A little hope is good for the soul, but when it comes to retirement planning, wishful thinking can lead to serious financial mistakes. Today, Ryan walks through five common examples of wishful thinking that can quietly damage your retirement and how you can build a plan that protects your future instead of relying on luck.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

🏦 The myth of living off interest alone

📉 Why future tax rates might surprise you

🧓 Assisted living planning mistakes

🍽️ Retirement spending isn't always lower

🧳 The danger in counting on “just working longer”

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

Today we’re talking about Type A personalities. If you’re driven, competitive, and goal-oriented, then you’re part of the club that often struggles during difficult markets. When things get tough, your instinct is to work harder, push more, and fix the problem. But in investing, that instinct can sometimes backfire. In this episode, Ryan explores how Type A investors can unintentionally sabotage their own success by overreacting to market swings.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

💼 Why Type A traits clash with smart investing

📉 When doing less actually protects your portfolio

🧠 The psychology behind “fix-it” thinking

🧪 How stress testing your plan calms market panic

👥 Why working with the right advisor matters more than ever

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

Most people believe financial success comes down to numbers, but the truth is your emotions and mindset may play an even bigger role than any spreadsheet ever could. In this episode, Ryan unpacks key lessons from Morgan Housel’s best-selling book The Psychology of Money, revealing how behavior, beliefs, and background shape our financial choices.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

🧠 Why no one’s crazy when it comes to money

💸 The danger of always chasing “more”

🤝 Why reasonable beats rational in real life

🏠 What paying off your mortgage early can reveal about emotional security

🛟 How to build margin for error into your 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

Ever wonder what other people talk about with their financial advisors? A new survey of nearly 400 experienced advisors reveals the biggest concerns, challenges, and financial goals their clients are facing today. From retirement planning to working longer than expected, Ryan’s breaking down the key takeaways and how they compare to what he sees in his own client conversations. We’ll also uncover the #1 concern advisors have, a surprisingly overlooked issue that deserves far more attention.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

💬 What clients are really asking their advisors

📊 Survey insights that reveal surprising concerns

🏥 Why healthcare costs are a bigger threat than most realize

🧩 How planning early solves problems before they happen

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://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

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

Got an old 401(k) collecting dust after a job change? You're not alone, and what you do with that account might have a big impact on your long-term financial health. In this episode, Ryan answers a listener’s question about whether it’s okay to leave your 401(k) where it is, or if you’re better off rolling it over. Spoiler alert: the answer isn’t one-size-fits-all, but there are some key pros and cons you need to know.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

📂 Should you roll over that old 401(k)?

🕵️ Hidden fees and forgotten accounts

⚠️ Potential risks of defaulting to target date funds

🔄 What are in-service distributions?

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

When it comes to retirement planning, it's often the threats you don't see coming that do the most damage. In this episode, Ryan uncovers five silent "assassins" that can quietly erode your financial future, including market crashes, inflation and some surprises along the way! More importantly, he explains how proper planning can defend your wealth against these hidden risks.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

📉 How market crashes hit when you least expect

📈 Why inflation is a "silent killer" of wealth

🏥 The overlooked cost of long-term care

🛡️ Smart defenses to protect your financial future

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://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

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

The headlines are loud, the markets are messy, and your gut might be telling you to do something - anything -right now. But what should you actually do when your portfolio takes a hit? In this episode, Ryan walks through the four key questions every investor should ask during a downturn, offering clear and practical steps to block out the noise and get some clarity on today’s market situation. 

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

📉 Gut-checking your financial plan when markets dip

📊 Risk tolerance: percentages vs. real dollars

🔁 Rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting in a down market

🧠 Why your “personal economy” is what really matters

📈 Using volatility as a buying opportunity (if it fits your 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://toolkit.blackoakam.com/podcast-toolkit.html

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

The Masters is a beautiful reminder of just how much strategy, patience, and long-term focus goes into a great round of golf. Turns out, retirement works a lot like the game. Today, Ryan is teeing up a few key lessons from the course and how they translate into smarter planning for your financial future.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

⛳ Why chasing a “hole-in-one” rarely pays off

📆 Why timing matters more than you think in retirement

🕓 The “back nine” of retirement is critical

📉 Recovering from financial setbacks with strategy, not emotion

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

Tax season is here, but filing your 2024 return is just one piece of the puzzle. Now is also the perfect time to take advantage of new tax rules for 2025 before the year gets away from you. With higher standard deductions, increased retirement contribution limits, and updated HSA rules, there are plenty of opportunities to potentially lower your tax bill and boost your savings. In this episode, we’ll break down the key changes and how you can start planning now to make the most of them.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

📄 New standard deduction for 2025: what you need to know

📈 401(k) limits increase

🏥 HSA: The triple tax threat

💡 Tools and tips to get ahead before 2026

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

In this episode, Ryan unpacks a listener question that’s becoming increasingly common: What should I do about my RMDs if I’m still working at 74 and contributing to my 401(k)? Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), and the tax penalties for missing them, can catch even the most financially prepared retirees off guard, especially those still working into their 70s.

Here’s what we discuss in this episode:

📆 Working past RMD age can delay required distributions (in some cases)

💸 IRAs and 401(k)s follow different rules, you need to know the difference

🏦 Moving IRAs into a 401(k) may buy you some extra time

🎁 QCDs may offer a tax-savvy way to satisfy your RMDs

⚠️ Missing an RMD can trigger steep penalties, so planning ahead is key

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