Secure Your Retirement

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss Trump Accounts with Taylor Wolverton, our Director of Financial Planning and Tax Strategy, breaking down exactly how do Trump Accounts work, who qualifies, and why this new option for Trump Investments is quickly becoming part of the conversation around saving for children and investing for grandchildren. Retirement planning has always started with the accounts you already know, but these works differently, and if you're building a family financial planning strategy or looking for financial gifts for grandchildren, it's worth understanding before you decide whether it belongs in your plan.

Listen in to learn about the eligibility rules, the contribution limits, and the one-time $1,000 government deposit that applies to certain children. Radon and Murs also walk through a Roth conversion strategy hiding inside these accounts, one that turns a simple child investment plan into a genuine tool for building generational wealth. Whether you're deep into your own retirement tax planning or just starting to think about a retirement checklist for your family, this episode connects a brand-new account to the same retirement tax strategies you may already be using in your own retirement financial plan.

In this episode, find out:

• What a Trump Account is, who's eligible, and how the application process actually works
• The contribution rules, including the $5,000 annual limit and the one-time $1,000 seed deposit for eligible children
• How employer contributions work and why they don't add to your taxable income
• The Roth conversion strategy that can turn contributions into a tax-free retirement account for your child
• When money can be withdrawn, and the penalties to know about before that age

Tweetable Quotes:

"There's zero money to us in setting up a Trump account. We just wanted to talk it through, because there are real benefits people can take advantage of." - Radon Stancil

"There's not many ways you can get a thousand dollars tax-free. If someone was born between 2025 and 2028, it seems like a no-brainer." - Murs Tariq

Resources: If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement! To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss Concentrated Stock Positions and why so many pre-retirees and retirees are sitting on a mountain of Appreciated Stock without a plan for it. Whether it came from Company Stock Options at a long-time employer or from riding a big name higher over the past few years, a single stock that grows into half a portfolio changes the entire risk picture heading into retirement. Radon and Murs break down why Stock Diversification matters more now than it did during your working years, and why Capital Gains Taxes are usually the real obstacle keeping people stuck.

Listen in to learn about the Tax-Efficient Investing strategies Nick Hyman is using with clients to unwind large positions without triggering an unnecessary tax bill. You'll hear how Tax-Loss Harvesting through Direct Indexing can offset gains, how a Donor-Advised Fund can move highly appreciated shares to charity with zero tax on the gain, and how bracket-aware selling fits into a coordinated Retirement Investment Strategy. If you're building a Retirement Financial Plan and Company Stock Options or one big winning stock are part of the picture, this episode lays out exactly where to start.

In this episode, find out:

• Why holding a large Concentrated Stock Position is a different risk in retirement than it was while you were working
• How Tax-Loss Harvesting and Direct Indexing can help offset gains when you sell Appreciated Stock
• Why bracket-aware selling, year by year, is central to smart Retirement Tax Planning
• How a Donor-Advised Fund lets charitably inclined retirees give appreciated shares without paying tax on the gain
• Why doing nothing about a concentrated position only compounds the problem instead of solving it

Tweetable Quotes:

"When we're working and we have a salary and income coming in, if a stock goes down 20, 30, 40 percent, it's not as big of a deal because there's still income coming in the door." - Murs Tariq

"If you just stay in this place of doing nothing, you only are compounding the problem. It's not getting better." - Radon Stancil

Resources: If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement! To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss what really happens during an evaluation appointment, the first Financial Advisor Meeting most people have when they start exploring what it actually takes to plan for retirement. They break down the five critical areas that determine Retirement Success, known as the ROUTE to Retirement: Retirement Risk Management, Retirement Income Planning, Medicare Planning and Long-Term Care Planning under one unified healthcare umbrella, Retirement Tax Planning, and Estate Planning. If you've ever wondered what separates a real Retirement Financial Plan from a portfolio review with a nice title, this episode lays out exactly where most plans quietly fall short.

Listen in to learn about why a simple one-to-ten risk question reveals more about your Retirement Readiness than any account statement ever could, how a written Retirement Investment Strategy and a real Social Security Planning conversation change decision making for the better, and why Retirement Tax Strategies put in place before the calendar year ends can outweigh almost any other move you make on the road to retiring comfortably.

In this episode, find out:

• Why the risk scale used in every evaluation appointment skips the number seven, and what your honest answer reveals about your true Retirement Readiness
• How a written retirement income plan and clear Social Security Planning turn a stressful guessing game into a Retirement Financial Plan with actual data behind it
• Why Medicare Planning and Long-Term Care Planning are treated as one Unified Healthcare conversation, and what a dedicated Medicare specialist changes about that experience
• Why most people's Retirement Tax Planning happens too late to matter, and how proactive Retirement Tax Strategies executed before December 31st can beat any adjustment to an investment strategy
• What a five-year-old estate plan gets wrong, and the real story of a client who needed updated documents in a single week before leaving for a cruise

Tweetable Quotes:

"Retirement planning is a bunch of knobs, and if you turn one, you're turning all the others." - Murs Tariq

"It's something people don't want to talk about, and it's easy to procrastinate on it because, hey, I'm good, I'm healthy." - Murs Tariq

Whether you're years from retiring or already retired, this episode doubles as a retirement checklist for anyone planning retirement who wants a second look at whether their plan for retirement actually holds up across all five areas. Retirement isn't one decision; it's five connected ones, and this episode walks through exactly how those five come together to help you secure your retirement with real confidence instead of a guess.

Resources:

If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss retirement planning 2026 with returning guest Tom Siomades, chief market economist, for a mid-year Economic Check on everything that's shaped the markets so far. From the Iran conflict's effect on oil prices and inflation to a new Kevin Warsh Fed chair trying to find footing amid inflation and interest rates that refuse to cooperate, this Markets update covers the headlines retirees are hearing everywhere and translates them into what actually matters for your plan.

Listen in to learn about why stock market volatility has made 2026 feel like a tale of two markets, with AI stocks 2026 and tech stock names like SpaceX carrying much of the S&P 500 outlook while the rest of the economy absorbs energy prices US pressure and shifting consumer spending trends. Tom shares his honest read on recession risk, why Federal Reserve rate cuts have stalled out, and where the market uncertainty of the SpaceX IPO and the AI rally could go from here.

In this episode, find out:

• Why 2026 has followed a strikingly similar path to last year, and what that pattern means for retirement advice going forward
• How the Iran conflict pushed oil prices and inflation higher, and why gas prices don't fall as fast as oil does
• What Kevin Warsh Fed chair is up against, and why Federal Reserve rate cuts have all but disappeared from this year's forecasts
• Why Tom is cautious about chasing AI stocks 2026 and tech stock hype, including his candid take on the SpaceX IPO
• What Tom is watching for the rest of the year, and why he still sees a path to retiring comfortably despite the market uncertainty

Tweetable Quotes:

"We sit here in the middle of 2026, and it's amazing how quickly it's gone by, but there's also been a lot of bumps in the road." – Murs Tariq, Secure Your Retirement Podcast

"It's amazing if you think about how important oil is to just making the world go round, not just gas, but manufacturing, shipping, and every cargo carrier out there." – Murs Tariq, Secure Your Retirement Podcast

Whether you're actively working on your retirement checklist or still in the early stages of planning retirement, this Economic Check is a reminder that a real Retirement Planning strategy has to hold up no matter what the headlines say. Retirement isn't about predicting the next SpaceX IPO or timing the next rate cut. It's about building a plan for retirement sturdy enough to absorb inflation and interest rates, tech stock swings, and everything in between.

Resources: If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement! To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

Medicare's new GLP-1 Bridge Program gives eligible retirees access to Wegovy and Zepbound for $50 a month — but there are three financial catches worth knowing before you enroll.

In this episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss one of the biggest Medicare developments of 2026 — the new GLP-1 Bridge Program, launching July 1, which allows eligible Medicare beneficiaries to access popular GLP-1 weight loss medications like Wegovy and Zepbound for a flat $50 copay per month. Joined by Peace of Mind Wealth Management's in-house Medicare specialist Sean Southard, they break down exactly what this program is, who qualifies, how the approval process works, and what the financial implications look like for retirees on fixed incomes.

Listen in to learn about the three financial angles every retiree needs to understand before enrolling in the GLP-1 Bridge Program, including why that $50 copay sits completely outside your normal Medicare Part D protections, what happens when the program ends in December 2027, and how GLP-1 medications and Medicare prescription drug coverage fit into a broader retirement planning conversation around healthcare costs, budgeting, and long-term affordability.

In this episode, find out:

• What GLP-1 medications are, why Medicare historically excluded them for weight loss, and what changed in 2026 to make the GLP-1 Bridge Program possible
• Who qualifies for the program based on BMI and health conditions, and how your doctor submits a prior authorization request through Medicare's centralized system
• Why the $50 flat copay does not count toward your Medicare Part D deductible or annual out-of-pocket maximum, and what that means for your retirement budget
• What retirees need to plan for when the program's temporary status ends in December 2027 and costs could jump significantly
• The health considerations and side effects of GLP-1 medications that matter most for older adults, and why this conversation belongs with your doctor and your financial planner

Tweetable Quotes:

"Retirees need to avoid assuming that this benefit program is going to be permanent forever. Plan for what happens if that $50 copay jumps back up to several hundred dollars a month." — Murs Tariq

"This is both a healthcare conversation and a financial planning conversation. Retirees should evaluate long-term affordability, potential future coverage changes, and how chronic disease management fits into an overall retirement plan." — Shawn Southard

Resources:

If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

In this episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Murs and Nick discuss why retirement stress and retirement anxiety don't disappear when the account balance hits a certain number, and what it actually takes to plan for retirement with real confidence. Joined by Senior Wealth Advisor and Certified Financial Planner Nick Hymanson, they walk through the fears and financial stress that show up most often in client meetings, from losing the paycheck to navigating market volatility, long-term care planning, and the weight of protecting a surviving spouse. Whether you are retiring comfortably or still working toward that goal, this conversation gets honest about the gap between having money and having a plan.

Listen in to learn about the five critical areas of retirement income planning that form the foundation of a secure retirement, including tax strategy for retirement, healthcare costs in retirement, estate planning, and how to build a financial checklist that actually prepares you for what retirement looks like day to day. Radon, Murs, and Nick explain how financial planning strategies like Roth conversions in retirement and a structured bucket approach to market volatility can shift retirement planning from something that keeps you up at night to something you trust completely.

In this episode, find out:

• Why retirement anxiety hits even high-net-worth retirees, and how the loss of a paycheck changes the entire structure of a retirement plan
• How market volatility creates sequence of returns risk in the early years of retirement, and what tax strategies for retirees can do to protect against it
• What long-term care planning and healthcare costs in retirement look like inside a complete financial checklist, and why waiting too long to address them is one of the costliest mistakes in planning retirement
• How Roth conversions in retirement and other proactive tax strategy tools can reduce your lifetime tax bill, especially in the years between retirement and required minimum distributions
• Why estate planning and protecting the surviving spouse belongs inside every retirement plan, and how the Peace of Mind Pathway™ addresses all five critical areas under one team, one plan, one fee

Tweetable Quotes:

"The only way you overcome these fears is you talk about them. And the only way you get comfortable and confident is there's a plan around it that you can reference and revisit." – Murs Tariq

"How do we structure things so there's less risk in the plan and things go the way someone wants them to go? That's what retirement income planning is really about." – Nick Hymanson

Resources:

If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

In this episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss the SpaceX IPO and what retirement-age investors need to think about before making any decision with their savings. SpaceX began trading on June 12, 2026, at a $1.75 trillion valuation, the largest IPO in stock market history, and the questions from clients started pouring in almost immediately. Rather than telling you whether SpaceX is a good or bad investment, Radon and Murs walk through a clear, honest framework for making sure whatever you decide is driven by your retirement plan and not the noise of the moment.

Listen in to learn about the real data behind how major IPOs have historically performed in their first year of trading, why your 401(k) or IRA may already be buying SpaceX without any action on your part, and the three questions every retiree should answer before putting retirement savings into any newly public company. Whether SpaceX is on your radar or you are simply trying to build better habits around big investment decisions, this episode gives you the tools to think clearly when the headlines get loud.

In this episode, find out:

• What SpaceX actually is as a business, which of its three divisions is profitable today, and why the $1.75 trillion valuation is priced on the future rather than current earnings
• What the last 30 major IPOs over the past 15 years reveal about first-year performance, including an average maximum drawdown of 50% to 55% and why it happens around the six-month mark
• Why index rule changes mean millions of Americans may already be picking up SpaceX exposure through their existing 401(k) and IRA index funds
• The critical difference between making a trade and making a long-term investment, and why that distinction should shape the entire decision for anyone nearing or already in retirement
• Three questions to ask before buying any IPO, starting with the one that eliminates most bad decisions before they happen

Tweetable Quotes:

"You can believe in a company and still decide that buying it at IPO price in week one isn't where your retirement money belongs." - Radon Stancil

"Waiting twelve months to buy a stock you plan to hold for fifteen years is not missing out. It is just a longer on-ramp, and it might come with a significantly better price." - Murs Tariq

Resources: If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss some of the most effective ways to lower taxes in retirement before the end of taxes 2026. Drawing from more than 150 client tax strategy meetings conducted by Peace of Mind Wealth Management, they break down the Retirement tax planning strategies that delivered the greatest benefits to retirees. From charitable giving opportunities to Roth conversion strategy analysis, this episode provides actionable insights designed to help retirees make smarter decisions about their future tax liability.

Listen in to learn about proven tax strategies including Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), Donor Advised Funds, Tax Efficient Investing, Tax Loss Harvesting, and RMD planning. Whether you're focused on reducing retirement income tax, preparing for future Required Minimum Distributions, creating a comprehensive retirement checklist, or looking for ways to secure your retirement, this episode offers valuable guidance to help you maximize your wealth and keep more of what you've worked so hard to save.

In this episode, find out:

• How a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) can help charitably inclined retirees reduce taxes in retirement while supporting causes they care about.
• Why a Donor Advised Fund may allow you to maximize charitable deductions and improve your overall tax planning strategy.
• How Tax Efficient Investing and Tax Loss Harvesting can potentially reduce taxes and improve after-tax portfolio returns.
• Why Roth conversion analysis can help lower future retirement income tax and reduce the impact of future Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).
• How proactive Retirement Planning and annual tax strategy reviews can help you plan for retirement, optimize your finances, and retire more confidently.

Tweetable Quotes:

"A Qualified Charitable Distribution is one of the few opportunities where you can put money into an IRA, receive the tax deduction, experience growth, and then ultimately distribute those dollars completely tax-free to charity." — Murs Tariq

"Everyone should not do a Roth conversion, but everyone should do a Roth conversion analysis because the impact on lifetime tax savings can be substantial." — Radon Stancil

Resources:

If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon Stancil and Murs Tariq discuss the difficult but essential topic of what happens financially when a spouse passes away. From understanding Social Security survivor benefits and the widow penalty to navigating Medicare changes, tax planning, and inherited IRA decisions, this conversation highlights why proactive financial planning and estate planning are so important for every surviving spouse. The death of a spouse can create emotional stress and financial confusion, especially when retirement income planning, account access, and beneficiary updates have not been organized ahead of time.

Listen in to learn about the most important steps couples should take before tragedy strikes, including creating a financial checklist, organizing documents, simplifying advisors, and preparing a letter to heirs. Radon and Murs explain how a proper retirement checklist and planning retirement strategy can help families avoid unnecessary stress while protecting the surviving spouse financially. If you want to plan for retirement, retire comfortably, and secure your retirement, this episode offers practical guidance for what to do when a spouse dies and how to prepare for life’s most difficult transitions.

In this episode, find out:

• How Social Security survivor benefits work when a spouse passes away
• Why the widow penalty can increase taxes and Medicare costs for a surviving spouse
• The importance of beneficiary reviews, inherited IRA options, and estate planning
• How a letter to heirs and financial checklist can simplify the transition process
• Why retirement income planning and organizing financial accounts are critical for a surviving spouse

Tweetable Quotes:

“The last thing you want is for the event to happen, and then you've got someone trying to figure it all out through files and folders during one of the hardest moments of their life.” – Murs Tariq

“Both spouses don’t have to be the financial gurus, but they both need to see the roadmap.” – Radon Stancil

Resources:

If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss the critical importance of reviewing your Beneficiary Designations and how one simple oversight could create major complications for your loved ones. From 401k Beneficiary forms to IRA Beneficiary rules, they break down real-world examples showing how outdated or incomplete beneficiaries can derail even the best Estate Planning intentions. They also explain why beneficiary forms override wills and trusts and how failing to verify your beneficiaries could unintentionally send your assets to the wrong person.

Listen in to learn about key Estate Planning tips that can help Protect Your Family, preserve Family Wealth Planning goals, and reduce unnecessary taxes for future generations. Radon and Murs explain concepts like Spousal Consent, Inherited IRA distribution rules, Per Stirpes, Per Capita, and disclaimer strategies that can dramatically impact your Retirement Beneficiaries. Whether you are building your retirement checklist, planning retirement, or trying to secure your retirement for the next generation, this episode provides practical guidance to help protect your assets and ensure your beneficiary wishes are carried out properly.

In this episode, find out:

• Why Beneficiary Designations override wills and trusts in Estate Planning
• The difference between a 401k Beneficiary and an IRA Beneficiary when it comes to Spousal Consent
• How Inherited IRA rules under the SECURE Act can impact your family’s taxes
• The difference between Per Stirpes and Per Capita beneficiary designations
• Why reviewing beneficiaries regularly is essential for Retirement Planning and protecting family wealth

Tweetable Quotes:

“The beneficiary form trumps everything. You could have anything you want in your will, but if the beneficiary designation says something different, the beneficiary designation wins.” – Radon Stancil

“It’s not just about getting the money to the right person. It’s about getting it to them in the most tax-efficient way possible.” – Murs Tariq

Resources:

If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!

To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.