If you’re nearing retirement, the biggest question is simple: Where will your paycheck come from—and how long will it last?

In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Bradley Geddes, CFP(R) breaks down practical retirement income tools—and why many retirees don’t realize the weaknesses of the “pie chart” approach until a market downturn hits.

You’ll learn:

How an income plan differs from a 401(k) or IRA (tools vs. a plan)

The difference between bond ladders/CD ladders and bond funds

Why interest rates and bond values move in opposite directions—and why that matters for retirement income

How using multiple income sources can help reduce market volatility risk

Why Decker Retirement Planning's approach focuses on time horizons and avoiding “drawing from a fluctuating account”

Want more retirement education resources? Visit DeckerRetirementPlanning.com and look for A Safer Retirement Education.

To schedule a complimentary visit with the team: 833-707-3030

Investment advisory and insurance services offered through Decker Retirement Planning, Inc., a registered investment advisor. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. This content is for informational purposes only and is not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice.

When a spouse passes away, the emotional toll is obvious—but the financial “whammies” can be just as disruptive: a lower Social Security benefit may disappear, tax filing status changes, Medicare decisions shift, and beneficiary and estate documents need immediate attention.

In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Marc Knauss, CFP(R) break down the practical steps families should understand before a loss happens, and the priorities to address in the first 30–90 days afterward. They cover how survivor benefits work, why taxes often rise for the surviving spouse, and how proactive planning can reduce administrative headaches and costly mistakes.

Key topics discussed:

Survivor Social Security basics: notify promptly, benefit coordination, and timing considerations

Tax impact after a spouse’s death: filing status changes and why brackets can tighten

Medicare and supplemental plan review after becoming widowed

Account consolidation, beneficiary updates, and estate document cleanup (trust, POA, health directive)

Risks of scams and pressure tactics after an obituary posts

Real estate and tax planning concepts like step-up in basis

Advanced planning themes discussed on the show: trusts, legacy design, and rental real estate tax strategies

If you’re within 5–10 years of retirement (or already retired), this episode is a reminder that a written income plan and coordinated strategy can help protect the surviving spouse and reduce “decision pressure” during grief.

Learn more & download resources: DeckerRetirementPlanning.com (Safer Retirement Education)

Schedule a visit: 833-707-3030

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as tax or legal advice. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Any references to protection, safety, or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing carrier.

How do you really know if you’re ready to retire—before you turn in your notice?

In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Arrin Wray break down the six key checkpoints they use to help families move from guesswork to clarity, including the two questions that matter most:

How much can you safely draw each month?

How do you protect that income when markets change?

You’ll learn how Decker Retirement Planning approaches retirement with a math-based distribution plan that coordinates income sources (Social Security, pensions, rental income, and portfolio withdrawals), prioritizes tax efficiency, and helps reduce the risks that can derail retirement—especially in volatile markets.

In this episode, we cover:

The 6 key points of a retirement plan: plan, tax minimization, risk reduction, portfolio optimization, income optimization, and fee minimization

Why a pie-chart portfolio isn’t a retirement plan (and what a real distribution plan should show)

Income needs assessment: how to calculate your retirement “gap” and plan withdrawals over time

Planning for healthcare before and after Medicare, plus long-term care considerations

What a retirement stress test is, and why it helps “future-proof” your plan

A fast rundown of advanced tax strategies discussed on the show (e.g., donor-advised funds, CRTs, NUA, ILITs, dynasty trusts, cost segregation, GRATs), and when they may apply

If you’re within 5–10 years of retirement (or already retired), this episode will help you pressure-test your assumptions and understand what it takes to retire with more confidence and fewer surprises.

Learn more: DeckerRetirementPlanning.com

Schedule a visit / ask a question: 833-707-3030

Markets have delivered strong returns, but retirement planning is about more than a good run in stocks. In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brad Geddes, CFP® joins Brian Decker to break down what today’s retirees and near-retirees need to watch next—especially when you’re transitioning from saving to spending.

You’ll hear a practical discussion on:

Why strong markets can quietly encourage retirees to take more risk than they realize

The “sequence of returns” problem: why a downturn early in retirement can do outsized damage

Longevity and rising healthcare costs—and how to plan when you don’t know what life will bring

Inflation’s long-term impact, including why sitting in too much cash can be costly over time

The mindset shift from accumulation to distribution, and why income planning becomes the priority

How to think about “pulling risk back” without “getting out of the market”

Why flexibility and planning often matter more than predictions

If you’re within 5–7 years of retirement, recently retired, or wondering whether your current portfolio is built for income and resilience—this episode will help you think more clearly about the next phase.

To learn more or schedule a visit with our team: 833-707-3030 or visit DeckerRetirementPlanning.com.

The new year is the right time to take a clear look at how taxes, required withdrawals, and income decisions can quietly shape the rest of your retirement.

In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Arrin Wray walk through the most common tax and planning issues retirees and near-retirees face—and why understanding them early can help you avoid unnecessary taxes, missed opportunities, and future stress.

In this conversation, you’ll hear about:

How required withdrawals work later in retirement—and why misunderstanding them can create avoidable tax pressure

Why the timing of tax decisions matters more than most people realize

How portfolio changes can unintentionally trigger taxes if handled without a plan

Ways charitable giving fits into an overall income and tax strategy

The difference between decisions that must be made during the year and those that can be adjusted later

What information your CPA and planning team actually need to help you make better decisions

If you’re within 5–10 years of retirement, or already retired, this episode provides clarity on how taxes, income, and planning decisions work together—and where many retirees unknowingly go wrong.

Learn more: DeckerRetirementPlanning.com

Schedule a conversation: 833-707-3030

This content is for informational purposes only and is not tax or legal advice. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal.

Year-end is one of the few windows where decisions—or inaction—can materially affect how much of your money you actually keep in retirement. In this episode, Brian Decker and Marc Knauss, CFP(R) discuss the real-world tax and estate challenges retirees and near-retirees face as the calendar closes—and why waiting can quietly cost you.

In this conversation, you’ll hear about:

How reallocating risk late in life can trigger unexpected tax bills if handled incorrectly

What happens when highly appreciated stocks or real estate are sold without a plan

Ways retirees get caught off guard by one-time income spikes that push them into higher tax brackets

Why some company retirement plans can create avoidable tax exposure when large positions are involved

How timing decisions today can dramatically affect lifetime taxes and what passes to heirs

Common estate planning oversights that lead to family tension, delays, or unnecessary costs

Why many people think they have a plan—until a tax event or health issue proves otherwise

If you’re within 5–10 years of retirement, or already retired, this episode will help you think differently about taxes, income, and legacy—before year-end decisions are locked in.

Learn more at DeckerRetirementPlanning.com or call 833-707-3030.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

Most retirees don’t realize that the strategies that served them well for 30–40 years of saving can work against them the moment they stop working. In this episode, Brian Decker and Arrin Wray break down why accumulation and distribution require two completely different approaches—and why misunderstanding that distinction can jeopardize your retirement.

Brian explains:

Why market losses in retirement are far more damaging than losses during your working years

How drawing income from fluctuating accounts accelerates losses and compromises long-term results

Why bond funds haven’t acted as “safe money” in today’s rate environment—and the interest-rate risk most retirees overlook

What makes the 4% rule unreliable in flat or volatile market cycles

How momentum strategies and dividend sleeves fit into a modern risk-reduction plan

Why your asset mix should flip at retirement—with only 25–35% of assets exposed to market risk

How a laddered, principal-guaranteed income plan provides stability, clarity, and true distribution discipline

You’ll also hear how Decker Retirement Planning builds math-based distribution plans, updates them annually, and helps retirees maximize net-of-tax income while minimizing exposure to unnecessary risk and fees.

If you’re within 5–10 years of retirement—or already retired—this episode will give you a clearer picture of what a real retirement plan should look like.

Have questions about your retirement readiness?

Schedule a visit at DeckerRetirementPlanning.com or call 833-707-3030.

In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Brad Geddes, CFP(R) discuss one of the most important questions in retirement planning: “How much income can I safely draw?”

Rather than relying on rules of thumb or broad simulations, they explain how a math-based, distribution-first plan helps determine how much income a retiree may be able to take—year by year—while reducing the risk of running out too soon.

Brian and Brad walk through:

Why many retirees under-spend out of uncertainty

The potential risks of drawing income from fluctuating accounts, especially during down markets

How laddered principal-guaranteed accounts can help provide stability in income planning

Why the traditional 4% rule may fall short during flat or volatile market cycles

How pensions, Social Security timing, and rental income can be analyzed mathematically

How inflation considerations (COLAs, real estate, conservative return assumptions, and the risk bucket) may be incorporated into a retirement income plan

What retirees can do when markets drop, and how planning in advance helps reduce the impact

This episode is designed to help pre-retirees and retirees understand the key inputs of a durable income plan—and how math-based distribution strategies may provide greater clarity and confidence.

📞 To request your personalized income analysis, call 833-707-3030 or visit

DeckerRetirementPlanning.com

In Episode 140 of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Arrin Wray reveal the critical distinction between accumulation and distribution strategies—and why using the same approach in both phases of life can be financially devastating in retirement.

They unpack:

Why traditional pie chart portfolios are not retirement plans

The danger of using the 4% rule without accounting for sequence of returns risk

How a distribution-first strategy helps ensure reliable income—even in volatile or flat markets

Why Decker Retirement Planning uses laddered principal-guaranteed accounts instead of bond funds

How momentum and dividend strategies provide growth potential in flat or declining markets

Real tax strategies to reduce future liabilities, enhance Roth conversion efficiency, and preserve more of your wealth

You’ll also learn how Decker’s math-based planning integrates real returns, tax minimization, and fee transparency to help you retire with clarity—not guesswork.

📞 Have questions about your own retirement income plan? Call 833-707-3030 or visit

👉 DeckerRetirementPlanning.com

In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Mark Knauss, CFP(R) walk through five essential strategies to help protect your retirement income from inflation—without exposing your portfolio to unnecessary risk. From laddered income accounts to hard assets and tactical stock exposure, they outline a disciplined approach built for today’s uncertain environment.

You’ll also learn:

Why COLAs (Cost of Living Adjustments) must be handled carefully in retirement income planning

How traditional bond funds are vulnerable in a rising rate world

What “real returns” mean—and why they matter more than nominal performance

How Decker’s Two-Sided Model uses momentum and stop-loss rules to reduce risk in volatile or flat markets

If inflation and future market returns are keeping you up at night, this episode gives you the education—and the options—you need.

📞 Ready to build a retirement plan that actually adjusts for inflation? Call 833-707-3030 or visit DeckerRetirementPlanning.com