Ready For Retirement
Ready For Retirement is the podcast dedicated to helping you learn the tips and strategies that will help you achieve your retirement goals. When it comes to retirement planning, it can quickly become overwhelming and easy to not take action. I designed this podcast because I want you to have the knowledge and confidence to create your secure retirement. My ultimate goal for all of my clients (and listeners) is to create peace of mind and that starts with having a strategy. I want you to spend more time thinking about what matters most to you in retirement. I post weekly episodes to keep you up-to-date on all the best tips and strategies to create a retirement that excites you. Everything from investing tips, tax planning, withdrawal strategies, insurance planning, Social Security, and that's just the start! Let's help you maximize your return on life. We use your money and the strategies I share in this podcast to do just that!
Episodes
270 episodes
Root Talks: How to Overcome the Scarcity Mindset and Start Spending in Retirement
You’ve worked hard, built wealth, and reached financial security… so why is it still so hard to spend? In this episode, we dive into the unexpected challenge of shifting from a saver’s mindset to actually enjoying your money.From a mill...
•
Episode 270
•
23:45
Retire Now If you Answer "Yes" to These 5 Questions
Retirement isn’t just about the numbers—it’s about time, health, and the life you want to live. Too many people delay retirement, chasing "one more bonus" or "one more year" without considering the bigger picture.In this video, we’ll wa...
•
Episode 269
•
10:14
Root Talks: How Should I Split Retirement Withdrawals Between Pretax and Roth Accounts?
In this episode, we're talking about the importance of a strategic withdrawal plan in retirement to keep taxes in check and set you up for long-term financial stability. Ari and I break down why a simple 50/50 split between traditional and Roth...
•
Episode 268
•
24:34
The Most Important Thing You Can Do For Your Financial Plan
James challenges the idea that financial security comes from always having more—more savings, more income, more investments. Studies show that no matter how much people have, they often feel like they need twice as much to feel secure. That min...
•
Episode 267
•
11:53
Root Talks: What Does Vanguard Say About Financial Advisors?
Vanguard’s Advisor Alpha study shows that working with an advisor can boost net returns by around 3% annually through smart investing, tax planning, and behavioral coaching. But the real value? It’s not just about numbers.Ari and James ...
•
Episode 266
•
32:46
No Taxes on Social Security? Here’s What Trump’s Plan Means for You
For nearly 50 years after Social Security's inception in 1935, benefits were not subject to federal income taxes. That changed in 1983 when Congress introduced taxation on benefits for higher-income retirees, using a "provisional income" thresh...
•
Episode 265
•
13:13
Root Talks: Introducing the New Root Retirement Community
Join the new Root Collective HERE!Retirement isn’t just about having enough money—it’s about making the most of it. That’s why we’re launching a new retirement communit...
•
Episode 264
•
15:48
5 Advanced Social Security Strategies to Maximize Your Retirement Income
To maximize your Social Security benefits in retirement, it’s essential to understand five key limits and thresholds:✅ Earnings Limit: If you start Social Security before full retirement age, benefits may be reduced if your wages exceed...
•
Episode 263
•
17:35
Root Talks: How Do We Approach Team Building?
Root Financial is redefining what it means to serve clients by putting team culture front and center. In this episode, James and Ari dive into the firm’s bold move to hire a Head of Culture—an uncommon role in financial advising—dedicated to su...
•
Episode 262
•
25:40
Major Social Security Bill Passed: $190B in New Benefits to be Paid After Eliminating WEP & GPO
The Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law on January 5 by former President Joe Biden, repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which previously reduced Social Security benefits for individual...
•
Episode 261
•
10:43
Root Talks: What's the Difference Between Root Financial and Other Advisory Firms?
In this behind-the-scenes episode, James and Ari explore what sets Root apart in the financial advising industry. Moving beyond traditional roles like stock pickers and planners, they emphasize Root’s mission as “protectors” of clients’ most ch...
•
Episode 260
•
27:40
How Should You Invest $10M+? Most Underutilized Strategy Revealed
Direct indexing, an advanced investment strategy, allows investors to own individual stocks within an index instead of a mutual fund or ETF, offering greater control and flexibility. This approach is particularly valuable for tax-loss harvestin...
•
Episode 259
•
23:40
Root Talks: Behind the Scenes at Root Financial: How We Approach Team Building
James and Ari provide a behind-the-scenes look at Root Financial, shifting from typical financial strategies to how their team operates. They discuss Root’s intentional approach to maintaining consistency in financial advising through rigorous ...
•
Episode 258
•
24:50
3 Simple Steps to Retire in 2025
Many individuals are hesitant to retire, even when financially prepared, due to uncertainty and a lack of clear planning. This episode provides a practical guide to making retirement a reality, focusing on three key steps:As...
•
Episode 257
•
17:43
Here's How to Avoid a Retirement Filled with Anxiety or Regret
In this episode of Root Talks, James and Ari dive into the reality that retirement planning can be tricky, with the fear of running out of money and the regret of underspending often at odds. The key is finding balance—spending wisely while enj...
•
Episode 256
•
23:12
How to Travel the Country and Start Living Before Actually Being Fully Retired
LJ and Kelly share their inspiring journey of embracing a retirement lifestyle before fully retiring. Motivated by Kelly’s experiences as a physical therapist, witnessing many patients unable to enjoy retirement due to health issues, the couple...
•
Episode 255
•
37:32
How Many Investment Firms Should I Split my Money Between?
James and Ari discuss diversification and the nuances of managing investments. A client plans to split his funds across multiple institutions, like Schwab and Vanguard, believing it will improve diversification, but true diversification isn’t a...
•
Episode 254
•
22:32
5 Biggest Retirement Fears and How to Overcome Them
Retirement is an exciting milestone, but it often comes with common fears. With proper planning, these concerns can be addressed to ensure a fulfilling and secure new chapter. Here are five major retirement fears and strategies to overcome them...
•
Episode 253
•
17:17
What If Social Security is Cut? Here's What it Means for Your Retirement
Many middle-aged adults nearing retirement face anxiety over uncontrollable factors like Social Security cuts, lower investment returns, and increasing tax rates. Ari and James discuss how fear of these uncertainties can cause “analysis paralys...
•
Episode 252
•
25:03
Why You Should Avoid Simplistic Monte Carlo Results and Create a Real Financial Plan Instead
Are you mistaking a Monte Carlo analysis for real financial planning? I'll explain why this common tool, often used by financial advisors, is not a substitute for a true financial plan. A Monte Carlo analysis provides probabilities of success b...
•
Episode 251
•
19:54
Here's What Your Retirement Strategy Should Look Like with an $8M Portfolio
Here’s the thing: retirement isn’t just about hitting a magic number—it’s about understanding what you actually want out of your life once work is no longer in the picture. In their chat, Ari and James dive deep into this question, starting wit...
•
Episode 250
•
30:34
Top 5 Most Avoidable Retirement Mistakes
James breaks down five common retirement mistakes and how to avoid them for a secure and fulfilling future:Spending Wrong: Overspending risks running out of money; underspending misses out on life.Bad Timing: Retiring too e...
•
Episode 249
•
17:28
Root Financial's Backstory: How and Why the Company Was Founded
In their new podcast, Root Talks, James and Ari open up about the story behind Root—their financial advisory firm—and how it grew from humble beginnings into a nationwide company with hundreds of clients, a 30-member team, and nearly $1 billion...
•
Episode 248
•
31:04
Unconventional Retirement Strategy: How to Save Less AND Retire with More
Chris was burned out. Despite enjoying aspects of his work, the relentless grind of long hours and aggressive saving left him exhausted and longing for retirement. His goal was to save as much as possible, retire in a few years, and finally spe...
•
Episode 247
•
14:51
STOP! Why You Shouldn't Do a Roth Conversion
Roth conversions are almost a buzzword today, with many people jumping into them like they’re a guaranteed fix for tax worries—much like rushing into surgery hoping it will solve all your problems. But just like surgery, Roth conversions requir...
•
Episode 246
•
29:32