What Do Proposed Tariffs Mean For Your Portfolio?
The Red Zone Retirement Program
Release Date: 02/13/2025
Year-End Mailbag: Your Biggest Retirement Questions Answered
The Red Zone Retirement Program
🏈 Don’t fumble your retirement - get your financial game plan at Join John as he wraps up the year and answers some of the biggest questions on listeners’ minds. This episode dives into real-world financial concerns, practical strategies, and tips to help you keep your retirement game plan on track. John cuts through the noise with straightforward answers that help you think clearly about the retirement decisions that matter most. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 🎁 Holiday Gifting: understanding limits and smart giving strategies 💰 Excess Cash:...
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I'm 62... Should I Claim Social Security?
The Red Zone Retirement Program
🏈 Don’t fumble your retirement - get your financial game plan at Celebrate our 100th episode as John tackles the ever-important topic of Social Security and retirement planning. In this milestone show, we discuss key considerations for deciding when to claim Social Security benefits and the common mistakes to avoid. Tune in for expert insights and practical advice to help you make informed decisions about when to take Social Security. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 🚫 Don’t Rush at 62: the common arguments for claiming early 📊 Why Waiting Pays: the...
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Why Better Questions Build Better Retirements
The Red Zone Retirement Program
🏈 Don’t fumble your retirement - get your financial game plan at You’ve heard the saying, “There’s no such thing as a bad question.” But in retirement planning, some questions are definitely better than others. The way you frame a question often determines the quality of the answer, and sometimes the quality of your entire retirement. Today, John goes through some of the most asked questions and how to reframe them to get clearer, more useful answers. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 🦃 Thanksgiving Traditions: John’s holiday traditions and...
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The Giving Playbook: Smart Moves for Lasting Impact
The Red Zone Retirement Program
🏈 Don’t fumble your retirement - get your financial game plan at In football, every great play starts with a solid game plan, and generosity works the same way. Giving feels good, but giving wisely wins championships. Today, John breaks down the playbook for smart, purposeful generosity and shows you how to make every dollar count. Because when it comes to giving, it’s not just about moving the ball, it’s about leaving a lasting legacy on and off the field. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 📅 When to Give: Timing your donations for both impact and...
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Fidelity’s 2025 Report: Health Care Costs Just Jumped Again
The Red Zone Retirement Program
🏈 Don’t fumble your retirement - get your financial game plan at Fidelity just released their 2025 Retiree Health Care Cost Estimate. The number is staggering: $172,500 for a 65-year-old retiring today. The bigger problem? One in five Americans hasn’t even thought about health care costs in retirement. Today, John breaks down exactly what this means, why it matters, and how to prepare. With the right planning, you can make health care just another line item in your retirement budget, not a financial shock. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 📈 Fidelity’s...
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Year-End Strategic & Tactical Planning Meetings
The Red Zone Retirement Program
🏈 Don’t fumble your retirement - get your financial game plan at Retirement isn’t just about saving money—it’s about strategically planning your withdrawals. In this episode of Red Zone Retirement, we'll take you through our annual “strategic and tactical” fall meetings, showing how smart planning now can prevent massive surprises later. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: ✅ How to make Roth conversions work in your favor ✅ The hidden Medicare penalty most people miss ✅ Guardrails that protect your income when the market dips ✅ How strategic...
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Reacting To Unfiltered Retirement Takes from YouTube
The Red Zone Retirement Program
🏈 Don’t fumble your retirement - get your financial game plan at In this episode, John steps onto the field and reacts to unfiltered takes from viewers, everything from taking Social Security at 62 to the hidden penalty of healthcare costs before Medicare kicks in. These “back of the napkin” plays may look good in the huddle, but we'll break down where the blocking is weak, what gaps are being missed, and how early mistakes can leave you taking a permanent loss on retirement income and survivor benefits. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 🧾 Taking Social...
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The Hidden Medicare Penalty You Might Be Paying
The Red Zone Retirement Program
🏈 Don’t fumble your retirement - get your financial game plan at Think Medicare is free once you hit 65? Not quite. If your income’s too high, there’s a hidden surcharge that can quietly shrink your Social Security check by thousands a year. It’s called IRMAA. And most people don’t see it coming. Let’s break down who’s impacted and how to avoid it. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 💰 IRMAA is a Medicare penalty based on income—not assets 🔙 It looks 2 years backward to determine your premiums 💥 One-time income events like property sales or...
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Football & Finance: Don’t Panic, Stick to the Plan
The Red Zone Retirement Program
🏈 Don’t fumble your retirement - get your financial game plan at In football, one bad play doesn’t decide the outcome. A fumble, interception, or blown coverage can rattle a team, but the best players stay calm, adjust, and keep running their game plan. The same lesson applies to your finances. In this episode, John uses football stories from the field to show how to handle financial fumbles without panicking. Setbacks are part of the game. What matters is responding with discipline and perspective so you can stay on track toward your long-term goals. Here’s some of what we...
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Mailbag: Renting, Dividends, and Social Security
The Red Zone Retirement Program
🏈 Don’t fumble your retirement - get your financial game plan at When it comes to retirement, the toughest calls aren’t always about the market — they’re about your life. In this episode, John takes a break from the playbook to field real questions straight from the audience mailbag. Big choices about where to live, how to invest, and when to start Social Security can feel like fourth-quarter pressure, and John’s here to help you call the right plays when it matters most. John explores the pros and cons of renting in retirement, why relying on a “dividends only”...
info_outlineThe day President Trump took office, he announced plans to implement a 25 percent tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada. Additional tariff conversations have exploded since that day. How might this impact your personal finances and the economy?
Today, we’ll explain a bit of the backstory of tariffs- what they are, why governments impose them, and the historical content of them. We’ll also break down these new tariffs that have been introduced, their potential impact on everyday people, and what you can do to navigate this shifting financial landscape.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
0:00 – Intro
1:26 – Tariffs and their historical context
3:52 – Impact of tariffs on trade and manufacturing
9:13 – Tariffs' effects on consumers
12:57 – Having a diverse and resilient portfolio
Resources for this episode:
Wolf Street Article
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