Money Wisdom

The early years of retirement can create a unique planning opportunity before required distributions begin. In this episode, Nick and Eric explain why Roth conversion decisions should be based on much more than your age or account balance and how taxes fit into the bigger retirement picture. Tune in to hear how a thoughtful tax strategy could create more flexibility in your retirement.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🪟 Conversion Window: Evaluate opportunities before RMDs begin

🧾 Tax Picture: Compare current and future brackets

🏥 Income & Healthcare: Consider Medicare and Social Security

📆 Timing: Spread conversions across multiple years

💵 Tax Payment: Plan how conversion taxes get paid

👨‍👩‍👧 Legacy Planning: Consider taxes for future beneficiaries

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Phone: 800-208-7233

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Roughly 77% of Americans surveyed say debt is preventing them from saving adequately for retirement. That's a staggering number, and it shows why preparing for retirement isn't always as simple as contributing more to a 401(k). In this episode, Nick and Eric explore how debt can affect retirement savings and financial confidence. The conversation covers thoughtful ways to manage debt while continuing to plan for the future. Is debt standing between you and the retirement you want?

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

💳 Debt Pressure: Understand its impact on savings

🏠 Debt Priorities: Separate manageable from costly debt

📉 Payoff Strategy: Choose an approach you'll follow

💰 Saving Balance: Keep progress moving both directions

🧭 Retirement Plan: Create clarity around next steps

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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Could your charitable giving make a bigger impact while supporting a smarter retirement plan? Year-end charitable giving can be about more than simply writing a check. In this episode, Nick walks through three strategies that may help charitably inclined retirees give more intentionally while also thinking about the tax impact of those gifts. Tune in for thoughtful guidance to help make your generosity go further.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

📈 Appreciated Stock: Give shares instead of cash

🎁 Donor-Advised Funds: Create flexibility for future giving

❤️ QCDs: Give directly from eligible IRAs

🧾 Tax Efficiency: Coordinate gifts with retirement taxes

📅 RMD Planning: Use distributions more strategically

💰 Retirement Income: Preserve flexibility around withdrawals

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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When should you claim Social Security and how long might it take for a later start to pay off? Nick explores Social Security break-even points and the personal factors that can shape when to claim. He also answers listener questions about claiming sooner and how capital gains affect benefits. Tune in to consider which approach may fit your retirement, and whether waiting could be worth it for you.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

⏰ Claiming Age: Understand how timing changes income

💵 Opportunity Cost: Measure income sacrificed while waiting

🏖️ Lifestyle: Consider spending needs in retirement

🧾 Taxes: Coordinate benefits with other income

💼 Working: Understand earnings before full retirement

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

Healthcare can become one of the biggest expenses in retirement, and the challenge only grows when longevity and long-term care enter the picture. In this episode, Nick and Eric explain why preparing for those costs requires more than simply enrolling in Medicare. They look at ways to build flexibility into the plan while protecting against expenses that can be difficult to predict. Tune in to make sure those costs don't catch your retirement plan unprepared.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🩺 Medicare: Understanding what it covers, and where important gaps can remain

💰 HSA Strategy: Using health savings accounts as a tax-advantaged tool for future medical expenses

📈 Longevity Risk: Why living longer means some retirement assets still need growth potential

🛡️ Asset Protection: Exploring different ways to reduce the financial impact of future care needs

⏳ Plan Early: How waiting can reduce the number of options available later

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

As more people approach retirement, they're looking for ways to reduce risk while still maintaining some opportunity for growth. That often leads to questions about annuities and whether they're a good investment. The answer, of course, depends on your specific situation, goals, income needs, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

📝 What Is an Annuity?

🧾 Fixed Annuities

🗂️ Variable Annuities

💬 And more!

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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A massive amount of wealth is moving from one generation to the next, but transferring assets is only part of the equation. Today, Nick and Eric look at why families need to start thinking about the transition long before an inheritance actually changes hands. The goal is to make sure the wealth you've built ultimately reaches the people and purposes you intended and to give you a simple playbook for starting those tough conversations before it's too late.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

📝 Proactive Planning: Don't wait for a crisis

👨‍👩‍👧 Generational Shifts: Families approach money differently

🧾 Tax Planning: Consider the after-tax impact

🗂️ Estate Documents: Keeping your plans current

💬 Family Conversations: Communication can prevent confusion

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 planning comes with a surprising number of age-based rules and opportunities. Nick and Eric walk through the milestones that can shape when and how you make important financial decisions. Knowing what changes at each stage can help you avoid missed opportunities and costly surprises. Think of this episode as your age-by-age cheat sheet so you know exactly what to do before the IRS, Social Security, or Medicare force your hand.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

⏳ Full Retirement: Earnings rules change

📤 RMD Ages: Required withdrawals eventually begin

🎂 Age 50: Catch-up contributions begin

💵 Age 62: Social Security becomes available

🏥 Age 65: Medicare eligibility begins

📈 Age 70: Delayed benefits stop growing

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

Long-term care can be one of the biggest financial blind spots in retirement planning. Today, Nick and Eric discuss when long-term care insurance may make sense, when self-insuring could be reasonable, and why the decision needs to fit within the broader retirement plan. You'll also hear the differences between traditional and hybrid policies and why timing can affect the options available. The most important step is not necessarily buying insurance, it's making sure the risk has been addressed.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

📊 Care Risks: Long-term care can create significant financial exposure

👥 Who Needs It: Coverage may be most valuable for those with assets to protect

📑 Policy Types: Traditional and hybrid policies offer different trade-offs

🤝 Fiduciary Advice: Understand both the product and the incentives behind the recommendation

🏥 Medicare & Costs: Medicare should not be assumed to cover long-term care

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

Teachers often have retirement benefits that look very different from those of private-sector employees. In this episode, Nick and Eric explain why understanding the options available through your school system is so important before making irreversible decisions. They also discuss how teachers can build more flexibility around the income provided by a pension. Make sure your decades of hard work translate into a retirement plan that fits your life.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

💰 Pension Benefits: Service, salary, and survivor options can affect lifetime income

📚 403(b) & 457 Plans: Supplemental accounts can provide additional retirement flexibility

🧾 Tax Benefits: Contributions may offer tax advantages while building future savings

🏦 IRA Options: Traditional and Roth IRAs can supplement employer-sponsored plans

🤝 Professional Guidance: Pension and retirement decisions should fit the entire financial picture

💵 Income Planning: Multiple income sources can create greater flexibility in retirement

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