Retirement Done Right w/ David & Pat

The biggest mistake retirees make? Not having a tax plan. By not having an appropriate tax strategy, it could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars over a 30-year retirement. From an investment standpoint, complacency is the enemy—being a buy-and-hold investor is easy during a bull market, but try it when the market's down 35%. The early years of retirement create a window for Roth conver...

In this episode of Retirement Done Right , hosts David Rath and Pat Kalish tackle a question most people don't think to ask: Should you change your financial advisor when you retire? The skills that helped you accumulate wealth—growing your nest egg, making deposits, riding out market ups and downs—are not the same skills needed to safely generate a retirement paycheck, minimize taxes, and co...

5 Key Takeaways: Everything Is Connected: Oil prices, interest rates, gold, and stocks don't move in isolation. Understanding how they interact (intermarket analysis) is essential for navigating volatile periods. Don't Let Headlines Drive Decisions: Emotional reactions to breaking news are the fastest way to make costly investment mistakes. Have a plan before markets get rocky. Gold Isn&...

Q1: Can AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini build a better retirement portfolio than a human advisor? A1: Not yet. While AI can generate a solid, textbook 60/40 portfolio using low-cost Vanguard funds, it lacks the ability to understand your personal situation, ask follow-up questions, or provide the ongoing guidance needed during market stress. Q2: What happened when you asked four different AI model...

5 Key Takeaways: Flexibility is the Name of the Game: The fear of "overfunding" a 529 is gone. Unused education savings can now kickstart a child's (or your own) Roth IRA, providing a powerful head start on retirement. The 15-Year Rule is Critical: The 529 account must be open for at least 15 years before any conversions can occur. This is a long-term strategy, not a quick fix. Earn...

Q1: What does a "Set It and Forget It" investment strategy actually mean for retirees? A1: It means you determine an initial asset allocation, rebalance at standard intervals (quarterly or annually), and resist the urge to make emotional changes based on market noise or hot stock tips. Q2: Why do most investors underperform the very funds they're invested in? A2: It's called th...

Q1: Did you know there are 21 ways to avoid the 10% penalty for taking retirement money out before age 59 ½? A1: Yes, the IRS provides numerous exceptions to the early withdrawal penalty, with several designed for specific life events like buying a home, paying for college, or retiring early. Q2: What is the "Rule of 55," and how can it help you retire early? A2: If you leave your job in...

Disclaimer: The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor's particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult...

This is for educational purposes only.  Key Takeaways: "A-Shares" mutual funds charge upfront commissions (often ~5%) and higher ongoing fees. Ask your advisor if a cheaper share class of the same fund is available to you. Annuities inside IRAs can be a red flag; you're paying for tax deferral within an already tax-deferred account. Always ask, "What specific benefit does this...

🔍 Financial Advisors; The Truth About Fees, Fiduciaries & Holistic Planning  In this revealing episode of Retirement Done Right, hosts Pat Kalish is joined by Andrew Heuss to pull back the curtain on the financial advisory industry. We expose what "fiduciary" really means, break down hidden fees, and reveal what TRUE holistic financial planning looks like. 🔹 Key Takeaways: ✅ Indus...

How much do you really need to retire? The classic $1 million benchmark is a starting point, but is it your finish line? In this episode of Retirement Done Right , hosts David Rath and Pat Kalish, moderated by Andrew Heuss, tear apart the one-size-fits-all retirement number to reveal the hidden factors that truly determine if your nest egg is sufficient. We dive deep into the questions you need to...

In this episode of Retirement Done Right, hosts David Rath & Pat Kalish are joined by Sarah Dorsey, CPA, to uncover five powerful, lesser-known tax strategies that can save you thousands and help you keep more of your hard-earned money. 🔹 Key Strategies Covered: ✅ Box Spreads: How to generate cash-like yield taxed at capital gains rates (not ordinary income). ✅ Section 351 Exchanges: Divers...

🔒CYBERSECURITY FOR RETIREES: Protect Your Life Savings from Digital Threats  In this critical episode of Retirement Done Right, hosts David Rath & Pat Kalish sit down with Mark Hurley, CEO of Digital Privacy and Protection and former FBI cyber expert, to expose the shocking vulnerabilities retirees face online—and the exact steps you can take to secure your digital life. 🔹 Key Takeaways: ✅...

🏠 Navigating a Home Transition? Here's How to Make It Stress-Free 🏠 In this episode of Retirement Done Right, host Pat Kalish sits down with Erin Larkin-Maguire, founder of Good LineHomes, to unpack the emotional, logistical, and financial complexities of downsizing or relocating in retirement. 🔹 Key Takeaways: ✅ Custom Solutions – How to tailor a home transition to your unique needs (sta...

In this episode of Retirement Done Right, hosts David Rath & Pat Kalish reveal why Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are the most underrated tool in personal finance—triple tax benefits, healthcare funding, and even retirement income boosts most people never discover. 🔹 Key Takeaways: ✅ The HSA "Triple Crown" – Tax deductions going in, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for med...

In this episode of Retirement Done Right, David Rath and Pat Kalish sit down with Cole Craven, co-founder of Move Health, to break down the complexities of healthcare planning for retirees—from Medicare vs. marketplace options to tax-saving strategies for early retirees. 🔹 Key Topics Covered: ✅ Pre-65 Healthcare Options – Cobra, marketplace plans, short-term insurance & more ✅ Medicare Expl...

In this video, Continuum Group’s CPA Sarah Dorsey breaks down the proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act and how it could impact your tax strategy, retirement savings, and financial future. 📌 Key Topics Covered: ✅ Potential tax bracket changes – Will rates stay low or increase after 2025? ✅ Estate & gift tax exemptions – How the new bill could affect wealth transfer strategies. ✅ Child tax cr...

Making the leap from accumulating wealth to spending it in retirement isn’t just a financial shift—it’s a psychological one. In this episode of Retirement Done Right , David and Pat explore what it takes to confidently transition from earning a paycheck to drawing income from your savings. You’ll learn: The Mindset Shift : Why so many retirees struggle to spend—and how to break free from that scar...

 In this episode, David and Pat break down the market chaos triggered by recent tariff announcements and explore how fear-driven headlines can wreak havoc on investor behavior. They dive into the emotional traps investors fall into, like recency bias and loss aversion, and share clear, actionable strategies to stay grounded. From tactical portfolio moves to behavioral finance insights, this episod...

Most people approaching retirement have heard the usual advice: the 4% rule, the 25x rule, or the idea that you’ll only need 70–80% of your working income.  But are these rules actually helpful or dangerously oversimplified? In this episode of Retirement Done Right , David Rath and Pat Kalish take a deep dive into the myths and realities of projecting retirement income. They explore where common r...

Estate planning is essential to ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes and your loved ones are protected. However, even the best intentions can go off track due to common mistakes. Here are four common estate planning mistakes to keep in mind when reviewing or preparing your estate plan. 1. Neglecting to Regularly Review Your Estate Plan Many people set up their estate plans...