Many people assume they have to wait until age 59½ before they can retire because that's when retirement accounts generally become available without the 10% early withdrawal penalty. But in reality, early retirement is often less about how much you've saved and more about how you access your money.

In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA, CFP® discusses the planning strategies that can help bridge the gap before traditional retirement account access, why saving across different account types creates flexibility, and how thoughtful income planning can make early retirement a realistic option.

We discuss:

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How much money is enough to retire?

It may be the most common retirement planning question, but it isn't always the right one.

In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, explores why financial security is often more psychological than mathematical and why some retirees with millions of dollars still worry about running out of money.

Tyler discusses:

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Need help making sure your investments and retirement plan are on track? Click to schedule a free 20-minute call with one of True Wealth's CFP® Professionals.

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Phone: 855.TWD.PLAN

Contact our team: https://www.truewealthdesign.com/contact-a-financial-advisor/ 

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More retirees than ever are choosing to work in retirement, whether for additional income, consulting opportunities, or simply because they enjoy staying engaged.

In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, discusses the financial planning considerations that often accompany returning to work after retirement.

Tyler covers:

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Need help making sure your investments and retirement plan are on track? Click to schedule a free 20-minute call with one of True Wealth's CFP® Professionals.

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Our website:  https://www.truewealthdesign.com/ 

Phone: 855.TWD.PLAN

Contact our team: https://www.truewealthdesign.com/contact-a-financial-advisor/ 

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

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Many retirees have a unique period between retirement and the start of Social Security and Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) when their taxable income may be significantly lower than it will be later in retirement.

In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, explains why this retirement tax planning window may be one of the biggest opportunities affluent retirees have to improve lifetime tax efficiency.

Tyler covers:

Have questions?

Need help making sure your investments and retirement plan are on track? Click to schedule a free 20-minute call with one of True Wealth's CFP® Professionals.

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Our website:  https://www.truewealthdesign.com/ 

Phone: 855.TWD.PLAN

Contact our team: https://www.truewealthdesign.com/contact-a-financial-advisor/ 

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

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Get your customized planning started by scheduling a no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth

The 2026 Social Security Trustees Report is out, and it is already creating headlines about the future of Social Security benefits.

In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, breaks down what affluent retirees and pre-retirees actually need to know about the new Social Security report, including the 2032 trust fund projection, the 2034 combined trust fund projection, and why Social Security is not “going bankrupt.”

Tyler covers:

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Donor-advised funds have become one of the most popular charitable giving tools in the country, with more than $326 billion now held in donor-advised fund accounts. Yet many retirees and investors still don't fully understand how donor-advised funds work, when they make sense, or how they can fit into a broader tax planning and retirement planning strategy.

In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, covers:

For retirees and investors who regularly support charities, a donor-advised fund can be much more than a charitable account. It can be a tax planning tool, an investment tool, and a way to simplify ongoing charitable giving.

Have questions?

Need help making sure your investments and retirement plan are on track? Click to schedule a free 20-minute call with one of True Wealth's CFP® Professionals.

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Our website:  https://www.truewealthdesign.com/ 

Phone: 855.TWD.PLAN

Contact our team: https://www.truewealthdesign.com/contact-a-financial-advisor/ 

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

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Get your customized planning started by scheduling a no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth

Many investors have highly appreciated stocks and ETFs they would like to diversify, simplify, or replace, but selling those investments can create a significant capital gains tax bill.

In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, discusses the 351 Exchange Strategy, a little-known tax-efficient planning opportunity that may allow investors to exchange appreciated stocks and ETFs into a diversified ETF without first selling and realizing capital gains taxes.

Tyler covers:

Have questions?

Need help making sure your investments and retirement plan are on track? Click to schedule a free 20-minute call with one of True Wealth's CFP® Professionals.

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Our website:  https://www.truewealthdesign.com/ 

Phone: 855.TWD.PLAN

Contact our team: https://www.truewealthdesign.com/contact-a-financial-advisor/ 

Schedule your no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth 

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

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So you’ve decided to do a Roth conversion… now what?

Most Roth conversion conversations focus on whether you should do one. But the long-term value often comes from how the strategy is actually implemented.

In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP® walks through the overlooked decisions that can materially impact the outcome of a Roth conversion strategy.

Topics include:

Tyler also explains why many Roth conversion mistakes have less to do with the conversion itself — and more to do with poor timing, tax management, and implementation decisions.

Have questions?

Need help making sure your investments and retirement plan are on track? Click to schedule a free 20-minute call with one of True Wealth's CFP® Professionals.

http://bit.ly/calltruewealth

Our website:  https://www.truewealthdesign.com/ 

Phone: 855.TWD.PLAN

Contact our team: https://www.truewealthdesign.com/contact-a-financial-advisor/ 

Schedule your no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth 

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

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Investment management is often framed around picking stocks, predicting markets, and finding outperforming investments. But many of the decisions that have the biggest long-term impact on investor outcomes come from diversification, tax strategy, portfolio construction, and how investments are implemented over time.

In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, discusses the often-overlooked side of investing and why portfolio management involves much more than simply picking investments.

Topics covered include:

Tyler also explains how coordinated planning across investments, taxes, retirement income, estate strategy, and charitable giving can help improve long-term outcomes.

Need help making sure your investments and retirement plan are on track? Click to schedule a free 20-minute call with one of True Wealth's CFP® Professionals.

http://bit.ly/calltruewealth

Our website:  https://www.truewealthdesign.com/ 

Phone: 855.TWD.PLAN

Contact our team: https://www.truewealthdesign.com/contact-a-financial-advisor/ 

Schedule your no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth 

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrueWealthDesign/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/true-wealth-design/ 

X: https://x.com/truewealthdesgn 

Watch the show now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjENBHOti-IEJFqeydZm_Fg?sub_confirmation=1

Get your customized planning started by scheduling a no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth

This episode walks through what proactive financial planning actually looks like beyond investment management alone.

Tyler Emrick, CFA, CFP® breaks down how ongoing advice should work for retirees and pre-retirees, including the structure of our Progress Meetings, Tax & Investment Review Meetings, and the ongoing planning conversations that happen throughout the year as life changes.

We also discuss why coordinated planning matters so much as retirement decisions become more interconnected — from Roth conversions and tax planning to Medicare, Social Security, estate planning, spending goals, and retirement income strategies.

In this episode:

As retirement approaches, small financial decisions can have larger long-term consequences. The goal of proactive planning is helping families make informed decisions before those mistakes become expensive later.

Have questions?

Need help making sure your investments and retirement plan are on track? Click to schedule a free 20-minute call with one of True Wealth's CFP® Professionals.

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