E.A.S.E. Into Retirement Radio Show

Toto, I've got a feeling this episode is different. We're pairing two of America's favorite pastimes, classic movies and money, to bring you wisdom that sticks. First, we dig into financial lessons hiding in iconic movie lines , from Terminator's "I'll be back" to The Wizard of Oz's "We're not in Kansas anymore." Turns out Hollywood has been quietly teaching us about money all along. Then we shift...

Top Gun just turned 40, and it's full of surprising money lessons . In today’s show Tom & Marc kick things off with some surprising money lessons from the movie, then shift gears to show you how building a solid financial plan is a lot like building a house. We wrap up the show with a deep dive into guaranteed income, where it comes from, the choices you'll face along the way, and why planning...

No matter where you are in life, building your career, raising a family, or approaching retirement, the financial decisions you make today will shape the life you live tomorrow. In this episode, we're covering some of the most important things women need to hear about retirement and real estate, and why waiting too long to plan could cost you more than you think. We kick things off by breaking dow...

Retirement is closer than you think, but are you truly prepared? In this episode, we cut to the chase and give you the straight talk on what most people get wrong as they head into retirement. We start by uncovering some of the most common and costly mistakes people make right before retiring , from underestimating the risk in bonds, to skipping long-term care planning. Then we tackle the retireme...

The market. The news. The economy. It's easy to point fingers at everything happening out there, but what if the biggest obstacle standing between you and a great retirement is the story you're telling yourself? "I'm not good at saving." "The market is about to tank." "It's too late for me." Those stories are costing you more than you realize. This week we get honest about the power your mindset h...

What if the biggest risk to your retirement isn't the market - it's YOU? This week we're unpacking the emotional side of money. Using the lens of Disneyland's most iconic rides, we walk through how the highs and lows of investing feel a lot like a theme park and why letting those feelings drive your decisions can cost you big. 🎢 We get real about how the media is designed to trigger your emotions...

Not every popular financial strategy is the right one, especially as you approach or enter retirement. In this episode, we break down which commonly recommended financial moves may be overrated for retirees, and which ones often fly under the radar but deserve a much closer look. In this episode, we cover: 🔹 Overrated Financial Moves 🔹 Underrated Financial 🔹 Roth Conversions  🔹 Listener Q&...

Whether you're just starting to think about retirement or you're already deep in the planning process, today's show breaks it all down, from your very first meeting with a financial advisor, to the financial "characters" that play a starring role in your retirement story. We kick things off by walking you through what to expect in that first advisor meeting so you can walk in confident, prepared,...

Life moves pretty fast and so does your retirement window. In this episode, we're taking a page from Ferris Bueller's playbook and asking the hard question: Are you actually making the most of what you have? We cover everything from what to do with forgotten 401Ks and old accounts, to life insurance, pension funds, and why keeping your finances organized could be the difference between a retiremen...

The people in your life who give you financial advice usually mean well, but good intentions don't always lead to good outcomes. In this episode, Tom breaks down why the retirement advice you're getting from family members and even trusted financial professionals like CPAs could actually be working against you. What works for your brother, your neighbor, or your colleague may not work for you. Soc...

Life has a way of surprising us and not always in the good way. Whether it's a market crash, a health scare, the loss of a spouse, or a sudden job change, the unexpected has a way of showing up right when you can least afford it. In this episode, we dive deep into history's biggest financial black swan events and unpack the lessons every retiree needs to know. Because as Bob Dylan so wisely put it...

Are you truly prepared for retirement or just thinking you are? In this episode,𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲, 𝘄𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸... 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀. We walk through the 5 Ds of Retirement Planning and why mastering all five is non-negotiable for financial security. But retirement...

Retirement doesn't happen overnight, and neither does a great retirement plan. In this episode, we walk you through every critical stage of the retirement journey, the questions you should be asking your financial planner right now, and the surprising ways people unknowingly work against their own financial future. In this episode: •    The foundation of every successful retirement plan and why tr...

Do you know where you fall on the retirement spectrum? We break down the 5 levels of wanting out, unpack surprising retirement wisdom from Shaq, and tackle the fine line between generosity and giving too much in retirement. There’s something for everyone – no matter what stage of retirement you’re in. Chapters 00:00 Intro The Desire to Retire 01:45 Level One: I don’t see myself retiring 04:55 Leve...

Disneyland meets… Retirement Planning? In this episode of Ease into Retirement, we use some of the most famous theme park rides to unpack several key retirement moves, expose the financial truths most people learn too late, cover the tax mistakes that quietly cost retirees, and answer real listener questions about downsizing, job loss, and managing multiple bank accounts. This is sure to be an "E-...

March Madness isn't just for basketball fans - your retirement plan needs a winning strategy too! This episode walks you through how to set specific, realistic financial goals, why a Cinderella story approach could change your retirement outlook, and how to avoid the risky picks that bust your budget. We also answer a listener question about navigating money and fairness with your kids in retireme...

Are you following retirement advice that's working against you? In this episode Tom exposes the most overrated financial strategies and uncovers the underrated moves that actually work; from rates of return and tax advantages to liquidity, simplicity, and ROTH conversions, we're cutting through the noise so you can retire with confidence. Chapters 00:00 Intro Overrated Financial Items   03:35 Tax...

Smart investors still fall into predictable traps. In this episode we unpack the biases quietly hurting your returns, how to handle life's biggest financial windfalls, and the surprisingly relevant money wisdom of Mr. Rogers - the stuff Wall Street never talks about. Chapters 00:00 Intro Investor Biases 03:45 Confirmation Biases 05:45 Loss Aversion Biases 07:35 Disposition Effect Biases 09:05 Hind...

In this episode, we tackle two of the most misunderstood areas of retirement planning, and the ones that can make a big difference in your financial security. First, we break down Mutual Funds from the ground up: how they work, how they compare to ETFs, and what's actually inside them. Then we turn to cash, specifically, how much you should realistically keep on hand in retirement, the risks of le...

Most retirement decisions feel routine in the moment. A few of them change everything. In this episode, we walk through the retirement moves that don't come with a do-over, starting with the Social Security timing question nearly every pre-retiree faces. We also cover the life insurance mistakes that quietly derail retirement plans, from letting policies lapse to skipping beneficiary reviews, and...

Think your retirement plan is solid? Your emotions might be quietly working against you. In this episode, we unpack the 7 Deadly Sins of Retirement Planning, Pride, Envy, Wrath, Greed, Sloth, Gluttony, and Lust, and show you exactly how emotional decision-making is behind every one of them. We also draw a surprising parallel between the stages of a relationship and the stages of building financial...

You may feel like you're ready to retire, but are you REALLY READY to retire? In this episode, we reveal 3 critical things you must consider before retiring, so you can truly be "ready". We cover the psychology of spending in retirement, why people resist retiring, tax implications of inheritance, and answer questions about rates, early retirement, and healthcare planning. It's a show packed with...

Some retirement decisions feel small in the moment but can have lifelong consequences. In this episode, we discuss several of the most important financial decisions retirees face , starting with the question so many people ask: Should I take Social Security now or wait? We also cover key considerations around life insurance in retirement, including common mistakes, beneficiary reviews, and why com...

Financial advice is everywhere, but not all of it belongs in a retirement plan. Today's episode starts with a short tax-season planning overview, touching on a few timely items people often overlook. Then we dig into some of the most popular money opinions being shared today and explain why certain strategies can create challenges when applied to retirement. We discuss how to evaluate financial ad...

Retirement is changing in 2026 - and so are the rules. In this episode, Tom breaks down the most important retirement updates for 2026, including changes to Social Security, COLA, Medicare, taxes, and catch-up contributions. He also tackles a critical retirement question: Should you be debt-free before retiring? Learn the real difference between entering retirement with debt versus without and how...