In episode 27 of the Retirement Planning Pipe-Line – Retirement Planning Specialist David Pipes and co-host Jim Tarabocchia present part four of a five part series centered around helping you catch up on your retirement plan; outlining five actionable steps to take right now to ensure a rock-solid retirement plan so you can enjoy your golden years. This week, David and Jim discuss a simple, but sometimes overcomplicated facet of retirement planning – creating a budget and cutting unnecessary funds…

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Listen LIVE every Saturday at 8 AM CST:

WCOA News Talk 104.9 FM and 1370 AM

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https://retirementpipeline.com/

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https://retirementpipeline.com/podcast

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Connect with Charles “David” Pipes:

Phone --- 850-565-1705

Email --- Charles.Pipes@Amerilifeagent.com

Website --- https://retirementplanningpipeline.com/

LinkedIn --- https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-pipes

Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more content on retirement planning, financial strategies, wealth building, and income planning.

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Charles “David” Pipes is a highly respected retirement planning specialist based in South Alabama, known for his analytical precision and client-focused approach. With dual degrees in Actuarial Science and Statistics, David brings a strong mathematical foundation to every financial strategy he designs. His deep understanding of risk, probability, and long-term forecasting has made him a trusted professional for individuals planning for retirement security and strategizing income. David combines technical expertise with a personal commitment to helping clients achieve financial peace of mind in their retirement years.

His deep understanding of risk, probability, and long-term forecasting has made him a trusted professional for individuals seeking retirement security and reliable income strategies. David combines technical expertise with a personal commitment to helping clients achieve financial peace of mind throughout their retirement years.

• (00:00:00) - Retirement Planning Pipeline
• (00:01:13) - Five Steps to Catch Up On Your Retirement Plan
• (00:02:20) - Where is Your Money Really Going?
• (00:06:56) - Do Clients Under-Estimate Their Expenses?
• (00:12:07) - How to Budget for Your Retirement
• (00:14:25) - April is Financial Literacy Month
• (00:15:30) - Building a Budget for Pre-Retirement
• (00:19:12) - The Biggest Budget Mistake
• (00:22:15) - A Little Emotional Dependency on Financial Advisors
• (00:28:50) - Retirement Planning Pipeline
• (00:29:34) - Financial Wisdom Quotation of the Week
• (00:30:23) - Capping Spending
• (00:35:31) - Retired Advisor: Where Do You See the Most Waste?
• (00:41:27) - Turning Savings Into Retirement Power
• (00:43:09) - Why You Need to Maximize Your Income in Retirement
• (00:47:57) - Consistent Investing vs Timing the Market
• (00:53:24) - Amerilife Retirement Planning Pipeline

Happy "America Saves Week!"

Guest: Shikha Narula, Head of Consumer Deposit Products at Bank of America

Key Takeaways from the Interview:

• Saving remains a priority—but it’s challenging:
• ~52% of Americans say saving is a top priority
• ~72% say inflation and cost of living are impacting finances
• Automation is one of the easiest wins:
• Tools like debit round-ups (e.g., “Keep the Change”)
• Recurring automatic transfers to “pay yourself first”
• Balance saving with lifestyle (don’t eliminate joy spending):
• Cut back—not cut out—small treats
• Identify “joy spending” categories and prioritize intentionally
• Use the 50/30/20 framework:
• 50% needs
• 30% wants
• 20% savings
• Make big goals more achievable:
• Break savings goals into smaller milestones
• Set deadlines and celebrate progress
• Use separate accounts for specific goals (reduces temptation)
• Free up extra cash with small adjustments:
• Review subscriptions
• Reduce unnecessary spending (rideshare, etc.)
• Small changes can compound over time
• Helpful resources mentioned:
• America Saves Week
• BetterMoneyHabits.com
• Bank of America Life Plan tools

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Schedule your complimentary consultation today:
386-320-6406
PlanRetirementYourWay.com

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About the Hosts:
Bradley serves as an Investment Advisor Representative and Registered Social Security Analyst. Madison is a licensed life and health insurance agent and also a Registered Social Security Analyst.

Tune in each week:
️WNDB, News Daytona Beach, FM 98.5 & AM 1150 – Saturdays at 9am and Sundays at 10am
️WAPN, Word and Praise, FM 91.5 – Sundays at 9:30am

Investment advisory services offered through Brookstone Capital Management, LLC (BCM), a registered investment advisor. BCM and AmeriLife are separate companies but are affiliated through common ownership. Insurance products and services are not offered through BCM but are offered and sold through individually licensed and appointed agents. Not affiliated with the United States government. Bradley and Madison Hardin do not offer tax or legal advice. Consult with your tax advisor or attorney regarding specific situations. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. These opinions are not intended to predict future performance of any product. All information provided is believed to be from reliable sources. However, we make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of any statement. This information is intended to be educational in nature and does not provide a guarantee or a specific result. All copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. AmeriLife assumes no responsibility or liability for the content of this message. The information contained herein is provided on an as-is basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, timeliness, or the results obtained from the use of this information.

April is National Financial Literacy Month. It started back in the early 2000s when Congress realized too many Americans were leaving school without the first clue about how to manage a paycheck, a credit card, or a financial future. Fast-forward to 2026, and the problem hasn’t gone away. Nearly half of U.S. adults still give themselves a C-minus or worse on money knowledge…
Key Points Covered:

• Review one monthly bill and see if you can cut, renegotiate, or cancel it
• Set one small savings goal — even twenty bucks a paycheck counts
• Learn just one new money concept — like how compound interest works for you instead of against you
• Sit down with your partner or your kids and have one honest conversation about money. No judgment, Just real talk

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Schedule your complimentary consultation today:
386-320-6406
PlanRetirementYourWay.com

--

About the Hosts:
Bradley serves as an Investment Advisor Representative and Registered Social Security Analyst. Madison is a licensed life and health insurance agent and also a Registered Social Security Analyst.

Tune in each week:
️WNDB, News Daytona Beach, FM 98.5 & AM 1150 – Saturdays at 9am and Sundays at 10am
️WAPN, Word and Praise, FM 91.5 – Sundays at 9:30am

Investment advisory services offered through Brookstone Capital Management, LLC (BCM), a registered investment advisor. BCM and AmeriLife are separate companies but are affiliated through common ownership. Insurance products and services are not offered through BCM but are offered and sold through individually licensed and appointed agents. Not affiliated with the United States government. Bradley and Madison Hardin do not offer tax or legal advice. Consult with your tax advisor or attorney regarding specific situations. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. These opinions are not intended to predict future performance of any product. All information provided is believed to be from reliable sources. However, we make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of any statement. This information is intended to be educational in nature and does not provide a guarantee or a specific result. All copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. AmeriLife assumes no responsibility or liability for the content of this message. The information contained herein is provided on an as-is basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, timeliness, or the results obtained from the use of this information.

• (00:00:00) - April is National Financial Literacy Month