Episodes

  • Retirement Anxiety: Why So Many Americans Feel Unprepared

    Retirement Anxiety: Why So Many Americans Feel Unprepared
    May 29 2026
    61% of Americans now fear running out of money in retirement more than they fear death itself. Half of all U.S. households approaching retirement are at risk of falling short of their current standard of living.This week on Money On Tap, Ben Brayshaw and Dan Michelon sit with the topic that shows up in the conference room more than any other these days: retirement anxiety — and why so many Americans feel unprepared.What you'll learn:
    • The five fears inside retirement anxiety — and which one most plans don't address
    • Why retirement is structurally more anxious today than a generation ago
    • The Honeymoon, the Shock, and the Reframe — the three phases of every retirement
    • Why men, executives, military, and first responders are hit hardest by the identity loss
    • The new 100% income rule (the old 60–70% rule of thumb is dead)
    • The six-part income plan that actually reduces anxiety
    • Sequence-of-returns risk — and why the first five years of retirement determine everything
    • Social Security in 2026: 77% benefit, $1.5T bipartisan proposal, what it means for you
    • Why phased / consulting retirement is the underrated soft landing
    • The emotional plan nobody writes down — hobbies, friendships, purpose, marriage
    Plus Money In The News:
    • Can the stock market save Social Security? A $1.5T bipartisan proposal from Cassidy and Kaine
    • Ford stock surges on a $2B (becoming $10B) pivot to stationary energy storage with CATL
    • Student loan changes hit July 1 — payments rising $300–$350/month under IBR and RAP plans
    Free resource: Email us with "Retirement Anxiety white paper" in the subject and we'll send the companion document.Read the companion blog: brayshawfinancial.com/blog
    Schedule a free consultation: app.greminders.com/t/9f3ce72e/initialconsulta
    Full Money On Tap episode library: brayshawfinancial.com/money-on-tapContact Us
    Phone: 855-226-8551
    Email: info@yourmoneyontap.com
    Office: 116 South River Road, Bedford, NH 03110
    Web: brayshawfinancial.com

    • Why do Americans fear running out of money more than death? A recent Allianz survey found that 61% of Americans fear running out of money in retirement more than they fear death itself. The shift reflects structural changes: pensions have largely disappeared, 401(k)s placed the risk of retirement success on individuals, life expectancy has stretched, inflation has accelerated, healthcare costs are rising, and Social Security is on track for a benefit cut. The fear is rational — and the planning response is to build a multi-source income plan rather than to hope a portfolio alone is enough.
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    56 mins
  • The Science of Retirement Income, Creating Income Alpha (Encore)

    The Science of Retirement Income, Creating Income Alpha (Encore)
    May 22 2026
    Two retirees with the same balance can take wildly different incomes home — it's not about returns, it's about taxes.This week on Money On Tap, Ben Brayshaw and Dan Michelon unpack The Science of Retirement Income — How to Create Income Alpha: the practice of beating the market not by picking better stocks, but by keeping more of what you already have through tax-aware planning.What you'll learn:
    • What "Income Alpha" actually means — and why it's worth 15–30% more retirement income, year after year
    • How Social Security gets taxed at 0%, 50%, or 85% — and how to control which one applies to you
    • The Roth IRA conversion ladder: filling the 22% bracket today to avoid the 30%+ bracket later
    • The lesser-known after-tax account strategy — converting future ordinary-income tax into capital-gains tax
    • Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) — the single highest-leverage move for charitable retirees
    • Donor-Advised Funds and Charitable Trusts — stacking giving with Roth conversion years
    • The hidden IRMAA Medicare tax — and the income thresholds that can cost you $1,000–$3,000 a year
    • The Widow Tax Trap — the most damaging tax in retirement and how to plan around it
    • Why the year of a spouse's passing is the last big planning window — and what to do with it
    • What 1–2 years of tax returns will tell a good planner that your investment statement never will
    Plus Money In The News:
    • Weight-loss drug developers line up to tap a $150B market (Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, the pill-vs-shot race)
    • Nike stock tumbles 13% to an 11-year low on China weakness
    • Average tax refund up 11% from a year ago — IRS data and what it means for inflation
    Free resource: Email us with "Charitable Giving Booklet" in the subject and we'll send our charitable giving guide.Read the companion blog: brayshawfinancial.com/blog
    Schedule a free consultation: app.greminders.com/t/9f3ce72e/initialconsulta
    Full Money On Tap episode library: brayshawfinancial.com/money-on-tapContact Us
    Phone: 855-226-8551
    Email: info@yourmoneyontap.com
    Office: 116 South River Road, Bedford, NH 03110
    Web: brayshawfinancial.com

    • Why do Americans fear running out of money more than death? A recent Allianz survey found that 61% of Americans fear running out of money in retirement more than they fear death itself. The shift reflects structural changes: pensions have largely disappeared, 401(k)s placed the risk of retirement success on individuals, life expectancy has stretched, inflation has accelerated, healthcare costs are rising, and Social Security is on track for a benefit cut. The fear is rational — and the planning response is to build a multi-source income plan rather than to hope a portfolio alone is enough.
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • The Railroads of Quantum Computing: The Next Trillion-Dollar Bet + Milestone Show

    The Railroads of Quantum Computing: The Next Trillion-Dollar Bet + Milestone Show
    May 18 2026
    🎉 Welcome to the 400th episode of Money On Tap. Nine years. Four hundred conversations. To celebrate, the first four callers to 855-226-8551 each get their pick from four pieces of MOT swag. Phone calls only — email won't count.This week, Ben Brayshaw and Dan Michelon close The Railroads of… trilogy with the one that may make all the rest run faster: quantum computing.What you'll learn:
    • What a qubit actually is — and why "both 0 and 1 at once" changes everything
    • The three investable layers: cloud platforms · hardware (semis & cryogenics) · software
    • The four pure-play names: Rigetti (RGTI), IonQ (IONQ), D-Wave (QBTS), Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) — and what their +250% to +5,700% trailing moves really mean
    • The four big-tech quantum plays: IBM, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon
    • The four ETFs to research: QTUM, ARKQ, BOTZ, ROBO
    • The barbell approach for taking speculative exposure without betting the farm
    • Why the honest timeline says mid-2030s — and the energy problem nobody's talking about
    • How space, robotics, and quantum intersect — and why the railroads series mattered
    Plus Money In The News:
    • Spotify and Peloton team up on a global fitness content hub
    • The AI splurge is costing big tech its workforce — Oracle plans to cut 40% of its workforce
    • Have software stocks reached the extreme washout yet? (And what the "SaaS-pocalypse" means for the next 12 months)
    Read the companion blog: brayshawfinancial.com/blog
    Schedule a free consultation: app.greminders.com/t/9f3ce72e/initialconsulta
    Full Money On Tap episode library: brayshawfinancial.com/money-on-tapContact Us
    Phone: 855-226-8551
    Email: info@yourmoneyontap.com
    Office: 116 South River Road, Bedford, NH 03110
    Web: brayshawfinancial.com

    • Why do Americans fear running out of money more than death? A recent Allianz survey found that 61% of Americans fear running out of money in retirement more than they fear death itself. The shift reflects structural changes: pensions have largely disappeared, 401(k)s placed the risk of retirement success on individuals, life expectancy has stretched, inflation has accelerated, healthcare costs are rising, and Social Security is on track for a benefit cut. The fear is rational — and the planning response is to build a multi-source income plan rather than to hope a portfolio alone is enough.
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • The Railroads of Robotics: Investing in Physical AI, Cobots, and the Reshoring Boom

    The Railroads of Robotics: Investing in Physical AI, Cobots, and the Reshoring Boom
    May 12 2026
    4.3 million industrial robots are already deployed globally. Robot costs have dropped 50% in 30 years. Payback periods are now 1 to 3 years. The reshoring of American manufacturing isn't a forecast — it's a buy order.This week on Money On Tap, Ben Brayshaw and Dan Michelon continue the series with The Railroads of Robotics — the picks-and-shovels playbook for physical AI and the next great industrial build-out.What you'll learn:
    • Why three forces — reshoring, labor shortage, and 1–3 year robot payback — make automation inevitable
    • The four investable layers: robots · AI systems · software · hardware
    • A walk-through of the public names: Rockwell Automation, Teradyne, Emerson Electric, NVIDIA, Tesla (Optimus), AeroVironment, Applied Materials, Autodesk
    • How cobots are reshaping skilled-trades work — and what the NVIDIA CEO's "three-day work week" prediction really means
    • Five robotics-themed ETFs walked through: ROBO, BOTZ, IBOT, ARKQ, ROBT
    • What to tell the kids and grandkids about which jobs will actually exist in 10 years
    • The geopolitical risk that could shelve this entire build-out overnight
    Plus Money In The News:
    • United Airlines hikes fares up to 20% — CEO admits passing 100% of jet-fuel cost to consumers
    • Musk vs. Altman: a $134B suit heading to court while SpaceX ($1.25T) and OpenAI ($850B) IPOs loom
    • Adobe announces a $25B buyback (25% of market cap) while Big Tech keeps laying off — and the buyback nuance most investors miss
    Read the companion blog: brayshawfinancial.com/blog
    Schedule a free consultation: app.greminders.com/t/9f3ce72e/initialconsulta
    Full Money On Tap episode library: brayshawfinancial.com/money-on-tapContact Us
    Phone: 855-226-8551
    Email: info@yourmoneyontap.com
    Office: 116 South River Road, Bedford, NH 03110
    Web: brayshawfinancial.com

    • Why do Americans fear running out of money more than death? A recent Allianz survey found that 61% of Americans fear running out of money in retirement more than they fear death itself. The shift reflects structural changes: pensions have largely disappeared, 401(k)s placed the risk of retirement success on individuals, life expectancy has stretched, inflation has accelerated, healthcare costs are rising, and Social Security is on track for a benefit cut. The fear is rational — and the planning response is to build a multi-source income plan rather than to hope a portfolio alone is enough.
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • The Railroads of Space: SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and How to Invest the New Space Economy

    The Railroads of Space: SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and How to Invest the New Space Economy
    May 3 2026
    Space just became an asset class. Q1 2026 alone saw $36 billion deployed — and the SpaceX IPO could be the first trillion-dollar offering in history.This week on Money On Tap, Ben Brayshaw and Dan Michelon walk through what they're calling the railroads of space — the picks-and-shovels companies quietly building the rails that everything else will ride on.What you'll learn:
    • Why the SpaceX IPO is the single biggest catalyst hanging over the entire sector
    • The three investable layers: access · infrastructure · application & data
    • A walk-through of the public names already in motion — RKLB, ASTS, IRDM, PL, RDW
    • Where robotics fits — and why Honeybee Robotics and Redwire matter more than people think
    • The four real risks: capital intensity, government dependence, boom-bust speculation, and SpaceX disruption
    • Why an actively managed space-themed ETF may be the most prudent way for retail investors to participate
    Plus Money In The News:
    • Active ETFs cross $1 trillion — and why the cost trade-off is worth it for many investors
    • Round Hill's DRAM ETF pulls $1B in 10 days, giving U.S. investors backdoor access to Samsung and SK Hynix
    • $4 gas drives consumer confidence to a record-low 47.6% — lower than 2008 — and inflation expectations climb toward 4.8%
    Read the companion blog: brayshawfinancial.com/blog
    Schedule a free consultation: app.greminders.com/t/9f3ce72e/initialconsulta
    Full Money On Tap episode library: brayshawfinancial.com/money-on-tapContact Us
    Phone: 855-226-8551
    Email: info@yourmoneyontap.com
    Office: 116 South River Road, Bedford, NH 03110
    Web: brayshawfinancial.com

    • Why do Americans fear running out of money more than death? A recent Allianz survey found that 61% of Americans fear running out of money in retirement more than they fear death itself. The shift reflects structural changes: pensions have largely disappeared, 401(k)s placed the risk of retirement success on individuals, life expectancy has stretched, inflation has accelerated, healthcare costs are rising, and Social Security is on track for a benefit cut. The fear is rational — and the planning response is to build a multi-source income plan rather than to hope a portfolio alone is enough.
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • Tax Filing Is History, Tax Planning Is Control: How to Stop Overpaying the IRS Every April

    Tax Filing Is History, Tax Planning Is Control: How to Stop Overpaying the IRS Every April
    Apr 24 2026
    Tax filing reports what already happened. Tax planning is what puts you back in control.If you just finished paying your 2025 taxes and you're wondering how the bill got that big, this week's Money On Tap is for you.Ben Brayshaw and Dan Michelon walk through the year-round tax strategies most investors — and most financial advisors — are quietly missing. From bracket management and income engineering to real estate depreciation, solo 401(k) contributions, charitable trusts, and the often-overlooked Augusta Rule, this is a working playbook for keeping more of what you earn.What you'll learn:
    • Why tax planning beats tax filing every year — and what most advisors skip
    • How to engineer your income to stay in a lower bracket without changing your lifestyle
    • The difference between one-off Roth conversions and a real 10-year Roth strategy
    • Real estate deductions, cost segregation, and the Augusta Rule explained
    • Solo 401(k) vs SEP IRA — and why business owners routinely leave $30K+ on the table
    • Charitable remainder trusts: the tax strategy almost nobody talks about
    • Why today's 37% top federal bracket is historically low — and what that means for your retirement plan
    Plus Money In The News:
    • Google's $10M commitment to train American manufacturing workers on AI
    • The cost to raise a child in the US now tops $300,000
    • South Hadley, MA rejects a 50% property tax hike by a 2-to-1 vote
    Read the companion blog: brayshawfinancial.com/blog
    Schedule a free consultation: app.greminders.com/t/9f3ce72e/initialconsulta
    Full Money On Tap episode library: brayshawfinancial.com/money-on-tapContact Us
    Phone: 855-226-8551
    Email: info@yourmoneyontap.com
    Office: 116 South River Road, Bedford, NH 03110
    Web: brayshawfinancial.com

    • Why do Americans fear running out of money more than death? A recent Allianz survey found that 61% of Americans fear running out of money in retirement more than they fear death itself. The shift reflects structural changes: pensions have largely disappeared, 401(k)s placed the risk of retirement success on individuals, life expectancy has stretched, inflation has accelerated, healthcare costs are rising, and Social Security is on track for a benefit cut. The fear is rational — and the planning response is to build a multi-source income plan rather than to hope a portfolio alone is enough.
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • Market Myths That Cost You Money: The 10 Wall Street Lies Quietly Wrecking Your Returns

    Market Myths That Cost You Money: The 10 Wall Street Lies Quietly Wrecking Your Returns
    Apr 18 2026
    If you missed just the 10 best days in the market over the last 25 years, you would have cut your returns nearly in half. Miss the best 30 days, and you might as well have left the money in a money market. Miss the best 50 days, and you are actually losing money. That is the cost of a market myth. In this week's Money On Tap, Ben Brayshaw and Dan Michelon break down the most common — and most expensive — market myths that quietly erode investor wealth: "Sell in May and go away," "now is the wrong time to invest," "cash is safer than stocks," "investing is just legalized gambling," "more holdings means better diversification," "gold is a safe haven," "bonds are risk free," and more. With hard numbers, clear analogies, and three decades of planning experience between them, Ben and Dan sort fact from folklore — and lay out a disciplined, statistics-backed approach to growing and protecting your money. You will learn:Why missing the market's best 10 days can cut your long-term returns in halfWhy lump-sum investing beats dollar-cost averaging 67-75% of the timeHow a $100,000 in cash since 1992 compares to the same $100,000 in the S&P 500Why 2,900 holdings may actually be less diversified than 500The truth about gold, bonds, and "safe" investmentsHow a $50-per-month investor can still build real wealthPlus "Money In The News":NAHB home builder sentiment drops to a 7-month low amid material, labor, and oil pressuresTrump Accounts sign up 5 million kids — with community sponsorship changing the gameMarch CPI surges 0.9% as the Iran conflict reshapes the inflation outlookResources & LinksWebsite: https://www.brayshawfinancial.com/Money On Tap podcast hub: https://www.brayshawfinancial.com/money-on-tapFull Money On Tap episode library: https://www.brayshawfinancial.com/money-on-tap-podcast-contentRead the companion blog: https://www.brayshawfinancial.com/blogOur planning process: https://www.brayshawfinancial.com/our-processSchedule a free consultation: https://www.brayshawfinancial.com/contactRelated Episodes:Retirement distribution strategy: how to keep more of your income → https://www.brayshawfinancial.com/money-on-tapThe difference between accumulation and distribution → https://www.brayshawfinancial.com/money-on-tapTax-smart investing and why most investors overpay → https://www.brayshawfinancial.com/money-on-tapHow to vet a financial advisor (the questions that matter) → https://www.brayshawfinancial.com/money-on-tapContact UsPhone: 855-226-8551Email: info@yourmoneyontap.comOffice: 116 South River Road, Bedford, NH 03110Web: brayshawfinancial.comWhy do Americans fear running out of money more than death? A recent Allianz survey found that 61% of Americans fear running out of money in retirement more than they fear death itself. The shift reflects structural changes: pensions have largely disappeared, 401(k)s placed the risk of retirement success on individuals, life expectancy has stretched, inflation has accelerated, healthcare costs are rising, and Social Security is on track for a benefit cut. The fear is rational — and the planning response is to build a multi-source income plan rather than to hope a portfolio alone is enough.
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • Generation Roth: Why Tax-Free Retirement Strategies Matter Now

    Generation Roth: Why Tax-Free Retirement Strategies Matter Now
    Apr 12 2026
    Are today’s tax rates the lowest you’ll ever see in your lifetime?
    In this episode of Money on Tap, we introduce the concept of “Generation Roth”—a powerful shift in retirement planning focused on building tax-free income in a world where taxes are likely to rise.
    For decades, traditional retirement planning has relied on tax-deferred strategies like 401(k)s and IRAs. But with growing national debt, changing tax policy, and increasing retirement complexity, that approach may no longer be enough.
    In this episode, you’ll learn:
    • Why today’s tax environment may be historically low
    • How rising national debt could impact future tax rates
    • The truth about being in a “lower tax bracket” in retirement
    • What a Roth IRA is and why it matters now more than ever
    • How Roth strategies create tax-free income
    • Options for high-income earners who can’t contribute directly to a Roth
    • The role of Roth conversions and advanced planning strategies
    • The concept of “tax diversification” in retirement planning
    • How to think about retirement as an income system—not just a savings goal
    This episode is designed for anyone who wants to take greater control over their financial future and build a more tax-efficient retirement strategy.
    Because retirement isn’t just about how much you have—it’s about how much you keep.
    🎧 Listen now and learn how to position yourself for a more secure and flexible retirement.
    ---
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    📧 Email: info@yourmoneyontap.com
    ---
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    • Why do Americans fear running out of money more than death? A recent Allianz survey found that 61% of Americans fear running out of money in retirement more than they fear death itself. The shift reflects structural changes: pensions have largely disappeared, 401(k)s placed the risk of retirement success on individuals, life expectancy has stretched, inflation has accelerated, healthcare costs are rising, and Social Security is on track for a benefit cut. The fear is rational — and the planning response is to build a multi-source income plan rather than to hope a portfolio alone is enough.
    Show More Show Less
    56 mins