Sound Retirement Radio

Everyone wants to invest in the next hot thing. Today, it's SpaceX. Tomorrow, it might be OpenAI or Anthropic. Twenty-five years ago, it was Pets.com. More recently, investors have chased the excitement around Bitcoin, GameStop, AMC, and other "can't-miss" opportunities. The names change, but human nature doesn't. To find links and resources mentioned in today's podcast, visit SoundRetirementPlann...

In today's episode, Jason welcomes Tim Tenbrink, CFP®, financial planner at Parker Financial, for a conversation about some of the most common concerns facing people as they prepare for retirement. From navigating stock market volatility to estate planning and everything in between, they share practical insights drawn from real conversations with retirees and those nearing retirement. Enjoy this e...

Social Security is an incredible benefit. It's inflation-adjusted income, it can be tax-efficient, and it includes spousal and survivor benefits. For many retirees, it becomes one of the most valuable financial assets they have. But determining the best time to start Social Security is more complicated than simply using an online calculator that tells you how to get the largest check. To find link...

I just got back from a trip to Maui with my wife and daughter… and it hit me— My wife and I are about to become empty nesters. For the first time in 29 years… life is about to change in a really big way. And this trip gave me some perspective that I didn't expect… about money, about being present, and about what really matters as we move into the next phase of life. To find links and resources men...

Today we're going to talk about your net worth, a number that everyone has but very few really know what it is and even fewer people truly understand what it means when it comes to retirement. This episode gets us back on track with the 2026 Retirement Challenge. Each episode in this series focuses on one step you can take to determine whether you're ready to retire in 2026. If you're already reti...

I'm going to take a short break from our theme for the year—the 2026 Retirement Challenge—because I want to address a concern I'm hearing from many people right now: the fear about war and how it might impact their investments. To find links and resources mentioned in today's podcast, visit SoundRetirementPlanning.com and click on Episode #470. When you work with Parker Financial , our advisors us...

This is the first exercise of the 2026 retirement challenge that most people actually enjoy.  The first episode was all about purpose and understanding why you will retire.  The second episode was about spending.  I've discovered that most people really don't like the word budget. Today we're going to add up how much guaranteed income you will have in retirement. To find links and resources mentio...

If there were no spending, there would be no need for investments. No portfolios. No Monte Carlo simulations. No withdrawal strategies. No Social Security timing debates. Because the entire purpose of money in retirement is spending. To find links and resources mentioned in today's podcast, visit SoundRetirementPlanning.com and click on Episode #468. When you work with Parker Financial , our advis...

In this episode, Jason shares an important announcement about the future of the Retirement Budget Calculator. He explains why the tool will no longer be available to new public users, what this means for existing users and Parker Financial clients, and the lessons learned from nearly a decade of building retirement planning software. Jason also reflects on how this decision supports a renewed focu...

We are going to start the  year off with a podcast series called "The 2026 Retirement Challenge".  The idea is that each podcast I am going to bring you one thing to work on so that by the end of the series you will know if you are ready to retire and if the numbers will work. Most retirement planning starts with a number. "How much do I need?" "When can I retire?" "Am I going to run out of money?...

In today's podcast, I want to take a few minutes to look back on 2025…and then use what we learned to prepare for 2026.  

Gold is up more than 50% year-to-date. Costco has been selling gold bars that fly off the shelves. The Discovery Channel's hit show Gold Rush draws millions of viewers. And central banks around the world have been buying gold at record levels. Demand is high—and the price reflects it. So in today's podcast, I want to dive into all things gold: what it is, what makes it valuable, why people invest...

In today's podcast, I want to talk about the new Enhanced Senior Deduction that was passed and signed into law on July 4th, 2025. If you are 65 years old or older—or will be turning 65 sometime between 2025 and 2028—you'll want to understand how this works and how it could impact your retirement plan.  If you are not yet 65 but you know someone who is, be sure to send them a link to this episode....

I'm really excited about today's episode because I want to speak directly to the anxiety that so many of you are feeling — and that you've been sharing with me lately. The title of today's show is "Is a Market Crash Coming?" It's a question I hear often, and I completely understand why. The headlines can be overwhelming, the markets feel unpredictable, and it's easy to wonder what's next. In today...

So I've met a lot of people over the years who have over prepared for retirement, and I've met others where I had to say, I'm sorry, you need to keep working. Unfortunately, I've seen good hardworking people, people who have saved, invested, and tried their best. They're still unable to retire, and the question's why? Today, I want to share the 4 biggest traps that keep people from retiring… and h...

Today's podcast has three parts: first, a simple question to help you gain clarity; second, a common financial mistake we see—and how to fix it; and third, practical investing moves you can take right now. To find links and resources mentioned in today's podcast, visit SoundRetirementPlanning.com and click on episode #460. The Retirement Budget Calculator is an intuitive tool that promises ease an...

You're listening to episode number 459. The title is. 68 New Adventures at 68 Anne's Bold Retirement, and I'm so excited to bring this podcast interview to you. One of my favorite things about the work that we do is that we get to meet so many incredible people and we hear their stories. We get to see the how the decisions that they make impact their lives. How do they live full out? What makes fo...

In today's podcast, I want to talk about the new One Big Beautiful Bill Act, recently passed and signed into law by the President on July 4th of this year. This legislation is significant for a couple of key reasons. First, it makes permanent one of the largest tax cuts in history—the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), originally passed in 2017 and previously set to expire at the end of this year. Seco...

As we celebrate the 4th of July, I want to explore a topic that doesn't get nearly enough attention—how to withdraw money from different types of retirement accounts. Specifically, we'll look at sequential vs. proportional withdrawals, and how your strategy can impact your taxes, your legacy, and your long-term retirement success. We'll walk through a hypothetical scenario to compare the outcomes,...

In today's episode, we're diving into the latest press release from the Social Security Board of Trustees. The numbers this year look worse than last year—and that has real implications for your retirement. To find links and resources mentioned in today's podcast, visit SoundRetirementPlanning.com and click on episode #456. The Retirement Budget Calculator is an intuitive tool that promises ease a...

The number one question people ask as they approach retirement is: "Have we saved enough?" Can we retire confidently without running out of money? In today's podcast, we'll explore how having a solid retirement plan can help you understand your likelihood of success—and the probability of avoiding a catastrophic financial shortfall. To find links and resources mentioned in today's podcast, visit S...

One of the most common Social Security questions we get is this: "If my spouse starts her Social Security at age 62 and I wait until age 70 to start mine, can she receive a higher spousal benefit when I start?" When it comes to Social Security, most people know you can qualify for retirement benefits based on your own work history — the taxes you paid into the system over the years. But what many...

In today's episode, I'm sharing a time-tested strategy that can boost your confidence when it comes to withdrawing money in retirement—the barbell strategy. Also known as the two-bucket approach, this method is designed to help you navigate market volatility while staying focused on long-term growth. I'll walk you through the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the barbell strategy—so by the e...

If you're feeling stressed about what's happening in the market right now—you're not alone. Market volatility never feels good, but there is a better way to invest: one grounded in planning, discipline, and long-term thinking. In today's episode, I'll share 8 important things to consider as you navigate this market, so you can make confident decisions and stay focused on what truly matters. Learn...

I recently came across a fascinating paper by Hendrik Bessembinder titled "Which U.S. Stocks Generated the Highest Long-Term Returns?" The research is based on nearly 100 years of stock market history, and it delivers some surprising and important lessons for retirees.