How to Build a Recession-Ready BudgetCore Theme: Recession talk is back for 2026—it may not be in every headline, but the odds aren’t at zero percent. You need to be prepared for the scenario of a possible recession.Key Points Covered:

• Emergency Funds --- Start by building (or topping off) an emergency fund that covers three to six months of living expenses.
• Picking the Right Budgeting System – Whether old or new, using a budgeting system can help consolidate while keeping stress away.
• Configure your Financial Portfolio – Strategies to ensure your financial portfolio remains in a strong position.

To schedule your 100% complimentary consultation, call 205-602-5065 or visit TheNolesGroup.com.

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About the Podcast:
This is the Understanding Money Podcast– with CEO and founder Danny Noles of the Noles Group. Danny has spent more than 30 years helping people achieve their financial dreams. His goal is to give you the tools you need to retire with confidence. He is here to help you see through the financial fog!

Book a no-obligation appointment online: https://www.thenolesgroup.com/book-an-appointment

Check out our website: thenolesgroup.com

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Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.

Retirement.Radio's Matt McClure sits down with Rod Griffin, Senior Director of Consumer Education and Advocacy at Experian, for a practical and timely conversation about emergency savings. With rising living costs, recent holiday spending, and ongoing debt repayment putting pressure on household budgets, many Americans struggle to set money aside for unexpected expenses.

Matt and Rod break down common emergency fund guidelines—ranging from three to six months of expenses or more—while emphasizing that the most important step is simply getting started. Rather than focusing on intimidating savings targets, the discussion highlights the value of small, consistent contributions that build momentum over time.

The conversation also explores actionable strategies for freeing up cash flow, including tracking expenses, reducing recurring bills, and using available tools to identify unused subscriptions or high-cost credit options. Matt and Rod wrap up by connecting emergency savings to long-term financial stability, stressing the importance of automation, protecting credit health, and taking full advantage of employer-matched retirement contributions.

Host: Retirement.Radio’s Matt McClure
Guest: Rod Griffin, Senior Director of Consumer Education and Advocacy at Experian

To schedule your 100% complimentary consultation, call 205-602-5065 or visit TheNolesGroup.com.

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About the Podcast:
This is the Understanding Money Podcast– with CEO and founder Danny Noles of the Noles Group. Danny has spent more than 30 years helping people achieve their financial dreams. His goal is to give you the tools you need to retire with confidence. He is here to help you see through the financial fog!

Book a no-obligation appointment online: https://www.thenolesgroup.com/book-an-appointment

Check out our website: thenolesgroup.com

---
Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.

Retirement.Radio’s Matt McClure sits down with Mark Steber, Chief Tax Officer of Jackson Hewitt, to break down what taxpayers need to know heading into the 2026 tax season. They discuss some of the biggest changes on the horizon, including an estimated $300 billion in refunds expected for millions of Americans — and why filing early and accurately can make a real difference.

Steber walks through several new tax benefits, including deductions for tipped and overtime workers and a new tax break for seniors age 65 and older. The conversation also covers practical tips on getting organized, choosing a trusted tax professional, and avoiding common tax scams. It’s a timely, practical discussion designed to help listeners feel informed, prepared, and confident as tax season approaches.

To schedule your 100% complimentary consultation, call 205-602-5065 or visit TheNolesGroup.com.

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About the Podcast:
This is the Understanding Money Podcast– with CEO and founder Danny Noles of the Noles Group. Danny has spent more than 30 years helping people achieve their financial dreams. His goal is to give you the tools you need to retire with confidence. He is here to help you see through the financial fog!

Book a no-obligation appointment online: https://www.thenolesgroup.com/book-an-appointment

Check out our website: thenolesgroup.com

---
Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.

Welcome to the first 2026 edition of Understanding Money with the Noles Group! Matt McClure sits down with Danny, Parker, Chandler, and Tyler Noles to tackle retirement planning in a year already marked by elevated uncertainty. Tariff pressure, geopolitical conflicts, inflation, and an election year all create a volatile backdrop—and retirees face these conditions very differently than younger investors.

The team also discusses the expanding role of alternatives, the importance of bucket planning, how retirees can stay calm during market swings, and why good advisors act as both strategists and behavioral coaches.

The show closes with something special: the Five Habits of Happy Retirees—practical tips anyone can start using today to live more confidently, purposefully, and joyfully in retirement.

To schedule your 100% complimentary consultation, call 205-602-5065 or visit TheNolesGroup.com.

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About the Podcast:
This is the Understanding Money Podcast– with CEO and founder Danny Noles of the Noles Group. Danny has spent more than 30 years helping people achieve their financial dreams. His goal is to give you the tools you need to retire with confidence. He is here to help you see through the financial fog!

Book a no-obligation appointment online: https://www.thenolesgroup.com/book-an-appointment

Check out our website: thenolesgroup.com

---
Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.

In this packed episode of Understanding Money with the Noles Group, Matt, Danny, Parker, Tyler, and Evan dive into everything listeners need to prepare financially for an impactful 2026. From rebuilding your budget after the holidays to automating your savings, from establishing strong financial habits in your 30s to optimizing your retirement strategy in your 50s and 60s, this episode offers clear, practical, and actionable guidance for every stage of life.

The team also walks through crucial year-end reminders — including Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) deadlines and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) — breaking them down in simple terms so listeners can avoid costly IRS mistakes. Plus, the Knowles Group analyses the latest Federal Reserve rate decision, explaining what interest rate cuts and mixed economic signals could mean for consumers, retirees, and investors in 2026.

Finally, the group tackles the question many listeners have: Should I work with a financial advisor, or can I do it myself? They outline the benefits, dispel common fears, and explain the real value of professional guidance — especially in a shifting economy.

With an upbeat, conversational tone, this episode equips listeners with the tools, strategies, and confidence to step boldly into 2026 and take control of their financial futures.

To schedule your 100% complimentary consultation, call 205-602-5065 or visit TheNolesGroup.com.

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About the Podcast:
This is the Understanding Money Podcast– with CEO and founder Danny Noles of the Noles Group. Danny has spent more than 30 years helping people achieve their financial dreams. His goal is to give you the tools you need to retire with confidence. He is here to help you see through the financial fog!

Book a no-obligation appointment online: https://www.thenolesgroup.com/book-an-appointment

Check out our website: thenolesgroup.com

---
Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.

As 2025 winds down, the Noles family breaks down your essential year-end financial checklist—from budgeting and retirement contributions to RMDs, tax-sensitive moves, insurance reviews, Medicare updates, emergency savings decisions, and more.

We also spotlight the latest holiday scams (based on new AARP data), explain how retirees and pre-retirees can stay safe, and take a lighthearted look at the 2025 PNC Christmas Price Index—including which gifts from the “12 Days of Christmas” skyrocketed in cost.

Plus, the Noles Group delivers a heartfelt message for anyone who thinks they’ve “waited too long” to retire. Using inspiration from JFK’s moonshot speech, the team explains why financial planning is a challenge worth taking—and why it’s never too late to start.

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Call the Noles Group at 205-602-5065
Visit: TheNolesGroup.com

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About the Podcast:
This is the Understanding Money Podcast– with CEO and founder Danny Noles of the Noles Group. Danny has spent more than 30 years helping people achieve their financial dreams. His goal is to give you the tools you need to retire with confidence. He is here to help you see through the financial fog!

Book a no-obligation appointment online: https://www.thenolesgroup.com/book-an-appointment

Check out our website: thenolesgroup.com

---
Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.

In this episode, Matt McClure joins Parker, Tyler, and Jack from the Noles Group to walk through the real challenges retirees face in their first year—emotional adjustments, tax surprises, healthcare costs, and the danger of sequence-of-return risk.

The team explains why planning ahead, creating guaranteed income, preparing for market drops, and building a structured lifestyle matter more than ever.

They also break down RMD deadlines, Medicare reminders, and the Noles Group’s hands-on financial planning process.

Learn how to build a confident, coordinated retirement strategy—with support from a team that’s guided thousands of families through the transition.

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Call the Noles Group at 205-602-5065
Visit: TheNolesGroup.com

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About the Podcast:
This is the Understanding Money Podcast– with CEO and founder Danny Noles of the Noles Group. Danny has spent more than 30 years helping people achieve their financial dreams. His goal is to give you the tools you need to retire with confidence. He is here to help you see through the financial fog!

Book a no-obligation appointment online: https://www.thenolesgroup.com/book-an-appointment

Check out our website: thenolesgroup.com

--
Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.

In this interview, Retirement.Radio’s Matt McClure speaks with Mary Hines Droesch, head of consumer and small business products at Bank of America, about holiday shopping trends. A major focus is how inflation and tariffs influence consumer behavior. The discussion also explores how dupe culture is emerging as a popular trend among younger generations who seek affordable alternatives to high-end branded items, while highlighting generational differences in gift-giving preferences and shopping habits. Mary emphasizes practical strategies for managing holiday expenses, including budgeting, using rewards cards, and taking advantage of bulk purchasing opportunities to maximize value during the holiday season.

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Call the Noles Group at 205-602-5065
Visit: TheNolesGroup.com

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About the Podcast:
This is the Understanding Money Podcast– with CEO and founder Danny Noles of the Noles Group. Danny has spent more than 30 years helping people achieve their financial dreams. His goal is to give you the tools you need to retire with confidence. He is here to help you see through the financial fog!

Book a no-obligation appointment online: https://www.thenolesgroup.com/book-an-appointment

Check out our website: thenolesgroup.com

--
Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.