Retire Well

This week on Retire Well, Josh Bretl pulls back the curtain on a big change with a very familiar purpose. The firm formerly known as FSR Wealth Strategies is now Wellment Financial, a name that better reflects what retirement planning is really about. Not just numbers, but clarity, confidence, and living fully in the years ahead. Josh shares the story behind the rebrand, the firm’s roots as a CPA...

Retirement should feel more like a holiday break and less like a stressful countdown. In this festive episode of The Own Your Retirement Show, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott use the Christmas season to explain what real retirement freedom looks like and how to plan for it. Josh shares personal stories about family, freedom, and why retirement is not about hitting a magic number but understanding mont...

This week, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott break down the end of year planning moves every retiree should know. They explain how Roth conversions, RMDs, capital gains planning, and charitable giving all work on different timelines and how a quick mock tax return can reveal smart opportunities before December 31. Josh also talks about the emotional side of retirement and the natural shift from the go g...

This week, Josh and Mark use the Thanksgiving table as a fun and surprisingly practical way to break down the key parts of a strong retirement plan. From investments as the main course to income, taxes, and even emergency savings as the essential sides, they show how every piece of your financial picture works together. Josh also shares five tips for a happier, more confident retirement, including...

Josh kicks off the show with a story from his annual father daughter camping trip, a reminder of why intentional time matters. He then breaks down the Federal Reserve’s latest quarter point rate cut and why this one is surrounded by controversy. With the government shutdown limiting economic data, markets and policymakers are reacting with mixed opinions. Josh explains how interest rates influence...

In this week’s episode of The Own Your Retirement Show , Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott talk optimism - yes, optimism - in a world full of gloomy headlines. From a fourth-grade Greek mythology presentation to the latest Federal Reserve moves, Josh shares why he believes retirees have more reasons to feel hopeful than fearful. He explains how technology and consistent tax laws can actually work in you...

This week, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott dive into what truly makes a confident, successful retirement. After sharing a funny story from a family trip to Cabo San Lucas, Josh draws a surprising connection between family planning and financial planning, both take effort, but they’re worth it. The conversation shifts to a Yahoo Finance report revealing how wealthy retirees think differently, focusing...

Retirement isn’t a short pit stop anymore, it can last 20 to 30 years or more. In this week’s episode of The Own Your Retirement Show , Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott dig into the evolving realities of retirement planning and why old rules like “the 4% rule” don’t hold up today. From managing income and taxes to preparing for healthcare and long-term care, Josh explains how planning must adjust to li...

What can a middle-school novel teach us about retirement? A lot more than you’d think! In this episode, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott start with a heartwarming story about Josh’s family reading time and a surprising book set in a retirement village. The story sparks a conversation about connection, communication, and legacy, before diving into how those same themes apply to retirement planning. From...

This week on The Own Your Retirement Show , Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott dig into one of the trickiest parts of retirement: understanding interest rates and creating dependable income. Josh opens with a funny story about his son Alex discovering blackjack at a music festival, an eye-opening reminder of how tempting “gambling” can be, both at the card table and in the markets. From there, Josh expla...

Josh Bretl kicks off this week’s show with a story about a once-in-a-lifetime dinner at a world-famous restaurant, but it’s not just about food. It’s about rethinking the old way of doing things, just like retirement planning needs a fresh, thoughtful approach. In this episode, Josh explains how integrating proactive tax strategies with investment planning can significantly improve your retirement...

Retirement isn’t just about money in the bank, it’s about planning for the big picture.  In this episode of The Own Your Retirement Show, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott dig into Social Security, Medicare, and the rising costs of healthcare and long-term care. From nostalgic stories about Elmhurst festivals to the very real challenges of planning for medical bills, Josh and Mark bring clarity and...

What do ice cream museums and retirement planning have in common? More than you think! In this episode, Josh and Mark kick things off with a hilarious story about Josh’s family trip to the Museum of Ice Cream, then dive into the serious stuff retirees can’t ignore as the year wraps up. From Roth conversions to required minimum distributions, tax strategies, Medicare enrollment, and charitable givi...

Retirement planning is filled with tough choices, and Social Security and annuities often top the list. In this episode of The Own Your Retirement Show , Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott dig into the complexities of Social Security timing and the misunderstood world of annuities. They unpack the pros and cons of different types of annuities, from fixed to indexed, and explain why these tools are not in...

Planning for retirement isn’t just about saving money, it’s about building a solid foundation. In this episode of The Own Your Retirement Show, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott cover it all—from funny family stories about concerts at the zoo (and even axolotls) to the serious topics shaping retirement today. They dig into the latest jobs report, what rising unemployment could mean for interest rates, a...

Back-to-school jitters, market headlines, and retirement planning: what do they all have in common? In this episode of The Own Your Retirement Show , Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott explore how life’s big transitions mirror retirement. From Trump-era tariffs and shifting tax laws to the real-life stages of financial life, Josh explains why emotional decisions can derail a retirement plan and how prepa...

Retirement planning isn’t just about saving money, it’s about knowing how to spend it wisely. In this episode of The Own Your Retirement Show, Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott break down what to look for in a retirement advisor, why fees aren’t always bad, and the overlooked risks that can derail your golden years. From taxes to income planning to spotting red flags with your advisor, Josh and Mark sim...

This episode brings a festive twist to financial planning! Josh shares his family's quirky Christmas in July tradition before diving into serious retirement issues—like tariffs, Roth conversions, and why retirement planning for women deserves extra attention. From tax-smart strategies to spousal Social Security, it’s all covered in Josh and Mark’s signature fun-yet-informative style.

What do your daughter’s summer camp, your taxes, and your IRA all have in common? In this episode, Josh Bretl and his co-host, Mark Elliott, explore how retirement planning is evolving in the face of longer lifespans. From heartwarming family anecdotes to eye-opening longevity stats, they break down why living longer changes everything—and what you can do about it. They dig into how Social Securit...

Congress just passed Trump's “The Big Beautiful Bill," but what does it actually mean for your retirement? In this episode, Josh Bretl and his co-host, Mark Elliott, break down the biggest tax law changes in decades, including updates to the standard deduction, SALT caps, Roth conversion windows, and even taxation on tips. Plus, they explore how retirees can take advantage of new planning opportun...

What do downhill carting in Calgary, a baby black bear, and retirement planning have in common? They’re all part of this week’s episode of The Own Your Retirement Show ! Fresh off a family trip to the Canadian Rockies, Josh shares some hilarious and heartwarming travel stories—including the kids’ new obsession with go-karts and french fries at the top of a rotating tower. But the real journey? It’...

What do 90s prom dresses and the latest tax legislation have in common? More than you might think! In this heartwarming and info-packed episode, Josh shares a hilarious story of his wife’s “ladies-only” 90s prom night in downtown Chicago and how it inspired deeper thoughts on memory-making in retirement. Retirement shouldn’t just be about looking back — it should be the best part of your life, fil...

What do Medieval Times, Eminem, and retirement tax planning have in common? Quite a bit, actually — at least on this week’s episode of The Own Your Retirement Show ! Josh Bretl and Mark Elliott kick things off with a hilarious story from Josh’s life as a dad — taking 16 eleven-year-olds to Medieval Times for an epic birthday party (complete with jousting, yellow knight banners, and a very loud bus...

This week's episode of "Own Your Retirement Show" with Josh Bretl, president of FSR Wealth Strategies, highlights strategies for planning a successful retirement. The discussion starts with the importance of identifying where one stands on the road to retirement and covers essential topics such as income, investment, taxes, healthcare, legacy planning, Social Security, and Medicare. A significant...

The "Own Your Retirement Show" with Josh Bretl, President of FSR Wealth Strategies, focuses on critical aspects of financial planning for retirement. Key topics include strategies to minimize taxes on retirement savings such as 401(k)s and IRAs, where FSR Wealth Strategies emphasizes the importance of understanding the tax implications and planning accordingly. The show also highlights upcoming wo...