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
308 episodes
The Hidden Cost of Financial Optimization (And How to Avoid It)
What if the “financially optimal” choice doesn’t actually lead to your best life?This conversation explores the balance between optimizing money and optimizing happiness. We break down the Five Types of Wealth—financial, time, social, m...
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Episode 308
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17:43
When Money Isn’t Enough: The 5 Types of Wealth You Need Before Retiring
When the numbers say you can retire, but you can’t step away. Many people with the financial means to retire keep working, telling themselves one more year will make the plan even stronger. But at what cost to your time, heal...
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Episode 307
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21:24
Here's How Early Retirement Will Impact Your Social Security Benefit
Thinking about retiring early and worried it might hurt your Social Security benefits? Good news: it probably won’t.A common myth is that you have to work into your 60s to get the most out of Social Security. In reality, benefits are bas...
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Episode 306
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17:13
Does Your Spouse Really Know the Financial Plan? Why That Matters │ Root Talks
Money conversations fall short when only one spouse is at the table. It’s easy to treat financial planning like another household task to divide and conquer, but unlike errands, your financial plan is the blueprint for your shared future.
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Episode 305
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16:48
Can You Retire Without $1 Million? The Truth Might Surprise You
Forget the myth that you need a million dollars to retire. What really matters is creating sustainable cash flow—not hitting a magic number.Retirement success comes down to three things: your expenses, guaranteed income (like Social Secu...
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Episode 304
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16:36
The #1 Way to Ruin Your Retirement (Most People Do This)
Can a children’s poem change how you think about retirement? In this episode, we unpack the hidden wisdom in Shel Silverstein’s “Smart” and how it reflects a common retirement planning mistake: trading time and well-being for wealth you may no ...
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Episode 303
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7:11
How to Know If You’re Ready to Retire (Hint: It’s Not Just About Money)
The hardest part of retirement isn’t always financial, it’s psychological. For many, stepping away from work isn’t a light switch, but a dimmer that adjusts over time. This episode of Root Talks unpacks what makes the retirement decisi...
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Episode 302
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17:07
This Is Why Financially Ready People Struggle to Retire
Even with a strong financial plan in place, many professionals find themselves hesitating at the retirement decision—stuck in the cycle of “just one more year.” The numbers say it’s possible, yet the fear of leaving behind a paycheck, a title, ...
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Episode 300
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11:51
What Should You Do With Your 401k When You Retire?
Your 401(k) is likely your largest retirement asset—so the decisions made about it can have a lasting impact. This episode explores the pros and cons of keeping a 401(k) versus rolling it over to an IRA.Learn when it makes sense to stay ...
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Episode 299
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16:25
DIY vs. Financial Advisor: How to Know When It’s Time to Get Help │ Root Talks
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering whether you really need a financial advisor, this episode is for you. James and Ari unpack the deeper reasons people seek financial guidance—and why the decision often goes far beyond dollars and...
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Episode 298
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20:11
5 Signs It’s Time to Retire - Right Now
At 90 years old, will you remember that final bonus or the time you didn’t spend with the people you love? This powerful question reframes how we think about retirement timing beyond the numbers.Yes, financial readiness matters. But dela...
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Episode 297
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9:37
Watch Me Stress Test a $1 Million Retirement Plan
A seven-figure portfolio can feel like a green light for retirement—but the numbers don’t always tell the full story. In one case study, a couple with over $1 million saved faced a withdrawal rate close to 14% based on their desired lifestyle. ...
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Episode 296
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19:28
Why Brokerage Accounts Might Be the Most Underrated Tool in Your Financial Plan
Retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs often get all the attention, but there’s another tool that can play a powerful role in your long-term strategy: the humble brokerage account.Unlike retirement accounts with age restrictions and p...
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Episode 295
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18:35
5 Things Retirees Regret - And What You Still Have Time to Get Right
After working with hundreds of people navigating retirement, we’ve seen a clear pattern: the biggest regrets aren’t about money. They’re about meaning.Too often, people retire from something—but never toward something. They solve the fin...
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Episode 294
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13:27
Stop Worrying About Running Out of Money: Here's What You Need to Do
The biggest question I hear from people planning for retirement is this: Am I going to run out of money before I run out of life? But here’s the thing, no matter how much you’ve saved, that fear doesn’t automatically go away. In this video, I w...
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Episode 293
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14:41
This Is What Financial Planning Really Changes
What does it really mean to change someone’s life through financial advice? While we’re not saving lives like doctors, the impact we have on our clients’ futures can be just as meaningful. Often, it’s not about the numbers—it’s about helping so...
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Episode 292
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18:25
How Much Do You Need to Retire on $10K a Month?
If your goal is to spend $10,000 a month in retirement, how much do you really need saved? The answer isn’t as simple—or as overwhelming—as it might seem.In this episode, I break down the key factors that influence your retirement numbe...
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Episode 291
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13:17
I've Helped Hundreds of People Retire Comfortably. Here's the Exact 7-Step Framework I Used.
Retirement planning isn’t about chasing numbers, it’s about building a life with intention.The Sequoia System helps you get clear on what matters most, organize your finances around that vision, and create a plan that supports...
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Episode 290
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21:38
Ready to Retire? Here's How to Tell Your Company │ Root Talks
In this episode, Ari and James explore the emotional and practical sides of retiring—specifically, how to have the conversation that officially ends your career.Whether you're months away or years out, this discussion tackles the fear, ...
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Episode 289
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24:32
How Much Can We Expect to Spend in Retirement with a $4M Portfolio?
In this episode, we walk through a retirement planning scenario involving a couple in their early 60s with a $4 million investment portfolio. Their financial plan reveals something surprising: they may not need to wait until 65 to retire. Inste...
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Episode 288
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18:11
Social Security at 62 vs 67 vs 70: When should you start claiming your benefits?
Deciding when to start your Social Security benefits might be the single most consequential financial decision of your retirement journey. Should you claim early at 62, wait until full retirement age at 67, or delay until 70 to maximize your mo...
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Episode 287
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19:14
The Surprising Regrets of Wealthy Retirees | Root Talks
Retired with millions—but full of regret?In this episode of Root Talks, James and Ari share the real stories no one talks about: wealthy retirees who did everything “right” financially but still feel like they missed out. From sacrifici...
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Episode 286
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16:05
We have a $3M Retirement Portfolio. How Much Can We Spend Without Running Out of Money?
Jeffrey and Cindy came to me with $3 million saved and one big question: How much can we actually spend in retirement? In this video, we walk through a retirement planning scenario—looking at spending goals, taxes, travel, healthcare, ...
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Episode 285
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15:26
Root Talks: Spend Your Way to a Happier Retirement: 5 Pillars of Better Spending
Many great savers hesitate to spend once they retire—unsure how to shift gears after years of discipline. In this episode, we talk through what it looks like to use money with intention, not just someday, but now.Prompted by a thoughtfu...
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Episode 284
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19:01
The Most Powerful Tax-Free Retirement Tool: Start Leveraging Your HSA Now
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) don’t get much attention—but they should. With triple tax advantages (tax-free contributions, growth, and qualified withdrawals), HSAs offer a level of flexibility that’s hard to beat.I break down how to u...
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Episode 283
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16:59