This week on the show, Steve and Elizabeth Holland, along with MJ, discuss the crucial and evolving challenge of planning for a much longer and costlier retirement. They emphasize that retirement is no longer a finish line, but a complex, full-time financial strategy where planning wiser is essential to ensure your money lasts as long as you do.Key Discussion Points:

• The New Longevity Reality: One in three 65-year-olds today is projected to live past age 90, significantly stretching retirement savings beyond the traditional 20-year plan.
• The Two-Legged Stool: The traditional "three-legged stool" (pension, Social Security, and savings) is gone due to the lack of pensions, making personal savings carry a much heavier load.
• Controlling Healthcare and Inflation Risks: Healthcare inflation (averaging over 5% per year) and general inflation pose massive threats to purchasing power, demanding growth in the portfolio to keep pace.
• Social Security Strategy: Delaying Social Security benefits until age 70 can result in up to a 76% higher benefit compared to claiming at age 62, essentially acting as longevity insurance.
• The Three-Strategy Approach: To balance risk and opportunity, the Hollands use a system (or "buckets") to manage assets: Immediate Income (1-3 years of cash/stable assets), Intermediate Income (predictable income tools like certain annuities/MIGAs), and Growth (long-term investments to beat inflation).
• Preparing for the Unknowns: Flexibility is key, and a proper financial plan must be "stress-tested" against major unknowns like long-term care needs, which can quickly deplete assets if not planned for.
• Financial Question of the Day: The team discussed what to do with old whole life insurance policies, noting that selling the policy to a life settlement firm may yield a significantly higher payout than cashing it out with the insurance company.

The bottom line is that living longer is a gift, but it requires a disciplined, professional strategy covering income, taxes, and healthcare to ensure financial freedom.

Contact The Holland Group Retirement Wealth Advisors for a complimentary, no-obligation review by calling (727) 295-3451, or visit AskTheHollands.com to schedule a discovery call at your convenience.

This episode of Retirement Success with Steve and Elizabeth Holland and host MJ Schnitt focuses on the essential concept of building a genuine partnership with your financial advisor to achieve a comprehensive and successful retirement. The discussion emphasizes that true comprehensive planning extends far beyond merely picking stocks, covering a necessary integration of tax strategy, estate planning, and healthcare considerations—all delivered with total transparency.Key Takeaways from the Conversation

• Customized Investment Philosophy: Advisors must determine a client's Safety Concern Index (SCI) (a scale of 1-10) to align the investment strategy with their true risk tolerance, resisting the urge to push clients into riskier positions than they are comfortable with.
• The Power of Comprehensive Service: True financial planning is a tailored, two-hour process that encompasses all elements of a client's financial life, including tax planning, estate planning, and healthcare, not just investment management.
• Non-Negotiable Transparency: Clients must demand total clarity on all associated costs (advisors' fees, custodian fees, and mutual fund expenses) and avoid advisors who perform the "verbal dance" or push costly, complex products like structured notes which lack adequate downside protection.
• Trust and Communication are Paramount: An advisor must act as a fiduciary, always putting the client's interests first. Effective communication requires the advisor to listen twice as much as they talk and maintain contact with clients, especially during periods of market volatility.
• Red Flags to Watch Out For: A major warning sign is an advisor who immediately pushes specific products (like structured notes) instead of focusing on a personalized strategy, or pressures a client to make an immediate, on-the-spot decision.

Contact The Holland Group Retirement Wealth Advisors for a complimentary, no-obligation review by calling (727) 295-3451, or visit AskTheHollands.com to schedule a discovery call at your convenience.

This episode of Retirement Success with Steve and Elizabeth Holland, and host MJ Schnitt, dives deep into one of the most complex puzzles facing retirees: designing an airtight, sustainable retirement income strategy that lasts without forcing a sacrifice in lifestyle. The discussion covers the critical shift from pensions to self-managed plans, demolishes outdated income rules, and introduces a foundational three-part framework for generating income while minimizing the impact of the "silent killer"—taxes.Key Takeaways from the Conversation

• Move Past Outdated Rules: The old 4% withdrawal rule is no longer valid; a successful plan must be designed for longevity and must account for market volatility, inflation, and tax changes over 30+ years.
• Segment Your Wealth: Employ a three-part strategy by segmenting funds into Short-Term (1–5 years for liquidity), Mid-Term (5–10 years conservative), and Long-Term (10+ years for strategic growth).
• Create Your Own Pension: With the decline of defined benefit plans (pensions), modern retirement requires a custom plan to generate reliable income, placing the full responsibility on the retiree.
• Factor in Essentials and Taxes: Prioritize covering "must-have" expenses (housing, healthcare, etc.) with stable income, and utilize a tax-aware withdrawal strategy that blends withdrawals from taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts to maximize tax efficiency.
• Optimize Social Security and Utilize Tools: Don't view Social Security as a simple check; it's a critical strategy. Supplement any income gap using tailored financial tools, such as fixed annuities with potential riders for long-term care, to provide stability and sustainability outside of the stock market.

Contact The Holland Group Retirement Wealth Advisors for a complimentary, no-obligation review by calling (727) 295-3451, or visit AskTheHollands.com to schedule a discovery call at your convenience.

This episode of Retirement Success explores how to move "Beyond the Basics" of IRAs and 401(k)s to build a robust, protected, and sustainable retirement income plan, emphasizing the critical shift from simply accumulating assets to actively managing risk, fees, and tax strategy.Key Segments:

• The importance of building your own "personal pension" using guaranteed, predictable income sources.
• Why many advisors who dismiss annuities may be doing so to collect management fees on other investments.
• How to counter "sequence of returns risk" and create a disciplined withdrawal plan.
• The massive financial opportunity you might be ignoring with catch-up contributions if you're over 50.
• Exposing the hidden fees and excessive holdings (sometimes over 28,000!) often lurking in retirement accounts.

Contact The Holland Group Retirement Wealth Advisors for a complimentary, no-obligation review by calling (727) 295-3451, or visit AskTheHollands.com to schedule a discovery call at your convenience.

This episode of Retirement Success with Steve and Elizabeth Holland and Todd MJ Schnitt provides a guide to constructing a comprehensive "Financial Fortress" to protect your life savings from common financial dangers, including market crashes, soaring healthcare costs, and unexpected tax burdens.Key Segments:

• Why the old playbook for retirement no longer works and the secret to an Income-First strategy.
• The single reason you may pay a higher tax rate in retirement than you did while working.
• Why you need a 12 to 18-month cash buffer and how to get guaranteed income now while interest rates are still favorable.
• How to build a "Health Care Moat" to protect your nest egg from America’s number one budget killer.
• The essential legal step that can save your family from probate costs and fighting over your estate.

Contact The Holland Group Retirement Wealth Advisors for a complimentary, no-obligation review by calling (727) 295-3451, or visit AskTheHollands.com to schedule a discovery call at your convenience.

This episode of Retirement Success, hosted by Steve and Elizabeth Holland with Todd MJ Schnitt, dissects the significant financial and personal implications of government shutdowns, emphasizing that a personalized retirement plan is crucial for navigating such events. The hosts underscore that a recent shutdown is a powerful reminder that these disruptive periods will occur again.Key Topics and Advice:

• Protecting Your Income and Cash Flow: The most critical defense against government disruption is an adequate cash buffer. The Hollands strongly advise increasing liquid reserves to cover 12 to 18 months of expenses, up from the pre-pandemic recommendation of 6-8 months. This is vital for those facing furloughs (like federal employees) and for retirees needing to implement a staggered withdrawal strategy to avoid selling volatile assets during a market dip. They also clarify that unlike the pandemic, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) are still mandatory during a shutdown.
• Impact on Government Services and Benefits: While Social Security and Medicare benefit checks are generally safe, administrative support and services face significant delays. This includes the processing of veterans' benefits, disability claims, appeals, permits, and license renewals. The uncertainty caused by these delays extends to the financial markets, which "hate uncertainty," and contributes to weekly GDP losses of up to $15 billion.
• Market Volatility and Personal Risk: Shutdowns trigger market volatility and can lead to "portfolio drag" for retirees relying on short-term returns. Beyond dollars, there are real-life consequences, including delays in health-related processing and an overall intangible "fear risk" that causes significant personal anxiety and stress among the 60-plus crowd.
• The Holland Group's Personalized Planning: The firm’s client onboarding starts with a brief "discovery call" to understand a prospective client's core concerns. The goal is to move beyond a "cookie-cutter" approach, collecting comprehensive personal and financial data to construct a truly customized, comprehensive retirement plan that addresses unique goals and anxieties.

Contact The Holland Group Retirement Wealth Advisors for a complimentary, no-obligation review by calling (727) 295-3451, or visit AskTheHollands.com to schedule a discovery call at your convenience.

In this episode, Steve and Elizabeth Holland, along with co-host Todd MJ Schnitt, tackle common retirement planning pitfalls, shifting the focus from simply accumulating savings to actively converting those assets into a reliable, lifelong income stream. The conversation highlights the crucial need for a personalized and proactive financial strategy that goes far beyond traditional IRA and 401(k) accounts.Key Takeaways

• Beware of Target-Date Funds: The hosts warn against target-date funds, which they say often contain a large portion of underperforming fixed-income assets that can act as an "anchor," creating a "death spiral" for your retirement savings.
• Inflation Is a "Silent Wealth Killer": Inflation can significantly erode your purchasing power over time. It is vital to have an inflation-adjusted strategy, as well as a plan for your cash reserves, to protect your money from devaluation.
• Build Your Own "Personal Pension": Since traditional company pensions are rare, you must create your own. This can involve combining different investment vehicles, including annuities, to establish a reliable, guaranteed stream of income that is not tied to the volatility of the stock market.
• Taxes and Withdrawals Matter: A comprehensive retirement plan must include a tax diversification strategy and a smart withdrawal strategy. This allows you to pull from different tax-advantaged accounts at the right time to minimize your tax burden and avoid selling assets at a loss during a down market.
• A Will Is Not Enough: For estate planning, a simple will is insufficient. A full estate plan with a trust is necessary to ensure your assets are protected and distributed as intended, preventing them from falling into probate or being taken by the state.

The Holland Group Retirement Wealth Advisors offers a complimentary, no-obligation review to help you create a personalized blueprint for your financial future. This fiduciary process ensures that your retirement plan addresses all of these critical areas and is designed to provide you with clarity and peace of mind.Contact The Holland Group Retirement Wealth Advisors for a complimentary, no-obligation review by calling (727) 295-3451, or visit AskTheHollands.com to schedule a discovery call at your convenience.

Welcome back to Retirement Success with Steve and Elizabeth Holland and Todd "MJ" Schnitt. For over 30 years, The Holland Group Retirement Wealth Advisors have been dedicated to helping you protect your wealth and build inflation-adjusted, tax-advantaged retirement plans. In this episode, we take a deeper dive into how tariffs and other geopolitical events can impact your retirement portfolio and what you can do to prepare.Key Takeaways from the Discussion:

• Tariffs Cause Market Volatility: Tariffs on imported goods can cause significant market fluctuations and are a financial concern, not just a political one. These events can trigger market sell-offs that hurt a retirement portfolio making systematic withdrawals.
• The Importance of a Defensive Strategy: The hosts emphasize that every investor needs a defensive strategy and a properly diversified portfolio to mitigate the impact of market jitters and navigate economic uncertainties.
• Planning for Every Stage: The show differentiates between planning for younger investors, who have an abundance of time, and older investors, who have built a substantial portfolio but now find that time is their most precious asset.
• Answering a Common Question: The hosts address a listener's question about contributing to a Roth IRA after retirement, clarifying that earned income is required for contributions but suggesting that a Roth conversion may be an option.
• The Value of Professional Guidance: The Holland Group offers a complimentary review to help clients reduce implicit fees, disinherit the IRS with effective tax strategies, and identify and reduce portfolio risk, ultimately helping to avoid costly "oopsies" with their finances.

Let the Hollands use their decades of experience to help you understand market complexities and tailor your retirement strategy. Contact The Holland Group Retirement Wealth Advisors for a complimentary, no-obligation review by calling (727) 295-3451, or visit AskTheHollands.com to schedule a discovery call at your convenience.

Welcome to Retirement Success with Steve and Elizabeth Holland and Todd "MJ" Schnitt. For over 30 years, The Holland Group Retirement Wealth Advisors have been helping clients create customized, tax-advantaged retirement plans. In this episode, we discuss why retirement is a long-term marathon, not a sprint, and the strategies you need to make your money last.Key Takeaways from the Discussion:

• Longevity is a Challenge: With people living longer than ever before, retirement planning must account for a 20 to 30-year "marathon" of unemployment, requiring a detailed, long-term strategy.
• Avoid "Dead Money": Keeping large amounts of cash uninvested in low-yield accounts is a costly mistake. The show highlights the "opportunity cost" of this "lazy money," which is a loss of potential growth that is essential for a successful retirement.
• Secure Your Essentials: A solid financial foundation involves separating your expenses into two categories. Essential needs should be funded by reliable income sources like pensions and annuities, while lifestyle expenses can be covered by a growth-oriented portfolio.
• Optimize Social Security: The biggest mistake people make is treating Social Security as a simple on/off switch. By delaying your benefits, you can significantly increase your lifetime income, potentially resulting in a six-figure difference.

Contact The Holland Group Retirement Wealth Advisors for a complimentary, no-obligation review by calling (727) 295-3451, or visit AskTheHollands.com to schedule a discovery call at your convenience.

Welcome to Retirement Success with Steve and Elizabeth Holland and Todd "MJ" Schnitt. This episode introduces a new framework for retirement planning based on three distinct seasons:

• Active Season: The early years of retirement, marked by higher spending on travel, hobbies, and home projects. This phase requires a "Freedom Fund" to prevent overspending.
• Settled Season: Beginning in the mid-70s, spending naturally declines as priorities shift to local activities and family. This period allows portfolios to rebuild and is defined by "intentional moderation."
• Care Season: The final phase of retirement, characterized by a sharp rise in non-optional healthcare and long-term care expenses, making a comprehensive plan and tools like long-term care insurance essential.

The podcast debunks the myth of spending automatically dropping in retirement, highlights the risks of an "expectation gap" between planned and actual spending, and stresses the importance of having a professional, customized plan that includes a tax-smart withdrawal strategy.

For over 30 years, The Holland Group Retirement Wealth Advisors have been dedicated to helping you build inflation-adjusted, tax-advantaged, customized plans for a secure retirement

Contact The Holland Group Retirement Wealth Advisors for a complimentary, no-obligation review by calling (727) 295-3451, or visit AskTheHollands.com to schedule a discovery call at your convenience.