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

Jake and Nick tackle a surprisingly common question, whether retirees are holding too much cash and what "safe" really means once your paycheck stops. They walk through how cash fits into a healthy retirement plan, where it can help, and where it can quietly hold you back. Ever wondered how much cash is "too much?" Tune in to hear some clear guidelines to help you decide.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

💵 Cash in Retirement: why people lean toward cash—and the real question behind it

⚖️ Balancing Cash & Investments: finding the mix that supports flexibility and growth

🔥 Inflation Risk: the hidden cost of holding too much for too long

📆 RMD Rules: what to know as you approach your early 70s

🔄 Roth vs. Traditional: choosing the right tax treatment for your future

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 do you know if you can support your lifestyle after retirement without a paycheck? Deciding when to retire isn't just about the date on the calendar, it's about confidence, clarity, and knowing whether your lifestyle can truly support the transition. In this episode, Nick and Jake explore the factors that shape the "work longer or retire early" decision and the answer often has less to do with money than people expect.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🏡 Assessing Lifestyle Support: determining what it really takes to fund daily life

💵 Income & Expense Planning: aligning withdrawals and income sources with your needs

🎯 Goal-Based Investing: knowing when continued work supports bigger dreams

⚖️ Lifestyle & Tax Balance: finding the sweet spot between comfort and efficiency

🧭 Practical Retirement Guidance: simple steps for making a confident transition

📬 Mailbag Minute: rapid-fire answers to real listener 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

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

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