America's Retirement Headquarters

What retirement risks could be hiding in plain sight inside your financial plan? Nolan Baker explores how investment fees, taxes, healthcare costs, market downturns, and unexpected spending can affect retirement income. He also breaks down the role of taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts, discusses the 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, and highlights year-end considerations s...

Retirement changes the paycheck, but it doesn’t have to change the plan. Nolan Baker explores how to turn retirement savings into an income strategy by coordinating Social Security, protected income, fixed income, and growth investments. He also breaks down 2026 catch-up contribution limits, discusses balancing growth with portfolio risk, and explains ways required minimum distributions can...

Turning 70 changes the retirement playbook, and the moves you make now can shape the years ahead. Nolan Baker discusses key planning considerations around qualified charitable distributions, required minimum distributions, Roth conversions, and Medicare costs. He also explores how to define the retirement lifestyle you actually want, why Social Security planning matters for a surviving spouse, and...

Can AI answer your retirement questions, or could it miss the details that matter most? This episode explores the growing role of artificial intelligence in retirement planning, where it can help, and where human guidance still plays a critical role. Nolan Baker also discusses how investors can avoid emotional stock market decisions by using rules-based strategies instead of reacting to headlines....

Turning 70 can unlock opportunities and deadlines that many retirees overlook. Nolan Baker explains three key financial moves to consider before age 73, including qualified charitable distributions, preparing for required minimum distributions, and making the most of Roth conversion opportunities. He also breaks down how much income may be needed to support different retirement lifestyles, from le...

What if the biggest threat to your retirement plan isn’t the market, but your own emotions? Nolan Baker explains why rules-based investing can help remove fear and greed from financial decisions, shares how disciplined strategies may respond to market volatility, and discusses concerns around stock valuations, interest rates, and geopolitical uncertainty. He also explores where AI can be a u...

What if the biggest threat to your retirement isn’t the election, the market, or inflation, but the decisions you make because of them? In this episode, Nolan Baker discusses how investors can navigate political uncertainty without making emotional portfolio moves. He explains why “dead money” can quietly erode purchasing power, how tax planning differs from tax filing, and why m...

A $42,000 tax surprise from a retirement account sounds extreme, but it can happen faster than many retirees realize. This episode explores how required minimum distributions (RMDs) can trigger higher taxes, taxable Social Security, and increased Medicare premiums through IRMAA. Nolan Baker discusses strategies that may help reduce retirement tax exposure, including Roth conversions, qualified cha...

One overlooked tax decision could trigger a chain reaction that impacts your Social Security, Medicare premiums, and retirement income. Nolan Baker breaks down seven retirement tax strategies that many retirees miss, including Roth conversions, Social Security timing, tax-loss harvesting, zero-percent capital gains opportunities, and qualified charitable distributions. He also explores retirement...

Could a market downturn, an unexpected inheritance, or rising healthcare costs derail your retirement plans faster than you think? This week on the How to Retire Radio Show, the team from America’s Retirement Headquarters explores why retirees need more than investment growth to stay on track. Learn how a two-bucket income strategy may help manage market volatility, why healthcare costs befo...

Your IRA may not be as much yours as you think. This episode explores the hidden tax liability inside 401(k)s and IRAs, why the IRS can become a silent partner in your retirement, and how expiring tax laws could impact your future income. Nolan Baker and Danny Schauber break down Roth conversions, required minimum distributions (RMDs), Medicare IRMAA surcharges, Social Security taxation, and strat...

What happens if retirement arrives years earlier than planned? This episode explores the financial decisions that can follow an unexpected job loss, including how to bridge income gaps, evaluate Social Security timing, and navigate healthcare options. Nolan Baker also breaks down the backdoor Roth IRA strategy and the tax pitfalls that can catch investors off guard. Plus, learn why more retirees a...

What if the biggest retirement risks aren’t market crashes, but the decisions you make just before retirement? Financial advisor Nolan Baker explains why the five years leading up to retirement can be critical for protecting your nest egg. He discusses sequence of returns risk, when target-date funds may need a second look, how annuities can fit into an income strategy, and why a coordinated...

Could an unexpected layoff force you into retirement years earlier than planned, and what would you do next? Nolan Baker explores the critical financial decisions that come with an early retirement, including Social Security timing, healthcare coverage, and avoiding costly mistakes with retirement accounts. He also breaks down how a Backdoor Roth IRA works, the tax traps that can surprise high ear...

A seven-figure nest egg may look retirement-ready, but what if the real risks are hidden beneath the surface?  This episode explores why a written retirement plan matters more than a portfolio balance alone. Nolan Baker discusses turning savings into reliable retirement income, avoiding concentration risk in tech, heavy portfolios, and building a “Plan B” for market volatility. Th...

How much time are you trading for “just one more year”? This episode unpacks the real cost of delaying retirement, where people often underestimate expenses, and why clarity, not savings, may be the missing piece. Nolan Baker explores the emotional and financial side of retirement timing, from protecting your “go-go years” to building income plans that account for healthcar...

What if your “set it and forget it” retirement plan is quietly turning into a financial ticking time bomb? This episode breaks down why taxes can remain one of your largest expenses in retirement and how deferring them may actually increase your burden. You’ll hear why autopilot investing can create hidden risks, especially as retirement approaches, and how portfolio drift can le...

The wrong Social Security decision could quietly cost more than your portfolio ever earns. This episode breaks down when to claim benefits, why timing matters, and how taxes, spousal coordination, and healthcare costs shape your retirement income. You’ll also hear a practical five-step checklist to calculate what you actually need, without relying on guesswork, and uncover the most common re...

Think a million dollars solves retirement worries? Think again. This episode breaks down the top seven concerns keeping even high net worth savers up at night, from market volatility and inflation to healthcare costs, debt, and rising housing expenses. The conversation explores how planning, not just wealth, plays a central role in navigating uncertainty, including strategies for managing risk, pr...

Do you really need a million dollars to retire, or is that number misleading you? This episode explores why focusing on income, not account balance, reshapes retirement planning. The conversation breaks down how to build reliable monthly cash flow, uncover hidden investment fees that can quietly erode savings, and recognize key red flags when choosing a financial advisor. It also looks at how inte...

What if one simple decision in your early 60s could quietly cost you tens, or even hundreds, of thousands in retirement income? This episode breaks down how Social Security timing, tax strategy, and income planning can shape your financial future more than your account balance alone. The conversation explores common claiming mistakes, why “magic numbers” can mislead retirees, and how t...

The idea that you need a million dollars to retire comfortably might be one of the most misunderstood headlines in personal finance. In this episode, the conversation shifts away from chasing a big number and toward understanding income, cash flow, and how retirement actually works day to day. The discussion breaks down why most retirees succeed with far less than they expect, how small investment...

Retirement rarely follows a straight line, and the biggest threats often arrive without warning. This episode explores common retirement disruptions, including health changes, loss of a spouse, market volatility, and rising healthcare costs. The conversation breaks down why planning for a single, best-case scenario can leave gaps and how stress testing different possibilities can reveal blind spot...

  The biggest mistake retirees make often happens after the taxes are filed, and that’s just the beginning of this conversation. In this episode, the team breaks down why filing your return isn’t the finish line, how today’s high interest, rate environment is reshaping retirement income decisions, and what it really takes to spend with confidence once the paychecks stop. You...

Ready to take control of your retirement? Start your Retirement TEAM Action Plan at ARHQ.com  or call 419-794-3030 to speak with a retirement planning specialist today! What if the biggest risk to retirement isn’t the market, but the decisions made right before leaving work? This episode breaks down why the five years leading up to retirement can quietly shape decades of income, taxes,...