Stress Test Your Retirement Plan With Real Life What If Scenarios, Ep #251
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
Release Date: 12/01/2025
Stress Test Your Retirement Plan With Real Life What If Scenarios, Ep #251
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
We talk with hundreds of individuals and families every year, and many of the questions they ask come back to one core concern. Can my retirement plan really survive the messy, unpredictable situations that happen in real life. Instead of only looking at straight line projections or average returns, Chad and Allison walk through how to “stress test” your plan with real world what if scenarios so you can build confidence before a crisis hits. In this episode, you will hear three of the biggest what if questions clients have been asking over the past year. What happens if there is a...
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Retirement Ravaging Risks That Could Slash Your Nest Egg, Ep #250
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
When people think of what could haunt their retirement, they often imagine running out of money, facing unexpected expenses, or living too long. But as we discuss in this episode, there’s a more insidious villain: sequence of return risk. Sequence of return risk refers to the threat of poor investment returns occurring early in your retirement years, just when you start withdrawing funds. Even if the average returns over your retirement are sufficient, early losses can irreparably damage your nest egg and dramatically increase the odds of running out of money. To bring these concepts to life...
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Seven Essential Stages of Tax Planning with Grayson Blazek, Ep #249
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
Tax planning often slips to the bottom of our financial to-do lists—until a surprise bill or missed opportunity crops up. But behind the scenes, the right process for an ongoing tax strategy can put you leagues ahead, reducing uncertainty and helping you capitalize on changes. On the show this week, we’ll walk through the seven stages of tax planning, highlighting key insights and practical actions you can take. Outline of This Episode 00:00 Holistic Tax Planning Overview 01:56 Understanding clients’ overall current situation and future goals [03:11] Importance of staying up-to-date for...
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Use Non-Obvious Thinking to Improve Your Retirement Readiness, Ep #248
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
Planning for retirement isn't just about hitting your savings targets and hoping for the best. It's about getting creative, asking new questions, and challenging your own assumptions. We follow the retirement planning journey of a fictional couple, Dwight and Angela, who are three to five years from retirement, using the SIFT framework shared by Rohit Bhargava and Ben duPont in their book “Non-Obvious Thinking”, to shed light on hidden financial opportunities. Outline of This Episode [00:00] Broadening perspectives on retirement strategies. [03:11] Making time to reflect to get better...
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Smart Strategies for Funding Your Child’s College Education with a 529 Plan, Ep #247
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
Planning for your child’s college education can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with skyrocketing tuition costs and countless savings options. This week on the show, we’re discussing the question of exactly how much you should save in a 529 college savings plan. Outline of This Episode [00:00] Decide your college funding goal before saving in a 529 account. [02:06] An overview of college costs. {02:35] Advantages of the 529 Plan. [03:54] Weighing college savings vs. retirement savings. [05:31] What happens if I save too much? [07:35] Expanded legislation as part of the...
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Should You Add Private Equity, Real Estate, or Bitcoin to Your 401k? Ep #246
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
Recently, an executive order has set the stage for 401 (k) providers to potentially start offering investments like private equity, private real estate, digital assets (think bitcoin), commodities, and more—options typically reserved for pension funds and institutional investors. But what does this really mean for everyday savers? We break down the differences between traditional 401k offerings and these new alternatives, discuss the risks and potential rewards, and share questions you should ask yourself before making any changes to your investment lineup. Outline of This Episode [00:00]...
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Which Roth Account Is the Right Scoop for You? Ep #245
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
Are you taking advantage of all your Roth opportunities? We break down the differences between the Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), or the Mego Backdoor Roth 401(k). by comparing your choices with another favorite summer treat - ice cream. We break down the basics, benefits, and ideal life stages for each account type—whether you’re just scooping your first vanilla cone with a Roth IRA, adding some flavor with a Roth 401(k), or going all-out Neapolitan with the Mega Backdoor Roth. We also share smart tips on tax brackets, income planning, and how to maximize your options for a sweeter financial...
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Making Sense of 2025’s Market Surprises, Ep #244
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
The second quarter of 2025 was anything but dull in the financial world. But despite the turbulence, both US and international stocks finished the first half of the year up over 10%. Over the last 12 months, markets have performed robustly, returning 14-19%. Bonds have also held their own, with 6% returns over the last year. Investors have endured a roller coaster ride, especially after the dramatic market drop following tariff announcements and the subsequent quick recovery. Outline of This Episode [00:00] More about market volatility and recovery in 2025. [03:40] Tariff uncertainty...
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Breaking Down the Big Beautiful Bill with Grayson Blazek, Ep #243
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
Tax season may feel far off, but with sweeping legislative changes just passed, proactive financial planning starts now. In this episode, we’re sharing our accessible, in-depth breakdown of the new Big Beautiful Bill, highlighting ten key tax provisions that every taxpayer should understand. Outline of This Episode [00:00] Summarizing the latest major legislation in 10 key tax provisions. [04:59] Be mindful of income limits for a taxpayer deduction. [08:05] Consider collating deductions into a single year to maximize tax benefits due to the temporary higher SALT limit. [11:44] Starting in...
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The Opportunity Cost of Holding Too Much Cash, Ep #242
Financial Symmetry: Balancing Today with Retirement
When is enough, enough? Many investors have recently found solace in growing their cash reserves, whether in their checking accounts, savings accounts, or certificates of deposit (CDs). With attractive yields and recent market turbulence still fresh in mind, it’s easy to assume that loading up on cash is a safe strategy. But there’s a hidden cost to keeping more money than you need. Not only does excessive cash limit your growth potential, but it can erode your long-term wealth, all because of a mix of emotional biases, historical events, and overlooked risks. Outline of This Episode ...
info_outlineWe talk with hundreds of individuals and families every year, and many of the questions they ask come back to one core concern. Can my retirement plan really survive the messy, unpredictable situations that happen in real life. Instead of only looking at straight line projections or average returns, Chad and Allison walk through how to “stress test” your plan with real world what if scenarios so you can build confidence before a crisis hits.
In this episode, you will hear three of the biggest what if questions clients have been asking over the past year.
- What happens if there is a major market crash right as you retire?
- What if you retire earlier than expected, either by choice or by force?
- What if there is a major health shock for you or your spouse?
Rather than focusing on doom and gloom, the goal is to rehearse these situations on paper so that when life happens, you already have a plan for how to respond.
We also share a simple three-step framework you can use to run your own retirement stress test at home. You will learn how to identify the what-ifs that matter most to you, estimate their impact on your spending and timeline, and choose proactive moves that make your plan more resilient. Along the way, they discuss sequence of returns risk, health insurance bridges before Medicare, using taxable brokerage accounts strategically, and how to think about funding future healthcare needs without overpaying for insurance you may not need.
Outline of This Episode
- [00:00] Retirement stress testing.
- [04:50] Key questions to ask about a 25 to 50 percent portfolio decline, spending flexibility, and your safety bucket.
- [09:20] Transition to scenario two, early retirement before age 65 and why health insurance is such a critical factor.
- [13:30] Cash in the bank versus long term growth.
- [17:20] Healthcare shocks and long term care needs that can show up later in retirement.
- [21:00] How HSAs, disability insurance, and understanding your deductibles and out of pocket maximums fit into the picture.
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