Retirement Blueprint

About this episode In this episode, Glen D. Smith, CFP®, CRPC®, breaks down the trade-offs that are often left out of the annuity conversation, from ongoing fees and surrender restrictions to ordinary-income tax treatment and the lack of a step-up in cost basis for heirs.  Discover a higher level of wealth management → https://www.gdswealth.com/plan/   Disclosure GDS Wealth Management (“GDS”) is a...

About this episode A SLAT isn’t about giving up your wealth; it’s about changing how assets are owned to help protect what you’ve built and plan for future generations.  In this video, I break down exactly how a Spousal Lifetime Access Trust works, what happens to your assets, and how your spouse can still benefit from them.  Discover a higher level of wealth management → https://www.gdswealth.com...

About this episode In our latest episode, I walk through how I think about gold and silver versus stocks and inflation, and the difference between preserving wealth and creating it.  If you’ve heard mixed opinions about gold, I hope this gives you a clearer framework for thinking through the decision.  Discover a higher level of wealth management → https://www.gdswealth.com Disclosure GDS Wealth M...

About this episode You’ve spent years building your 401(k), receiving RSUs, investing, saving, and growing your net worth.  Eventually, the question changes. It’s no longer: “How do I build more wealth?”  It becomes: “How do I actually turn all of this into retirement income?”  Discover a higher level of wealth management → https://www.gdswealth.com/stryker/   Disclosure GDS Wealth Management is a...

About this episode In this episode, we break down one deceptively simple question:  Should you consolidate your financial accounts?  If you’re a Stryker employee, subscribe for more conversations designed around the financial decisions that come with a successful career.  Discover a higher level of wealth management → https://www.gdswealth.com/stryker/   Disclosure GDS Wealth Management is an SEC-...

About this episode If you’re planning to leave Stryker, retire, or move into a new role, your stock options deserve a place on the checklist.  Even if you decide not to exercise anything, you’ll know the decision was intentional.  Save this for your next career transition. Learn the tips and strategies to make more informed decisions with your wealth at gdswealth.com. Disclosure GDS Wealth Managem...

About this episode They already withheld taxes from your RSUs… so why do you still owe more in April? This is a question we frequently discuss with Stryker employees. The issue usually isn’t that something went wrong. It’s that tax withholding and tax planning are not the same thing. Learn the tips and strategies to make more informed decisions with your wealth at gdswealth.com. Disclosure GDS Wea...

About this episode Glen breaks down a tax strategy many people have never heard of: NUA, or Net Unrealized Appreciation. NUA is not right for everyone, but it is something worth understanding before you retire, leave your company, or roll your 401(k) into an IRA. Because once certain decisions are made, the opportunity may be gone.  New episodes of Retirement Blueprint weekly! Discover a higher le...

About this episode I’ve sat with Stryker employees who have built meaningful wealth through company stock, and one of the biggest areas of confusion is often stock options. More specifically, Non-Qualified Stock Options, or NQSOs.  New episodes of Retirement Blueprint weekly! Discover a higher level of wealth management. Learn More. Disclosure GDS Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment...

About this episode If you receive RSUs from Stryker, your company stock may have quietly become one of the largest assets you own.  Glen Smith shares a few of the most common RSU mistakes I see and how to think through each vesting decision with more care.  New episodes of Retirement Blueprint weekly! Discover a higher level of wealth management. Learn More. Disclosure GDS Wealth Management is an...

About this episode Can you retire at 60 with $2 million? The answer is more complicated than most people think.  In this episode, Glen Smith walks through the key factors that influence whether $2 million can support a comfortable retirement.  New episodes of Retirement Blueprint weekly! Discover a higher level of wealth management. Learn More. Disclosure GDS Wealth Management is an SEC-registered...

About this episode In our latest episode, Glen Smith, CFP®, CRPC®, explores five planning areas that can quietly shape the outcome of a business sale.  A successful exit isn't just about what you sell the business for.  It's about how well prepared you are for everything that comes next.  New episodes of Retirement Blueprint weekly! Discover a higher level of wealth management. Learn More. Disclos...

About this episode Most people believe that financial stress disappears as income grows. That's often when it changes shape.  Learn the strategies that help successful professionals turn income into flexibility and confidence.  New episodes of Retirement Blueprint weekly! Discover a higher level of wealth management. Learn More. Disclosure GDS Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment advi...

About this episode You're saving. You're investing. You're doing everything you're supposed to do.  So why does financial freedom still feel out of reach?  This is the conversation I wish more high earners would have before they spend another decade chasing a number that won't solve the real problem.  New episodes of Retirement Blueprint weekly! Discover a curated wealth management experience. Boo...

About this episode Glen Smith discusses the principle that has quietly guided Buffett’s approach for decades and why many high-income professionals overlook it. New episodes of Retirement Blueprint weekly! Discover a higher level of wealth management. Book a Call. Disclosure GDS Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser. This content is for educational purposes only and not persona...

About this episode Glen Smith shares how one high-income client went from constantly upgrading their lifestyle to finally creating real financial flexibility. New episodes of Retirement Blueprint weekly! If you would like guidance building a financial strategy that aligns your spending, saving, and long-term goals into a clear, sustainable plan, the team at GDS Wealth Management can help .  Disclo...

About this episode Glen Smith breaks down why many high earners still feel financially stuck — even with strong incomes and successful careers.  New episodes of Retirement Blueprint weekly! If you would like guidance building a financial strategy that aligns your spending, saving, and long-term goals into a clear, sustainable plan, the team at GDS Wealth Management can help .  Disclosure GDS Wealt...

About this episode Glen Smith shares why traditional FIRE strategies often fall short for high earners and how to think about financial independence in a more flexible, realistic way. New episodes of Retirement Blueprint weekly! If you would like guidance building a financial strategy that aligns your spending, saving, and long-term goals into a clear, sustainable plan, the team at GDS Wealth Mana...

About this episode Glen Smith walks through how to think about RSUs, options, and diversification, so your portfolio supports your future, not just your employer. He explains how stock compensation fits into a broader wealth plan and why diversification is often about managing risk, not timing the market.  New episodes of Retirement Blueprint weekly! If you would like guidance building a financial...

About this episode Most high earners don’t have an income problem. They have a tax coordination problem.  In this episode of Retirement Blueprint, Glen Smith discusses investment strategies for high earners with limited time. Also, why the goal isn’t to chase a “perfect” portfolio, but to build one that’s easier to maintain through changing markets and different stages of life. New episodes of Ret...

About this episode Many high earners feel behind at 35, 45, and 55, but early wealth-building isn’t about hitting a number; it’s about building the right foundation. Savings habits, lifestyle discipline, and income trajectory often matter more than net worth in this phase.   In our latest Retirement Blueprint episode, Glen Smith shares what “on track” can look like and why context matters.  New ep...

About this episode Most high earners don’t have an income problem. They have a tax coordination problem.  In this episode of Retirement Blueprint, Glen Smith shares one of the most common planning gaps for doctors and executives: relying too heavily on pre-tax strategies without a long-term tax plan.  New episodes of Retirement Blueprint weekly! If you would like guidance building a financial stra...

About this episode Let’s be honest for a moment: most budgeting advice feels like punishment dressed up as discipline. It asks you to track everything, cut back constantly, and second-guess every purchase you make. Over time, it stops feeling like a plan and starts feeling like a restriction. In this episode of Retirement Blueprint, Glen Smith discusses how financial systems need to align with beh...

About this episode Is $5 million enough to retire? The answer depends less on the number and more on the plan behind it. In this episode of Retirement Blueprint, Glen Smith breaks down what $5 million can realistically provide in retirement and the key factors that influence whether your savings last.  New episodes of Retirement Blueprint weekly! Start building your retirement plan at GDS Wealth M...

About this episode Roth conversions can be an effective tax-planning strategy, but only when used at the right time and in the right way. In this episode of Retirement Blueprint, Glen Smith breaks down when Roth conversions could make sense, when a Roth conversion may not make sense, and how timing can significantly impact retirement income planning.  New episodes of Retirement Blueprint weekly! B...