As the year winds down, it's the perfect moment to double-check your tax strategy and make sure you're setting yourself up for long-term savings, not just short-term deductions. Today, Nick and Jake break down five smart tax moves worth considering before December 31st. A few intentional decisions now can save you money this year and put you in a better position for the years ahead.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

📈 Maximize retirement contributions: use the remaining weeks to hit 401(k) and IRA limits

💵 RMD Planning: avoid penalties and plan ahead for future RMD years

🎗️ Charitable giving strategies: QCDs, appreciated stock, and tax-efficient donations

🧾 Tax opportunities: pairing gains and losses to reduce what you owe

⏳ Roth conversion timing: why December 31 matters and when conversions make sense

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Is all debt truly harmful, or can it actually help you achieve your retirement goals? In this episode, Nick and Jake reveal how understanding the difference between good and bad debt can reshape your financial future. Discover whether being debt-free is always best, or if keeping certain debts could boost your flexibility and security in retirement.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

💡 Understanding Debt: What separates good debt from bad debt in today's economy

📚 Real-Life Examples: When mortgages, business loans, and credit cards help or hurt

📈 Planning Ahead: Integrating debt reduction into a full retirement plan

🧾 Tax Considerations: When paying off debt could actually cost you more

📬 Mailbag Minute: The team answers real listener questions about managing debt in retirement

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

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Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

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As we age, one of the biggest financial threats isn't the market, it's the cost of long-term care. In this episode, Nick and Jake break down the real facts behind long-term care insurance, hybrid policy options, and ways to protect what you've built. Are you prepared for the "what ifs" of retirement, whether you're in your 40s, 50s, or beyond? Tune in to find out.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🏥 Insurance Options: Traditional, hybrid, and annuity-based LTC plans explained

⚖️ Legal Protection: How trusts and other legal tools can safeguard assets

💸 Gifting Rules: Understanding Medicaid lookback periods and eligibility

🧮 Asset Strategy: Balancing self-insurance, hybrid policies, and Medicaid planning

📚 Mailbag Minute: Listeners' most common long-term care questions answered

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Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

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Changing jobs is more common than ever, but what happens to your old 401(k) when you move on? In this episode, Jake and Nick break down your four main options and the pros and cons of each. They'll explain when to leave it, when to roll it, and when to rethink your entire retirement strategy. Don't just "set it and forget it." Use your new position as a chance to simplify, consolidate, and get your money working smarter for your future.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

💰Tax Awareness: how rollovers and withdrawals affect your future income

🏢 New Employer's Plan: pros and cons of rolling funds into your new 401(k)

🚫 Cashing Out: understanding the taxes and penalties before you act

💌 Mailbag Minute: answering real listener questions about job changes and retirement plans

🧭 Work With a Pro: make sure your next move fits your bigger plan

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Get your customized Money Map: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/your-money-map/#form

Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

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What could Fleetwood Mac possibly teach you about retirement planning? Turns out, plenty. Today, Jake and Nick take five classic Stevie Nicks songs and translate them into powerful financial lessons about independence, communication, and learning how to plan unexpected "landslides." You'll learn why flexibility matters, how to avoid regret, and how to make your money work in harmony with your goals and dreams. Great financial planning, like great music, never goes out of style.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

💰 Tax Efficiency: manage withdrawals and investments to minimize surprises

🧾 Estate Planning: know when (and if) an irrevocable trust makes sense

🪞 Self-Reflection: the best plans are personal, intentional, and adaptable

🎵 Go Your Own Way: embrace flexibility and financial independence

🔗 The Chain: build strong, trustworthy relationships with fiduciary advisors

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Get your customized Money Map: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/your-money-map/#form

Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

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Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) might be one of the most underrated tools in all of financial planning and today we're going to tell you why. Nick and Jake will explain the three major benefits of an HSA and how to use it strategically before and during retirement. You'll learn how to make the most of this "triple tax advantage," including deductible contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals. There aren't many financial tools that give you three layers of tax advantages, but the Health Savings Account (HSA) is one of them.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🏥 What an HSA really is and how it works

🧾 Why HSAs beat most other tax-advantaged accounts

💳 Using an HSA for immediate medical expenses

🧠 The long-term strategy: treating it like an investment account

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Get your customized Money Map: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/your-money-map/#form

Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

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Retirement brings freedom, but navigating health insurance can quickly become one of the most confusing parts of the transition. In this episode, Nick and Jake walk through the key types of insurance every retiree should evaluate, from health and long-term care to life, homeowners, and umbrella coverage. Find out how each fits into your retirement plan and which policies make sense depending on your income and assets.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

💊 Retirees may be able to save thousands on premiums

🧾 Traditional vs. hybrid long-term care coverage

🏠 Homeowners and auto coverage: what to review

🔍 The pros and cons of long-term care insurance

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Get your customized Money Map: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/your-money-map/#form

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Want to pay less tax now, or never pay tax again? That's the real question behind the Traditional vs. Roth debate. When it comes to saving for retirement, few questions get asked more often than: Should I use a traditional account or a Roth? The truth is, there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer.

In this episode, Jake and Nick unpack the key differences between Traditional and Roth IRAs and 401(k)s. They explain how income limits affect your ability to contribute, why tax brackets matter, and how Roth contributions can provide long-term tax-free growth.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🧮 Four keys to consider: income, age, taxes, goals

📊 Why income & tax brackets may shape your decision

🔄 Using backdoor Roths and Roth conversions as planning tools

🧭 How to blend both accounts for long-term strategy

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Get your customized Money Map: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/your-money-map/#form

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For many retirees, Social Security is one of the most important income streams, but also one of the most misunderstood when it comes to taxes. In this episode, Jake and Nick break down the rules around how Social Security benefits are taxed at both the federal and state level, and what strategies might help you keep more of what you've earned.

Find out how the One Big Beautiful Bill reshaped standard deduction rules, creating new planning opportunities (and pitfalls to watch for). As Jake points out, extracting money in retirement is often far more complicated than accumulating it. That's why tax planning and income planning go hand-in-hand if you want to minimize surprises and maximize your retirement paycheck.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

📜 How federal and state rules impact Social Security taxation

🧾 Why modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) matters

🏦 How withdrawal timing and Roth conversions influence taxes

🏛️ Big Beautiful Bill: what it means for federal taxation

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Get your customized Money Map: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/your-money-map/#form

Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

Check out our other no-cost financial resources here: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-resources/

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Interest rates are in the headlines as people await the next Fed meeting, but what do they really mean for you? Interest rates ripple through nearly every aspect of your financial life, from mortgages and credit cards to savings accounts and even the stock market.

In this episode, Nick and Jake break down how they work, why the Fed adjusts them, and what those moves mean for borrowers, savers, and investors. You'll hear historical lessons from times when rates were sky-high or near zero, plus practical strategies for tackling high-interest debt and deciding whether to pay off your mortgage early. One small shift in interest rates can shake the entire economy, and this conversation shows you how to stay ahead.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🏦 Why the Fed raises or lowers interest rates

💳 How borrowing costs change with rates

💰 Why high rates can help savers but often hurt spenders

📉 The link between interest rates and the stock market

🎯 Strategies for handling high-interest debt

Our website: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/

Phone: 800-208-7233

Contact our team: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/contact-us/

Join us for our next financial workshop: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-workshops/

Check out our other no-cost financial resources here: https://johnsonbrunetti.com/financial-resources/

Check us out on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3CcAzai