Get your customized planning started by scheduling a no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth For many retirees, healthcare costs before Medicare can be one of the biggest financial shocks — often exceeding $25,000 a year. But with the right planning, that same $25,000 can turn into a tax credit instead of an expense. In this episode, T…

Get your customized planning started by scheduling a no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth In this episode of Retire Smarter, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, breaks down how to gift smarter — whether your goal is to support family or give back to charity. With the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) reshaping charitable deductions starting …

Get your customized planning started by scheduling a no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth Most don't realize how important structure and strategy impacts an investment's tax efficiency. Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, breaks down how investment vehicles — from mutual funds to ETFs, Direct Indexing, and Tax-Aware Long/Short (TALS™) strateg…

Get your customized planning started by scheduling a no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth It will soon be that time of year again … the fourth quarter. Before you get swept up in the holiday season, it’s the perfect time to take stock. Have you accomplished the financial goals you set for yourself this year? If not, there’s still ti…

Get your customized planning started by scheduling a no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth In today’s episode, we’re tackling the big question: Can you really retire with $1 million? We’ll look at what the data says about how much people actually have saved How other assets like Social Security and pensions fit in, why your spending …

Get your customized planning started by scheduling a no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth What do ultra-wealthy families prioritize when it comes to their money — and how is that relevant to your own retirement plan? In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, breaks down the top three concerns that shape how the wealthiest families …

Get your customized planning started by scheduling a no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth Deferred compensation plans can be a powerful retirement tool — but they’re often misunderstood and carry unique risks. In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, breaks down how these plans work in 2025, from 409A rules to 457(b) and 457(f) pl…

Get your customized planning started by scheduling a no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — the biggest tax overhaul since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act — and it could change the way you plan for retirement. From a brand‑new $6,000 senior deduction to new rules for charitable giving an…

Get your customized planning started by scheduling a no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is over 800 pages long and packed with tax changes that impact retirees, individuals, and small business owners. From expanded standard deductions and new senior tax breaks to permanent small business deductions a…

Get your customized planning started by scheduling a no-cost discovery call: http://bit.ly/calltruewealth Retirees are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals — and the scams are getting more sophisticated. From fake emails and stolen phones to account takeovers and SIM card fraud, even cautious investors can be at risk. In this episode, Tyler Emri…

Some retirement mistakes are obvious. Others are silent — slowly eroding your plan year after year without setting off alarms. From investing the same old way to ignoring tax planning and claiming Social Security without a strategy, these missteps can cost you more than you think. In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, walks through five of the…

Warren Buffett announced his retirement as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the company’s 2025 annual meeting — marking the end of one of the most legendary investing careers in history. But his lessons aren’t just for billionaires or portfolio managers. They’re surprisingly relevant for anyone approaching retirement or looking to live more intentional…

When you're 12 months away from retirement, everything starts to feel real. From hard deadlines like pension elections and Medicare sign-ups to emotional shifts around identity and purpose, this final year before retirement can feel like a perfect storm. In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, explores the unique challenges clients face in this …

Not all Roth dollars are created equal—especially during times of market volatility. In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, unpacks when Roth contributions, conversions, or pretax savings make the most sense, and how recent market declines may present timely Roth conversion opportunities. You'll learn how to be strategic with what assets you co…

Markets have been shaken by a sharp selloff, with the S&P 500 down around 15% and the Nasdaq nearly 20% year-to-date. Much of the recent volatility is being driven by escalating trade tensions and a new round of tariffs that took effect on April 9. In this episode, Kevin Kroskey, CFP®, and Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, unpack what’s driving the recent …

If the recent market drop has you feeling uneasy, you’re not alone — but sharp swings are regularities you need to navigate. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq have both taken hits this year, but history shows that intra-year declines like these are common and something long-term investors have weathered time and again. In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP…

Big tax changes could be coming soon! On February 25, the House passed a budget resolution setting a $4.5 trillion cap for a new tax bill that could replace the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) before it expires at the end of 2025. But what will the new law look like, and how will it impact your financial plan? In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®…

Are you leaving money on the table? For families weighing their options when choosing a financial advisor, Vanguard’s Advisor Alpha study has long been the go-to guide—and now, fresh research from SmartAsset echoes the sentiment that the right advisor could boost your net returns by over 2% annually. In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, revea…

Retirement isn’t just about your savings—it’s also about where you choose to live. In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, explores WalletHub’s 46-factor framework for ranking states for retirees, examining everything from tax rates and cost of living to leisure opportunities and healthcare access. We also unpack the key financial and personal c…

Can money really buy a longer, healthier life? In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, dives into the surprising connection between wealth and longevity, uncovering how financial freedom can unlock better health, reduced stress, and more fulfilling retirement years. We also tackle the challenges of cognitive decline, exploring its impact on fina…

The Social Security Fairness Act is shaking up the retirement landscape, eliminating the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) for millions of retirees. These long-standing provisions have impacted Social Security benefits for public sector workers like teachers, firefighters, and police officers—until now. In thi…

In this episode, Tyler Emrick, CFA®, CFP®, explores the key financial and psychological factors driving early Social Security claims. Discover how a well-optimized strategy could boost your lifetime spending by more than 10%. Your Social Security decision isn’t just about dollars and cents—it’s a critical piece of your retirement puzzle. Join us to…

Remember in 2022 when both stocks and bonds fell in lockstep? Did you think diversification failed? Want to build a more diversified, resilient portfolio to better grow and protect your hard-earned dollars? Hear Kevin Kroskey, CFP®, MBA discuss how the TALS strategy adds unique sources of returns to your portfolio outside of traditional stocks and …

Have a sizable brokerage account? Have unrealized capital gains? Pay income taxes at the highest rates? Want to pay your fair share but no more? If so, this is an episode not to miss. In part 1 of this series, Kevin Kroskey, CFP®, MBA explored why adding the TALS strategy may yield significant investing and tax benefits. He described how TALS can h…

For successful investors and high-income earners, this is an episode not to miss... Sure, you can own an S&P 500 ETF or mutual fund. You could also own the 500 stocks individually, a strategy nowadays called direct indexing. Direct indexing aims to capitalize on individual stock volatility and add tax benefits by harvesting losses. Or you may choos…