The Truth About Taxes and Retirement

Does the word “taxes” make you feel intimidated and overwhelmed right away? If yes, you’re not alone! It’s completely understandable. After all, the US tax code is 70,000+ pages long. As someone who deals with taxes daily, J. Barry Watts is here to enlighten you about some tips and strategies you might not know regarding taxes (so it feels less scary to you). Barry discusses: What makes 50% of Ame...

Do you ever feel that taxation is skewed against the average citizen? Or that wealthy people don’t pay their fair share? It’s because they know how to use the tax code to their advantage! In this episode, J. Barry Watts peels back the layers of the tax system and explains how to apply the tax code’s provisions to your benefit — just like the wealthy. Barry discusses: Why people don’t trust the gov...

What do you need to feel confident in retirement? Is it $1 million? $2 million? Actually, it’s not about how much money you accumulate, but rather having a retirement income plan. Join J. Barry Watts for an insightful conversation about converting your lifetime savings into a consistent income source that lasts until the end of your life. Barry discusses: The first step of a retirement income plan...

Do you have insurance to secure your family’s financial future? If yes, when was the last time you reviewed your policy? It’s Life Insurance Awareness Month! Let’s look at how insurance plays a crucial role in your overall retirement plan. In this episode, J. Barry Watts delves into the intricacies of life insurance and the difference between death insurance and life insurance. Barry discusses: Te...

The U.S. national debt has reached $32 trillion! There is only one way to pay off this massive debt — by raising taxes. In fact, tax rates will likely see a sharp rise on January 1st, 2026. In this episode, J. Barry Watts explains how you can tackle the rising tax problem with an effective strategy that many people overlook. Barry discusses: Eye-opening statistics that point to higher tax rates in...

What do you think is your number one expense in retirement? (Hint: It’s not healthcare.) If you said taxes, you guessed it right! Healthcare costs pale in comparison to what you pay in taxes during retirement. In this episode, J. Barry Watts helps you understand strategic tax planning, how it differs from tax compliance, and how the right team of experts can make it incredibly simple for you — so...

Have you ever seen a rat’s nest? It is tangled, messy, and unorganized. Your retirement can end up looking just like a rat’s nest if you don’t plan properly! Your Social Security, pension, taxes, Medicare…everything entangled into a chaotic mess. In this episode, J. Barry Watts shares a six-step process to untangle the retirement rat’s nest, so you can retire with clarity and confidence. Barry dis...

Are you struggling to navigate Medicare? You’re not alone. The complex web of rules, acronyms, and jargon involved in this enigmatic government program leaves many scratching their heads! In this episode, J. Barry Watts demystifies Medicare and helps you make informed decisions for choosing the right plan and meeting your healthcare needs cost-effectively. Barry discusses: The different types of M...

You can’t afford to run out of money in retirement! When you’ve quit your job and stopped receiving a paycheck, you must protect your nest egg for the rest of your life. In this part three of a three-part series called The Three Don’ts of Retirement, J. Barry Watts shares how to build a retirement income plan and avoid running out of money. Barry discusses: How to build an income plan around your...

Do you think taxes are going up or down over the course of your retirement?  After surveying thousands of people, we found that overpaying in taxes is one of the greatest concerns among those preparing for retirement. In this part two of a three-part series called The Three Don’ts Of Retirement, J. Barry Watts explores ways to reduce your total tax bill throughout your retirement, especially with...

Many people think about a nursing home when we talk about long-term care.  But long-term care could also be care in your home. It could also include adult day care, or assisted living.  While it may not be a pleasant topic to think about, it is essential to ensure you receive the care you need while reducing the financial and emotional burden on your loved ones! In this episode, J. Barry Watts exp...

Having a guaranteed lifetime income (your paychecks) during retirement can help you cover your basic living expenses, so you can focus on what’s left — the playchecks. In this episode, J. Barry Watts speaks with retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Tom Hegna, who is now a retirement expert, best-selling author, public TV host and international speaker. Together, they share ways to build reliable s...

Insurance can be a tricky thing to navigate. Some people who need it don’t always want it, while others who want it may not necessarily need it. Plus, a lack of understanding of insurance and how it works could lead to poor decisions and increased reluctance. In this episode, J. Barry Watts discusses the common types of insurance plans, their tax benefits, and when one plan might be preferred over...

After accumulating wealth for years, you want it to be inherited by the right beneficiaries when the time comes. (Instead of your ex-spouse from 10 years ago!) If you are the one inheriting the IRA, you want to minimize the tax liability on your inheritance. In this episode, J. Barry Watts explains the most tax-efficient way to handle inherited IRAs and setting up your IRA for optimal distribution...

When it comes to taxes, some legislations can feel incredibly complex to the average American, such as the recently passed SECURE Act 2.0 — which was 4,000 pages long! But don’t worry. In this episode, J. Barry Watts highlights the key changes in this new legislation and breaks down how they affect people who have IRA accounts, 401(k)s, or other types of qualified retirement plans. Barry discusses...

“The things I teach in classes, seminars, and the podcast are the things we practice in our own lives…financially and personally.” — J. Barry Watts. In a previous episode, Barry spoke with his wife about money and marriage. Today, Barry invites his beloved daughters to the hot seat! In this episode, J. Barry Watts joins his daughters Madison and Sydnie Watts, who share their experience of growing...

Are you curious about how to instill the importance of budgeting and money management into your marriage? In this episode, J. Barry Watts brings on his wife Kelly Watts to dive into the magic of budgeting and managing money. She shares her experiences with organizing the family’s finances, how she keeps track of their spending, determining categories by analyzing past spending patterns and her adv...

Elections have consequences. The electoral decision in November has significant consequences for business owners, retirees, and tax payers.  In this episode, J. Barry Watts is joined by Congressman–Elect Eric Burlison from Missouri to discuss how the election has and will continue to impact the money in your pocket. They share their thoughts about the consequences of a divided government on our co...

How are we supposed to know how much money we need to live our retirement years comfortably? Is it a million dollars? Can you get by on less? How do we even go about determining this?  In this episode, J. Barry Watts explains what you need to figure out when looking to retire regarding that number in your bank account. We want to help you retire with confidence, dignity, and create a legacy for ge...

Retirement is a process with a number of stages.  In this episode, J Barry Watts discusses the four key stages of retirement: Anticipation, Liberation, Reinvention and Reflection. He breaks down every stage of retirement in detail to help you identify what stage you are currently in, and gives you navigational tips for that stage and prepares you to transition to the next stage.  Barry explains: T...

Have you ever compared yourself to your neighbor, your colleague, or that bratty kid you went to high school with? Of course, we all have! Comparison is a natural human response and though not normally a good idea, it can be helpful in giving you a framework to think about your own situation. When you see what other people have done and how it worked out for them, it gives you a reference point to...

Have you ever wondered about the cost of taxes you will pay in your retirement? Will they be more or less than what you are paying today?  The short answer is — unfortunately, more. For nearly all of us, taxes will be higher in retirement than they are today. Many people will unknowingly pay thousands of dollars in additional taxes that are hidden to the point where you might not even know you pai...

We’ve talked about reducing taxes and a number of strategies to pay less to the IRS, but no one ever talks about your largest tax and how to avoid it.  Do you know what the largest tax is? Have you ever heard of the Dumb Tax? In this episode, J Barry Watts talks about the Dumb tax and why we don’t hear about it often enough, leaving us clueless once we get it taken away from us. He discusses in de...

There is more to life than taxes, money, investing, and everything we usually talk about on this show. In fact, there’s a lot more: life itself, love, romance, friendship, family, dreams and celebration. In honor of the upcoming 246th birthday of the United States of America on July 4th, J. Barry Watts invites legendary comedian Yakov Smirnoff onto the show to discuss the path that led him from Ru...

With inflation raging the question is “Have you saved enough to last throughout your retirement?”.  Increasing inflation requires that you be strategic with your investments, in order to be able to retire confidently.  In this episode, J Barry Watts teaches you how to take advantage of the stock market when it’s volatile in a way that prevents losses, while providing a pathway to grow your account...