If you're nearing retirement with a solid nest egg, the next big question isn't how much you've saved, it's how much you'll actually keep. In this episode, Nick answers a listener question from a 62-year-old with $800,000 saved who wants to know how to lower taxes in retirement. It's a scenario many people face, and the decisions made in these final working years can have a major impact on long-term outcomes. The takeaway is simple: retirement planning isn't just about investments, it's about building a tax strategy that works for decades.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🧾 Tax Strategy: Why where your money sits matters just as much as how much you have

🏥 Healthcare Gap: Planning for insurance before Medicare kicks in

📅 Income Timing: When to take Social Security and start withdrawals

💸 Lower Taxes Now: Using contributions and deductions while still working

🔄 Roth Conversions: Moving money strategically to reduce future tax burdens

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

It sounds unbelievable, but millions of Americans have lost track of old retirement accounts, and the total adds up to over a trillion dollars. If you've changed jobs over the years, there's a real chance money could still be sitting with a former employer. In this episode, Nick walks through how to recover these lost accounts, because nothing feels better than "found money" especially when it's your retirement.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

📍 Where to Look – Employers, providers, state databases

🪜 Step-by-Step Search – Practical recovery checklist

📊 Planning Matters – Don't just find it, structure it

💬 Retirement Q&A – Managing 401(k)s after retiring

🔄 Rollovers & Roth – Taxes, timing, and 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

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

To celebrate Women's Day, Nick is joined by his colleague and financial advisor Jen Killilea to explore why women investors often outperform men, drawing on insights from a major Fidelity study. They highlight the behavioral advantages many women bring to investing and why those traits can lead to stronger long-term results. You'll also hear about the unique financial challenges women face, from longer life expectancy and wage gaps to caregiving interruptions and healthcare and long-term care costs.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

🧠 Investing Psychology: Behavior drives long-term outcomes

⏳ Patience Wins: Staying the course beats frequent trading

📉 Less Trading: Fewer moves can lead to better results

🏥 Healthcare Planning: Longer lives require deeper planning

📚 Financial Education: Simple guidance builds confidence

Check out the study here:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211008005269/en/Make-Way-for-Women-Investors-Record-Numbers-Higher-Returns---Fidelity-Study-Finds-50-Increase-in-Women-Investing-Outside-of-Retirement-New-10-Year-Analysis-Reveals-Women-Out-Performing-Men

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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 might be one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make, and it's rarely as simple as "take it early" or "wait until 70." Nick is joined by Eric Hogarth, CFPⓇ and senior partner at Johnson Brunetti, to walk through how filing decisions affect income, taxes, and long-term retirement confidence. With hundreds of potential filing combinations and real consequences for spouses and families, this is not a decision to guess on.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

💍 Spousal Benefits: Half of primary benefit

🛡 Survivor Rules: Larger benefit continues

💰 Tax Planning: Managing retirement taxation

🏢 Working While Collecting: Income limits and FICA

📬 Mailbag Q&A: Pension and Medicare 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

If you're thinking about retiring before 59½, you've probably assumed your 401(k) is locked up. Not always.

Nick unpacks the Rule of 55, a lesser-known provision that can allow penalty-free withdrawals from certain employer retirement plans starting at age 55. But like most tax rules, the opportunity comes with caveats. Used correctly, the Rule of 55 can create flexibility. Used carelessly, it can limit your options.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

📘 Rule of 55: Penalty-free access explained

👥 Who Benefits: Early retirees with 401(k)s

⚠️ Limitations: Plan rules and restrictions

🧾 Tax Strategy: Income timing matters

📬 Mailbag Q&A: Roth, Medicare, estate 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

New year. New goals. Same money habits? In this episode, Nick is joined by special guest Eric Hogarth, senior partner and CFP®, to talk about five financial habits that can quietly derail retirement, especially during the transition from saving to spending. The strategies that helped you build wealth during your working years don't always serve you the same way once the paychecks stop. Suddenly, risk looks different and taxes hit differently. Retirement isn't just about having enough, it's about making smart adjustments once you get there.

Here's what we discuss in this episode:

📊 Risk & Return: Balance growth and safety

🧾 Tax Planning: Long-term efficiency matters

🧠 Emotional Decisions: How to avoid fear-based moves

🔄 Plan Reviews: Adjust annually and proactively

❓ Mailbag Questions: Social Security, Roth, Medicare

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 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