Are you letting a rigid, decades-old math rule prevent you from enjoying the "go-go" years you worked so hard to fund? Dr. Chris reveals how to safely boost your retirement income using dynamic guardrails and a strategic "war chest" to ensure you don't reach age 85 with a mountain of unspent cash and a list of missed memories. We also tackle the "gravitational pull" of high-flying IPOs like SpaceX to help you decide if speculative boosters belong in your stable retirement orbit.
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SCHEDULE A  FREE RETIREMENT ASSESSMENT:
My team and I have guided hundreds of families across the U.S. through retirement’s biggest challenges over the last two decades.
The result?
Smarter tax strategies, better investment decisions, and a more confident retirement.
If you’re seeking clarity and a proven retirement planning process, we’d be honored to help.
👉 Schedule a Free Retirement Assessment
***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
→ The Best Strategies for Boosting Starting Withdrawal Rates in Retirement -- Amy C. Arnott, CFA
→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

IMAGE CREDIT:
CTIO/NSF NOIRLab/AURA/H. Stockebrand

In this episode, Dr. Chris challenges the ultimate retirement "boogeyman" by explaining why probate isn't a mission failure, but a strategic tool for protecting your legacy. We’ll also clear the air regarding the headlines about the Iran conflict and the US dollar, helping you distinguish between real risks and "financial pornography." Finally, we’ll look 300 million light-years away to the Coma Cluster to see how the invisible forces of the universe mirror the hidden risks in your retirement portfolio.
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SCHEDULE A  FREE RETIREMENT ASSESSMENT:
My team and I have guided hundreds of families across the U.S. through retirement’s biggest challenges over the last two decades.
The result?
Smarter tax strategies, better investment decisions, and a more confident retirement.
If you’re seeking clarity and a proven retirement planning process, we’d be honored to help.
👉 Schedule a Free Retirement Assessment
***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
→ What Issues Should I Consider Before Closing The Estate [25-point guide] -- Dr. Chris Mullis, PhD, CFP®
→ Don’t “Avoid Probate”: Reframing Estate Planning Success Around Managing (Not Escaping) The Probate Process -- David Haughton, JD, CPWA®
→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

IMAGE CREDIT:
NASA, ESA, J. Mack (STScI), and J. Madrid (Australian Telescope National Facility)

Is your "passive" rental income actually a part-time job stealing the freedom you worked decades to earn? In this episode, Dr. Chris Mullis breaks down why traditional portfolios often outshine real estate and how to navigate the complex "tax gravity" of selling an out-of-state vacation home. We’ll also peer through the cosmic dust to discover the "God’s Hand" and what it teaches us about finding clarity in your financial mission plan.
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SCHEDULE A  FREE RETIREMENT ASSESSMENT:
My team and I have guided hundreds of families across the U.S. through retirement’s biggest challenges over the last two decades.
The result?
Smarter tax strategies, better investment decisions, and a more confident retirement.
If you’re seeking clarity and a proven retirement planning process, we’d be honored to help.
👉 Schedule a Free Retirement Assessment
***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
→ Rental Property Guide [25-point checklist] -- Dr. Chris Mullis, PhD, CFP®
→ Why a Traditional Investment Portfolio is Better than Real Estate -- Meg Bartelt CFP®, RICP®
→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

IMAGE CREDIT: CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA

Is your vision of retirement perfectly aligned with your spouse’s, or are you orbiting two completely different planets? In this episode, Dr. Chris breaks down the five critical "mission checks" every couple needs to ensure their relationship survives the transition from the workplace to the home front. We also tackle a common listener question about how to handle your adult children’s first tax filings without knocking your own financial flight plan off course.
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SCHEDULE A  FREE RETIREMENT ASSESSMENT:
My team and I have guided hundreds of families across the U.S. through retirement’s biggest challenges over the last two decades.
The result?
Smarter tax strategies, better investment decisions, and a more confident retirement.
If you’re seeking clarity and a proven retirement planning process, we’d be honored to help.
👉 Schedule a Free Retirement Assessment
***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
→ What Issues Should I Consider Before I Retire? -- Dr. Chris' 32-point checklist
→ The Five Conversations Every Couple Needs Before Retirement -- Dan Haylett 
→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

Image Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, J. Dalcanton, Dark Energy Survey/DOE/FNAL/DECam/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA  

Your Social Security isn't just a monthly check—for diligent savers, it’s a high-stakes $1.5 million asset that requires a precise flight plan to reach its highest orbit. In this episode, Dr. Chris Mullis breaks down how to navigate the "tax torpedo," manage market turbulence without panic, and find inspiration in the final act of a distant star. Learn how to align your portfolio and your purpose to ensure your retirement journey is both smooth and sustainable.
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SCHEDULE A  FREE RETIREMENT ASSESSMENT:
My team and I have guided hundreds of families across the U.S. through retirement’s biggest challenges over the last two decades.
The result?
Smarter tax strategies, better investment decisions, and a more confident retirement.
If you’re seeking clarity and a proven retirement planning process, we’d be honored to help.
👉 Schedule a Free Retirement Assessment
***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
→ What Issues Should I Consider With My Social Security Retirement Benefits
→ Am I Eligible For Social Security Benefits As A Spouse
→ Am I Eligible For Social Security Benefits As A Surviving Spouse
→ Am I Eligible For Social Security Benefits If I Have Been Divorced
→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI) 

Are you accidentally leaving a $5,000 "tip" for the IRS because of a simple data entry error? Even if you hire a top-tier CPA, half of all retirement tax returns contain deficiencies that could be costing you a fortune in double taxation and missed credits. Join Dr. Chris Mullis as he reveals his professional pre-flight checklist to ensure you keep every bit of the nest egg you worked so hard to build.
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SCHEDULE A (FREE) RETIREMENT STRATEGY MEETING:
My team and I have guided hundreds of families across the U.S. through retirement’s biggest challenges over the last two decades.
The result?
Smarter tax strategies, better investment decisions, and a more confident retirement.
If you’re seeking clarity and a proven retirement planning process, we’d be honored to help.
👉 Schedule a Complimentary Strategy Session
***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Bruce Balick (UWashington)

Ever dreamed of trading your 9-to-5 for a sun-drenched cafe in a Tuscan piazza without draining your nest egg? In this episode, Dr. Chris Mullis breaks down the "geographic arbitrage" of retiring to Italy and explains why your Social Security check might go further than you ever imagined. Plus, we’re tackling the "shiny object" syndrome of gold investments and sharing a heartfelt tribute to a mentor who proved retirement is a time for maximum impact.
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SCHEDULE A (FREE) RETIREMENT STRATEGY MEETING:
My team and I have guided hundreds of families across the U.S. through retirement’s biggest challenges over the last two decades.
The result?
Smarter tax strategies, better investment decisions, and a more confident retirement.
If you’re seeking clarity and a proven retirement planning process, we’d be honored to help.
👉 Schedule a Complimentary Strategy Session
***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

Most financial advisors tell you to spend a flat, steady line of income for 30 years, but why should your retirement spending look like a boring horizontal line when your life doesn’t? In this episode, Dr. Chris Mullis explains why "front-loading" your spending during your healthiest years isn't just fun --it’s the go-to strategy to maximize your life's "kinetic energy." Discover how to stop over-saving and start spending your hard-earned nest egg with the confidence of a rocket scientist!
***
SCHEDULE A (FREE) RETIREMENT STRATEGY MEETING:
My team and I have guided hundreds of families across the U.S. through retirement’s biggest challenges over the last two decades.
The result?
Smarter tax strategies, better investment decisions, and a more confident retirement.
If you’re seeking clarity and a proven retirement planning process, we’d be honored to help.
👉 Schedule a Complimentary Strategy Session
***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, VLA, Gagandeep Anand (STScI), Alejandro Benitez-Llambay (University of Milano-Bicocca); Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)

Transitioning from a steady paycheck to retirement can feel like losing your navigation system mid-flight, especially when the IRS expects you to "pay as you go." Whether you’re facing the 7% underpayment penalty or merging your life with a new partner later in life, the financial stakes are higher than ever. Join Dr. Chris Mullis as he reveals a "time-traveling" tax secret and the essential pre-flight checklist for marriage 2.0 to ensure your retirement stays on a smooth and sustainable trajectory. Tune in to boost your financial confidence and expand your universe!
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SCHEDULE A (FREE) RETIREMENT STRATEGY MEETING:
My team and I have guided hundreds of families across the U.S. through retirement’s biggest challenges over the last two decades.
The result?
Smarter tax strategies, better investment decisions, and a more confident retirement.
If you’re seeking clarity and a proven retirement planning process, we’d be honored to help.
👉 Schedule a Complimentary Strategy Session
***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Paul Kalas(UC Berkeley); Image Processing: Joseph D. (STScI)

2026 brings big changes and big opportunities. The financial universe is shifting with bigger contribution limits, Social Security adjustments, and critical new tax rules for high earners. We break down how to use these changes as a "gravitational assist" to boost your retirement nest egg and avoid expensive Medicare surcharges. Plus, we explore why your best New Year’s resolution might be simulating your retirement budget today to ensure a smooth launch tomorrow.
Tune in to boost your financial confidence and expand your universe!
***
SCHEDULE A (FREE) RETIREMENT STRATEGY MEETING:
My team and I have guided hundreds of families across the U.S. through retirement’s biggest challenges over the last two decades.
The result?
Smarter tax strategies, better investment decisions, and a more confident retirement.
If you’re seeking clarity and a proven retirement planning process, we’d be honored to help.
👉 Schedule a Complimentary Strategy Session
***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
→ Grab the Episode Show Notes

Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI