Shows / Retirement Answers
Retirement Answers
Retirement Answers is a podcast built to help you succeed in retirement. The thought of retirement can be overwhelming and downright scary for many... but it doesn't have to be! The goal of this podcast is to provide thoughtful insights and strategies to give you the confidence you need to retire successfully. At the end of the day, my ultimate goal for my clients and podcast listeners is to live a fulfilling retirement. Follow along as I publish a new episode each week covering everything from…
Episodes
- Retirement Answers
Retiring in 2027? These Are the 7 Decisions You Need to Make Right Now
If you’re planning to retire in 2027, the clock is already ticking on the decisions that matter most. In this episode, I walk through the seven things you need…
- Retirement Answers
The Biggest Financial Mistake Retirees Make in Their First 5 Years
In this episode, Jacob explains why many retirees make an innocent financial mistake: not spending enough due to fear. He unpacks how a lifetime of saving and…
- Retirement Answers
The First 5 Years of Retirement Matter More Than You Think
The first five years after you stop working can make or break your retirement—not because of how much you saved, but because of how you start spending it…
- Retirement Answers
9 Things You Can Do With Your HSA in Retirement (And What You Can’t)
So you have a large HSA in retirement, but what can you really do with it? HSAs are perhaps the most tax-advantaged account out of them all... Better than IRAs…
- Retirement Answers
Most Retirees Don’t Realize They Can Pay No Taxes Using This Strategy
What if you could pull $100,000 from your portfolio this year to live on, but only $30,000 or $40,000 of it actually counted as taxable income? It sounds too…
- Retirement Answers
Working One More Year is Costing You More Than You Realize
Have you been telling yourself you’ll “just work one more year” to make retirement feel safer? In this episode, Jacob Duke explains that the tradeoff isn’t…
- Retirement Answers
How Much Cash Should You Hold in Retirement? (2026 Update)
How much cash should you have set aside as you enter the early years of retirement so you can weather market downturns without constant worry? In this episode…
- Retirement Answers
Does My Roth 401k Satisfy The 5-Year Roth IRA Rule?
Have you been contributing to a Roth 401(k) for years and assumed that time counts toward the Roth IRA five-year rule when you roll it over? 👉 Book a call with…
- Retirement Answers
Stop Saving For Retirement... (Here's Why)
Do you really need to be saving more for retirement? What if it's costing you something you can't get back? Join me in this episode to hear a different…
- Retirement Answers
Are You Waiting Too Long to Sell Winning Investments?
Why haven't you sold that investment that has made you a lot of money? What's stopping you? I'm hearing the question "What should I do with my big winners?" a…
- Retirement Answers
What Are the Best Strategies for Reducing RMDs?
Are you worried that required minimum distributions (RMDs) could force unnecessary taxable income and shrink your hard-earned retirement savings? In this…
- Retirement Answers
The 4% Rule Is A Terrible Retirement Income Strategy (Here's Why)
Have you ever wondered if certain beliefs or rules of thumb about retirement could actually jeopardize your future instead of secure it? In this episode, Jacob…
- Retirement Answers
The Lie That's Holding You Back From Retirement
You've got the savings, the spreadsheet, maybe even the perfect retirement date circled on your calendar, so what's actually holding you back? In this episode…
- Retirement Answers
Avoid These 5 Retirement Mistakes Before It’s Too Late
You've spent decades saving for retirement, but are you about to make the same mistakes thousands of retirees only spot when it's too late? In this episode, I…
- Retirement Answers
Why Your 401(k) Isn’t Enough - The Ideal Retirement Mix
You're saving for retirement, but are you saving too much into the wrong accounts? Most retirees don't realize this common issue until it's too late. In this…
- Retirement Answers
The Mental Trap That's Sabotaging Your Retirement
Have you ever wondered if chasing “more” could actually make retirement harder instead of better? In this episode of Retirement Answers, Jacob is sharing how…
- Retirement Answers
Avoid These 8 Retirement Mistakes (They Look Harmless… But Aren’t)
Some of the biggest retirement mistakes don’t show up until it’s too late to fix them. Today, I’m breaking down 8 costly mistakes I see over and over again and…
- Retirement Answers
5 Reasons NOT To Claim Social Security Early
Not sure when to take Social Security? Well, in today's episode, I am sharing 5 reasons you shouldn't take your benefits early and the hidden risks of doing…
- Retirement Answers
These Are The Most Important Years of Retirement
If you don't get things right during this important window of time, your retirement likely won't be what you hoped... This 10 year period of time will…
- Retirement Answers
The Roth IRA 5-Year Rule Explained (Ultimate Guide)
Confused by the Roth IRA 5-year rule? Did you know there are two different 5-year rules? Well, it can get quite confusing, so this episode is meant to be your…
- Retirement Answers
Most Retirement Plans Look Good on Paper, But FAIL in Reality
Are you sure your retirement plan is optimized for the right things? In this episode, I discuss what the true mark of a successful retirement plan is and why…
- Retirement Answers
7 MAJOR Benefits of a Brokerage Account in Retirement
Is the brokerage account the secret to a fun and tax-efficient retirement? It might be a requirement, but it definitely helps. In fact, the brokerage account…
- Retirement Answers
4 Reasons You Should Take Social Security at 62
Are you still trying to decide when to take Social Security? Well, in this episode, I am deviating from my normal stance to share 4 reasons you might want to…
- Retirement Answers
Don't Retire Yet - Try This Instead
Are you anxious about an abrupt transition to retirement? In this episode of Retirement Answers, I share the concept of phased retirement, where you can…
- Retirement Answers
The Big HSA Mistake Retirees Don’t Know They Are Making
Have you ever wondered if your HSA contributions could cause unexpected issues as you approach retirement? In this episode, I highlight potential risks and…
- Retirement Answers
New 2026 Tax Brackets, Standard Deductions & More!
Can you believe it's 2026 already?? Ready or not here we go! In this episode, I'm sharing the updated tax brackets, standard deductions, capital gains…
- Retirement Answers
MAJOR Changes To 401k Catch-Up Contributions in 2026
If you're 50+ and making catching catch-up contributions to your employer 401k plan, this episode is for you. In 2026, you might have to change how you save to…
- Retirement Answers
4 Retirement Fears to STOP Believing After You Reach 50
Have you ever wondered why so many people dream of early retirement but never actually do it? In this episode, I dive into the most common fears that hold…
- Retirement Answers
Don't Retire Early Without Understanding THIS Tax Strategy First
What if you could retire earlier than expected, access your savings without penalties, get health insurance subsidies, and pay no taxes for the first few…
- Retirement Answers
5 Misleading Retirement Beliefs That Can Sabotage Your Future
Have you ever wondered if certain beliefs about retirement could actually jeopardize your future instead of securing it? In this episode of the Retirement…
- Retirement Answers
5 Questions You MUST Answer If Retiring Before 65
Get the FREE Checklist Here: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/pre-65-retirement-checklist 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅…
- Retirement Answers
This Is The Roth Conversion SWEET SPOT
What ingredients make for the most optimal Roth conversions? In this episode, I explain what the Roth conversion sweet spot is and why this period of time is…
- Retirement Answers
Every Retiree Needs To Hear This... (What I've Learned After Helping 100 Clients Retire)
You ever have something not be what expected it to be? Well, as a retirement planner who is helped over 100 clients, I have learned an important lesson that I…
- Retirement Answers
The Roth Conversion MISTAKE Every Retiree Should Avoid
Roth conversions might help you save on taxes in retirement, but that doesn't mean you only need Roth IRAs... In this episode, I share why it's actually…
- Retirement Answers
The 2026 Social Security COLA + Who It Applies To
The 2026 Social Security COLA has been announced! I will share what it is, who it applies to, how it's calculated, and why your Social Security claiming…
- Retirement Answers
Social Security REGRETS: The Top 5 Mistakes Retirees Make
Are you sure you are taking Social Security at the right time? Well, in this episode, I share 5 common mistakes retirees make when claiming Social Security and…
- Retirement Answers
Why Retirees with $1M Actually End Up With TOO MUCH
Are you making the same mistake many other retirees make? If so, you could end up missing out on a lot right now, and have more money that you ever need later…
- Retirement Answers
Are You Optimizing Social Security For The WRONG Thing?
Is a break even analysis or trying to get the maximum lifetime benefits from Social Security the wrong way to optimize your benefits? In this episode I share…
- Retirement Answers
Roth Conversions Just Got More Complicated (OBBBA Update)
The OBBBA was passed back in July 2025, but now Roth conversions are more confusing for retirees. The new senior deductions might be helpful for some, but for…
- Retirement Answers
Can Capital Gains Push Me Into a Higher Tax Bracket?
The interaction between capital gains and normal income is often misunderstood, so in this episode, I share how capital gains affect your other income and how…
- Retirement Answers
Retiring Early? Use the Rule of 55 To Unlock Retirement Freedom
Trying to retire before 60? Creating income for yourself can be tough and can cause penalties if you aren't careful... That's where the Rule of 55 can be…
- Retirement Answers
Are You Over-Saving For Retirement? Here's How You Could Be Sabotaging Yourself
Is it possible to "over-save" for retirement? I'd argue it is possible and most people don't realize what it's costing them. So, in this episode, I'm sharing…
- Retirement Answers
How To Create Tax-Free Income In Retirement WITHOUT A Roth IRA
Do you really need a Roth IRA in retirement? Personally, I don't think so if you create a good income plan, so in today's episode, I share how a couple with…
- Retirement Answers
These 5 Tax Mistakes Will Waste Your Retirement Savings
Tax planning might be the most consequential part of your retirement plan... If you plan well, you could save yourself hundreds of thousands of dollars over…
- Retirement Answers
Retirement Tax Planning: What It Is (Actually) + Why It Matters
Tax planning in retirement is about so much more than Roth conversions... In this episode, I share the components of a real tax plan and why it is crucial to…
- Retirement Answers
The Widow's Tax Trap: What Is It & How To Avoid It
There is a tax trap waiting on retired couples, but most don't know about it until it's too late. In this episode, I share what the Widow's Tax Trap is and how…
- Retirement Answers
8 Important (But Little-Known) Rules To Know Before You Retire
There are so many little details and rules to know about as you head into retirement and today I'm sharing 8 rules that I think everyone should know about…
- Retirement Answers
5 Things to STOP Doing Before You Retire (And What To Do Instead)
Getting close to retirement? Here are 5 things you should stop doing before you get started. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started…
- Retirement Answers
18 Signs You Are Better Prepared for Retirement Than Most People
Wondering if you are behind on your retirement plan? You are probably more prepared than you think and these 18 signs are good indicators! 👉 Book a call with…
- Retirement Answers
Retire NOW If You Answer YES to These 5 Questions
Knowing the best time to retire is tough to figure out because of all the details involved, but if you can answer 'YES' to these 5 questions, it might be time…
- Retirement Answers
Why This Account Changes Everything in Retirement
There is an account that can give you ultimate flexibility and help you reduce taxes in retirement... and no, it's not a Roth IRA. It gives you the flexibility…
- Retirement Answers
Why Converting Everything to Roth is a MISTAKE
Are you making this mistake with your Roth conversions? In this episode, I explain why having some money in your Traditional IRA could save you thousands in…
- Retirement Answers
What Most Retirees Don't Know About Social Security Survivor Benefits
Social Security survivor benefits are really confusing, but in this episode I break down everything you need to know about survivor benefits to help you make…
- Retirement Answers
Social Security Spousal Benefits - Avoid These Common Mistakes
Most retirees assume they are entitled to 50% of their spouse's Social Security, but that is not true... In this episode, I outline the rules for Social…
- Retirement Answers
What You Can Do To Avoid The IRA Pro-Rata Rule
Do you have after-tax money in your Traditional IRA? Well, when it comes time to make distributions or do Roth conversions, you could unknowingly pay more in…
- Retirement Answers
What The Top 1% of Retirees Do Differently From Everyone Else
The top retirees approach retirement completely different from everyone else. They have an abundance mindset and live with intentionally, and that's what I…
- Retirement Answers
Why Your Roth Conversion Could Trigger Unexpected Tax Penalties
Roth conversions are a powerful tax planning opportunity for retirees, but the devil is in the details. Missing a couple small things could end up costing you…
- Retirement Answers
10 Retirement Hacks That Will Save You Money
There are a few simple ways to save money in retirement and keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket. In this episode, I share 10 hacks that will…
- Retirement Answers
Recession-Proof Your Portfolio By Doing THIS
What if the market tanks right after you retire? It's important to be prepared and have a plan in place for the 'what-ifs' that could happen. In this weeks…
- Retirement Answers
Why You Should STOP Doing Roth Conversions
Roth conversions might be causing you to pay more in taxes compared to simply not doing any Roth conversions. In this episode, I explain how RMDs and your…