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📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

These days, retiring with $1 million might feel like falling short, especially when everyone around you seems to have more. In this episode, Ryan tackles a listener question that gets to the heart of retirement anxiety: is $1 million actually enough to retire? Are you worried you’re falling behind? This episode offers clarity about what really determines retirement success.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

🧠 Comparison Trap: Why savings comparisons destroy confidence

🔄 Reframing Goals: Moving from “my number” to your plan

🧩 What Shapes Outcomes: Lifestyle, debt, benefits, and timing

🚀 Catch-Up Strategies: Practical ways to strengthen retirement readiness

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

A lot happened in 2025: political swings, stubborn inflation, new tax rules, and even a historic government shutdown. But headlines alone don’t determine your retirement outcome; how you respond to them does. In this episode, Ryan reflects on the five biggest financial events of the year and what actually mattered for long-term planning. The noise will change in 2026, but the strategy that creates confidence stays the same.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

🌍 Tariffs: Market reactions and volatility

📈 Inflation: Why prices still feel high

🏦 High-Yield Savings: Making cash work harder

🚨 Government Shutdown: Why emergency funds matter

🏢 Federal Resources: Support for government employees

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

You’ve heard the phrase, “There’s no such thing as a bad question.” But in retirement planning, the quality of your questions often determines the quality of your outcome. Today Ryan reframes common retirement questions, and shares how clearer question lead to better strategies, and more confidence about the future. The smartest investors don’t just look for answers. They learn to ask better questions.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

💰 Income Clarity: What you need vs. what you’ve saved

🏥 Long-Term Care: Exploring real options

🧾 Tax Strategy: Planning ahead, not just this year but beyond

🛑 Social Security: Smarter claiming decisions, not guesswork

💳 Debt Management: Reducing pressure in retirement

📉 Market Volatility: Adjusting portfolios thoughtfully

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

How do you know if your financial advisor is actually a good fit, or quietly working against your best interests? In this episode, Ryan walks us through common red flags that signal an advisor may not be serving you well. From cookie-cutter plans to poor communication, they explain what to watch for before small issues become costly mistakes. A great advisor builds trust, listens well, and never leaves you feeling in the dark.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

📈 Overpromising Returns: unrealistic expectations and guarantees

🧾 Tax Blind Spots: missing long-term tax coordination

📅 Outdated Plans: set-it-and-forget-it approach

🤝 Built Trust: strong relationships and transparency

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

More couples are entering marriage later in life with established careers, children from previous relationships, and financial lives they prefer to keep separate. Ryan breaks down how couples can still build a unified retirement plan without combining accounts. If you’ve ever wondered how to “team up” financially while keeping your money separate, this conversation gives you a blueprint.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

💍 Later-Life Remarriage: unique challenges couples face when they maintain separate assets

📖 Ground Rules & Transparency: sharing enough financial info to build a real plan

📜 Estate Planning Essentials: wills, trusts, prenups, and protecting blended families

🧭 Advisor as Mediator: how a planner provides objectivity and reduces emotional friction

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

Giving Tuesday and year-end donations always spark generosity, but the real impact comes when giving is intentional, not rushed or emotional. Ryan breaks down how to align your generosity with your financial plan so your giving feels meaningful and works smarter behind the scenes. The goal is to support causes you care about while staying thoughtful about timing, taxes, and long-term strategy.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

❤️ The “Why” Behind Giving: impact on your life, family, and community

📅 Timing Your Gifts: how year-round giving differs from seasonal giving

🧾 Tax-Smart Strategies: deductions, planning, and getting more mileage from every dollar

💸 Types of Giving: comparing cash gifts, QCDs, and donor-advised funds

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

What’s the fastest way to regain control when your finances feel chaotic? This week, Ryan talks with Ramsey-Preferred Financial Coach Bob Ginty about practical ways to stabilize your finances, even when the economy feels unpredictable. They explore key areas that can help you create a stronger financial foundation no matter what’s going on around you.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

💰 Emergency Funds & Investing: building a strong base before taking risks

📉 Debt & Budgeting Solutions: cutting costs and organizing a workable plan

🧩 Budgeting Challenges: fixing the habits and hurdles that derail progress

🔄 Income & Expense Shifts: adjusting where money flows as life changes

🤝 Accountability & Communication: staying consistent through honest conversations and support

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

Are you missing the warning signs in your financial life? In this episode, Ryan and Ramsey-Preferred Financial Coach Bob Genty discuss the biggest money challenges families are facing today—from overspending and debt stress to a lack of clear financial direction. They break down the habits and decisions that quietly sabotage progress and share practical ways to get back on track.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

🚩 Red Flags: common warning signs of a bad advisor relationship

💬 Communication Gaps: what it means when you feel “in the dark”

🤝 Advisor Fit: the importance of trust and transparency

📊 Financial Coaching: how accountability builds long-term success

🧭 Proactive Planning: why good advisors educate instead of sell

Learn more about Financial Coach Bob Ginty: www.setfreefinancialcoaching.net 

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

Some investors believe having more than one advisor means more ideas, more diversification, and more protection. But in reality, it often creates more confusion than clarity. Ryan breaks down the pros and cons of working with multiple advisors, when it might make sense, and why a unified plan often leads to better results. At the end of the day, it’s not about how many people manage your money, it’s about how coordinated your strategy is.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

🚫 Hidden Challenges: How conflicting advice can cause confusion and mistakes

🤝 Trust Matters: Why credentials and personal connection should drive your choice

📊 One Team Approach: How a single advisory team provides internal diversification

💸 Avoiding Overlap: Preventing duplicate investments and unnecessary fees

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI

📅 Book a 1-on-1 with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

📦 Grab your FREE Tax-Free Retirement Toolkit: https://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

Most people think financial planning is about calculators, spreadsheets, and strategies. But that’s only half the story. The truth is your feelings about money can have just as much impact on your retirement as the numbers do. Today, Ryan explores the human side of money and how your feelings about home, debt, giving, and family can quietly shape your entire financial plan. At the end of the day, numbers give us the framework, but your feelings help define the plan that truly fits you.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

🏠 Where You Live: how emotional ties influence retirement location decisions

📊 Investment Preferences: balancing detail-oriented and big-picture mindsets

💳 Debt Decisions: finding peace between logic and emotion

📉 Market Emotions: staying grounded when volatility strikes

🎁 Giving & Legacy: weaving generosity and purpose into your financial plan

Visit us online: https://blackoakam.com/

Phone: (470) 508-0508

Get in touch with the Black Oak team: https://blackoakam.com/contact-us/

Schedule a call with Ryan: https://speakwithryan.com/

Get your tax-free retirement toolkit: https://bit.ly/3PMjKqc

Get more financial education on our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/45kJlwI