Roth conversions are widely discussed but often misunderstood. In this episode, we begin by defining how Roth accounts and conversions work, then examine why conversions have gained attention in recent years. We explore how required minimum distributions, survivor tax changes, and Medicare premiums influence the long-term impact of a conversion. This conversation is designed to help listeners understand when a Roth conversion may support a coordinated lifetime tax plan and when it may not.

Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Kirk Cassidy and Paul Metler are professional financial advisors in the private sector. They serves as a financial instructor for the Retirement Education Foundation on a volunteer basis.

Many people delay retirement not because they lack money, but because what they call a plan does not give them confidence to stop working. In this episode, Kirk and Paul explain why you do not need to know everything to retire, while also identifying the key questions a real retirement plan must answer. By understanding the difference between having information and having a plan, listeners can begin replacing uncertainty with clarity and move closer to retirement with confidence.

Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Kirk and Paul are financial advisors. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services.

Many retirees are surprised to learn their taxes can increase after leaving the workforce. In this episode, we discuss how RMDs, Social Security taxation, and Medicare premiums affect retirement income, and why the years after retirement present important planning considerations. Educational insight to help you better understand tax exposure in retirement.

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Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

Kirk Cassidy and Paul Metler are financial advisors. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services.

Anxiety can quietly undermine retirement decisions. In this episode, Kirk Cassidy and Dr. Paul Metler examine how analysis paralysis and loss aversion influence spending, investing, and retirement timing, and how understanding these behaviors can support more confident financial decision-making.Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

Kirk Cassidy and Paul Metler are financial advisors. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services.

Without a clear plan, many retirees end up passing away with about the same amount of money they had when they retired, or even more. Why? Because they have been living off pensions and Social Security, only withdrawing interest and growth as required by RMDs. In this episode, Kirk and Paul explain why that often was not the original intention. They explore how two key issues, a lack of a structured withdrawal strategy and anxiety about outliving your money, often lead to this unexpected outcome.

Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Kirk Cassidy and Paul Metler are financial advisors. Retirement Education Foundation does not offer financial services.

In this episode of the Retirement Education Hour, Kirk Cassidy and Dr. Paul Metler unpack five critical and avoidable risks that can quietly erode even the most carefully built retirement plans. These often-unaddressed risks go well beyond market performance and can affect everything from income stability to tax exposure and long-term care. Kirk and Paul walk through how an integrated strategy that addresses income, tax, and estate planning can help retirees stay in control and make confident, well-informed decisions throughout retirement.

Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice. Kirk Cassidy and Paul Metler are financial advisors.

Only 40% of people actually choose when they retire. In this episode, Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant explain how layoffs and automation are driving unexpected retirements—and why that timing can be financially devastating without a plan. They unpack the concept of sensitivity risk and show how market volatility can amplify its impact. If you're still working, it's worth asking: are you staying by choice or by default?

Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant are financial advisors.

Kirk Cassidy and Dr. Paul Metler break down the current government shutdown and why it’s more headline than threat to your retirement. They explain the real risk isn’t the shutdown itself, but how investors react to it. Learn why staying disciplined and focused on long-term planning is key to weathering short-term noise.

Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

Kirk Cassidy and Paul Metler are a Registered Investment Advisors. Advisory services are offered through C2 Private Wealth, an SEC Registered Investment Advisory Firm.

Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant break down what the financial service industry often gets wrong about retirement. They explore how the accumulation stage, which involves building retirement savings while working, has been overcomplicated by unnecessary products. Meanwhile, the distribution phase, which is about turning savings into income, has been dangerously oversimplified by outdated rules of thumb. This reversal, they explain, tends to benefit the industry rather than the retiree. If you're serious about rethinking your retirement strategy and avoiding costly missteps, this episode is essential listening.

Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant are a Registered Investment Advisor. Advisory services are offered through C2 Private Wealth, an SEC Registered Investment Advisory Firm.

This month, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in 2025. Kirk Cassidy and Michael Masserant, CFP® break down what the move means for retirement planning. Later, Dr. Paul Metler joins the conversation to explore how rate changes and market headlines can shape retiree psychology and decision-making.

Register for an advanced retirement education course at https://refedu.org/courses.

Retirement Education Foundation is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered tax, legal or investment advice.

Kirk Cassidy, Michael Masserant, and Paul Metler are Registered Investment Advisors. Advisory services are offered through C2 Private Wealth, an SEC Registered Investment Advisory Firm.