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Our weekly show dedicated to giving you the confidence to make retirement the best part of your life.
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Got your bucket list ready to go? Been fattening up your 401k, maxing out your IRA contributions, calculating your social security pay-out? Then you’re ready to talk amongst friends, which is what The Retirement Equals Freedom Podcast is all about. This biweekly conversation features Josh Bretl, a CPA, Senior Advisor, and owner of FSR Wealth Strategies who shares financial planning tips and informative insights gleaned over two decades of helping clients achieve their retirement dreams. A lo ...
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041: Market Volatility's Impact on Social Security
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In this episode of The Own Your Retirement Show, Josh Bretl discusses recent market volatility and it's potential impact on social security, as well as the emotional and financial complexities involved in transitioning to a new financial advisor, especially during the retirement phase. He highlights the use of a well-crafted "current advisor letter…
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040: Creating Dependable Retirement Income & Recent Market Volatility
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In this episode of "The Own Your Retirement Show," host Josh Bretl discusses tariffs and their impact on the economy and individual retirement planning. Josh explains the concept of tariffs and how they can affect the cost of goods imported into the U.S., using the example of the baking industry to illustrate potential cost increases for consumers.…
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039: Planning for Your Financial Future - Retirement, Travel, Legacy & More!
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In this episode of "The Own Your Retirement Show," host Josh Bretl dives deep into the intricacies of retirement planning. Josh starts off discussing the multifaceted aspects of retirement, including the importance of seeking professional guidance to answer critical questions about when and how to retire. The conversation then transitions into a li…
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038: Navigating Market Volatility and Hidden Retirement Obstacles
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In this episode of the Own Your Retirement Show, host Josh Bretl dives into various challenges and strategies associated with planning for retirement. The discussion kicks off with a heartwarming analogy about rock climbing, which Josh uses to illustrate the hard work and preparation needed for retirement. This narrative establishes a broader theme…
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037: Navigating Retirement Amidst Market Volatility & Tax Challenges
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In this episode of the "Own Your Retirement Show," Josh Bretl dives into the complexities of retirement planning amidst market volatility and political uncertainties. They begin the discussion by highlighting the significance of community celebrations in Chicago, particularly St. Patrick's Day, which serves as a metaphor for rejuvenation and new be…
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036: Planning for the Future of Taxes & Timeless Advice
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In this episode of the "Own Your Retirement Show," hosts Mark Elliott and Josh Bretl, President of FSR Wealth Strategies, delve into the intricacies of retirement planning and the impact of taxation. Josh shares personal anecdotes about family trips and sledding adventures, highlighting the importance of creating lasting memories. They discuss the …
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035: Balancing Family and Finances - Planning for a Secure Retirement
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In this episode of the Own Your Retirement Show, hosts Mark Elliott and Josh Bretl, the president of FSR Wealth Strategies, dive into the complexities of retirement planning. They address a host of foundational questions, such as "Can I retire?" and "Will my money last as long as I need it to?" They emphasize the importance of understanding your fi…
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In this episode of the Own Your Retirement Show, Mark Elliott and Josh Bretl, President of FSR Wealth Strategies, dive into the intricacies of retirement planning. They address common concerns like whether you can afford to retire, how to ensure your money lasts, and when the right time to retire might be. Listeners are treated to Josh's light-hear…
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033: Retirement Regrets and 2025-2026 Tax Implications
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The "Own Your Retirement Show" hosted by Josh Bretl, president of FSR Wealth Strategies, and Mark Elliott provides valuable insights into retirement planning. This episode centered on understanding key retirement concerns, from managing income, investments, taxes, and healthcare to addressing emotional aspects and practical challenges retirees face…
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032: Retirement Unknowns and Scams to Watch Out For!
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The latest episode of the Own Your Retirement Show with hosts Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott takes listeners on an insightful exploration of retirement planning, focusing on key unknowns and avoiding common regrets. The episode begins with Josh sharing a heartfelt personal story about celebrating his 20th wedding anniversary, skillfully tying it into …
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031: 2025 Plans & Resolutions + The Twin Threats of Taxes & Inflation
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The "Own Your Retirement Show," hosted by Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott, dives deep into financial planning strategies designed to help individuals prepare for a successful retirement. This episode kicks off with the hosts catching up on memorable holiday experiences, including Josh's exciting family trip to a Chicago Bulls game. While reminiscing ab…
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030: Being Forced Into an Early Retirement and the Retirement Naughty & Nice List
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This episode of “The Own Your Retirement Show” hosted by Mark Elliott and Josh Bretl of FSR Wealth Strategies dives into crucial aspects of retirement planning, with a focus on creating a comprehensive strategy for income, taxes, healthcare, and legacy. The hosts discuss the importance of proactive year-end tax planning, especially with upcoming ch…
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029: Risks in Retirement and Throwback to 1975
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The "Own Your Retirement" radio show, hosted by Mark Elliott and Josh Bretl of FSR Wealth Strategies, offers listeners insightful discussions and actionable advice on retirement planning. This episode highlights the challenges modern retirees face, like the lack of pensions compared to past generations and the increasing cost of living. Mark and Jo…
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028: Financial Habits to Break and Four Questions About Retirement
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Any time is a good time to break a bad habit. Whether you want to make improvements in your routine at home, your job performance at work, with your physical health or your financial health, the time to make a positive change for your future … is right now. Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott discuss avoiding complacency and other bad habits in retirement …
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027: Bitcoin, Investing and Retirement Planning
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This "Own Your Retirement Show" episode covers a wide range of financial and retirement planning topics, with hosts Mark Elliott and Josh Bretl, President of FSR Wealth Strategies, leading the discussion. The duo kicked off the show with a lighthearted conversation about Josh's family's trip to see the musical Annie, tying themes of optimism from t…
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026: Family, Finances and the Importance of Understanding the Value of Money in Retirement
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The "Own Your Retirement" show, hosted by Mark Elliott and Josh Bretl of FSR Wealth Strategies, focuses on guiding listeners through the complexities of planning for retirement. This episode covers key topics like financial planning, retirement stages, and the importance of understanding the value and purpose of money. Josh shares engaging stories …
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025: Growing Government Debt and a Future with Potential Higher Taxes
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The "Own Your Retirement Show," hosted by Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott, tackles a variety of important financial topics to help retirees and pre-retirees take control of their financial futures. The show kicks off with a personal and heartwarming story from Josh about a father-daughter camping weekend, demonstrating the value of building meaningful …
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024: The FSR Wealth Client Experience & Timeless Advice
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The "Own Your Retirement Show," hosted by Josh Bretl, President of FSR Wealth Strategies, and Mark Elliott, focuses on guiding listeners through the complexities of retirement planning. The episode discusses the importance of taking control over your retirement by planning for income, investments, taxes, healthcare, and legacy management. Josh emph…
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023: Election Results Impact on Your Retirement & Balancing Your Portfolio
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The "Own Your Retirement Show" hosted by Mark Elliott and Josh Bretl, President of FSR Wealth Strategies, focuses on providing insights into retirement planning. The episode discusses the impact of political changes, like Trump's election victory, on financial portfolios and tax strategies. The hosts emphasize the importance of adapting to potentia…
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022: Weddings, The Election, Social Security, End of Year Taxes and The Own Your Retirement Process
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The "Own Your Retirement Show" offers valuable insights for retirees and pre-retirees navigating the complexities of retirement planning. Hosted by Josh Bretl, President of FSR Wealth Strategies, and Mark Elliott, the show provides expert advice on transitioning from the accumulation phase to the spending phase of retirement. It covers essential to…
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021: Rolling Over IRAs and Falling Interest Rates
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The "Own Your Retirement Show," hosted by Mark Elliott and Josh Bretl, offers invaluable insights for pre-retirees navigating the complexities of retirement planning. In the latest episode, the hosts discuss crucial topics such as rolling over 401(k) plans into IRAs and emphasizing common mistakes that could result in significant financial losses. …
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020: Preserving and Optimizing Your 401K in Retirement
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Preparing for retirement and relying on a 401(k) means it's essential to preserve and optimize these funds for income, and how to handle them and taxes in retirement and more.By Josh Bretl
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019: Approaching 2025, Optimizing Social Security and Time Machine 1990
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Changes and other things to keep note of ahead of the end of 2024 and the start of 2025. Optimizing your social security in retirement and a flashback to 1990 in the time machine and what it can teach with past lessons.By Josh Bretl
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018: Fed Cutting Rates, Taking Control of YOUR Retirement & Mailbag Questions
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Interest rates are on the move again, with the Fed’s recent vote to cut rates. We've all experienced a series of unprecedented events in recent years, so we discuss what YOU can be doing RIGHT NOW to help take back control of your financial future. Bonus: Mailbag questions on retirement.By Josh Bretl
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017: Retirement Savings Regret, Retirement Planning for Women, and Taxes Trivia
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There can be regret with not saving enough for retirement or actions in retirement. We discuss how to handle that, in addition to some keys to know with retirement planning for women and couples. Plus, trivia on taxes and tax history.By Josh Bretl
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016: Making Retirement Money Last and Time Machine 2008
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How to help your retirement money last after lots of savings and efforts to get it there. Plus, flashback to 2008 and what the time machine can teach us.By Josh Bretl
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015: Social Security Viability Long-Term, Risks in Retirement & Scams to Watch Out For
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No matter what your retirement plan looks like, if you’re like most people, it’s very likely that Social Security is an important part of it – but do you feel confident about Social Security going into retirement? Do you think you’ll be able to rely on it? According to a new survey, most Americans don’t. What risks do you need to be careful of reti…
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014: Four Questions About Retirement and Timeless Advice
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Four key questions in retirement to have you prepared, plus timeless historical advice that can help you with your finances and retirement.By Josh Bretl
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013: Retirement is Here for the Baby Boomers & Coming Up for Gen X
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Talking about retirement for the baby boomer generation as well as the upcoming Gen X who is right around the corner in planning for their retirement. Plus mailbag questions about financials and more.By Josh Bretl
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012: Retirement Surge, Secure Act 2.0 and Timeless Advice
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A retirement surge with 65-year-olds is coming. Plus the secure act 2.0 and what it means for your retirement. And timeless advice through the years that can help you in your financial and retirement dreams.By Josh Bretl
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011: Special Market Headlines, The Five Financial Stages of Life & Listener Questions
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If you have market investments as part of your financial plan, then some of the recent financial headlines have undoubtedly caught your attention and how it could affect your retirement of financial plan. Plus, the five financial stages in life leading to retirement and questions from listeners.By Josh Bretl
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010: Social Security in 2025 + Making Your Money Work for You + Trivia
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2025 is right around the corner and plenty of financial decisions are ahead, including what the cost-of-living adjustments will be for social security. How to make your money work for you with savings in retirement. Trivia on social security. Plus, what you'd do differently if you could go back and hole-in-ones!…
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009: Reasons to Fire Your Advisor & Top 5 Retirement Questions
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What are some reasons to look for a new financial advisor and get rid of your old one, and what's the best way to go about the process? Plus, the top five questions facing you in retirement planning.By Josh Bretl
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008: Three Risks That Could Hurt You in Retirement
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There are several big risks to your money that could have a negative impact on you in retirement as you plan for your financial future.By Josh Bretl
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007: Election 2024 on Your Retirement, Planning for Large IRAs & Financial Olympics
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As we grind closer to Election Day 2024, how do we sort through the campaign promises and political rhetoric and how it impacts your finances and retirement? Planning for the taxes and everything that goes with retiring to a large IRA. And what the Olympics can teach us about retirement and finances ahead of Paris 2024.…
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006: Late Medical Expenses in Retirement & Top 5 Things to Avoid When You Retire
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Most people are worried about becoming a burden on their family or being unable to afford nursing home care later in life. Are you one of them? Plus, discussing financial risk and our behavior as retirees and the top five things to avoid doing when your retire.By Josh Bretl
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005: High Interest Rates & Planning for the Worst and Hoping for the Best
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Today’s higher interest rates won’t last forever. So what money moves have you made to capitalize on them? And planning for the worst expenses in retirement like long-term care versus hoping for the best.By Josh Bretl
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004: Financial Independence and the Three Stages of Retirement
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Retirement can mean the freedom to do what you want to do when you want to do it for as long as you can. How does that impact your finances and how is it dependent on which of the three stages of retirement you are in from the go-go, slow-go to the no-go years.By Josh Bretl
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Josh Bretl discusses uncertainty and nervousness ahead of retirement, as well as preserving your retirement savings from taxes. Plus, the top five taboo topics of retirement to discuss.By Josh Bretl
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002: Unplanned Retirement Costs and Preserving Your Retirement From Taxes
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You probably know what you should plan to spend on housing, vacations and groceries in retirement. But are you ready for all the unplanned costs in retirement? Plus, preserving those retirement savings with taxes and the ever-changing economic climate. Finishing the show off with the Top 5 Taboo Topics in retirement.…
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When you build your financial house, where do you start and what makes up the essential parts of a house? How does it all work together in creating your retirement and financial plan?By Josh Bretl
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000: The Own Your Retirement Show with Josh Bretl - Trailer
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The "Own Your Retirement" show, hosted by Mark Elliott and Josh Bretl of FSR Wealth Strategies, focuses on guiding listeners through the complexities of planning for retirement. Enjoy the trailer, and be sure to subscribe to our show!By Josh Bretl
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041: Annuities Part 2 - Because Some Is Never Enough!
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Sometimes investment decisions (like saving for retirement) are black and white. No nuance or downsides. But when it comes to annuities, there are shades of grey that The Retirement Equals Freedom Podcast is here to help you understand. On this second of two parts, Host Josh Bretl shares FSR Wealth Strategies’ take on when, how and why certain annu…
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040: What’s Annuities Got to Do With It? - Part 1
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Annuities! For years now they’ve been dissed, maligned and misunderstood … which is why we’re setting the record straight on this episode of Retirement Equals Freedom. Host Josh Bretl, owner of FSR Wealth Strategies, explains why this particular investment vehicle has gotten a bad rap (Co-Host Dave Schmidt can relate) and how to educate ourselves o…
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039: Choosing the Right Retirement Financial Advisor: A Checklist for Success
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Clarity. Simplicity. Certainty. When it comes to turning our finances over to an expert, these are the three guiding lights that Host Josh Bretl, founder of FSR Wealth Strategies, wants us to keep in mind. Retirement planning represents a different phase of life and requires the right expertise, which is why this episode of Retirement Equals Freedo…
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038: When It Comes to Taxes, It’s All in the Planning!
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When it comes to Tax Prep versus Tax Planning? Hands down, planning is king! Host Josh Bretl, founder of FSR Wealth, is showing us the difference between putting together the info we need to file our taxes (always a short-term nuisance!) and positioning ourselves to minimize what we actually owe when April 15th rolls around (a long-term proposition…
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037: Waking Up to Bank Failures and What It All Means
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It’s been a bumpy ride for banks lately – but context is everything! That’s why Josh Bretl, our fearless host and founder of FSR Wealth Strategies, is here to decode the collapse in recent weeks of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic. When we talk about these bank failures and the role of the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.…
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Medicare. The beauty and the terror! This episode of Retirement Equals Freedom features a first-ever guest, David Wylly of Medicare Solutions Network, who is here to liberate us from our fear of the unknown! Host Josh Bretl, Founder of FSR Wealth Solutions, runs through a list of key questions covering everything we need to know about this federal …
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Medicare with all its parts and options intimidates a lot of us – with good reason. But Host Josh Bretl, Founder of FSR Wealth, and his prize pupil, Co-Host Dave Schmidt, have got our backs! In the first of what will be a two-part blockbuster, the Retirement Equals Freedom team is bringing us the ins and outs of a federal health care benefit from w…
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034: FSR’s Mic Drop Mission Statement 2.0
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From its inception, the Retirement Equals Freedom Podcast has been laser-focused on providing practical info to help folks prepare for their golden years. But on this very special episode Host Josh Bretl, founder of FSR Wealth Strategies, is letting us in on a secret! As he and Co-Host Dave Schmidt explain, their team’s positive energy and client s…
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