Olympic athletes don't rely on talent alone. They prepare, adjust, and stay disciplined long before the moment arrives. In this episode, Nick and Jake use the Olympics as a lens to talk about what real retirement preparation looks like. The conversation centers on setting clear targets, staying consistent, and managing emotions when conditions change. It's a practical reminder that confidence in retirement is built long before the finish line.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🎯 Clear Goals: Making plans measurable and realistic

🔄 Plan Adjustments: Reviewing and refining over time

🧠 Emotional Discipline: Managing fear and confidence

🏆 Wins & Setbacks: Learning from every season

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

Love is in the air, and so is smart retirement planning. In this Valentine's Day edition, Nick and Jake show you how to move from a "day‑to‑day fling" with your finances to a long‑term, committed retirement plan by really knowing your numbers and your income needs. They break down how to balance safety, income, and growth so you can enjoy life now while still being prepared for curveballs like healthcare costs, inflation, and taxes.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

📊 Financial Clarity: Knowing your numbers builds confidence

⚖️ Income Balance: Coordinating safety, income, and growth

🛡️ Unexpected Events: Planning for healthcare, taxes, and inflation

🎓 Next Generation: Encouraging financial literacy early

🎒 529s & Trusts: Understanding education and legacy tools

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

Olympic athletes don't just hope they win, they plan for success. Retirement is no different. In this episode, Nick and Jake borrow lessons from elite training, discipline, and coaching to rethink how retirement planning should actually work. What if preparing for retirement required the same focus, structure, and emotional control as competing on the world stage? This conversation will challenge you to stop hoping your plan works and start knowing it will.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🥇 Olympic-Level Retirement Prep: Training your finances like an elite athlete

🎯 Specific Goals, Measurable Outcomes: Turning "I hope I can retire" into "I know I can"

🧠 Emotion-Proof Planning: Staying disciplined through market wins and wipeouts

🤝 Your Retirement Coaching Staff: Leaning on a professional team for the descent, not just the climb

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

Unlock the secrets most retirees wish they'd known about taxes before leaving the workforce. This episode cuts through the confusion and dives into smart, proactive tax planning for your retirement years. Join Jake and Nick for essential strategies and eye-opening insights that could safeguard your nest egg.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

📊 Survey Insights – Why retirees underestimated tax impact

💰 Social Security Taxes – Were benefits taxed more than expected?

⏰ RMDs – Required withdrawals may be triggering higher taxes

🏥 Medicare Premiums – Income pushing healthcare costs higher

🔁 Roth Strategies – Conversions to manage future tax bills

📬 Mailbag Minute – Quick answers to common tax questions

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

AI can answer questions instantly, but should it be trusted with your financial future? Dive into today's episode as Jake and Nick tackle whether AI can truly replace human financial advisors. You'll hear the real risks, and hidden potential when using AI for money decisions. Tune in and learn what to ask before trusting your finances to technology!

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🤖 AI in Financial Advice: What artificial intelligence can (and can't) do

🧠 The Human Element: Why context and experience still matter in planning

🧰 Using AI the Right Way: How to treat AI as a research assistant, not a decision-maker

📬 Mailbag Minute: Quick answers to listener questions on Social Security and retirement 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/

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

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

How has retirement changed over the last decade, and why does it matter now? If you're planning for retirement the same way people did ten years ago, you may be relying on assumptions that no longer apply. In this episode, Nick and Jake discuss how retirement planning has fundamentally shifted over the past decade and what those changes could mean for your financial future.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

⏳ Delayed Retirement: Why more people are working longer by choice…or necessity

🏥 Healthcare Reality: Medical costs reshaping retirement timelines

🏃‍♂️ Longer, Active Lives: Planning for decades, not years, of retirement

📈 Inflation Pressure: Rising costs meet uncertain income sources

🧭 Planning Challenges: New risks require new solutions

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

Every January, people focus on getting back in shape, but what about their finances? In this episode, Nick and Jake walk through six practical steps to improving your financial fitness as retirement approaches. The conversation reframes what it really means to be "financially fit" and offers tips on a clear path forward. Tune in if you're looking for a smarter reset and a more confident way to start 2026.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🧠 Mindset Shift: Redefining financial success

📂 Consult Prep: What to bring and why for best results

🧩 Fund Segmentation: Giving each dollar a job

⚠️ Client Concerns: Addressing fear and uncertainty

💵 Income Planning: How you'll replace your paycheck

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

Turning 59½ opens the door to a set of retirement decisions many people don't realize they have. In this episode, Nick is joined by Eric Hogarth, Senior Partner Johnson Brunetti, to discuss why 59½ is a major planning milestone and what options become available for your 401(k). If you're approaching 59½ and want more control, flexibility, and clarity around your retirement savings, this conversation will help you understand what to consider before making any 401(k) moves.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🎂 Age 59½ Rule: penalty-free access creates new planning options

🔄 IRA Rollovers: gaining flexibility, control, and broader investment choices

🏢 Staying Put: when keeping money in a 401(k) may still make sense

🔁 Roth Conversions: using lower-tax windows to your advantage

📉 Market Context: why timing and risk matter more as retirement nears

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

Social Security isn't just about picking an age and calling it a day, it's one of the biggest financial choices you'll make, with lots of rules and personal factors to consider. In this episode, Nick walks you through exactly how your benefit gets calculated and breaks down the essential rules you really need to know. If retirement is on the horizon, Nick's clear and practical advice will help you ask the right questions and feel more confident in your Social Security decisions.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

💰 Benefit Calculation: based on your highest 35 earning years

📅 Claiming Ages: early, full retirement age, and delayed options

💻 Working Impact: how earned income can reduce benefits

💑 Spousal Rules: benefits tied to marriage and survivorship

🏦 Taxes: when Social Security becomes taxable

🗨️ Q&A: pensions, survivors, and common filing questions

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

Why do so many retirees struggle to spend, even when they've saved enough? In this episode, Jake and Nick explore bucket list goals and why so many retirees struggle to give themselves permission to enjoy the money they've spent years saving. They talk about purpose, community, and building a plan that gives you confidence to spend intentionally rather than fearfully.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

📝 Bucket Lists & Money: how dream goals fit into a financial plan

✈️ Popular Retirement Goals: travel, experiences, and lifelong "someday" ideas

💵 Spending Anxiety: why it's hard for retirees to use their own savings

🤝 Finding Community: purpose, connection, and staying engaged

🧭 Planning the Path: practical steps to fund the lifestyle you want

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