The 2 Questions You Need to Answer before You Retire
Release Date: 07/26/2025
Don’t Let the IRS Keep Your Money: 5 Tax Moves to Make Before Dec. 31
Planning Matters Radio
The end of the year is fast approaching, and so is the deadline for the tax moves that can lower your 2025 tax bill. In this video, Peter with RIchon Planning and Erin Kennedy break down the top five simple steps to help keep more money in your pocket, including: 1. Max Out Your 401(k) 2. Contribute to Your HSA 3. Max Out Your Roth IRA 4. Harvest Your Investment Losses 5. Donate to Charity This easy checklist can make a big difference come tax time. And keep in mind, it's never too late (or too early) to start thinking about how you can earn more and save more next year. And if you'd like to...
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Why 60% of Wealth Transfers Fail (and the Conversation Every Family Should Have This Holiday Season)
Planning Matters Radio
The holidays bring families together... multiple generations under one roof, to share stories and look ahead. And as Peter with Richon Planning explains to Erin Kennedy it’s also an ideal time to start meaningful conversations about family finances and the legacy you want to leave behind. The truth is, 60% of wealth transfers fail simply because families never talk about them. Opening the door to that conversation now can reduce stress later and help protect the people you care about most. If your family is ready to take that first step, Peter is here to help start that discussion and make...
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🎉 Seniors Will Get a Raise in 2026! Here’s What the New Social Security COLA Means for You
Planning Matters Radio
Good news for retirees! The Social Security Administration just announced a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 2.8% for 2026 — that’s an average increase of about $56 per month starting in January. In this video, Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy break down: How inflation drives COLA increases What the 2026 bump means for retirees Why waiting to claim Social Security could still make sense The updated Earnings Test limits for those who keep working before full retirement age It’s not just a raise — it’s a reminder to...
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🏖️ 5 Signs You’re Ready to Retire Early (And How to Know You’re Really Ready)
Planning Matters Radio
Thinking about retiring early? You’re not alone — but before you trade your desk for the beach, it’s worth asking if you’re truly ready. A recent study from F&G Annuities and Life found that 54% of Gen X early retirees are considering “unretiring” — often because they weren’t fully prepared, financially or emotionally. In this video, Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy walk through 5 key signs you’re ready to retire early, including: You’re debt-free (and not just your mortgage) You have multiple income sources...
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💰 5 Steps to Tax-Free Roth IRA Distributions
Planning Matters Radio
The beauty of a Roth IRA is simple: pay the taxes now, enjoy tax-free income later. But when it’s time to withdraw your money, the rules can get tricky, and mistakes can cost you. In this video, Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy break down the five key steps to keep your Roth distributions tax-free, including: ✅ Follow the IRS ordering rules ✅ Remember: contributions are always tax- and penalty-free ⚠️ Watch for the 10% penalty on converted funds 📆 Understand when earnings qualify for tax-free treatment ⏰ Know how the five-year clock really works 🎥 Watch the full...
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🚨 Big 401(k) Change Ahead for High Earners 50+ 🚨
Planning Matters Radio
Starting next year, workers age 50 and older earning more than $145,000 will lose a major 401(k) tax break. As Peter with Richon Planning explains to Erin Kennedy, catch-up contributions that used to reduce taxable income must now be made after tax - as Roth contributions. That could mean less take-home pay today, but potentially tax-free withdrawals later. In this interview, Peter answers: 💬 What does this mean for your retirement strategy? 💬 Should you reconsider Roth vs. traditional contributions? 💬 And can strategies like Roth conversions or HSAs help offset the lost deduction? If...
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🚨 Social Security Benefits Could Be Cut by 23%: Here’s How to Prepare
Planning Matters Radio
The Social Security trust fund is projected to be insolvent by 2033, and by 2035, benefits could be reduced by 23% if no action is taken. As Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy explain, that means future retirees may only receive about 77% of promised benefits... a potential shortfall that could cost the average worker $138,000 in lost income! 💡 What can you do now? ✔️ Max out your retirement contributions and catch up contributions ✔️ Take advantage of your employer match ✔️ Diversify your investments ✔️ Work with a financial advisor who can help you decide when to...
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🚫 Thinking About Borrowing from Your 401(k)? Think Again.
Planning Matters Radio
According to the Transamerica Center for Retirement, more than one-third of workers have taken a loan, early withdrawal, or hardship withdrawal from their 401(k). It might feel like “borrowing from yourself,” but as Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy explain, it can come with long-term consequences: missed market growth, double taxation, and a smaller nest egg when you need it most. In our latest conversation, we’re breaking down the real cost of a 401(k) loan, including: 💸 How even a small loan today can erase tens of thousands in future gains. 📉 Why you’re actually...
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💰 4 Strategies to Reduce Taxes in Your Portfolio
Planning Matters Radio
You’ve heard of asset allocation, but what about asset location? Where you hold your investments can be just as important as what you invest in when it comes to lowering your tax bill. In this new conversation, Peter with RichonPlanning and erinkennedy break down 4 simple but powerful strategies that could help keep more of your money working for you: Traditional vs. Roth IRAs and their unique tax advantages Tax-loss harvesting explained (with real-life examples) Why dividend-paying stocks might belong in tax-advantaged accounts How...
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💡 The 4 Best Investments for Minimizing or Avoiding Taxes
Planning Matters Radio
Did you know some investments can generate income without triggering a big tax bill? From municipal bonds to tax-advantaged accounts, there are several smart ways to keep more of what you earn. In this interview, Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy walk through: Municipal Bonds — why their interest is federally tax-free Tax-Exempt Money Market Funds — and how they work Series I & EE Bonds — interest that’s free from state and local taxes Treasury Bills — federal tax applies, but no state or local taxes ...
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