Tax season is finally over.

The returns are filed, the stress is behind you, and the last thing you probably want to do is think about taxes again.

But the weeks right after tax season are one of the most valuable windows you have all year.

Every number from last year is fresh, every missed opportunity is still visible, and every mistake you just uncovered is a clue about what to fix going forward.

In this episode, I sit down with Josh Rendler, CFP®, a partner at our firm and someone who spends his days deep inside client tax returns.

Together, we're answering some of the biggest questions we're hearing from retirees right now.

Here's what you'll learn:

→ The 3 numbers on last year's return that reveal your biggest 2026 planning opportunities

→ How to know if charitable giving belongs in your plan (plus the QCD detail that keeps it "invisible" to the IRS)

→ A fresh, counterintuitive take on Social Security timing

While last year's return is still on your desk: what's hiding in there that could make 2026 better? 🤔

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Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

See how they fit together in one coordinated strategy built around your numbers.

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***

EPISODE RESOURCES:

→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

→ Join the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter

→ Learn About the Total Retirement System™

One of the biggest decisions you'll make in your 70s and 80s has nothing to do with your portfolio.

It's not about Social Security timing. And it's not about Roth conversions.

It's about where you'll live and, more importantly, how care will be delivered, coordinated, and paid for if your health changes later on.

Most people think of this as a lifestyle decision.

But in reality, it's a housing-and-care decision, and it's one most retirement plans barely address.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the later-life housing choices most retirement savers haven't fully thought through.

Here's what you'll learn:

→ The four main housing options later in life—and how they differ in cost, care, and flexibility

→ What Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) actually are (+ a little-known tax planning tip)

→ The four types of risk every housing decision really involves

→ When this decision usually needs to be made, and what can happen if you wait too long

Because "we'll just stay in the house" isn't a plan...it's an assumption. And assumptions tend to get tested at the worst possible moment.

***

📆 BOOK A CALL WITH OUR TEAM:

Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

See how they fit together in one coordinated strategy built around your numbers.

👉 Learn More and Book a Call

***

EPISODE RESOURCES:

→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

→ Join the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter

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According to the FBI, Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cyber-enabled fraud last year—a 26% increase from the year before.

And the single largest category? Investment-related fraud, with more than $8.6 billion in losses.

But what's most unsettling isn't the scale... it's how simple some of these scams really are.

A retired couple recently lost thousands of dollars from their IRA after a scammer tricked them into sharing a single six-digit verification code over the phone.

No hacking. No stolen password. Just one text message and one phone call.

In this episode, I'm breaking down how "account takeover" scams work, why they're so effective, and the specific steps you can take to close the security gap.

Here's what you'll learn:

→ The 3-step pattern behind most account takeover scams

→ Why your personal information may already be compromised (and what that means for your account security)

→ What to do—and what not to do—when a financial institution contacts you about suspicious activity

→ 3 simple upgrades to better protect your accounts that most people overlook

In a world where scammers only need a few seconds to strike, your ability to slow down and take back control of the moment may be the most valuable layer of protection you have.

***

📆 BOOK A CALL WITH OUR TEAM:

Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

See how they fit together in one coordinated strategy built around your numbers.

👉 Learn More and Book a Call

***

EPISODE RESOURCES:

→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

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A viral claim keeps making the rounds: that a 1% advisory fee will drain hundreds of thousands of dollars from your retirement savings.

The math looks alarming... and that's exactly the point.

But as with most things in finance (and life!), the truth is more nuanced than a headline or social media post makes it seem.

In this episode, I break down research from Derek Tharp, Ph.D., CFP®, that puts this widely shared math to the test and reveals where it falls apart.

Here's what you'll learn:

→ The misleading assumptions behind the popular "1% fee" calculation

→ How alternative fee models can be 3x more expensive using the same math

→ What academic research says about quantifying the value of a good advisor

→ A smarter way to evaluate whether hiring an advisor makes sense for your specific situation

This episode isn't about defending any particular fee model.

It's about making sure you have the right information to evaluate the cost, the value, and the role financial advice may play in your retirement planning.

***

📆 BOOK A CALL WITH OUR TEAM:

Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

See how they fit together in one coordinated strategy built around your numbers.

👉 Learn More and Book a Call

***

EPISODE RESOURCES:

→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

→ Join the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter

→ Learn About the Total Retirement System™

Saving for retirement is one challenge.

Feeling comfortable (and confident) enough to actually enjoy it is another.

Even when the numbers say you're okay, uncertainty about the future can make it hard to use money for the things that matter most.

Today, I'm revisiting a conversation with Dr. Daniel Crosby where we talk about money, happiness, and why spending is often harder than saving.

It's especially relevant for me as my family currently navigates some big financial decisions... and a birthday trip for my oldest son that almost didn't happen. 🫣

In this episode, we discuss:

→ What the research gets wrong about the link between money and happiness

→ Why certain types of spending leave a bigger impact than others

→ A simple mindset shift that can make spending feel safer in retirement

→ What people near the end of life rarely regret—and what they wish they had done more of

This conversation is a good reminder that money is a tool, and the goal is to use it to support the life you truly value.

***

📆 BOOK A CALL WITH OUR TEAM:

Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

See how they fit together in one coordinated strategy built around your numbers.

👉 Learn More and Book a Call

***

EPISODE RESOURCES:

→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

→ Join the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter

→ Learn About the Total Retirement System™

If you're in or near retirement, one bad investment decision can have lasting consequences.

And new research shows just how risky stock picking can be:

Over the last 100 years, nearly 60% of all U.S. stocks underperformed Treasury bills—one of the safest investments you can own.

Even more surprising, fewer than 4% of companies created all of the stock market's net wealth.

In other words, the odds of consistently picking the right stocks are far lower than most people realize.

In this episode, I'm breaking down this eye-opening research and what it means for protecting your portfolio and retirement plan.

Here's what you'll learn:

→ Why owning a handful of well-known, familiar stocks can be far riskier than it feels

→ What the research reveals about where long-term market returns actually come from

→ The 3 actions you can take to better position and optimize your portfolio for the years ahead

Because in retirement, successful investing isn't about hitting home runs—it's about avoiding unnecessary mistakes and stacking the odds in your favor.

***

📆 BOOK A CALL WITH OUR TEAM:

Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

See how they fit together in one coordinated strategy built around your numbers.

👉 Learn More and Book a Call

***

EPISODE RESOURCES:

→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

→ Join the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter

→ Learn About the Total Retirement System™

Now that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has made the 2017 tax rates permanent, more retirees are taking a fresh look at Roth conversions.

But there's one rule that even reputable sources struggle to explain clearly—and the confusion can lead to costly mistakes.

In this episode, I'm simplifying the Roth conversion 5-year rule and sharing:

→ Why the rule is so confusing (and what most people get wrong)

→ The fastest way to determine how the rule applies to your specific situation

→ 4 real-world scenarios so you can see exactly how it works

If Roth conversions aren't a fit today, I'm also sharing one simple step everyone can take right now to make future conversions much easier.

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📝 GRAB THE ROTH 5-YEAR FLOWCHART (PDF)

Want to apply what you learned in this episode to your unique situation?

Subscribe to the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter and I'll send you my freshly updated Roth 5-Year Flowchart (PDF).

It's a simple guide to help you navigate this tricky rule step by step.

Grab your copy here.

***

📆 BOOK A CALL WITH OUR TEAM:

Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

See how they fit together in one coordinated strategy built around your numbers.

👉 Learn More and Book a Call

***

EPISODE RESOURCES:

→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

→ Join the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter

→ Learn About the Total Retirement System™

📝 Note: The 6.5% withdrawal rate is based on an 80% stock portfolio, a 30-year time horizon, and a 90% "confience score." Thanks for your patience while we update the episode to include that information. ~Taylor

***

Most people spend far less in retirement than they likely could.

In fact, one study found married households age 65+ with more than $100k in savings withdrew just 2.1% per year on average.

And ironically, the traditional 4% rule may be one reason why.

In this episode, I'm breaking down new research on retirement withdrawal strategies—and what it reveals about how retirees may be able to spend more.

Here's what you'll learn:

→ 5 strategies that (safely) support higher retirement income

→ The overlooked key to sustainable and confident retirement spending

→ 3 factors that can push starting withdrawal rates to as high as 6.5%

The goal of retirement planning isn't just making your money last…it's making sure you actually use it.

Which raises an important question: "Could you afford to spend more in retirement than you think?"

***

📆 BOOK A CALL:

Your retirement involves complex, interconnected decisions—taxes, income, healthcare, estate planning, investments.

See how they fit together in one coordinated strategy built around your numbers.

👉 Learn More and Book a Call

***

EPISODE RESOURCES:

→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

→ Join the Stay Wealthy Retirement Newsletter

→ Learn About the Total Retirement System™