Coffee with Your Retirement Coach

Estate planning mistakes can create serious problems for families. Outdated documents, beneficiary forms, and missing plans can leave loved ones dealing with unnecessary complications. In this episode, Aaron and Nic count down ten common estate planning mistakes and share real-life examples of what can go wrong. They also cover several areas people often overlook, including digital assets, taxes,...

Most people sign a power of attorney once and never think about it again. But a document that sat in a drawer for ten years, was drafted in another state, or is missing one critical clause could leave your family completely powerless in a crisis, and you'd never know until it's too late. In today's conversation, Aaron and Nic break down why so many powers of attorney fail when they're needed most,...

The most important retirement question isn't how much you've saved; it's whether what you have can actually fund the life you want. Too many people spend years working toward a number they never defined, and even more spend years past their finish line not knowing they already crossed it. In today's conversation, Nic and Randy tackle the question every pre-retiree is really asking, "Am I good?", a...

Most people treat their HSA like a medical debit card. The ones who retire wealthy treat it like a secret weapon, and the difference could be worth over a million dollars.  In today's conversation, Nic and Randy break down why the HSA is the only truly triple tax-free retirement vehicle in existence, and how to stop leaving that money on the table. ⸻  ⏱️ Episode Timeline & Highlights  [00:19] – Wh...

Retirement without a destination isn't freedom,  it's just stopping. The most fulfilled retirees don't just walk away from a career; they walk toward something bigger, more purposeful, and deeply intentional. In today's conversation, Nic sits down with Mark and Diane Adams,  a faith-driven couple approaching retirement, to explore what thoughtful pre-retirement planning actually looks like. From e...

Some people talk about doing retirement right. Nancy Martin is living proof of what it actually looks like. A Marietta native, 30-year-plus educator, and pillar of her community, Nancy brings 18 years of shared history with the coaches and a story full of wisdom, generosity, and hard-won financial confidence. In today's conversation, Nic and Randy sit down with Nancy to explore her remarkable jour...

Everyone is talking about SpaceX. But before the excitement makes the decision for you need to understand that FOMO is not an investment strategy. In today's conversation, Nic and Randy break down what SpaceX actually is, what history tells us about IPO investing, and why the masses are usually wrong. ⸻ ⏱️ Episode Timeline [00:29] – What is SpaceX? The five business segments beyond the rocket ship...

Most people wonder what a retirement done right actually looks like. John and Melanie McGriff are living the answer: ten grandchildren, fly fishing in Wyoming, and the freedom to pour into the people and causes they love most. In today's conversation, Nic and Randy sit down with longtime clients John and Melanie for an honest, heartwarming look at what it truly means to retire to something, not ju...

Most people know Social Security exists, but very few understand where it came from, what it was actually designed to do, or why the math behind it looks the way it does today. Before you make any decisions about when to file, you need to understand the full picture. In today's conversation, Nic and Randy clear the table on all things Social Security. From its origins in 1935 and the generational...

If you've spent a lifetime saving and now have a seven-figure IRA, you might think you've won the game. But if that money has never been taxed, you aren't just compounding wealth, you're compounding a future tax problem. In today's conversation, we're breaking down exactly how a "good" problem becomes a massive tax bill if you don't act before the government forces your hand, and why strategic Rot...

Ever feel like the 24-hour news cycle is shouting directly at your retirement savings? Between geopolitical unrest, global conflicts, and economic uncertainty, it's easy to let fear take the wheel. In this episode, we're breaking down Headline Risk, the hidden force that drives more long-term wealth damage than almost any market dip. We'll explore why gut reactions to world events lead to devastat...

Ten years from now, you're going to unwrap a gift, and that gift is the life you've built through the compounding effects of your decisions today. The question is: will it be something you're excited to open? Most people spend a lot of time planning a vacation, but give almost no thought to designing the life they will have a decade from now. In today's conversation, Aaron and Randy break down wha...

You have $3 million in the bank , but the thermostat is still set to 62 degrees. For decades, you've been a faithful, disciplined servant to your savings plan. You mastered delayed gratification, and that discipline is exactly what got you to the finish line. But now that "someday" has finally arrived, why does spending the money you earned feel like breaking a moral code?   In today's conversatio...

You'd expect reaching $5 million or $10 million to feel like a finish line, but for many families, it's where the anxiety actually begins. We spend our entire lives building a savings plan, but when it's finally time to flip the switch, most people realize they never built a spending plan or the internal confidence to actually use what they've earned. In today's conversation, Nic, Randy, and Aaron...

Several million dollars can feel surprisingly small when you're measuring it against someone else's yardstick. Whether you have three, five, or ten million, if you're chasing a lifestyle defined by the "Joneses," you're not pursuing satisfaction, you're chasing someone else's version of happy. In this video, we dig into the "Country Club Syndrome" and the dangerous spiral of losing contentment by...

Georgia is already one of the most income-tax-friendly states for retirees, but now local politicians are talking about eliminating the state income tax altogether. Sounds like a dream, right? But as Randy and I debate this today, we have to ask: Is this actually good for your retirement, or just a political shell game?   We dig into the "revenue mismatch" that happens when the government cuts tax...

In today's conversation, we're tackling the near-impossible task of buying a single-family home in Metro Atlanta. While the national housing crisis dominates headlines everywhere, researchers are calling our backyard "Ground Zero." We're exploring why Wall Street is quietly buying up the American dream and what that means for your children, your neighbors, and your retirement planning. Nic, Randy...

In today's conversation, we tackle a reality more people are facing: living to 100 is becoming the new normal. Over the last century, we've been gifted an extra 30 years of life expectancy, but this blessing comes with serious questions. Will our health hold up? Will our money last? The old "retire and die in a few years" model is officially broken, and we need a completely different approach to p...

If you're over 50 and even *thinking* about probate, accidental inheritance, or whether your estate plan will actually work the way you intend—it's time to grab a cup of coffee and lean in. In today's episode, we dive into the real-world estate planning mistakes we see far too often, and why having "the documents" doesn't necessarily mean you have a plan. We unpack why so many well-intentioned fam...

In today's conversation, we sit down with our friend and leadership giant Mark Cole, CEO of Maxwell Leadership Companies, for a powerful deep dive into what it truly looks like to move from success to significance—especially as we enter retirement or the pre-retirement years. This episode is packed with insights on purpose, identity, calling, and what it means for us to step into the next chapter...

In this special Thanksgiving episode, we explore how cultivating an attitude of gratitude can be a game-changer for your mental wellbeing - even when you've achieved significant success in life. I share why some of the most accomplished people can actually feel miserable despite their achievements, and how a simple gratitude exercise can transform your perspective during challenging times. My coll...

In this episode, Nic and I break down one of the most misunderstood concepts in estate planning: step-up in basis. We explain what basis is, why a step-up matters, and how common mistakes can cost your loved ones thousands in unnecessary taxes. If you've ever nodded along in conversations about basis while having no idea what it means, this episode is for you! We share real-world examples of how a...

Let's be honest — not everyone loves talking about money. In many marriages, one spouse takes the financial lead while the other says, *"It's just not my thing."* But what happens when the person who handles the finances isn't around anymore?   In this episode of *Coffee with Your Retirement Coach*, I sit down with **Coach Nic Yeomans** to talk about how couples can protect themselves — and each o...

You asked, and we listened. In this episode of Coffee with Your Retirement Coach, we tackle one of the most common questions we get: "I'm 58 and have $2.4 million saved. Can I retire?" But as you'll hear, it's not just about the number on the page. We dive deep into what that figure could mean for your income, lifestyle, taxes, healthcare, and overall retirement vision. Join us as we break down th...

What would you do if your company sold, your stock was cashed out, and you suddenly found yourself with $5 million in hand? In this episode, Nic and I dive into the reality of experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime windfall and all the opportunities — and challenges — that come with it.   We explore the first critical steps you need to take before making big financial decisions, from understanding the...