Advice on Building Wealth & Retirement Planning - A/B Conversations: CFP® Your Way Out Of It

What happens when good financial planning requires uncomfortable conversations? In this episode of A/B Conversations, Adam Werner and Ben Haas discuss the challenges of navigating emotional investment decisions, retirement spending concerns, estate planning discussions, and family dynamics. Learn why honest conversations, thoughtful guidance, and long-term perspective are essential for making conf...

Some of the most important financial planning conversations are also the most difficult. In this episode of A/B Conversations, Adam Werner and Ben Haas discuss why avoiding uncomfortable topics—such as retirement readiness, estate planning, family dynamics, and financial risks—can lead to costly consequences down the road. Learn how honest conversations, proactive planning, and addressing challeng...

In this episode of A/B Conversations, Adam and Ben tackle a massive, often emotional part of retirement planning: the family home. They discuss how the default assumption of "aging in place" can sometimes backfire if a spouse passes away, maintenance becomes a burden, or health challenges force a sudden move. The hosts explore the reality that downsizing isn't always the financial w...

In this episode, Ben and Adam discuss how life and finances can feel overwhelming as accounts, policies, passwords, and paperwork accumulate over time, often from job changes or intentional “safety net” complexity that eventually stops serving people. They describe how too many accounts create burdens around beneficiary designations, estate settlement, withdrawals, taxes, required minimum distribu...

Most financial plans don’t fall apart because of bad advice. They fall apart because good advice never gets acted on. In this episode, Adam and Ben explore why even the most successful people struggle to follow through on financial decisions from time to time. From cash sitting on the sidelines to delayed Roth conversions, outdated estate plans, and missed opportunities, they unpack how inaction q...

Wouldn’t it be stressful to feel like you’re going to live longer than your plan was built for? In this episode, Adam and Ben explore longevity risk through a different lens. Not just the math of running out of money, but the mindset of spending, the uncertainty that comes with a 30+ year retirement, and the challenge of balancing security with actually enjoying life. They walk through how retirem...

Second marriages are about new beginnings and a fresh start. They also bring financial complexity. In this episode, Adam and Ben talk through the estate planning dynamics facing blended families with adult children. How do you merge financial lives while honoring what each of you built separately? How do you protect your new spouse without unintentionally disinheriting your children? And how do yo...

Have you ever been pitched an “alternative” investment opportunity that felt exclusive, different, or just a little too compelling to pass up? In our latest episode, Adam and Ben unpack the real planning dynamics behind private placements and illiquid investments. Why are we drawn to them? How do we convince ourselves it’s a good idea to invest even when something feels slightly off? And what sepa...

Some of the wealthiest people we meet don’t have portfolios that send them a monthly paycheck. Their wealth lives in businesses, real estate, farmland, or valuable art and collectibles. They don’t have a net worth problem, they have a liquidity problem. In retirement, the question becomes “How do I actually turn this into income?” In this episode, Adam and Ben unpack the planning challenges of ill...

Most long-term financial outcomes aren’t determined by picking the right investments. They’re determined by how people behave under stress, uncertainty, and emotion. Listen in as Adam and Ben discuss the very human and common biases that, when left unchecked, can derail plans. They’ll share how they view their roles as planners how they try to help with stress, uncertainty and emotion.  Ticket #T0...

Most people think estate planning is something you “finish.” In reality, it’s something you maintain as life, laws, assets, and relationships change. In this episode Adam and Ben reframe estate planning as a living, human document, not just a legal one. By the end, you’ll want to pull out your documents, look at the dates, look at the names and ask yourself: does this still match my life? Ticket #...

When we think about leaving a legacy, we should think about what that means holistically. Because a legacy is not just what we pass down financially, but what we model every day through generosity, values, and habits. In this episode, Adam and Ben share client stories and practical examples of how parents and grandparents can invite kids and grandkids into giving, from simple family traditions to...

As we head toward the end of the year, it’s the perfect time to take stock, not just of your portfolio, but of your tax opportunities too. Year-end planning is about being proactive because small moves now can lead to meaningful savings later. In this episode, Adam and Ben walk through four key areas where they help clients; reviewing tax-loss harvesting opportunities, assessing impacts of new tax...

In a world full of headlines designed to stir emotion and sell subscriptions, how do you separate fact from fear? In this episode, Adam and Ben unpack the rise of financial newsletters and media voices that profit from panic or try to capitalize on “big promises.” They’ll walk you through how to identify red flags, understand who’s behind these claims, and filter the noise by staying grounded, inf...

For many retirees, the home is their single biggest asset. But is it just a place to live, or could it also strengthen a retirement plan? In this episode, Adam and Ben explore the strategic ways to tap home equity, from delaying Social Security to protecting against market downturns, covering healthcare costs, and even managing taxes. If you’ve ever wondered whether “spending the house” makes sens...

Medicare Open Enrollment is more than a routine check-up. It’s your chance to make sure your coverage fits your life today. In this episode, Adam and Ben explore real-world scenarios - moving states, changing health, or even a financial windfall, and how they might shift your choice. Learn the rules, the trade-offs, and the strategies to keep your Medicare working for you. Ticket # T009831 Thanks...

Social Security election options can be confusing, and when to elect is one of the biggest retirement questions out there. The answer isn’t always what the math alone tells you. In our latest podcast, Adam and Ben unpack the numbers, psychology, and strategies behind this critical decision, so you can make the choice that best fits your health, work, and financial goals. Ticket #T009793 Thanks for...

In our experience, many people, even with millions of dollars saved, still don’t feel secure. Why is that? It often comes down to one simple but powerful truth: if you never define what “enough” looks like, no amount will ever feel like it's enough. Listen to Adam and Ben discuss how they help clients shift their focus from comparison, fear, and unclear goals that keeps even “wealthy” clients...

Remember the hit game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”—in 1998, that prize was worth only ~$500k in today’s dollars and in the early 1900s, the phrase to “feel like a million bucks” would mean having over $7 million today. While more Americans than ever now hold millionaire status, the buying power of that milestone has shrunk dramatically thanks to inflation and rising costs for housing, hea...

Fear of failure, working hard, grinding it out – all can lead you to success. But at what cost? What comes after financial success? Podcast guest Matt Strunk shares his own experience and what he found out about himself once he stopped to think about what matters most to him. Listen as Ben and Matt discuss the importance of gaining awareness about what drives us, thinking about your own obituary,...

Here’s a hard fact to digest: You can average 6%-7% returns and still run out of money — because the order of those returns matters and because the timing of when you are withdrawing money matters. But smart planning can help you stay confident and in control, even in volatile markets. Listen in as Adam and Ben discuss cash, flexible withdrawal plans, three bucket theory, and tax aware planning. T...

Retirement isn’t a single event. It’s a long, evolving phase with multiple transitions. After the honeymoon ends but before the later-life simplicity sets in, there’s a “messy middle” - an emotionally complex, opportunity-rich period. Redefining goals and finding purpose may require doing some intentional planning again. Listen as Adam and Ben discuss how they help clients navigate this period of...

How much do you need to have stashed away to live a comfortable life? And how will you know it’s truly, enough? Listen in as Adam and Ben talk about how “enough” isn’t just a number on a spreadsheet or a Monte Carlo simulation output. Defining enough needs to include reflections on what matters most to you, what fulfills you, and what keeps you content. And it’s hard to get that output from a calc...

As planners, we are tasked with answering big long-term questions like, “will I have enough money to live the life I want to live without running out?” But mapping out the future is impossible and there is no way to project how the world and our own lives will change, including what may or may not be important to us. Listen in as Adam and Ben talk about the themes of flexibility, choice, developin...

Have you been pitched an annuity, or do you have one and wonder if it’s still the right fit for your financial plan? In this podcast, Adam and Ben introduce what annuities are, where they may and may NOT fit into one’s plan, and how important it is to understand the tradeoffs you’re making when buying this type of product. Listen in as they highlight their concerns around liquidity, taxes, and lon...