I’ve recorded over 160 episodes since the Retirement Made Easy podcast launched. In this special “Greatest Hits” episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I’ll share snippets from the 5 most downloaded episodes. They include some of my best advice for navigating retirement preparation, so you can live out the retirement of your dreams.  Have an idea for a future episode topic? Do you have a question you need answered? Feel free to submit your questions to me at RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [0:33] The 5 Most Downloaded Ep ..read more

Do election years impact the stock market? If so, how? We know that election years introduce a rollercoaster of emotions for a variety of reasons. Those emotions tend to influence the stock market and the decisions individual investors make. So in this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I’ll share how the market responds to election years—and what you should do about it.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:00] Head to RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com!  [2:53] Election years are a roller-coaster ride of emotions  [7:58] The presidential cycles and the s ..read more

In this special episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I revisit some of the most commonly asked—and popular—questions from 2023. We’ll tackle everything from capital gains tax to tax mapping for my clients. As tax-filing season comes to an end, these are some important things to keep in mind. Give it a listen!  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:33] Question #1: How does a capital gains tax work?  [3:39] Question #2: Did contribution limits increase? [5:20] Question #3: How does the gift tax exclusion work? [8:09] Question #4: How do you convert ..read more

What factors go into the social security claiming decision? How do strategies differ based on your age, health, and marital status? Where do you even start? Social security planning is often neglected—or at the very least not given the attention it deserves.  In this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I hope to start the conversation about Social Security claiming strategies. I want each of you to be able to make an informed decision with your financial planner. Hit the play button to learn more!  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:57] Social ..read more

What happens if you start collecting Social Security payments but feel like you’ve made a mistake or taken it too early? Did you know that you can stop or suspend the benefits? Secondly, when you start collecting Social Security there’s an option for a lump-sum payment. Learn more about this little-known Social Security strategy in this episode of Retirement Made Easy! And as a bonus, I’ll answer three listener questions!  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:08] Submit a question at RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com! [6:19] Using Subsidies for Retirement Plans t ..read more

Most “Top 10 Mistakes You’re Making in Retirement” articles are vague, mostly common sense, and of little use to their readers. And when you read these articles, you have to consider the source. A bank is never going to tell you that having debt in your retirement is a mistake because they want to sell you loans! I wanted to share mistakes that I see every single day working in my firm—mistakes that you won’t find in most articles. 90% of our clients are 55 and older working toward their dream retirement. I’ve seen it all. So in this episode of the Retirement Made Easy Podcast, I’ll cover 10 r ..read more

What are required minimum distributions (RMDs)? How will they impact you? How do we account for them? Too many financial advisors neglect to help their clients plan for RMDs. I am not one of them. I cover the basics that you need to know in this episode of Retirement Made Easy.  You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [1:54] Carefully choose the people you take advice from [5:29] Something you need to know about 401ks [9:47] The basics of required minimum distributions [13:28] Why you want to work with a professional [15:22] The various ways you can take distributi ..read more

Let’s wrap up 2023—and kick off 2024—with another round of your questions, answered! In this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I’ll answer six listener questions, covering everything from how severance pay is taxed to how the pop-up feature on pensions work. I’ll also share my thoughts on what 2024 has in store. Give it a listen! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [2:07] Question #1: What happens to unvested 401k money? [5:31] Question #2: How is severance pay taxed? [7:38] Question #3: What is the outlook for 2024? [12:22] Question #4: What is the ..read more

I’ve received numerous questions all running along the same theme: Are we heading into a recession? What would it mean for the stock market moving forward? How will it impact your retirement? Many of you are concerned that we’ll be entering a recession in 2024. In this episode of the Retirement Made Easy podcast, I’ll cover what a recession is, the trends we’re seeing, and what the stock market teaches us about investing. Don’t miss it! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [0:43] Check out RetirementMadeEasyPodcast.com! [3:02] Are we on the verge of a recession ..read more

What could go wrong in retirement? What if the “what-ifs” become realities? How will it impact your 30-year retirement? We don’t know what the future holds which is why it’s important to think about the variables. There will be things outside your control but you can reduce risks by taking retirement planning seriously.  No one plans on “failing” at retirement but many people fail to plan ahead of time. But the choices you make will have long-lasting implications. You need a game plan in place. In this episode of Retirement Made Easy, I talk about some of the “what-ifs” and ..read more