Retirement Roadmap

How do you know when you’re actually ready to retire? It’s about more than reaching a certain age or hitting a magic savings number.

In this episode of Retirement Roadmap, Evan and retirement planner Mark Fricks discuss some of the key factors that can help determine your retirement readiness. They cover savings benchmarks, creating dependable retirement income, managing debt, stress-testing your retirement budget, preparing for market and tax changes, and planning for healthcare costs.

They also explain why having a written retirement income plan can be so important when you’re preparing to walk away from a regular paycheck—and how planning ahead can help you prepare for the unexpected.

Send us Fan Mail

Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation.
Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs.

https://masterplanretire.com/

Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes

Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM.
Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events

Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al

Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

Are you waiting too long to prepare for retirement? In this episode of Retirement Roadmap, Mark Fricks and Evan discuss why the five to 10 years before retirement can be one of the most important periods for making changes to your financial strategy—and why waiting until retirement is right around the corner may limit your options.

From shifting away from pure accumulation toward reliable retirement income to reevaluating investment risk after strong market years, they explain how creating separate income and growth buckets can help prepare your portfolio for the transition into retirement. They also discuss identifying your future income gap, the role fixed indexed annuities may play in generating income, and why financial products should fit into a comprehensive retirement plan rather than drive the plan itself.

Join us as we explore strategies for managing retirement risk, creating dependable income, coordinating Social Security and legacy planning, and using Roth contributions and conversions to potentially reduce taxes throughout retirement.

Topics include:

00:00 Introduction
00:53 Why People Wait to Start Retirement Planning
02:20 Why the 5–10 Years Before Retirement Matter
04:26 Shifting From Accumulation to Retirement Income
06:10 Creating Separate Retirement Income & Growth Buckets
07:30 Reexamining Risk After Strong Market Gains
10:13 Moving From Accumulation to Distribution
11:18 Identifying Your Retirement Income Gap
12:24 Fixed Indexed Annuities & Retirement Income
14:30 Build the Plan Before Choosing the Products
17:18 Creating a Comprehensive Retirement Plan
17:48 Social Security & Legacy Planning
19:01 Filling Your Retirement Income Gap
20:31 Getting Your Tax Strategy in Order
20:50 Roth Options Inside Your 401(k), 403(b) or TSP
21:07 Roth Conversions Before Retirement
22:02 Building a Long-Term Roth Conversion Strategy
23:21 Why Waiting Can Limit Your Tax-Planning Options
23:57 Final Thoughts

Send us Fan Mail

Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation.
Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs.

https://masterplanretire.com/

Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes

Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM.
Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events

Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al

Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

Can you continue growing your wealth after you retire? In this episode of Retirement Roadmap, Mark Fricks and Evan discuss why retirement doesn’t mean your portfolio should stop growing—and how the right strategy can help your money last throughout retirement.

From creating separate income and growth buckets to managing withdrawals during market downturns, they explain how diversification, tax planning, and the right balance of risk can help protect your retirement while still providing opportunities for long-term growth.

Join us as we explore strategies for generating reliable income, avoiding unnecessary taxes, managing sequence-of-returns risk, and keeping your money working for you throughout retirement.

Topics include:

00:00 Introduction
00:50 Why Your Money Still Needs to Grow in Retirement
02:55 Income Buckets vs. Growth Buckets
05:17 Managing Withdrawals & Unexpected Expenses
07:02 Avoiding Withdrawals During Market Downturns
09:02 Can Retirees Be Too Conservative?
15:43 Tax-Efficient Withdrawal Strategies
17:49 Roth Conversions & Tax Diversity
19:05 Roth Options Inside Your 401(k)
20:14 Life Insurance & Other Tax-Advantaged Strategies
21:19 Tax-Deferred Growth & Annuities
23:29 Turning a Hobby Into Retirement Income
24:24 Final Thoughts

Send us Fan Mail

Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation.
Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs.

https://masterplanretire.com/

Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes

Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM.
Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events

Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al

Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

Have you recently been laid off and aren't sure whether to find another job or retire?

In this episode of Retirement Roadmap, Mark Fricks and Evan discuss the financial decisions that become especially important when a late-career layoff changes your retirement plans. From evaluating your income needs to understanding Social Security, healthcare, and retirement account rules, they explain practical steps to help you make informed decisions during an uncertain time.

Join us as we explore strategies to help protect your retirement, avoid costly mistakes, and determine whether it's time to return to work—or whether you may already be closer to retirement than you realize.

Topics include:

00:00 Introduction
00:35 Why Late-Career Layoffs Are Different
03:35 Evaluate Your Spending & Income Needs
05:16 Retirement Accounts, Age Rules & Penalties
07:00 Why Having a Retirement Plan Changes Everything
10:00 Choosing the Right Income Sources
11:09 The Rule 72(t) Exception Explained
13:15 Return to Work or Retire Early?
14:40 Part-Time & Consulting Opportunities in Retirement
17:30 Final Thoughts

Send us Fan Mail

Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation.
Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs.

https://masterplanretire.com/

Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes

Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM.
Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events

Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al

Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

Are your investments keeping you up at night?

In this episode of Retirement Roadmap, Mark Fricks and Evan discuss some of the most common investment behaviors that can undermine retirement security. Many retirement mistakes aren't caused by a lack of information—they're driven by fear, emotion, and reactionary decision-making.

Join us as we explore practical ways to avoid costly investment mistakes and build a retirement strategy designed to provide confidence, stability, and peace of mind.

Topics include:

00:00 Introduction
01:03 Holding Too Much Cash Out of Fear
05:36 Timing the Market Instead of Staying Invested
09:49 Overreacting to Short-Term News
13:40 Ignoring Tax Efficiency in Withdrawals
16:04 Relying on the Market for Income
19:50 Failing to Rebalance Consistently
22:15 Neglecting to Adjust Strategy Over Time
24:45 Final Thoughts

Send us Fan Mail

Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation.
Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs.

https://masterplanretire.com/

Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes

Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM.
Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events

Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al

Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

Retirement planning involves far more than saving money. In this episode of Retirement Roadmap, Mark Fricks and Evan explore what research consistently shows about living a happy, fulfilling retirement after your working years are over.

They discuss the importance of relationships, community, daily structure, purpose, and maintaining a positive outlook. The conversation also covers the emotional challenges many retirees face when leaving the workforce, including changes in identity, social connections, and routines.

Whether you're approaching retirement or already retired, understanding these often-overlooked aspects of retirement planning can help you build a life that is not only financially secure, but personally rewarding.

In This Episode

0:00 — Are You Cultivating Habits for a Happy Retirement?
 0:35 — Why Retirement Is About More Than Money
 1:30 — How Retirement Changes Relationships
 4:10 — The Power of Social Connections and Community
 6:25 — Creating Structure After Leaving Work
 7:20 — The Risks of Having Too Much Unstructured Time
 9:00 — The Emotional Side of Retirement Planning
 14:15 — Why Purpose Matters in Retirement
 15:15 — Finding a New Identity After Work
 16:20 — Why More Retirees Are Continuing to Work
 17:30 — Planning for Purpose Before You Retire
 18:45 — Lifelong Learning and New Interests
 19:00 — Gratitude, Optimism, and Retirement Happiness
 20:00 — Why Emotional Planning Is Just as Important as Financial Planning
 21:00 — Getting Your Retirement Roadmap
 22:00 — Taking the First Step Toward Retirement Planning

Send us Fan Mail

Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation.
Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs.

https://masterplanretire.com/

Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes

Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM.
Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events

Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al

Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

For millions of Americans, the largest portion of their retirement savings sits inside traditional IRAs and 401(k) accounts. These tax-deferred accounts can be powerful tools for building wealth — but without a withdrawal strategy, they can also create significant tax consequences later in life.

In this episode of Retirement Roadmap, Evan and Mark discuss how IRA withdrawals work, why Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) matter, and how taxes can impact the income you actually keep during retirement.

They also explore Roth conversions, tax diversification, Medicare premium considerations, and why many retirees may face higher taxes than they expected.

Whether you're already retired or still building your nest egg, understanding how and when to withdraw retirement savings could make a substantial difference in your long-term financial plan.

In This Episode

0:00 — Will IRA Withdrawals Fund Your Retirement?
0:45 — Why Traditional IRAs Can Become Tax Time Bombs
2:00 — How IRA Withdrawals Are Taxed
3:00 — The Myth of Being in a Lower Tax Bracket in Retirement
4:00 — Early Withdrawal Penalties Explained
5:00 — Why Timing Matters When Taking Retirement Income
6:00 — Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
7:15 — How IRA Withdrawals Can Affect Medicare Premiums
7:40 — The Farmer and the Seed Tax Story
9:20 — Roth Conversion Strategies
11:00 — Tax Diversification and Retirement Planning
12:30 — Why Younger Workers Should Consider Roth Contributions
14:30 — Getting a Retirement Roadmap
15:15 — Why Planning Early Matters
17:30 — Common Retirement Planning Mistakes

Send us Fan Mail

Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation.
Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs.

https://masterplanretire.com/

Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes

Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM.
Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events

Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al

Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

Retirement confidence is shrinking for millions of Americans — even for people who have spent decades saving and investing responsibly.

In this episode of MasterPlan, we explore why so many people approaching retirement still feel anxious about the future, even after building substantial nest eggs.

Because retirement fear usually isn’t just about numbers.
It’s about uncertainty.

Inflation, market volatility, healthcare costs, taxes, longevity, Social Security concerns, and the fear of outliving your money have created a level of financial anxiety many retirees have never experienced before. And for a lot of people, simply “having investments” does not automatically create confidence.

We talk through why retirement planning is as much psychological as it is financial — and why clarity, guaranteed income, liquidity, and having an actual written plan can dramatically change the way people experience retirement.

We walk through:

0:00 — Is Your Retirement Confidence Dwindling?
0:30 — Why Americans Are More Financially Anxious Than Ever
1:30 — Fear, Market Volatility, and Emotional Investing
3:00 — Why a Bigger Nest Egg Doesn’t Always Create Peace of Mind
4:30 — The Difference Between Wealth and Retirement Confidence
5:00 — Guaranteed Income and the “Income Gap”
7:00 — The Psychological Shift From Saving to Spending
8:00 — Why Retirement Planning Must Stay Flexible
9:30 — Liquidity, Cash Reserves, and Market Downturns
11:00 — Avoiding Permanent Losses During Volatile Markets
12:00 — Building Multiple “Buckets” for Different Needs
13:00 — Why Facing Financial Fear Creates Confidence
15:00 — The Importance of a Written Retirement Income Plan
16:00 — Clarity, Purpose, and the Non-Financial Side of Retirement

Send us Fan Mail

Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation.
Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs.

https://masterplanretire.com/

Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes

Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM.
Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events

Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al

Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

Retirement isn't just about how much you've saved — it's about whether your money can reliably replace your paycheck for the rest of your life.

In this episode of MasterPlan, we break down one of the biggest and most emotional questions people face before retirement:
“How much monthly income is actually enough?”

Because walking away from a paycheck is difficult — even for people with substantial savings. And the truth is, retirement income planning is far more personal and nuanced than most people realize.

We talk through the real-world challenges retirees face, the mistakes we see over and over again, and why simply “having money invested” is not the same thing as having an actual retirement income plan.

We walk through:

0:00 — How Much Retirement Income Is Enough?
0:20 — Why Walking Away From a Paycheck Feels So Difficult
1:00 — Why Retirement Planning Used To Miss the Income Question
2:00 — The 80% Rule (And Why It’s Only a Starting Point)
3:00 — What Your Real Monthly Spending Actually Looks Like
4:00 — Needs vs. Wants in Retirement
5:00 — Why Retirement Spending Isn’t a Straight Line
6:30 — The “Income Gap” Explained
7:30 — Social Security, Pensions, Rentals & Other Income Sources
8:00 — The Right (and Wrong) Way to Use Annuities
10:00 — Why Generic Retirement Advice Can Be Dangerous
11:00 — The Hidden Costs and Fees People Miss
12:00 — Inflation, Taxes, and Unexpected Life Changes
13:30 — Stress Testing a Retirement Plan
15:00 — Why Retirement Planning Has To Stay Flexible

Send us Fan Mail

Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation.
Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs.

https://masterplanretire.com/

Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes

Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM.
Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events

Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al

Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.

Most people are sitting on a ticking tax time bomb — and they don't even know it.
In this episode of MasterPlan, we dig into Roth conversions: what they actually are, why they matter more right now than ever, and how to think through whether one makes sense for your situation.
The problem most retirees face is that decades of contributing to traditional 401(k)s and IRAs has built up a massive pile of money — money that the IRS hasn't touched yet. And when it's time to pull it out, that bill can be a lot bigger than people expect.

We walk through:

0:00 — The Tax Problem Nobody Sees Coming
0:15 — Welcome + What This Episode Covers
0:45 — Why Taxes Are "On Sale" Right Now
1:30 — Traditional vs. Roth: The Core Difference
3:00 — How a Roth Conversion Actually Works
4:30 — The Two Ways to Get Money Into a Roth
6:00 — Contribution Limits + Income Thresholds
7:30 — The Right Way to Pay the Tax Bill
9:00 — Bracket Arbitrage: Spreading Conversions Strategically
11:00 — IRMAA: The Medicare Surcharge Nobody Warns You About
13:00 — RMDs and Why They Sneak Up on People
15:30 — The Legacy Advantage of a Roth
17:00 — Why Doing Nothing Has a Real Cost

Send us Fan Mail

Visit masterplanretire.com to access our retirement checklists, podcasts, and schedule a complimentary consultation.
Call 770-980-9262 to speak directly with someone about your retirement planning needs.

https://masterplanretire.com/

Catch all episodes of our podcast at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/resources/episodes

Listen to Mark Fricks on Saturdays at 12:00 p.m. on XTRA 106.3 FM WFOM.
Sign up for one of our upcoming events at https://www.masterplanyourretirement.com/events

Purchase Mark’s book, The Road Less Traveled: Turning Your Retirement Worries Into an Excursion of a Lifetime, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/4fx94Al

Advisory services offered through MasterPlan Retirement Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Georgia. Insurance, tax and commodities services offered through Fricks and Associates, Inc. dba MasterPlan Retirement Consultants. The aforementioned are affiliated companies.