The Big Easy Finance Show with Robert Tanner

What if your biggest retirement expense isn’t what you think? This episode unpacks why taxes can quietly take a major share of retirement income, and how planning, not guessing, shapes the outcome. The conversation explores tax, free income strategies, managing where income comes from, and how timing affects tax exposure. It also breaks down misconceptions about lower taxes in retirement, re...

What if the biggest risk to your retirement isn’t the market, but a lack of planning? This episode explores “lifestyle lock,” a strategy focused on income, taxes, and how you actually want to live in retirement. The conversation highlights why relying solely on portfolio performance can leave gaps and how multiple income streams, tax awareness, and cost-of-living adjustments shap...

What happens when innovation risks erasing the very thing that made you successful? Using Ferrari’s move into electric vehicles as a backdrop, this episode explores how businesses decide when to evolve, and when to hold steady. The conversation breaks down the role of supply and demand, customer feedback, and market trends in shaping smart decisions. It also highlights the importance of prot...

Most retirees are aiming for the wrong finish line, and they don’t realize it until it’s too late. This episode explores how misjudging life expectancy can derail retirement plans, especially for those going it alone. The discussion highlights common DIY mistakes, from underestimating healthcare costs to misunderstanding income planning and taxes. It also examines the risks of “f...

What if six figures still isn’t enough for retirement anymore?   This episode explores how inflation, market volatility, and shifting lifestyles are changing what it really takes to retire comfortably. The conversation breaks down common misconceptions, like relying on the 4% rule, and highlights the importance of building a personalized income strategy. From Social Security timing to t...

Exciting new investment ideas may grab attention, but are they actually right for your plan? This episode explores why “new” strategies, like crypto, AI investments, and emerging financial tools, aren’t automatically better, and how personal risk tolerance shapes every decision. The conversation breaks down the importance of building a coordinated financial plan instead of chasin...

What if two people retire with the same savings, but end up in completely different financial realities? This episode breaks down how timing, market downturns, and planning decisions shape retirement outcomes. Using real world analogies, the conversation explores sequence of returns, why income planning matters more than chasing a single “magic” number, and how retirees can think beyon...

 What if the biggest financial lesson generations of women never received still shapes retirement outcomes today? This episode explores how many women were taught to save, stretch, and protect money, but not invest it, and how that missing education shows up later in life. Through personal stories of mothers, retirement realities, and real conversations with widows and single women, the discu...

One retirement decision can quietly reshape decades of income, and most people don’t realize it until it’s too late. In this episode, the conversation zeroes in on Social Security timing and why claiming too early can ripple through the rest of a financial life. The discussion walks through how monthly benefits change by age, why cost-of-living adjustments matter, and how planning ahea...

What if the retirement number everyone talks about is distracting you from what actually matters? On this episode Robert Tanner unpacks why headline dollar targets can miss the real conversation. He explores how lifestyle goals, monthly cash flow, taxes, and flexibility shape retirement far more than a single savings figure. The discussion also looks at how different income sources, planning...

What if the way your business is structured is quietly shaping how much you keep each year? In this episode the conversation breaks down major tax changes affecting small business owners, including the now‑permanent 20% deduction for pass through entities. The discussion explores LLCs, S corps, and C corps, bonus depreciation, Section 179, and why entity structure matters more than most owners rea...

Why do tax bills keep climbing even after the paycheck stops? This episode takes a hard look at why retirees often owe more than expected—and how a lack of coordination, not income changes, is often the real issue. The conversation explores taxable Social Security, required minimum distributions, inflation gaps, and the impact of pulling money from the wrong accounts at the wrong time. The d...

A partnership can look solid, until one decision, one life event, or one missing document changes everything. In this episode of  The Big Easy Finance Show , the conversation digs into why handshake deals and basic insurance policies often fall short for business partners. Using real world examples, the discussion explores comprehensive buy-sell agreements, the risks partners face while they&...

  Many retirement plans were never meant to double as emergency ATMs, yet that’s exactly how many people are using them. This episode explores why tapping 401(k)s early has become so common, what it reveals about the difference between having accounts and having a plan. Robert Tanner breaks down contract-based income, inflation blind spots, and why emergency funding matters before retir...

What does an Oscar statue have in common with your 401(k)? More than most people realize. Using a surprising Academy Awards rule as a starting point, this conversation unpacks how qualified retirement accounts really work and why the IRS is often an unseen partner in the balance. The discussion moves through tax treatment, required distributions, inheritance realities, and the consequences familie...

April 15 isn’t just a deadline; it’s a fork in the road for tax and retirement decisions. In this episode of The Big Easy Finance Show , the conversation looks beyond last‑minute IRA contributions and into what tax returns can reveal about long‑term planning. Robert Tanner breaks down how procrastination, missed compounding time, and over‑reliance on compliance‑only advice can quietly...

Spring cleaning isn’t just for your home—it may be overdue for your business. In this episode of The Big Easy Finance Show , Robert Tanner challenges business owners to rethink outdated systems, workflows, and habits that quietly hold growth back. The conversation covers industry trends, operational efficiency, cash flow, technology adoption, and why adapting to how customers interact...

What if working just one more year could reshape how you think about retirement? Robert Tanner explores the ripple effects of delaying retirement—from income, benefits, and Social Security timing to how an extra year of work can change long-term planning. Tanner also digs into a listener question about the mega backdoor Roth, why high earners ask about it, and what alternatives may exist whe...

Retirement planning isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about protecting the life you’ve already built. In this episode, Robert Tanner introduces the idea of “lifestyle lock,” shifting the focus away from market hype and toward preserving how you actually live in retirement. The conversation explores FOMO, YOLO, and JOMO through a financial lens, along with real‑wor...

Winning the Super Bowl is exciting—until the tax bill shows up. In this episode of The Big Easy Finance Show , Robert Tanner uses real-world examples from professional athletes to highlight how unexpected taxes can catch people off guard. The conversation connects the “jock tax” to the similar surprises retirees and business owners face with capital gains, Social Security taxatio...

What happens to your business if you step away—or don’t wake up tomorrow? In this episode of The Big Easy Finance Show , Robert Tanner digs into succession planning and the growing gap between business owners and the next generation. Using real‑world examples, he explains why successful succession takes years, what options exist when family members don’t want the business, and ho...

That “million‑dollar” 401(k) may not be as big as it looks once Uncle Sam has his say. In this episode of The Big Easy Finance Show , Robert Tanner breaks down required minimum distributions (RMDs), why they exist, and how taxes, penalties, and timing can dramatically change retirement outcomes. The discussion explores the history behind tax‑deferred accounts, common RMD mistakes, the...

When your business is thriving but the tax bill keeps getting bigger, something behind the scenes may be broken. In this episode of the Big Easy Finance Show, Robert Tanner examines why successful businesses often outgrow their original structure—and how rising taxes, lawsuits, executive turnover, and industry shifts can signal deeper issues. Using real‑world examples, including the NFL&rsqu...

A hurricane can upend your life faster than any market swing—and retirement plans feel it first. In this episode of the Big Easy Finance Show, Robert Tanner digs into how unexpected events like natural disasters, healthcare shocks, and forced displacement can derail even well-funded retirements. Drawing on real experiences from Katrina and Ida, the conversation explores why generic rules of...

A “secret” Roth conversion that avoids taxes sounds tempting—but does it actually exist? Robert Tanner of the Big Easy Finance Show breaks down common tax myths, especially around Roth conversions, and explains how tax timing, income strategy, and planning discipline shape long‑term outcomes. The conversation explores why accounts alone don’t equal a plan, how today’s...