Social Security may be one of your most reliable retirement income sources, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood when it comes to taxes. Many retirees are surprised to learn that yes, Social Security can be taxable, depending on your overall income. In this episode, we break down how the rules aren’t always as straightforward as they seem.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

💵 When Social Security becomes taxable

📊 What MAGI thresholds really mean

🌎 State rules that may surprise you

⏳ How timing affects your benefit

📈 Why tax planning starts before you file

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/

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

Retirement isn’t just the end of your working years, it’s the beginning of what could be the most financially demanding third of your life. With people living longer than ever, planning for a 30-year retirement is no longer just smart, it’s essential. In this episode, Jake and Nick address how the old model of relying solely on Social Security and pensions doesn’t hold up anymore, especially when inflation, healthcare costs, and market volatility enter the picture.

They also discuss how to build a retirement plan that adapts to every stage, from the energetic “go-go” years to the slower seasons that come with higher medical expenses and fewer travel plans. Find out how Johnson Brunetti helps you identify the real income gap, assess your risk exposure, and create a spending strategy that balances lifestyle with longevity. You’ll learn why “sitting in cash” may feel safe but could actually hurt you, and how to position your savings for both sustainability and flexibility.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

📅 Why your retirement might last 30+ years

📉 The danger of being “safely” in cash

🩺 Planning for future healthcare surprises

📊 Aligning your investments with real-life use

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/

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

Most people go into retirement assuming their taxes will drop, but what if that assumption sets you up for a nasty surprise? In this episode, Jake and Nick unpack the “tax trap” that catches countless retirees off guard. It’s a hidden pitfall that turns decades of diligent saving into unexpected tax bills when you finally tap into your nest egg.

They will reveal how common retirement strategies, like deferring taxes through 401(k)s and IRAs, might backfire if not planned for properly. They also break down why general financial advice may not serve you well once you're within 10 years of retirement, and what to consider instead. You’ll hear practical discussion about Social Security taxation, Roth conversions, and how legacy goals shape tax strategy. This episode doesn’t just teach you how to avoid mistakes, it urges you to ask better questions about how and when to pay Uncle Sam.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

💥 The myth of lower taxes in retirement

📉 Social Security surprise tax bills

🧾 Timing your “tax check” for maximum savings

🏛️ Roth conversions and smarter legacy planning

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/

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

What does it look like when your retirement plan truly starts to come together? At Johnson Brunetti, this process gets underway in the third meeting with our team, which is when people have enough information to determine if we’re the right fit for them to help implement these changes and guide them through this formative back third of life.

This Retirement Building Meeting is a critical step where your financial strategy moves from concept to implementation, and it comes after our discovery meeting and the Money Map Retirement Review. After getting to know your goals and reviewing your current financial picture, this is the meeting where clients begin making real changes. Jake and Nick explain how they structure income plans, align investment buckets for growth and safety, and help clients confidently transition into the retirement phase of life.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

🧱 What happens in meeting #3

💰 How retirement income strategies are customized for each client

⚖️ Aligning your “buckets” for growth, income, and safety

📉 Minimizing taxes and avoiding early mistakes

🧠 The power of clarity, trust, and a plan you can actually follow

0:00 – Today’s question

2:28 – What happens in this meeting

5:18 – Finding the right tools for you

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/

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

What happens after your first meeting with a financial advisor? As we continue our series on the Johnson Brunetti planning process, we’re going to take you inside meeting number two in our retirement planning process, which we like to call the Money Map Retirement Review.

There's ​an ​element ​of ​vulnerability to meeting with an advisor, ​and ​we ​don't ​take ​it ​lightly ​that ​we ​get ​to ​hear ​the ​hopes ​and ​dreams, ​fears ​and ​aspirations ​of ​the ​folks ​we ​sit ​with. ​The goal of this series is ​to ​demystify ​that ​for ​you. ​We ​want ​to ​be ​transparent ​and ​clear during our process by moving one step at a time.  ​

After learning your goals and gathering details in the Discovery Meeting, the Money Map Review is where the team presents their findings: a clear, customized, one-page summary of your financial picture. You'll see what’s working, what needs adjustment, and how your assets align with your retirement goals. Find out how we approach this and what you can expect when you sit down with us.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

📊 Behind-the-scenes homework and team analysis

💰 How risk and income strategies are evaluated

👥 Questions to ask when deciding who should guide your plan

✅ What comes next in the retirement planning journey

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/

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

Over the next few videos, we’re going to take you inside the planning process at Johnson Brunetti because many people are hesitant or intimidated to meet with an advisor. They might fear the pressure of a high-pressure sales pitch or feel unprepared for the questions that may arise. Today we’ll set some expectations by taking you inside the discovery meeting, which is the foundational first step for anyone considering retirement planning with our team.

Jake and Nick will explain how this initial conversation is designed to be pressure-free and personalized, focused entirely on your concerns, goals, and questions. No matter what financial questions you might have, we’re going to walk you through how our team makes the experience approachable and empowering.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

☕ What the “Discovery Meeting” is really like (spoiler: no pressure!)

💬 How planners uncover your biggest retirement concerns

📋 What to bring and what questions we’ll help you ask

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Why this is a conversation about you—not your account statements

✅ The next steps in building a customized retirement 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/

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

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

When it comes to preparing for retirement, most people focus on the obvious goals of saving enough and building an emergency fund. But in this episode of Money Wisdom, Jake Doser, CFP®, CPWA® and Nicholas J. Colantuono, CFP® explore the deeper, often overlooked financial goals that truly make or break your retirement experience.

It’s not just about hitting a magic number. It’s about assigning purpose to each dollar you’ve saved. Proper planning goes well beyond investments to include things like tax strategies, income planning, healthcare expenses, gifting, legacy planning, and even how you’ll spend your time. If you're wondering what you might be missing as you approach retirement, join us as we answer

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

🎯 Retirement planning is about purpose, not just savings goals 💡 Unexpected life events can reshape your financial priorities 💬 The right advisor brings clarity beyond the numbers 🏡 Legacy and lifestyle planning are often just as important as investments

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/

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

Getting engaged later in life is an exciting time, but it requires different financial planning conversations. With blended families, different retirement timelines, and evolving goals, couples in this situation face unique challenges. Jake and Nick break down how your relationship with money changes as retirement nears and why your financial plan should evolve right alongside it.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

📊 Your investments need a new job—income, not just growth

🏦 Assign purpose to each dollar to reduce risk and increase clarity

⏳ The closer you are to retirement, the more planning matters

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/

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

Establishing a solid relationship with a financial advisor is crucial for effective planning, but what does that look like in practice? Jake Doser, CFP®, CPWA® and Nicholas J. Colantuono, CFP® discuss the essential role that communication plays in the client-advisor relationship to help set expectations for the planning process.

We received this question recently and wanted to open up the conversation so everyone can glean a little information from it. We’ll pull back the curtain on what ongoing communication looks like at Johnson Brunetti, with clients typically receiving ongoing education, quarterly events, newsletters, market updates, and in-depth reviews once or twice a year.  Plus, we’ll explain why meeting too frequently might not be a good thing and give you a few red flags to watch for.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

📞 Proactive Communication – Why regular updates matter more than you think

📊 Annual Review Strategy – What goes into those once or twice-a-year deep dives

🚩 Advisor Red Flags – What it means when you haven’t heard from them in years

🧭 Life Changes = Plan Changes – When it’s time to revisit your strategy

0:00 – Today’s question

1:14 – How we interact with clients

3:29 – Proactive communication

4:50 – Can you meet too frequently?

6:18 – Client needs

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/

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

Long-term care planning is a significant concern for individuals approaching retirement because it’s an expense most people aren’t prepared for. Trying to prepare for it with insurance isn’t cheap, and people often ask us if it’s worth it. In this episode of the Money Wisdom podcast, Jake Doser, CFP®, CPWA® and Nicholas J. Colantuono, CFP® tackle this pressing issue by answering a listener’s question about long-term care insurance and the options available.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

0:00 – Today’s question

1:39 – Reason it’s expensive

3:39 – Long-term care options

6:48 – Where is long-term care on the priority list?

9:18 – Final thoughts

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/

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