Retirement Approved with Matt Paul & Steve Paul

🎯 Not sure where you stand with your retirement plan? Schedule your Complete Planning Review: https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review Matt and Steve share a brand-new free resource built specifically for Ford, GM, and Stellantis employees preparing for retirement. In this episode, they walk through their new website, explain the updated Auto Worker’s Guide to Lump Sum Pensions, and break...

🎯 Not sure where you stand with your retirement plan? Schedule your Complete Planning Review: https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review Everyone’s got an opinion about money (especially the people with a book deal or a TV show). Some of that advice is useful, and some of it sounds better on a stage than it works in real life. Today, Matt & Steve put these popular financial opinions unde...

🎯 Not sure where you stand with your retirement plan? Schedule your Complete Planning Review: https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review   Every new year brings bold market predictions and plenty of confident opinions. But how much of that noise actually matters for your retirement? In this episode, Matt & Steve look back at what forecasters said last year, what really happened, and what...

🎯 Not sure where you stand with your retirement plan? Schedule your Complete Planning Review: https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review Did your Social Security check actually go up in 2026 or did Medicare quietly take some of it back? A new year brings new updates, and 2026 is no exception when it comes to Social Security.  Even small rule changes can have a meaningful impact on your retir...

🎯 Not sure where you stand with your retirement plan? Schedule your Complete Planning Review: https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review Artificial Intelligence is transforming everything, but is the hype getting ahead of reality?  This video tackles one of the biggest investor questions of 2025: Are we in an AI bubble? With markets up 20% three years in a row and Nvidia now worth over $5 tr...

🎯 Not sure where you stand with your retirement plan? Schedule your Complete Planning Review: https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review   When the market is strong, everyone feels like a confident investor—but true risk tolerance isn’t about how you feel when things are going well. In this episode of Retirement Approved, Matt and Steve dig into the emotional and mathematical sides of risk t...

🎯 Not sure where you stand with your retirement plan? Schedule your Complete Planning Review: https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review   Roth conversions can be one of the most effective ways to reduce taxes in retirement, but only if you use them strategically. In this episode of Retirement Approved, Matt Dombrowski, CFP® joins the show to break down the Roth planning strategies retirees...

🎯 Not sure where you stand with your retirement plan? Schedule your Complete Planning Review: https://www.rwpaul.com/complete-planning-review Your cash has been working overtime these past two years—but that high-yield honeymoon might be ending soon. With the Fed widely expected to start cutting interest rates in the coming months, now is the time to act. In this episode of Retirement Approved ,...

Is the U.S. dollar about to go digital? In this episode of Retirement Approved , Matt and Steve explore the rise of stablecoins- what they are, how they work, and why they could play a major role in the future of global finance. From Chuck E. Cheese tokens to casino chips, they use smart analogies to explain why stablecoins are grabbing headlines and how they’re not a threat to the U.S. dollar but...

Retirement isn’t just a financial decision. The transition can come with unexpected emotional challenges that many are not prepared for. Today we’re going to dive into the psychology of retirement by outlining five key psychological shifts retirees face and discuss how to prepare for them.  From the fear of spending your life savings to the loss of identity after leaving your career, we’re going t...

With headlines dominated by tariffs, inflation fears, and wild market swings, it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos. In this episode of Retirement Approved , Matt and Steve break down the ongoing tariff situation, how markets have reacted, and what it means for your financial future. They unpack the rollercoaster of conflicting government messages, fake news headlines, and sudden reversals that...

This week on Retirement Approved , Matt and Steve break down the latest market volatility, the first quarter’s performance, and what’s driving investor sentiment in 2025. With ongoing uncertainty around tariffs and the potential for more market pullbacks, what should investors expect in the months ahead? Tune in as we review predictions from top financial institutions and compare them to recent ma...

Is AI advancing faster than we can control? That’s what people are wondering as AI has dominated the conversation in tech for some time now. In this episode, Matt and Steve discuss the future of artificial intelligence, from large language models (LLMs) to agentic AI and the potential risks of artificial general intelligence (AGI).  We’re going to cover how AI is transforming industries, whether w...

We’re excited to welcome the man behind our firm to share invaluable insights on what it means to find fulfillment in retirement. Rich Paul, CFP® CRPC® authored The Fulfillment Factor and we want to find out how he’s applying those lessons and messages to his own retirement. As we dive into the topic, it’s clear that retirement is not just a financial milestone but a significant life transition th...

As we step into a new year, the financial landscape is rife with forecasts from various analysts and institutions. But how reliable are these forecasts, and should investors base their strategies on them? In this episode, Matt and Steve will look back at how 2024 performed compared to predictions and explain why you shouldn’t make investment decisions based on what people think might happen.  Matt...

The world of cryptocurrency has always been a rollercoaster, and the recent surge of Bitcoin to $100k has everyone talking. It’s been a huge topic in our office as well but is it just a flash in the pan? Today we’re going to discuss the growing confidence in digital currencies, spurred by a new administration that seems more crypto-friendly than ever. This political shift could pave the way for mo...

It’s getting down to crunch time in 2024 so what needs to be on your financial planning checklist before we hit the end of the year? As the year draws to a close, it's time to take a closer look at your financial plans and ensure you're on track for a secure future.  In this episode, Matt and Steve provide a comprehensive end-of-year financial checklist that covers everything from maximi...

In the latest episode of Retirement Approved, Matt and Steve dive into the glittering world of gold investing. As gold prices reach new heights, we’ll explore the reasons behind this surge and what it means for investors. Gold has always been a hot topic in the investment world, often seen as a safe haven in times of economic uncertainty. But how should it fit into your retirement portfolio? Here’...

Few things get as much attention inn retirement planning as Social Security because of its importance and its uncertain future. Today we’re going to tackle some of the essential planning conversations you need to have about Social Security and clear up the questions people are asking as we head into a new year. Here’s what we discuss in this episode: 0:00 – Intro  1:21 – 2025 COLA increase 2:49 –...

Everyone wants to get a leg up on the stock market and make shrewd investment decisions to grow their portfolio. The problem is trying to time the market is incredibly difficult. So many different factors are at play when you’re investing in the market and that’s why even the smartest people get it wrong.  In this episode, we’re going to tackle the age-old question: Is it time to start timing the...

The age-old question in retirement planning is how much do I need to retire? For many years, people have made one million dollars their goal as if that’s a sure-fire amount to retire on. It’s a nice round number to aim for, but is it really going to be enough?  Today we bring on Matt Dombrowski, CFP® to discuss the process we go through with clients to help identify the number that they need to fo...

August has been a month of market volatility, leaving many investors feeling uneasy about their portfolios. There’s plenty of reason to believe that it will continue through the rest of the year. So let’s discuss the reasons behind this turbulence and provide our view on how to navigate the remainder of 2024. We’ll breakdown the different factors that have led to the market’s choppy behavior, incl...

An idea that we had years ago has finally come to fruition and we’re excited to debut our new book, Retirement Approved . This comprehensive guide is designed to simplify the complex world of retirement planning, making it accessible for everyone, whether you're approaching retirement or already enjoying your golden years.  For the month of August, you can get the Kindle version of "Reti...

Retirement should be a time of relaxation and enjoyment, but it can quickly become a period of stress if you haven’t addressed the biggest risks to your financial security. Today we’re going to identify the five biggest risks that could derail your retirement plan and discuss ways to combat these risks through planning.  Understanding these five major risks can help ensure that your retirement sta...

We’re back to talk more news, and this week, we’re tackling the world of meme stocks, the latest on inflation, and the rise of Ethereum ETFs. You might’ve heard of Keith Gill, known online as “Roaring Kitty” who recently shook the financial world with his bold moves on GameStop. The brothers discuss his recent success and whether GameStop is still a good buy. Then, they discuss inflation and the l...