You're Asking The Wrong Questions
The Retirement Huddle
Most people approach retirement planning with a list of questions in hand, but what if you're asking the wrong questions? In this episode, Mark unpacks why traditional thinking about retirement often leads people astray. If you’ve ever fixated on your “magic number” for retirement or chased high returns, Mark will show you how those concerns might be holding you back and what to do instead. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 💰 Why a magic “retirement number” is a myth 🏥 Smarter ways to plan for long-term care 🧾 The one document your advisor should be...
info_outline
Mailbag: Federal Job Uncertainty & The Travel Bug
The Retirement Huddle
In this mailbag episode, Mark tackles two listener questions from opposite ends of the retirement spectrum. One faces a potential layoff, and the other dreams of seeing the world. Different situations, same goal: a secure, flexible retirement. Mark shares clear, practical strategies for both, including how to build financial resilience, strengthen your emergency savings, and fund global adventures without derailing your long-term financial plans. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 🚨 What to do if forced into early retirement 📦 Building a financial cushion...
info_outline
Mailbag: RMD Strategy, Emergency Funds and Long-Term Healthcare
The Retirement Huddle
In this listener Q&A episode, Mark answers some of the questions that keep people up at night, from long-term healthcare without the monthly drain to how much to actually have in your emergency fund. We walk through strategies like Roth conversions, qualified charitable distributions, and alternative ways to cover long-term care costs, all with the goal of keeping more money in your pocket and building a retirement plan that works for your life. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 📉 How to shrink your future RMD tax bill 💸 Emergency fund strategy: 3 months, 6...
info_outline
Want to Retire Early? Here’s What You Really Need to Know
The Retirement Huddle
For many, the dream of retiring before the traditional age of 65 is appealing, but it comes with its own set of challenges and considerations. In this episode, Mark explores the nuanced challenges of early retirement, from financial preparedness to managing longevity risk and the often-overlooked emotional aspects of leaving the workforce. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 🏥 Healthcare before 65 is one of the biggest planning hurdles 📉 Sequence of returns risk can derail early retirees without proper planning 🎯 Retiring is one thing—staying retired with purpose is...
info_outline
Game Night: What We Can Learn About Financial Planning From Board Games
The Retirement Huddle
Monopoly, Battleship, Risk, and even Candyland. All of these are board games that you may have played with your family or friends at some point or another. But did you know they also hold valuable lessons for your financial life? From avoiding emotional attachment to your investments to managing risk, these games can teach us a lot about making smart money moves. Tune in as Mark connects the dots between your favorite board games and a winning financial strategy! Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 📊 Not getting too attached to any one fund or stock in your portfolio. ...
info_outline
The Things You Can Control in Retirement
The Retirement Huddle
In retirement planning, there are a lot of things that are completely out of your control. Fortunately, the things that you can control allow you to deal with those things that you can't. With so many variables out of our control, it’s essential to focus on what we can manage to ensure a peaceful and financially secure retirement. This show will cover topics like market risks, lifetime income streams, tax strategies, and the role of Social Security in a comprehensive retirement plan. Join us to...
info_outline
Mailbag: Is Buying A Bigger Home In Retirement Crazy?
The Retirement Huddle
We’re excited to bring a new mailbag episode to the show! We have two great questions to tackle in today’s episode. First up, Becky asks if it would be crazy to buy a bigger house in retirement to accommodate her kids and grandkids and what factors she should consider before making that decision. Next, Donovan asks what he should focus on now at 45 to prepare for retirement at 60, given that his primary investment is his business and he doesn't have a 401(k). Tune in to hear Mark discuss these important retirement planning questions and offer valuable insights! Here’s some of what we...
info_outline
Overrated, Underrated, or Rightly Rated?
The Retirement Huddle
Today we’re going have a little fun by playing a game of Overrated, Underrated, or Rightly Rated. We’re going to present some financial products or ideas and Mark will tell us which category he thinks they fall into. Join us as we discuss the importance of financial planning for retirement, including the benefits of setting up a Roth IRA and making consistent contributions. We’ll also explore the overrated and underrated aspects of various financial concepts, such as tax refunds, mortgage payoff strategies, and variable annuities. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: Why...
info_outline
Two Truths And A Lie
The Retirement Huddle
Today we’re going to have a little fun on the show by tackling the risks and realities of retirement planning by playing a game called ‘Two Truths and a Lie.’ We’ll challenge common beliefs about inflation, interest rates, and emergency funds by explaining what’s true and what is actually a myth. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: Bonds don’t do as well in an inflationary environment. Rising interest rates actually help savers. You don’t want to have any risk when it comes to your emergency fund. Market crashes can present great buying opportunities....
info_outline
Finding The Silver Linings In Challenging Financial Circumstances
The Retirement Huddle
At times in life, we are presented with tough situations. While we can’t always control the situations that are handed to us, we can control how we respond to them. Today, we’ll discuss some challenging financial situations- such as market crashes, capital gains taxes, and even job loss- and instead of dwelling on the negatives, we’ll focus on finding the silver linings! Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: What opportunities can exist in the event of a market crash Capital gains taxes mean you made a lot of money How interest rates work in two different directions Finding...
info_outlineOne of the topics we discuss pretty frequently here on the show is life insurance. While it may not be the most exciting subject, there are several reasons why life insurance might be useful as part of your retirement plan. Stay tuned as we explore the diverse benefits of life insurance in this episode.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
- The importance of life insurance in providing income replacement for surviving spouses
- The role of life insurance in settling an estate + building a legacy for beneficiaries
- The power of buying life insurance when you’re young
- How life insurance can make transferring family wealth easier and more tax-efficient
- The benefits of life insurance for small business owners + high-income earners
- How the life insurance industry is helping people who can’t afford long-term care
Want to get in touch with Mark?
https://retirementhuddle.com/
[email protected]
888-511-7526