Imagine a master carpenter showing up to a job site with the most expensive tools money can buy—titanium hammers, high-end saws—but no blueprints. Without a plan, those tools are useless. Many people approach retirement the same way: they have financial "tools" like 401(k)s and IRAs, but no actual strategy to build a confident future.

We have a special guest today, Mission Lexington! We'll highlight their 48-year commitment to holistic community support and share an example of purposeful giving in retirement, along with our usual financial guidance. Enjoy!

Legacy planning can be a tough conversation, but necessary. No one wants to think about death or what happens after they’re gone. This episode discusses ways you can help ensure your wishes are carried out.

With more and more uncertainty about where tax rates are headed in the future, people are taking a hard look at Roth conversions to provide tax-free growth and eventual income. The issue is that you have to pay taxes on that money now instead of putting it into tax-deferred accounts. Pat takes a look at this strategy and how you can determine if a Roth is right for you.

For high-net-worth retirees and pre-retirees, a mid-year financial review isn’t just a good habit. It’s a critical checkpoint. This is the time to make sure your income, taxes, legacy plan and more are all working together the way they should. In this episode, Pat walks us through some of the essential aspects a retirement plan should have – because, for those with significant assets, small oversights can carry a very large price tag.

The numbers are in. Consumer prices have risen 4.2% in the past year – the largest annual rate in three years. Inflation isn’t just a headline. For retirees and those nearing retirement, it’s a three-sided threat. In this episode, Pat breaks down exactly how inflation is hitting retirement plans from every angle — and what wealthy retirees can do right now to help protect what they’ve built.

Retirement is a time to enjoy life, but financial missteps can turn it into a source of stress. This week, Pat joins Melissa to discuss the top retirement mistakes that could drain your nest egg—and how to avoid them.

A recent study shows that thirty percent of people are less optimistic about whether their retirement financially will be as good as it was when they were working. Inflation, longevity, taxes and risk are all major factors. Pat takes a look at how best to handle your savings, including true diversification of investments and working with a financial professional to help put together as many streams of income as possible.

This remains the number one fear of people going into retirement, and with longer lifespans, inflation, and the possibility of increased tax rates in the future, your savings may need to stretch for longer periods of retirement. Pat takes a look at how proper planning can help that money last.

It’s time to face a few hard financial truths head-on. Social Security is not stretching as far as it used to, future benefits may face pressure, withdrawal strategies are getting tighter, and healthcare can take a much bigger bite out of savings than you may expect. In this episode, Pat explains what these challenges mean and, more importantly, what you can do now to help build a retirement plan that’s more prepared to handle them.