Are You Taking on Too Much Risk? 4 Signs to Watch 🚩
Planning Matters Radio
Risk isn’t just a number on a chart... it’s how you feel when markets move. If you’ve ever wondered whether your portfolio matches your true risk tolerance, Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy lay out four red flags to pay attention to: 🔹 You check your accounts constantly. How often is too often? If market swings dictate your mood, it may be time to reassess. 🔹 Market drops keep you up at night. The headlines are loud, and it’s hard to tune out the noise. 🔹 You’ve made panic-driven decisions before. Emotional investing is one of the biggest threats to long-term...
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3 Easy Ways to Jeopardize Your Retirement ⚠️💸
Planning Matters Radio
Most people are so focused on saving for retirement that they overlook the everyday habits that can derail it. According to Kiplinger, only 44% of Americans have calculated what they’ll need to live on in retirement, and without that number, it’s easy to overspend or take on risks that shrink your nest egg. In this week’s interview, Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy break down the three most common pitfalls pre-retirees face: 🚫 Maintaining Debt Many retirees carry credit cards, car loans, mortgages, sometimes totaling $55,000. We discuss why entering retirement debt-free is...
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Roth Conversions Under 59½: How to Avoid the 10% Penalty ⚠️💡
Planning Matters Radio
Thinking about a Roth conversion before age 59½? It can be a smart move... but only if you handle the tax bill the right way. As Peter with Richon Planning and Erin Kennedy explain, using retirement funds to pay those taxes could trigger a 10% early withdrawal penalty, and that’s a mistake we want younger investors to avoid. In this week’s interview, we break down: Why paying taxes with outside, after-tax money is essential How Peter helps clients decide if a Roth Conversion makes sense And why Roth conversions are so popular right now If you’d...
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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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Location & cost of living
Monthly expenses & lifestyle choices
Other income sources (Social Security, pensions, investments)
Inflation & longevity