Ironclad Retirement

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, explains a strategy for retirees who are required to take RMDs but don’t actually need the income. Instead of letting that money sit (or spending it needlessly), he discusses redirecting a portion of the RMD into premiums for a life insurance policy. The result can be a much larger, tax-free death benefit for children, grandchildren,...

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, explains how annual gifting strategies can help families transfer wealth intentionally while watching the impact in real time. He discusses gifting limits, using 529 plans for education, and how certain rules can even allow leftover 529 funds to support a Roth IRA—turning giving into a multi-generational advantage.

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, explains how the SECURE Act changed inherited IRA rules, replacing the “stretch IRA” for many heirs with a 10-year payout requirement. He discusses how large inherited IRA distributions can push adult children into higher brackets during peak earning years—and why proactive legacy planning matters.

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, explains how unplanned withdrawals can trigger “tax torpedoes,” including higher Medicare premiums, higher taxable Social Security, and unexpected bracket jumps. They walk through how a major purchase (like a car) can cost far more than expected when taxes and IRMAA effects stack up.

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, and the host discuss the go-go, slow-go, and no-go seasons of retirement and why planning for later-life care matters. They explore how families can keep making memories even when travel becomes difficult—by bringing loved ones to you through staycations and intentional giving.

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, breaks down how retirees often underestimate spending needs and why retirement can cost as much—or more—than working years. He introduces his “Income Calibration System” and explains laddering income streams to help fight inflation and prevent running out of money.

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman,explains why many retirees struggle to spend—even when they can afford it—and how an intentional income strategy can replace fear with freedom. He and the host discuss creating reliable cash flow, building a “private pension,” and why a statement balance isn’t the same thing as a real plan.

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, discusses why many retirees skip vacations, say no to experiences, and hoard assets for heirs—only to have those assets often spent within about 18 months. Matt explains how predictable “mailbox money” can relieve anxiety and give clients permission to spend. Michael ties it back to the bigger goal of using money to create memories,...

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, introduces the “retirement multiplier” concept, arguing that the biggest risk in retirement isn’t the market—it’s how long you live. The longer your retirement lasts, the more chances you have to encounter downturns, health issues, and rising costs, making a long-term, resilient plan critical.

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, reframes traditional retirement accounts as IOUs to the IRS. He explains how contributions, employer matches, and all the growth inside those accounts are eventually taxed—and why many retirees overestimate how much of that balance they truly get to keep.

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, explains how structured income planning gives clients the psychological permission to spend, and shares a story of a couple with several million dollars who still felt paralyzed by fear. Michael compares retirement planning to dialing in a multi-digit lock—taxes, Social Security, market risk, and emotions all have to line up to unloc...

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, explains why so many retirement plans are built on “hopium” – optimistic assumptions about market returns, behavior, and timing – instead of hard math. He and Michael talk about structuring retirement so essential expenses are covered by reliable income sources, freeing you to invest and spend without constant anxiety.

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, explains that you don’t retire on a lump sum—you retire on steady, predictable income. He outlines how to lock in a base lifestyle with guaranteed, pension-like income and then layer on an “income calibration system” that builds in future raises to keep up with inflation. The goal: no more fear of running out of money, and no more gu...

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, shows how grandparents can ease the pressure on their adult children and set grandchildren up for a stronger financial future by funding education smartly. He explains how 529 plans reduce stress on the “sandwich generation,” and how new SECURE Act rules allow unused 529 money to be rolled into a Roth IRA—giving grandkids a huge head...

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman explore's the difference between inheritance and legacy. They discuss giving while living, funding experiences like trips and milestones, modeling wise money behavior, and starting traditions that can last for generations. Matt highlights how a written retirement plan frees you to be present instead of preoccupied.

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, gives a high-level overview of the SECURE Act and SECURE Act 2.0, focusing on practical implications instead of tax-code jargon. He covers new RMD ages, the 10-year rule for most inherited IRAs, expanded Roth features at work, and the powerful new ability to roll some unused 529 plan funds into a Roth IRA for the beneficiary.

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, shares how most inheritances in the U.S. are gone within about 18 months and explains why leaving large qualified (pre-tax) accounts to children can be one of the costliest ways to pass on wealth. He contrasts IRA/401(k) money with brokerage assets that get a step-up in basis and shows how to structure withdrawals and beneficiaries m...

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, explains that many retirees unintentionally spend huge chunks of their “golden years” managing accounts, bills, taxes, RMDs, Medicare choices, and paperwork. He shows how to outsource low-value tasks and build systems around income, RMDs, and Medicare so you can focus on memories and experiences instead of money chores. He unpacks wh...

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, breaks down the three jobs of retirement money—liquidity, growth, and safety of principal—and explains why no single account reliably delivers all three at once. Listeners will learn how common vehicles trade strengths: investment accounts provide access and growth potential but risk principal, savings and checking accounts keep mone...

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, unpacks “The Retirement Deception,” the dangerous assumption that you can keep doing in retirement what you did during your working years with your 401(k) and investments. Using a simple car analogy, they explain why accumulation and decumulation require different “vehicles,” how sequence of returns risk can wreck your plans, and why...

In this episode, Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman and Michael DeLon unpack the mental shift from decades of accumulation to the decumulation phase of retirement. They explore the real risks retirees face—longevity, markets, inflation, and long-term care—and show how a personalized income plan can turn fear into freedom so you actually enjoy the time you worked so har...

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, shares the benefits of giving during your lifetime instead of waiting until you pass away. Giving is not just financial.... Listen to this episode and you'll gain a new vision of generosity so you can be giving while you're living.

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, shares the strategy of deciding when to begin taking your Social Security benefits. There are many factors involved that you need to consider so that you can gain the greatest benefit in the short term and long term.

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, shares the truth about long-term care planning. Statistically, this will happen to 70% of people over 65 in some form. This is a must-listen-to episode so that you can prepare for the future properly.

Bestselling Author and Retirement Planning Expert, Matt Richman, shares how to create both Paychecks and Playchecks in retirement. Your regular income does not need to stop when you retire. In this episode, Matt explains more about creating your Retirement Paycheck.