Facing retirement sooner than expected? You're not alone. In this special mailbag edition, Tad, Toni and Tyler dive into a listener’s real-life question about an unexpected early retirement and the sudden loss of a pension. Together, they unpack strategies for building your own pension, making smart decisions with lump sums, and creating a plan that brings clarity, not fear. 

As the team talks through Lenny’s situation, the conversation naturally turns to the emotional side of retirement, the anxiety that comes from not knowing where things stand, and the relief that follows once a plan is finally in place. They reflect on how often people delay taking action out of fear, and how just getting started can shift everything. Even the most unsettling retirement curveballs can become turning points, if you have the right guidance. 

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

📬 Lenny's curveball: retiring at 62 with no pension and big decisions ahead

⚠️ The mistake that wiped out 50% of some retirees' savings

✅ Most people will make changes, they just need to know what to do

⏳ Delaying a plan shrinks your options 

🔐 Can fixed annuities can turn a lump sum into joint lifetime income?

Key Takeaway

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is today."

We can assist you on your journey to financial freedom: https://www.askfreedomfinancial.com/

Phone: 205.988.0006

Schedule a Call: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/contact/?utm_source=Hero

Attend a Course: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/attend-an-event/?utm_source=Hero

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEcHKcOSu6_m7cG9adV8xHTXLtH5g9M9t

Ever catch yourself doing something and realize... yep, that’s totally something your mom used to say? In this Getting To Know You episode, Tad, Toni, and Tyler talk about the life lessons they picked up from their moms—some practical, some motivational, and a few that are just plain funny. Toni shares why she’s always ten steps ahead (literally packed for a trip two weeks early) and Tad opens up about learning to believe in yourself and put in the work.

Turns out, those early lessons stick and shape how we show up in life, work, and even our closets. The conversation turns into a humorous story of personality differences, travel quirks, and what it means to be “prepared.” They also touch on how belief, effort, and facing reality head-on are key to getting things done. You might just walk away realizing how much of your mom lives in your day-to-day. 

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

🧳 Why Toni is Team “Unpack Immediately”

💪 “Rub some dirt on it” (Tyler’s philosophy)

🧠 The mindset Tad learned that fueled his business

🎯 Why belief without effort isn’t enough

📚 The wisdom of Good to Great 

Key Takeaway

"You can accomplish anything you want to accomplish if you're willing to set your mind to it and apply yourself."

We can assist you on your journey to financial freedom: https://www.askfreedomfinancial.com/

Phone: 205.988.0006

Schedule a Call: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/contact/?utm_source=Hero

Attend a Course: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/attend-an-event/?utm_source=Hero

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEcHKcOSu6_m7cG9adV8xHTXLtH5g9M9t

Risk tolerance: it’s a phrase you’ve probably heard tossed around a hundred times. But what does it really mean, especially for someone closing in on retirement? In this episode, Tad, Toni, and Tyler break down why the traditional way the financial industry talks about risk tolerance often misses the mark. It’s not just about your comfort level with market swings, it’s about whether your dollars are doing the right job for your retirement stage.

The trio digs into why many portfolios look like a “junk drawer” (full of random investments without a plan), and they explain how different dollars should serve different purposes—like funding your lifestyle, covering emergencies, or passing wealth to your kids. They also tackle the common “foot on the gas, foot on the brake” strategy: holding risky investments and hoarding cash at the same time. Is your portfolio aligned with your goals, or just riding the market rollercoaster? Tune in to find out. 

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

📉 Why risk tolerance is more than just a number

🧠 How to think differently about the purpose of your dollars

⚖️ Why diversification alone won’t solve your retirement puzzle

🧰 Is your portfolio a junk drawer? Here’s how to fix it

💵 Is there such thing as too much cash? 

Key Takeaway

"Unless you have a very clear, defined, step-by-step plan, you don't have a retirement plan."

We can assist you on your journey to financial freedom: https://www.askfreedomfinancial.com/

Phone: 205.988.0006

Schedule a Call: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/contact/?utm_source=Hero

Attend a Course: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/attend-an-event/?utm_source=Hero

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEcHKcOSu6_m7cG9adV8xHTXLtH5g9M9t

In this episode, Tad and Toni sit down with Frank Long, Director of Development at the Lovelady Center, the largest long-term recovery facility for women and children in the United States Frank shares the powerful story behind this Birmingham-based ministry, which serves over 500 women and more than 100 children recovering from addiction, incarceration, homelessness, and trauma. 

You’ll hear the inspiring legacy of founder Brenda Lovelady Spahn, a businesswoman who turned a personal crisis into a life-changing mission. Her vision? Not a halfway house, but a whole-way house, offering full transformation through education, parenting, job readiness, and the love of Christ. Plus, hear the story behind what moved the Hills to tears, inspired their team’s involvement, and how you can join an upcoming serve day.

To learn more or take a tour, visit loveladycenter.org.

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

💕 Meet the biggest recovery center you’ve never heard of

🙏 The moving backstory of founder Brenda Lovelady Spahn

🎁 How they made Christmas happen for 1,350 kids

🧗 Why there's a rock-climbing wall in the aftercare program 

🤝 How you can serve or give back, right alongside Tad & Toni

More about The Lovelady Center: https://www.loveladycenter.org/ 

Key Takeaway

"We are the largest long-term recovery facility for women and their children in the United States." 

We can assist you on your journey to financial freedom: https://www.askfreedomfinancial.com/

Phone: 205.988.0006

Schedule a Call: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/contact/?utm_source=Hero

Attend a Course: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/attend-an-event/?utm_source=Hero

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEcHKcOSu6_m7cG9adV8xHTXLtH5g9M9t

This week, we’re taking a break from taxes and market talk to ask the real question: What was your favorite thing to do as a kid? Get ready for a trip down memory lane with Tad, Toni, and Tyler, complete with coat-rack microphones and backyard army battles. Toni spills the tea on how she got her brother in trouble every single night, Tyler confesses to using Shannon as his personal roadie, and Tad? Let’s just say one busted Led Zeppelin record nearly got him banned from his sister’s room forever. 

This episode is a reminder that behind every retirement plan is a real person who once lip-synced to Hannah Montana or launched a full-scale attack on a platoon of plastic soldiers. If you’ve ever wondered what your financial planning team was like before 401(k)s and Roth IRAs, this episode gives you a front-row seat. It’s a lighthearted look at the childhood roots that shape how this team shows up today, with humor, heart, and a deep love for helping families.

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

🥾 Tad’s backyard army man warfare tactics

🧸 Tyler and Shannon’s pop star performances

🤐 How Toni kept her brother in trouble (and her halo intact)

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The heart behind the retirement planning team

🏰 Imagination > iPads: growing up without screens

Key Takeaway

"My favorite thing was listening to music and dancing around the room singing into the coat rack."

We can assist you on your journey to financial freedom: https://www.askfreedomfinancial.com/

Phone: 205.988.0006

Schedule a Call: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/contact/?utm_source=Hero

Attend a Course: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/attend-an-event/?utm_source=Hero

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEcHKcOSu6_m7cG9adV8xHTXLtH5g9M9t

What does Noah’s Ark have to do with retirement? More than you might think. In this episode, Tad, Tyler and Toni draw a clever parallel between building an ark before the rain and planning your retirement before the unexpected happens. Markets shift, tax laws change, pandemics hit, loved ones pass, and the worst time to start planning is in the middle of the storm. 

Tune in as the Hill family dives into real-life risks- like losing a spouse’s income, long-term care costs, and sudden tax changes- and share why “just winging it” or following your neighbor’s advice isn’t a strategy. They also break down the difference between a retirement planner and someone who just manages your portfolio, and why it matters a lot when you're five to ten years from retirement. If you want to be prepared for whatever the future brings, this is your invitation to start building your ark now.

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

🛶 Why you need a plan before things go wrong

⚠️ Planning for the unknown – Market volatility, long-term care, and life surprises

👥Why advice from friends or generalists isn’t enough

📉 Portfolio management ≠ retirement planning

📅 Why 5–10 years before retirement is the sweet spot for planning

Key Takeaway

"As retirement planners, it's our job to look out into the future and have a contingency plan for the unexpected."

We can assist you on your journey to financial freedom: https://www.askfreedomfinancial.com/

Phone: 205.988.0006

Schedule a Call: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/contact/?utm_source=Hero

Attend a Course: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/attend-an-event/?utm_source=Hero

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEcHKcOSu6_m7cG9adV8xHTXLtH5g9M9t

You’ve heard the radio shows. You’ve watched the financial “gurus” on TV. They throw out bold advice like confetti: when to take Social Security, what to do with your annuity, how to pick your mutual funds. But here’s the thing: most of them aren’t even licensed to give financial advice. In this episode, Tad, Toni, and Tyler unpack why real, personalized guidance can’t be given in sound bites and why that’s actually a good thing.

They share why real retirement planning is about asking the right questions, understanding your unique situation, and building a strategy designed for you. If you’ve ever felt lost in a sea of generic tips and jargon, this is worth a listen.

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

📢 The difference between financial noise and real guidance 

🎯 Why planning for retirement requires a different mindset than building your savings 

🛠️ The importance of creating a retirement strategy tailored to your life 

📚 Key considerations for do-it-yourself investors as they approach retirement 

🔍 How to recognize advice that may not be coming from a licensed source

Key Takeaway

"The only way we can give you financial advice is if we have met with you and we have exhaustively gathered information."

We can assist you on your journey to financial freedom: https://www.askfreedomfinancial.com/

Phone: 205.988.0006

Schedule a Call: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/contact/?utm_source=Hero

Attend a Course: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/attend-an-event/?utm_source=Hero

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEcHKcOSu6_m7cG9adV8xHTXLtH5g9M9t

Markets get choppy, headlines get loud, and investors get nervous. In this episode, Tad, Toni, and Tyler uncover the questions every retiree should be asking when volatility hits. Are you taking the right type and amount of risk? What if the market crashes or takes off tomorrow? And most importantly, do you have someone who’s helping you navigate it all, or are you stuck steering the retirement ship solo?

With their signature mix of warmth, clarity, and straight talk, the Hills break down what it really means to have a retirement plan that holds up under pressure. Because the truth is, once your paychecks stop, your plan can’t afford to fail. This episode will help you think through not just your risk level, but whether your entire strategy is built to succeed in any market condition.

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

📉 What happens if the bear market lasts? 

🎲 Understanding the type and amount of risk you're taking

🧩 Why your retirement plan must be as unique as you are

👨‍⚕️ Why your advisor should be more like a specialist than a generalist

Key Takeaway

"We can build a plan so that if the market crashes during your retirement, your retirement plan doesn't go out the window with it."

We can assist you on your journey to financial freedom: https://www.askfreedomfinancial.com/

Phone: 205.988.0006

Schedule a Call: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/contact/?utm_source=Hero

Attend a Course: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/attend-an-event/?utm_source=Hero

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEcHKcOSu6_m7cG9adV8xHTXLtH5g9M9t

In this Getting To Know Us segment, Tad and Tyler dive fork-first into a very important topic: foods we used to hate... but now love. We take a break to dish on olives, zebra cakes, goat cheese, and questionable Parisian meals. Spoiler: someone may have fake-declared a food allergy just to survive a five-course dinner in the Eiffel Tower. No judgment.

We also talk about adventurous eating abroad, picky siblings who live on mac and cheese, and the great mystery of whether Tad actually likes collard greens, or just the pepper sauce he drowns them in. If you’ve ever had a food ick turn into a craving, or if you’re just here for the family laughs and random international cuisine stories, this episode is for you.

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

🫒 Tyler’s unexpected love affair with Greek olives

🇫🇷 Chicken dinner at the Eiffel Tower 

🦗 Crickets, silkworms, and one crunchy honeymoon

🎂 Trauma-inducing cake 

🥬 The transformation of Tad’s tastebuds 

We can assist you on your journey to financial freedom: https://www.askfreedomfinancial.com/

Phone: 205.988.0006

Schedule a Call: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/contact/?utm_source=Hero

Attend a Course: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/attend-an-event/?utm_source=Hero

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEcHKcOSu6_m7cG9adV8xHTXLtH5g9M9t

There’s a hard truth in retirement planning. At some point, one spouse will be left to manage the finances alone. And for many families, that reality is both emotional and financially complex. In this episode, Tad and Tyler tackle what happens after a spouse passes away, from lost income and pension benefits to taxes, estate decisions, and legacy conversations most people put off far too long. 

Here’s what we discuss in today’s show:

🧓 What happens to Social Security when one spouse dies

💸 The hidden risk of electing the wrong pension option

🛑 Why avoiding these conversations can cost your family later

🧾 How to prevent leaving a tax time bomb for your kids

❤️ Real client stories that bring the planning to life

We can assist you on your journey to financial freedom: https://www.askfreedomfinancial.com/

Phone: 205.988.0006

Schedule a Call: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/contact/?utm_source=Hero

Attend a Course: https://askfreedomfinancial.com/attend-an-event/?utm_source=Hero

Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEcHKcOSu6_m7cG9adV8xHTXLtH5g9M9t