A Wiser Retirement®

Your portfolio has a different job when the paychecks stop. After decades of adding money, you now need it to help cover your spending, and watching the balance decline can feel uncomfortable even when withdrawals are part of the plan. Preparing for that shift involves more than choosing a more conservative investment mix. It means knowing how much you need, where withdrawals come from, and how your investments support both current spending and future growth.

In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast, we discuss portfolio changes to consider before and during retirement. William Medcalf, CFP®, CBDA, and Michaela Dowdy, CFP®, CBDA,  explore cash reserves, investment risk, withdrawal decisions, and why two people retiring at the same age may need very different portfolios.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Ep 276. How to Make Sure You're Ready for Retirement

Ep 360. What If One Spouse Wants to Retire, and the Other Doesn't?

Related Financial Education Videos:

When Should I Start Saving for Retirement?

Can You Save Too Much for Retirement?

Learn More:

Founded in 2001, Wiser Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary financial planning and wealth management firm helping individuals, families, and business owners make informed financial decisions.

Have questions about your financial plan? Schedule a Complimentary Consultation to discover how we can help you achieve financial freedom. We are local to Atlanta, but can meet with you virtually from wherever you are. 

Access Our Free Guides: Gain valuable insights on building a financial legacy, the importance of a financial advisor for business owners, and the tax impact on inheritance, and more!

Stay Connected:

Follow Wiser Wealth Management on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter
Subscribe to A Wiser Retirement® YouTube Channel for more financial education videos and podcast episodes.

This podcast was produced by ...

Your credit card earns points every month, but are they getting you anywhere? A growing rewards balance can feel valuable until you try to turn it into a trip you actually want to take. The opportunity lies in matching your everyday spending with the right rewards, then knowing when a redemption is worth the points, fees, and effort.

In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast, we discuss how to travel more without spending more. Host Casey Smith welcomes Colin Stroud, Founder of Go Somewhere, to explore credit card rewards, the tradeoffs between points and cash back, and why a simpler strategy sometimes makes more sense.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Ep 203. How to Create a Realistic Travel Budget with Amy Rambo

Ep 310. How Can You Travel the World in Retirement?

Related Financial Education Videos:

Pros and Cons of Owning a Vacation Rental Property

What is the 70/20/10 Rule of Money? A Simple Budgeting Framework

Other Links:

Go Somewhere

Learn More:

Founded in 2001, Wiser Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary financial planning and wealth management firm helping individuals, families, and business owners make informed financial decisions.

Have questions about your financial plan? Schedule a Complimentary Consultation to discover how we can help you achieve financial freedom. We are local to Atlanta, but can meet with you virtually from wherever you are. 

Access Our Free Guides: Gain valuable insights on building a financial legacy, the importance of a financial advisor for business owners, and the tax impact on inheritance, and more!

Stay Connected:

Follow Wiser Wealth Management on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter
Subscribe to A Wiser Retirement® YouTube Channel for more financial education videos and podcast episodes.

This podcast was produced by ...

You know how many years remain until your final flight. But do you know whether your savings can support what comes next? For airline pilots approaching 40, 50, or 60, a bigger paycheck or a growing 401(k) balance tells only part of the story. Your retirement target depends on what you plan to spend, the income available to cover it, and whether your plan leaves room for flying to end earlier than expected.

In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast, we discuss how much airline pilots should have saved by ages 40, 50, and 60. Host Casey Smith and Financial Planning Associate Grace Pavel explore the planning priorities at each milestone, why salary-based benchmarks can miss the mark, and how to connect retirement savings with actual spending needs.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Ep 350. Can a Pilot Retire at 55? Running the Real Numbers

Ep 322. How Airline Pilots Can Make the Most of Their Profit-Sharing Bonus

Related Financial Education Videos:

The Five Money Moves Every Pilot Should Know

Will New Aircraft Technology Boost Pilot Pay?

Other Links:

Big City Brian Wright

Debt Worksheet

Learn More:

Founded in 2001, Wiser Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary financial planning and wealth management firm helping individuals, families, and business owners make informed financial decisions.

Have questions about your financial plan? Schedule a Complimentary Consultation to discover how we can help you achieve financial freedom. We are local to Atlanta, but can meet with you virtually from wherever you are. 

Access Our Free Guides: Gain valuable insights on building a financial legacy, the importance of a financial advisor for business owners, and the tax impact on inheritance, and more!

Stay Connected:

Follow Wiser Wealth Management on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter
Subscribe to A Wiser Retirement® YouTube Channel for more financial education videos and podcast episodes.

This podcast was produced by ...

“Leave everything equally to the kids” sounds straightforward until the inheritance includes a vacation home nobody agrees on, retirement accounts with tax consequences, or years of financial help that one sibling receives and another does not. The dollar amounts are only part of the decision. How assets pass, who manages them, and what beneficiaries understand can matter just as much.

In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast, discuss how to pass down wealth without passing down problems. Senior Financial Advisor Shawna Theriault, CFP®, CPA, CDFA®, joins Estate Planning Attorney Arun Gupta to explore the family dynamics, beneficiary preparation, and estate planning decisions that shape an inheritance.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Ep 314. The Simple Estate Planning Error That Could Hurt Your Family

Ep 346. Estate Planning Coordination: How Your Attorney, CPA, & Financial Advisor Work Together

Related Financial Education Videos:

How to Reduce Capital Gains When Selling Real Estate

Does inheritance count as income?

Other Links:

AG Law

Learn More:

Founded in 2001, Wiser Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary financial planning and wealth management firm helping individuals, families, and business owners make informed financial decisions.

Have questions about your financial plan? Schedule a Complimentary Consultation to discover how we can help you achieve financial freedom. We are local to Atlanta, but can meet with you virtually from wherever you are. 

Access Our Free Guides: Gain valuable insights on building a financial legacy, the importance of a financial advisor for business owners, and the tax impact on inheritance, and more!

Stay Connected:

Follow Wiser Wealth Management on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter
Subscribe to A Wiser Retirement® YouTube Channel for more financial education videos and podcast episodes.

This podcast was produced by ...

ChatGPT can explain what is in a portfolio, spot funds that overlap, and help you ask better questions about investment costs. But what happens when you ask it specifically about what to do with your retirement savings?

In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast, Casey Smith and Financial Advisor William Medcalf, CFP®, CBDA discuss how ChatGPT handles an investment question, what changes when it receives more details, and where its analysis still needs human judgment.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Ep 272. Why should I pay a financial advisor to invest in low-cost ETFs?

Ep 118. What to Look For in a Financial Advisor

Related Financial Education Videos:

Warning Signs of a Bad Financial Advisor

Why Financial Planning is Different for Pilots

Learn More:

Founded in 2001, Wiser Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary financial planning and wealth management firm helping individuals, families, and business owners make informed financial decisions.

Have questions about your financial plan? Schedule a Complimentary Consultation to discover how we can help you achieve financial freedom. We are local to Atlanta, but can meet with you virtually from wherever you are. 

Access Our Free Guides: Gain valuable insights on building a financial legacy, the importance of a financial advisor for business owners, and the tax impact on inheritance, and more!

Stay Connected:

Follow Wiser Wealth Management on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter
Subscribe to A Wiser Retirement® YouTube Channel for more financial education videos and podcast episodes.

This podcast was produced by ...

Retirement does not always happen on the same timeline for both spouses. One person may feel burned out and ready to leave a demanding career, while the other still enjoys working. That difference affects more than a retirement date, it can reshape household cash flow, healthcare coverage, taxes, Social Security decisions, and the way a couple imagines life together.

In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast, we discuss what happens when one spouse wants to retire while the other continues working. Casey Smith and Senior Financial Advisor Shawna Theriault, CFP®, CPA, CDFA®, explore both the financial calculations and personal conversations that help couples decide whether retiring at different times fits their shared plan.

Related Podcast Episodes: 

Ep 353. Is $2 Million Enough to Retire? What about $3 Million?

Ep 293. Retirement for Business Owners: Selling Your Business or Passing It On

Related Financial Education Videos:

Financial Habits to Avoid in Retirement

How Much Risk Should You Take in Your Retirement Portfolio?

Learn More:

Founded in 2001, Wiser Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary financial planning and wealth management firm helping individuals, families, and business owners make informed financial decisions.

Have questions about your financial plan? Schedule a Complimentary Consultation to discover how we can help you achieve financial freedom. We are local to Atlanta, but can meet with you virtually from wherever you are. 

Access Our Free Guides: Gain valuable insights on building a financial legacy, the importance of a financial advisor for business owners, and the tax impact on inheritance, and more!

Stay Connected:

Follow Wiser Wealth Management on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter
Subscribe to A Wiser Retirement® YouTube Channel for more financial education videos and podcast episodes.

This podcast was produced by ...

Estate planning for a blended family is rarely as simple as deciding who receives each asset. The harder questions involve timing, control, changing relationships, and what happens after one spouse dies. A plan may look complete on paper while leaving room for outcomes no one intended.

In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast, Senior Financial Advisor Shawna Theriault, CFP®, CPA, CDFA®, and Estate Planning Attorney Arun Gupta, discuss estate planning for blended families. They explore how family dynamics, asset ownership, beneficiary designations, trusts, and financial powers of attorney can affect whether an estate plan works as intended.

Related Podcast Episodes: 

Ep 346. Estate Planning Coordination: How Your Attorney, CPA, & Financial Advisor Work Together

Ep 314. The Simple Estate Planning Error That Could Hurt Your Family

Related Financial Education Videos:

What is the Difference Between a Will and a Trust?

What is a QTIP Trust and Who Needs One?

Other Links:

AG Law

Learn More:

Founded in 2001, Wiser Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary financial planning and wealth management firm helping individuals, families, and business owners make informed financial decisions.

Have questions about your financial plan? Schedule a Complimentary Consultation to discover how we can help you achieve financial freedom. We are local to Atlanta, but can meet with you virtually from wherever you are. 

Access Our Free Guides: Gain valuable insights on building a financial legacy, the importance of a financial advisor for business owners, and the tax impact on inheritance, and more!

Stay Connected:

Follow Wiser Wealth Management on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter
Subscribe to A Wiser Retirement® YouTube Channel for more financial education videos and podcast episodes.

This podcast was produced by ...

Crypto regulation in the United States has been caught in a gray area for years. The industry continues to grow, financial institutions are showing more interest, and blockchain technology is finding new uses, but companies still face basic questions about who regulates what and which rules apply. The CLARITY Act is designed to address some of those uncertainties, but its failure would not necessarily mean the end of crypto.

In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast, Casey Smith is joined by Robert Swarthout, founder and CEO of Teton Crypto Capital, to discuss what could happen if the CLARITY Act does not pass. They look at why the crypto industry wants clearer rules, how the SEC and CFTC could respond, why regulatory uncertainty may push development overseas, and how blockchain technology could extend far beyond buying and selling individual coins.

*The episode was recorded on August 25th, 2026, before the Senate action discussed in the conversation, so the timeline reflects what is known at the time of recording.*

Related Podcast Episodes: 

Ep 344. What Are the Real Uses for Crypto?

Ep 331. Crypto, Retirement, and Taxes: What’s the Strategy?

Other Links:

Teton Crypto Capital

Learn More:

Founded in 2001, Wiser Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary financial planning and wealth management firm helping individuals, families, and business owners make informed financial decisions.

Have questions about your financial plan? Schedule a Complimentary Consultation to discover how we can help you achieve financial freedom. We are local to Atlanta, but can meet with you virtually from wherever you are. 

Access Our Free Guides: Gain valuable insights on building a financial legacy, the importance of a financial advisor for business owners, and the tax impact on inheritance, and more!

Stay Connected:

Follow Wiser Wealth Management on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter
Subscribe to A Wiser Retirement® YouTube Channel for more financial education videos and podcast episodes.

This podcast was produced by ...

Long-term care can shift from a distant concern to an immediate financial decision faster than many families expect. It can begin with a few hours of help at home and progress to assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, or around-the-clock support. Each stage brings different costs, care needs, and family decisions.

In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast, Casey Smith and Grace Pavel break down what long-term care can actually look like and how families can prepare for it.

Related Podcast Episodes: 

Ep 276. How to Make Sure You're Ready for Retirement

Ep 245. Strategies for Early Retirement and Long-Term Security

Related Financial Education Videos:

How to Plan for Long Term Care Without Breaking the Bank

Long-Term Care Insurance Explained

Learn More:

Founded in 2001, Wiser Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary financial planning and wealth management firm helping individuals, families, and business owners make informed financial decisions.

Have questions about your financial plan? Schedule a Complimentary Consultation to discover how we can help you achieve financial freedom. We are local to Atlanta, but can meet with you virtually from wherever you are. 

Access Our Free Guides: Gain valuable insights on building a financial legacy, the importance of a financial advisor for business owners, and the tax impact on inheritance, and more!

Stay Connected:

Follow Wiser Wealth Management on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter
Subscribe to A Wiser Retirement® YouTube Channel for more financial education videos and podcast episodes.

This podcast was produced by ...

Debt tends to get treated as either a financial tool or a financial trap. The reality is more complicated. Borrowing can help someone buy a home, expand a business, or acquire an income-producing asset, but the same leverage can become a burden when the payment strains cash flow. The important distinction is not simply whether debt exists. It is whether the debt improves your financial position without exposing you to more risk than you can reasonably manage.

In this episode of A Wiser Retirement® Podcast, Casey Smith and Financial Advisor Michaela Dowdy, CFP®, go over the difference between productive debt and expensive financial mistakes. They examine all variations of debt while asking, What are you actually getting in exchange for taking on the debt?

Related Podcast Episodes: 

Ep 298. America's Balance Sheet: A Financial Advisor's Deep Dive into National Debt

Ep 107. Get Rid of Debt Before You Retire

Related Financial Education Videos:

Is Wedding Debt Worth It? The Long-Term Financial Impact Couple Ignore

Honest Review for True Link Debit Card

Learn More:

Founded in 2001, Wiser Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary financial planning and wealth management firm helping individuals, families, and business owners make informed financial decisions.

Have questions about your financial plan? Schedule a Complimentary Consultation to discover how we can help you achieve financial freedom. We are local to Atlanta, but can meet with you virtually from wherever you are. 

Access Our Free Guides: Gain valuable insights on building a financial legacy, the importance of a financial advisor for business owners, and the tax impact on inheritance, and more!

Stay Connected:

Follow Wiser Wealth Management on Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter
Subscribe to A Wiser Retirement® YouTube Channel for more financial education videos and podcast episodes.

This podcast was produced by ...