Thrive in Retirement

What if the hardest part of retirement isn't saving the money, but turning it into a paycheck that lasts?

Most people spend 30 to 40 years saving, then hit retirement with no plan for the part that actually matters: generating income. David Bezar sits down again with Christopher Bak, a financial advisor at Thrive, to unpack why "set it and forget it" is the costliest retirement myth of all.

They get into the mental shift from earning a paycheck to creating one, the market, inflation, and longevity risks that hit once you stop working, and why the order you withdraw money can swing your tax bill by hundreds of thousands. Christopher shares the couple who almost overpaid, and what a real year-by-year income plan looks like.

Income doesn't live on an island. Get it wrong and you could go back to work. Listen now.

• [00:01:04] Why treating your retirement portfolio like set it and forget it can backfire
• [00:03:31] The mental shift almost no one prepares for: from getting a paycheck to generating one
• [00:04:39] The income risks that only show up once you stop working
• [00:05:07] The retirement price tag that quietly climbs past $2 million
• [00:06:10] The one-big-bucket mistake that inflates your tax bill
• [00:07:17] Why that straight-line income report isn't telling you the truth
• [00:08:12] The couple who nearly overpaid taxes in the hundreds of thousands
• [00:09:33] What a real year-by-year written income plan actually includes
• [00:11:14] The exhausted 40-year worker who found out he could retire after all
• [00:12:44] Inside the 5 critical areas Thrive walks every client through
• [00:16:59] Going back to work in retirement: the income and tax dominoes to check first
• [00:18:39] Retiring before Medicare age and how to bridge the health-insurance gap
• [00:19:52] The Social Security-plus-a-paycheck move that can backfire
• [00:20:29] How part-time income can trigger Medicare IRMAA surcharges
• [00:24:15] The one takeaway: why these five areas never live on an island

Thrive Financial Services complimentary retirement evaluation. Scheduling line: 800-516-5861. Book online at thrivefinancialservices.com.

Chris Bak, CRPC® is a financial advisor at Thrive Financial Services, where he recently marked his sixth year with the firm. He holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®) designation and a BBA in accounting from Temple University. Chris focuses on building retirement income and tax plans that help clients retire with confidence and stay retired successfully.

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Connect with David: Website | LinkedIn

How to work with us on Retirement and Advanced Tax Planning

Check out our Client Success Stories

Thrive Capital Management, LLC, is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory firm. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC, nor does it indicate a particular level of skill or ability. Insurance products and services offered through Thrive Financial Services, LLC. Thrive Financial Services and Thrive Capital Management, LLC are affiliated companies. For more information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov and search for our firm name.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice, or as a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Any references to protection benefits or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investment products. Insurance and annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Thrive in Retirement is an original production hosted by David Bezar. Brought to you by Thrive Financial Services. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

What if the biggest threat to your retirement isn't the market, but the cost of getting sick?

Most people spend decades building a nest egg and almost no time planning for the expense that can drain it fastest: long-term care. David Bezar sits down with Brett Ringold, Vice President of A Long Term Companion and a Home Care Association of America director, to break down what care really costs and how families can prepare.

They get into the real cost of home care, assisted living, and skilled nursing, why an Alzheimer's or dementia diagnosis changes everything, and the Medicare GUIDE benefits most families never hear about. Brett also shares the documents every family should have in place before a crisis hits.

Seventy percent of people over 65 will need care, and getting it wrong can wipe out a lifetime of savings. Plan before you have to. Listen now.

• [00:14:27] What a year of care really costs, from home care to skilled nursing
• [00:15:11] The hidden price of unpaid family caregiving
• [00:16:13] Long-term care insurance, and why waiting makes it harder to get
• [00:16:48] The hybrid insurance tools David calls Swiss Army knives
• [00:17:55] The $12,500-a-month figure Thrive builds into a retirement plan
• [00:18:30] Why an Alzheimer's diagnosis can mean 8 to 10 years of cost
• [00:19:18] The dementia statistic expected to climb 80% in 25 years
• [00:20:48] Why so many caregiving families feel completely alone
• [00:23:29] The little-known Medicare benefit that covers respite care
• [00:27:26] The personal story behind A Long Term Companion
• [00:28:15] Where to start if you've never had the care conversation
• [00:28:58] The legal documents every family needs before a crisis

Genworth Cost of Care Survey

Medicare GUIDE Program

Alzheimer's Association

A Long Term Companion

Brett Ringold is the Vice President of A Long Term Companion, a family-owned home care agency serving the Delaware Valley since 2010, with a team of about 200 professional caregivers and registered nurse oversight. He serves on the board of directors of the Home Care Association of America, which represents roughly 5,000 agencies nationwide. Brett's connection to care is personal: his mother founded A Long Term Companion after caring for him through Crohn's disease, and his family's own experience with Alzheimer's shapes how he supports families today. He was named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

🔗 LinkedIn | Website

Connect with David: Website | LinkedIn

How to work with us on Retirement and Advanced Tax Planning

Check out our Client Success Stories

Thrive Capital Management, LLC, is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory firm. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC, nor does it indicate a particular level of skill or ability. Insurance products and services offered through Thrive Financial Services, LLC. Thrive Financial Services and Thrive Capital Management, LLC are affiliated companies. For more information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov and search for our firm name.

This podcast for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice, or as a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Any references to protection benefits or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investment products. Insurance and annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Thrive in Retirement is an original production hosted by David Bezar. Brought to you by Thrive Financial Services. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

What if the Medicare plan that worked for you this year is quietly setting you up to overpay next year?

Most people treat Medicare as a one-time decision. David Bezar sits down with Dawn Myers, a Medicare specialist Thrive works with, who has spent nearly 26 years helping people make sense of it. Her message is simple: Medicare is not set-and-forget.

They get into what’s changing for 2026, the end of the donut hole and the new $700 drug deductible, why drug formularies are shrinking, and how to read the Annual Notice of Change letter. Dawn also breaks down Medicare Advantage versus Medigap, and why the cheapest plan today can become unaffordable at 85.

Open enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, and one wrong move can follow you for years. Listen now.

• [00:01:18] Why Medicare is never a one-time decision
• [00:03:26] From ACA crusader to kitchen-table advisor: Dawn's 26 years in Medicare
• [00:06:13] The turning-65 myth that trips up people who are still working
• [00:09:44] The biggest Medicare change happening right now
• [00:10:14] The donut hole is gone, and the $700 drug deductible replacing it
• [00:11:46] Why shrinking formularies could drop your prescription
• [00:12:24] The September letter that tells you if your coverage changed
• [00:14:41] Medicare Advantage or Medigap: the question to ask first
• [00:16:05] The 55,000 Philadelphia retirees who lost their PPO
• [00:17:52] Why the "best" G plan may not be the smartest one
• [00:19:35] The N plan quote that came in at $114 a month
• [00:26:22] The Part D subsidy expiring, and the price jump it could trigger
• [00:28:24] Why you should never call the Medicare ads on TV

Medicare.gov to re-run and compare your Part D drug plan during open enrollment.

Dawn’s step-by-step drug-shopping guide, available by contacting Dawn https://ritterim.com/meet-dawn-myers/

Thrive Financial Services, complimentary retirement planning that works alongside your Medicare coverage.

Dawn Myers is a Medicare and health insurance specialist with nearly 26 years in the industry, working across individual medical, ACA, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Part D drug coverage. An early advocate for ending medical underwriting, she is known for a kitchen-table approach: sitting down with clients and their adult children to make sure they understand their options and choose coverage that stays affordable for the long haul. Thrive works with Dawn and endorses her for Medicare guidance.

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How to work with us on Retirement and Advanced Tax Planning

Check out our Client Success Stories

Thrive Capital Management, LLC, is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory firm. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC, nor does it indicate a particular level of skill or ability. Insurance products and services offered through Thrive Financial Services, LLC. Thrive Financial Services and Thrive Capital Management, LLC are affiliated companies. For more information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov and search for our firm name.

This podcast for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice, or as a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Any references to protection benefits or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investment products. Insurance and annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Thrive Capital Management, LLC is an investment advisory firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC, nor does it indicate that the adviser or investment adviser representative has attained a particular level of skill or ability. The oral and written communications of an adviser provide you with information about which you determine to hire or retain an adviser. For more information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov and search for our firm name.

This has been provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice, or as a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Thrive is not affiliated with any government agency. For additional details about Medicare, visit the government’s Medicare website: www.Medicare.gov. You can sign up for Medicare in person at your Social Security office, by telephone at 1.800.772.1213 or online at https://www.medicare.gov/.

Thrive in Retirement is an original production hosted by David Bezar. Brought to you by Thrive Financial Services. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

What if the Roth conversion you thought was protecting you is quietly costing you more?

Scroll social media anywhere near retirement age, and you will get hit with 10 to 15 ads promising to slash your taxes. David Bezar sits down with Michael Abbott, CFP®, and financial advisor at Thrive, to sort out who Roth conversions actually help and who they quietly hurt.

They get into withdrawal sequencing, why the small blind conversion most people do can leave them paying more tax over a lifetime, and the tax bomb that builds when RMDs stack on Social Security and a pension.

The T in Thrive’s ROUTE framework stands for taxes, and a Roth conversion done without a plan can cost hundreds of thousands. Listen now.

• [01:00] The 10 to 15 ads in your feed promising lower retirement taxes
• [03:17] Withdrawal sequencing, the early retirement mistake most people miss
• [04:20] The two ways a Roth conversion goes wrong, and which one is far more common
• [05:15] Why so many retirees land in an equal or higher bracket than they planned for
• [05:50] The tax bomb the industry has a name for
• [06:38] The Lincoln Financial survey that caught retirees off guard
• [07:36] The client who retired at 66 with $2 million and a six-year window
• [09:26] What people are actually thinking when they ask if a Roth is right for them
• [10:52] The side-by-side comparison that makes the decision clear
• [12:16] The software that projects your accumulated taxes out to age 90
• [14:29] The third option David calls the secret sauce
• [15:13] The Roth myths about age and income that are simply not true
• [16:10] What to do when your CPA says a Roth conversion is not for you

Lincoln Financial Group retiree expense survey

Michael Abbott, CFP® is a financial advisor at Thrive Financial Services with about a decade in the financial industry. He earned a B.S. in Finance from the University of South Florida and began his career at T. Rowe Price in 2016, where he realized his clients’ needs went well beyond what a large corporation could offer. He specializes in portfolio and risk management, income planning, and advanced tax strategies, and works across the five areas of retirement Thrive covers in its ROUTE framework. Michael lives in Clearwater, Florida, with his wife and two sons.

🔗 LinkedIn | Website

Connect with David: Website | LinkedIn

How to work with us on Retirement and Advanced Tax Planning

Check out our Client Success Stories

Thrive Capital Management, LLC, is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory firm. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC, nor does it indicate a particular level of skill or ability. Insurance products and services offered through Thrive Financial Services, LLC. Thrive Financial Services and Thrive Capital Management, LLC are affiliated companies. For more information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov and search for our firm name.

This podcast for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice, or as a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Any references to protection benefits or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investment products. Insurance and annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Converting an employer plan account or Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences including, but not limited to, a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits, and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA.

The examples given are based on real-world retirement planning scenarios, but the specific details and cases presented are hypothetical and not meant to represent any actual person or investment. This content is for informational purposes only and designed solely to illustrate the potential impacts of financial planning. These examples do not guarantee future performance or success.

Thrive in Retirement is an original production hosted by David Bezar. Brought to you by Thrive Financial Services. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

What if the biggest money decision of your retirement is one you only get one shot at, and almost nobody explains it to you?

Most people spend decades paying into Social Security and almost no time deciding how to claim it. David Bezar sits down with Richard Parrett, CFP®, and relationship advisor at Thrive Financial Services, to explain why claiming is not an age question at all.

They get into how your benefit is actually calculated from your highest 35 years, the 12-month do-over almost nobody knows about, the earnings test that makes working retirees think they are being penalized, and the ex-spousal and survivor benefits people leave sitting on the table for years.

Rich puts it plainly. Retirement is a math problem, and if you are married, you have to solve it three times. Get this one wrong, and it can cost hundreds of thousands. Listen now.

• [00:03:44] Why claiming is a lifetime decision, not a one-and-done choice
• [00:04:35] The Social Security feature that quietly disappeared
• [00:05:11] Why the advice from friends and family is almost always out of date
• [00:05:28] The fear driving early claims, and how fast people actually get their own money back
• [00:06:01] The 78 cents problem, and why change is not optional
• [00:06:40] The three levers Congress has left to pull
• [00:09:38] The 11 o’clock appointment problem at the Social Security office
• [00:10:12] How your benefit is really calculated, and the zeros that quietly hurt
• [00:11:42] The one time do-over most people never hear about
• [00:15:25] The 62-year-old whose claim paid for 2 and a half years of college
• [00:17:00] What delaying past full retirement age is actually worth
• [00:20:18] Why a married couple has to solve for X three times
• [00:21:11] The earnings test, and the money you do get back
• [00:23:40] The ex-spousal benefit rules almost nobody checks
• [00:25:28] The one thing Rich hopes you walk away with

Rich Parrett, CFP® is a financial advisor and relationship advisor at Thrive Financial Services with more than 30 years in the financial services industry. He started his career at Merrill Lynch and advised at several large financial institutions before joining Thrive in 2024. He specializes in retirement planning and Social Security claiming strategies, and he holds the Certified Financial Planner designation along with the National Social Security Advisor certificate.

🔗 Connect with Rich: LinkedIn | Website

Connect with David: Website | LinkedIn

How to work with us on Retirement and Advanced Tax Planning

Check out our Client Success Stories

Thrive Capital Management, LLC, is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory firm. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC, nor does it indicate a particular level of skill or ability. Insurance products and services offered through Thrive Financial Services, LLC. Thrive Financial Services and Thrive Capital Management, LLC are affiliated companies. For more information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov and search for our firm name.

This podcast for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice, or as a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Any references to protection benefits or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investment products. Insurance and annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Thrive in Retirement is an original production hosted by David Bezar. Brought to you by Thrive Financial Services. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

What if the appointment you keep talking yourself out of is the one that decides your entire retirement?

Most people book the complimentary meeting, then spend the next week talking themselves out of it. David Bezar has a name for it. The ostrich theory. Head in the sand, wait a while, hope the problem goes away on its own.

In this solo episode, David pulls back the curtain on what actually happens when you show up. The self-assessment that decides whether you should come in at all, why Thrive throws out every 7, the introductory email, the two appointments, and the side-by-side report that shows exactly what your portfolio would lose in a market like 2008.

He also shares the seminar question from a 66-year-old whose CPA shut down Roth conversions without ever explaining why. You only get one shot to retire successfully. Listen now.

• [00:01:26] The 120 seminars a year that all funnel into one complimentary meeting
• [00:02:05] Three kinds of people book this appointment, including some already 10 years retired
• [00:02:47] Why these seminars are not infomercials, and the acronym behind them
• [00:04:05] The answer almost everyone gives when David asks what brought them in
• [00:04:53] The fragmented approach that leaves your retirement plan full of gaps
• [00:06:00] The self-assessment that decides whether you should come in at all
• [00:06:53] Why there are no 7s on the scale
• [00:07:49] Your risk speed limit, and the car crash that explains it
• [00:08:58] The three things that make you an 8, 9, or 10 on risk
• [00:10:01] When a 401 became a 201, and the number most people cannot answer
• [00:11:25] The ostrich theory, and why people cancel the appointment they need
• [00:13:26] What lands in your inbox before the first meeting
• [00:14:27] What to bring, and what to redact before you bring it
• [00:15:08] Five levels deep, the listening method that changes the conversation
• [00:17:01] Why retirees keep landing in the same or a higher tax bracket
• [00:17:54] Inside the second appointment and the verify form
• [00:19:52] A CPA said no to Roth conversions and never explained why
• [00:23:39] The silent partner sitting inside a $5 million retirement account
• [00:26:01] Why the worst outcome of this meeting is still a good one

Connect with David: Website | LinkedIn

How to work with us on Retirement and Advanced Tax Planning

Check out our Client Success Stories

Thrive Capital Management, LLC, is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory firm. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC, nor does it indicate a particular level of skill or ability. Insurance products and services offered through Thrive Financial Services, LLC. Thrive Financial Services and Thrive Capital Management, LLC are affiliated companies. For more information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov and search for our firm name.

This podcast for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice, or as a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Any references to protection benefits or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investment products. Insurance and annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Thrive in Retirement is an original production hosted by David Bezar. Brought to you by Thrive Financial Services. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

What if the money you spent 30 years saving runs out before you do?

Most people spend 30 years saving for retirement and almost no time on the part that decides everything: turning that pile of money into a paycheck that lasts. David Bezar sits down with Sean DeBarberie, retirement & tax strategist and a CFP® practitioner at Thrive, to break down how to optimize retirement income so it never runs dry.

They get into why over 80% of retirees carry a lopsided, tax-heavy portfolio, why at least half the people Sean meets are taking more risk than they realize, and how the GPS framework splits your money into growth and safe buckets so income keeps flowing no matter what the market does.

Taxes are the number one controllable expense in retirement, and getting income wrong can mean going back to work. This is the episode that helps you sleep at night. Listen now.

• [00:00:39] Why saving is the easy part, and income planning is the part that actually counts
• [00:03:00] What retiring early without an income plan really looks like
• [00:03:49] The four tailwinds that can quietly drain a retirement nest egg
• [00:04:28] The Social Security stat on how long one spouse is likely to live
• [00:05:15] The two warning signs your retirement income is at risk
• [00:06:58] The worst case Sean finds when he looks under the hood
• [00:08:22] How many people are more aggressive than they think (higher than you would guess)
• [00:09:00] Where taxes fit into your income plan, and why 80% of retirees are exposed
• [00:10:25] The ticking tax bomb hiding inside your tax-deferred accounts
• [00:12:09] The do-it-yourselfer who finally got peace of mind
• [00:12:51] The GPS framework, and how it keeps income flowing through any market
• [00:15:46] Why average rates of return can be a trap near retirement
• [00:17:03] The only two things you can ever do with risk

Thrive Financial Services runs 120-plus workshops a year across the Philadelphia tri-state area. Book a call at thrivefinancialservices.com.

Sean DeBarberie, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, MBA is a financial advisor and CFP® practitioner at Thrive Financial Services with nearly a decade in the financial industry. He also holds the ChFC® and RICP® designations. Sean began his career as a traditional money manager and investment advisor before focusing on helping people reach retirement and stay retired successfully, working across Thrive's ROUTE framework of risk, income, cash flow, healthcare, taxes, and estate planning to build tax-efficient retirement income plans.

🔗 Connect with Sean: LinkedIn | Website

Connect with David: Website | LinkedIn

How to work with us on Retirement and Advanced Tax Planning

Check out our Client Success Stories

Thrive Capital Management, LLC, is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory firm. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC, nor does it indicate a particular level of skill or ability. Insurance products and services offered through Thrive Financial Services, LLC. Thrive Financial Services and Thrive Capital Management, LLC are affiliated companies. For more information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov and search for our firm name.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice, or as a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Any references to protection benefits or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investment products. Insurance and annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Thrive in Retirement is an original production hosted by David Bezar. Brought to you by Thrive Financial Services. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

What if the taxes you thought would get easier in retirement are actually about to get much harder?

Most people assume taxes get simpler once the paycheck stops. David Bezar sits down with Thrive’s in-house financial advisor, Christopher Bak, to explain why the opposite is true and why retirement is where taxes actually get complicated.

They break down the difference between tax preparation and tax planning, why the U.S. system is tiered instead of flat, and how the timing of Social Security, pensions, and required distributions can quietly push your retirement income higher than your working income.

The T in Thrive’s ROUTE framework stands for taxes, and getting it wrong can cost hundreds of thousands. Listen now.

• [00:00:00] The domino effect that can change your entire retirement tax picture
• [00:02:43] Tax preparation vs tax planning, and why the difference matters
• [00:03:26] The income myth almost half of retirees believe
• [00:04:24] How the progressive tax system really works
• [00:05:23] Why retirement timing is a series of dominoes, not a single date
• [00:06:01] The $2 million couple whose retirement income beat their working income
• [00:08:07] The timing change that saved a family hundreds of thousands
• [00:09:14] Bridging the gap to Medicare when you retire early
• [00:11:13] Investment income and the two ledgers every retiree should know
• [00:13:00] The biggest tax misconception that penalizes good savers
• [00:14:19] The complimentary, no-pressure tax evaluation Thrive offers

Thrive Financial Services complimentary retirement and tax evaluation.

Scheduling line: 800-516-5861. Book online at thrivefinancialservices.com.

Chris Bak, CRPC® is a financial advisor at Thrive Financial Services, with about 15 years in the financial industry across investments, tax planning, and tax preparation. Before financial services he started in nursing school, then realized his passion for helping people was a better fit in retirement and tax planning. He holds the CRPC® designation.

🔗 Connect with Chris: LinkedIn | Website

Connect with David: Website | LinkedIn

How to work with us on Retirement and Advanced Tax Planning

Check out our Client Success Stories

Thrive Capital Management, LLC, is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory firm. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC, nor does it indicate a particular level of skill or ability. Insurance products and services offered through Thrive Financial Services, LLC. Thrive Financial Services and Thrive Capital Management, LLC are affiliated companies. For more information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov and search for our firm name.

This podcast for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice, or as a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Any references to protection benefits or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investment products. Insurance and annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Thrive in Retirement is an original production hosted by David Bezar. Brought to you by Thrive Financial Services. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

What if the one thing your financial advisor never talks about is the thing that decides your entire retirement?

In the first episode of Thrive in Retirement, David Bezar opens up about why he built Thrive Financial Services after 37 years in the industry, and why most advisors stop being useful right when retirement gets complicated.

He walks through ROUTE, his five-part framework for a successful retirement: Risk, Optimizing income, Unplanned healthcare costs, Taxes, and Estate planning. Along the way, he explains why an IRA is really an IOU to the IRS, how a single Social Security decision can be worth six figures, and why running out of money is the risk almost no one plans for.

You only get one shot at retirement. There are no do-overs. Listen now.

Timestamped Highlights

• [00:00:00] The one retirement rule David repeats: there are no do-overs
• [00:02:18] Why even great financial advisors leave a costly gap
• [00:04:41] The ROUTE acronym, and the five areas it covers
• [00:07:54] The Social Security choice that can swing $111,000
• [00:11:59] GPS investing, and what your risk speed really says about you
• [00:16:22] The question that trips up even wealthy retirees
• [00:17:33] A 1973 road trip, an AAA map, and your Money Map
• [00:22:34] The retirement cost that can quietly hit $450,000
• [00:29:31] Why David calls an IRA an IOU to the IRS
• [00:36:52] A personal loss that shows why one document matters
• [00:41:48] What actually happens in a complimentary evaluation

Important Links

Connect with David: Website | LinkedIn

How to work with us on Retirement and Advanced Tax Planning

Check out our Client Success Stories

Thrive Capital Management, LLC, is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory firm. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC, nor does it indicate a particular level of skill or ability. Insurance products and services offered through Thrive Financial Services, LLC. Thrive Financial Services and Thrive Capital Management, LLC are affiliated companies. For more information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov and search for our firm name.

This podcast for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice, or as a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Any references to protection benefits or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investment products. Insurance and annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Thrive in Retirement is an original production hosted by David Bezar. Brought to you by Thrive Financial Services. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

What if the parts of retirement that matter most are the ones no one is watching?

In the origin episode of Thrive in Retirement, David Bezar opens up about why he traded a number one Philadelphia radio show for a podcast, and what 37 years in financial services taught him about where the industry falls short.

He walks through ROUTE, the five-part framework Thrive uses for retirement: Risk, Optimizing income and assets, Unplanned healthcare expenses, Taxes, and Estate planning. Along the way he explains why most advisors stop at investments, how a vague risk questionnaire can miss what really matters, and why he calls his team hope dealers.

Retirement has no do-overs, and the complexities rarely arrive one at a time. This is the episode that shows you what to start thinking about now. Listen now.

• [00:01:07] Why this show refuses to be an infomercial
• [00:01:54] The industry problem David says almost no one fixes
• [00:03:21] The lineup of experts coming to future episodes
• [00:03:21] What 37 years in the business actually taught him
• [00:04:23] The retirement question young savers never think to ask
• [00:05:31] Why finding a truly holistic advisor is so hard
• [00:06:43] From the number one AM radio show to your earbuds
• [00:07:55] Why the radio show ended, and what replaced it
• [00:10:19] ROUTE, the five-letter map for the whole retirement picture
• [00:10:19] Where most risk questionnaires quietly get you wrong
• [00:13:07] The one letter in ROUTE David admits he geeks out on
• [00:14:11] The shift from chasing income to becoming a hope dealer
• [00:20:20] The retirement question that could become a future episode

Connect with David: Website | LinkedIn

How to work with us on Retirement and Advanced Tax Planning

Check out our Client Success Stories

Thrive Capital Management, LLC, is an SEC-Registered Investment Advisory firm. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by the SEC, nor does it indicate a particular level of skill or ability. Insurance products and services offered through Thrive Financial Services, LLC. Thrive Financial Services and Thrive Capital Management, LLC are affiliated companies. For more information please visit: https://adviserinfo.sec.gov and search for our firm name.

This podcast for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or investment advice, or as a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Any references to protection benefits or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investment products. Insurance and annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Thrive in Retirement is an original production hosted by David Bezar. Brought to you by Thrive Financial Services. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.