Stansell Wealth Planning Podcast

We wrap the Retirement Readiness series by tackling three issues that can blindside a solid plan: a major market drop right after you retire, the Medicare choices that quietly cost people money, and how tithing works when paychecks stop. We share practical decision rules, planning guardrails, and real-world options you can talk through with your advisor and your family. 

• Why the first big retirement market dip feels scarier than downturns during your working years 
• How sequence of returns risk and withdrawals can compound losses 
• Three steps when markets fall: don’t panic, learn from your reaction, look for planning wins 
• Tax planning in down markets, including capital loss strategies and Roth conversions 
• Using smaller pullbacks as a “practice run” to test your true risk tolerance 
• Medicare explained clearly: eligibility at 65, enrollment windows, and retiring after 65 
• When to file for Part A, when to avoid Part B while working, and why Medigap matters 
• Part B premiums and income lookback rules, plus using SSA-44 after retirement 
• Why we avoid Medicare Advantage plans 
• Three common ways retirees handle tithing: income and withdrawals, account growth, or AGI 

To learn more about Stansell Wealth Planning visit:
https://www.StansellWealth.com
Stansell Wealth Planning
5550 Granite Pkwy, STE 270  
Plano, TX 75024  
469-606-2040

We break down the retirement-specific estate planning moves that protect your family if you cannot make decisions and keep your legacy from drifting off course. We focus on power of attorney, living trusts, and inherited IRA rules so your plan still works when real life gets messy. 

• What a power of attorney actually authorizes and why it matters more in retirement 
• Immediate vs springing power of attorney and the trade-offs of each 
• Why you cannot usually name a power of attorney after incapacity 
• Using a successor power of attorney and why younger backups often make sense 
• How a revocable living trust protects assets from in-laws, creditors, and poor timing 
• Why a will alone does not add guardrails after assets transfer 
• How retirement accounts and life insurance pass by beneficiary designation 
• Why naming a trust as contingent beneficiary can add control 
• Inherited IRA 10-year rule basics and what it can mean for taxes 
• How a large inherited IRA withdrawal can create a painful tax bill 
• Using Roth conversions to leave heirs a more tax-friendly legacy 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2461922/episodes/18625752

https://youtu.be/EVYaUjsOk24?si=4B0BxjUs5mJbDE3O

To learn more about Stansell Wealth Planning visit:
https://www.StansellWealth.com
Stansell Wealth Planning
5550 Granite Pkwy, STE 270  
Plano, TX 75024  
469-606-2040

We walk through how taxes actually change once retirement income replaces a paycheck, and why guessing can lead to higher lifetime taxes. We lay out practical ways we use to plan around Social Security taxation, required minimum distributions, and Roth strategies so you can keep more of your money legally. 

• How Social Security benefits become taxable once you claim, and why no one pays tax on 100% of the benefit 
• Medicare premiums withheld from Social Security, and why the tax form reflects the net amount received 
• What required minimum distributions are, when they start based on birth year, and how they are calculated from prior year end balances 
• Why RMDs can force taxable withdrawals you do not need for spending 
• Why Roth accounts help reduce future tax pressure, including the impact of having no RMDs on Roth balances during your lifetime 
• The difference between Roth contributions and Roth conversions, and how each affects taxes 
• How to spot and use a retirement tax window before Social Security starts to convert at lower brackets 
• How the enhanced senior deduction starting in 2025 ties planning to AGI thresholds for single and married filers 

To learn more about Stansell Wealth Planning visit:
https://www.StansellWealth.com
Stansell Wealth Planning
5550 Granite Pkwy, STE 270  
Plano, TX 75024  
469-606-2040

We walk through how investing must change when you retire and why the biggest risk is often emotional decisions during a market drop. We explain our bucket approach, then add practical guidance on Social Security timing and when an annuity might actually fit. 

• Shifting from being a long-term buyer to a retirement seller 
• The short-term danger of being too aggressive 
• The long-term danger of being too conservative 
• Using withdrawals, inflation, and taxes to stress-test returns 
• Building a three-bucket retirement portfolio for income and recovery 
• Protecting against panic selling during bear markets 
• Why we dial back risk three to five years out 
• Social Security basics, the 62 to 70 window, and spousal benefits 
• Common scenarios for claiming early versus delaying 
• What an annuity is, when it can help, and how not to overdo it 
Reach out to us. We’d love to walk it through with you. 

This is Part 3 of the series. Please check out Parts 1 & 2 if you haven't already!

To learn more about Stansell Wealth Planning visit:
https://www.StansellWealth.com
Stansell Wealth Planning
5550 Granite Pkwy, STE 270  
Plano, TX 75024  
469-606-2040

We walk through how retirement income actually shows up after the paycheck ends, then reduce it to a clear cash flow test: monthly spending must be matched by reliable monthly income. We also explain when you can access 401(k) and IRA money without penalties and how a 4% to 5% withdrawal guideline can help you sanity-check retirement readiness. 

• Penalty-free access rules for 401(k) and IRA withdrawals at age 59 and a half 
• Early retirement planning need for savings outside retirement accounts 
• Brokerage “bridge account” concept to cover the gap until 59 and a half 
• Cash flow matching method using gross income versus monthly spending 
• Stacking income streams such as Social Security pensions rentals part-time work annuities 
• 4% to 5% withdrawal guideline to estimate sustainable portfolio income 
• Setting up automatic distributions and choosing a payout frequency 
• Investing approach in retirement with diversification and a more conservative tilt 
• Rental income netting guidance including repairs taxes insurance and management costs 
• Pension decision points including monthly annuity options versus lump-sum rollover 

This is part 2 of a series - Please pause and listen to Part 1 before listening.

To learn more about Stansell Wealth Planning visit:
https://www.StansellWealth.com
Stansell Wealth Planning
5550 Granite Pkwy, STE 270  
Plano, TX 75024  
469-606-2040

We kick off our Retirement Readiness series by getting clear on what retirement is really for and why your spending number matters more than any random savings goal. We walk through simple ways to estimate monthly spending, stress test it for real life surprises, and use it as the foundation for a confident retirement plan. 

• Envisioning retirement with your spouse or on your own 
• Retiring to something and protecting your sense of purpose 
• Focusing on spending rather than a “magic number” nest egg 
• Estimating spending the fast way using net pay deposits 
• Estimating spending the detailed way using bank statements 
• Accounting for one off expenses that still happen regularly 
• Adjusting for mortgage payoff and kids leaving the payroll 
• Adding travel and annual costs by averaging them monthly 
• Using part time work or consulting as a two way boost 

Join us for part two as we go through the planning for the income in retirement. 

To learn more about Stansell Wealth Planning visit:
https://www.StansellWealth.com
Stansell Wealth Planning
5550 Granite Pkwy, STE 270  
Plano, TX 75024  
469-606-2040

We break down how to choose an aggressive or conservative portfolio using two factors that actually matter: when you’ll need the money and how you react when markets drop. You’ll hear why the same S&P 500 dip can be a disaster for one person and a buying opportunity for another, plus how to think about stocks, bonds, and cash in a simple way. 

• Using three timelines to set your baseline risk level: under three years, three to seven years, seven plus years 
• Seeing 2008 to 2009 as a real-world example of why short-term money can’t take big drawdowns 
• Treating long time horizons as an advantage and staying the course through volatility 
• Using dollar-cost averaging to buy more shares when prices fall 
• Navigating the three to seven year “gray zone” with diversification and professional planning 
• Factoring in emotional risk tolerance and past reactions to market drops 
• Defining aggressive vs conservative as a range of outcomes and risk of loss 
• Comparing common aggressive, conservative, and middle-ground investment types 

To learn more about Stansell Wealth Planning visit:
https://www.StansellWealth.com
Stansell Wealth Planning
5550 Granite Pkwy, STE 270  
Plano, TX 75024  
469-606-2040

We break down how employee stock options actually work, from strike price and vesting to the moment taxes show up on your W-2. We also explain how exercise timing, holding periods, and cashless exercise can change your real take-home value. 

• Stock options versus RSUs and why options give you control over timing 
• Strike price, vesting schedules, and why the strike price stays fixed 
• Expiration timelines and why waiting can be a feature and a risk 
• NSOs versus ISOs and why the tax rules differ 
• How the spread at exercise becomes ordinary income for NSOs 
• The 365-day rule and short-term versus long-term capital gains 
• Why your tax bracket and other income change the best exercise plan 
• Using lower stock prices to reduce the taxable spread 
• Cashless exercise mechanics and when it may help 
• Why a personalized plan beats copying a coworker’s strategy 

To learn more about Stansell Wealth Planning visit:
https://www.StansellWealth.com
Stansell Wealth Planning
5550 Granite Pkwy, STE 270  
Plano, TX 75024  
469-606-2040

We break down RSUs, PSUs, and ESPP stock compensation so you understand what you own, when taxes hit, and what choices you actually control. We also share a practical framework for deciding when to sell, when to hold, and how to avoid getting overexposed to your employer’s stock. 

• How RSUs and PSUs work and why companies grant them 
• Common vesting schedules and what “vesting” really means 
• Why RSU taxes are triggered on the vesting date and flow to your W-2 
• The two post-vesting choices that matter most, hold or sell 
• Short-term versus long-term capital gains and why the one-year mark matters 
• How your income level and household situation change the best strategy 
• How ESPPs work, including payroll purchases and typical discounts 
• ESPP tax timing, including the one-year and two-year holding rules 
• Concentration risk with company stock and a 10% net worth rule of thumb 

To learn more about Stansell Wealth Planning visit:
https://www.StansellWealth.com
Stansell Wealth Planning
5550 Granite Pkwy, STE 270  
Plano, TX 75024  
469-606-2040

We break down how to decide between paying off debt and investing, then lay out a clear plan for tackling multiple balances without losing momentum. Cody compares the snowball method and avalanche method with a simple spreadsheet so you can see how interest, cash flow, and psychology change the outcome.

• Deciding when debt payoff beats investing, based on your situation and timeline
• Defining consumer debt and why I prioritize it before heavy investing
• Freeing up cash flow by removing monthly payments
• Reducing risk when layoffs, medical bills, or repairs hit
• Valuing peace of mind and lower money stress at home
• Handling exceptions like 0% financing without losing the bigger plan
• Keeping the 401k match while redirecting extra dollars to debt
• Using the snowball method to build fast, visible wins
• Using the avalanche method to minimize interest, with slower visible progress
• Choosing the approach you will actually follow through on

To learn more about Stansell Wealth Planning visit:
https://www.StansellWealth.com
Stansell Wealth Planning
5550 Granite Pkwy, STE 270  
Plano, TX 75024  
469-606-2040