Ready For Retirement

By James Conole, CFP®

Education Business Investing

What's Ready For Retirement about?

Ready For Retirement is the podcast dedicated to helping you learn the tips and strategies that will help you achieve your retirement goals. When it comes to retirement planning, it can quickly become overwhelming and easy to not take action. I designed this podcast because I want you to have the knowledge and confidence to create your secure retirement. My ultimate goal for all of my clients (and listeners) is to create peace of mind and that starts with having a strategy. I want you to spend more time thinking about what matters most to you in retirement. I post weekly episodes to keep you up-to-date on all the best tips and strategies to create a retirement that excites you. Everything from investing tips, tax planning, withdrawal strategies, insurance planning, Social Security, and that's just the start! Let's help you maximize your return on life. We use your money and the strategies I share in this podcast to do just that!

Download our free app to listen on your phone

LAST EPISODE

Roth IRA Tax-Free Withdrawa...

12.05.2023

James explores the nuanced aspects of Roth IRAs, shedding light on intricacies that can confound even experienced investors. Through a listener question from Manfred, a retiree contemplating a $50,000 conversion from a 401k to a Roth account, James dissects the ...

Ready For Retirement episodes:

12.05.2023 Roth IRA Tax-Free Withdrawals: 5-Year Rule Explained James explores the nuanced aspects of Roth IRAs, shedding light on intricacies that can confound even experienced investors. Through a listener question from Manfred, a retiree contemplating a $50,000 conversion from a 401k to a Roth account, James dissects the ...
11.28.2023 Retire Happy: How to Navigate Your Retirement Transition with Joe Kuhn When we think of retirement, it often evokes dreams of leisure, relaxation, and the freedom to pursue one's passions. Yet, the decision to retire is not merely about leaving a career; it's about embarking on a new chapter filled with ...
11.21.2023 Tax-Loss Harvesting Strategies to Maximize Your Benefit and Avoid Costly Mistakes Tax loss harvesting is a strategy that investors use to reduce their tax bill. However, there are many misconceptions about tax loss harvesting, including when it's valuable and how to do it effectively. James debunks some of the most common ...
11.14.2023 How to Teach Your Adult Children to Plan for Retirement James walks through a framework of how you ensure that your legacy goals include more than just leaving a chunk of money to your kids when you're gone. He explains the key concepts that can help your child develop strong ...
11.07.2023 Is Your Portfolio Big Enough to Benefit From Roth Conversions? What are the benefits of Roth conversions in retirement planning? James addresses questions about when Roth conversions become worthwhile. This episode explores key factors: Changes in tax bracket Spousal scenarios Impact of portfolio size on tax savings Potential tax savings ...
10.31.2023 Does It Ever Make Sense to Purchase an Annuity? Have you ever wondered if purchasing an annuity makes sense for you? There are two conflicting opinions from financial advisors: some advocate for annuities while others advise against them. James explores the concept of being a fiduciary and the challenges ...
10.24.2023 Pretax vs Roth- Which is Better for You If You're in the 24% Tax Bracket? If you're in a high tax bracket now and expect to remain in a high tax bracket after retirement, should you prioritize pre-tax retirement accounts or Roth retirement accounts for individuals? James answers this and discusses various factors to consider ...
10.17.2023 Here's How a Pension Should Change Your Investment Strategy James debunks common misconceptions about retirement portfolio allocation and explains how to factor in your pension, social security, and other fixed-income sources into your plan. He discusses the importance of dividends in assessing investment performance, risk capacity and tolerance, and ...
10.10.2023 Your Retirement Roadmap: A 5-Step Plan to Retirement Readiness In this episode, James emphasizes the importance of having a well-thought-out financial plan for retirement, rather than relying solely on the size of your investment portfolio. Financial security doesn't come from a specific portfolio number but from having a comprehensive ...
10.03.2023 How to Break Up with Your Financial Advisor In this episode James explores signs that may indicate it's time to move on from a current financial advisor and discusses the professional and respectful ways to handle this transition. There are three core aspects to consider when contemplating the ...
09.26.2023 Spend Guilt-Free: How to Shift from a Savings to Spending Mindset in Retirement One of the most ironic things about retirement spending is that the people who have saved the most money are often the same ones that have the most difficult time spending that money. We often think that if we save ...
09.19.2023 Donor Advised Funds - The Secret Weapon for Tax-Efficient Charitable Giving The majority of people who participate in some level of charitable giving in retirement aren't getting a tax deduction for any of it. While external reasons should drive charitable giving, you should absolutely look to maximize the tax effectiveness of ...
09.12.2023 The Tax-Smart Way to Consolidate Your Retirement Accounts By the time you get to retirement, it is not uncommon to have many different accounts at multiple different institutions. You may be wondering, "How do I begin the process of consolidating everything without paying a bunch in taxes or ...
09.05.2023 The Retirement Portfolio Shift- How to Make the Transition Smoothly It’s common knowledge to have a different portfolio allocation before retirement than you actually have in retirement. But how and when do we actually go about making that change? This episode is based on a listener question: Alan, has a ...
08.29.2023 Are Adjustable Rate Mortgages Right for You in a High Interest Rate Environment? Are short-term savings using an adjustable rate mortgage worth the risk of rate hikes? In this podcast, we cover how adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) work, how they differ from fixed-rate mortgages, and the reality of their adjustment periods. James uses ...
08.22.2023 How Rising Interest Rates Should Impact Your Pension Decision (Lump Sum vs Annuity) How can rising interest rates impact your pension value? In this week's episode, we analyze a real-life scenario from our listener, Mark, who is weighing the pros and cons of an early retirement, a higher lump sum, or a commit ...
08.15.2023 What's the Best Way to Fund a Remodel During Retirement? If you’re retired, you can’t wait around for the next bonus or stock to vest when you have a large expense. When you’re on a fixed income it’s more important than ever to find the best way to pull funds ...
08.08.2023 Here's the Right Way to Determine How Much Individual Stock to Hold How much of your portfolio is safe to hold in one individual stock? While 5% or 10% is typically recommended, rules of thumb like these are often irrelevant and harmful. The right answer depends upon your specific situation. James explains ...
08.01.2023 Ask Yourself This Question to Transform Your Retirement What do you think is the key to a successful retirement? By asking yourself the right questions and being intentional about using money to enrich life, you can live more presently in the moment and enjoy a meaningful and successful ...
07.25.2023 What Age Should I Collect Social Security If I Don’t Need It? For many people, Social Security will be their primary income source in retirement, but some individuals have sufficient assets or income from other sources, making them less dependent on Social Security benefits. James explains the factors that can affect when ...
07.18.2023 Is It Possible to Have Too Much in Roth IRAs? Description There are a lot of good reasons to put your money into a Roth account. But does it make sense to have all your money in Roth accounts? The truth is, there is a point at which it's potentially ...
07.11.2023 Do We Have Enough for Retirement? [Plus Bonus Worksheet] How much it will cost to meet your needs is one of the hardest parts to understand about retirement. Relying on conventional wisdom will only get you so far, and may even lead you astray. In this episode, we explain ...
07.04.2023 Here's When It Makes Sense to Rent In Retirement Many people believe that when you're retired, you need to own your own home, ideally without a mortgage. But there are instances where renting can make more sense, not just financially but for several other reasons. In this episode, James ...
06.27.2023 Everything You Need to Know About RMDs (Required Minimum Distributions) Required Minimum Distributions work differently depending on the type of account. How can you most effectively plan for them? Today we're talking through everything you need to know about RMDs so you can understand their nuances and create a plan ...
06.20.2023 [Case Study] How to Prepare for Early Retirement For people who are planning to retire early, planning for retirement can be especially daunting. There are many different points to consider, but the most important is ensuring that your income stream will sustain you for the rest of your ...
06.13.2023 Here’s How You Can Tell If a Roth Conversion Is Right For You One of the best things you can do for your portfolio is to implement the right tax strategy. Each situation is unique and requires a personalized approach. Using a listener’s question, James explains one specific example to show when and ...
06.06.2023 How to Manage Cash Reserves in Retirement Managing your cash reserves in retirement can get complicated quickly between living expenses, multiple income streams, taxes owed, etc. James explains how you should manage your cash reserves based on your financial plan and answers a listener’s question. Questions Answered: ...
05.30.2023 5 Things You'll Wish You Knew Before You Retired When you retire, there are surprising things you’ll wish you knew beforehand. Unlike social security, IRAs, or Medicare, most people don’t often plan for the emotional and personal matters of retirement. James discusses the five things people often regret not ...
05.23.2023 What's the Best Way to Sell Out of a Concentrated Stock Position? James discusses a listener’s question about what to do with stock positions and single stock positions, explaining the pros and cons of holding a concentrated stock position. He highlights the importance of understanding tax implications and assessing your ability to ...
05.16.2023 6 Financial Rules of Thumb to Avoid James debunks six popular rules of thumb that can actually do more harm than good when it comes to retirement planning. From the 100-minus-your-age stock allocation rule to the 70% to 80% income replacement myth, James breaks down why rules ...
05.09.2023 How Should I Invest Proceeds from Selling My Home? In this episode, James tackles a listener’s question about investing a lump sum for his upcoming retirement. James analyzes one's situation and gives realistic insights on determining the right mix of stable and growth assets that will generate a rising ...
05.02.2023 Plan Better: Financial Strategies vs Tactics Oftentimes we make decisions about our portfolios based on what we think is the smartest move. Yet when we do that, we can lose sight of the bigger picture. In this episode, we’ll discuss how the context in which you ...
04.25.2023 Avoid This Major Pitfall of Standard Withdrawal Strategies You might be missing something if you're focusing only on your initial withdrawal rate... ...on today's episode, we'll cover what you might be missing, and how you can maximize your portfolio withdrawal strategy. Questions answered: What is the 4% rule ...
04.18.2023 4 Reasons You SHOULDN'T do a Roth Conversion In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses how 4 reasons to NOT do a Roth Conversion. Questions Answered: How to think through whether a Roth Conversion makes sense for youUnderstanding how to implement effective Roth Conversions How can ...
04.11.2023 5 Reasons You Should Retire Now In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses how to protect your most important financial assets. Questions Answered: How should you think about protecting your most important financial assets?Understanding how to protect what's most important (your TIME)How can your ...
04.04.2023 How to Protect Your Most Important Financial Asset In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses how to protect your most important financial assets. Questions Answered: How should you think about protecting your most important financial assets?Understanding how to protect what's most importantHow can your overall retirement ...
03.28.2023 How Much Umbrella Insurance Coverage Do You Need? In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses umbrella insurance coverage and how much you need. Questions Answered: How should I think about an Umbrella Insurance Policy (how much)?Understanding how much defense (risk management) is neededHow can your overall ...
03.21.2023 How to Supercharge Your Retirement with Deferred Comp Plans In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses Deferred Compensation Plans and how to consider them within your overall retirement strategy. Questions Answered: How should I think about Deferred Compensation in context of my overall plan?When does it make ...
03.14.2023 Where To Pull Income From First When You Retire Early? (Part 3 - Early Retirement) In this episode of Ready for Retirement, Ari Taublieb, MBA guest hosts the Ready for Retirement podcast to discuss where you should pull income from first when you retire early. Ari Taublieb, MBA is the Vice President of Root Financial ...
03.07.2023 3 Ways To Create Tax-Free Income in Retirement - (Part 2 - Early Retirement) In this episode of Ready for Retirement, Ari Taublieb, MBA guest hosts the Ready for Retirement podcast to discuss the 5 mistakes to make sure you avoid when retiring early. Ari Taublieb, MBA is the Vice President of Root Financial ...
02.28.2023 5 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Retiring Early (Part 1 - Early Retirement) In this episode of Ready for Retirement, Ari Taublieb, MBA guest hosts the Ready for Retirement podcast to discuss the 5 mistakes to make sure you avoid when retiring early. Ari Taublieb, MBA is the Vice President of Root Financial ...
02.21.2023 How Much Do You Need to Retire? In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses how much you need to retire. Questions Answered: How much do I need (financially)?How do I prepare (mentally)?How can your overall retirement strategy be improved?Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 2:30 - How ...
02.14.2023 Where Should I Invest Extra Income After Maxing My 401k? In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses what you should do with extra income after you max out your 401(k). Questions Answered: What are the best accounts to invest in after your 401(k)?Should you invest in a brokerage/Roth/IRA/etc?How ...
02.07.2023 What Should You Do With Your 401k When You Retire? In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses what you should do with your 401(k) when you retire. Questions Answered: What are the best ways to reduce fees in a 401(k)?Should you move your 401(k) elsewhere?How can your overall ...
01.31.2023 5 Steps To Create A Meaningful Retirement with Cyn Meyer In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses with retirement life coach Cyn Meyer how to create the most meaningful retirement. Guest: Cyn Meyer is a Retirement Life Coach and founder of Second Wind Movement. She has free resources ...
01.24.2023 How to Use Roth Conversions to Protect Your Spouse's Future In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James how to use Roth Conversions to protect your spouse's future. Questions Answered: What are the best ways to implement Roth Conversions?What are the best strategies to implement tax planning for your spouse?How ...
01.17.2023 When Should You Start Withdrawing Cash Instead of Stocks For Retirement Income? In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses when you should start withdrawing cash instead of stocks for retirement income? Questions Answered: What is the best way to optimize withdrawals?What are the best strategies to optimize pulling funds from ...
01.10.2023 8 Important Planning Opportunities From the SECURE Act 2.0 In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses 8 important planning opportunities from the SECURE Act 2.0 Questions Answered: What are the major changes from the SECURE Act 2.0?What are the best strategies to implement from the SECURE Act ...
01.03.2023 3 Steps to Make 2023 Your Best Year Yet In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses 3 steps to make 2023 your best year yet. Questions Answered: What is the best way to get your "money right"?What are the best strategies to optimize your money choices?How can ...
12.27.2022 5 Wrong Assumptions People Make About Retirement In this episode of Ready for Retirement, James discusses 5 assumptions that you shouldn't make in retirement. Questions Answered: What are the best practices when making assumptions in retirement?What are the best strategies to create income in retirement?How can your ...

Older episodes