The Retirement Solution

Could a few financial moves before December 31st have a bigger impact than you realize? In this episode, Jon Hicks discusses year-end retirement planning opportunities, including maximizing 401(k) contributions, catch-up contributions, Roth accounts, Roth conversions, and capital gains strategies. He explains why the final months of the year can be an important time to evaluate income, tax bracket...

Are the retirement rules you've followed for years quietly steering you in the wrong direction? In this episode, Jon Hicks examines several long-standing retirement rules of thumb, including the 4% rule, the belief that your home is your retirement plan, and the idea that the market always comes back. He explains why retirement planning looks different today and discusses the importance of alignin...

Could the inheritance you leave behind create tax headaches your family never expected? In this episode, Jon Hicks explores how inherited IRA rules have changed under the SECURE Act and what that could mean for children and grandchildren who inherit retirement accounts. He discusses the role of trusts, wealth transfer strategies, gifting while living, tax considerations for beneficiaries, and why...

Could your biggest retirement challenge be the success you've already achieved? In this episode from this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks discusses how market uncertainty, rising account balances, and large tax-deferred retirement accounts can create unexpected decisions in retirement. He explores balancing growth, income, and protection, how required minimum distributions can affect ta...

Think retirement planning ends once you reach your 70s? Think again. In this episode of the Retirement Solution Podcast, Jon Hicks discusses key financial moves retirees should consider after age 70, including qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), Roth conversions before required minimum distributions (RMDs), long-term care planning, and estate and legacy strategies. The conversation explores...

What if the biggest threat to your retirement plan isn't the market, but the decisions you make when fear takes over? In this episode from this past weekend's radio show, Jon Hicks discusses investor anxiety despite strong markets, strategies for managing risk, the importance of tax-smart planning, and why asset location can matter as much as asset allocation. He also explores a key retirement que...

What do you do when stocks look expensive, bonds seem less appealing, and cash is sitting on the sidelines? In this episode, Jon Hicks explores the challenge investors face in today’s market environment and discusses alternative strategies that may balance growth opportunities with risk management. The conversation covers market valuations, interest rates, historical market comparisons, prin...

Could inflation, taxes, and missed retirement opportunities be quietly costing you more than you realize? In this episode from this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks discusses how rising interest rates and inflation can affect retirement income, why age 70 can unlock important planning opportunities, and how strategies like qualified charitable distributions and Roth conversions may fit i...

Could a simple retirement withdrawal trigger a chain reaction of taxes you never expected? In this episode, Jon Hicks explains how retirement income decisions can affect Social Security taxation, Medicare premiums, capital gains, and Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). He discusses why taxes can "stack" in retirement, the importance of understanding key planning windows before RMD age, and how...

What would you do if a sudden windfall landed in your bank account tomorrow? On this episode from this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks discusses the biggest mistakes people make when receiving a bonus, inheritance, business sale payout, or other financial windfall. He explains why new money should fit into an existing retirement strategy, highlights potential tax pitfalls, and shares th...

What does the collapse of Columbia House have to do with your retirement plan? In this episode, Jon Hicks explores how a single faulty assumption can create challenges, whether in business or retirement. He discusses the importance of stress-testing retirement plans against inflation, market downturns, Social Security changes, healthcare costs, and income withdrawals. Jon explains why retirees sho...

What matters more than predicting the next market correction? Having a plan for when it arrives. From this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks discusses why investors often spend too much time focusing on market forecasts and not enough time preparing for downturns. He explains the importance of income planning, portfolio protection strategies, account consolidation, and tax efficiency. The...

Saving for retirement may be the easy part, but what happens when it’s time to turn those savings into income? In this episode of the Retirement Solution Podcast, Jon Hicks discusses why many DIY investors encounter challenges as retirement approaches. The conversation covers healthcare costs, Social Security planning, unexpected expenses, tax efficiency, income distribution strategies, and...

Could the upcoming midterm elections create more market volatility than investors expect? In this episode, Jon Hicks discusses how markets often react to uncertainty surrounding election years and why retirement planning should focus on preparation rather than predictions. Using a "roof on the house" analogy, he explains the importance of stress testing a portfolio, understanding potential risks,...

Could election headlines, rising national debt, and speculative investments distract you from what matters most in retirement planning? From this past weekend's radio show, Jon Hicks discusses how markets often react to uncertainty surrounding midterm elections, why having a plan may matter more than predictions, and what the growing national debt could mean for future tax considerations. He also...

Could future tax changes have a bigger impact on your retirement than market volatility? In this episode, Jon Hicks discusses how evolving tax laws can affect long-term retirement planning and why proactive tax analysis remains an important part of a retirement strategy. Using a proposed New York property tax as an example, John explores how government policies can change over time and what retire...

Are you sacrificing your retirement to help pay for someone else’s future? From this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks discusses the growing cost of college, the tradeoffs parents and grandparents face when helping fund education, and why retirement savings should remain a priority. He also explores the rise of Roth accounts among younger investors, strategies retirees may evaluate...

Could the first few years of retirement have a bigger impact on your financial future than decades of investing? In this episode, Jon Hicks discusses recession indicators, market uncertainty, and the concept of sequence of returns risk. He explains why market downturns early in retirement can affect income strategies differently than they do during the accumulation years, and why retirement planni...

Could rising interest rates, business valuation risks, and changing tax laws have a bigger impact on your retirement than market headlines? From this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks discusses how retirees and pre-retirees can navigate inflation concerns, interest rate uncertainty, and retirement income planning. He also explores challenges facing small business owners preparing for an e...

Are everyday investors smarter than Wall Street gives them credit for? On this episode, Jon Hicks explores the idea of "dumb money" versus professional investors and what it means for retirement planning. He discusses buying market dips, the risks of investing during periods of high valuations, and why retirement investors should think differently about risk than those still accumulating wealth. J...

Could a simple mid-year review reveal risks and opportunities that could affect your retirement strategy? From this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks discusses why the middle of the year may be the ideal time to revisit your financial plan. He explains how inflation, interest rates, portfolio assumptions, cash holdings, taxes, and required minimum distributions can influence retirement ou...

Could a little-known Roth strategy help high earners add more money to a tax-advantaged retirement account? In this episode, Jon Hicks breaks down the concept of the backdoor Roth IRA and explains how it works, who may benefit, and the common mistakes that can create unintended tax consequences. He discusses contribution limits, conversion strategies, asset allocation, and why personalized plannin...

What if the biggest risk to your retirement isn't market volatility, but failing to adapt to change? From this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks discusses how evolving technology, artificial intelligence, and shifting market trends may affect retirement planning. He explains why critical thinking still matters, how emotions play a role in retirement decisions, and what investors should wa...

What if trying to predict the market is the very thing putting your retirement at risk? In this episode, Jon Hicks discusses why market forecasts can be tempting but difficult to act on successfully. Learn why market timing requires getting two decisions right, how emotional reactions can impact long-term outcomes, and why focusing on income, protection, and tax efficiency may matter more than pre...

What happens if retirement arrives before you're ready? This episode from this past weekend’s radio show explores how unexpected life events, job loss, health challenges, and changing priorities can reshape retirement plans. Jon Hicks discusses real-world cases of workers forced into early retirement, strategies for handling Social Security decisions, and ways to avoid costly tax mistakes. T...