Retire Early Podcast

After decades of careful retirement planning, a hidden danger could upend your entire strategy: underestimating inflation. Many retirees are shocked to realize their savings may not last as long as they hoped—simply because their plans didn't keep pace with rising costs. In this episode, Sam Benson and Linwood Fraher dig into why inflation is called the "silent tax," what it really means for your...

Retirement can seem straightforward when it's decades away—you split your paycheck between living expenses and 401(k) contributions and throw money at the problem. But once you're five years out, you need to plan more intentionally. If you want to retire early and smoothly, your mindset and action list have to shift.   In this episode, Sam Benson and Linwood Fraher break down exactly what to solve...

When John D. Rockefeller built his fortune, he created the first family office to navigate the complexities of great wealth—a team of experts to manage all the details that came with it. Retirement, as Sam Benson and Linwood Fraher discuss, is much the same: the strategies that served you while you were accumulating savings might not be enough anymore.   If you’re approaching retirement, you’re fa...

You’ve worked hard, saved diligently, and finally reached retirement, or you’re nearly there. But it can feel hard to shift from saving to truly enjoying your money. In this episode, Sam Benson and Linwood Fraher dig into the real-life questions and anxieties that keep retirees from booking bucket-list trips, updating their homes, or enjoying the things they've dreamed of for decades. They discuss...

Retiring at age 55 can significantly affect your future Social Security benefits, since official benefit estimates assume you will keep working and earning at your current level until retirement. Stopping work early introduces zero-income years into your record, which can reduce your calculated payout.   In this episode of the podcast, Sam Benson and Linwood Fraher explain how Social Security bene...

A 401(k) with its complex rules and withdrawal limits can often leave early retirees feeling restricted. Managing it unprepared means navigating strict government regulations, taxes, and penalties right when you want to access your funds for retirement.   In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, Sam Benson and Lynwood Freyer discuss why 401(k) accounts have strict rules and how early retirees...

Receiving a large inheritance can completely change your financial picture—but it can also create new risks, tax considerations, family complications, and emotional pressure. In this episode of Retire Early, Sam Benson and Linwood Frayer discuss how to prepare for a potential inheritance before it arrives and what to do after receiving it. They explain why you shouldn’t reduce your savings or incr...

One of the most common and difficult questions anyone nearing their target retirement date faces is, “Should I wait just one more year to retire?” Retirement is a major life transition, and working an extra 12 months can profoundly affect both your financial security and your personal life.   In this episode of Retire Early, Sam Benson and Lynwood Freyer discuss the pros and cons of delaying retir...

One of the biggest questions facing anyone who wants to retire before age 65 is simple: What do you do about health insurance? Leaving your job often means leaving employer-sponsored health coverage behind — but Medicare may still be years away. That gap can become one of the largest expenses in an early retirement plan. In this episode of Retire Early, Sam Benson and Linwood Fraher break down thr...

The decisions you make with your investments as you approach retirement can have consequences that last for decades. In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, Certified Financial Planners Sam Benson and Linwood Fraher discuss three of the biggest investment mistakes they see people make heading into retirement, and how planning ahead can help you avoid them. The conversation begins with the sto...

In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, financial advisors Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions address a common question among people approaching retirement: Should I retire now or work one more year? Sam and Linwood explain how an additional year of work could affect several parts of a retirement plan. Working longer may provide another year of income, retirement accou...

In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, financial advisors Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions discuss why many early retirees end up paying more in taxes than necessary—and what they can do to avoid it. Sam and Linwood explain that retirement creates unique tax planning opportunities, but without a strategy, retirees can unknowingly increase their tax bill. They discus...

In this episode of the Retire Early podcast, financial advisors Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions discuss the warning signs that may indicate you are not quite ready to retire. Retirement readiness involves more than reaching a certain age or account balance. Sam and Linwood explain why retirees also need a dependable income plan, a clear understanding of their expenses, a...

In this episode of the Retire Early podcast, financial advisors Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions discuss why earning six figures does not always translate into feeling financially secure. As income rises, spending often increases alongside it, leaving many high earners wondering why they are not making more progress toward their financial goals. Sam and Linwood explore ho...

In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, financial advisors Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions discuss a situation many long-time employees eventually face: having a large portion of their retirement savings tied up in company stock. Sam and Linwood explain the risks of being overly concentrated in a single investment—even if it's the company you've worked for and belie...

In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, financial advisors and retirement planners Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions answer one of the most common questions from aspiring early retirees: How can you retire before age 59½ without paying unnecessary penalties? Sam and Linwood explain that while many retirement accounts have age-based withdrawal rules, there are several...

In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, financial advisors and retirement planners Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions discuss the unique challenges and opportunities couples face when there is a significant age difference between spouses. Sam and Linwood explain how an age gap can affect retirement timing, Social Security strategies, healthcare planning, income needs,...

In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, financial advisors Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions share six practical travel tips to help retirees and soon-to-be retirees enjoy their adventures with greater confidence and less stress. Travel is one of the biggest goals many people have for retirement, but successful trips require more than booking flights and packing bags....

In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, financial advisors Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions continue their discussion on one of the most misunderstood estate planning tools: trusts. Building on the foundation from Part 1, Sam and Linwood dive deeper into how trusts function, who controls assets within a trust, and the practical benefits trusts can provide for familie...

In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, financial advisors and retirement planners Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions begin a two-part discussion on one of the most misunderstood estate planning tools: trusts. Sam and Linwood break down the basics of what a trust is, how it works, and why it can play an important role in protecting assets, simplifying estate administra...

In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, financial advisors Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions answer listener questions on three important financial topics: inheritance trusts, annuities, and initial public offerings (IPOs). Sam and Linwood break down how inheritance trusts can help protect assets and provide direction for future generations, discuss when annuities may...

In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, financial advisors and retirement planners Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions discuss the habits and behaviors they often see in people who quietly build significant wealth over time. Sam and Linwood explain that many millionaires don't look the way people expect. Rather than flashy lifestyles or risky investment strategies, last...

In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, financial advisors and retirement planners Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions discuss how to help ensure your assets ultimately go to the people you intend them for. Sam and Linwood explain that protecting wealth isn’t just about growing it — it’s also about structuring accounts, beneficiaries, estate documents, and ownership cor...

In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, financial advisors and retirement planners Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions discuss one of the biggest financial decisions many retirees will ever make: what to do with a pension. Sam and Linwood explain why pension elections deserve careful analysis and how rushing the decision can create long-term consequences. They walk thro...

In this episode of the Retire Early Podcast, financial advisors and retirement planners Sam Benson & Linwood Fraher of Martin Wealth Solutions tackle an important — and often overlooked — question: how much of your wealth will your heirs actually receive? Sam and Linwood explain that the number you see on your account statement is rarely what ultimately gets passed on. They walk through how ta...