The Retirement Trainer

When it comes to taxes, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is waiting until it's time to file your return to start thinking about tax planning. By then, many of the opportunities to reduce your tax burden may already be gone. And for retirees, failing to plan ahead could mean paying more in taxes, higher Medicare premiums, and keeping less of the money you've worked so hard to save.

In today's episode, Ed and LeAnne discuss why having a year-end tax planning meeting is so important, how tax planning differs from tax preparation, and why your financial advisor and CPA should be working together to make sure you're not leaving money on the table.

They also explain why tax strategies need to be reviewed every year as your financial situation and tax laws change. From Roth conversions and required minimum distributions to charitable giving and the widow tax, you'll better understand why there's no one-size-fits-all approach to tax planning and how making proactive decisions today can help protect your retirement income in the years ahead.

In this podcast, you’ll learn: 

How Fit Is Your Retirement Plan? 

We can help you manage your finances so you can pursue your goals. To learn more, visit EGSIFinancial.com

Rising oil prices, changing interest rates, geopolitical tension, and the midterms can create a lot of noise for investors. When markets move from day to day and headlines make it feel like the sky is falling, it can be tempting to change your portfolio based on what you think might happen next.

In today’s episode, Ed and LeAnne discuss how oil and diesel prices are rippling through the economy, what rising interest rates could mean for consumers and investors, and why historical market performance around midterm elections should be viewed as context rather than a prediction. 

They also explain why diversification and balancing your money between safety, income, and growth can become increasingly important as you approach retirement. You’ll better understand what sequence-of-returns risk means, the benefits of creating your own retirement paycheck, and why proactive tax and income planning can help you stay on track when markets and the economy are uncertain.

In this podcast, you’ll learn: 

How Fit Is Your Retirement Plan? 

We can help you manage your finances so you can pursue your goals. To learn more, visit EGSIFinancial.com

Life is about cash flow. While you're working, you know where your paycheck is coming from every month. But retirement creates an entirely different set of questions. How much are you actually spending? When should you claim Social Security? And how will taxes, healthcare costs, and other expenses affect the income you need?

In today's episode, Ed and LeAnne explain why building a reliable retirement paycheck starts with understanding your budget and the outcome you want. They discuss withdrawal order, Social Security claiming decisions, required minimum distributions, Roth conversions, IRMAA, and why everyone's math is different when determining the right income strategy.

You’ll learn why creating a retirement income plan shouldn’t be done with a “set it and forget it” mindset. They discuss year-end tax planning, coordinating with your CPA and financial advisor, verifying your Social Security benefits, and reviewing your income needs each year as spending, taxes, and life circumstances change.

In this podcast, you’ll learn: 

How Fit Is Your Retirement Plan? 

We can help you manage your finances so you can pursue your goals. To learn more, visit EGSIFinancial.com

Scammers are becoming far more sophisticated, and the unfortunate reality is that seniors and retirees are often among their biggest targets. From impersonating family members to creating fake emergencies, these criminals know how to use fear, urgency, and emotion to convince otherwise careful people to hand over their money or personal information.

In this episode, I’m joined by Danielle Murphy, a complaint specialist with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Danielle has more than 21 years of experience and has spent over 13 years educating consumers, handling complaints, and helping Ohioans better understand how to protect themselves from fraud.

In this conversation, Danielle breaks down some of the scams targeting seniors today, including romance scams, computer repair scams, identity theft, and imposters pretending to represent trusted organizations. She explains why you shouldn’t automatically trust caller ID, how scammers are using social media and AI to make their stories more believable, and the common warning signs that should immediately raise a red flag.

Danielle also shares a few simple steps that you and your family can take to protect yourselves, from establishing a family code word and freezing your credit to monitoring financial statements, protecting your mail, and knowing what to do if you suspect you’ve already been scammed. When the tactics keep changing, education and awareness can be some of your best defenses.

In this podcast, you’ll learn: 

How Fit Is Your Retirement Plan? 

We can help you manage your finances so you can pursue your goals. To learn more, visit EGSIFinancial.com

An estate plan can provide peace of mind by making your wishes clear and helping the people you leave behind understand exactly what you want to have happen. But simply signing a will or trust and putting it in a binder doesn't necessarily mean the job is finished. Beneficiaries change, accounts are opened and closed, family circumstances evolve, and documents that aren't properly implemented can still leave loved ones dealing with unnecessary confusion, disputes, and legal expenses.

In today's episode, Ed and LeAnne explain the basics of estate planning, including the differences between a will and a trust and why properly funding a trust is such an important part of the process. They discuss beneficiary designations, PODs and TODs, and some of the smaller accounts and assets that can easily fall through the cracks. 

Ed and LeAnne share real-life examples of what can happen when estate planning isn't completed or updated properly, along with practical steps such as maintaining password sheets, medication lists, and survivor checklists. They also discuss the importance of powers of attorney for both healthcare and finances, why these conversations should begin long before they're needed, and how clear instructions can make difficult situations easier for your family.

In this podcast, you’ll learn: 

How Fit Is Your Retirement Plan? 

We can help you manage your finances so you can pursue your goals. To learn more, visit EGSIFinancial.com

Cash can certainly provide stability, flexibility, and peace of mind during retirement. It can also help cover emergencies, upcoming expenses, and periods of market volatility without forcing you to sell investments at a loss. But when too much money remains in savings accounts, CDs, or money markets, inflation can slowly erode its purchasing power and make “safe” money more costly than it appears.

In today’s episode, Ed and LeAnne explain how retirees can determine the appropriate amount of cash to keep available, why interest rates alone do not tell the entire story, and how Ed’s safety, income, and growth philosophy can help give every dollar a specific purpose. They also discuss the importance of comparing account rates, understanding fees, and preparing in advance for major expenses.

We’ll also examine several ways parents and grandparents can create a living legacy, including Trump Accounts, 529 plans, UGMAs, UTMAs, and custodial Roth IRAs. They explain some of the benefits and limitations of each option, why inherited retirement accounts can create unexpected tax consequences, and how thoughtful gifting can help younger generations develop stronger financial habits. Ultimately, every strategy begins with understanding what the money is for and building a plan around the outcome you want.

In this podcast interview, you’ll learn: 

How Fit Is Your Retirement Plan? 

We can help you manage your finances so you can pursue your goals. To learn more, visit EGSIFinancial.com

The first half of 2026 reminded investors just how quickly markets can swing from fear to optimism. Between geopolitical conflicts, inflation concerns, market volatility, and nonstop financial headlines, it's easy to let short-term emotions influence long-term decisions. Yet history shows that disciplined investors who stay focused on their plan are often rewarded over time.

In this episode, Ed and LeAnne reflect on the biggest financial lessons from the first six months of 2026, including why the market rebounded despite widespread uncertainty, how lower oil prices will influence inflation and interest rates, and what stronger corporate earnings and broadening market participation may signal for the months ahead. 

Ed reinforces the point that successful retirement planning isn't about predicting headlines or perfectly timing the market. Instead, he explains how a rules-based investment strategy built around safety, income, and growth can help retirees stay confident through market volatility, protect their lifestyle during downturns, and remain focused on achieving their long-term financial goals.

In this podcast interview, you’ll learn: 

How Fit Is Your Retirement Plan? 

We can help you manage your finances so you can pursue your goals. To learn more, visit EGSIFinancial.com

As headlines continue to focus on conflict in the Middle East, grocery costs, and market volatility, many retirees are left wondering what it means for their financial future. From higher insurance premiums and gas prices to concerns about inflation and interest rates, it's becoming increasingly difficult to separate meaningful information from short-term noise.

In this episode, Ed and LeAnne discuss the economic ripple effects of the Iran conflict, the relationship between oil prices and inflation, and why the bond market may be a better indicator of future interest rates than the Federal Reserve. 

Ed also explains why there’s so much excitement surrounding SpaceX's IPO and the risks investors should understand before jumping into newly public companies. He reinforces the importance of rules-based investing, understanding your personal risk tolerance, and maintaining a retirement strategy built around safety, income, and growth rather than emotion and headlines.

In this podcast interview, you’ll learn: 

How Fit Is Your Retirement Plan? 

We can help you manage your finances so you can pursue your goals. To learn more, visit EGSIFinancial.com

It’s that time of year when everyone talks about getting “in shape”—but with nonstop fear-mongering headlines, economic uncertainty, and market volatility, the more important question is: how much risk are you willing to take when the outlook feels tenuous and unstable? 

In this episode, Ed and LeAnne cut through the noise and explain why your long-term plan matters more than ever. Ed unpacks what’s driving the current environment—from tariffs and geopolitical tension to interest rates, inflation, and the national debt—and explains why the market often moves ahead of what the Federal Reserve says it will do. 

By the end, Ed brings the conversation home by reminding everyone to focus on what you can control: building a diversified portfolio that matches your risk, defining the true purpose of your money, and creating a plan that helps you stay confident through volatility.

In this podcast interview, you’ll learn: 

How Fit Is Your Retirement Plan? 

We can help you manage your finances so you can pursue your goals. To learn more, visit EGSIFinancial.com

For decades, America’s economic strength has been built on confidence in the U.S. dollar and the ability to borrow endlessly, but what happens when that confidence begins to fade? ​

In this episode, I’m joined by economist and author Peter Schiff, founder of Euro Pacific Capital. He unpacks the warning signs in an economy propped up by national debt, stimulus, and deficit spending. ​

Peter has long criticized the Federal Reserve, forecasting the consequences of unsustainable fiscal policies. At Euro Pacific Asset Management and SchiffGold, he guides investors by protecting wealth through real assets and global diversification. ​

In our conversation, Peter warns that the same policies fueling today’s markets are eerily similar to those of the 1970s, and how uncontrolled inflation and stimulus could lead Americans to big lifestyle changes in the future. He explains why the U.S. dollar’s dominance is dwindling, how America has been exporting inflation to the rest of the world, and what it means as nations pivot back toward gold. ​

Peter also lays out his predictions for the next 5-10 years, from the potential for hyperinflation to the real opportunities for those who own tangible assets and diversified foreign holdings. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

In this podcast interview, you’ll learn: 

How Fit Is Your Retirement Plan? 

We can help you manage your finances so you can pursue your goals. To learn more, visit EGSIFinancial.com