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Retirement Requires a Shift in Mindset - Replay

Common Sense Financial Podcast

Release Date: 07/09/2025

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Common Sense Financial Podcast

Brian Skrobonja closes out the year with a milestone episode that marks the final episode of 2025 and the conclusion of this version of the show. He shares the gratitude he feels for the listeners who have supported the mission, the team whose work brought each idea to life, and the recognition the podcast received from Forbes as one of the top shows by financial advisors. Tune in to hear Brian reflect on why he started this podcast, how the mission has been accomplished, and why this moment isn’t an ending but the beginning of a bigger vision that will unfold in 2026. He also shares the...

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Tax Deferred to Tax Free: Navigating Taxes in Retirement - Replay show art Tax Deferred to Tax Free: Navigating Taxes in Retirement - Replay

Common Sense Financial Podcast

In this milestone 100th episode of the Common Sense Financial Podcast, host Brian Skrobonja delves into the critical topic of managing taxes in retirement. The episode focuses on strategies for minimizing tax liabilities, especially for retirees with tax-deferred accounts facing potential hefty tax bills. Brian emphasizes the importance of sustainable income creation during retirement and the role of tax optimization in this process. Most people envision their retirement to be built from predominantly tax-free income, but after many years of deferring taxes, retirees are facing a sizable tax...

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Are You Prepared for the Evolution of Retirement? - Replay show art Are You Prepared for the Evolution of Retirement? - Replay

Common Sense Financial Podcast

In this podcast episode, Brian Skrobonja takes us on a thought-provoking journey through the evolving concept of retirement. As we dive into the past, present, and future of retirement, Brian helps us unravel the complexities of this modern-day concept which, though deeply ingrained in our society, is relatively new in human history. This episode is essential for anyone planning for retirement, offering a fresh perspective on how to approach this significant life stage in the context of rapid societal shifts, economic developments, and increasing human longevity. We start off by exploring the...

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The Three Retirement Mindsets That Could Have A Negative Impact On Your Retirement Plans - Replay show art The Three Retirement Mindsets That Could Have A Negative Impact On Your Retirement Plans - Replay

Common Sense Financial Podcast

In this episode, Brian Skrobonja goes over the three main retirement mindsets that could negatively impact your retirement plans. He sheds light on what most retirees get wrong about retirement planning, why being confident doesn’t eliminate investment risks, and what to consider when hiring a financial planner. Brian goes over three retirement mindsets that have the potential to derail even the best-laid retirement plans. He starts by explaining that there is more to the conversation around retirement than just having a permanent vacation. Retirement is not a destination; it’s a...

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Common Sense Financial Podcast

Brian Skrobonja sits down with Phon Vilayoune to unpack buffered ETFs and income notes. Phon is the Founder and CEO of VETA Investment Partners, where they currently oversee over $5.5 billion in assets. They discuss the benefits of positioning your portfolio for growth and safety, how to protect your nest egg in volatile markets, and practical strategies for optimizing gains while limiting downside risk. Tune in to hear professional insights on ETFs, income notes, and actionable frameworks for navigating today’s complex market cycles. Phon explains how he entered the investing world and now...

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Common Sense Financial Podcast

In this podcast episode, Brian shares his remarkable journey from his parents' middle-class immigrant background to achieving financial freedom through decades of learning and building businesses. He recounts his early aspiration for an opulent lifestyle and the pivotal moment when he realized the importance of creating income-producing assets. Through content creation, including three books and the Common Sense Financial Podcast, Brian's financial wisdom and expertise have garnered recognition and awards, providing valuable insights into wealth, financial freedom, and the pursuit of life's...

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The 5 Key Performance Indicators To Help Measure The Health Of Your Retirement Plan - Replay show art The 5 Key Performance Indicators To Help Measure The Health Of Your Retirement Plan - Replay

Common Sense Financial Podcast

In this episode we talk about the importance of using key performance indicators beyond just investment performance to gauge the health of one's retirement plan. There are five crucial data points that form the foundation of a successful retirement strategy: passive income, effective tax rate, cash flow ratio, banking capacity, and horizontal asset allocation. By focusing on these metrics, you can adopt a comprehensive approach to retirement planning that factors in various financial variables and bridges the gaps in your financial plan. Business owners use KPIs or key performance indicators...

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In this episode on Certificates of Deposit (CDs) as investments, we talk about the nuanced decision-making involved in purchasing CDs and whether or not CDs are good investments, particularly in a rising interest rate environment, and we explain why interest rates are the only factor you need to consider. Wealth creation isn't solely dependent on CD rates, and we need to consider the impact of inflation and interest rates to gain a comprehensive financial perspective. The episode also explores how government strategies to combat inflation by adjusting interest rates impact not only investors,...

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Brian Skrobonja talks about the hidden trap of survival mode: that quiet, familiar mindset that keeps you safe but small. He explains why so many people in midlife mistake control for security, and how shifting from a scarcity mindset to a mentality of abundance changes everything about how you earn, spend, and live. Tune in to hear what it really takes to move from survival to strategy, from managing scarcity to creating abundance, and why your next level of wealth starts in your mind, not your bank account. Brian starts by explaining how time sneaks up on us. One day you’re in your 20s,...

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In this episode, Brian Skrobonja explains what alternative investments are and why they are the fastest route to growing your assets or retirement savings. He sheds light on how the most successful investors in the world keep getting wealthier and how to use an endowment like strategy to position your retirement assets. Brian explores alternative investments opportunities.  He goes over what larger investors are doing to diversify away from the public market in an effort to help clients protect downside risks. The shift in investment philosophy amongst the largest investors is something...

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More Episodes

Time is your most precious resource, but how you use it is up to you.

The shift from earning to retirement can be quite challenging, as you have to thread the needle between income, growth, and time.

In this new episode of the Common Sense Financial Podcast, host Brian Skrobonja goes over the most important mindset shift people need to make in order for their retirement plan to succeed.

  • It is possible to retire without growth, but it’s impossible to succeed without income. But many people have trouble shifting their mindset from focusing on long-term growth into a consistent and reliable income.
  • When you invest long-term, that means not having to withdraw money from your assets for a long time. But once you enter retirement, your timeline moves from the future to the present.
  • This transition requires a mindset shift to be made before significant progress can be made.
  • Retirement planning is a discovery process that boils down to learning whether or not you have an income gap in retirement and, once that’s discovered, the whole plan is built around replacing that income.
  • Without that number, everything else is a guessing game. If you shortcut this step with estimates, you will only compound the issue downstream.
  • Retirement seems like a simple concept, but it’s surprisingly complex and solving the issue with old ways of thinking will lead you astray.
  • Future performance of investments can’t be determined by looking at the past. An investment doesn’t address the risks you face in retirement. The sooner you figure out that investing is a spoke in a very large wheel, the sooner you can begin to formulate a true retirement roadmap.
  • There are common components for retirement scenarios, like the income gap.
  • There are also common risks that all retirement plans need to account for: sequence of return risk, market risk, interest rate risk, mortality risk, legislative risk, longevity risk, and health risk. All retirement plans should be built around the idea of protecting yourself and mitigating as much risk as you possibly can.
  • Most people’s largest asset is their income, but it’s often not considered for insurance.
  • Confirmation bias can hinder our ability to consider alternative perspectives and make the mindset shifts we need to make in retirement. People can find themselves endlessly searching for experts to tell them that they don’t need to change their strategy in retirement because of our natural need to confirm our beliefs.
  • The more successful a person becomes, the more valuable their time becomes. To preserve those valuable hours, it becomes increasingly more important to surround yourself with professionals to whom you can delegate responsibilities to free up time.
  • Insurance is just a form of delegation. You delegate your risk to the insurance company, which mitigates the risk and increases the quality of your time.
  • Delegating the research and leveraging the experience of a professional in retirement planning can help you leverage your time with confidence.

 

 

Mentioned in this episode:

BrianSkrobonja.com

 

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