, like tax reduction, estate planning, Social Security optimization, managing possible long-term care costs, and much more.
This kind of holistic approach helps clients maximize their retirement income and legacy. By having more, clients can spend less time worrying and more time enjoying their retirement — it’s no wonder why The Topeka Capital-Journal readers voted him Best Financial Planner in the “Best of Topeka.”
Because Roger enjoys educating people on retirement topics, he produced a miniseries on PBS, has appeared several times on KTKA 49 to share tax reduction strategies, has written articles for The Topeka Capital-Journal, and in 2002 began a radio show with Jim Cates that eventually became “Retirement Team Radio.” Since he has the heart of a teacher, he’s also proudly a Dave Ramsey SmartVestor Pro.
You can read more about this investment professional’s background at FINRA’s BrokerCheck.
Ryan Shumaker
Investment Strategist
Too many investors pay too much in fees for investments with too high of risk and too low of return.
Ryan reached this conclusion while researching how and why the average investor only gets about half what the stock market returns when he was an instructor of economics at the University of Kansas, where he graduated from with honors. After studying how 87% of the largest and most successful institutions manage investments differently, he wanted to bring that same style of investing they use to the average retiree and helped develop the investment strategies known as FormulaFolios. These scientifically developed, mathematical portfolios help eliminate worry and emotions from investing with numerous built-in safety features that the average “buy-and-hold” investor doesn’t have. Instead of being told to “just hang in there” when markets and account values tumble, clients have the added peace of mind knowing that their money is monitored with redundant safeguards, including the revolutionary WealthGuard system.
Ryan still had an itch to continue teaching after leaving KU in 2007 to join The Retirement Team. After years away from the classroom, he recently began leading evening and weekend courses at Washburn to help retirees and pre-retirees discover how to overcome potential future tax increases and volatile markets as well as how to avoid costly financial products and Social Security mistakes. He’s also writing about these topics as a contributor to Forbes. With his passion for educating, it’s no surprise that he, too, is a Dave Ramsey SmartVestor Pro. Ryan believes that a strong financial plan is the single most important tool for building a happy and relaxing retirement and helps clients make the sometimes daunting and confusing task of holistic and tax-efficient retirement planning and investing as simple and enjoyable as possible.
You can read more about this investment professional’s background at FINRA’s BrokerCheck.
Susan Shumaker
Tax Strategist & Preparation
Many retirees face tax rates over 450% higher on some of their retirement income than they faced while working due to inefficient portfolios and retirement income plans that don’t account for taxes.
That’s why Susan heads up a team of tax professionals whose goal is to help our clients pay not only the least amount of taxes now, but also in the future. She has over two decades of experience in tax preparation and tax reduction planning and works closely with other members of our team to run easy-to-understand hypotheticals that visually show tax minimizing opportunities in retirement plans. The amount you’ve accumulated in your retirement accounts or the return you’re making on those accounts isn’t nearly as important as the amount you’re able to distribute and spend. With most retirees paying more than their fair share in taxes on retirement account withdrawals, the amount they can spend is being needlessly reduced. Susan and the rest of The Retirement Team are here to help stop that.
Kathy Diehl
Client Services & Compliance
Too many financial advisors are focused more on selling investment products or investment management services than helping people create comprehensive, tax-efficient retirement plans.
After nearly three decades of experience in the investment and securities industry where she was previously both an examiner of investment advisors as well as a supervisor, Kathy retired from the state of Kansas SEC and joined The Retirement Team, after seeing the above-and-beyond commitment we have for our clients.
She wanted to be part of that experience, and she assists in processing accounts, applications, transfers, distributions, and compliance. Kathy aspires to simplify, organize, and make things as seamless as possible for our clients.
Jessica Farrell
Client Services & Event Coordinator
Working with financial professionals should be fun, not some cold, arduous experience.
Jessica is responsible for organizing and executing client retirement parties and other exciting client appreciation events, such as our popular Antiques Roadshow. She also coordinates our team’s public appearances and is our point person for client service.
Connie Scammy
Client Services & Back Office Support
Connie heads our Independence, Kansas branch, where a lot of back-office and administrative work takes place. This allows our other team members more time to meet with our clients and focus on creating and maintaining tax-efficient retirement income plans and portfolios for them.
Want a second opinion on your retirement plan?
Contact The Retirement Team today to schedule a custom 3 step retirement review!
(785) 228-0222
Info@RetireTopeka.com
(785) 228-1446
5909 SW 28th St #100 Topeka, KS 66614
Investment advisory services offered through Next Generation Investing, LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser. The Next Generation Investing, LLC Form CRS can be found here & form ADV Part 2 here.
Securities offered through World Equity Group, Inc., member FINRA and SIPC. The World Equity Group Form CRS can be found here.
The Retirement Team and Next Generation Investing, LLC are not owned or controlled by World Equity Group, Inc. Visit http://brokercheck.finra.org/ for more information.
Insurance products, including annuities, offered through Roger Shumaker, KS Insurance License # 787094, and Ryan Shumaker, KS Insurance License #10359614. The generalized information we provide regarding tax minimization planning is not intended to, and cannot, be used by anyone to avoid paying federal, state, or local municipality taxes or penalties. You should seek advice based on your particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor, as tax laws are subject to interpretation and legislative change and are unique to every specific taxpayer’s particular set of facts and circumstances. Annuity guarantees rely on the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurer. Any comments regarding guaranteed income streams refer only to fixed insurance products. They do not refer, in any way, to securities or investment advisory products. Fixed insurance and annuity product guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing company. Investing entails risks, including possible loss of principal. The use of tools cannot guarantee performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a period of declining values. WealthGuard™ is a complete portfolio monitoring system. Designed by determining the amount of downside risk a client is willing to tolerate, WealthGuard™ is added to client accounts to help protect from downside risk. WealthGuard™ is not a stop-loss strategy. When the account value in the portfolio hits the targeted downside value, an alert is sent to the client, advisor, and money manager. The money manager trades the account as indicated on the WealthGuard™ agreement. There is no guarantee the exact WealthGuard™ value will be captured, or assets will be traded or liquidated, the same day the WealthGuard™ value is reached due to time of day and/or market restrictions. WealthGuard™ is not responsible for any tax implications that may result due to the liquidation or trading of the holdings. FormulaFolio Investments is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the information used to prepare your WealthGuard™ percentages. WealthGuard™ does not make any representations or warranties, whether expressed or implied, regarding investing in securities or investment products. WealthGuard™ makes no warranties to the legality or suitability of any investment product. Roger & Ryan Shumaker are not affiliated with the Social Security Administration or any other governmental agency. We encourage you to contact the SSA about your specific circumstances. Voted Best Financial Planning Firm, Best Financial Planner, & Best Accountant in Topeka in the 2020 Best of Topeka by Topeka Capital Journal readers.