The Retirement Solution

March Madness isn’t the only place overconfidence can derail the outcome. In this episode from this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks uses bracket chaos, betting psychology, and headline‑driven markets to explain how emotional decisions can quietly creep into retirement planning. The discussion covers recency bias, concentrated portfolios, income versus accumulation, and why retirement spending...

What happens to your retirement plan when global tensions send gas prices soaring overnight? Jon Hicks examines how geopolitical uncertainty, inflation pressure, and market volatility can ripple through retirement portfolios. Using real‑world examples and clear analogies, the conversation focuses on why retirees and near‑retirees need plans that account for disruption, not just calm markets. The e...

What do dirty sponges, boiling frogs, and flight simulators have to do with retirement? From this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks uses everyday analogies to unpack how small, overlooked issues—especially taxes, income planning, and risk—can quietly build into major retirement challenges. The discussion covers stacked tax pressures, stress‑testing portfolios, and why simplified rules of thumb...

Some retirement opportunities don’t come back once the window closes. In this episode, Jon Hicks breaks down the age‑based moments that quietly shape retirement outcomes, starting as early as 50 and extending into your seventies. The discussion covers catch‑up contributions, penalty‑free access rules, control over retirement accounts, Medicare timing, and required distributions. Using real‑world e...

Most people aren’t worried about dying—they’re worried about running out of money. From this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks challenges the fear‑driven retirement messaging that keeps savers uneasy, even with significant assets. The discussion breaks down why a 401(k) statement isn’t a plan, how monthly income matters more than lump sums, and why confidence comes from strategy, not market hea...

Markets don’t move in a vacuum—and sometimes a single headline can change everything. In this episode of The Retirement Solution, financial advisor Jon Hicks explores political risk and how government actions, public statements, and unexpected headlines can ripple through the markets. The conversation looks at how political uncertainty intersects with investing, why volatility can increase when po...

Bad markets get the blame, but bad assumptions often do the real damage. In this episode from this past weekend’s radio show, financial advisor Jon Hicks breaks down the retirement assumptions many people don’t realize they’re making—about longevity, health care costs, taxes, market consistency, and even politics. The conversation explores how averages can mislead, how headlines can influence port...

Most people ask their financial advisor if they’re protected—but almost no one asks how. In this episode of The Retirement Solution, Jon Hicks flips the script on the most common retirement planning questions and digs into the ones that actually matter. From protecting a portfolio during market downturns to keeping up with inflation, understanding fees, and preparing for inevitable life changes, t...

Gold and silver are everywhere in the headlines—but do they really belong in a retirement portfolio? In this episode of The Retirement Solution, financial advisor Jon Hicks breaks down what’s driving recent volatility in precious metals and why their role in retirement planning is often misunderstood. The conversation explores how gold and silver behave during market stress, the limits of using th...

What if the riskiest part of retirement isn’t the market—but waiting too long to enjoy it? In this episode of The Retirement Solution, pulled from this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks breaks down the decisions facing those approaching retirement in 2026. The conversation covers income planning, healthcare costs, market volatility, gold and silver headlines, and why spreadsheets don’t always r...

Most estate plans don’t fail at death—they unravel long before it. Financial advisor Jon Hicks introduces the “Five D’s” of estate planning and explains why a will alone often leaves families exposed during life’s biggest transitions. This episode reframes estate planning as wealth transfer, covering incapacity, disability, downsizing, and the financial ripple effects that follow. Jon shares real-...

When every headline feels urgent, retirement decisions get harder—not easier. In this episode of The Retirement Solution, Jon Hicks breaks down why market “instability” affects pre‑retirees and retirees very differently. Using real client stories, he explains how sequence‑of‑returns risk changes the math once income withdrawals begin and why riding out downturns isn’t always the same in retirement...

What if the scariest part of retirement isn’t the headlines—but how unprepared they reveal we are? Pulled from this past weekend’s radio show, this episode of The Retirement Solution explores why anxiety rises as retirement gets closer and how income planning changes the conversation. Jon Hicks uses real‑world stories, market parallels, and even sports analogies to unpack volatility, sequence risk...

A new tax deduction for Americans over 65 is getting attention—but the real impact depends on how retirement income is structured. Jon Hicks explains how the latest changes to the tax code interact with Social Security, IRAs, and other income sources. The conversation expands into why taxes often become more complex in retirement and how thoughtful planning can shape long-term outcomes.   Schedule...

What happens when rising prices, shifting headlines, and financial uncertainty collide? In this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks breaks down why retirement confidence is hitting historic lows, even after years of strong market gains. He unpacks the emotional disconnect many savers feel, the true drivers of financial stress, and why income planning—not account balances—shapes retirement securit...

What if the biggest tax challenges in retirement come after you’ve already saved successfully? Jon Hicks breaks down why RMDs, tax‑deferred growth, and shifting tax brackets can catch retirees off‑guard — and how understanding strategy, not last‑minute fixes, shapes better long‑term outcomes. From bracket management to charitable tools and restructuring tax‑deferred accounts, he highlights the dec...

What if the biggest risk to your retirement isn’t the market at all, but the plan you don’t have? In this episode from this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks breaks down why retirees and pre‑retirees are viewing 2026 so differently from financial advisors, and what stress‑testing your portfolio can reveal about hidden vulnerabilities. From market volatility concerns to RMD surprises and long‑te...

What happens when nonstop headlines collide with your retirement plan? Jon Hicks breaks down the noise and explains how to navigate a year filled with predictions, volatility, and economic uncertainty. From stress‑testing your portfolio to preparing for inflation, he shares practical ways retirees can stay grounded when markets swing and emotions surge. With real client stories and clear explanati...

This episode opens with a striking look at why 2026 may be the year to take action on your financial future. Pulled from this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks breaks down the newest tax changes, catch‑up contribution rules, and strategies for building “forever assets” that can help support your retirement goals. Heather Branch joins John to explore practical steps for planning income, reducing...

What if one extra dollar of income could cost you thousands in retirement? Jon Hicks breaks down how tax brackets, deductions, Medicare surcharges, and Roth rules create “tax cliffs” that can dramatically impact retirees. He explains why managing where your income comes from may matter more than how much you withdraw, and how strategic income choreography—year by year—can influence deductions, Soc...

What if the secret to a stronger financial future starts with thinking like both a pessimist and an optimist? In this past weekend’s radio show, Jon Hicks breaks down why balancing caution with confidence may shape the way you save, invest, and plan for the years ahead. From inflation and healthcare costs to managing volatility, tax thresholds, and rebalancing, this episode explores how everyday d...

Feeling like your Roth conversions aren’t keeping up with a soaring market? Jon Hicks breaks down why “treadmill” moments can actually signal that your strategy is working. From tax‑bracket thresholds to asset‑selection decisions, he explains how conversions fit into a bigger conversation about rising tax pressures, government debt, and long‑term planning. With real‑world examples and insight into...

What if the biggest retirement mistake happens after you stop working? In this episode, Jon Hicks breaks down why many retirees struggle—not from lack of savings, but from not knowing how to turn those savings into sustainable income. He explores the “descent down the mountain,” outlining the three essentials every retiree must understand: knowing your monthly number, identifying reliable income s...

A warning from financial history sets the stage as Jon Hicks dives into what today’s AI‑driven market surge may really mean. In this episode from this past weekend’s radio show, Jon breaks down why comparisons to 1929 are resurfacing, how interest rates shaped 2022’s downturn, and why the frenzy around artificial intelligence could signal more than simple innovation. He also unpacks retirement rea...

Is your retirement income plan stuck in the past? Jon Hicks explores why outdated financial strategies can cost you more in taxes and missed opportunities. Discover how evolving investment options, personalized planning, and smart tax moves can help you keep more of what you’ve earned and adapt to today’s retirement landscape.   Schedule your complimentary appointment today: RetirementSolutionShow...