Retirement Answers is a podcast built to help you succeed in retirement. The thought of retirement can be overwhelming and downright scary for many... but it doesn't have to be! The goal of this podcast is to provide thoughtful insights and strategies to give you the confidence you need to retire successfully. At the end of the day, my ultimate goal for my clients and podcast listeners is to live a fulfilling retirement. Follow along as I publish a new episode each week covering everything f ...
…
continue reading

1
What You Can Do To Avoid The IRA Pro-Rata Rule
8:29
8:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:29Do you have after-tax money in your Traditional IRA? Well, when it comes time to make distributions or do Roth conversions, you could unknowingly pay more in tax that you otherwise have to if you aren't aware of the IRA Pro-Rata rule or how you can fix this issue before it becomes a problem. In this week's Friday Q&A, I answer James' question on th…
…
continue reading

1
What The Top 1% of Retirees Do Differently From Everyone Else
15:12
15:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:12The top retirees approach retirement completely different from everyone else. They have an abundance mindset and live with intentionally, and that's what I discuss in today's episode. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email! Submit your question to have it ans…
…
continue reading

1
Why Your Roth Conversion Could Trigger Unexpected Tax Penalties
17:01
17:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:01Roth conversions are a powerful tax planning opportunity for retirees, but the devil is in the details. Missing a couple small things could end up costing you. In this Friday Q&A, we answer the following questions: How are dividends taxed in different account types? If I do a Roth conversion, do I need to make estimated tax payments or can I just p…
…
continue reading

1
10 Retirement Hacks That Will Save You Money
29:07
29:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:07There are a few simple ways to save money in retirement and keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket. In this episode, I share 10 hacks that will help you save money and reduce taxes in retirement. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email! Submit your…
…
continue reading

1
Recession-Proof Your Portfolio By Doing THIS
11:39
11:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:39What if the market tanks right after you retire? It's important to be prepared and have a plan in place for the 'what-ifs' that could happen. In this weeks Friday Q&A, I answer Carolina's question and share how I like to build portfolios that are recession-proof. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅ If you want the I…
…
continue reading

1
Why You Should STOP Doing Roth Conversions
14:56
14:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:56Roth conversions might be causing you to pay more in taxes compared to simply not doing any Roth conversions. In this episode, I explain how RMDs and your future tax rate could be much lower than the tax rate you would pay today on any Roth conversions you do. Roth is great, but it isn't always better. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewe…
…
continue reading

1
Planning for Travel Expenses in Retirement? Ask Yourself These Questions
9:22
9:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:22Trying to figure out how to plan for travel expenses in retirement? That's the question that I address on this week's Friday Q&A. I share a few things to consider as you plan how much you are going to spend on travel in retirement. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send …
…
continue reading

1
This is the BEST Way To Do Roth Conversions
14:55
14:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:55What if you could do a Roth conversion completely tax-free? Would you even believe me if I said this was possible? In this episode, I share how you can use a charitable gifting strategy in tandem with your Roth conversions to eliminate the taxes on the conversion. It's like magic, but it's not... It's just strategy! 👉 Book a call with me: https://w…
…
continue reading

1
How To Plan For Long-Term Care in Retirement
12:51
12:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:51Long-term care planning is difficult to figure out. There is no "right" way to do it because some prefer to self insure while others prefer to purchase insurance. In this Friday Q&A, I address Theresa's question about long-term care planning and how I think about it. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅ If you want t…
…
continue reading

1
Stock Market Crash? Take Advantage of These 3 Opportunities
18:01
18:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:01The stock market might be taking a hit, but that doesn't mean there aren't opportunities out there. In fact, it's times like these the top 1% make the smartest moves. In this episode, I share 3 opportunities that you can take advantage of during market crashes. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅ If you want the Imp…
…
continue reading
You've been investing throughout your entire career and trying to grow your portfolio so you are ready for retirement. But what happens to your investments when get to retirement? Should you make a bunch of changes? Should you be more conservative? Join me as I discuss how to approach investing during retirement and a few different things you need …
…
continue reading

1
DO THIS To Spend Confidently in Retirement
15:59
15:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:59The fear and unknowns of retirement make it hard for most retirees to spend confidently. In fact, I think spending with confidence in retirement might be the hardest thing to do. Will you run out of money? Are you spending too much? What if the market crashes and you never recover? All of the "what ifs" lead to under spending in the prime retiremen…
…
continue reading

1
Sequence of Returns Risk: Should You Retire During a Recession?
19:14
19:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:14What happens if the market goes down dramatically right when I retire? That's a big question on most retirees & pre-retirees minds, so in this episode, I walk through how you can combat this risk and what you should do to be prepared. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, se…
…
continue reading

1
Roth IRA 5-Year Rules & A Little Known Fact You Should Know About
9:58
9:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:58In this episode, I share the two Roth IRA 5-year rules that you should know about. Additionally, I provide a HUGE tip that will help you out when doing Roth conversions in retirement. (Most people don't know this) 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email! Submi…
…
continue reading
If you can have these 6 things figured out by the time you are 60, your retirement will be that much more successful and enjoyable. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email! Submit your question to have it answered on the podcast: https://www.rivertreewealth.co…
…
continue reading
If you aren't paying attention, a huge tax bomb could arise later in retirement. This tax bomb comes in the form of RMDs... But finding ways to minimize your RMDs will help lower your lifetime tax bill. Most people only look at RMDs at surface level, but these forced distributions impact other items such as Social Security taxation and IRMAA, to na…
…
continue reading

1
Every Retirement Plan Has This MAJOR Problem
14:03
14:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
14:03As you approach retirement, you likely want to have everything planned out perfectly... When you are going to start taking Social Security? When to do Roth conversions? How to use tax-gain harvesting? What your portfolio allocation should be? And so on The good news is you aren't alone in your desire to have it all figured out before you jump in re…
…
continue reading

1
5 Hidden Costs That Catch Retirees Off Guard
17:23
17:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:23Do you ever wonder what you might be missing as you plan for retirement? There's so much to think about and plan for that certain things can easily slip through the cracks. In this episode, I share 5 hidden costs that catch retirees off-guard based on what my clients have told me. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅…
…
continue reading

1
The Complete Guide to Backdoor Roth IRA Contributions (And Common Mistakes to Avoid)
22:54
22:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:54The Backdoor Roth might be the greatest tax loophole for high income individuals… But 99% of people have no idea how to do it correctly. So, in this episode, I’m going to tell you exactly how to do a backdoor Roth contribution without messing it up. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅ If you want the Important Numbe…
…
continue reading

1
6 Common Tax Mistakes Most Retirees Make (And How to Avoid Them)
27:36
27:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:36Taxes could very easily be your largest expense in retirement. So, having a strategic tax plan might prove to be the most important thing you can do. In this episode, I share 6 common tax mistakes retirees make around withdrawals, Roth conversions, capital gains, & Social Security. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started …
…
continue reading

1
Create Up To $126k of TAX-FREE Income in 2025 Using Tax-Gain Harvesting
12:27
12:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:27Wait... You're telling me I can sell $126k of gains in my brokerage account and pay no tax on those gains? Yes! (And the best part is... it's legal) Join me as I share how tax-gain harvesting works so you can learn how to implement this tax savings strategy yourself. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅ If you want t…
…
continue reading

1
Every Good Retirement Plan Includes These 6 Things
28:11
28:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:11How do you know if your retirement plan is good or not? And what are the different things you need to include in your plan? That's what I discuss in this episode because I share 6 things that every good retirement plan includes. 👉 Book a call with me: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started ✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me …
…
continue reading

1
If You Want to Retire in 2025, Do These 5 Things First
22:20
22:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
22:20As you prepare for you upcoming retirement, there a few thing you can do to give you the best chance at the retirement of your dreams. In this episode, I share 5 things (plus a bonus tip) that you should BEFORE you retire to help you make the most of your new adventure and rest at night knowing your money is taken care of. Enjoy! 👉 Book a call with…
…
continue reading

1
8 Common Mistakes That Could Ruin Your Retirement
25:15
25:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:15There are plenty of mistakes that can be made when planning for retirement, so I want to warn you about 8 common mistakes that I see. We will talk about the importance of knowing your true spending number, understanding the impact of inflation on retirement spending, balancing investment strategies, planning for taxes, timing Social Security, evalu…
…
continue reading

1
The TRUTH About Social Security Taxation: How It Actually Works
23:05
23:05
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
23:05👉 Book a call with me 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started __________________________________ ✅ If you want the Important Numbers 2025 PDF, send me an email! Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobduke Social Security taxation is confusing for most... "Am I being…
…
continue reading
In this episode of the Friday Q&A, Jacob discusses a listener's dilemma of choosing between taking a lump sum or opting for a monthly pension in retirement. With a detailed inquiry involving health concerns, survivor benefits, and financial flexibility, the discussion delves into various factors such as fixed income, monthly expenses, Social Securi…
…
continue reading
Still trying to figure out when you are going to retire? Do you have a specific age in mind? It can be hard to decide and then actually go through with it because of the unknown and the "what-ifs" of retirement. But the biggest "what-if" in my opinion isn't what could go wrong in retirement... The biggest "what-if" is getting to the end of your lif…
…
continue reading

1
Friday Q&A: Why Am I So Anxious About Retirement?
6:07
6:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
6:07In this Friday Q&A, we tackle a common question from a soon-to-be retiree who is anxious about taking the leap into retirement despite strong financial standing. Discover the psychological challenges and mindset shifts necessary for a smooth transition into retirement. Need help planning for retirement? 👉 Get started today: https://www.rivertreewea…
…
continue reading

1
5 Strategies To Lower Your Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
16:35
16:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:35When you turn 73 or 75, you will be required to begin taking money from your tax-deferred IRAs, 401ks, 403bs, etc. This is through what is called Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). While RMDs aren't the worst thing ever, they can create some tax issues in the future if you don't plan accordingly. In this epsiode, I share 5 ways you can lower yo…
…
continue reading
In the first episode of the Friday Q&A series,I address a viewer's question about whether to pay off their house before retirement. The husband is close to retirement and considers using his ESOP to pay off their recently purchased home. I discuss the pros and cons of this decision, including tax implications and the importance of maintaining liqui…
…
continue reading

1
Should I Pay Off My Mortgage Before Retirement?
25:57
25:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:57One of the biggest factors in your ability to retire is whether or not you have debt. If you have no debt, retirement becomes that much easier. BUT does that mean you should pay off your mortgage before retirement at all costs? That's what I discuss in this episode. ——————————————————————————— Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https:/…
…
continue reading
"The market is at all-time highs! We are due for a recession! I'm going to wait for the next pullback..." These the statements we all tell ourselves, but we shouldn't follow our own hunches and opinions. This week, I am talking through a framework that you can use to help answer the question, "Is now a good time to buy stocks?" ————————————————————…
…
continue reading
Most people only think about the money side of retirement. Do I have enough? When should I start Social Security? Which account should I pull money from first? These are all important questions, but the personal and emotional side of retirement often gets overlooked because the financial questions are top of mind. I encourage you to ask yourself, "…
…
continue reading

1
Here's When You Should Do Roth Conversions
13:14
13:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:14Trying to figure out when you should do Roth conversions? In this episode, I share the optimal times to do Roth conversions so that you get the most out of this important tax minimization strategy. ——————————————————————————— Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started Email: [email protected]…
…
continue reading

1
How Much Cash Should I Hold in Retirement?
17:18
17:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:18How aggressive or conservative you should invest your money in retirement is a constant question in retirees' minds. How much risk should I take? Should I just use a standard 60/40 portfolio? How much cash should I have on hand? In this episode, I address this common question and provide a framework you can use to determine how much cash you should…
…
continue reading
IRMAA stands for Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. In short, it is a surcharge that can be added to your Medicare Part B & D premiums IF you earn to much money. I talk about IRMAA here on the podcast and with my clients because it is something we have to pay attention to so that it doesn't catch us off guard, but I feel like many view IRMAA…
…
continue reading

1
6 Reasons to Spend Your Roth IRA in Retirement
31:15
31:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:15Having a Roth IRA in retirement can be very powerful. It allows you to make tax-free distributions for retirement income and gives you flexibility around your tax brackets... But I've noticed one thing. I/we as financial planners often suggest taking from your Roth IRA last for income in retirement so it has more time to compound tax-free. While th…
…
continue reading

1
Navigating Market Volatility in Retirement
21:20
21:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:20It's not secret that sudden market declines can cause fear and anxiety in investors' minds. Recently, we've seen some volatility enter the markets and you might be wondering if you should make any changes to your portfolio. In this episode, I provide a framework and steps you can follow to navigate the emotions and uncertainties market volatility t…
…
continue reading

1
Watch Out for These 5 Investing Mistakes!
18:46
18:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:46Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started I've seen a common theme in almost every portfolio review I have done lately for prospective clients... I share that investing mistake and 4 others with you in this weeks episode! ——————————————————————————— Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com LinkedIn:…
…
continue reading

1
Tax-Savvy Retirement: Asset Location Explained
26:20
26:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:20Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started Tax planning is a huge part of building a successful retirement plan. You often hear about Roth conversions or tax-loss harvesting, but there is a simple way that EVERYONE can reduce there taxes each year... ASSET LOCATION. ——————————————————————————— Websit…
…
continue reading
Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) aren't the worst thing in the world, but they could force you to pay taxes you don't want to pay. In this episode, I share 5 ways to reduce your RMDs and take back control of your tax bill in retirement. —————————————————…
…
continue reading

1
Where Should I Pull Funds From First in Retirement?
16:19
16:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:19Book a free consultation to get started today 👉 https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started Not sure where to pull income from first in retirement? It can be a overwhelming to figure this out because of the impact your distributions have on other items in retirement such as Social Security taxes, RMDs, Medicare Premiums, and more. This week on the …
…
continue reading
Today, I'm sharing 7 reasons you shouldn't do Roth conversions... I hear about far too many people who are trying to do Roth conversions, but they shouldn't be doing any at all. Yes, Roth conversions are a power tax planning strategy for retirees, but it's not the best strategy for everyone. Creating a comprehensive plan that is unique to your situ…
…
continue reading

1
How Much Money Do You ACTUALLY Need To Retire?
15:49
15:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:49Need a custom retirement plan? 👉 Get started today: https://www.rivertreewealth.com/get-started Wondering if you have enough money saved up to retire comfortably in 2024? In this video, I provide a framework you can use to evaluate how much you need to live a worry-free retirement. ——————————————————————————— Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.co…
…
continue reading
One of the biggest questions around Social Security is, "Will I pay income taxes on my Social Security benefits?" I answer this very question, walk through an example, and share some tips on how you can lower your Social Security taxes in the future. ——————————————————————————— Website: https://www.rivertreewealth.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin…
…
continue reading
In recent years, there has been a growing concern around Social Security going insolvent. There are some truths to these concerns, but there are also many misunderstandings. The biggest misunderstanding is that Social Security will be going away entirely. The confusing part is that the Social Security trust fund could be running out in the future, …
…
continue reading
Estate planning is often a forgotten part of a financial plan, but there are a few steps you can take to start building your estate plan. It doesn't have to complicated, so I am sharing 3 must-haves to include in your estate plan. There are more elements to think about including in your estate plan, but these should get you started. ———————————————…
…
continue reading

1
Inherited IRA Rules EXPLAINED (10-Year Rule)
35:19
35:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:19So you inherited an IRA... But now what? Do you have to take all of the money out immediately? Over your lifetime? Within 10 years? The SECURE Act was instituted in 2020, but we are still trying to understand what the rules actually are for IRA inheritors. Prior to the SECURE Act, you could stretch the Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) over your…
…
continue reading
There are lots of opinions and ideas around how to properly plan for and live out a successful retirement. Today, I'mis sharing 8 do's & don'ts of retirement planning that I often run into when talking with prospective clients. Topics covered: - How to invest in retirement - How you can trust your plan - Why you should be proactive instead of react…
…
continue reading

1
How Do Presidents Impact the Stock Market?
12:23
12:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:23It's an election year! We will be choosing the next President of the United States later this Fall and times like this often raise a lot of questions in investors' minds. "Will the stock market go down is this person is elected?" "Should I get out entirely to avoid any turbulence?" "Which political party has the best track record when it comes to s…
…
continue reading