ClearPath Retirement Radio

As you approach retirement or as a retiree, have you ever said this to yourself...

“My neighbor has $2 million saved. I only have half that. Am I behind?”

“Every ad I see asks if $2 million is enough. Is it enough for me?”

“Am I making the right choices? Am I picking the right investments?”

If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

“Have I saved enough?” is the question Stewart Smith and Mitch Davies hear more than any other. But it may be the wrong one to ask. 

Your neighbor’s number, a headline, or a YouTube video can’t tell you much about your own retirement. Your own numbers can. 

In this episode, Stewart and Mitch go through the questions that matter more.

 → Your monthly number: what your basic bills cost versus your fun money
 → Income sources: pensions, IRAs, and when Social Security starts
 → Healthcare: why retiring before 65 can make it one of your biggest costs
 → Taxes: why they may not drop once the paychecks stop
 → Lifestyle: why your neighbor’s retirement may look nothing like yours
 → AI tools: what ChatGPT can’t know about your situation
 → Life changes: why a one-time plan can go out of date in months
 → The better question: what do you want retirement to look like, and what will it cost?

Timestamps:
 → [00:00] The Question That Keeps You Up
 → [02:40] Start With Your Monthly Number
 → [03:50] Where Your Paycheck Comes From
 → [05:15] The Cost Nobody Plans For
 → [07:10] Taxes Don’t Retire With You
 → [09:15] Your Neighbor Lives Differently
 → [11:50] The Family Vacation Test
 → [12:45] What ChatGPT Can’t Know
 → [18:15] Why One-Time Plans Go Stale
 → [21:15] Don’t Retire to a Full-Time Job
 → [22:55] The Better Question to Ask

With Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies of ClearPath Retirement Planning.

Ready to build your retirement plan?

ClearPath Retirement Planning, LLC helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC area create tax-efficient strategies for retirement income. 

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
 📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today  www.clearpathretirement.com

Subscribe & Connect:
YouTube: @ClearPathRetirementPlanning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearPathRetirement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearpathretirement

Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate ...

In this episode of ClearPath Retirement Radio, Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP® and Mitch Davies of ClearPath Retirement Planning in Greenville, South Carolina, explain why the advisor who helped you save for retirement may not be the right fit for turning your savings into income.

If you’re retiring in a year or two, you may have wondered...

“Would moving money into a Roth account help me save on taxes?”

“I feel loyal to my advisor. How could I ever tell them I’m moving my money elsewhere?”

“We talk once a year. They show me how my investments did. Is that enough now that I’m retiring?”

If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

You spent years building your savings. Now you need that money to turn into income. The advisor who helped you save may have been built mainly for one job. Retirement income is a different job.

Quick Answers:

Why might my longtime advisor not be the right fit in retirement?
 Many advisors are built to help you save and grow money. Retirement income is a different job. It includes tax planning, Social Security timing, Medicare, and turning savings into income. Stewart and Mitch say an advisor who is great at growing money may not focus on those questions.

What is the retirement red zone?
 The retirement red zone is the stretch right before and early in retirement. New questions show up. Have I saved enough? When do I start Social Security? What Medicare plan fits me?

Is it disloyal to change advisors?
 Stewart and Mitch say no. Your advisor may have done a great job helping you grow your money. You may now be in a new phase that needs a different skill set.

What is a good tax question to ask my advisor?
 Ask when they last went through your tax return with you. Stewart says many people who come to ClearPath from another advisor tell him the answer is never.

Do Roth conversions always make sense?
 No. A Roth conversion means moving pre-tax money into a Roth account and paying the tax now. Stewart and Mitch say whether a Roth conversion fits depends on your goals, such as paying less tax or leaving tax-free money to your heirs.

In This Episode:
 → Family doctor comparison: when a specialist makes sense
 → Taxes: what changes when the paycheck stops and you pull from IRAs
 → Reviews: why a plan may need updates every year, like when a new roof changes your plans
 → One team: why your tax planning and your tax return may work best with people who talk to each other

Timestamps:
 → [00:00] When Loyalty Meets the Red Zone
 → [02:05] Saving vs. Income: Two Jobs
 → [03:06] Family Doctor or Specialist?
 → [04:06] Loyalty Without the Guilt
 → [06:11] When the W-2 Goes Away
 → [08:13] The Once-a-Year Investment Call
 → [09:17] The Tax Return Question
 → [10:23] When Roth Rules Don’t Fit
 → [14:29] Planning Is Year-Round Work
 → [15:31] The New Roof Problem
 → [18:32] Planning and Taxes, One Team
 → [24:43] It’s Okay to Move On

Catch ClearPath Retirement Radio every Saturday at 10 AM or find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Call 864-775-5033 or visit clearpathretirement.com to schedule a conversation.

Ready to build your retirement plan?

ClearPath Retirement Planning, LLC helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC area create tax-efficient strategies for retirement income. 

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
 📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today  www.clearpathretirement.com

Subscribe & Connect:
YouTube: @ClearPathRetirementPlanning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearPathRetirement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearpathretirement

Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate ...

Most people think an annuity is an annuity. They hear the word and picture one bad product. But there are several kinds, and they work in very different ways. That mix-up may be a big reason annuities get such a bad name.

In this episode, Stewart Smith, RICP®, LUTCF®  and Mitch Davies, CFP®  break down four types of annuities. You will hear how each one works, what it may cost, and where it could fit in a retirement plan. Then you can decide for yourself.

Stewart also walks through a hypothetical look back at the market from 2000 to 2013. He shows how an indexed annuity could have compared with money kept in the stock market. This is an example for education only. 

It is not a promise of results, and past market results do not predict the future. To see it step by step, watch us demonstrate it on video on our ClearPath Retirement Planning YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alV0us0Xfu4

In This Episode:
* Variable annuities: why fees and market risk gave some people second thoughts
* Immediate annuities: what it means to trade a lump sum for income
* Multi-year guarantee annuities (MYGAs): how they compare to a CD
* Indexed annuities: how interest could be credited using the S&P 500
* The hypothetical 2000 to 2013 example, side by side with the market
* When the stock market could come out ahead instead
* Why a place to pull income from when markets are down could matter
* Questions to ask about an annuity you already own: fees, limits on gains, and add-on riders

Timestamps:
00:00 Why People Still Buy Annuities
00:41 Fact Versus Fiction
01:40 The One-Bucket Mistake
01:54 Where the Bad Rap Started
04:55 The Lump Sum Trade-Off
05:59 The CD Look-Alike
08:20 Income When Markets Are Down
09:03 Great Benefits, Real Drawbacks
10:10 How Your Interest Gets Credited
12:16 Fees, Risk, and the Catch
13:35 How the Snapshot Method Works
17:15 The Lost Decade Example
22:25 Same Years, Different Path
27:06 When the Market Wins Instead
27:58 Looking Beyond the Good Years
31:12 When an Annuity Doesn't Fit
32:27 No Allegiance to Annuities
33:45 Questions About Your Annuity?

Hosted by Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP® and Mitch Davies of ClearPath Retirement Planning in Greenville, SC.

Catch ClearPath Retirement Radio every Saturday at 10 AM or find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Call 864-775-5033 or visit clearpathretirement.com to schedule a conversation.

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate and independent entities. This is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax or investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, investment product or investment strategy.

Ready to build your retirement plan?

ClearPath Retirement Planning, LLC helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC area create tax-efficient strategies for retirement income. 

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
 📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today  www.clearpathretirement.com

Subscribe & Connect:
YouTube: @ClearPathRetirementPlanning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearPathRetirement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearpathretirement

Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate ...

Most people think a Roth conversion comes down to one question: will my tax rate be lower later? That question matters, but it is only the start. 

Some of the biggest surprises show up on your tax return and your Medicare bill, sometimes two years after you convert.

In this episode, Stewart Smith and Mitch Davies walk through what to think about before you convert. They explain why the simple "pay tax now or pay tax later" math may miss the point, and where people get tripped up. Whether you are turning 63, already retired, or just starting to wonder if a conversion makes sense, this could help you ask better questions before you act.

In This Episode, 5 Things to Think Through:

• Tax rates: why the real goal may be a lower bracket later, not a break-even spreadsheet
• Medicare: IRMAA explained in plain words, and how the two-year look back works
• Standard deduction: how the extra senior deduction can be lost by going a little over the line
• Other income: why dividends, interest, and capital gains count too
• The long view: why this needs a plan that looks past this year, including the years before required withdrawals begin

Timestamps:
 [00:00] The Bill That Arrives Later
 [00:44] Roth Conversions Aren't for Everyone
 [01:50] Will Taxes Only Go Up?
 [04:43] Why Break-Even Math Misleads
 [06:01] Filling Up Your Tax Bracket
 [09:06] The Medicare Surcharge Surprise
 [11:53] The Couple Nobody Warned
 [16:46] The Standard Deduction Trap
 [19:59] Model It Past Today
 [23:37] The Years Before Required Withdrawals
 [25:05] Hidden Income That Pushes You Over

Ready to build your retirement plan?

ClearPath Retirement Planning, LLC helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC area create tax-efficient strategies for retirement income. 

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
 📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today  www.clearpathretirement.com

Subscribe & Connect:
YouTube: @ClearPathRetirementPlanning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearPathRetirement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearpathretirement

Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate ...

As you approach retirement or as a retiree, have you ever said this to yourself...

"What am I gonna do, just sleep and watch TV all day?"

"If I stop working, my brain's gonna slow down."

"I'll just keep working, I guess. I don't know what else I'd do."

If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

Stewart Smith and Mitch Davies step away from the usual playbook this week to explore something Stewart has never talked about on the show before: his faith, and what the Bible actually says about retirement. 

After hearing a lecture at a faith-driven conference in Houston, Stewart couldn't stop thinking about one question. Does scripture say anything about retiring at all? He and Mitch dug in, and what they found changes the whole way you might think about this next chapter of life.

In This Episode:
 → The one direct mention of retirement in the entire Bible, found in Numbers 8
 → Why the Levites stepped back at 50, but never stopped showing up
 → The real difference between retiring "from" work and retiring "to" a new life
 → Why the happiest retirees Stewart has met in 25 years are the ones who stay purposeful, not idle
 → Genesis 2:15 and the surprising truth that work existed before the fall
 → Proverbs 21:20 and what it means to be wise with what you've built
 → Proverbs 13:22 and the idea of leaving something for your children's children
 → Why wealth itself isn't the problem, but loving it is
 → The old saying that stuck with Stewart for 25 years: you're either green and growing, or ripe and rotten

Timestamps:
 → [00:00] Welcome in and the story behind this week's topic
 → [04:17] Does the Bible actually address retirement?
 → [06:10] Numbers 8, the Levites, and stepping back without stepping away
 → [09:10] Retiring "to" a life, not "from" a career
 → [14:21] Genesis 2:15, work before the fall
 → [18:29] Proverbs 21:20, the wise store up
 → [20:50] Proverbs 13:22, leaving an inheritance
 → [23:24] Wealth isn't the sin, loving it is
 → [27:32] Final thoughts and closing out the episode

 Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies, CFP®, share this conversation as neighbors, not preachers, hoping it gives you something to think about as you plan your own next chapter. 

Ready to build your retirement plan?

ClearPath Retirement Planning, LLC helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC area create tax-efficient strategies for retirement income. 

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
 📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today  www.clearpathretirement.com

Subscribe & Connect:
YouTube: @ClearPathRetirementPlanning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearPathRetirement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearpathretirement

Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate ...

As you approach retirement or as a retiree, have you ever said this to yourself...

"Please protect what I've worked so hard to grow."

"I'd like to see some real growth along the way."

"I'm going to need some income I can count on every month."

If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

Stewart Smith,  LUTCF®, RICP® and Mitch Davies, CFP® dig into why retirement feels so scary for so many people and why, in their experience, it usually comes down to working with the wrong advisor — one who leans on fancy jargon and fear instead of a real plan.

In This ClearPath Retirement Radio Episode:
 → The three things almost every client really wants: protect it, grow it, and turn it into income
 → Why some advisors use fear and pressure to sell products, and why that's not how ClearPath operates
 → The emotional side of retirement: stepping away from a career and an identity you've built for decades
 → A simple, real-number example of how investments can cover a monthly income gap without touching your nest egg
 → Getting to know Stewart and Mitch as people, not just advisors
 → Why a retirement plan isn't "set it and forget it," and how ongoing adjustments keep things on track
 → Big news: ClearPath now offers full tax return preparation, joining tax planning, investment planning, and estate planning all under one roof
 → Stewart and Mitch's nonprofit, the Palmetto Financial Freedom Initiative, and how to invite them to speak to your church or community group for free

Timestamps:
 → [00:00] Welcome to another episode
 → [00:31] What scares you about retirement?
 → [01:49] The three things clients really want: protect, grow, income
 → [04:01] Why some advisors talk over your head on purpose
 → [06:18] The corporate tax attorney story
 → [07:21] Preaching fear to sell a product
 → [08:24] Retirement and your identity
 → [12:12] The simple truth about your monthly income gap
 → [15:00] A real example: turning $240,000 into a $2,000 monthly gap solution
 → [16:38] The three types of investments, and why it's not complicated
 → [18:21] Getting to know Mitch
 → [19:53] Getting to know Stewart
 → [22:09] Why a plan is a track to run on, not a "set it and forget it"
 → [24:39] Clients asked for it: ClearPath now does tax returns
 → [25:31] Full-service planning, all under one roof
 → [32:43] The Palmetto Financial Freedom Initiative
 → [34:03] Bring free financial education to your church or group
 → [36:43] Wrap-up

Ready to build your retirement plan?

ClearPath Retirement Planning, LLC helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC area create tax-efficient strategies for retirement income. 

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
 📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today  www.clearpathretirement.com

Subscribe & Connect:
YouTube: @ClearPathRetirementPlanning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearPathRetirement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearpathretirement

Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate ...

As you approach retirement or as a retiree, have you ever said this to yourself...

"Am I going to run out of money before I run out of life?"

"When do I start Social Security?"

"Do I have the right Medicare plan?"

If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies, CFP®, break down exactly what separates a true retirement planning advisor from a general financial advisor  and what you should look for (and look out for) before you hire one.

In This ClearPath Retirement Radio Episode:
 → The difference between accumulation planners and retirement distribution planners
 → Why fiduciary status and dual licensing (securities and insurance) matter
 → How to decode advisor designations like CFP, RICP, and CFA
 → Why real-world experience is critical when it comes to retirement planning
 → The exact questions to ask before hiring an advisor
 → Red flags to watch for, including guaranteed returns and pressure tactics
 → What a complete retirement income plan should actually cover

Timestamps:
 → [00:00] Intro
 → [01:53] Two types of financial advisors: accumulation vs. distribution
 → [03:49] Signs your advisor isn't built for retirement planning
 → [07:31] Why fiduciary status and dual licensing matter
 → [09:00] What it really means to be a fiduciary
 → [11:16] Decoding designations: CFP, RICP, and CFA
 → [15:50] Weaker designations to watch out for
 → [18:34] Why experience matters in retirement planning
 → [21:06] Character matters: why military service stands out
 → [25:07] Key questions to ask before hiring an advisor
 → [29:00] Ask about their planning process
 → [31:01] Understanding your custodian
 → [33:19] Breaking down fee structures and hidden fees
 → [38:59] Red flags: urgency, guaranteed returns, and unrealistic promises
 → [42:03] What a complete retirement income plan should include

Ready to build your retirement plan?

ClearPath Retirement Planning, LLC helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC area create tax-efficient strategies for retirement income. 

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
 📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today  www.clearpathretirement.com

Subscribe & Connect:
YouTube: @ClearPathRetirementPlanning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearPathRetirement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearpathretirement

Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate ...

As you approach retirement or as a retiree, have you ever said this to yourself...

"I'm just going to have to work forever."

"What if I retire and end up like my dad — gone within six months?"

"I don't see the path. It just feels impossible."

If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

Stewart Smith and Mitch Davies sit down to talk about a survey that found nearly two-thirds of Americans don't believe they'll ever be able to retire  and why, in their 25+ years of working with real clients, that fear almost never matches reality.

In This Episode:
 → Why so many people feel behind on retirement since the pandemic
 → Maria's story — how a waitress with no 401(k) retired comfortably starting at age 48
 → Why retirement is about income, not just how much you've saved
 → The power of compounding — how an extra $500 a month can mean six figures more at retirement
 → Why helping adult children financially can quietly derail your own retirement
 → "There's no loan for retirement" — why saving should come before college costs
 → Paying off your house, claiming two Social Security checks, and why old 401(k)s and small pensions matter more than people think
 → Why understanding your monthly expenses is the single most valuable thing you can do, at any age

Timestamps:
 → [00:00] Why two-thirds of Americans think they'll never retire
 → [01:27] Retirement is about income, not assets
 → [05:29] Maria's story — from waitress to retired
 → [07:21] The Roth IRA and Social Security strategy that changed everything
 → [14:00] It's not how much you have, it's what you need
 → [19:00] The power of compounding — how $500 more a month adds up
 → [24:00] Helping adult children without wrecking your own retirement
 → [27:00] Why there's no loan for retirement
 → [32:00] A modest-income couple's real path to retirement
 → [39:00] Paid-off homes, two Social Security checks, pensions, and forgotten 401(k)s
 → [41:00] Why your expenses matter more than your account balances

Ready to build your retirement plan?

ClearPath Retirement Planning, LLC helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC area create tax-efficient strategies for retirement income. 

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
 📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today  www.clearpathretirement.com

Subscribe & Connect:
YouTube: @ClearPathRetirementPlanning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearPathRetirement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearpathretirement

Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate ...

Have you ever said this to yourself...

"I'm terrible with money."

"I'm so tired of working and having nothing to show for it."

"I'm never going to have the advantages that rich people do."

If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is for you.

Stewart Smith,  LUTCF®, RICP® and Mitch Davies sit down to talk about something most financial conversations skip right past: your actual relationship with money. 

Where it came from, why it feels the way it does, and what to do about it — whether you're just getting started or you're sitting on real assets and wondering if you've built things the right way.

This one isn't just for people starting out. If you're within five to ten years of retirement, the questions Stewart and Mitch raise here still apply — how your money is taxed, which accounts you're pulling from, and whether your investments still match what you actually want your life to look like. 

A lot of people build their portfolio in their 30s and 40s and never look at it again with fresh eyes. This episode is a good excuse to.

They break down why the gap between people who invest and people who don't keeps widening, what real compounding looks like over time, and the three "buckets" of money every investor eventually needs to understand — brokerage, tax-deferred, and Roth — and how each one is taxed differently. 

They also get into the harder question: if money weren't the thing driving your decisions, who would you be?

In This Episode:
 → Why your relationship with money often traces back to what you learned growing up
 → The real math behind compounding and why starting early changes everything
 → The three buckets of money — brokerage, tax-deferred, and Roth — and how each is taxed
 → Roth IRA contribution limits and income phase-outs
 → Why "comparison is the death of joy" when it comes to financial happiness
 → The identity question: who would you be without money defining your choices
 → Why understanding money teaches you how the world actually works
 → Why this conversation matters just as much if you're already close to retirement as it does if you're just getting started

Timestamps:
 → 00:00 - The widening gap between investors and non-investors
 → 01:39 - What Stewart learned (and didn't learn) about money growing up
 → 03:17 - The real definition of financial freedom: your money making what you make
 → 04:23 - The "magic" in the market: real examples over 10 years
 → 08:08 - The compounding effect and why starting early wins
 → 17:38 - The identity question: who would you be without the money stress?
 → 20:01 - The comparison trap and why it steals your joy
 → 21:37 - A client's story: paid-off home, paid-off cars, retiring debt-free
 → 22:22 - Stewart's rule of thumb on debt: what's actually worth borrowing for
 → 29:07 - The three buckets of money — brokerage, tax-deferred, and Roth
 → 31:40 - Roth IRA income limits and who they're really built for
 → 34:15 - Why there are "two sets of tax laws" — one for the informed, one for the uninformed

Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies of ClearPath Retirement Planning talk through this every week.  Catch ClearPath Retirement Radio every Saturday at 10 AM  

Ready to build your retirement plan?

ClearPath Retirement Planning, LLC helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC area create tax-efficient strategies for retirement income. 

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
 📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today  www.clearpathretirement.com

Subscribe & Connect:
YouTube: @ClearPathRetirementPlanning
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearPathRetirement
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearpathretirement

Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate ...

Stewart Smith and Mitch Davies are back from a few weeks off, and they're diving straight into the things they see most often when they sit down with clients. 

Much like a doctor reading an EKG, Stewart and Mitch spend their days looking at statements and tax returns, hunting for the cracks where a plan could be doing more for you.

In this episode, they break down real gaps they run into constantly: estate planning mistakes like houses titled the wrong way, missing TOD and POD designations, and trusts that were set up but never actually funded. They also get into why so many people aren't contributing enough to their retirement plans, what a 22% cut to Social Security by 2032 could mean if Congress doesn't act, and why Roth conversions are worth a serious look right now. They close things out with a few tax efficiency cracks, including how to handle after-tax brokerage accounts, dividends, and charitable giving the smart way.

If you've ever wondered whether your own plan has one of these cracks in it, this episode is a good place to start checking.

In This Episode:

• Why the way your house is titled matters more than you think
• TOD and POD designations and how they can help you avoid probate
• Two common reasons trusts end up never getting funded
• How to know whether an asset should be retitled or just have the trust named as beneficiary
• Why trusts need to be revisited every so often, especially if you've moved states
• The healthcare and financial power of attorney piece people often skip
• Why "just doing the match" on your 401(k) may not be enough
• What a 22% Social Security reduction in 2032 could mean for your retirement
• Why Roth conversions matter more than ever right now
• Managing after-tax brokerage accounts, dividends, and tax loss harvesting the right way
• Using qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) to give more tax-efficiently

Timestamps:
 → [00:00] Welcome back from a few weeks off
 → [02:14] Estate planning cracks: house titling
 → [04:38] TOD and POD designations to avoid probate
 → [07:06] Why trusts don't get funded
 → [09:00] Retitling assets vs. naming the trust as beneficiary
 → [12:40] Keeping trusts up to date
 → [14:04] Healthcare and financial power of attorney
 → [16:03] Not contributing enough to retirement plans
 → [18:16] Social Security's possible 22% cut in 2032
 → [20:20] Why Roth conversions matter right now
 → [23:17] Doing more than the match in the retirement red zone
 → [27:19] Tax efficiency cracks: after-tax accounts
 → [29:19] Tax loss harvesting done right
 → [29:53] Dividends and interest in after-tax accounts
 → [31:32] Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs)
 → [34:06] Wrap-up

Stewart Smith, LUTCF®, RICP®, and Mitch Davies share this every week so you can catch the cracks in your own plan before they cost you. Catch ClearPath Retirement Radio every Saturday at 10 AM 

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ClearPath Retirement Planning, LLC helps retirees and pre-retirees in the SC area create tax-efficient strategies for retirement income. 

📍 300 Executive Center Drive, Suite 104 | Greenville, SC 29615
 📞 (864) 775-5033

Schedule your ClearPath Retirement Review today  www.clearpathretirement.com

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Important Disclosure:

Investment advisory services offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC nor does it indicate that the adviser has attained a particular level of skill or ability. Fixed insurance products are offered through Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC and Alphastar Capital Management is not involved in the offer, recommendation, sale or management of commission-based fixed Insurance products. Alphastar Capital Management and Clearpath Retirement Planning, LLC are separate ...