Safer Retirement Radio

It's the halfway point of 2026. Do you know if your retirement plan is on track? In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Arrin Wray of Decker Retirement Planning walk through their mid-year review process: what to check, what to question, and where the common blind spots are. What this episode covers: • The mid-year checklist: portfolio allocation, spending versus budget, and w...

Running out of money is a top fear in retirement, and it almost always traces back to one question: where will your monthly income actually come from? In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Arrin Wray walk through how Decker Retirement Planning builds a diversified retirement income plan. The same math-based, fiduciary process they use with clients every day. What this episode...

Markets are at all-time highs while the economy flashes warning signs. Brian Decker and Arrin Wray break down three ways we lower client risk, how to use 529 plans for kids and grandkids, and the estate mistakes that quietly tear families apart. In this episode: Why the S&P keeps hitting records while job growth slows — and what's really driving the rally (earnings, rate-cut expectations, and stoc...

Is your retirement plan truly complete, or is it missing something critical? In honor of Financial Literacy Month, Brian Decker and Arrin Wray walk through the six elements every successful retirement plan must include. Whether you're interviewing a new advisor or evaluating your current one, this episode serves as your checklist. In this episode, you'll learn: Why a pie chart is not a retirement...

Most people file their taxes and move on. But if that's all you're doing, you're leaving serious money on the table — and walking into retirement blind. In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brad Geddes, CFP(R) of Decker Retirement Planning breaks down why your tax return is one of the most powerful forward-looking planning tools you have — and how to actually use it. Here's what we cover: Th...

Most people spend decades planning for retirement income — but healthcare? That's the expense that can quietly derail even the best-laid plan. In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brad Geddes, CFP® breaks down the three healthcare phases every retiree faces: Phase 1 — The Gap Years (Before Medicare) If you want to retire before 65, healthcare costs don't have to stop you. Brad explains why h...

If you’re nearing retirement, the biggest question is simple: Where will your paycheck come from—and how long will it last? In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Bradley Geddes, CFP(R) breaks down practical retirement income tools—and why many retirees don’t realize the weaknesses of the “pie chart” approach until a market downturn hits. You’ll learn: How an income plan differs from a 401(k)...

When a spouse passes away, the emotional toll is obvious—but the financial “whammies” can be just as disruptive: a lower Social Security benefit may disappear, tax filing status changes, Medicare decisions shift, and beneficiary and estate documents need immediate attention. In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Marc Knauss, CFP(R) break down the practical steps families shou...

How do you really know if you’re ready to retire—before you turn in your notice? In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Arrin Wray break down the six key checkpoints they use to help families move from guesswork to clarity, including the two questions that matter most: How much can you safely draw each month? How do you protect that income when markets change? You’ll learn how...

Markets have delivered strong returns, but retirement planning is about more than a good run in stocks. In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brad Geddes, CFP® joins Brian Decker to break down what today’s retirees and near-retirees need to watch next—especially when you’re transitioning from saving to spending. You’ll hear a practical discussion on: Why strong markets can quietly encourage r...

The new year is the right time to take a clear look at how taxes, required withdrawals, and income decisions can quietly shape the rest of your retirement. In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Arrin Wray walk through the most common tax and planning issues retirees and near-retirees face—and why understanding them early can help you avoid unnecessary taxes, missed opportunit...

Year-end is one of the few windows where decisions—or inaction—can materially affect how much of your money you actually keep in retirement. In this episode, Brian Decker and Marc Knauss, CFP(R) discuss the real-world tax and estate challenges retirees and near-retirees face as the calendar closes—and why waiting can quietly cost you. In this conversation, you’ll hear about: How reallocating risk...

Most retirees don’t realize that the strategies that served them well for 30–40 years of saving can work against them the moment they stop working. In this episode, Brian Decker and Arrin Wray break down why accumulation and distribution require two completely different approaches—and why misunderstanding that distinction can jeopardize your retirement. Brian explains: Why market losses in retirem...

In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Brad Geddes, CFP(R) discuss one of the most important questions in retirement planning: “How much income can I safely draw?” Rather than relying on rules of thumb or broad simulations, they explain how a math-based, distribution-first plan helps determine how much income a retiree may be able to take—year by year—while reducing the risk o...

In Episode 140 of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Arrin Wray reveal the critical distinction between accumulation and distribution strategies—and why using the same approach in both phases of life can be financially devastating in retirement. They unpack: Why traditional pie chart portfolios are not retirement plans The danger of using the 4% rule without accounting for sequence of return...

In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Mark Knauss, CFP(R) walk through five essential strategies to help protect your retirement income from inflation—without exposing your portfolio to unnecessary risk. From laddered income accounts to hard assets and tactical stock exposure, they outline a disciplined approach built for today’s uncertain environment. You’ll also learn: Why...

What really happens when one spouse passes away? In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Arrin Wray break down one of retirement’s most difficult—but essential—topics: preparing financially and legally for the loss of a spouse. You’ll learn: - The must-have estate documents (wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives) - The “pour-over” provision that helps fam...

As the Fed flirts with rate cuts, many retirees face shrinking savings and money-market yields. In this episode, Brian Decker and Brad Geddes, CFP(R) break down DRP’s Cash Plus portfolio—built for 0–5 year dollars that need liquidity and low volatility, yet can aim higher than plain cash. They also cover how AI is changing principal-guaranteed indexes and the timing inside momentum models, plus a...

In this week’s episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Bradley Geddes, CFP(R) break down one of the most overlooked threats to retirement success—sequence of returns risk. What happens if you retire right before a market downturn? What if your portfolio strategy doesn’t account for market flatness or volatility? You’ll learn: Why traditional 60/40 portfolios fall short in today’s envir...

Join Brian J. Decker and Marc Knauss, CFP(R) on this week’s episode of Safer Retirement Radio as they uncover why your traditional IRA might be a tax “loan” to the IRS—and how smart Roth conversion planning can turn the tables in your favor. From real-world illustrations of IRA tax bills topping $1.4 million to step-by-step guidance on: IRA Inefficiency: How deferral becomes a hefty tax liability...

Join Brian Decker and Arrin Wray as they unpack the three “compounding risks” that can threaten your nest egg—and show you how to turn them into advantages: Why delaying taxes in a traditional IRA could cost you (and your heirs) over $1 million, and how proactive Roth conversions lock in today’s rates. Five proven inflation hedges—from planned cost-of-living adjustments to strategic home-equity mo...

In Episode 133 of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian J. Decker and Marc Knauss, CFP(R) explore a suite of advanced estate planning strategies designed to help you protect, preserve, and pass on your wealth efficiently: State & Federal Estate Tax Planning: Using AB trusts, portability, and lifetime gifting exemptions to minimize state and federal estate taxes. Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs):...

Is the 4% rule still safe in a flat or volatile market? In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Arrin Wray explain why traditional income strategies—like the 4% rule or “living off the interest”—may no longer work in today’s retirement landscape. You’ll learn: ✅ How to build a laddered income plan using principal-guaranteed accounts ✅ The critical mistakes retirees make when...

In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Marc Knauss, CFP(R) break down the myths and mistakes of traditional retirement strategies—and show you what to do instead. You’ll learn: Why the 4% rule often fails in flat or volatile markets How sequence of return risk can derail your income The three key ways Decker Retirement Planning reduces risk How momentum strategies protect your...

Think you'll be in a lower tax bracket when you retire? Think again. In this episode of Safer Retirement Radio, Brian Decker and Brad Geddes, CFP(R) dismantle the myth and walk you through real-life tax planning strategies that can help you save hundreds of thousands—or even millions—in retirement taxes. From strategic Roth conversions to dynasty trusts, donor-advised funds, real estate tax planni...