Last week, we covered why Roth conversions can beso powerful in retirement planning.This week, we’re talking about what can go wrong.In this episode, I walk through 12 real-world hurdles and“landmines” that can shrink — or completely eliminate — your Roth conversion window. These are the exact issues I see with Read More

If you’re approaching retirement with a large 401(k) or IRA balance, this episode could save you and your beneficiaries hundreds of thousands in future taxes.In this episode I'll break down 7 strategic reasons to consider Roth conversions and explain when Roth conversions actually make sense for retirees and pre-retirees.Too many Read More

In this episode I’ll break down the brand-new TrumpAccounts created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and explain whether retirees and near-retirees should consider using them as part of their legacy planning strategy. If you’ve built substantial retirement savings and arethinking about:helping children or grandchildrenfinancially, reducing future estate taxes, Read More

Are you approaching retirement with $1 million or more savedand wondering how to minimize taxes on your IRA withdrawals, Social Security income, Roth conversions, brokerage accounts, and retirement income strategy?In this episode I'll break down 7 powerful retirement tax planning strategies that high-net-worth retirees can use to potentially reduce or Read More

After you retire, you might find your net worth continuing to grow, but your 'taxable income' drops significantly. That can create major tax planning opportunities. Hence, 'High net worth, poor on paper.'I’ll explain how that period of time can open thedoor to smarter planning around ACA subsidies, Roth conversions, Social Read More

Are you retiring soon or recently retired and worried about market volatility, sequence of returns risk, and what the Iran conflict could mean for your plans?In this episode, I'm diving into what retirees should be considering as we head into potential prolonged volatility. I'll discuss the short term market impact Read More

If you're married, your Social Security claiming strategy is not just about your benefit — it's about protecting your spouse’s income for life. In this video, I'll explain the most overlooked Social Security rule for married couples and how it can dramatically affect the surviving spouse’s financial security.Many retirees don’t Read More

Are annuities really that bad?I’ve spent most of my career skeptical of annuities.  Especially the expensive, complicatedproducts often sold to retirees. I don’t sell annuities. I don’t earn commissions from them. And in most cases, I still am skeptical of how they are ‘sold’and not planned for.In this episode, I Read More

If you’re a TIAA participant, there’s a good chance you own TIAA Traditional—and it may be one of the most misunderstood “investments” in retirement plans.In this episode, I’m breaking down TIAA Traditional, TIAA Real Estate and answering the biggest questions I hear from TIAA participants:✅ Should I own TIAA Traditional?✅ Read More

Lately, I’ve been seeing a TON of retirement planning content telling people:"Don’t work another year. Retire now. You’re wasting time."And honestly… as a retirement-focused financial planner, that message kind of rubs me the wrong way.Not because it’s always wrong… but because I think there’s an angle behind it.In today’s episode, Read More

Is the 4% rule actually causing people to work 5 to 10 years longer than they need to?In this episode of The Planning for Retirement Podcast, Kevin Lao breaks down a series of real historical 40 year retirement backtests using withdrawal rates of 4%, 5%, 6%, and even 7%, and Read More

What if you live to be 100 years old?A lot of retirement plans assume your portfolio needs to last 15–25 years… maybe 30 if you’re being conservative. But if you retire at 60 (or earlier) and live to 100, that’s a 40-year time horizon in retirement — and it changes Read More

Elon Musk went on the Moonshots podcast and said you don’t need to save for retirement anymore because AI + robots will make work optional and money won’t matter.If you’re 55+, sitting on seven figures in a 401(k)/IRA, and you’re trying to figure out when you can stop working, travel Read More

Susan is 65, recently widowed, and has saved $2.1 million for retirement.On paper, she’s more than fine… but emotionally, she doesn’t feel fine.After watching her husband pass away, Susan is ready to retire five years earlier than planned so she can enjoy her “go-go years” while she still has her Read More

2025 reminded us of something important: markets don’t move based on headlines or how we “feel” about the economy — they move based on earnings, inflation, interest rates, and policy.And if you’re close to retirement, the goal isn’t to predict the market perfectly.The goal is to know what actually matters Read More

In this episode, we will address how accumulating significant savings into Traditional 401ks and IRAs can lead to a massive tax burden in retirement.  Additionally, we will be addressing the provision in the SECURE Act, which will change the way we view leaving these retirement plans to the next generation.⁠Are Read More

Do you ever wish you could get inside the minds of existing retirees to ask them what their experience has been?  Or, ask them what they wish they would have known before they quit their day job?  This episode is for you!In this episode of the Planning for Retirement podcast, Read More

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If you are retiring before you turn 65, the healthcare gap is probably top of mind. In today’s episode, I’ll talk about 6 paths to healthcare coverage to bridge the gap until you are eligible for Medicare. I hope it helps.FYI, I am NOT a health insurance expert! This episode Read More

Advisor’s Alpha is Wrong!Vanguard, the King of NO fees, puts out an annual study where they attempt to quantify the value of a comprehensive financial advisor. I can attest to many of the services mentioned, but it is very difficult, if not impossible, to determine the exact % of additional Read More