The Retirement Solution

Are you dreaming about retiring early—or just looking for a way to escape the daily grind? In this episode, Jon Hicks explores the question many workers ask: “Can I retire now?” He discusses the difference between being financially ready for retirement and simply feeling burned out, along with the importance of having a plan for both your finances and your time. Learn how lifestyle goals, income n...

Could taxes be the biggest expense in your retirement without you realizing it? Jon Hicks explains how the way your money is positioned—not just how much you’ve saved—can shape your retirement income. He breaks down the three tax buckets—taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free—and why balancing them matters over time. The conversation also highlights how income goals, spending habits, and legacy plann...

Are you overlooking the freedom your retirement savings could already provide? From this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks explores how a well-designed plan can help define when and how to spend in retirement. The conversation covers “guardrails” for spending, balancing splurges with long-term income, and how emotions and headlines can influence investment decisions. John also breaks down tax d...

What do people who thrive in retirement do differently? Jon Hicks breaks down four key financial behaviors often seen in those enjoying retirement—from saving aggressively and building income streams to managing risk and planning for unexpected expenses. He also explores the importance of defining “enough,” reducing financial stress, and creating a strategy that supports lifestyle needs over time....

Is the 401(k) really the retirement solution—or just a piece of the puzzle? In this episode, Jon Hicks breaks down the origins of the 401(k) and why it may not be designed to carry the full weight of retirement planning. He explains how many Americans rely too heavily on it, and why a strategy focused on protection, income, and tax planning matters as retirement approaches. The conversation also c...

Why do some retirees with millions still feel anxious about spending their money? In this episode, Jon Hicks explores the psychological shift from saving to using retirement funds and why it can be harder than expected. The discussion highlights how fear, habits, and uncertainty can impact decisions, even with strong income and assets in place. Jon also outlines key considerations like understandi...

What if chasing the “perfect” financial decision costs you the moments that matter most? In this episode from this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks explores how retirement planning goes beyond spreadsheets and projections. From Social Security timing decisions to the risks of over-saving or delaying retirement, the conversation highlights how emotions, habits, and priorities shape financial ch...

Will you react any differently the next time the market drops? This episode explores how investor behavior is often driven more by emotion than logic, especially as retirement approaches. Jon Hicks breaks down why past reactions to market downturns tend to repeat—and how discipline, planning, and understanding risk capacity play a role in navigating uncertainty. The conversation also highlights th...

Are hidden tax traps quietly reshaping your retirement? This episode from this past weekend’s radio show explores how retirement shifts you from taxpayer to tax manager—and why decisions around withdrawals, Social Security, and account types can affect long-term outcomes. Jon Hicks breaks down common pitfalls, including over-reliance on tax-deferred savings, changes to inherited IRAs, and the comp...

Should all your retirement savings go into Roth—or is that strategy missing the bigger picture? In this episode, Jon Hicks breaks down the debate between Roth and pre-tax 401(k) contributions, explaining why flexibility—not extremes—can play a key role in retirement planning. He explores how different tax buckets work together, the considerations behind Roth conversions, and why focusing only on s...

“Sell in May and go away” might sound catchy—but does it still hold up? In this episode, Jon Hicks breaks down the origins of this long-standing market saying and why its relevance is being questioned today. He explores how relying on simple investment rules can miss the bigger picture, especially as financial priorities shift from growth to generating income in retirement. The conversation also h...

Retirement isn’t just about saving—it’s about what your money can actually do next. In this episode from this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks explores the shift from growing wealth to using it with purpose. He discusses why many retirees focus too narrowly on preservation, how income, taxes, and lifestyle goals factor into a plan, and why a 401(k) alone isn’t a complete strategy. The conversa...

What if the first year of retirement has more impact than the next 20 combined? In this episode, Jon Hicks breaks down sequence of returns risk and why early market downturns can significantly affect long-term outcomes. Using real-life examples, he explains how timing—not just performance—can shape retirement income. The conversation also covers a three-bucket strategy designed to organize income,...

What happens when retirement shifts from a blurry idea to a clear plan you can actually follow? In this episode from this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks explains why retirement planning is about more than numbers—it’s about turning savings into a lifestyle. He breaks down sequence of returns risk, the impact of market timing, and how a bucket strategy can help structure income. The conversat...

When headlines scream chaos, it’s easy to assume volatility is the enemy—but that thinking can be misleading. In this episode, Jon Hicks discusses how economic shocks, rising oil prices, and nonstop news cycles affect retirement planning and investment decisions. The conversation explores why volatility itself isn’t the real risk, how disruption reshapes different parts of the economy, and why div...

What if the biggest retirement risk isn’t the market—but oversimplified assumptions about spending? In this episode, Jon Hicks challenges common retirement “rules of thumb” and explains why averages and generic withdrawal strategies often overlook what retirement really costs. The conversation breaks down why spending can look very different in the early, middle, and later years of retirement, and...

Roth conversions are everywhere right now—but few people slow down to ask why. In this episode, financial advisor Jon Hicks takes a step back to unpack what’s driving the Roth conversation and why tax structure, government debt, and long‑term planning are shaping the discussion. Jon walks through historical tax context, how changing tax brackets could affect retirees, and why timing and math matte...

When headlines are loud and uncertainty feels constant, how do you avoid letting fear drive financial decisions? In this episode from this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks discusses how market volatility, global conflict, and emotional reactions can quietly influence choices as retirement approaches. The conversation explores lessons drawn from history, investor behavior, and even pop culture,...

A chance meeting at the Country Radio Seminar led to a powerful conversation. In this episode, Jon Hicks sits down with retired Army veteran Shilo Harris, who shares the day his vehicle was struck by an IED in Iraq and the long road that followed. Shilo reflects on why he joined the military later in life, how his injuries reshaped his perspective, and what drives his continued work supporting wou...

Most retirees think the hard part is saving—but the real challenge starts when it’s time to spend. In this episode, Jon Hicks breaks down why so many retirement spending plans fall apart in the first few years and how early missteps can ripple through the rest of retirement. The conversation explores income versus savings, common spending mistakes, and why retirement should be treated like a marat...

You might be a millionaire on paper—and still be unprepared for the tax bill that comes with it. In this episode of The Retirement Solution, Jon Hicks explains how large asset sales, real estate, and tax-deferred accounts can create unexpected tax exposure in retirement. The discussion focuses on “paper millionaires,” depreciation recapture, installment sales, trusts, and why timing and planning m...

What do baseball legends, paper millionaires, and retirement planning have in common? In this episode from this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks uses sports analogies, real-life stories, and current market conversations to break down consistency, income planning, and knowing when “enough is enough.” From singles and doubles in baseball to tax surprises facing business owners and retirees, the...

The first year of retirement can shape everything that comes after it. In this episode, Jon Hicks explains why early retirement spending habits often swing to extremes—and how both overspending and underspending can create long‑term challenges. Using real‑life examples, the conversation explores why traditional “budgets” fall short in retirement, how spending plans differ, and why flexibility matt...

Headlines feel chaotic—but are they telling the whole story? In this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks breaks down how market volatility, inflation fears, and rising oil prices can reshape opportunity rather than erase it. The conversation explores why volatility isn’t the real threat, how retirement spending habits can go wrong early, and what myths still trip people up around Social Security,...

Your tax return may reveal more about your financial picture than you realize. In this episode, Jon Hicks explains why a tax return shouldn’t be filed and forgotten, but instead reviewed like a report card that highlights missed opportunities and planning gaps. The conversation explores how income decisions, deferrals, and overlooked line items can quietly shape long‑term outcomes. Listeners will...