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
252 episodes
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...
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Episode 252
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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...
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Episode 251
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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...
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Episode 250
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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...
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Episode 249
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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...
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Episode 248
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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...
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Episode 247
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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...
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Episode 246
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29:32
This is the Biggest Way People Waste Money in Retirement
Meet Sarah—a retiree with a multi-million-dollar portfolio, no mortgage, and all her income needs covered by Social Security. Yet, she hesitates to furnish her newly expanded home, fearing it would “waste” money. In this episode, James unpacks ...
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Episode 245
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21:02
The Downside of Working "Just One More Year"
Are you delaying retirement, working for "just one more year" to feel ready? In this episode, Ari and James dive into goalpost planning—the tendency to postpone retirement over financial or emotional uncertainties. Learn how to prioritize life ...
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Episode 244
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24:42
How Soon Before Retirement Should You Adjust Your Portfolio?
In today’s episode of Ready for Retirement episode James covers when to adjust your portfolio as retirement nears—a crucial step for balancing growth and security. If adjustments happen too late, market downturns could delay your plans; if too ...
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Episode 243
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27:07
Here's How To Discuss Money Effectively With Your Parents
Meet Ari Taublieb 👋 If you didn’t already know, Ari and I work together at Root Financial, and we thought it was finally time to launch a podcast series together.In our very first episode, we dive into a topic that many people shy away ...
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Episode 242
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20:11
7 Things You Need to Know About Roth IRAs to Maximize Tax-Free Income
Roth IRAs offer great tax-free income benefits, but to make the most of them in retirement, here are seven things you need to know:Contribution Limits: In 2024, you can contribute up to $7,000 annually ($8,000 if 50+), acros...
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Episode 241
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17:00
3 Steps to Prepare for an Out-of-State Retirement
Have you thought about what moving to a new state might mean for your retirement budget and lifestyle? In this Ready for Retirement episode, the focus is on preparing for an out-of-state retirement. James outlines three essential considerations...
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Episode 240
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17:09
5 Things People Regret About Early Retirement
Many dream of retiring early, but you would be surprised to learn that many people who retire early regret doing so. James reveals five things that lead people to regret early retirement and provides practical tips to avoid these pitfalls.<...
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Episode 239
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21:17
This Is the Single Most Important Thing You Can Do to Prepare for Retirement
James sits down with someone who’s financially set to retire—mortgage paid off, kids through college, and investments in place—but he’s still grappling with one big question: what’s next?Instead of focusing solely on financial strategies or...
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Episode 238
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21:25
The Complete Guide to Maximizing Your Social Security Benefit
For many, Social Security makes up a large portion of their retirement income, so it’s important to know how to maximize your Social Security benefit. James explains how Social Security works, diving into some important foundational aspects. He...
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Episode 237
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20:19
Restricted Stock Units: The Basics of RSUs and How to Use Them
ames responds to a question from Chris regarding restricted stock units (RSUs) and how to avoid costly mistakes when managing them. He explores whether it’s wise to hold onto company stock or diversify for a safer financial future. He breaks do...
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Episode 236
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20:00
Should We Always Pull From our Brokerage Account First in Retirement? (Hint: No)
Patrick and Mary will soon both be retired. They are curious about what their withdrawal strategy should be as they balance various retirement accounts, including a pension, IRAs, and a brokerage account. They've been using tax gain harvesting ...
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Episode 235
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26:47
How to Overcome Fears of Spending in Retirement
Ben has been a saver his entire life, which helped position him for an early retirement at the age of 53. Yet, he faces a big challenge. Having maintained his modest lifestyle, Ben’s comfortable portfolio has continued to grow and has nearly do...
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Episode 234
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34:21
Retire Happy: Build a Personalized Retirement Plan that You Can't Wait to Live Out
Monique aspired to retire early, and while she had faithfully saved throughout her working years, she wasn’t sure if she had enough to retire. After getting assurance from professionals, she took the plunge and quit working. Monique and James t...
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Episode 233
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43:47
Unexpected Retirement: Finding Happiness and New Adventures
Elaine didn’t decide to retire at age 57, but changes in her company meant an early retirement for her. Being caught off guard, she didn’t feel emotionally prepared to make the shift, even though she knew that her family would be fine financial...
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Episode 232
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22:57
Facing Health Challenges in Retirement and Learning to Reconnect with Your Spouse
After his father lost healthcare coverage in retirement and had to pay for a major health event with savings, Derek was highly motivated to ensure sufficient coverage in retirement. He even considered leaving the job he loved for one with bette...
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Episode 231
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30:54
How to Thrive in Retirement by Embracing the Unknown
Chris has been retired for a little over a year while his wife has continued to work. Now that Chris has “tried on” retirement and found the fit good, his wife will likely join him within the year. In his conversation with James, Chris, who cou...
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Episode 230
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34:35
The Benefits of a Retirement Community and How to Find Your Purpose in Retirement
Meet Joe Sullivan, who found the first few years of retirement very difficult. Community is important to Joe, but he wasn't getting sufficient, routine social interaction to make meaningful connections while living in rural Virginia. He found h...
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Episode 229
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28:42
Introducing the New Ready For Retirement
Ready for Retirement is on a mission to be the most valuable source of retirement information in the world. In that light, we’re making some changes. The biggest change is that rather than James doing all the talking, he’s inviting people like ...
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Episode 228
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9:46